Socialist Challenge No. 172, 13 November 1980
The scan: sc-n172-nov-13-1980.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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Page 1 scan of this page
Challenge
FIREFIGHTERS
SMASH THE 6% NORM new reite a Labour leadership: don't let up on democracy fight
simple
Led it last Monday evening,
accept a drop in living standards.
ple, not the Tory bankers she was addressing.
with a vengeance. The incomes policy they claimed they would
when inflation is raging at 18 per cent.
the forefront of the struggle. In
be built for their struggle.
alliance. By breaking Thatcher's 6
anti-working class government as well. least an inward feeling of glee at the sight of a dejected Denis Healey plodding home from the House of Commons after his defeat in the Labour leadership election.
There will doubtless be considerable delight in the abour movement coat right wing's top bully has
But delight discomfort
Socialist
IT'S WAR, pure and
Margaret Thatcher explain-
when she told her City of London audience that 'we' had to
By 'we' she meant working peo-
The Tories have made a U-turn
never introduce has resulted in the savage 6 per cent norm - at a time
The firefighters are once again in
every area massive support needs to
But most important is the unity of all public sector workers in a huge
per cent they can break her vicious
should not be turned into ila DOUL WhaL roots leadership will represent.
In the first place Foot only of because they see hin as th DerSOR wro can acruse and neng ort the bennie chal lenge and 'unite the party' As RoY Hatersley put it Michael's not so left ne usco to De. terciev's siatement 1s understatement of the year
PAY THE
Foot has the proven record of Cablici HELLERISECE wretched calagial covertment, when he defended the government's policy - five
limit and all Der CCHE Wass - cown une nic
DOlIC statements after the election
result war ament do giot
over assurances to the right.
SaraHECHE example, DOLLECO OU
"ideals have
SUPPORT
translated pracuca.
withdrawal from
effect Foot adopted Aneurin
nevans multilateralist views
which at the time Foot in the
savage Dages of Iribune. Foot ol M002 1011168211300. 00 democracy must continue
Any idea that the Parliamentary Labour Party has suddenly become the guarcan or con crence accision. and socialist aspirations is a
THEY
VE
No. 172
INSIDE
Ireland's struggle for
Treaten p8-9 Gardner's workers gain
support p3
What happened in
British Leyland
p4
L CRANES
13 November 1980 20g New book titles review
p13
US Elections - Carter's
landslide defeat
p12
Rape and the law
p14 pipe dream. . The same PLP that votes for Foot today COLLIE ALU SUDDUE anti-son list police richae Nonetheless, Foot's Federship is a rest or a elevation to
SHELLO LIC CILLIC DOLLY It's a sign that the right is or the run and beginning to
panicow the left has to ram
home the advantage and en TO RIPe I 12112115 rerence orenks me Dower ( the ver once ane tor a The fight should start now election procedure to be th
Labour let lony Dent
Page 2 scan of this page
100,000 expected for jobs march
6%- Tories declare war!
ONE of the largest demon-
strations against unemploy-
ment will be held in Liverpool
on 29 November. It has been
called by the Labour Party
and is now supported by the
TUC.
No reader of Socialist Challenge
needs to be be told that unemolovment
is reaching disaster proportions.
The Cambridge Econometrics Group
last week published a survey which
estimated that by 1985, unless
something drastic happens, unemploy-
ment will be around the 4 million mark.
As we have repeatedly stressed in
these columns, the urgent need is to
fightback. The raw material for a strug-
gle against closures is there - a vast
pool of seething anger and resentment
against Tory policies.
But not a single trade union leader
has gone about organising a fight.
The occupation of the Gardner's fac-
tory and now ICL Winsford is a vivid inSPEAKING to a pre-conference get togeth-
the CBI Brighton, Michael Heseltine spelled it out. 'In this period of crisis,' he said, 'sacrifices have to be made. The question is, who is going to make the sacrifices?'
By slapping on the 6 per cent pay limit in the public sector, and by the vicious cuts in every field of social expenditure, the Environment Secretarv and the rest ot the Tory government have giver unel answer pay — the working class.
Denial
Despite their denials, the Tories have introduced a full-blown public sector incomes policy. iney nave declared war against public sector workers, tilling announcement to prevent the firefighters getting the 18.8 per cent due to them under the 1978 agreement
Walker, vice chairperson of Liverpool NALGO and a member of the Liverpool local authority shop stewards told Socialist Challenge: 'The
the public sector with the six per cent norm.
"To fight it we need an alliance of all public sector workers, The manual workers' claim is in, but as yet no reply has been made. The water workers aso ae ce claim in. What's needed is a Joint fight by all these groups, rather than taking on the Claims
*In Liverpool we've discussed the fact that NALGO's claim comes up at a different time of that of other public sector workers. This is silly. We snoula all go in logetnel. Al the we obviously need the maximum solidarity and support for the firefighters.
The Tories' 6 per cent pay
Socialist Challenge 13 November 1980 P.
ceiling reveals the extent of the crisis thev are in. Despite stringent monetarist policies, including DULLLIYC rates that are driving dreds
will allie wall, the money supply is still growing.
Inflation is still a whopping 17 per cent need for drastic public sector pay; hence the extra £2,000m cuts
The Tories' action against the firefighters is the shabby betrayal of ment scen lor a long le Even many of the "athority employers are appalled by the government's action.
Be 2
dication of what is possible.
Through their courageous actions the workers of these plants have shown that resistance is possible.
These workers must lead the 29 November demonstration. By putting at the head of the demonstration workers who have taken forthright action against unemployment, the Labour Party executive can show what kind of action needs to be taken to roll back the tide of redundancies.
The indications are that the demonstration will be huge. Last Saturday a meeting of 500 shop stewards from the Liverpool area met to make plans for the demonstration. What's needed now is a massive push from every locality to emulate the Liverpool example.
The workers from Gardner's and ICL, and the tens of thousands who will go to Liverpool on the 29 November, need a firm lead for struggle from the TUC.
The march should be the start of a campaign which includes the fight for the 35-hour week and for worksharing with no loss of pay. 'At a time when inflation is 18 per cent a pay limit is just not on'
Drastic anti-union action by the employers reaulre. response by hun- workers.
Io the and wait for the firefighters, the whole public sector needs to go into action to defeat the 6 per cent.
• hence the action on As Al Walker points out,
the claims of all public sector workers should ordinated. In particular, the most local authority manual work-
an agree- ers ana the water
should bring their claims forlocal ward.
The NUPE should be torced to 'wait and see'
Home News
HERES A NICE CUT"
government and tor claims. a drastic public sector Rather than just sit alliance workers. ot
which should be copied.
The call be
HOI workers
leadership tion of joint action.
Branch attitude and Maguire says.
HESELTINE /CHOICE L
push forward the public sec-
pay
In the localities we need an
public sectoi Once again, the ex- standards.' Liverpool. commit inhop stewaras
local workers, one introduce ble. made by the South-east medical branch of ASTMS on Monday evening
an alliance of all public health workers to co-ordinate the fight against the o per cent cent is also a good step in the direc-
secretary Janet 'At time
STop
THE
CUTS
when inflation is 18 per cent a
limit just not
unite to fight it or we will suffer a huge reduction in living
A united fight against this Tory incomes policy, a policy which they said they'd never
, would be irresisti-
To get that united fight the TUC should be recalled to prepare the struggle.
The last winter of discontent not only broke the 5 per
pay norm; it rocked the stability of the government. second version can repeat the operation with fatal consequences for the Tories.
Chopper Heseltine
CBI
demands
more cuts
By Pat Kane BRITAIN'S bosses want more cuts. Michael Heseltine, the Tory Environment Secretary, was given rapturous applause when he told the audience at the CBI conference that even more cuts are on the way.
The imposition of the new 6 per cent pay policy the public sector is yet another ex. ambie or the orv axe. ine cast limits system nas now been ex tended to cover wages as well a
in the • public sec recent I success anti-cuts conference staged by
councilors and town hall trade unions has laid the basis for uniting the fight against cuts
vice president of London NUP: y allie. , says: 'Our divisional council will
Ted Knight and the councillors to the discuss the follow-up conterence well be suppor ting any action taken by The Lambeth councillors to stop the
'The conference opposed Tale rIseS and we will be cam
SITt that there are no massive rate rises to
coverie Tory
committee elected by the conterence holds Its nirst meelng in Lambeln on 23 November
Hopefully • the decisions of the conference will be publicis ca lor the duer ory acmonsura con on a novemoe Challenge will be campaigning for labour movemeni
at Lambeth conference.
Page 3 scan of this page
'The Gardner's occupation has shown it's possible to fight closures'-
On the
road to
Liverpool
THE Right to Work Campaign is organising a march from Manchester to Liverpool from 25-29 November.
The March is sponsored
the Gardner's shop
ewards committee who are also sending a delegation o
tie roso to Liver.
paid the march will be a
the November Labour Party demonstration arallist unemplovment and visiting Tactones and workplaces along the route to raise money and support for the Gardner's sit in
To get the march on the road the organisers urgently need:
. NAMES
wooke co one mar ch.
2. VOLUNTEERS with cars, minibuses even motorbikes to drive
Sacrones. workplaces and meetings on the march.
CASH per marcher Official available from the Right to letters
A volunteers help organise the march should phone 01-986 5491.
GARDNER's workers in occupation
By Redmond O'Neill
THE Gardner's occupa-
tion in Manchester
the first major
against the
round of redundancies
in the engineering
dustry. £16,000n has been raised in factory Money coming
colecuons around une
and the
AUEW district has voted for a
weekly levy to support the Gard-
ners oress
But money alone cannot win
the dispute
Management has gone on to
the offensive with its
orruse a commody
return to work, while local and
national union officials By Pat Kane WORKERS at
their factory.
is fight preschil been scurrying for a compromise in- In a letter to all the Gardner's WOrKCIS Conted's secretary, said tnal tne ballot wa because there County agreement on Manchester to volunteer for eirseho
dancv or eariy retirement. Only moderate offers have been made at present.
Ballot decision to This is hardly a confident call have to the Gardner's
ICL Worker
International Computers Limited in Winsford, Cheshire, have followed the example of Gardner's and occupied
Home News
around looking
Corner sloos och districe that 550
was une terms 'severance workers
redun- ment, bup olic policy
trace
return to work workers to ICL announced mosude of the Winstora redundancie. last Friday,
earlier this year.
Bosses try ballot to end sit-in
maintain their refusal to sell each
doesn't even management's terms of reference tive simply calls for negotiations on jobs must go.
tilal basis the ballot, not on the basis of a
on unemployof "loyalty and decid workers'. It ine waraners work ers see no prospect of victory i this dispute, no amount of loyalt will prevent them voting for a da.
The myth of ballot democracy would
Andy Blondell, ASTMS chairperson at ICL's West JOrLOl plan Manchester. Socialis Challenge: craner occupation has shown that it's possible to figh against closures "wo parmen ine nore way that one of the greatest problems in fighting redun dancies is the fear of isolaHon. We have fully sup ported the coroner soc upation and we know experience that sup port from the rest of labour movement is vital.
Goroners winstora are tokie anim whole of the Engineering
EmpLoyers Federation
stewards will be attending Manchester districi conter emersency steware. meeting this Friday. I'll be arguing for a day of industrial action across Man Chester i su900r u arc ner s one winsore sur the Confed will not go further than proposing financal S'l be arguing for Gard nor's and winstoro l the 29 November dey are ran ine forefrent se demonstration the fight against unemploy ment. 'What we need is a cen-
Sport or testy to pin
ссирі tions. Tony Benn should on the platform ana int Confed leadership should using this stewards meeting 10 launci
we nove io make sur that Winsford and Gardner's become a springboarn ford feive JODS throughou: the North-west
TONY Benn has given his support to the Gardner's occupation. Last week he sent a telegram to the occupied plant, saying: 'Good luck in your campaign, which is of immense importance at this point in history. The movement should give you its full support.
Since Benn isn't standing in the phoney election for the leader of the Parliamentary Labour should have plenty of time to make sure that the labour movement does give the occupation its full backing. Tom Macafee, venor, welcomed Benn's but added: 'It's time they got out of their prams. There is a lot that the
also has to be tackled head on
strength of union movement lies in its collec-
organisation ment of all members in decision- week.
, following full discussion and the ability to act together o
ballots, whoever he Workers have vote alone from their co. workers. and with no counter to the media's anti-strike propagan-
The best response to the ballo
strengthen the
Benn backs the occupation
Labour Party can do
plant.
support.
labour
Party. he tion
Gardner's con-
support, Gardner's workforce
Socialist Challenge
Struggle, calling democracy or taco meetnas in every saoo to exorall the purpose of the ballot and in volve the full membership in win : struggle.
Matatement Is not only or to end the dispute - i wants ic smash the unions' power in the The and chop wher redundancy notices went out las
The only response to this can be to up the stakes in the dispute Gardner's should be in the TUC-Labour Party marer gains men over or 29 November. There should be a
action to support Gardner's and fight redundancy That's the kind of lead that Gardner's workers need.
"Tony Benn and other leading left wingers should come down to the
They are all well aware of the situation here, and they could easily get us national press coverage and
"We need this type of support right away, tomorrow preferably.
Along with other national labour leaders, Benn will have an ideal opportunity to support the occupation at the TÚC/Labour Party demonstra
against unemployment to be held in Liverpool on 29 November
They should use their influence to make sure that the people who are leading the fight to save jobs
- are right at the front leading the demonstration
13 November 1980 Page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
DUFFY: 'Do nothing to damage the competitiveness of your firm
Would BL
have closed?
By Paul Lawson THE company is
they'll bankrupt close down the plants if we strike.'
That's what the Transport and Engineering union leaders told the BL workforce, echoing Edwardes' threat. What's the truth?
strike had gone ahead, there's no dou
have inc ColliDall taken Ine some ory close own some the plants already scheduled for
loss of the 28,000 jobs.
Sanese jobs and plants are due to soon. at the chance to blame the
saved these Only a fight against he company's
will achieve MaL.
Essential
Was the government
BL Teddy alogether This threat Was a bluff by Edwardes.
British capitalism needs BL. It needs it, not because • concern about tric lale ur the workforce, but because a continuing and viable car industry essential if Britain is to continue to be
woule De blow the strength and viability of the whole
capitalism. tremendous knock-on effect especially in the Midlands ındustry allu
matter to Edwardes and the Tories? Aren't engaged in process of 'de-industrialisa-
Anxious
That argument is based on a confusion. The British capitalist class, despite
non-industrial sectors nuke bankine and insurance, denends on belng
class of an dustrialised country.
Socialist Challenge
streamline profitable and efficient, and industry make u more
break the
workers that is not the same thing as •e-toustralsalion. cYcl
involve alle redundancies.
De-industrialisation proper would be suicide for
capitalist class.
H ven threat to completely close BL
was the money there? Surely Leyland is bankrupt ane can amora more. Metro
Al one lever laisas tue But if we look below the sur hard. in the current year, ward. 1u1 chalile. •L whil uc pas ing an extra £20m in interest to me banks decause or man interest rates. This amounts
week worker.
since the Ryder nan in governmen
nas demanded that a porcomes from BL's financing
the banks Ivallulld BuICE DISC DUall
per cent interest
The large-scale borrowing of BL since 1975
13 November 1980 Page 4
By Bob Murphy THE result of the presidential election is a major blow to the left throughout the labour movement. Terry Duffy has been re-elected for life, without even the need for a second ballot.
Duffy stood in the election on his record over the past two years.
This record has been that of selling out the
fought for by 2m workers;
the against the victimisation of Derek Robinson at BL. and lning up wiln Ine rigal wing in the Labour Party.
Duffy's victory came at
gains are being made by the Jent mn toe avour movement. and when increasing
ing into action against the 1 UTICS alile waze cutting policies.
Duffy is totally against this thousands engineering WOrKCIS alc Duty and tne rigat-wing executive committee COTI AUEW have done nothing
By Pat Hickey,
TGWU shop steward, SD1
Rover Solihull
reject the com-
fer, the trade union leadership has once again caved
of Michael Edwardes.
membership's alleged
eason for contras ing
and living standards.
This year they had no such
they'd had enough.
made about plant closures,
met
been part of the Ryder and
rawarues
to une wore-wide crss o
modes. to streamine.
The Metro has
money.
The reD act
neer and he Ma
cost more than f500m. To
this will be added the cost of
Home News
Duffy trounces Wright
Engineering Union
avour unemo ovment. inci main advice AH V members, distributed in a four-page pull-out the nothing to damage the com union journal, petitiveness of your firm'.
The presidential election result mean general shift to the right in
Morning
Star's
head in
the clouds
'SIGNIFICANT gains for Broad Left in AUEW poll.' That was how the Communist
BL struggle
sabotaged again
had reversed their decision unis time without consulting the members or the shop stewards.
Grand Old Duke of York mar ched his troops up and down without achieving anything The BL negotiators managed to lose f1.25 similar exercise.
The company's response when the strike was called had been to offer this
the BL-Honda bounty
Through investment anc
new models BL believes it
workforce alceos Icuu
lancy and speed u
responsible for that crisis,
Lilat crisis,
inv more man une worker
t Ford General Motors
Fiat or Chrysler are respon
sible for the crises affecting
enose companies
A wage increase to kee
pace inflation wouk
from the government. But a
government which can
rora to pay toon on 1 raen
missiles and let police and
left winger Krett wor CIne nanona. organiser's position against right winger Sullivan by a
the presidential elecnon there was a move away from both Duffy and Broad Left candidate, Bob Wright. AUEW members •• nol set wright adequate aternalve despite their dissatisfaction with Duffy
The defeat for Wright is a legacy of the long crisis of
Broad ine started when Hugh (now Lord) Scanlon went over "completely and utterly', a
Party's Morning Star reported the result of th Engineering Union elections.
At a time of perhaps the
disastrous electora drubbing which the left has
ree isit possible for the cs
recelved
make suce an dosule statement?
The Morning Star justifies reference to the results other than that for the "Well. vou volca l reject the 6.8% pay offer, but unfortunately the senior stewards haven't thought of a way to save your jobs
increase payments nursery rhyme, the
Led management offer. back on a week
suffered another initial
car workers
army shoot up Cal
afford pay a living wage
workers
LO D
Refusing
responsibility for the cal basis held have challenged or he claim on
the logic of BL's rationalis-
ation plans
It would mean opposing
redundancy i would require
speea up, and
demand see where BL's
OOOKS
money goes It would
volve fighting for work.
sharing with no loss of pa!
have to be built to fight for
these demands. Duffy. Kit
son and Hawley never will::
camp of he pul to the Harold Wilson.
By failing to chart an independent
not break trom Scanlon anc The soca contraci there's not lo br similar debacle of the left when 1 Sir tested mes re-selection general secretary next ycal there reeds • to be a rapid shift by leaders such Wright.
Starting campaign port of the Gardner's oc cupation and mass action against the cruise miare the kind of steps unar are recure• to ou the support that could defeat Sir John.
president. result of presidential election, which Duffy beat left winger Wright by a 2-1 ma jority is by far Inemos ignificant of the election: which have just been held It demonstrates the com plete Tallure or tne Broad Left's strategy over the past five years - a fact which the Morning Star can't admit. Thus an important defeat is wrillen as li l were a vic tory. No one will De tooled.
above
€30
systems.
ficult
were
As
coming more
tions did Cars
ingham, 00000 plant jobs
now
cies
amount over the 6.8 per cent to show their good intentions
the bonus posing
But the trade unions refus. oss
accept this The tion
withdrew the and it has not put it
the table. The outcome is that BL workers have
drastic cut in their living standards. Ten years ago, Midlands
were paid f10 nose for Metro
Duffy's
rise to power 1975 John Boyd defeats bon wrient in elecuon for general secretary of the AUEW. : Terry Duff) landslide arous wrentor a sent on the executive. 1977 " But leads beats Wright by the first ballot of the presidential election beats Wright by 165 168 vote: to 122,251 in the second ballot of the orestuel election on a 32 per cent poll Wright wins election for secretary, G the right-win can. 150.560 vote:
1980 , 126,135 votes DeOS t038,26 126, 10 round of the presidential elecuon on 14. 1 per certi poll. No need for second ballot. Duffy is elected for life.
the national average
behind management has conceded is a commitment to 'meaningful discussions' bonus
unions declared that they had recognised the dif-
economic circumstances of the company and
concerned management to ensure the viability of BL
So they recommended that the strike be called off.
a result cardes once again got away with ax. ing workers' living standards. He will use his victory in the
Montis enforce redundancies plant closures, and speed ups.
The meaningful negotia
on bonus systems will help him to do this.
Part of the company's plan for the coming year is to concentrate car production two major centres in Birm-
Common Lane which makes Sherpa Vans and the SC1, which produces TRAs and Rovers.
Opposition
On the SD1, more than 500
will disappear Christmas if management's plan goes through.
The union leadership has given a green light to
another round of redundar
and Wil to sabotage any. opposition Edwardes. Management' success will enormously assist other employers in im
wage cuts and job
combine-wide • opposi needs to be built, based the call a nationa delegate conference to decide on a strategy for the defence of jobs and living Thisdards one task which
task which militants at BL must now take EDWARDES: workers pay through the
Page 5 scan of this page
FOR THE past week Gardner's workers have been flying round the country raising support and money for the occupation. Mick was among them: 'I've been going around the bus depots
the Manchester The response was good. They thought it was their fight, that Gardner's is giving a lead in how to fight for jobs.
"They're threatened with 150 redundancies on the
and them Calcis which road thev should take
industrial to ae
It's true, too;
dancies all over we're the only ones taking action.
When you have round you've arguments unemployment. But it's not so omnicull to show wilal s wrong with sulualol where ICI can sack the peo-
ple weaine beat pao ging
wealth that given them a profit every year for
NHS -
On the
critical
list
THE Treasury has just demanded further £2bn reduction in public spending. It is against this background that NHS Condition Critical, the latest report from CounterInformation Services, reveals the depth of the crisis already developing in the health service.
So far health minister Gerard Vaughan has been claiming that
Tories keeping promise to maintain spending on the NHS. He can get away with LOIS because government figures are cooked to conceal the more spending on The Nice Each year the yawed back by the combined f iects or casn hmils, inmaton, iadequate capital spending.
of a growing and ageing population.
Squeeze
CIS that 10 per cent more on the NHSinit government would need to were to nve up tolls bromises
Line • ories know
office a the Department not
Radford, told the mouse or commons social
vices committee:
recognise that year by year a small amount extra required, l you like, to stand still
we wole nave a secone -cass health service in ten years if we gave them penny more; would gradually slip behind. Surplus
What they don't admit is that this is exactly
The more the NHS is squeezco. une creater rivale benents. Private nean musurance and treatment is already a moneyspinner: BUPA, поп-с33m though
technically llas d surplus against sales of its policies of f95m.
Sheltered by the 'catch-all'
NHS system, and helped by
tax exempt status of both their in-
surance dusnes: and lac • Claril
established develor
private hospitals, BUPA has built
up large
Aided by the City's eagerness Tune recession-proot
'The union encourage
For later
factory'
Gardner's apprentice
Gardner's engineering factory is that,
the majority of workers
the last 55 years They asur have to sack people
around anyone really believe that people washing 1KC machines, fridges, engines, or decent houses.
make It worse because less people can anora to buy things anyway.
CISREPORT
NHS
CONDITION
CRITICAL
and
the str-
we
dustries such as private medicine, the business is awash with cash to expl Tories' health axe.
Meanwhile the drug industry uran from its dealings with tne Nos While patients in pain must wait the
basic resources
together emerect the spolis amounung to almost
relationship typical decision-making processes inside
should us to get involved because sooner
it'll be our
ONE of the most striking things about the
like the workers in the Lenin shipyard in Poland,
are young. Red. mond O'Neill talked to Mick Smethurst, a third year apprentice in the toolroom, about the strike and the role of young workers in it.
'we ve nad a lot or sup port from the places we've been visiting. But I think the union leaders should be to the shop floor aroung I01 sondarily. not just solidarity; because
Should for them take themselves to delena unelr That's the best the health service cludes an in-depth look at Soutt cos ser services and DIULIES speed the decline in health do a lowly and from the people it is supposed to Call
enough to remember secret *This is where the NHS was borr the and I reckon THIS started to kill it off.'
Home News
and
'It's important that young workers more active part in the union' - other factories occupying Lo aciena loos I don't agree with peo ple who say we should wai ill the next election before Aman 95p
Condition Critical in
ficials care lu
the randon wards and facilities relatively young,
separation are seen as no
As one South Wales miner old
remarked for health in Bondin 95p plus 25 is where ue
take a
taking on Thatcher. By then it'll be too late for a lot of people only way aca will government 'Four
we
nard craft
Labour
Hence.
ment.
MP.
Socialist
tional
The underlying condition of the NHS is far worse than the of
admit. While be prepared to provide re to
the poor, and the chronically ill
more than the unprofitable end of a market
It is these people who will pay if the Tories succeed in their plan
Condition Critical'
Poland Si, London rom: CIS, i
action to get them out!
Power
'As it is, I'm worried that some trade union IcaucIs wall lo use Maroners as a sort or ex periment and just wait and . We don't sort of support. leaders be tourne une ractorie with us arguing for support "and action кПо» people argue that the unions have CLOC mUCh DUWCI personali don' think they've got enough. unions nothing more than the workers on
sho What
sort of power have we got? What Say ul we have about owe work is organised? Who asks us what should be pro. duced? The
windraw ou labour alle that's our right if our jobs are • bie teached. leading the fight is that tars I casul
Is a very well organised fa tory safety-wise and union wise Before the occupation Lue snoo stewards met cver weeks reporter
Labour
Co-ordinating
Committee
retreats
By Paul Smith
years to democratise the unions is too long. The Tory government is deaf and
can't survive that long.' This is how Ber
Connolly. joint convenor from Rotherham steelworks opened the 1 November
Co-ordinating Committee Confer-
The conference was called to discuss democracy in the unions and the fight against unemploy-
Jane ninetee delegates attended Trom Trace
loca Labour parties and steel, mining, building ensenaerinsigned unions. Fifty
Socialist Challenge statemen he conference to adopt positiv
action to save jobs
n in then
members were adamant
Michae Meach chairperson, Meacher
even refused requests for a I whether the conference should be allowed to vote! Obscurity
Many Challengers of the arced as a stare in the LCC would break from the tradh Lobour isit when shown
left directlybscurity faced with in the unions
To build the November 29 unemployment
organise broad-based labour , to help build a big lobby o Gard. special Labou conference possible franchise the leade were some of the proposals of the
canette salcach
The LCC conference failed to give a lead on these or other
The LCC leadership re main content to operate as a
Socialist Challenge
means nal BaCk to sub liccus we're all well-
informed and when it comes : crunch people back up th shop ste Also the here quite WOTACIS reckon there young about acce maybe under cavea old® I think it's importan that take a active part 12U1C just in disputes
but all the time.
Dispute
The union should en coulase to get involved Decause Soure or lalc Ill be our Tactory i distor , before the sit-in we had and there were union speaker: the canLoCh can t why couldn't have had an prentice speaking along with the others 'A lad of nineteen is go. ing to get through to other vout easily than a bloke of 40 peopic
One of the could be encourag ed would be through setting up inel own commitices so they had their own reps ir the union. pressure group on the Labou
executive much of the discussior
HOOI delegate was CHOH • USCILI Man One
chester threw a challenge down to un to Carder's
campaign for the caucasi or Ine Labour Part …rom there
A woman engineering worke
Lesney's engineering factory in London explained that th
male temale worktorce weakenca l labour movement "The fact that
wages appalling doesn't make the men's wages good' pointed out. 'If we were able to fight together we'd all have a de cent wage. ' Positive action to de fend women's was needer LO Will l oI the labour movener. she concucce Michael Meacher
John Ingham a miner fron Sheffield, called for the unity of steelworkers faith can be placed rank
railway
unemploymen
Michael Meache : promised une concene a coo aimed at all those campaigning against unemployment
seen whether the LCO
such a conden. sheet of their political approact they are Labo so far would seem to indicate tha
joint union action needed against the Tories.
13 November 1980 Page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
Iran: to defend or
AntiSemitism
and
schmultz
herrings
MARK Solomons' call
is unexcepis
ters. NOV) nonable, save for remark about 'demonstrating our support
Jewish culture and identity
excudes Zionism from the 'identity he asks us to support, but he does not concept of which he evident-
As with the religious and cultural Indian migrants sub-continent, we dosolute. ¡vocere me goat orewisn and Asian people to pursue the from racial it beratele their life-style
Support is another matter. Like Islam. Judaism involves benels and pracuces which are downright reactionary, not least in relation to women.
Among Orthodox Jews, men Jou. i am not a women. They are on a mountain top rather
women are exclúded LIC Illall rituals. segregated Ene synagogue, uncean during their periods, obliged to
married, and numerous other ways nailed to ine side or their daugnters a to me sink
Islam derives many of its customs fre om Judaism.
and anti-Semitism Will aid the resistance or ine vc me o oppressive practices within
and Judaism, with the
the social ghettos that their communities often
The survival ot a distinctively Jewish been undermined in those societies where antirelatively don ant. occome for some two decades now example,
JEWISI DUaTU vegudes community leaders have been
tendency those of Jewish origin to
assillillalcu avall conne ceraous muas ano quite often, too, any identification with the Jewish
This is not DUCESS socialists would wish to nail
difficult define given liverse migration pattern of Jewish
copie, is now so much od
western culture mat it! hard to know where to draw a line
We can locate the origins of
stillulls Dul rache une work oraro! Pinter or even Woody Allen to Russian Polish village is i can't be pinned down
to London's East End
sole and elder. Ine Cultural political developments, Zionism,
those ghettos ¡cany lvvicu as Dall or ent llaskalall ment movemen among Polish Jewry. So where does
distinctively Jewish culture begin and end?
None of this. or course snoua deraci tron our on-
Guite aDoul beners i nones to accrue from fascist attacks on the diaspora.
GEOFFREY SHERIDAN, North London
Socialist Challenge
Incoherent
rubbish
WHEREAS Socialist Worker tends to concentrate on the lumpen end of culture football/punk and Socialist narence tenas towaros une
Out with hardly anything on jazz. and tainly notling on classica. music.
So pleasantly
suprised to see Skip Laszlo's
interview with Max Roach
quickly became
No gains
under
Khomeini
SOCIALIST Challenge argues that the deteat of iran by iraq wormen the bloody crushing of the
of the Iranian revoluBallis (30 Oct).
Lull
What gains? Apart from
the nan have the Iranian masses
Khomeini's should ask this question of the wome
ti10 Hallulla. minoriter me workers l the oil fields?
The February Revolu-
bor the a definite revolui nis brough greater bonnical benelts the Russian people than the fall of the Shah brought to the Iranian masses. For one
socialist bartes coula rul tion open v
Despite this, Lenin and Trotsky a firm line against the defencists and called for the overthrow of une Provisiona govern ment despite the fact that
13 November 1980 Page 6
unpleasantly suprised.
Max koan mav wer be one of the most important
post-war drummers be charitable
All his i grossly inaccurate remarks are allowed lo das. and are i some cases
I would hope that most dismise by you readers be article would incoherent rubbish. For examnibic.
the natural music of democracy European music 1s Ine music petals conductor ana a composer rule ine res of the musicians like slaves.
not to defend
Russia was under siege by huberialist uerially. «a nor cal upon socialists to 'fight alongside Kerensky through their 'independen methods struggle and organisation
Neither the Iranian nor Ine Hag. workers and peasants have anything to
under eadership of Khomeini a russell
Socialist Challenge mav have COnsistently argued that the Iranian masses have every in
have the peop and the whole world', it has
COnSISiCILLy wrong avoul unis ano nas not pro duced a single convincing argument in support of this case.
CHARLIE VAN GELDEREN, London
Watch out, there's a red pencil about
All the letters on this page have been couee...su. edse try to keep letters to 300 WOOS
Letters
I lazz an laca is oresente o be discussed and debate ike ın a mecce
The remarks about Billie Holiday's last record are deliberately misleading Leonard Feather's tions to the record are based on the company issuing the recora or a very sick woman crippled by drug addiction who died within a yea
Similarly, a record company Issuca charlie Parker's "Loverman which he broke down during his solo and was replaced by
Historical recordings o ghoulish voyeurism? J BELL, London
Depressing
lack of
support for Iran I FIND it really depressing reading the letters that have flooded Socialist Challenge over the past few
defending week. azallist iran in a war against an imperialist-inspired inva-
sionwe live in an era which
revolutionary Marxists label as one or wars ana coll tions. •Ano vet. it imperial ism attacks a revolution or even a semi-colonial govern there are howls of 'Marxist protest against laking stues unless imperialism is openly
its involve-
Many readers
until ine sides WILD Perhaps they should recall
incidents in the last imperialis years where
volvement was obvious * No US marines landed to declared: overthrow Allenae; ll was
I was wrong
SOCIALIST Challenge was
SLICSS aggressive nature Soviet Union and was
wrote ro assemes in ti
Will remen Las all moves by Western countrie towards CND (and the Socialist carmamenc
Workers Party) base their unilateralism solely on the
of disarma
all cone ov neans. we
know hatched
Washington, but the US has
over-
InToWn duatemaid
1954 the invading column
had no US troops in it ever
though the CIA planned the
whole thing. (Fortunately
IOT world revolution
young doctor in the country
drew the correct conclusions
and spent the rest of his life
fighting US imperialism
Juevald alcu ocrore
The ca domes l
volvement in Arbenz's over-
CIA admit
that they, in collusion with
Exxon (then called Standard
Dilall ul
Hans overinrowing
the Mossedegh regime.
They didn't say so at the
In 1979 the Vietnames
vaded Kampuchea to aid the
has become the darling of
US and British imperialism
most Marxist
Cults l europe called
Tor lakme no sides. or worse
said 'Vietnamese troops
leave Cambodia'
rourin interaonal!
The American and
'You were right...
ment, mass ments in the East do not im mediately take on an anti nuclea character strategy will fall flat!
As it is, only the fact that there are. arENATO numbers of countrie allows no car tor tota alsar mament now in individual
countries
is an organisation which is determined to raise
Japanese rotskvises nac no
trouble immediately backhat the issue is cry alsor the Vietnamese Now
John Pilger's
than
lines Marxists look pretty
silly
It is the the job of Marx-
ists to expose imperialișm
more obel mannel
Iran nas, since tne over
throw of the Shah, been
locked in a struggle with im-
perialism. • It is sad that most
of those who have written to
socials cnallence call l set
and, calling
fence-sitting, have a posi-
that is the
same as that of their ow
should instead be
Gemanding inade bree
Is Chieftain tanks;
Trao through Saudi Arabia
and that both powers release
stolen Iranian assets
Right Vietnam,
itself victim o im-
, and North
korea are coming to mran.
aid. To be a fence-sitter to-
day is not to be neutral; it
aims and designs of
imperialism.
S PAUL, W London
unilateral slogans, but can only justify them as a tactic
getting them raised ternationally, that is multi-
Thus lalcially not come to grips with reac tionary arguments for need for a 'nuclear balance'
The heart nes D an
to the could be basis Gestucuon scare like red Cuban missile crisis, bomb scare , could
the anti-bomb move. ment t in two
The sophistication of the European Nuclear Disarma ment campaign lies avoidance of the iwo coun
maintain • the USA mythical 'balance' and the Soviet Union
Socialist should argue at the CND conference
campaigr whic is not mined deterrence ar cument. Cruise missiles, which actually destroy 'balance' . We now nave a march of ove 200,000 against Cruise now
on v the • Internationa Marxist
justify unilateralism will nor imper ne low late. Soviet Union to destroy half
word s productive resources in a search markets
• the IMG needs t allay fears about wha 'defence of the red bomb means The red bomb is for the defenc Soviet Con ov celerane alack. We do not want to see a
nuclear Soviet Union in an otherwise nuclear-free
would over unor o awav o one step ahead of the West in disarmament terms so a
destroy capitalists Justifications for their own nuclear weaDon. will
sovie nion not be rehabilitiated into the
Ing class the Wester, no ky
ing class
giving weapolls auccu suen a rear or com munsme el workins class that
nuclear-free US val ucularly WiCH perlansm is being inrealer ed by socialist liberation movements over the globe
The red bomb's role in ne cerence o me sovie Union must be put into a more balanced per petive
protection that the Us working class would give to the ussk, and en courages the US people to give greater protection. LES HARTOP, Coventry
What's Left
Liberation
Red Lion
me, Birmingham-based socialist an
Page 7 scan of this page
Pauline McLaughlin
By Tom Marlowe
THE British government
has decided that
seven Irish political
prisoners now entering
their third week
hunger strike must die
alone.
This is the consequence of Thursday decision announced
through
Government's Northern
meland rice. ll was a move
all too typical of the cruel and
heartless thinking which has
been the basis of
policy on the H Blocks issue.
I ne seven prisoners are or
a fast unil death, in pursuit
demands
prisoners in H Block and Ar-
magh to be given political
SLalus. This would Involve
allowing the prisoners to wear
their
UWIl cutles. renall
from prison work, associate
freely with each other. organise their own education and recreation.
Until the end of last week each of the seven prisoners shared a cell witn another political prisoner not
hunger strike. But the seven have no'v been moved into a special reserved' wing, Long Kesh and placed solitary confinement.
Will
The transfer is seen as the latest attempt of the government to break the will of the hunger strikers.
The Northern Ireland Of fice produced squalid justification move, that the hunger strikers need ed 'a higher degree of clinical observation than is possible in the conditions
pertaining in the 'dirty' cells.
But while this explains wav the prisoners are being moved to 'clean' cells does not explain WaV necessary to completely isolate the seven.
Meanwhile, "Produced S,.00o the ment has 5,000 copies of a special pamphlet entitled H Block
- he 00 which is being distributed free to journalists and to foreign embassies.
This pamphlet is an exercise in 'black' propaganda,
ISOLATION!
The British government's
answer to hunger strikers
full of unfounded assertions and twisted facts.
In one bizzare passage it the attempts to justify the squalid
scal cul the prisoners when they
on forced to squat nakea over a
mirror while the individuals' rectum is probed and searchprocedure necessary, says the pamphlet, last because of frequent attempts
the to smuggle articles'.
talse as this assertion may be, what is not explained is why it is the H Block prisoners, and the H Block prisoners alone, who degrading practice.
Certainly, smuggling not unknown in Long Kesh, but neither are such excerises confined the pulsuicis. .H Block — the facts also ollers evidence of the conti. nuing intransigent attitude of ine government. any room for compromise, says the pamphlet, which hardly fits with another claim in the pamphlet; that it the 'government's
of
in
Clearing out the H Blocks
By Sarah Roeloffs ON 30 October the Armagh Women's Prisoners' Committee Dublin that Pauline McLaughlin 'will die if she is not moved immediately to a civilian hospital for emergency treatment.
The following evening 23-year-old Pauline was returned Armagh Military Hospital. She had been sent to the hospital after suffering a second heart attack.
In 1976, when she begat
Pauline werented 9 weighs 4½ stone. She has lost her hardly stand. With very little flesh left on her body, an attempt to take a blood test resulted in extreme pain when the needle hit bone.
On 31 October the Press concuica. I ne iransier McLaughlin back to Armagh Jail is a cruel and nearuess decision which can only make one despai of finding ally emoton olner militaristic attitude in the minds of British decisiontakers where Northern Ireland is concerned.
*To say that the girl has been transferred at "her own request" is misleading beyond the point of heartlessness,' the newpaper added. cleo on
are
True
this
H Block
'Nor is there that 'the prisoners will go on
being treated as humanely as a boast possible'.
For possible' now read
wish'
commement.
•Ireland
Armagh prisoner near death
warned in
Open
the
ITOR Musgrove noon.
her indefinite jail
stone. She now
teeth and can
Pauline
than a vindictive
read ol
If she had Some people in this country won't let Pauline McLaughlin die
"humanely
as "solitary up the
the
side
H Blocks. their drew to ar
cautional Duncal place this brance since
Minds
most in the
been killer murderer
IS NORTHERN IRELAND AN ISSUE FOR WOMEN?
Discussion Forum, 14 February
1981. Planning meeting to organise for
forum, Sunday 16 November,
At 374 Grays Inn Rd, Kings X, Lon-
don WC1. All women welcome.
asked to be sent home, would this have been done "at her own request"? Would the special category status curl cully al issue. her "at her own request"? We know the answer i have been conferred o
that emphatically it would not
Pauline was
› convicica purely on the basis of a 'confession' which the police maintain she reac before putting her mark to it. But Pauline canno
write
During her interrogation, sleep deprivation methods were used and she was repeatedly showr colour photographs of mutilated bodies. Refused
AULINE CLAUS 42 Store 1 NE
NAMENT Stepping Army in
decide solidarity TWENTY activists of
Irish solidarity movement in Britain attention spent last weekend aramatic in a protest fast out-
Downing Street 'Don't in solidarity with the die hunger strikers in the
48-hour 1 end, Whiteha!! organising nemembrance
For the first time ceremoni took details included nice soldiers killed active ser vice for their country'
Ireland
starting
ed. bupendoully this is one Northern Ireland specifically nication was All ofthe anthe diwas of the assembled priticians and solidarity
Use who have tortured, the British three days later. Nationat
perpetuated DrisonerS
human anyway..?'
*Send emergency Ireland Office
sent to a civilian hospital
ficer
Co-Ordinating
*Picket Downing St, Friday fighting for the riaht of the irish neople to
their own future not have been
activity in their support is Spread and Britair throughout
troops Out Movement members in Norwich drew
Ine situation orisoners fashion They hung a banner from the top of the City Hail demanding
let Irish prisoners
Oinet • areas local Charter 80 Groues and ad hoc
witn ine nuncer strike ari
public meet leafletting and local the TOM ofU-20
A national demonstra tion called by the Commit-
Withdrawal tionary TrOW neia nex November, from the Embankment in London
Socialist Challenge strikers supporters are asked to be
and join the roop: contingent. ed. national demonstration in
with the hunger neid one verenver in condon. witr
day of action
Socialist Challenge 13 November 1980
compassionate leave to attend her father's funerai Pauline's nervous stomach complaint worsened making it impossible for her to retain food. She
Pauline was originally 'on protest' for political status, but was blackmailed by the prison doctor to end her action. Her illness has never been diagnos. ed and she has still not received adequate medica! car Pauline's case graphicallyillustrates the barbarity of Armagh. Though much the worse because of her illness, Pauline's treatment is typical of that
the Irish political
As the Irish Press commented: 'Do the British aulnoriues teel so arrogant in their confidence a Deing able to contain the H-Block situation that they can afford to contemplate heightened tensions in Armagh and throughout the rest of the country, or do they simply think that the Irish are less than
Pauline's situation demands urgent action:
resolutions to the Northern London SW1. , and to the prime minister demanding that Pauline be immediatel
*Demand that the National Union of Students act on its policy of support for the Armagh women and opposition to Dr Cole, the Armagh medical of-
*Use the leaflet and petition available from the Woman's Place, 48 William IV St, London WC2 committee
ÜL SOCIALIST REPUBLIC
Wurt the / ger-strikers
THE REAL CANNENALS.
LOYALISTS, SAS ATTACK BLOCK CAMPAG
ANALYSIS OF ECONOMY
Socialist Republic - news. doer or tne sa revoll socialist organisa tion, People's Democracy New issue just out *rikers* The jobs! pligh Cano e youth Ireland workers * Challenge * Will the more CP march in step secret lalks Block? * Build the Armagh campaign Available from Socialist Challenge seller or PO Box 50, London N1. . 25p inc pap
Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
ENGLAND'S
The first reading of th Home Rule Bill took place in the !. Louse of Commons in 1912. The Bill involved Britain withdrawing from all of Ireland and allowing the inhabitants of that country a limited degree of self-government.
The Bill was due to become law in 1914 but by 1913 it was becoming clear that Britain was preparing to back-track.
In the north of Ireland a minority of the population threatened an armed rebellion if Home Rule were enacted. They were supported by the Tory opposition at Westminster, whose leader, Bonar Law, declared: 'I can imagine no length of resistance to which Ulster will go in which I shall not be ready to support them.'
James Connolly
A compromise, involving the partition of Ireland, was suggested. The revolutionary Marxist, James Connolly, warned that such a scheme would mean a 'carnival of reaction' and that it would "destroy the oncoming unity of the Irish labour movement'. The hunger strike, 1913 The first hunger strike in modern Irish history was undertaken by James Connolly in the course of the 1913 Dublin lock-out. This involved tens of thousands of Dubliners being locked out, or on strike for trade union recognition.
Along with Jim Larkin, James Connolly was one of the leaders of the irish Transport and General Workers' Union. He had been in Dublin only two days when he was arrested after making a speech urging Dublin workers to defy a ban on a demonstration.
Connolly told the judge who sentenced him to three months imprisonment:
'I do not recognise English government in Ireland at all. I do not recognise the King.... The only manner in which progress can be made is by guaranteeing the right of the people to assemble and voice their views.
When in jail, Connolly was visited by a variety of labour leaders, including Kier Hardie, one of the founders of the British Labour Party. After a couple of days Connolly went on hunger strike. This protest, and the mass support it received in Dublin, quickly secured his release.
The lock-out itself eventually ended in a partial defeat for the workers, but out of it came Connolly's Citizen Army, described by Lenin as 'the first red army
Socialist Challenge 13 November 1980 Page 8
in history'. Connolly and that army were later to play their part in the 1916 Irish Rising.
The 1916 Rising was defeated, its leaders were executed and its sympathisers brutally repressed. The promise of Irish Home Rule began to fade, and the partition of Ireland now seemed likely.
But the Rising awakened a great wave of national consciousness in the Irish people and by 1917 Ireland was in a state of near-insurrection. The hunger
strike, 1917
Thomas Ashe was a commandant in the 1916 Rising. He was arrested by the British government, sentenced to death, reprieved and subsequently released. In August 1917 he was again arrested, along with other Republicans, and charged with 'speeches calculated to cause disaffection'.
Thomas Ashe
on hunger strike demanding to be
days after an attempt by the British
authorities to force-feed him.
Ashe's coffin through the streets of
Dublin.
counties.
surprise. governments
death nature because
In Dublin's Mountjoy jail, Ashe went
treated as a prisoner-of-war. He died five
A crowd of 30,000 people followed
triumph.'
IRELAND is on the edge of a massive ex plosion. The stubborn attitude shown by the Tory government our-. the H Block hunger strike jc e! ung to light a fire which could sweep through the entire 32
The passionate support for the hunger strikers which is now evident in Ireland, and in the North in particular, is reported to have caught the British government by
That is a testament to that ignorance, for hunger strikes by political prisoners have always raised the temperature in Ireland.
This is not just because of the life or
of such a protest, but hunger strikes are a dramatic symbol of the resistance to British occupation of Ireland. That resistance, and its justification, is highlighted by the history of hunger stikes.
In the 1918 general election, 70 per cent of the Irish population voted for Sinn Fein, which stood for complete Irish independence and unity.
The British government refused to ac. cept this expression of popular will and when the Irish Republic was proclaimed, Britain declared war on that Republic
At the end of a campaign of British terror, and threats by the British government to wage 'total war' on the Irish majority, the partition of Ireland was imposed. No section of the Irish electorate voted for such partition.
The hunger
strike, 1920
Terence McSweeny was elected as Lord Mayor of Cork, standing on the platform of complete Irish freedom from Britain. He was arrested at a council meeting in August 1920, and tried in a military court on a charge of 'being in possession of documents the publication of which would be likely to cause disaffection to
McSweeny refused to recognise the right of the court to even exist in Ireland When convicted he went on hunger strike. He was transported to Brixton prison in London where, after 74 days on, hunger strike, he died
Terence McSweeny left these words:
'The contest on our side is not one of rivalry or vengeance, but of endurance. It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can suffer the most who will conquer.... It is conceivable that the army of occupation could stop our functioning for a time. Then it becomes simply a question of endurance. Those whose faith is strong will endure to the end in
Page 9 scan of this page
LIEST PRISON
LEWISCER
munster
GEOFF BELL examines developments and outlines why the Blocks of Long Kesh are just a recent addition to a larger prison whose population has been guarded and brutalised for generations. The name of that larger prison is Ireland.
Terence McSweeney
The partition of Ireland resulted in a northern Irish state in which the Catholic population was consciously discriminated against because of its political opposition to the existence of that state.
In 1968 a civil rights movement took to the streets, demanding an end to all discrimination. The Unionist regime in the north of Ireland attempted to repress it, and then buy it off with a few partial reforms.
All this failed. And when in 1969 the Catholic working class in Derry defeated the north of Ireland police after four days of rioting, the British army was sent in.
The demands for civil rights were answered in 1971 by the internment without trial of opponents of the Unionist regime, and in 1972 by the shooting dead of 14 anti-internment demonstrators. Such actions emphasised that, once more, Britain was at war in Ireland.
The hunger
strike, 1972
In May 1972 veteran Republican Billy
north of Ireland should be treated as prisoners of war.
allowed to wear their own clothes,
these tion.
by 70 Republican and 40 Loyalist prisoners. the tension'.
Over 3,000 have died in the north of Ireland in the latest eruption of the British/Irish conflict.
Ireland. Their leading adversary is the Provisional IRA, which a leaked top.
war to raise violence intermittently....
cient to maintain secure bases in the traditional Republican areas.
is the violence inflicted upon the Amnesty International. of Ireland's Catholic community, the Social Democratic and Labour Party,
similar sentiments when he said: 'the
better'.
munity.
McKee led a hunger strike in Belfast's Crumlin Road jail in support of the demand that all political prisoners in the
This involved the prisoners being
refrain from prison work, mix freely, and organise their own education and recrea-
At its peak, the strike was supported
In the Catholic working class areas of Belfast there were mass rallies and some rioting in support of the prisoners. After just over a month the Tory government gave in and granted all the prisoners' demands. The government explained that its change of attitude was to 'relieve
On one side is the British government, backed up by self-styled 'Loyalists' who continue to defend the partition of
secret British Army document admitted in 1979 'has the dedication and sinews of
For the foreseeable future... the movement will retain popular support suffi-
demands.
One reason for such 'popular support'
Catholic community by the British Army and other security forces. An aspect of that violence is the treatment handed out to Republicans while they are in police or prison custody. Such methods of 'interrogation' have been denounced by the European Commission of Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights and
THEY MURDER THE INNOCENT IN VENCEANCE
The main political party in the north
now calls for British withdrawal. So, too, does the present Irish government. At a fringe meeting during the 1980 Labour Party conference Tony Benn expressed
sooner we withdraw from Ireland, the
The hunger
strike, 1980
The 'special category status', granted by the Tories in 1972, was abolished by the Labour government in 1976. The change was part of the British government's attempt to portray Irish Republicans as 'criminals', and was accompanied by increased repression of the Catholic com-
But although the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Roy Mason, could boast in 1977 that 'the net is closing on the terrorists', the net did not close.
The British authorities became increasingly desperate, 'confessions' were beaten out of prisoners, who were then tried in juryless courts.
Sean McKenna on hunger strike now
When convicted by such a warped system of justice many Republicans refused to accept the new 'criminal' status imposed on them. They declined to wear prison uniforms and instead were offered nothing but a blanket to wrap around them.
After four long years the prisoners took what they felt was the last step open to them in their campaign to be recognised as prisoners of war: they went on hunger strike. On the eve of that strike, 25,000 people demonstrated in Belfast in support of the prisoners'
The 1980 hunger strikers declared: 'While the Irish nation remains unfree, partitioned, and at war with an alien government, torture in the prisons and oppression on the streets will always exist'.
Such words are not mere rhetoric. The hunger strikers mentioned here are just a few of many. The conflicts mentioned here are only a few examples of the consequences of the British occupation of Ireland.
There will be no peace in Ireland while that occupation exists. No guarantee can be given that as soon as Britain leaves there will be immediate peace, instant Irish unity, or the automatic coming-together of the Irish working class.
But what can be said is that none of these will occur until Britain leaves Ireland. Accordingly, building a mass movement around the demand for the immediate British withdrawal from Ireland is the best contribution that can be made to the cause of Irish peace, and working class unity.
Socialist Challenge 13 November 1980 Page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
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REVOLUTION
FOR A UNITED REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH ORGANISATION nota a Care t mecigs nissiles should be arranged as soon as possi-
Other THE / BOOKSHOP
Michèle Barrett
Women's Oppression Today -
Problems in Marxist Analysis
Verso Editions, £3.95 In this book Barrett assesses the challenge that the women's liberation movement has posed to the existing scope of socialist politics and discusses the common future of Marxism and feminism.
Coventry, Liverpool, Newcastle, and North
Tyneside Trades Councils State Intervention in Industry -
A Workers' Inquiry £2 This inquiry, which is one of the first of its kind, looks at the last government's industrial policy and concludes Wlal WOrKers musT politicians to find alternatives unemployment.
Helen Caldicott Nuclear Madness Autumn Press, £2.50 Caidicott gives an informative and readable account of ihe hazards what should be done about them.
Available from The Other Bookshop, per London N1 2XP.
Please add 15% if ordering by post.
Socialist Challenge
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328 Up-
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13 November 1980 Page 10
Annily Campbell, secretary of
Birmingham
Midlands CND:
'THE anti-nuclear moverent and CND
especially have grown rapidly in the last
year. But nobody would know that from the
low-key coverage of most of the establish-
ment press. Their garbage propaganda has to be challenged by a paper that gets behind the headlines to the real issues.
'Socialist Challenge has taken up the disarmament argument and advertised demonstrations and initiatives. The recent cetrespread, the appeal to volve youth in the campaign, and the call to build CND as a mass movement were very important.'
Photo: Newsline.
Vanessa Wiseman, dent of Lambeth Council: 'THE Lambeth anti-cuts conference on 1 November gives us a great chance to launch a national fightback against the Tory cuts
Socialist Challenge supporters played a major role in building the conference, and its fringe meeting drew 70 people to discuss the policies needed to take the campaign forward. urge Socialist Challenge sales and fund drive -it's the best paper on the left.'
Wing
Wing target. and West
consistently
losing paper's
the bills.
for the few from our
doomed diggers.
SCCuLLY
centre. of
sum
presi-
Trades
Icaucs WIno regularly was a tremendous success. It
Offer support the Now
campalgn
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE is em-
barking on its most ambitious
project - a national £100,000
fund drive linked to a huge sales
and subscriptions drive.
optimistic targets stem from our
firm belief that more and more working people are looking for a socialist solution to the crisis. Never before has there been such a cry-
need for socialism world. Never before have the stakes in the fight for socialism been so high. HMS Britain, with Thatcher at the helm and Reagan in charge of the fleet, is be-
turned into a gigantic floating
And why? So that the arsenal of destruction commanded by the Pentagon and our own military chiefs can be turned against the rising tide revolution in the rest of the world.
The right-wing labour leaders sup. port the arms race. David Owen, Terry Duffy and Shirley Williams not only support NATO, they take its money to organise inside the labour movement in support of NATO policies.
TWO weeks ago the London Evening News ceased publication. Despite selling 450,000 copies, it was
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* AND DIRECTORY *
1981
UTOPIAS
under Thatche Directory: contac duaressos TOl over 1,200 campaigns and organisa. tions Plus, the Diary itself. This ycal ll lakes å nonmnearter
the picture Thomas More, Marge EuiR, and mane Ure Robert Owen, Ursula Le
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Page 11 scan of this page
...
Nor can we wait till 1984 to elect a left Labour government. the fightback against the Tories has to begin now. A new fighting leadership has to be built inside the working class movement. And the battle has to be fought against the capitalists on scale. That's why Socialist Challenge supports the Fourth International - an international revolutionary party.
To spearhead this fight for socialism we need organisation. We need sellers for the paper, ideas, resources to produce propaganda, and organisers to put it into practice. We need a weekly paper arguing for socialist solutions to the crisis.
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thorough-going offensive with Thatcher as
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socialist's and activist's hands.'
October
an international
November
campaigners for our
December
centre, fully
January regular
our national MICHAEL have
TV nounced
the
arms race!
Wing at our meetings
AUEW con- will be.
Eucleal movement faces
The
million
workers fear the
La deadly
Our dangerous,
bosses!
anti-missiles WUINCID
FUND DRIVE '81
400 600 800
SUBS DRIVE
1000 Foot must been reading Socialist Challenge. On
last week he anthat the two key issues he would fight on if he were leader of
Labour Party are unemployment and the
While Foot won't be speak-
'Jobs not Bombs' around the countrv. those in the forefront of these campaigns against the Tories
Socialist Challenge's speak-
idea that workers need jobs not
The f5bn wcabulls spent on Trident could be used to create jobs for hundreds of ing on the dole. have crossed the minds of many sallic thought must American workers. There are 8
unemployed
JSA, but the Pentagon plans
o spend upwards of $100bn ol
new toy - the MX missiles system.
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campaign, against
series of
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27 Nov. North London
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Speakers include trade unionists
Kick
outthe
orie
UNEMPLOYMENT, local
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ference on 24 January.
Loretta
against.
fight.
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Photo: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
ONE extra paper to sell! That's what we want all our readers to
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We are convinced that there is a broader
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Have you checked that you cover all the important trade union and Labour Party meetings in the area, such as trades coun
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Loach, Troops Out
Movement, officeworker:
'FOR those of us involved in Irish solidarity
work in Britain it is a constant effort to find
out what is really happening in Ireland. The
lies and distortion of the British media is
something we have to consistently fight
Socialist Challenge helps us in thai Its detailed coverage of Ireland is
reason enough for supporting the paper -
financially and by any other means.
THEY SAY LAW AND ORDER
TROOPS
OUT NOW
13 November 1980 Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
59 58 57 56 55 54
Per cent 53
52 51 50
1960 1964
1960-1980 first struggle East European
1956 a similar movement occurred.
Although Russian Hungary in October of that year, enter
events of 24 years ago. On 23 June 1956 several thousand workers from a factory in Poznan met to protest their working conditions. They sent a delegation to Warsaw but nothing came of it. Strikes broke out. The first anti-bureaucratic revolution in Poland had begun.
On 25 June the militia opened fire on WORKES demonstration from locomotive factory. in Poz-
Forty-four workers were killed. In the following days. and especially on 28 and 29 June, the whole of the POZ nan working class took to the surcels.
Despite sion, the agitation continued all summer. At the Seventh Plenum of the Communist Party of Poland, Gomulka, eliminated from the leadership 1948, rehabilitated. Triumph
On 21 October, under the pressure of the people
against the opposition of the
most openly pro-Gemuika
party, Gomulka
became first secretary of the
He promptly dismissed
the leading pro-Stalinists
State and party. On 24 Oc.
tober 350,000 peopie acclaim-
ed Gomulka in Warsaw.
Popular enthusiasm was at its
peak
Workers' councils, the ex-
pression of socialist
democracy, first made their
appearance at the Zeran car
plant September.
pread throughout industria
blan encouraged
Gomulka's political triumph Polish partement adopted a November 1956
Law recognising the councils
Socialist Challenge 13 November 1980
1968 1972 1976 1980
American Elections voter turn out
The 1956 Polish
workers' revolt
The workers' revolt in Poland today is not the
workers undertaken against bureaucratic leaders: in
troops marched into they did not Poland; the Polish leaders put on 'liberal' face to head off the movement. Below we reprint excerpts from an article from Rouge, the French Trotskyist weekly, on the Polish
the was
and
of right to manage the factories On 18 November signed accord councils: the USSR agreed to wheat, but maintained an im- cancel debts ana portant military presence.
The movement Polish workers' there were more than 4, 700 by the end of 1957 — ignored the limits which the liberal wing of the bureaucracy wanted to set. Workers began to replace the administrators Gomulka managers of their own choice, overnment
Page 12
vative
Ronald
elections.
accepted
workers
30 decline
have in Warsaw on 24 October 1956
Our History
Gomulka
with the
tories deliver working arrangements,
of the Nevertheless, councils
its tactics and
utopia'. In newspaper the
International
Twenty six per cent
elect Reagan in USA
'A REPUDIATION of liberalism by an in creasingly consersociety that was how Now! magazine described Reagan's 'landslide' victory in the US presidential helped Most of the media has assessment Reagan's victory
anywhere 1n the world. But the theory of the nass 'landslide' swing to the cent, right is a myth In fact it was the lowest voter moul ol 10C blar conn LIC since the 1948 elec Reagan 1 a lower percentage of the votes than Wladyslaw Gomulka (top) and below addressing 240,000-strong crowd
The constituting themselves, little by little, as 'the sole workers' representation within the fac-
tober They began to influence
ductivity, bonuses and wages.
from Jacek 1957 the government changed acknowledged
began nounce the workers' councils development as the expression of 'anarchist
May 1958 the Pro Postu, the organ of the intellectuals and it of a the 'October Left', was bann- against
Johnson n 52
He was elected in fac ent of th electorate four Americans either voted else or didn't bother to vote at all Was land.
Reagan but against Carter groups that him 176 the DESICCHC deserted
of the black vote, OUT blacks voted. share of the 49 smaller share of the female WOll • mucr yote than expected only Reagan's 46 › per • Coll. Is armony surprising
that these people deserted Carter. There are now 8.2m workers' councils were replaced by 'conferences
workers' selfmanagement', which restored the political responsibilities of the workers' councils to the holy bureaucratic trinity: the party, the official union and the economic leadership.
were guidated: tendered series
were rendered powerless and the opposition crushed
Red later: (KOR) possibility for the of the revolu tion was the formulation of a proletarian class programme and the organisation around
fighting Bly allell the power of the liberal bureaucracy.
registered unemployed
inflation is run. ning at 12 pe cent When Carter defended hi: creation programme in the JODS Peasan televiser debate,
was able 52 per cent youth Detroit were unemployed
And Carter's attempt to present Reagan as the warmonger hardly squared with
administration's Stodin into the l misto system.
It is clear that American dissatisfied than ever with the two-party
HOUTI received a greater respon:
• their call for the form: tion of a i labour • party than ever betore their campaigning
presidential and campaigns brought them Into contact with hun. dreds of thousands or peo
Represssion
sweeps El
Salvador
By Davy Jones FELIX Olloa, Rector of the National University of El Salvador, was due in Britain this week to expose the repression in his country. He never arrived. He was assassinated, becoming the 8,000th victim of political violence in El Salvador this year.
reactionary junta of industrialists and army officers backed by US imperialism. fighting a ruthless civil war against the broad based Revolutionary Democratic Front (FDR)
most industrialised country in Central America with mining, manufacturing, petroleum refining, food processing and clothing industries. More than 70 per cent of all industry is owned or partly owned by US corporations. And the USA has pumped in $5.5m in military aid to the El Salvador regime.
Meanwhile the population live in poverty Ninety per cent of the population own just 20 per cent of all the land. Ninety two per cent of the population receive only half the national income Only 16 per cent of the economically active population have work all the year round. The regime aims to keep things that way:
All opposition to the regime is being systematically liquidated by the police and army or right-wing goon squads under their protection The election of Ronald Reagan as American presi dent is likely to reinforce US involvement in this campaign of repression.
It is therefore very timely for the El Salvador Solidarity Campaign to have published a new pamphlet entitled El Salvador American Vietnam. The pamphlet is excellent, full of facts and figures on the history and current situation in El Salvador. It can be obtained from: El Salvador Solidarity Campaign, 29 Islington Park Street, London N1. It costs just 50p.
EL SALVADOR
Latin American Vietnan
The SWP on the ballot in 28 states, two mor 4080 IN undemocratic votin balloten 1976, although the
ruled them off the two major states, California and Texas
While their overal
had recentl
seen announced as we wer to press, they scored some impressive totals. In
News Virginia where major workers 80 per Sent of One vore in a Grant i polled two SOOTSI Tact WIll Republican
No less a revolutionary'
th on tears ion on plain.
nighn that ieagan had lior television
I wor sallit Carter did in 1976 solve unemployment and in
and increase impossible to do all three
added. It won't bi long before Americans wan to dump Reagan too Since January the country has been ruled by a
El Salvador is not a 'banana republic'. It is the
Page 13 scan of this page
Real to reel
By Geoffrey Sheridan TWO young people meet, after a fashion. At a bus stop a young man and woman wait. of the TV serials, cheap novels and comics: Joe Clancy was a cop who liked working alone. Through her mind parades the romantic nonsense of the TV serials, and teenage girls' papers: Falling in love was never easy at the best of times.
Interspersed with this mythic world is the halting dialogue street
"Are you busy tonight?' he shyly enquires. 'Get lost.' she replies He dian t lake that garbage
À little tremble of excitement fluttered in my
Thus she natures two-tiered continues string of cliches of the fan-
world conjured up by Loe nicola Lasy the and tumble of acillai conversation.
This approach definitively he considers: Save your tears,
By Stuart Piper TWO new films are avail-
able which should be used
as widely as possible
those building with the struggle freedom in Latin America.
El Salvador, Revolution or Death, made for Dutch TV, combines far more thorough analysis a cocuncilal y and powerful images of popular struggle than anything showri on TV in this country. Ts ol to be for the over squeamish; the scenes of repression are une than the shock-horror format. Putting footage of the massacre at Archbishop Romero's Tunera with workers and peasants, and linking Inese WILl imaginative planations the film leaves you with a
- but of anger.
And it's not blind anger, but anger with knowledge, and a deep desire to
Through his mind runs the macho culture
cheap novels,
amigo, San Francisco is one
tough place. She concludes: and the worls ermed do me Love shone all around
vivid sequence the Thames TV's fourseries for
part Viewpoint 2
schools, which Snows luw
social groups people, blacks,
Lace. unionists, are presented and those
and on wentarc represented the
media
Produced by Alan Horusing a diSe see Honor tV and Stuart Hall,
cinema TOOLaKe
together newspaper
Freedom fighters,
Latin American style
do something about it.
wing coup
solidarity plains the kina or society
for to repress.
lives of the Bolivia's capital city
picture of social forces which recommended
scen repeated, throughout Latin America. much further
brutal
tral America
cartoon
social
not of horror coloul. can
London 8508/9
Dally VieWs 10UTH
The working people of Bolivia are organising resistance to the latest right-
and in Latin America. A len Bolivian feature film, Chuquiago, ex-
which produced both the coup and the popular struggle which the generals are trying
Four overlapping stories give us the
classes Paz (called Chuquiago in the Indian Language)
The film presents a deeply humar _can be win cal vallats.
the same social forces which, differently combined, have produced both the
dictatorships of the southern cone and the prolonged people's war now steadily advancing through Cen-
El Salvador, Revolution or Death (41 mins colour) and Chuquiago (87
neared 16mm 79 Wardour Lincha.
WIV 3PH.
Under Review
Daily Views RACE
through
General Publishing
both eyes With the
Led (£5.95)
Widgery,
Qformat pages. Phillips, others. the agonising diaries
Jointly feminist
Sped to While Red Diary
containing
Culture Peter Fuller, The Tory Press To Fight It two titles
under Readers
John
the Crisis
Economics or socialist Challen hi the 2nd editio
essays, that Wishart,
of reply. mutipe orders at 8p 10p Isaac
prize.
Secondly, Upper St, London N1.
Dally Views WORKER» WELFARE
Hot off
the presses
IN THIS now, regular column, RIC SISSONS thumbs
the radical and catalogues and spills the beans on what you can expect to find on the new books shelves.
All these titles will be appearing in the next few weeks and some will be reviewed later in greater depth. All are paperback.
is in crisis.
Christmas is a time of heavy book buying and the radical and feminist publishers have
the markel festive season mind, Ink Links have produc-
The Book of the Year.
Edited by the SWP's Dave
mainly photographic record of past year in under 200, large
Text is added Thompson Angela €2.50).
John Pilger, and states
This year you again face
choice of two The 1981 Spare Rib Diary (£2.50) is being produc- The
with new Register publishing house always
Sheba. After last year's sell out the print run has been up-
20,000 exception. line familiar 2.00 Big terest (Pluto takes as its theme utopias, it
LOI also includes a new innova- tionalism'
red directory 1200 entries of Soviet organisations and campaigns.
erisation an occasiona
contributor to this paper, has
due out Both are are the Write eing imprint. member
Berger (fl) is a revaluatio by the former pupil, Fuller, of Stanley
Berger's influential
work Ways of Seeing
Also expected is Beyond in Art (f2.95) in
which Fuller investigates the
failure of post-modernist art.
Two books catch the atten-
tion. Firstly, Bob Rowthorn's
highly acclaimed collection of
Capitalism, Conflict
and Inflation (Lawrence and
£3.95). This
has recently been awarded the
Deutscher memorial born The Alter-
native Economic Strategy
report the programmes unravel variethat the lie presumpuon behind the media's supposed 'neutrality'.
All the classics are there: black people as mobiles trades unionis Militants victimising 'pubiic unemployed as scrounges. At the ene ol each Dru gramme is the IBA's compulsory balancing act, with newspaper editors and pro. gramme controllers trotting out their rauonalisanon.
One of the most telling
Donald, isad of feature
think we can look forward to a lot of industrial trouble 'That will be the test of television's standing as we brokers' role at centre of society, it will be difficult represen all inside thos Enose allitudes
ly come. noticeable,' That in the Alan Horrox, mass media's view of itselt there is some material which treatment and perspectives Alva
feminist publishers
tion Read any
good red
books lateiy?
(Conference of Socialist Economists and Labour Coordinating Committee
This is not a critique of the ABS but as the blúrb
'the detailed analysis underlying this strategy' Politics
Socialist 13.00 some
inwill be Ralph
and interna-
of
charact-
peal staics
the
and respondent Palmer;
"The in the USA';
Communist Party and feminism'.
Maintainin an interna-
ional theme, Pluto are bring
ing out a sensational samizda!
of the ecological
Destruction die Nature n
Destruction Nature in
the Soviet Union (£2.95). Al
more theoretical level New
Left Books are publishing a
third work by Göran i Ther.
The Ideology of
Power and the Power of
Ideology (£2.25).
Undoubtedly more
Socialist Challenge 13 November 1980
various groups go desting.
tional University, whiche
SCHOUlS
'Bu there little
coverage by them steel
patterns
ownership structures
and this programile is th
exception.
Permit
While the television
authorites are occasiollally
prepared to allow examina
Tion of their own bias
ungodly hours what they
never permit on the screens
they control Is any commen
that Dals analysis of the roots of
But these programme admirablv disclose a bunc
of the biases.
'Viewpoint 2' is on ITV
at 9.30am berween T1.s4 and 1.s am 12 Nov, and
on 19 Nov, 26 No: and 3
Dec
material will soon be available on the question ot nuclear weapons. One of the first is an American book published in England under the Spokesman imprint. The Game of Disarmament (£4.25) is by
former Swedish Minister of Disarmament and contributor to recent Penguin special, Protest and Survive. Although it comes with a recommenda-
from Willy Brandt should contain some useful information
If NHS: Condition Critical (CIS 95p) is as good as the last five Counter Intor mation Services , reports then this will arm militants with all the latest material on the crisis in the health service.
Sexual Politics Here there is a good and varied choice. From Virago
slightly unusua feminist, historical, cooker
Bombers and Mash DOUR (£4.95) is the first, real ac
count of the role and lives of women the 'domestic front' during the 1939-45 war Plus recipes!
Women's participation in a very different war is examin-
Stephanie Urdang's Fighting Two Colonialisms (Monthly Review £3.55). This is an account of the role of women liberation movements in Guinea-Bissau Womens Press e3.25) 150 Lose collection of essays on sexism and education. Importantly it includes classroom sugges TOES detailed bibliographies all of teaching aids, and
which would come in useful for teachers, parents and students.
Pd poisics Allison Powel and Politics and Busby {395×15
pathbreaking collection of 17
essays on gay and
women's movements. One article in particular should be of
interest to Socialist Challenge
readers. Written by a former
member of the International
Marxist Group and entitled
The Sects and Sexuality
makes a highly critical assess
ment of the collision of Trot.
kyism and gay liberatio
Lastly Tew Lef Books
offer us Women's
sion Today. (£3.95) This ex
into the theory and
politics of socialist teminisn
has been written by Michele
Barrett, one of the Feminist
Review collective
Perhaps one or many of
these books will be of interes:
but you can obtain all of them
from The Other Bookshop
328 Upper London
N1.
Page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
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Page 15 scan of this page
CND: Build on the success of 26 Oct
By Jude Woodward AFTER organising 80,000-strong don against Cruise and Trident missiles, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament can expect an exciting Leeds on 15-16 November.
Delegates from all over the country will want know what CND is planning
carry forward the campaign.
here can be no doubt that the main task facing the conference is to build on the
demonstration and ulaw even more people into an acive campaign against Thatcher's Cruise and
from
Drllalli Wolverhampton CND puts this forward.
there were union banners on the demonstration
tant step TOT LNU launch an urgent fight in the trade movement 'end
ol Ine dav this Will Is al will deter SHERIDAN (Socialist mine une success ur lie callpaign. Stand
Next. year s TUC mus be won to taking a clear
tallici than
policy wisny-wasily couraging an understanding
of the need for peace' If the trade leadership
peace
I cally Then i can Drove It Dy
posing Cruise and Trident
The Labour Party con-
Terence votea
and Michael Foot
missies.
nas cec area enal ne walls a
campaign against them
These fine words have to be
turned into action
It's not just that the sup
port of the trade union and
abour movemer wou oc
convenient TOT cam
paign; without it no cam-
against Cruise
paign
cess.
Motion
from Hornsev (No calls
for the campaign to be bas-
labour movement.
This motion
conference and
action planned to turn it in-
to a reality.
By Paul Winston
ON Wednesday 12
November gener-
ous hosiery industry
employers gave
their workers one
hour's paid leave to
march through the
streets of Leicester.
British' march called by the
workers
Union and supported by the
bosses' Knitting Industries
Federation.
Speakers included Har-
DOTOILI HOrV MIr
MPS, In
cluding Tribunite Jim Mar-
despite calls for him
a highly. successful demonstration through Lon-
national conference
GEOFFREY
One of the first oppor-
tunities tor CND to do unis
comes the labour
the missiles callec
tor maren next vear
conference can attract delegates from trade union and Labour Party branches
up and down le cats It is sponsored by several
Labour MPs, including together with a . ony and canalens
sponsor and support Clic this conferen vell as supporting CND need to set itself the task of ensurnational It al
The march of shame
to pull out from Leicester •ollu Labour ray.
Speaking of the march Harold national president said: vorkers WIl nOL De
although we are demanding direc-
employer: also what the ecester mercury deschoca 'march patriotic pride and concern for jobs Jobs The Leicobter left tried a united front reactionary nature of the march while al the same time attempting to
Where to from here?
CND meets in con-
ference this weekend
voialist Challenge
NO
CRUISE
MISSLES/
BRITAIN OU
demonstration called jointly by missiles ointly by CND, the Labour Party anc the TUC
Large number of young people on the London noted bi They want auture all di c not prepared to die in a war of Thatcher's making
CND has taken the best steD lo casule lic youth are invo ver Young CND and publishing
Generation broadsheet for young campaigners.
youth attracted Young nave brought into the centre
campaign, their
get throuen to workes ol
the march who are concern.
ed about their jobs
Challenge sup. part in a joint
DOrICES lOUt
effort to leaf let on behalf of
the Right to WOrK
Thursday,
Low
Because 70 per cent u
the Hosiery Unior
them
women
Asian, , Wno
wages at nigh productivity.
Challenge
produced, in Socialist
aDorallo will
Organiser, Woman's
Honinack reatle
distribution to women mar-
chers.
Home News
ST HELENS FO
ACE readiness to lake action used as the dynamic core of the
impaign as a who
ND knows better tha relying on talks and interna nonal neculativis Have Uil ly ever
put a stop to Cruise and Trident.
CND is at the head of a cam can also ensure that paign even greate proportions than anything it
strike a real blow against the
forces
war-mongers.
Kingston
rallies
against
the cuts
By Paul Seligman
WHEN Kingston Cam-
paign Against the Cuts
booked the biggest
available hall for a rally
Tuesday last
week, there were
doubts about whether
the 500 seats could be
filled They needn't
have worried.
In the event hundreds
had to stand in the aisles TOI and others could not be
admitted.
Local speakers were
Anti-
Nukes
actions
planned
By Chris Church THE Anti-Nuclear Campaign held its campaign conference in Sheffield last weekend.
It is less than a year since the campaign Tormed bul ducauy
oreanisations Have affiliated, in voine large and growing number of trade unions
national and branch neve The conference showed
that the ANC is united in working against all aspects
unle cluding mining, powel sia tions, and waste dumping,
as against nuclear weapulls
Progress has been made Hills be tween the civil and military nuclear issues, and in giving
previously disparate groups ponlical role
Pans that emerged ANC's conference include a
major 'Carnival-type' event in the summer as a national TOCUS tied other political and cultural events:
government relaxation safety and opposition Cal us
and
new stanvil.
nremanure cosure or coal
powered stations
The ANC is also helping to coordinate an netian
week action against multinationals that
play in Brain man
Britain the main
target will Rio Tinto
stressing illegal
uranium mine acuivilics lu
Namibia.
The ANC sees the
For everyone, and hence
hence
argues that both civil and everyulie.
military nuclear develoD
ment oppose
wherever it is planned Fur
ANC at its new office: 25€
LUNT
don SW11. Tel 01-223 9115
followed by a play fror
Broadside Mobil
Theatre,
workerd
Cut Price Weltare State
Show. This stressed the
effects of the cuts on
Wowell and these sec
tions of the performance
were
preciated
Tony Benn, the guest
speaker, covered most of
the reasons for opposing
Tne
loudest
Tolowo no remarks ur
posing nuclear weapons
and his call for
tability of the Labour Par.
ty leadership
Most people at the ral-
ly wrote down tel danie
contacted
future activities, and the
raised
Collection anti-cuts
campaign lOry
dominated Kingston-
upon-Thames received a
real boost.
Arguments for Socialism By Brian Grogan MANY people on the left use the term 'bureaucrat' as swear word for anyone who behaves in an undemocratic way.
Union leaders enjoy a standard of living quite ocvond that most workers. Len vuray llas d salary ot almost t13,0. This is about par for the course, but, besides
There are the expense accounts UnOT them, fees from conferences here and abroad, lectures to employels vi salsalv
programmes
Mers top germane
members government 'quangos', advisors com missions. an ul l val us
industries Some, like Joe Gormley, are
board of private companies
Privilege
We call these becaese they bureaucrats defend their privileges anc not ine interests or une ma
jority of their members
1 ney
inside the workers' movemell Their function is to col-
laborate with employers and the govern-
ment, and to play / this role they have to have influence among oramary workels
Lner
methods of maintaining
tha influence Stallis the difference be
ofvarious
ficials ditterence.
between Moss Evans anc
Terry Duffy are important
basically oul
start tron now oest lo lali
tain collaboration WER UN
employers and their own
position of privileg
than the interests of their
members.
Scab leader of the BEPfU Frank the
val
simolv refuse to back
tions and file struggle, openly destroy. , or directly Talk
scab laggers
Moss Evans often has to
head up struggles in order to
keep them under control.
This was the case with the
Ford and other disputes
Lne
discontent'
Chapple some.
times has to take action
against the bosses, as with
tne power workers, alla d
was primarily The
Moss Evans who openly
action of BL
workers last year
bureaucrats will
directly affects their powel and Mie th This was the
with Industria
Cast
Relations Act which Heath
attempted to Impose an
which the unions oppose
almost unanimously
Fight
The cutterence with
Prior's present legislation i
is designed to affec
possible while shacklin
only or unc talk alu luc l
Chapple can say that they
will comply with the legisla
Whether they will
able to do this depends
whether • the rank
can launch a fight which the
bureaucrats are forced
support.
Sirs headed the steel strike because he had would have lost
strike The evemial stementher ONE
much possible given the solidarity ano oeternalion strikers.
Len Murray
Moss Evans headed the Ford strike, but he acceptec a number of strings which Dema ser WOLKCLE though Ford nao bee brothe bosses nee
bosses would have been in a much worse posi-
without the bureaucrats They well ap preciate the advantage having workers represented
bureaucrats rather thar rank and file leaders
be
bureaucrals callliul tant, and fie wales can argument. rank
Individual bureaucrat could be won to the side o working class power, but a
an the mananas or en
system
capitalism, their role disap pears.
in make ine umons m strument bureau m
defeated
Havell
replaced.
Whether they are left o right does make a difference
the workers. Socialists want to
contidence
But understanding the limit:
of this divide is vital
This is why the polic
socialists has to be to build a
new e win! on rank and file action fo Well Cele
socialist aims. Action
This approach does not
mean milllalils tai
simply denounci
bureaucracy and then
nore them The majority of
bureaucrats
WORKCIS
their equale leaders
They more
te irone breateracy tall
official action tri socialists support any
Taters aste forced to
bureaucrats are
take under the pressure
the rank and file. Indeed we
take the lead in fighting fo
united action with then
way the militan In LIS
minority can best miluens
the mass of workers. In such
united action the real limits
to which the bureaucrats are
prepared to go can be shown
in real life to the majonty
If a class struggle alter
native exists this will lead to
a weakening of the influence
loss ot leadersnip
militants and socialist,
eventually to its final defea
Socialist Challenge 13 November 1980 Page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Don't let Irish prisoners die!
Socialist Challenge . = gned by Cardinal Enterprises, TO Box wu London N1 Printed by East End Offset (TUl, London E2
TROOPS OUT NOW
Demonstrate Saturday
15 November
Assemble 1pm,
Embankment
H-BLOCK
& ARMAGH
← Socialist Challenge No. 171, 6 November 1980Socialist Challenge No. 173, 27 November 1980 →