Socialist Challenge No. 209, 20 August 1981
The scan: sc-no209.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Challenge JOB WRECKERS
No. 209 20 August 1981
Bosses'
thugs
smash
At 2.45 last Tuesday morning 45 bailiffs armed with sledge hammers and pick handles threw workers occupying Laurence Scott factory Manchester. They broke windows, knocked a wall down and told everyone to get off site.
Shop steward Phil Penning told Socialist Challenge that while he was making some phone calls two bailiffs broke down the door of the office he was in, although locked, and told him to get out. They were both heavy men, one must have been at least 20 stone and as I walked past them, they stank of beer.
The strikers immediately issued press They are determined to fight
What we have witnessed today is a disgrace 10 British industrial relations. From the ourset the workers at Laurence Scott have sought nothing other than the right to work. When consultation takes the form of sledge hammers and pick axe handles then we are
Unemployed and
Socialist
workers'
occupation
axe the the that they in bailiffs.
take over the factory.
it wasn't
big.
tory: statement.
Sellout
union leaderships.
Photo: SOCIALIST WORKER
S.E.U.
ial Picket
CUT
returning to the nineteenth century The workers at Laurence Scott have repeatedly declared
would not resist the In such circumstances how can we possibly justify 40 to 50 men with sledge hammers and pick axe handles being sent to
•We would hope that every trade unionist in the North west will join our demonstration outside the factory on Sunday, 23 August, at 1lam to show the Arthur Snipes of this world that they cannot treat workers in this way.
"The manner in which the factory was repossessed today will make the workers ever more determined to pursue their fight from the streets outside the fac-
This latest development in the struggle of Laurence Scott workers for the right to work comes in the wake of a compiete sell out by the
Laurence Scott workers have overwhelmingly voted to continue the fight and not accept the agreement cooked up by boss Arthur Snipe and union officials.
But despite withdrawal of official
SNIPE
THE
YORKSHIRE
ASSET
STRIPPER
Before the raid on LSE
backing from the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering unions support is still pouring in. Tony Benn MP says the strike has given hope to millions. I hope the entire British labour and trade union movement will support your campaign.
Peter Hain, executive member of the Labour Co-ordinating Committee, deplores the actions of the Conted executive against the clearly expressed and democratic wishes of the membership at Laurence would urge every trade unionist to ig nore that decision and to give as much practical support as possible to this struggle."
Support
That practical support is needed now more than ever. As Bernard Connolly, cralt convenor from Steel, South Yorkshire told Socialist
of the dispute on page 5.
port them
palled at the unions'
JObs.
workers of Laurence Scott.
Scott.
burcaucrats or bailiffs.
entire labour Tories and their defeated once and for all.
British
Cheshire.
Phil Penning. Laurence Scott steward gives the story
JoBs
NOT
BOMBS
official Picke
FIGHT
FOR 65(
JOBS
NO CLOSURE
laurence Scot
Challenge: 'We're prepared to sup
financially, physically, morally, any way they want. We're asking the stewards to vote half our funds to Laurence Scott. We're ap
AUEW and other attitude to their fight for Having been involved in the fight for jobs, we feel very close to the
The workers at Laurence Scott have shown they are not prepared to be ground down by any one: bosses
Now they need the full strength of the labour movement if they are to be victorious in their fight for jobs. Such a victory will mean much more than 650 jobs saved; it will be a clarion call to the
movement that the friends can be
Messages of support and donations to G Frver, 20 Rounderoft, Romiley,
INSIDE:
Ireland: Tories in
crisis This week the number of Irish political prisoners to die while on hunger strike
will probably reach
double figures.
Michael Devine was on his 60th day of hunger
strike as Socialist Challenge went to press
and his condition was
reported to be rapidly
deteriorating. Already, Thatcher has driven nine hunger strikers to their
death.
But the Tories policies on Ireland are increasingly
under attack . The Sunday Times has nov withdrawal from Ireland and the Cabinet itself is reported to be split over
the hunger strike
On page 9, H Block
candidate in the Fermanagh by-election,
Owen Carron talks to
Socialist Challenge
SOLDAR ON
Poland: New
strike threat Printers in Poland have threatened to go on strike
in protest against government media attacks on the independent union
Soldarity. The printers
complain of the stric control the Communist Party exercises over the
media.
Solidarity has just
how the union should be published its ideas organised. It is one of the most democratic plans for
rank and file control
union members have published anywhere. On pages 6 and 7 Socialist
Challenge reprints
Solidarity's proposals.
Lothian: Is it the
end?
Labour-controlled
Lothian council in
Scotland has gone back
on earlier decisions to
defy the demands made by the Tory Government for cuts in council spen-
ding
Is this the end of th
Lothian struggle? Or is
new fight possible! Socialist Challenge talks
to Lothian councillors, who voted to continue the
resistance to the Tories
demands. See page 4.
Page 2 scan of this page
"It's now or never' say rail workers
-Editorial
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP
Phone 01-359-8189/8180 (editorial and distribution)
Tories shuffle for coming confrontation
THE next few weeks will see Margaret
Thatcher
Cabinet for battle.
strategic question for Thatcher is what
to do when industrial production starts
to increase in the next period
The objective of the Tory government
so far has been clear. John Biffen spell-
ed it out in his now infamous statement
last week. What did Biffen say?
* That 'overmanning
been replaced by unemployment.
* That the high level of unemployment is
intended as a brake on industrial stop-
pages.
That the fact that wage increases are
in single figures is attributable at least
partially to the length of the dole queue.
That inflation has fallen; a goal worth
the social and economic
unemployment.
The main aim of Thatcher is to stay
on course with these policies - and that
means a collision with the unions this
winter.
Thatcher's government has shown remarkable agility in weaving and duck-
away from
powerful groups of industrial workers.
She took on the British Steel and British Leyland workers earlier on, in the full flush of her election victory.
She was quite happy to have a long drawn out dispute with the Civil Servants, even when it cost the government about five times the cost of conceding their wage demands to defeat them. But she wisely ran like hell when the miners started to preferring to bide her time.
But her ability to 'float like a Cruise missile and sting like a neutron bomb' will be put to a severe test this autumn.
A national rail strike is due to start at the beginning of September and there are possible miners, the gas workers and Post Office engineers all within two months of that da*the miners have only postponed the battle over pit closures.
Coal Board has already given notice of a possible round of pit the next couple of months Sir Derek Ezra will announce the plans for closing 20 more pits. At the same time the miners wage claim, due to be settled in October, is heading towards another possible confrontation.
So Thatcher is making the necessary preliminary moves to government against such a confrontation.
The object once again is to politically split the trade unions as a preliminary step to confronting a major section.
This year the first target is the rail workers, who are both in the front line of the struggle against the wave of redundancies sweeping through the nationalised industries heralded by the decision of the European shogo far the attacks on union organisation introduced by James received no trade union movement.
The TUC Conference Blackpool on 7 September has to not only reject the new consultative' whether it is issued by Prior or Norman Tebbit, it then has to go on to plan the type of united action that can stop the Biffen strategy dead.
This means building on the Triple Alliance between the steel workers the miners and the railway workers to build fighting alliances of all those coming into conflict with the Tories this winter.
A call for such committees based on delegates from workplaces TUC Congress would prepare the labour movement for the sort of action that needs to be taken to stop Thatcher dead in her tracks. The absence of such call means that such tactics will have to be pursued through individual unions and a locales.
Socialist Challenge 20 August 1981
redrawing the ranks of her
The fundamental in industry has costs confrontations with strike against pit closures,
confrontations with the
The National
closures. Within snore up the Court on the closed
Prior have
militant rebuff from the
meeting in
paper. from the
will
Page 2
industries
By Colin Talbot Westminster POEU
MAGGIE THATCHER has gone one up on her
friend and rival, Ronnie Reagan. The Presi-
dent may have a bomb that kills off workers
but leaves property
Minister has an even more selective device. It
destroys only nationalised
private riches unscathed. It doesn't kill off
workers, it stores them on the dole queue un-
til they are needed again.
proposals revealed this week amount to the
biggest
tempted by a western government.
Sir Geoffrey launched
the blitzkrieg against
publicly owned enterprises
savage
cash-limits which stopped
them borrowing money
when they need it. British
Leyland and British Steel
have been the most ob-
vious victims.
Friends
His second tack was to chunks of na-
tionalised industries to the
friends The COCHOL British
Acrospace, British Air-
ways, British Transpor
Docks Board, Cable and
Wireless, the National Freight Corporation and parts of British Rail like Sealink and the hotels all found themselves up for
By Hazel McPherson, Paddington No.1
NUR.
STRIKE committees and picket rotas are be ing organised by branches of the National
Union of Railwaymen and the Association of Locomotive Engineers preparation for the national stoppage called for 31 August.
The response to the strike call has been favourable and for NUR members, reeling from 'productivity' exercises, the attitude is 'now or never'
However the mood is cautious since the strike date has Deen set so anead. The possibility of a twelfth hour deal between the union leaders and the British Rail Board cannot be excluded.
Added to this was the NUR's response to BR R's recent letter threatening further 20,000 compuisory redundancies top the 38,000 already planned.
Russell Tuck, assistant generai secretary CUTTIE
replied to this threat g saying; *The NUR's door always open."!
Talks
General secretary, Sid Weighell, returns this week to from Sweden and formal talks
resume over the unions* demand that the findings of arbitration for an eight percent pay increase dated from
Thatcher nukes
nationalised
intact, but the Prime
property, leaving
It's called 'Sir Geoffrey Howe'. His latest denationalisation package yet
at-
public auction. So far Sir
Geoffrey has started ou
selling 49 per cent shares is
cach concern.
His third tack has been
to force nationalised
dustries to hand over to
the private sector some of
the most lucrative parts of
their business without even
an auction
British Gas is being forced to abandon its gas
showrooms and British
Telecoms much its
customer
allow privatisa-
tion' of the work.
Mix
The latest phase in the
assault is the plan to start
selling off half shares in
the Batist National Oil
Corporation (BNOC) and
and Firemen in
April and three percent payment from August b
honoured by the BRB.
Bosses
The BR bosses demanc that the extra 3 percent should be linked to pro-
exercises cluding one person operation of the 8 hour day and the introduction oI Con tinental shifts that would result in mass redundancies and working conditions prevalent in the late nineteenth century
It is this question of both productivity and pay Our summer schedule Socialist Challenge from isuseal to 12 fo WE have reduced the number of
the three issues during August, in order to
all our staff to take their holidays.
We'll he back in full form and force wit
issue number 211 on 3 September in time for
the Trade Union Congress.
-News
mister Telec NOCA
hall-share
assets is reckoned to
worth around billion
while a half share of BT
£7.5 billion share could
raise even more.
Thesc atracks represent
a radical attempt by That-
cher and Howe to alter the
'mix" the British
CLOTHEY private hands som putting into
most profitable public in
dustries and utilitics
Crisis torn British
bosses need this boost for
their profits, while the
working CI2.S5 SOCCES the
mixture of rationalisation,
cash limits and hiving-off
like a hole in the head
Gas
Aircady those workers directly threatened
are moving into action
- ne gas workers are planning launch
strike action in October or
November
sumption reaches its peak)
to oppose the selling-off of
as showrooms With profit last of E839m Gas Corporation has been used as
additional
mechanism by Howe LOLA
much to the annoyance of gasworkers and consumers alike.
The hatchet job on the showrooms looks like be ing the last straw as far as the gasworkers
are concerned.
The British Telecommunications Bill became that will mobilise rail workers at the end of August, despite the ac tions of their leadership so far. Twice
Nonetheless the fact remains that the NUR NEC has twice called for strike action unanimously in the last month — an un-
precedenter occurence.
combined with increen NUR and ASCEP a rank and level through the Rail Union LEE HOOT and with miners and steel workers through the Tripple Alliance, has given rail workers increased belief in their ability to win.
In the build up to the strike date this collaboration is essential. Even if the strike is called off continued collaboration of this sort will add immense-
rank and file of rail workers.
Howe to alter the mix an Act of Parliament on 27 July and on 1 October it will he implemented. From that date. Sir Keith Joseph will start issuing licences allowing private com-
panies to take over British
Telecoms work
Already, the powerful London City branch of the
Office Engineering Union has decided IE2SS meeting to take in dustrial action to stop the London, Where the effects the of the Act are likely to be Sharpest and carliest.
Action
While the National Exceutive Council are backing the London City,
SUCLIC terence scheduled for November give militants the opportunity
ONCELE une NEC': policy and go for action to
implementation of the Act
If ever there was a clear casc where the TUC should be co-ordinating action, surely this is it. The railworkers, gas Scabs on the platform
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR
SOCIALISM if you would like to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or would like more information fill in the form below Name..
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and telecoms workers face same threats in their industries: cash-limits and hiving-off.
We are all going to b trying to repulse these attacks at the same time. An alliance between us would he invincible.
TUC
The TUC Conference in September is one focus where the rank and file of our respective could put following up the example of the rail unions and the Triple Alliance, organising Joint meetings in our localities to begin to create the unity we need from the rank and file up-
The MASLEE, NUM, the NUR, ASLEF, GWU, NALGO and the POEU in our respective in dustries have brought together welded into an army that can defeat Thatcher's wa
extermination the nationalised industrie and pave the way for kick
Page 3 scan of this page
Liverpool 8 youths
By Redmond O'Neill 15,000 MARCHED in Liverpool last Saturday. Led by thousands of black and white youth from Liverpool 8, the mass demonstration demanded the sacking of Merseyside Chief Constable, Kenneth Oxford and 'police out of Toxteth - prisoners out of jail.
The march united the youth of Toxteth with Liverpool dockers, Labour Parties and trades councils.
police were injured - hardly surprising after the murder of Jimmy Moore, and the main;ing and the near castration carried out by Oxford's thugs in recent weeks.
No tion was its discipline and militancy. markable ability of the young local stewards to lead thousands of young rebels in united action with the workers organisations.
Saturday marked the first step from the spontaneous youth rebellion against police repression to organised political action involving the mass of youth.
Celebrate Pakistan's
Independence Day
in Birmingham
By Val Coultas AUGUST 16 is independence day in Pakistan. Thirty four years ago - on 14 August 1947 -the British were thrown out of Pakistan, or India as it was then.
Pakistani Workers holding a mass rally in Digbeth Civic Hall to celebrate this event.
"There WIll nOL celebrations Pakistan today', explains Kahn, Ceneral Secretary of the PWA, because all the official he rigare in reli Only
right-wing, religious groupings will be allowed to celebrate.
Kahn describes Birmingham M8C210 • office of the PWA with more workers living in Birmingham than any other town in Britain.
Banned
The rally will give an opportunity to hear about what's happening in Pakistan General Zia and hear speakers Trom parties that have been anned like the People's Party.
Benn MP. Reg Race MP, and Albert Bore a prospective Labour MP
the Birmingham area have been invited.
Benn
Some Pakistani workers are active members of the Labour
Party in Birmingham and Kahn thought they should be backing Tony Benn.
lead thousands
against police
Its significance was not that a couple of
the significance of this demonstraThereIn Birmingham on Saturday 30 August the
Association will be
•We think this is the first step to democracy in the Labour Party where you can have more chance to speak up in your constituency, and influence who vour MP is.
Role Roy Hattersley asked if he could speak, but the PWA decided against, recalling 1715 role in a Labour cabinet that allowed Indian women to suffer he indignity of virginit ests at Heathrow Recently another Pakistan! Workers Association' was set up by the Pakistani High Comracism unemployment and police
20 September
car park near Southall British Rail station.
Middlesex.
movement stands in alliance with the youth against the police, the Tories and the hysteria of the bosses' press, then nothing will hold back this movement.
Everything was done to sabotage this march. Coaches from all over the north were cancelled, including three from Manchester's Moss Side by operators warned off by the police.
speakers bringing solidarity from Brixton and Moss Side.
few days at the bedside of the two coppers who were injured. But for the labour movement this march was an urgent call to defend the youth now facing frame up and militarised police and for leadership to build from the anger of the youth rebellion into a powerful and disciplined movement to remove Thatcher and her new apparatus of police repression.
mission hoping to discredit the PwA and dicorganice Pakistanis living in Bri-
The High Commission is frightened of socialists liks Targ All and myseif who are involved with the PWA. I EnCy know about the success of the meetings with Targ in Birmingham in the past and they want
try and frighten the Pakistani community from supporting socialist ideas, says Kahn. Controls
The PWA is the only organisation that can unite
Kahn believes, "whichever caste, whichever religion,
hichever tribe — the on
ay we can build the PW is on a broad base, taking up Issues like no HILLELIUE controls, по community policing, interference with the Pakistani community from any outside body.
We believe these are ine issues ina will rally
akista workers to the
WA and we hone to sei big turn out at Digbeth on
30 August. National demonstration
To show unity with black youth against
violence
Southall
Assemble 1pm at the Dominion Cinema
News
Saturday showed that when the workers' Nonetheless at Liverpool's Pier Head the most enthusiastic response was reserved for
The capitalist press will spend the next
Bradford Asian
Youth Movement
By Maggie Shoulder ON 13 August 300-strong picket was held in Bradford, West Yorkshire, tront of the magistrates court to protest against the arrest and detention without bail of eleven young Asians after series of police raids on the Asian community.
Among family and friends in court was Anwar Ditta Custody
endanger property and life, and con-
Kings against racism and
The police claim that the charges
aliowed to visit them in
hour before their first
Assault During the picket, 17-year-old Anna Singh, who was leafletting passers-by. was struck in the face by a 16 stone racist who dragged her
LIVEIPDOL B
DEFENCE
Unity of youth and labour
Police aim to smash
to the ground by her hair.
When the picket ran
man jumped on a bus and tried COLOSE The picketers surrounded
bus him off
The police took him into the police station where he was charged with common assault. Despite 300 witnesses the police aren't whether they will prosecute.
At a packed public meeting of 500 on August the implications of these charges were SOCIET OUT Speaker after speaker told police failure to defend the black community from
HOTPOOL attacks including physi cal assault and arson.
Arrest
As the defendants
halveden defence int
volved defence black people in Britain such as the Anwar Ditta campaign, and the Asian Youth Movement their arrest must be
political attack on all black people. A twelfth person asso. ciated with the Black United Youth Party has since been arrested
The July Action Committee has been set uo to demand that the charges be dropped and the
Teleas ed.
A national demonstration is being planned.
Messages and contributions to July 11 Action Committee c/o. 2nd 7i0or Textile hall, Westgage, Bradford 1.
unionists together
By Toni Gorton
The provisional agenda includes Bill Morris, national secretary of the TGWU Passenger Transport Group who has been invited to speak on racism and the trade unions in the
Women
Bernie Grant, an area officer for the National Union of Public Employ-
will be positive discrimination
Rudy Naryan, black radical lawyer will dea with the effect of the Nationality Act on the trade
Several workshops will discuss black organisation in the unions, redundancies and black workers, and the issuc around black women workers.
The steering committee that is organising the conference is comprised of Asian and Afro-Caribbean unionists.
Of the three women, one 15 a senior shop steward 10- hospital NALGO branch.
Black workers'
conference
Saturday 12 September
Digbeth Civic Hall
Birmingham
Bringing black trade
THE Birmingham conference planned for 12 September will be a big step forward in uniting black workers to use their power in the trade unions in the interests of black peo-
One person transport LITED shop steward at Longbridge and i membe of the People's National Party: one of the CHACCI union memDer: was secretary of the strike committee during last ycar's lockout Birmetal's; among the others are a secretary of the Alro-Caribbean Teachers Association and a member of the construction union UCATT.
Debate
This conference designed to provide a platform for black workers to cxerange experiences ane to debate the way forward in their unions. . Entry will be by credential only, with a tew places open to nonblack observers. Use senate a black worker DICUSE SERE DOUP HAHIP dress. occupation and trade • Workers Committee for the Bi Antrobes Road, Handsworth Birmingham 21. Donations to the same address.
Socialist Challenge 20 August 1981 Page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
New programme for fighting the cuts
Split in Labour group leads
'MANY Labour Councils have joined the campaign against the missiles by declaring their borough nuclear free zones. pose anything to do with missiles affecting their areas. titude to the Tory cuts and declare their area 'no cuts zones"."
Challenge makes no bones about what will be necessary in the fight against the Tory cuts and is a must for all activists involved in that fight.
Lothian councillors have realised too late: that in order to fight the cuts we have to build a movement actually to get rid of the Tories.
•While the Tories remain in government and they control the amount of money which local authorities can send inere zs virtually no hope of maintaining our services. This is far from saving that must sit back and wait for INE TERRE DECEORI government.
On the CREEKS F. means locul authority trade unionists and Labour Party members playing their part bullding a movement to bring dOWn the Tories.
Only this kind of action can create the conditions which will prevent new Callaghans and Healeys doing the Tories cutting for them".
Councillor Paul Nolan Socialist Challenge
They will op-
They should take the same at-
The new pamphlet produced by Socialist
The pamphlet points out what the
The Tories will pull no punches and their action in penalising the Lothian councillors should come as no surprise. That is why, the pamphlet points
oll resistance to cuts will
lareely depend on the m transipence and determination of the unions.
It is only by organising in the unions, in the comMAILLY level that any Labour council can begin a successful resistance.
And that TEN ACE should not just stop there: *A BETTE government has to be comWHER TORE TETOrTOR of all the cuts made since 1974; the cancellation of 20 August 1981 Page 4
all debt charges; the nationalisation of the banks and finance houses without compensation and under workers control. and the launching of a massive programme
public service building. However, This programme can only DELONE fightback starting now against the cuts and their etfects.
What is needed is the widest possible discussion inside the whole of the labour movement on how best to defeat the policies of this Tory
HUNTERCE The pamphlet provides a comprehensive PEWEESE me for fighting the cuts.
*No cuts, по rate SSES This is what we say should be fought for. It is possible drainst the fory cuts and fightback go ahead and put up the rates in the meantime so as
CHEETECT SPEWED and jobs. Many supporters of this approach genuinely want to protect services and jobs and also get rid of the Tories at the earliest opportunity.
*They also recognise By Alex Baillie ON 11 August the Labour group on Lothian council voted NOT to cut their budget by €26m and to defy the Tory government. By the reconvened council meeting two days later, the councillors had lost their resolve and the Labour group split.
rate support grant and the prospect of 'slipping into illegality the Labour group's singular defiance of the Tory government came to an ignominious end.
Tory councillors having walked out of the council chambers, the Labour group split 18 to 7 in favour of cutting the 81-82 budget by €15.2m. Teachers
Already, hundreds of Lothian teachers employed on short term contracts have been told not to turn up for work next week.
or the elderis Orldren and the handinao
ped will not now open due to social work cur-backs.
Other cut-backs maintenance and repairs, supplies and services will lead to private sector redundancies and increased future expenditure.
George LOUIECE the Secretary of State for Scotland
Is shill out to blood. He will not settle for less than E30m in cuts!
Defied
Seven councillors with the backing of the regional Labour Party have defied the group whip and voted consistently for no CUTS.
Jimmy Burnett, one of the
believes Labour group have set the
Home News
that one authority on its own cannot defeat the planks of their strategy tray Tories central more than one pit could have effectively defeated the Tory proposals to close the mines.
In 1980, the ruling Labour group in Lam-
deched at Test Kill
national response and a conference was held on / November. This was ar tended by over 600
TEUTENERE ting trade union branches cies and la Lair so Par. the local CHENBSTIES ties, A fighting programme to combat the cuis was
The main points were:
They agreed that loca authorities should take an uncompromising stand against government policies, and commit themselves now to:
• No cuts in jobs and services; no running down of direct labour.
• No rent or supplementary rate rises this financial year, and no rent or rate rises to compensate for government cuts.
to Lothian cuts
Faced with a cut of E1.4m per week in their
right back by voting against cuts on Tuesdas In the Lothian Region's headquarters
• Reversal of deci sions to sell council houses or housing land.
• То work with local anti-cuts committees and community
to build local support among resi dents
This should be carried out in conjunction
trade unionists taking action to:
• Defend jobs and services by opposing redundancies. redeployment, natural wastage etc. by any action necessary.
• Hold strikes and occupations as soon as any Labour council faces receivers or com missioners, or is surcharged for making a stand on cuts
• Refuse 19 cooperate with ment legislation such as
sales, and with management whenever cuts are volved.
'The conference also resolved to call on the Labour Parry national ex ecutive and the TUC for support for this campaign. and for them on Thurs Confuse
"This is bound to conTusc and disillusion workers who put their faith in the Labour group
told Socialist Challenge
John Mulvey, another councillor added Some of us have always said that eventually the LATESTES
Headquarters
for Workers' Freedom
no cuts.
Phyllis Dunnipace
Rob Jones
the cuts. Available from Box 50, London N1. Price 25p plus p&p. would have to take the Tories on themselves! He feels thateone of the main problems Lothian's isolation. The
using Lothian as a test case for their future policy of massive cuts in the rest of Britain.
The seven who have stood out against cuts will continue to tight for local government freedom
But it's now obvious a
no rates or
rent rises!
25р
Socialist Challenge
PAMPHLET
A new Socialist Challenge pamphlet about fightin
Socialist Challenge. P John Mulvey fight developing in Lothian region which is bound to surface during the re-selection process this autumn when rightwingers in the group are likely to come under attack The next few weeks should see whether unions will lie down in the lace ol huge cuts In vices and massive job loss.
NALGO has decided ballot its ZECHANCE on strike action The teachers union -the EIS — has suffered the most severe cuts in jobs and has shown itself in the past to take a militant stand when jobs threatened.
Tom Fenton, President of the Edinburgh EIS said that his members would almost definitely' take in action The education service was cut.
Clear
The message is clear for local authority workers throughout Britain. Even
authorities in Britain cannot beat the Tories on their
re she moves day
workers themselves then own setons are the only people who can deTend their jobs and their services.
Page 5 scan of this page
24 April this
shaw, Manchester
fighting.
Although money
workers throughout
of their unions.
labour movement.
support in the crucial weeks ahead.
9 Oct 1980 Arthur Snipe of Doncaster Mining Supphies takes over the Laurence Scott group.
16 Oct Louisa Street works in Manchester niaced on shorttime working
17 Oct Our shop stewards committee requests an immediate meeting with Snipe but 1s refused.
10 Feb 1981 Local directors are notified of forthcoming
13 March Second period of short-time working applied for and obtained from the government.
8 April The union is told that the works are to shut 10 July. Local management admits that the decision was taken two months earlier but kept secret under threat of dismissal. wmon are asked not to cause create be to coopera rate' with clearance of order Contract
16 April At an informal conference local management stated that the closure decision was irrevocable and they had no mandate 10 negotiate. Failure to agree was registered and the presence of Snipe or a director empowered to negotiate is insisted upon at next conference.
April External conference takes place. Again Snipe and MS directors absent. Mass meeting votes to occupy. Occupation begins at 3.30pm
1 May Workforce threaten ed that unless they return to work they were in contract and would receive no
redundancy Mass meeting 10
3 May discuss this threat votes to continue occupation.
meeting with members soard, represented by R Lane Smith, S Lamb and the comLion or Shipbuilding rad
Shipbuilding Engineering Unions officials at Manchester Engineering EmpLOVETS ICECTATOR HQ. Company stated that they had mandate to necotiate. for an adjournment for coffee and promptly left.
Reject
27 May Company submits written proposals to re-open lactory with 10 people on condition that the workforce leave the factory immediately stay away for week. Wereject it out of hand.
The story
Of Scotts
year workers at Laurence Scott engineering factory in Open-
occupied closure. Today despite the attacks of the employers, courts and bailiffs they are still
and support poured in from hundreds of thousands of
Britain, they without backing of the national leaderships
The Laurence Scott workers are in the front line of the fight for jobs for the whole
PHIL PENNING, a TASS shop steward in the plant, gives the story of the dispute and appeals to the labour movement for their full
1 June First and (so far) last meeting between Snipe and local union officials. repeats the written proposals, complained massive m unc group and claimec that LS Manchester had made ten ames ine toss that t actually had. We reject the proposals. 2 June Redundancy ments received through Workforce told receipts and lawyers mend that the unions bank the cheques. Picket 29 June Picket placed on parent company Mining plies in Doncaster. After shaky first two days full T&G backing for picket gained and picket en forced successfully. 30 June Snipe offers to extend closure deadline for three months. Offer rejected 5 July Picket withdrawn as Snipe agrees with national officials. 10 July Snipe HOTEL ONICES keep the factory open on a two day woon, the poston reviewed in thre months, but only on condition that redundancy money is returned.
National officials Enough a INO clause is completely absent put deal in front of full shop stewaras mccang. laughed out of the room. Convenor resigns and Dennis Barry voted in. Hostage 14 July Proposals put mass meeting workers by local officials. Only 21 votes in favour. meeting, 150 picket hearing of summons for i-possession of lactory. hearing scheduled day 23 July. 21 July Three coach loads picket AUEW HQ in Peckham
Fficial support.
Executive Committee decision occupy the Council ror over an hour, hold Boyd and Duffy hostage harangue the Executive. Police called but not used. 23 July Mass meeting called Hall EC at Lesser Free Manchester. member Ken Cure and rest of national officials put forward and same proposals which are again rejected. This time only 15 in favour.
the
against
have
fight
He cash
paypost.
Sup
meets naand offers to
agree reamnaancy
Agreement
Court grants myuncuor Snipe for repossession of fac28 July North Manchester District Com.nittee lobbied and
230 Ls workers and reali
over 600
From this attend Socialist
workers Trades and labour Club. meeting
Court for Thurs- Bailiffs
29 July word seen party bunside the tend METEROE On hearing of tactory in support of the oc-
cupation. 4/5
Chamber tempt to serve
Prevented from forcing an er and try and successfully crowd made up of IS workers delegations from a dozen fac tories and local people Trades 4 Aug
Executive draws all
travention of union rule book 6 Aug National CSEU Executive meeting AUEW sell out and all unions withdraw strike pay.
Home News.
The following resolution has been sent by the LSE workers to every AUEW branch in the country. In view of the unanimous support for the Laurence Scott dispute from the 28 July District Committee of the AUEW and the rules of the union with regard to procedure for deciding on the of ficial status of disputes (Rule 14. Paragraph 16), this branch deplores any attempt by the executive to terminate this dispute against the clear wishes of the workforce expressed at two mass meetings (14 July and 23 July) and calls on maintain official backing for this fight for jobs. For forwarding with your branch stamp and signature to the AUEW National Executive)
shaw, Charles between bailifis.
and local Club members till after the weekend.
Challenge Gorton shop
Over 150 LS bailiffs picketing party outside the start.
August Bailiffs injunction. aL- Grim
mined mood.
EC with strike pay in con- develops. efforts of ecutive, supports unions
SOLIDARITY
WITH
SURENCE
makes
1981 Manchester North
the National Executive to
7 Aug Local MP for Open- funds.
Morris, appears planned. at tactory offering to mediate
occupation and Morris successfully negotiates a stay of execution till after the mass meeting or Monday. So the pressure is off
8 Aug We hold a three hour
stewards to discuss how to deal with th without the official sup for the bailiffs and how to carry
national unions.
Monday, will immediately The bailiffs will have to smash their way in though.
of our
10 Aug The mass meeting is attended by over 350 workers who arrive in a grim and deterdesions. We defied ie worse
defied •TEC and other Confed and the COUTES bailiffs. If we stick it out we can
Charles Morris pledges support to mass meeting and
press statement.
Bailiffs are informed of our decision to stay in the factory and indicate that they will come in sufficient numbers to take the factory.
12 Aug A phone round of backing tor Marches statement. We also phone amand Morris's WATC the 200 workplaces that have given us the money in the previous weeks to tell them we are fighting on and asking for more
More delegations are
Morale
13 Aug 48 MPs have supported Morris's statement. The response from the workplaces is also very good. Press conTerence planned for Monday.
An open invitation is sent to Tony Benn to visit the occupation when he west for the TUC Congress and when he addresses a mass rall in the city on 16 September
Our campaign to politicalls isolate Boyd and Duffy on the issue of their attempted sell-out
Struggie is gathering The sell-out merchant of the Confed are splitting.
ASTMS and T&GWU are paying hardship money to theit members at Scotts which is acThe Auer and BET Pan than ches locally have paid out strike pay this week.
Morale is high. Attendance on shifts in the occupation is
100 percent. The bailiffs stil have not arrived. The light 1s PLE much still on.
EASE SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT AND DONA TIONS TO LSE: c/o G Fryer, 20 Roundcroft Romiley, Cheshire.
WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR
• The factory should
reopen
• No enforced
redundancies
• Compensation for
the workforce in the
form of an ex-gratia
payment for loss of
wages during a
dispute unnecessari-
ly prolonged through
management's
refusal to negotiate
WHAT SNIPE IS
OFFERING
• The factory should
reopen for a 3 month
trial period on a 2
day week
• No guarantee on
enforced redundan-
cies
• Any return to
work is conditional
on total repayment
of redundancy
money paid by
management during
dispute
Socialist Challenge 20 August 1981 Page
Page 6 scan of this page
Czech dissidents feel Polish backlash
Lenin Shipyard workers By Tom Marlowe ONE of Czechoslovakia's best known dissidents has been sentenced to seven-anda-half years in jail for 'subversive activity' and 'assault on a public official'.
He is 55-year-old Rudolf Battek, a former spokesperson Charter T7. and member of the Czech Council. His conviction for assault arises out of an incident in June 1980 when he went to a police sta-
Knowing he was rights activist, the police refused to allow Battek to leave the station. When he tried to do so and knocked off a policeman's cap he was charged with assault.
Battek's latest in a new series of crackdowns Czechoslovakia's dissidents.
Dossier
It is aimed at human rights activists, especially those who have been circulating and producing underground magazinas books. In July. Jiri Guntirad, a building worker, was given a four year sentence for compiling dossier on police persecution of a pop group.
Another dissident who recently spent some time in prison is Jaroslav Suk.
In April, Suk fled to the West where he toid the language socialist magazine In-
Socialist Challenge 20 August 1981
We're just
for one-time National
a numan
Is ine
wave of repression. 'Step by step'.
and
five years.
Active Czechoslovakia
Poland. with
French
statements there.
Page 6
with you...
are you with us ?
Petr Uhl and
the jailed Chartists
in Czechoslovakia
40р
precor what lies behind the new
said Suk. 'they are trying to put the most active Charter 77 people in prison. It is connected with the Polish events.
For example, Josef Budarak, who was writing a book about Poland, has been taken to prison and expects a sentence of up to
political people are very interested in what is happening in
of Charter 77 circulating letters and
on the situation
The Czech Government is pulling out all the stops to prevent what it dubs the 'Polish disease spreading across the border. Infiltrate
Suk explained that ment propaganda "depicts the Polish population in such a way as to suggest that the Czech people have to subsidise them. This finds
the more backward sectors of the population
"On the other hand, the official propaganda lies and nobody believes it, even when it tells the
The latest anti-Polish propa-
been produce Hodic, who, it is claimed, infiltrated a group of Czech exiles in Austria for three years.
Hodic maintains weapons, disguised as food, have been transported from the west to Poland by 'Western intelligence services'
At a press conference Hodic further claimed members of the Polish union Solidarity knew of this activity.
Desoite such ludicrous pro. paganda Jaroslav Suk believes that many in Czechoslovakia are enthusiastic the events. There are numerous contacts between Solidarity Charter 77 and, said Suk, 'the idea of free trade place in the thinking of the Czech people'.
union, discussing gramme.
significance
governthat has
saying.
The
Polish
and
all learn.
Polish workers on the streets two weeks ago POLAND'S independent trade
Solidarity, is its draft
The draft, (reprinted here in an edited form) stresses union democracy and rank and file control. They have
beyond Poland, and could well serve as an example for all trade unionists.
It would be interesting to see how some right wing trade union leaders in Britain would react if their members copied the demands of Solidarity. For example, Frank Chapple, of the Electricians Union, who
given his support to Solidarity in the past, would be unlikely to be pleased with what the Polish workers are
draft programme will be voted on at a Solidarity congress later this year. Meanwhile the proposals reprinted here contain lessons we could
protesting at food sho
now pro-
La
den We dem
char and
and
For w any
of th
lead the in герг cons unio regu the r take recal is wi
Unio for 1
Hov
Page 7 scan of this page
[POLISH LESSON VE CAN ALLLEARN
ges il our union to be indepenid we know what that means. it it to be self-governing and atic, and to be a source for ex
lemocracy into the public life intire country. The rules and tical work of the union should he principles that define the = of our union democracy walt members of the union are fach one has the same rights. ingle vote. Each one has the
matters. No member is better e than another, regardless of ctions they carry out that may irily give them powers cisions in the name of the rest tembers. nd, the purpose of the union ip is to serve and to represent abers. Each full-time official union is no more than a tative authorised by his or her ents to serve them and the i a whole. They must provide and complete information to ibers about what decisions are nd why. They may also be from official positions if that heir constituents want. elective functioning of the impossible without provision necessary full-time staff, ofee, and technical equipment r, the dillicult material situa he country and the union and
experience with the former
(the COLO party-controlled
union. now defunct) requires us to maintain certain restraint in fulfilling these needs. It is necessary to economise in managing the union's finances. The wages full-time officials should higher than other wages in the national economy
Third, the life of the union is hasopenness.
functions in the union acquires real meaning only under conditions open activity at all levels of the union. In particular, all negotiations with the government and with the representatives of the (state) employer must be conducted openly.
Every union member must have a chance to look over the documents of the union leadership and its bodies They in turn must means to inform as many members as possible about the real problems and the measures taken.
Inform
The union factory circle have a special role to play here. provide information about the posi tions of the union leaders.
the • posInons Of organisations and the activities they are carrying out for the sake of the fullest possible information about the life of the union.
modesty and
self-governing
not be
which
The equal and character of official
of
regular
industries
Fifth, use all possible organisation and the
Their task is not only to
but also individual democracy This
Fourth, the union acts in concert, on the principle of solidarity. This is the basis for the commitment of cach
organisaannon the die orens sode. ins action by all working acas seen most dearly in the strikes, in
universal ties of solidarity left a special imprint on our union. In our own interests, we decide to act in response to the DECISIS OF OLACTS. Maintaining this solidarity requires
collaboration and ine change of information among factory organisations representing different
different regions, regardless of which territorial leadership body of the union they belong to.
members of the union are bound by its common agreements. The statutes of the union or resolutions of factory meetings are binding on all members of the organisation, even if they voted against them.
It is essential to adhere to decisions democratically arrived at, even when departures from them can bring some immediate benefit. Within the union, the rule of law - through our statues and various resolutions that are establishing our precise interna
is indispensable both for effective action and for
does not exclude criticism and debate. To the contrary, criticism anion. This rege a criticism is vitalin and debate are signs a healthy
order to control the activities of the the changes resulting criticism should also be carried out in accordance ciples.
Compliance in our union with the above principles is not a simple matter. The need for collective action in a towara the need to place er Bat y situation of uncertainty above democratic reality, the union's democracy is its strength. There is no better discipline in action than the unity of those who have participated in a comprehensive way in the making of decisions. We therefore cannot allow a siege mentant to be imposed on contrary, it is just this defect in public life that we are struggling against.
Sixth, and finally, utilises different forms of struggle to realise the interests of the workers. These inutese intervening in the case
disputes between employers,
employers and organising and leading mass protest actions, etc. Strikes, however, play a special role
We must not forget that the strike is not only a method of last resort, but also a test of the union's prudence and solidarity. have good reasons for calling a strike society More or tere should bee and they
We астостасу ferent regions.
labour
union members.
tion
gramme: ing decisions
Whether
manner.
2. Providing
their families.
other specialised Irom such rights. with democratic prin- Pay
paid oman areas and
sometimes tend
principles. But
functions
the enterprise
CAUCASES organisations On the
the union
WORKERS raising demands before
soverei of union Therefore, we must
such
enough justification for calling a strike in relation to the social costs that it may entail.
through various institu tions and forms of activity. Wher dealing with union matters, the union press and publishing operations cannot be subject to censorship on the part of the union leadership. It has to be the source of terular informatio: and criticism of shortcomings, which
We must also see to it that the flo of information within the union goes in many directions, providing constant, rapid, and detailed information to the lower bodies and ranks about the decisions and actions of the higher bodies, and also regular information to the higher levels about the needs and opinions of the members. It is akewise essentia to dissemmate in formation among individual union organisations in factories and in dif
The bedrock of union life is the self-governing factory organisation. Union organisations at higher levels represent the factory organisations
0CC SOIS regular consultation with each factory
- Remonal ог папопа leadership bodies make decisions onl on matters that are of interest to a
Therefore, each factory organisa-
Work gramme of action. Four main types of issues are contained in such a pro Bedrock 1. Actions to safeguard the rights, dignity, and interests of workers o the job. This is connected to contro over the management of the work place and its particular agencies. This requires continual control over work
COLORS regarding wages, promocompensation, benefits. and vacations
The factory organisations act in defence of their members and in the interests of all workers, regardless of
not they belong to the unimage amicable retions They attempt enworkers and try to involve them in organising their work in an efficient Social
for the social and spiritual needs of union members and
Factory organisations should plan different social activities with the aim of consolidating solidarity among the union branches and developing the in dividuality of union members. It is necessary, through collaboration with
factory organisations or union agencies, organise sport, recreational, educational, and cultural activities.
Such common experiences can bring people closer together and prepare them for joint action in threatening situations, when the time comes energetic struggle in defence of their
3. It is necessary to have an all-round
union factory organisations should br
All (or some of them) may be paid by the enterprise, which is legally
- to release from their dutie: employees who are carrying out union
This solution can involve considerable financial savings for the union, and may be legally enforced or
Another solution is to cover the
of the individual factory through the union a solition that would em phasise the total independence of the
Factory workers employed b the union factory organisation would take leaves of absence from the factory without pay
Criticise
4. Control over the broader activities
bodies and collaboration with other factory organisations. It is the duty of every union member to see at the menders with thein este
members with the democratic principles of the union. In cases of improper conduct, criticism is essental. it may even be necessar to relieve union officials of their func tions for improper behaviour.
Socialist Challenge 20 August 1981 Page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Engineers slam Buzby porn
NALGO typists strike-spread the action
By lan Grant AT THE Post Office Engineering Union's (POEU) conference this year. optiwas orculated ana received wee summer From delegates.
Telecom's poster campaign aimed at preventing CONTES NOTS damaging sable.
The offending was reproduced in British PCISCI Telecom's house magacine, together with an artiile entitled "Cutie Will Srush Cable Crunchers' which explained:
Brishton model Jeanne pares all in an excavator 0OIO TOO CONTEdLEST here is more under the
TACCES the eye.
Petition
The protest petition ras also been circulated to The accompanying letter argues: This poster is prosably the worst example. ilthough not an isolated ase, or a later comely THE International Campaign for Abortion, Contraception and Sterilisation held a special meeting in Spain in June to discuss the forthcoming trials of women and men taking part in illegal abortions.
speak to women behalf of the Liga Comunista Revolucionaria (LCR) - the Spanish section of the Fourth International - about the problems confronting the women's movement in Spain. Could you tell me about the development of the women's movement in Spain?
The women's movement in Spain began 975. At first it was very united but It now reflects the difficult current political situation and big problems have arisen.
There are debates OUR WAS RESPECUTE and demands we should be fighting for. The organisation of the movement has deteriorated also. Issues are emerging in the unions but these are fraught with problems, as are the unions as a whole.
What are the main issues concerning the
By John Strauther OVER 400 Liverpool typists, machine operators and secretaries begin their eighth week of strike action this week.
and are fighting for a local regrading claim to end their notoriously low pay and undervalued skills.
All are stuck on the lowest grades local government. more than E50 a week, be- tew earn
ing unable to advance to berrer grades, even after years of service in important and supervisory jobs.
June
The Liverpool action began in June on a claim submitted in November.
had steadfastly refused to Socialist Challenge 20 August 1981
a petition against porno-
The petition was protesting about the British
underground plant and
women
demonstrated by BT
advertising.
The group behind the
anti-pornography cam-
Women in Tele
com The group
formed recently by women
in British Telecom unions
to push for action in their
unions on women's issues
and to encourage women's
involvement in their union
branches. And they have
already had some effect in
the largest, and probably
the most male dominated POEU. these
About four per cent of
the POEU's members are
women, mostly working in
Post Office Tactories
drawing offices. But the
National Executive Coun-
cil has no women represen-
Problems of Spanish
Women's Movement
LEONORA LLOYD took the opportunity to members attending on
women's movement at
the moment?
Abortion and divorce have
been the overriding con-
cerns movement.
Abortion is the most i im-
We are calling for
DUELLE.
no trials and for all the
women in jail already to be
released. We are also plan-
ning a large meeting of all
the groups October
when the trials are ex-
pected to start.
Is the new divorce law
in Spain what the
women's movemenT
wanted?
The women's move-
ment produced
bill on divorce. We wanted
divorce proceedings to in-
volve only one stage. They are employed by Liverpool City Council
negotiate responded to a
work to rule by promptly
OVEr fifty
typists. Weekly
The typists run their
strike committee and
Hass MCCENTES
After a selective strike by
OYCI eighty
failed to shift the council,
for an all-out strike.
Paga 8
women ору
coms
tatives; the union has no special committees or advisory bodies for women and only two women delegates attended the last national conference.
Book
The POEU'S first recognition of women in the union was a review of Anna Coote's book Hear This Brother' in the union journal. A flood of letters
appear from following
from women members alike, congratulating the journal on its coverage.
However, the new law re. quires one year of separaUNACTEROLE SCHL agrec to a divorce and four years or separanon. wacte this is not the case, before divorce proceedings can be started.
Our model bill did not require that causes had to be cited for the courts to consider divorce. THE CH law does reject the notion of attributing guilt, but divorce can only be sought on the grounds of specific causes. There is no lega aid in the new law, unlike
women's movement's model bill.
Also in the new law the father has the first right children, although this can depend on what causes have been cited for the divorce. The women's movement wanted the mother to have priority. Above we wanted the Church to stop
whole with only civil marriage recognised
What other issues is the women's movement concerned with?
subsequently confirmed in a secret ballot by three to
The City Council, W10Se committee and functioning have been eftectively blocked bv the action despite artempts to use outside agencies now being run by an eight person Emergency
Councillors are refusing to co-operare NALGO members are boycotting all its decisions. Cuts
Liberal leader Trevor Jones clearly this struggle as a way to defear local authority unions and
Women's Rights
Subsequently, two proposals concerning women
1981 Conference although there was insufficient time to discuss them.
But the questions these motions raised — one proposed a Womens Advisory Committee in the union and the other that the union implement positive action for women going to continue to be debated over the next year.
Fight
*Women in Telecom sce their campaign against
portant part of their fight
better opportunities for women in the industry. management in this sort of The sexism displayed advertising simply reinforces the traditional view which most male engineers have of theil Temale
and militates against the possibility of Bilbao - protestor confronts the riot squad
Violence against women is another imporBADE SSIP THOUSE LECTE AES been campaign as vet. There is no law on
impose cuts. But despite help from the Liverpool Echo. which blames the typists for everything from unemployment to the Tox
uprisings, he has Taried CE CLA the typists' determination. Official
Jones has also failed to split the council manual workers whose pay has been stopped by the action.
Last week, members of the Joint Shop Stewards Committee occupied council premises demanding a meeting with Jones
A meeting ot over hundred stewards voted to
issues concerning women in the union being taken seriously.
Benn
At the POEU Conterence, one of the early signatories to the Women in Telecompetition. Speaking at
STORE fringe meeting, he argued than the light against the oppression of women through pornography, as taken up by socialists, was far removed from the sexually repressive attitudes
clean-up campaigners like Mary Whitehouse.
•Women in Telecom' will be continuing the fight for womens rights in the unions and the industry. For further information COLLE Women in Telecom Room 601 Moorgate TE Fore St London EC2
except in common law which recognises family honour as important.
Married women have the same right to work as
take action unless Jones agreed to ensure their pay and start serious negotiations over the typists" claim.
The Liverpool strike, which is official, is receivFrom the NATO leaper! lukewarm support ship. They are doing little to publicise or spread the action to other areas.
Nationally, the Typists Charter Group is trying to spread the action. meeting in Livernoo on August heard reports from
Manchester Birmingham, where action has also started, and about Cans being made as lar apart Northumbria, south Kent and Southend,
anyone else in theory but in practice this means very little. Children start school at six. Before that there are only a few kindergartens so Miss and collections cor Messages support. be sent to: Liverpool Typists c/o NALGO Duchy Chambers, 24 Sir Thomas Liverpool
mittle number
o bear in mind
before you dig
Dial 100 and ask the operator for
Creefone
111
and a small now decreas ing number factory creches. School holidays may be up to three months 051-236 7944 or 051-227 1521)
Details i Parting Rod tre Typists Charter from Paulin ол 01-985 3086 or 01-986 3260 X 4.191
Page 9 scan of this page
Owen Carron: I think
A march in Sidney, Australia protesting against Thatcher's Irish policy. One of many such protests throughout the world
By Stuart Richardson in Enniskillen, Ireland OWEN CARRON, the anti-H Block/Armagh candidate in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone by-election on 20 August is optimistic about his chances of success.
will be very tight, but | think we will do it. Our aim is to get 32,500 votes -need to be sure of winning
Owen was the clection agent in the H Block camDELEIN when Bobby Sands won his historic election victory, and the issue this time is exactly the same as it was during that election
As Owen's election address puts it, *1 stand before vOu acting on behalf of the disenfranchised political prisoners. I stand on exactly the same platform as Bobby Sands.
I reaffirm the justice of the prisoners struggle and I reaffirm that their's is a political struggle.
There is one difference with this by-election compared to the one which saw the Bobby Sands victory
By Paul Lawson
terror,
Party and carried
"revolutionary guards'.
The main targets for the at
tacks are the Islamic Marxist'
Mojahadin, the largest
wing огдатаной те тас coun-
The regime is going all out
to liquidate the Mojahadin, the
main political opposition to its rule.
The intensity of the conflict
between the IRP and the Mo-
jahadin reflects the deepening
crisis in Iran. Since the over-
the Shah,
economy has been savagely
dislocated
revolution has come into con-
flict with the maior imnerialisi
Trade and domestic
producuon
disrupted.
Lack
But the IRP lack any social
programme for the
organisation of the economy
He told Socialist Challenge last week, 'It
that's what we
the number of can-
didas well as Owen Car-
As well as
ron and the Unionist can-
didate, a member of the
Army-
controlled Ulster Defence
Resument. there are tour
other candidates. The
candidates of the
'moderate' Unionist
Alliance Party and Tom
Moore of the Workers
Party Republican Clubs
known as Of-
ficial Sinn Fein.
platform which includes a
call for devolved govern-
ment* in Enc north of
reland.
White terror sweeps Iran
IRAN today is in the grip of a savage anti-left wing organised by the ruling Islamic Republican out by its armed thugs
and society to replace Shah's capitalist dictatorship. left- Unable meet the
elementary needs of the masses, the regime SO BLE and support for the Mojahadin, according to local observers. is dramatically increasing.
Such is the disorganisation of the government forces that the repression is fre-
EAC quentiy indiscriminate.
wingers are arrested and shot at TENCOR this "political' repression, the Islamic zcalots are increasing their repression against those been who break the islamic socia
code.
In Shiaz last Saturday two people were stoned to after being 'charged" homosexuality and During the same weekend,
re- people were shot
dealers in Teheran,
Owen Carron
made by the Unionist
Moore,
more were shot in Kerman.
The number in Iran since 20 June is at least 660, the majority supporters of the the Mojahadin. same period some 2,000 people the 200 last weekend. many of them is unknown.
most
increasingly Women
Among them women members of the TrotHKE Workers Party), and its Zahraie and Monavar Shir Ali.
These two comrades worked at the Ray-O-Vac battery factory in Teheran and were falsely acWITH cused of calling a strike and bemembers political group.
In retaliation government's repression, Mojahadin have campaign OI
death against leading
with government officials. Already ekend, ry several provincial
and hojatoleslams mullahs) have been killed. Suc and six is the crisis of the regime and its
International
we will do it'
ron, is 'standing deliber-
ately to try and rob us of
victory."
As well as the at of
the
ficials, the H Block/Ar.
magh candidate has faced
constant intimidation
from the forces of *law
ana oracr
'Our workers have
been continuously harass-
ed by the RUC. explained
Owen. was stopped on
six occasions in one night.
I was stopped for nearly an
hour on 13 August by an
RUC patrol. Its members
refused to identify them-
SEES OnE 00 OCRI
complaint could be made."
to one cowors ine im-
portance of the by-election
on 20 August. That is why
state apparatus of executions
its downfall.
During this
forces St weekend. The fate of including generals of
bchind thc jacking of missile-firing delivery to porters are tWO Aryana Shah's generals (Revolutionary
Faranak
the Mojahadin, of Maoist continued
former for the the outcome.
launched
assassination defend mullahs and Iran.
Task our governors
La wide range of forces are backing owen Carron.
Local pressure forced the Social Democratic and Labour Party not to stand and Carron is backed by
independence Pany, Po
visional Fein and Peoples Democracy.
SCARCELE McAliskey has put it. 'At this who are not part of the campaign to help break Britain's policy towards the prisoners are part of the campaign to break the All other difTerences are secondary. In is the rallying point for the that all the political forces which oppose it are preparing to participate in
By no means are all these
pro the Shah Former were successful hia French built gunboat before the Iranians. SupBahram another of the - 3 week jacked two Fokker military aircraft in ran and flew them to Oman. It is by no means certain that the outcome of the present conflict will be a left-wing victory. The tactics and policies of
including its political alliance president Banisaur, do not promore such Nonetheless, the decisive task of the hour is to
democratic We would rights In particular, TCHUCTS SCO messages of protest at the arrest of the HKE members to: Prime Minister Rajai at the Majlis Building, Teheran, Iran.
Thatcher faces
world isolation
over H Blocks
By Geoff Bell THE Irish Times France's President Mitterrand
after consultation
the invitation. hunger strike the present hunger strike crisis. in Belfast in 1978
The judge,
to Britain because
IRA: an British rule.'
Sadly,
or, as in the
Party. When even
all the more disgraceful.
Socialist Challenge
recently revealed that seriously considered turning down the invitation to the royal wedding because of Britain's handling of the H Block hunger strikers.
The French government decided that Mitterrand should go to the wedding only
with the Irish government, whose President Hillery did decline
This is just one indication of the grow ing isolation Margaret Thatcher is facing internationally over the H Block crisis. At the weekend, the new Irish Premier Garret FitzGerald made his strongest criticism so far when, in a television interview he ac cused Thatcher of 'inflexibility' over the
FitzGerald was backed up by Catholic Cardinal Tomas O'Fiaich who, commented on a secret meeting he had with Thatcher in July, said, 'I wasn't so terribly impressed either by her knowledge of Irish history or by her interpretation of events that occurred in the past, nor by her understanding of
Another international rebuff for Thatcher's refusal to acknowledge the special, political status of the H Block and Armagh prisoners was delivered last Thursday in New York, where a Federal judge ruled that IRA volunteer Desmond Macken could not be extradited to Britain. Macken is wanted for the attempted killing of a British soldier
Naomi Reice Buchwald stated that Macken would not be returned
This offence was 'political'. The attack on the soldier, added the judge. 'was undoubtedly free from nor sonal motive and substantially linked to the traditional goal of and strategy of the
independent Ireland free from
the international criticism of Thatcher now being voiced, either publicly
French case, through 'diplomatic channels', has still to find an echo in the leadership of the British Labour
the bosses' weekly magazine The Economist can call for Thatcher to make concessions to the hunger strike (14 Aug), the silence of Michael Foot and his friends in the Labour leadership is
20 August 1981 Page 9
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Page 10
NEWS from headlines in the papers last week, That's been the case for the past eleven months.
ionists are in detention. The torture in the overcrowded military prisons is routine and brutal. such fragments being injected tainees's urinary passages.
Eight youths have beer CALCULLE and hundred more have been sentenced to death. Nearly all basic rights and freedoms have occa stmpped away
These and the thousand other 'reforms" in-
they took power, are not widely capitalist тропом press: For
Turkey is an importan: INOELE Organisa ion countranian
Since revolution Turkey has ULLULLIC the Alliance's main cop in the region, and when NATO comes in the door, human rights go out the window.
By stabilising the political situation in the traditional way crushing all opposition to their rule Turkey's
have served
NATO well so far
They have had more difficulty satisfying the demands of NATO's financial wing, the International Monetary Fund. Turkey's foreign debt
Letters
A radical mirror? I'D just like to say that I was pretty pissed off with your coverage of the royal wedding in the 23 Ju-
issue of Socialist Challenge.
Are your pages so numerous that you can devote
Insult YOUR article Behind the Wedding' •CUtains the following sentence, 'She must of course be aristocracy so her family tree discovers a common ancestor in the homosexual Henry VI.
As I read it, the implication here is that it is ironic to claim a homosex-
an ancestor since the stigma of being
But an estimated 100,000 political opposi
into male de-
stands at over $16 billion.
DECI efforts defray these debts. the junta has arrested
working class militants including the entire leadershie ol the radical trade union federa-
DISK which had around one million members Duor 10 the
The aim is to eliminate independent working class drive down living stan order to dards.
The DISK leaders are currently facing trial in Ankara. The military prosecutor has asked for the death sentence for 52 of them, including DISK President Abdullah Basturk - a former MP TOT the Republican
cople's Party, a party al Miated to the Socialist In ternational.
Yet the Socialist International have a shameful record in supporting their sisters and brothers in Turkey.
Letter letters/tEs
five of them to this event? I don't think
Most my fellow
by the day ill ye
the day day COUL coverage. mood is definitely on the right lines. Socialist Challenge looked like a
gay obviously negates the prestige of being royal: for homosexual read queer, pervert.
If this interpretation is correct than Socialist Challenge is unthinkingly
the heterosexist ideology which its article ostensibly questions and seeks to sub-
hey use pad and gay By all means attack
don't use anti-gay insults to do so JIM FRIEDMAN Nottingham
News
Save the life of Dogan Tarkan
three months
tain.
his application.
tainly be
Turkish authorities.
action by the labour movement.
5965, London WCIN 3XX.
Some member parties. like the British Lanour Party, have done nothing at all, while others, in particular the West German
Letters
radical version of the Sun or Mirror full up with stuff on the wedding.
Normally like Socialist Challenge. Keep it up.
MIKE SULLIVAN Southall, Middlesex
I won't die for
Whatcher
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Turkey..."
DOGAN Tarkan's crime is that he is a socialist militant. He was the editor of the weekly newspaper Kurtulus (Liberation) before the military coup in Turkey.
He was lucky: he escaped to England
aTTE applied for political asylum. But this is 1981 Tory Bri-
Last week the Home Office refused
Dogan's deportation would mean that he would almost cer-
sentenced to death by the
It is still possibleto reverse the Home Office decision but it depends on quick
Rush resolutions, messages of support for Dogan, protest letters, addressed to the Home Office to TSC, BM Box
SPD, have actively collaborated with the dietatorship's hunting down of oppositionists by refus ing to defend political (real value E3.151)
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refugees escaping the junIn his first statement to Abdullah concluded dge. History. judge class will acquir DISK and find it not guilt On whose side is the Socialist International?
With NATO or with the working and labouring class? The TUC and Labour Party should act immediately save the lives of the DiSk leaders.
Campaign
The Turkey Solidarit Campaign is circulating a model resolution calling Jor the unconditional release of the DISK defendants and urging that the labour movement organise a delegation to observe the trial ar first hand. Copies can be obrained from BM Box 5965, London WCIN 3XX The Turkey Solidarity Campaign is campaigning the labour motemen Jor an end to all relations with the Turkish Junta and STUTTERE boycolt the movement of goods to and from Turke both here and throughout Europe. It can be tacted at the adress above Compaign affiliate to the Why not
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Page 11 scan of this page
The art of improvisers: contemporary jazz in Britain
EVAN Parker has played to a crowd of 17,000 people. wasn't in Britain. Here his totally improvised, often solo, saxophone playing is usually enjoyed in small rooms. Now, however, the isolation of improvised music and jazz, from which it sprang. is showing signs of crumbling. despite the tight hold highly commercial music has over our listening habits and chances.
When Max Roach spoke Socialist Challenge last year, he stressed the freedom jazz music gives its performers. That freedom, based
centrality of improvisation to the music, has steadily increased as the music evolved.
Response
This week SCCH festival devoted to musicians playing only imDrOVISCO Music as a
pal '8i music festival run
19
August to Sunday 23
August at London's Institute of Contemporary
Arts, and presents artists
from all over the world. special section of the
festival features the
•Parker Project,
British improviser Evan
Parker will
various combinations of a
SIX person international group of musicians.
In an interview granted
last month the
Bracknel!
Parker explained the
music and me chans to
have it heard in Britain.
Improvised music in-
volves the players drawing
on their own intluences
and from cach as
they go along. But how do
get started? Parker ex-
plains that the performer
can begin with something
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that you are talking to them, not just to the other MUSCLETS
At Bracknell, Parker
playing for the first WES time to the main
than recital room. TAINCE I stopped early to see the response. When it was so warm I
LIKE the jazz from which it springs. and usually cohabits with today. improvised
inherently revolutionary. not always conveniently found in radical wrapp ings. It often is, though
major event lau ching free jazz in New York was called The Oc-
Revolution in Jazz TOUCH The Revolutionary semble is one of the most challenging free music
Britain has the COLLOOS Feminist Improvising
Group (FIG). And a legendarv British group was tho trio, Iskra 1903,
Barry
Guy and Paul Rutherfor
featured this summer the prestigious Bank Summer Music programme with the London Jazz Composers Orchestra.
Under Review
wanted 5,800 what
peopit came to the festival over the weekend, albeit not at the same time.
JOHN SURMAN, was 2.30 interviewed Bracknell where he played in two separate groups.
Organising a hearing
But gaining a hearing has been an uphill battle for British improvising DESCEN
Various groups have organised promote free music. Evan Parker told us, "In the late sixties, Musicians Cooperalive — it wasn't cool to say 'the' - organised concerts at Ronnie Scotts on
when was closed. But it is hard to organise and concentrate on performing 10O, and Parker says the London Musicians LOVECOG up the ideological side and musicians carried on with their music.
Parker is now active in building a pressure group for the improvising asthetic, the Association of improvising Musicians (AIM). This group sees its role not as a promoter but as a body to encourage the
Currently in the Mitous Virouslav Group, he has long enjoyed a reputation as one of Britain's great free musicians. A virtuoso on the baritone sax, he has also expanded the soprano sax and -Dass clarinet.
Inspire
Surman explained beeran just playing Mitous the music, *we developed into a cooperative venture real-
Our recent LP (on
Mitous
there is a great comradery and if some guy wants to go there ine ouncis say "you've got it!'
Jazz music has always contained the elements now used all on their own
is mot surprising that it
is not surprising that provides a rich source of inspiration for many improvisers.
Parker trained himself 'when more serious about the music on John Coltrane solos. *Then I decided Coltrane was Coltrane so I had to make my own music. You must somehow internalise what came before, before you can decide what you can add to the music.
Parker says now 1 am free player. and separates those influences he likes as a player from those he likes as a listener 'I like all sorts of music as • a stener. as a Daver 1 an i a Trace. Among the jazz influences Parker the - Sanders win the Polrane *the work Pharoah
group Healsober tilerte
He also paid tribute to the intensity of Eric Dolphy.
Influence
*The idiom MUSIC says
Cecil Taylor's. But Euro DEALS CE COLEDULE LOU. Indeed this is one thing
Musicians Union
MU card is a condition of
AIM membership - and
special promoters like ine
Jazz Centre Society (JSC)
to sive more exposure to
improvised music.
*I don't believe free im-
provised music should b
music', Parker says. *The
musicians are not al cach
others throats and some
free musicians lke Barr
Guy can. play in any
medium.
John Surman said the
media often tries to segreis integrated with other
integrated with other
forms the audience is big-
ger *In Germany, France
and Holland, they have
been exposed to free music
for a long time, and there
are more opportunities to
play there. They can hea
it on the radio for ex-
ample."
Interviews and research by Skip Laszlo and that is so special about im provised music. It makes real Max Roach's asser-
that *jazz was an the dignities faced by people Now people all over the world.
The Southampton Musicians' Collective hits the nail on the head, when it says free music liberates the European jazz musi cian from the role of com petent but general? uninspired imitator of the American style. One need only listen to an international group im provisors to see how Euro pean, Japanese. South
Africans and Americans black and white interact. And they each bring their own influences
*One important aspect of the Miroslay Group, adds John Surman, is that
group are Europeans. are able to draw on a lot o
folk songs. I think this i
emerging as a greater in
Live
In short, -ALE the
music to free its musicans,
has finally freed an international assembly
create. It is no longer
creaca i America олу то
he copied abroad. "But"',
says burman, tink tre
music goes in so many
areas 1 still think it is best heard live.
One reason audiences
for free music are small in
Britain is lack of exposure to it. Having abandoned traditional melody and set-
time ka-chunk, ka-chunk myums one music lance
some getting used to.
ACTICAT
Donald Ayler has offered
this observation. One wat
not to listen is to focus on
the notes and stuff like that. Instead try to move
toward
the
the pitches, the col-
OurS. You have to water
them move.
Lindsay Cooper
Getting
a Feel
for the
Music
TO appreciate the wice
improvised music
HabiBl your ear by starting with
where impro
ed to more tures or sounds. Below are some from the history of Jazz to or one man- record:
do just that.
Historical Jazz Classics LASHIS Armstrong and
Hot Five and Hot Sever
all started in many ways
Baby can te
Men to the real DACH thing Many recording
revolution together for a con cert in Toronto's Massey Hal Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Ma
Bud
zealous record title is not fa PRailable on Prestige
- John Coltrane. This record, is a transi tion to Coltrane's last free phase. His music has become
musician without some
tribute to Just
IMPI 35000. John Coltane record alter 1960 recommended Cane. Mingus TILSCRE Charie: STATUS On album the conversation bet
Help in a Cane Ear
is an eariy, clea CAREDEC of collective
Barnaby Candid Jazz Br 5002 STOPSALIOn Avarlable Improvisation Familiar Context Records which contain a good
deal of frec music but have a
European folk base and,
improvisers
ата so телии DaeS 0
other types of music.
fion Music Orchestra is Charlie
Haden's big band tribut
LIC SEEMS CIVED UNE for the wand containing
and containin Hare Bicy for Che Carla
Impulse 5008
Rags - Lindsay Cooper Bas
the film
needlewome
album incorporates 19th cen
STICE Coope OWE
nusic and talented improvis
HMUSICIA
anywhere. (16 page bookle Records Cooper enclosed) Are
Free jazz classics
Free Jazz - Ornette Coleman
This record, made in 1960 is a
minute Two reeds, two drum kits,
improvisa-
tion. Not as "free" as player:
classic.
Available on Atlantic
To Cecil Taylor
the 1950%, Tha Food s
the 1950'
fine middle period piec
Available in Libraries (orde
For second hand, on Blue
People in Sorrow - Art
Ensemble of Chicago Record
ed in Fance, in 1969, where
the ter following enjoyed
greater than
this 1S one DEa
Which rays on all Grea
which Grea
Black Music Available on
Nessa. Nessa 3
Apter Trio Available on ESP Unity Alber
ESPIOOL Socialist Challenge 20 August 1981 Page 1
Page 12 scan of this page
3y Toni Gorton THE only answer is multilateral disarmament. On that there is no among rational men.
o rule the world, Denis Healey's speech to he Labour Party policy school would help convince a lot of people.
Fortunately many housands. i not millions if rational' men - and vomen are very sure hat one of the best ways o stop the drive to nuclear var 1s by ugnuing for Briain to unilaterally disarm.
Healey's speech tolowed development arlier in the week when ANCOOL! spokespeople 3P nationde executives
national CACCUEDS policy SCHCHICLE on defence.
In a letter to trade
thev he spectre of 500,000 jobs
through an antisuclear defence policy.
Brynmor John, shad3W Defence Secretary hreatened them with accountability their nembership. Decisive
Labour's right wing nave taken the fight around the detence policy Government right into the future Labour neart of the trade unions.
They know that it is the big trade unions that will be decisive in this fight.
But the transport anion, the TGWU, is demanding an unequivocal
Help us get on course
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Right wing seeks union
support on nuclear arms
disagreement
If ever there was an argument for women
last week
unilateralist stand to be taken at this year's TUC and calls upon the LP to include it in its manifesto.
TGWU
Its resolution calls for *total opposition to any British Defence Policy bused on the use of o threatened use of nuclear weapons: total ODDOSIOT Lo the siting of Cruise anc Missiles in United Kingdom and the siting of the neutron bomb in Burope; and closure of nuclear bases, both British and American in Britain.
The TGWU resolution answers the job loss argument by calling for government aid lor alternative employment strategies; that their policy would "allow resources to be allocated to the necessary expenditure on health, housing.
SOME CCTVICES ARE CHe ment in industry which will
EETPU
Frank Chapple's clectrician's union will be the spearhead of the multi9179678...
..Monthly
..And on the same date in the month thereafter.
London
lateralist approach, tying any Battish disarmament 10. "matching the steps taken by the two super powers in reducing arms evels.
Last year's LP con ference adopted two posi
ions on nuclear pole
In an assertion of th parliamentary LP authority Michacl Foot appointed the multilateralist. Brynmor John as chief spokesperson on defence. movement within the LP Such NELS DECI the and the trade unions that this sort of manoeuvre just wont work any more. Manifesto
If the NEC position wins a two thirds majority within the LP conference which it can only do with me role or me major trade unions, there can be no BICIOLE ambiguity about Labour's position.
It is with this in mind that Healey and John attempt to mobilise their
trade union leaderships.
A massive turnout at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament 131003 demonstration on 24 Oc-
conterence on September in Brighton will vastly the possibility decision lavourable to the anti-war
and against the ories and their in the trade unions and Labour Party.
LET them eat cake! That was the message from our supporters over the summer break! We know that summer is a bad time to find extra money. but spare thought (and a dime) for your Socialist Challenge staff sweating over the horrors of the neutron
the treachery of tne AUEW leadership. the crisis in the Labour
month's electricity bill. Yes,
towards our €16,500 quarterly fund drive
has been slow.
4829 5. what
and we are already half way into the quarter. By now we should be half way to our target We need another E3,500 this week if we are to get on course. On course, that is, for the forthcoming struggles, the TUC, the Labour Party Conference and especially the rail strike. Our sup porters in the rail unions will be providing first hand coverage. But this won't be possible without Your support for our Fund Drive. You need us to bring you the TaCtS. The facts are we need your money.
BR boss Peter Parker By Phil Hearse railway workers.
return for massive
threat that thousands of jobs will be lost if the threatened national rail strike goes ahcad.
the absurdity While fares
yet British Rail still makes huge 1015SCS vicious circle of increasing fares to tinance, drives more
away railways.
situation is years and years of
Rail, while huge been paid out in compensation to the former owners and in interest charges we
PAY THE
CRUDE blackmail. That's the carefully calculated announcement from British Rail boss Peter Parker that BR will lose E100m this year. nouncement is designed to reinforce BR's claim that it cannot afford to pay the 11 per cent awarded to the
BR want to stick at the government's public sec tor pay-guideline of 7 per cent. Part of the blackmail is the expected slight improvement in the offer, in
changes in working practices under the guise of 'productivity.
Behind BR's position is the
industries be
British Rail is an example of
of capitalism. go up. railway
BR is now caught in a
which only and more ways LITE
One major reason for this
Sweden's in British sums are
passengers
Ar the same time the Tories
RAILWORKERS.
The timing of the andemand that the nationalised
profitable the SACKC DELINE BELIE made gas and electricity prices
there 1s LONEL system in the world which is not
Railways are a fundamental ed by industry and ordinary peopic. Ine large captavest ment needed to keep the rail-
CLICCH never be internally financed -tE must nave nuse governmen subsidy. And as the example of
recent experiment shows, lower fares can actually bring in more money through a big increase in the number of
Only a national transport plan, as part of an
socialist plan for the economy. can solve this problem. In the
the Tories make passengers and railway workers BEY HE CONDITICSSCIESH sanity.
The same kind of blackmail is being used against British Leyland workers Years of under-investment have led to the decline of the British motor industry. The expected £500m loss by BL this year is once again being blamed on the long-suffering BI workers they are threatened with no pay increase.
But years of settling for lessthan-inflation failed to save jobs. And so vi increases
will continue and less jobs - unless the BL unions start to give a cad
Preparations for a national rail strike are going ahead, with plans to stations and depots, and solidarity promised OTHECTOSS the union movement.
Sidney Weighell of the NUR must be told loud and clear: either the full award or a national strike. A low pay in-
crease and productivity string
will not save jobs. shows, the lack of a fight will only increase the job loss.
Hoto: PETE GHAN Poocialist
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