Socialist Challenge No. 218, 22 October 1981
The scan: sc-no218.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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Challenge
Why die for
MISSILES!
No.218 22 October 1981 25p
STOP
THE
Socialist Unemployed and strikers 10p Thatcher?
CND
STOP THE MISSILES
JoBs
NOT BOMBS DEMO LONDON OCT 24
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The real face of
YOU MAY NOT heard of TINA. But TINA is the Tories' answer to all those who their deadly anti-working class policies. spelt it out again to the party faithful at week's conference: There Is No Alternative.
And in the last week the real face of Tory Britain has become clearer than ever. The Tories aim to carry out a 'fundamental shift in the balance of power and wealth' their class: the bosses and the rich. At the same time they intend that Britain should be a runner for NATO's grisly war machine.
Even well-known enemies of working people like Edward were brushed aside by Thatcher and her cronies as too 'soft'. And BL boss Michael Edwardes applauded by for threatening to shut down the whole Leyland if the struck for a better pay offer.
Let's look at Tories' achievements.
Saciers: Challenge 22 October 1981 Pago 2
Tory Britain
have
This week's
oppose
tional drop, Thatcher number of
last
and FOUR unemployed in 1984.
In some inner
per cent.
schemes.
According to
been destroyed
front lost in the coming year. We are
tion. Yet
Wing year,
Heath people's living standards.
spending. was Thatcher
'wasteful bureaucracy'. of workers
need: the old, poor. Their
the real targets.
On the Dole
unemployment figures, while recording a frac-
also show the 'hard-core' unemployed continues to rise. All economic reports predict at least three and a half million next year
MILLION
city areas unemployment is heading for 20
And thousands more young people are kept off the dole gas. through the cheap labour YOPS
LO the ment's own figures 20 per cent of all manufacturing industry has
in the current economic slump, and more will be
told that high unemployment and low wage settlements are needed 'to beat infla-
inflation is also expected to rise again over the com-
eating into working
The Tories have slashed social On housing, for instance, spending has been cut by 26.2 per cent since Thatcher took office. Cuts have not eliminated
They have hit those most in the sick and the plans to tax the pitifully inadequate social security handouts, having cut the higher levels of income tax, shows their
Editorial
On the make
Now the Tories are turning their attention to the nationalised industries. In Parliament last Monday they revealed the "biggest programme of privatisation brought before Parliament': selling off the British National Oil Corporation (BNOC) entire oil producing business and British Gas Corporation (BGC) offshore oil business, as well as ending the BGC monopoly right to purchase North Sea natural
Even the right wing David Owen of the Social Democratic Party denounced this free enterprise bonanza as purely party political dogma' designed please the Tories' friends in big business.
The BNOC is a juicy bait for the City and business sharks. Last rear it made a cool £309m profit In the current depressed state ol the market it will be sold off for a knock-down price so the can lay their hand on some quick money. Those to suffer will be working people as jobs are lost and prices rise.
This is not the first denationalisation plan of Tories. They have already split up the Pcst Office and •ended its monopoly. They have theatened to sell off the Gas Corporation's hundreds of high street showrooms. Given half a chance they will hand back all the profitable sectors of state owned industries to their business friends.
On the
warpath
While working people are asked to "tighten their belts', the Tories have earmarked massive sums of ever
money for the Ministry of 'Defence'. troops to murderous role in the North of the
Ireland at an £238m.
continue to play a role in NATO's war games like the recent exercise in 'Crusader'.
nuclear submarine is to be replaced by the marine.
to cost £5 BILLION originally. Tory
estimates now put the figure between f6 and £8 BILLION. the same time Britain is to become a floating aircraft carrier for the US imperialists and their Cruise and Pershing missiles.
Our
Tories
alternative
But make no mistake: TINA is a lie. The alternative we propose is a workers' solution to the crisis: a fundamental shift in the balance the of power and wealth in favour of
our class.
Challenge has slogan Jobs not alternative starting point to the gas Tories.
Three million could be wiped slashing the working week with no loss pay,
creating falsely named British maintain their
annual cost of
The British armed forces will
West Germany, code-named
fightback Most important, the Polaris
workers, Trident nuclear subTrident was supposed to
• And at strength
wing bases.
crushed
paigns
La
That's why Socialist policies: popularised the Bombs as our ment, those unemployed out through
nationalising NATO.
under workers' control all firms
redundancies, and programme of public works financed by taking over the banks and insurance companies.
Slashing the 'Defence' budget could provide more much needed cash to create more jobs and raise living standards.
But the Tories will never implement these policies. They have to be kicked out of office. The miners showed in 1974 that nationally led industrial action can bring the Tories to their knees. The workers who have occupied to save their jobs in Gardners and Lee Jeans have shown that a
can be successful.
That's why support for the BL
and those at Laurence Scott and Staffa are so important.
And the massive campaign for nuclear disarmament can play a vital role in halting the Tories war-mongering We can take
from the huge 300,000-strong recent march in West Germany and the election of a Greek government committed to pulling out of NATO's military
and shutting down US
The Tories have to be
in a pincer movement of mass cam-
for jobs not bombs. We have to have
Labour government committed to socialist
one that will guarantee full employ
renationalise industries the Tories have hived off and get Britain out of
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WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST THE BOMB
By Toni Gorton THE 24 October CND demonstration will be the biggest step yet taken against the mounting missile madness that affects the leaders of the 'free' world.
As tens of thousands pour into London to speak out against Cruise and Trident, it's a useful time to map out the future direction of the movement.
The most significant development in the 18 months since CND burst back on the scene has been the dramatic events in the Labour Party which pose the possibility of a future Labour government banning all nuclear weapons.
The disarmament movement has received a real shot in the arm as union after union - the transport workers, the rail drivers, and the white collar union ASTMS - voted for Britain to unilaterally disarm.
This was capped off by both the TUC and the Labour party annual conference endorsing the unilateralist call.
The fight in the Labour Party and trade unions over the Benn challenge to Healey opened up all sorts of debates over policy within the labour movement - the nuclear arms issue being central.
The contest highlighted the need to make MPs accountable to the movement which they supposedly represent.
Labour party activists rightly argue that there is little point in fighting for party conference to adopt policies which the Members of Parliament can blithely ignore.
And the Benn-Healey fight exposed the need for democratic control over the use of the trade union vote at the TUC and
soctalist Challenge
Labour's annual conference.
Following the 1980 Labour Conference the leader of the party, Michael Foot, appointed Brynmor John as shadow spokesperson on defence.
John is an ardent opponent of unilateral British disarmament. Foot could put John forward because the movement wasn't strong enough and clear enough politically to stop him.
The situation is turning now. Annual conference has adopted a unilateral policy and Brynmor John is having to consult his friends about whether he can continue to speak for Labour on nuclear arms.
The combination of a campaigning mass movement and the fight inside the Labour Party and the trade unions has undermined the manoeuvrability of the Labour leaders.
What has to happen now is that the pressure must be stepped up. The fight to control the leaders of the labour movement has to reach into every nook and cranny.
The urgency of this task cannot be underestimated. As the
110
Tory party fast loses credibility
General Election draws closer.
must be firmly tied to stopping Cruise, stopping Trident — to lead the rest of Europe in nuclear disarmament.
the nuclear issues front.
should be committed to unilateral disarmament.
PROTEST AND SUR
-AND
going to need all the resources that CND has. CND has to place the labour movement at the centre of its strategy.
energy and enthusiasm of thousands of working class youth.
campaign absolutely rooted in the working class. divert its efforts into building a middle class 'peace' movement based on the churches, and
Stop the missiles
and support the day of the next
The next Labour government
This means that in selection meetings for Labour candidates
must be up
All the major trade unions, especially the engineering union,
volvement.
C.ND
This isn't a small task. It's
the regions.
It has to build a movement that is centrally placed to use the
It has to build a mass action
It cannot North America.
AND
PIMLICO
SEHOOLKIDS
AGAINST
wealthy individuals.
CND has to change its structure so as to gain a bigger individual membership and enable trades unions to move from a token support to a genuine in-
Workplace branches of CND' should be built and model resolutions should be planned now to go forward for the 1982 trade union conference.
Labour CND must adopt a more vigorous campaigning style in the party and in the affiliated unions. Conferences like last year's Manchester Labour Movement Conference Against the Missiles should be built in all
An International Day of Action against the Missiles would provide a focus for activity during the coming year - aiming for half a million people out on the streets in Britain in simultaneous action with anti-nuclear organisations throughout Europe, Japan and
CND should step up its sup-
PROTEST AND SURVING
C.ND
port for Young CND and agree to YCND's call for their age limit to go up to 25 in order to allow it to reach out to young workers in the trade unions and Labour Party.
Moves to lower the age limit to 18 should be vigorously opposed.
Most of all, CND activists and all those opposed to nuclear weapons should forget any idea that MPs of any complexion are primarily persuaded by intellectual or moral argument.
The attitude of the Tory government will be only changed by millions of people making it impossible for them to continue on course. And the next Labour government will decide its policy on essentially the same grounds.
It is the expressed will of the mass of people in this country on the streets and through their organisations, that will strengthen the hand of those like Tony Benn who seek an end to nuclear weapons and defeat those like Margaret Thatcher and Denis Healey who seek to maintain them.
CND Annual Conference will be held on 13-15 November in Queen Mary College Mile End Road, London El.
Enquiries concerning the conference should be directed to: The conference
CND, , I1 Goodwin Street, London N4 3HQ. Telephone 01-263 03401714/.
Socialist Challenge readers who sup port our views on how to build CND ana commit the next Labour government to unilateral disarmament will be supporting resolutions 27, 29, 31, 41, 45, • 71, 88, 108 and 119 at the coming conference.
Socialist Challenge 22 October 1981 Page 3
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FIVE TRIDENT SUBMARINES = 100 new hospitals + 200 new schools
By Patrick Sikorski OVER THE last week the struggle for jobs by workers at Laurence Scott Manchester has paid off dramatically.
jobs for the 230 workers still supporting the dispute. But Denis Barry, convenor of the shop stewards, told Socialist Challenge on Sunday that there would be no deal unless there were jobs for all the 230.
'We haven't occupied and then stood outside the factory Ior the last months only to leave 80 of the people who have supported us outside the gates
The other terms of the offer would involve the factory re-openine on Monday October an initial workforce of 50, building up to Snipe's present offer of 150 over six weeks.
factory would operate 40 hour week and, with the company's present order book, would have a guaranteed future for five years.
completely removed the demand for the repayment of redundancy cheques paid out earlier in the dispute. He has also guaranteec to nonour all Confederatior of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions' agree.
'and has indicated that the workforce would be brought up to parity on basic pay and bonuses with the workforce at the Mining Supply parent factory in Doncaster.
This all from someone who had refused to contact or negotiate directly with the stewards for over six months, who had treated the tul time of ficials with contempt and who drove his Rolls Royce at Laurence Scott workers pickellng Doncaster factory.
Laurence Scott has, over six months, when not a single nut or bolt moved in or out of the gates, apparently changed from a company making a 'loss'
of pounds to one which is 'viable' order book for five years.
in inel long and orlen bitter struggle, the Scott
contend with engineering iedaery Duffy, Duvu alri Cure, who wanted them to oo back for a 3 month trial period and then only after an une recumoancy
repaid. When the worxiorce rejected this offer' both the ALEW and CSEL
official backinine
Scott workers themselves who made contact with Snipe 2s a result of the lobhi hey mounted at the anTual share-holders meetng of Mining Supplies last. Thursday week sult preparatory neeting was held the next. Jay Tolowed torma alks at the Louisa Street •actory in (penshaw last Trurday Socialist Challenge
Laurence Scott
Dramatic
breakthrough
six month long
Scott's boss, Arthur Snipe, has offered 150
Snipe's first offer was 150 jobs to be picked by management out of the original 620 who had started the dispute. But by Friday night Snipe had conceded that the 150 should come from the remaining 230.
As Denis said, Snipe wants a settlement so badly he's doing backwards cartwheels to get one. The actions of the workforce nas but snipe under immense pressure.
The Scott workers have £2.5m of motors trapped in lne factory behind cemented up gates When he took over the Laurence Scott group in
last year Snipe had to lay down a £5m guarantee that he would rulfill existing with the Admiralty within a year. Half of that year has gone and nothing has moved.
The AUEW Appeals Court has the opportunity
solidarity conference.
Laurence Scott
NATIONAL
SOLIDARITY
CONFERENCE
Saturday 14 November 10am - 5pm
Application for credentials
Please send us credentials for
enclose a cheque/postal order for £.
per delegate.
Joint Shop Stewards Committees
nona ride lanour movement bodiec
delegates There
possible allocated to contributions from the floor with
priority given to those in dispute.
Vame of organisation....
Union or Labour Party.
Workplace...
Vame of iecretary..
Address.
Telephone
please return W I Partlan,
Drauesden Manhaste,
(reche fursities will te presvided if requested up to cons
week befeare the conference.
22 October 1981 Page 4
to really turn the knife, The union's executive was charreed Wild breaking
rules by resciding official recognition. Duffy treated the court with contemot. He retused to submit correspondence on the issue and insisted that it was a matter only for the Nationa. Committee, thus breaking several more rules. The left dominated Appeal Court simploy buckled under. Some of the heat has therefore been taken off Duffy and Snipe.
It is because 'lefts' like these cannot be relied on that Denis Barry is not counting his chickens unitl and agreement has been signed, sealed and delivered. But the morale on the picket line
the strike headquarters is at an all-time high.
If Scott workers win then every one of the 230 will have richly deserved her or his victory. It will be
victory for the whole movement in the fight for jobs and against the Tories and it will be a resounding rebutt to said that they should have accepted the reached by the national officials those inree long months ago.
The dispute is still not over. Rush messages of support and donations to 20 Roundcroft, Romiley, Cheshire. And get delegated to the
..delegates. We .........Га £2
Delegates will be accepted on the basis of four from
› ana two from an orner
much 15 lines Road.
Jobs not Bombs
By P. Mitchell, Jaguar worker
Edwardes with a contract to
the full co-operation of leaderships.
Jack Adams, to beg. whelmingly supported the stewards' call to strike
TAKING ON MICH
AND THETORIES
THE last Labour government installed Michael
'save British Leyland'. In the era of the Social Contract,
planning agreements and wage restraints, Ed-
wardes launched his first 'Survival Plan' with
the national union , Longbridge convenor, is not prepared The Longbridge workers (above) over-
This plan, promising plant closures, 25,000 redundancies and more to follow, was warmly applauded when was presented to national meeting of senior shop stewards By October 1979, disillusion was growing in the trade unions.
Closures were proceeding without any pretence at negotiations with ShOp „sleware. eve the national officials were merely informed by letter
Threatening a total collapse of BL should the
Edwardes secured the support of the executive of the Confederation of Ship. building and Engineering Unions favour of a secret ballot.
He then moved to sack Derek nobinson. LONg bridge convenor, for op-
Thousands of BL workers walked OVI demanding Robinson's
Before a total national FIRNER (Socialist Challenge stoppage developed, LIC engineering union leadership promptly ordered everyone back to work Edwardes built up a legend
could beaten, although was clear to militants that all his victories rested heavily on the role played
the national trade union officials.
trated during the 1979 pay MIKE reviCh i dragged or till May 1980 Management offered a s per cen
Dhoto: increase in wages wrapped
y2 nage documen which aimed to remove all
grading structures and
working practices.
BL workers voted two to one to reject the deal while Edwardes insisted this was a vote for strike action and ruin.
Despite the lack of an clear lead a rolling strik began April workers in separate fac tories decided to walk out Within week 20,000 were on strike. Édwarde was threatening to sack the strikers and, against all the odds, a national stoppage seemed imminent
Once again Edwardes turned to the union leader ships in London. He warn. ed them of grave conse. quences if the strike continued and undertook not to sack any strikers so long as they went back to work
Evans signed and urged his members back to work on the basis of this 'agreement'
was another victory for Edwardes but this time the vast maiority ot B workers understood exact ly how it was gained
The 1980 wage review came and went under the shadow of this bitter experience, only eight mon
earlier. imposed another effective wage-cu of 6.8 per cent.
A succession of impos ed settlements far below the rate of inflation have driven BL wages down from 3rd in the pay leagu
92nd. Many workers now qualify for plementary the same time 60,000 jobs have been lost as Bl. has shut down plants.
The imposition of such harsh conditions has fuell ed a simmering resentment
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50,000 new homes + 200,000 cars for disabled + 1,500m school dinners
The workers' claim *£20 across the board increase on the basic rate.
La 53.5 per cent increase for 16-year olds.
par with the white collar workers. *A commitment to reductions in the working week.
present agreement ends in 1983.
The offer *3.8 per cent on gross pay. This would mean an extra increase of £2.50 take home pay for a grade 1 worker and £2 for grade 5.
Michael Edwardes' claim *38 per cent on his basic rate The offer 38 per cent. for BL's Chief Executive. He has accepted and will not be out on strike on 1 November.
against the management.
Union ofticials have been forced the deep anger among the BL workers.
With the present pay claim, have been
LCON taken prevent the Manucuvics from which BL workers suffered in the past. A common claim was presented to BL on wnich all unions and all plants were united.
It is a modest claim for £20 across the board in-
restoration of off pay agreements, sick leave and leave of absence on a dar wiln ine walte collar workers and a commitment to a shorter working week.
BL's reply was culltemptuous. The negotiat-
immediately UIS mended rejection unanimously called for
I November.
This solid stance was in clear contrast to previous years. For the first time under Edwardes there was a clear call for unlea llational action. The task facing shop stewaras was lo convince the membership that this year we Conte tackle Edwardes without an immediate sell out by
ELEDWARDES I
*Substantial increases for apprentices, including
*Sick pay, lay off and compassionate leave on a
*Additional holidays to be implemented after the This means £35,000 a year increase
officials. real prospect of United national action strengthened the workers' resolve. BL workers 16 meeling clearly felt that a solid vote was best defence against another sell Unless OUL Edwardes' backers the Tory coventment naKe d new calculation on the likely of the strike which CHICELS leads them to intervene, wallaus through arbitranon, te suike looks sel lo from November.
When BL out they will be aiming to win.
BL is still a major exporter and operations linked With BI accounts for substantial proportion the British economy. With potential allies lilally among workers with their
own claim in the pipeline, the BL workforce throw off the mantle of its
recent sorry berry.
overwhelming vote for strike action shows the will to fight There. If this we have to beat Thatcher as well as Edwardes then BI workers will not be alone in celebrating.
Longbridge, Birmingham
'It's in our
hands now'
By a TGWU shop steward, Longbridge from 1 November.
As We assembled Cofton Park at 8 in the morning, feelings began to
high. Many workers luil had brought placards calling for • '£20 Now and saying 'Shove your 3.8 we're going out the gate'.
LOuG cheers greeted the news that Cowley plant
Oxford voted strike. The threats Michael Edwardes and the BL management to sack
put the company into quidation, had exactly the opposite impact they'd hoped for.
'Michael Edwardes Talks Rubbish and It's Time Call Edwardes' Bluff
WCIC placards that summed up the mood of the workforce assembling COLLOI Park.
Our Longbridge, Jack Adams took this up in his speech
mass meeting.
Threats were, he said, no
for negotiations, particularly where une worktorce sa seen ar. nual increases over the last three years of 5 per cent, S per cent and 6.8 per cent, conored plan! closures and massive Telence
'We will gẹt the 'where situation. he said we don't negotiate beg on your behalf.
At Longbridge we are already lacing IUSS another 1,500 workers
production of the Wilcil
Jobs not Bombs
LAST FRIDAY we voted at BL's Longbridge plant in Birmingham for a complete rejection of management's offer of 3.8 per cent on the basic rate. Unless there is a substantial improvement on that offer we will be out the gate
Allegro ends next year didn t need manv speeche for us to vote overwhelmingly for strike action.
Feelings were running high as we returned to the factory from Cofton Park We stopped the traffic by laking up the whole road as we walked back and shouted in defiance at the foremen who had been saying we'd never vote for the strike. older workers started stout the go old days stories
of militancy before Ed wardes came We cheered everytime news of the vote Came over ine aul.
The atmosphere was electric. worker said to me: been threatened with the sack before while I've been on strike, but never before l'd been on strike. 'We don't like being threatened. In our hands now. We've got to win.
Management now has till | November to come back with a new offer. If it
at Longbridge that this strike will become a key test of strength between une whole aDOH movement and the Tory government. So the whole labour movement the trade unions and the Labour Party has in LTON full weight behind this struggle.
AT 4.45 last bailiffs, invaded the Staffa plant,
occupying. had chosen its time well.
Not only is the weekend a difficult time to raise reinforcements but many of the ference with the Right to port - were lobbying the Tory paign.
So, despite suspicions that such a move was imminent, it was difficult to mobilise support. That same evening, scan lorry anvers went into tae plant and removed all existing stocks from the site. Prepared
Management prepared for this dispute, secret documents Challenge exposed in the last two issues indicated. It has already look. ea into une possionity or tinaing alter
start ersewnere any move by the strikers to get present supplies embargoed.
During the engineering union members, coliar workers in ASTMS had been outside on the picket line. Now that both staff and shop floor workers have been forced together again outside the factory, there has to be effective joint action between
Vital
Mass meetings ASTMS workers members are vital to ensure the full participation of all the workers in determining the course of the struggle. Both dispute official.
The Staffa workers are determined to continue their fight for jobs. They have already headquarters in the Leyton Labour Party rooms and have organised a round the clock picket of the plant.
The workers know that, given the determination OT smash the dispute, they are in for a long, hard fight. full support of the labour movement if they are going to save their jobs
Messages of suppor are 9:
Chris Newson. AUER Sir. tee 39 Somers Roa
Staffa matises
Stujjo stays
in Leyton
Staffa stays in Leyton
By Frank Gorton, AUEW Metal Box & TU Liaison Officer Hackney North CLP and Ray Reed Saturday morning.
accompanied by 300 police
evicting the Management
Staffa militants
unemployment.
was clearly the Socialist
suppliers should production
thus anticipating
occupation by strikers white
the
to this initiative of both the and the AUEW
unions have made the
organisation established
and AUEW
management
They will need the • Sell badges
hanna sey
Fast i0 buc
Stop press: Tuesday 20 October orkers
ASTMS To What should Socialist Challenge supporters do? ANY STRIKE needs large amounts of money, both to keep body and soul together and to organise the struggle. Support for the Staffa workers is a crucial part of the fight agains!
We want our supporters to ger the issue raised in the trade unions, trades councils and Labour parties russing the hat round at meetings will help, but the decisive support has to come from the large donations that branches, stewards committees, district and divisional bodies can give.
Such donations not only are essential if Staffa workers are to win, but are a real way of committing the labour movement to support the strike Socialist Challenge supporters should be fighting for their local MPs and councillors to solidarise with the
Leyton Labour Party has donated its offices to the siewards committee and the Greater London Council is being urged to provide a portacabin for the workers on the picket.
Hackney Labour Party are holding a benefit on 6 November to raise money for both Laurence Scott and Staffa. MPs Ernie Roberts and Tony Benn have already given their support
What's happening in : your area! Ge things moving now and don't forget to keep the strike committee and your paper informed of all support. Check list • Arrange a speaker for your Labour Party, union or community
• Pass resolutions of support especially directed to the nationa! executive committees of ASTMS
@ Take collections wherever possi ble using the officia collection sheets with the union stamp • Plan fundra sing evert
Statta stay
st ke commitict. 35 somers Riz-
25= e2 - 8 5: 203 age
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SALT and
disarmament-
THE STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATIONS TALKS (SALT) have raised many hopes that some real reduction in nuclear weaponry, East and West, will come about. Here BRIAN LYONS looks at the real meaning of the SALT agreements, the theory of 'detente' which lay behind them, and exposes the way in which SALT actually led to arms increases.
There are some The SALT people in CND who only did
cemens o believe that ratification of not in any way disarm the the SALT 2 accords would
ODS Sees. they Virrepresent step towards tually necessitated an nuclear disarmament. In escalation of the race to its founding statement, the develop offensive nuclear European Nuclear missile technology. Disarmament Campaign By the time the SALT 2 calls for ratification of the November 1972, talks opened Geneva in SALT 2 accords.
the race
Although critical of centred upon the developthose accords, CND's ep- ment of MIRV missiles cial broadsheet otherwise known issue urges the movement 'multiple independently
support toe accords. lanceldo e re-entry This is part of what some vehicles'. In plain (ND leaders describe lailkuare. these combing multilateral in- missiles which carry
with several warheads that fire disarmament. The two ap- at different individual proaches, they say, are not lal KeLs OLICC the opposed to one another. carrier arrives at its overall
So what are the SALT accords? What was their aim and did ther MIRV originate? The first round of SALT Helsinki in November Washington had its 1969. Progress wasn't very first test flight of a MIRV rapid since it took two and missile in 1968. By the time
half years before an in- the Soviet Union made its Inal agreement was signica mirst test he Pentagons • vears From their inception, later, though, the talks were already had 600 of these never conceived of sophisticated warheads reducing, far less deployed on land-based eliminating, nuclear alic weapons. the Poseidon submarines.
The purpose of Parity the SALT 2 talks from the
Pentagon's angle, was to maintain this relative US The initial purpose of superiority and to limit the the talks was to establish Hua Del of MIRV missile: the principie parity: the Soviet Union could that is, an acceptance of each side's her rom deploy as repiacemens lor its existing launchers. destroy one orner In June 1974 Nixon arthis premise was built the rived in Moscow for a HOW policy with Brezhnev Mutually Assured
who hailed the talks Destruction (MAD) contributing to 'the reducingredients to ene SALT C There were iwo tion - and subsequently
the complete removal recipe. limit defensive i ne first was nuclear to of the possibility between our two states'. of war
capability. If one side was Less than months to completely safeguard its
later, after Nixon had been cities and military installa- replaced by Ford, a tentions, that would be inter
Lalive almis agrcement was
preted as a preparation fo Shis das the main product Vladivostock
put a S-year ceiling on the of the SALT 2 negotianumber of oftensive aun. chers that could be built. tions. Yet again. the
The USA was permit- DOOMSDAY HIGHWAY tea only 1,000 land-based launchers and 710 seg-based launchers while boulenaunen shes. the Soviet Union aliowed 1,410 and respectively. The Soviet Union was permitted higher potential 'ceiling because at that time Soviet
offensive missile rechnology reat of the Lagged hehind
Two years after the accords were signed it was
revealed that the us tota
nuclear weapons deliverable s. 9e0 com and sea was
to 2.6000 for
soviet Union The Soviet union could
lestroy America ix times over compared is the Is ability destro;
soviet Linion Fleei imes
Socialist Challenge 22 Octobar 1981
agreement was hailed by the Kremlin as signalling a fundamental the nuclear arms race. 'No
doubt now
one has ally said Pravda November, that the people of good will on earth have wholeheartedly accepted positive processes of our epoch.' Cover
In reality, the Valdivostack agreement
like ine enure SALT summitry provided COVCE LOT the continued pursuit by Washington of its global objectives. Reacting to this agreement, the New York Times could scarcely conceal its glee
United States will br free'
November 29, *to deploy hundreds of B-1 bombers and ten Trident nuclear missile submarines.. There is no restriction on missile flight testing slow the qualitative arms race. Nor is there anv ba developments such as land other destabilising mobile and air-mobile ICBM's, cruise launched from submarines and provements in missile acculaly. In other words all the grotesque nuclear paraphernalia templated for US Europe now was not restricted but sanctioned by the SALT 2 accords.
Spread
Events have refuted the policy of detente At une level Of conventional weapons, in the same year that the SALT were signed arms sales abroad more than doubled. Overall the years of detente have seen the spread of nuclear weapons to more countries.
Detente has already proven that it tends to in. crease danger nuclear war because it rests upon and fosters the illusun unal imperalismn car change its predatory flatule
Because detente rests
Kanc
Stop the missiles.
Soviet missiles on parade in Moscow
upon maintenance of the Kremlin and the Pentagon status both the are necessarily forced nether or them i thi themselves
will infr upon each traditional spheres of in.
MISSILE SPIKE PATHS
NORTH POLE
reason, detente For the reason, and the SALT negotiations didn't even begin to challenge either NATO or the Warsaw Pact.
Socialists offer a different road to peace - the only one that offers to put
CANADA Tost path to Marshall Islan!
a permanent end to all war. That road begins by recognisin. diplomatic deals erase the basic conflicts of our age. You agree to ena lI between capital its workers. betwee, oppress.
U.S. launch Vandenberg Air F
that
cannot
can't just
conflict
and
d oppressor nations, ween working peoind the bureaucratic res of Eastern Europe cast of all if these ments are signed by ucrats and lists!
ved
ese conflicts can on-
olved and ended by
ig people - the im
majority of
rity taking their
their own
There can be no
with apartheid, no
with Zionism, no
the brutal
, of Latin America,
ce with discrimina
jainst women and
and no peace with
n which starves and
people
India and the Mid
ingas the capitalist
enresented by the
rs and Reagans o
rld the
ill continue to live
ie sombre shadow
..car holocaust
Page 7 scan of this page
World cops
re-arm
IN THE WAKE of the assassination of President Sadat of tagon announced that it was holding military manoeuvres in Egypt. Two 'AWAC surveillance already patrolling Soon thousands of US troops will be stationed in Egypt.
All this is just part of the massive re-arming and forces being carried out by the United States to boost its ability to intervene wherever its vital threatened.
The re-arming First the United States is making a determined attempt to achieve nuclear 'first strike' capacity
- in other words decisive nuclear superiority over the Soviet Union.
The second is a massive re-furbishing of the US's conventional forces Rapid Deployment tion of the quick-strike Force' which aims to put 100,000 soldiers in the field anywhere in the world within days.
The two prongs of America's war drive are inter-linked.
United States the ability to who stands in the wav of their use of milltarv might - even if that is in the first instance conventional military might.
In order to understand why America needs this strategy we have to understand where and how its interests are threatened. For the US today there are two crucial 'pressure points': the Middle East and Central America. strategic importance of the Middle East is not hard to understand.
The United States is dependent on oil from the Middle East. Until the Iranian revolution in 1979. the Shah's regime was the kev alv of the United States in the region. the Shah was a massive blow against American interests in the region.
But economicallv it was not such a bow since the United States only received ten per cent of its oil from Iran. Much more important trom an economic point of view is the decrepit
DAVENTRY 'New Statesman' map of US bases in Britain
Egypt, the Pen-
aircraft are Egyptian skies.
re-deployment of
interests are
process has two aspects.
including the crea
superiority gives Lue
threaten anyone The crucial
The overthrow of
rurther caption key on map pag • Major US base • US base
Lines show uS owned com Rapid Deployment Force on the march feudal regime in Saudi Arabia - the 'loss' of which to any form of anti-American revolution would be crushing to US interests.
There is no way in which the US will allow Saudi Arabia to be 'lost certain to intervene with its own military forces against such a development
From a political point of view, much more direct challenge to US interests is taking place Central Hinchical.
Caribbean. The successful Nicaragua and Grenada are extending
Internationa..
By Paul Lawson IN THE debate on cruise missiles, many people have made the point that Britain could, by virtue of US control of these weapons, be drawn into America's war. famitar piece of us defence coinking. 'theatre' nuclear
volvement in Britain is not so well known. Britain has a huge number of American bases and installations of every kind
Whereas is most 'unlikely that British nuclear would ever be wcabull. used without NATO the United States retains the right to use its full military might at any time, with or without its atlles - and re tains operational control of its own forces at all times.
In other words, there is
guarantee whatever that the full nuclear and non-nuclear resources of the United States forces in Britain would not be used without consulting the with potentially disastrous coveramel results for the British peoIn Britan, and what aes w nal are ine Us bases - the US would be
, however, a
couple of years.
and the revolutions .S.
the
Uncle Sam
expects you
to die for him
The idea of fighting a Europe now
But the precise extent of US military in-
they used for?
The United States has sole or part use of 21 air bases in Britain From these bases US fighters and . fighter bombers would: set out on both nuclear and non-nuclear SULLICO during the early stages European 'theatre' war.
As can be seen from the adjacent map, many of these bases are East Anglia sure to be absolutely devastated in the event of these bases being used for air strikes in European war. in the event primar Another target war would
Brawdy in south east Wales. Brawdy is the focal revolutionary, process begun with the revolution in Cuba in 1959. The crunch point of this struggle at the present time is the guerilla strug gle being waged by the revolutionary forces ir
American military aid, together with the now-standard 'advisors' are pouring in to boost the shaky right-wing dictatorship, been responsible for the murder ot thousands of civilian opponents of the regime in the past
The cost of this re-armament process is staggering. Despite government spending cut-
point of a series of cables listening devices nervatee other underwater antes sales nos seded in the Atlantic. Their purpose is lo acicet lne position of Soviet nuclear submarines.
These devices give an extremelv accurate Dicture of where the Soviet subs are - and would lead to the very rapid destruction of the Soviet subs in the event of war. Therefore the Soviet Union would be compelled to effect the immediate vaporisation of
weapons had been used in war. Hard luck rural south Wares
To strike at Soviet nuclear submarines there
stores of American depth charges bases in Cornwall and Scotland guarded by armed US marines.
The United States keeps substantial dumps
weason stockpiled in Britain These stockpiles would of course themselves be
real posibility
crusi •LIC
from Honduras
El Salvador. which has
tentened.
prime targets for a Soviet nuclear attack. The nuclea weapons lying scattered over the British country side would shock most people if they knew abour The central US stockpile is at depot at Welford the SLOIC.
Berkshire.
Together with Welford there nuclear stores Upper Heyford Woodbridge Greenham Common, and
Duncan Campbell writing
US base at Burtonwood near Warrington is the site of the US's main store of "theatre' nuclear weapons.
In many ways more fascinating than the paraphernalia of aircraft bases and nuclear weapons dumps is the extent of US spying facilities in Britain.
US bases Britain control American spy satellites and Us planes tiv mission to catch the film capsules back to earth by the satellite. In addition there are a number of 'listening posts', including the ultra sophisticated electronic
Menwith Hill. This station listens to communications from all over Europe: has the capacity to listen to all the phone calls made in Britain complete the American intelligence network in Britain are the U2 spy planes which are used
countries. These are sta tioned at Milden hall. 'America's floating aircraft carrier' • that's the slogan carried on many CND demonstrations. Uncle Sam doesn't just expect you to put up with his bases, his bombs and his spy stations. In the line of for hi you may have to di
EL SALVADOR
FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF FMLN
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front
T P.m. CONCERT of folk musicum di salsa dores by the BANDA TEPELAN
Mission io both events: £3.00. C2.00 unwaged, DAF
Saurde la caber in che Main Beline North Fonda Prieth cated os pasaladar aniostresmoalena camon carabinas Deconsciennonessy
backs in every other sphere, the United States intends to spend a staggering 1.5 trillion (yes trillion!) dollars over the next five years in whai Time magazine has called the 'biggest peace. time military build-up in US history
In the coming months and years there is the
that the United States will b
front all those who threaten its interests.
Those who support the revoltuions in Central America should not forget thạt in 1965 the US sent its marines to the Dominican Republic
there Nicaragua is today under seige from US im perialism, in a desperate economic situation and harassed by US-trained forces operating
The left-wing guerrillas are already feeling the brunt of US military aid in
In 1981, fighting the war drive means no: only opposing the nuclear build ur , but oppos.
to crush the revolution in Central America, the Middle East — or wherever else US interests are
Sacialist Challenge 22 October 1981 Page ?
Page 8 scan of this page
THE DAY IT HAPPENED Tom Marlor
THEY had given me the bleeper the day Americans went Saudi Arabia. They must have known then something was likely to happen. Not that I was particularly worried. was the third time they had given me bleeper. On the two occasions they had taken it back after a couple of days. So I was getting used to it, the novelty was wearing off.
Besides, I was quite pleased in a way. Being given the bleeper was confirmation that I was still an important person, in the one per cent elite whose would be required when it happened. But then, I was Britain's leading authority on radiation sickness, so I was only being given my due.
I had half tried to get to Saudi Arabla. It was the neutron bombs had ever been used, so it would have been useful to see their effect at first hand. That might sound callous, you're a doctor there are times when feelings become a luxury you just can't afford.
Anyway, when I made a few polite inquiries about going to Saudi Arabia I was warned off. Despite the bombs there were still thousands of insurgents roaming around, still intent on fighting the civil war to its grisly end. Not that there was any evidence people on the TV shots. shown pictures after the neutron bombs had been 'deployed'. was eerie. Nothing moved, just the oil wells stood there, alone but secure.
'Our vital interests protected' the US president had said afterwards. 'And the legally constituted government return once the area has been cleansed. For the moment the American people remain proud to play host to the Royal family of Saudi Arabia.
Certainly, when they showed the Princes on the box they didn't look exactly keen to return. But then, who would have?
So they had bleeper. Like the other when they wrapped it around my wrists they told me there would be three short bleeps, ten seconds apart. Then it was up to me to get to the shelter. They would have around 15 minutes.
I was in the toilet, believe, when the first bleep sounded. I just started at the round little dial on my left wrist. I couldn't believe it, it must be a mistake I told myself. Then came the second bleep. My mouth went dry, I could feel myself shaking. the third bleep. This can't be happening, I told myself. But it was.
Afterwards I heard someone blame the Russians. ment they had issued after the Saudi business was as ambigious as ever. 'A challenge to peaceloving people everywhere, which
cany really mean by read, donat
suppose we will ever know, but anyway the US president wasn't
Socialist Challenge 22 October 1981 Page 8
the into
that
It
the
other
services
nuclear
first time
but when
of live
They had
Changing around to find It this is to be the big one,
get in first:
remain
US.
will heat wave
have vaporised.
degrees. somehow
the blast wave.
given me the
times
told me I
would you
Then
The state-
What
out. If he must have decided, he was going to get in first. Or rather, Europe should
unal way the war theatre might not spread to the
Those at the centre of the blast would have had no hope. The
would have hit them first. So hot that metals would
Temperatures would be as high as 10 million
Anyone who had survived that would have been killed, mercifully so, by
out.
Nuclear bombs have three effects, I explained: heat, blast and radiation. Within three or four miles from the centre of the blast there would be no survivors, not a human, not an animal, building. Some I told this to, didn't believe me. 'But surely someone could have lived, surely there's a small, small chance. Miracles can happen, after all', I was asked. 'There are no miracles in a nuclear war', I replied.
To escape the clamour I walked over to the window and stared
But there was no
through the window either. Out in the distance I could see what I recognised as the black rain, the legendary fall-out radiation and dust. not a would settle on people, animals
and buildings. would be blood coming from their mouths, their noses, bowels. Fish would float to the surface of rivers, as if trapped in some great oil slick. black substance would not be oil.
bumped into me. She pinned me to the window with her hands on escape my arms. She just started talking,
mixture of I knew it
And then there
their give
Only this
As I turned away a woman He had
Tom Marlov
as if she had to.
'We'd done what they said We were even lucky.' She smile at that. 'Lucky to be in the sheltel when it came. Because there wa: no warning you know. I alway thought there was a four minut siren somewhere, which would
chance. But ther wasn't, you know.
"Still we were in the shelter
insisted we buy one, though I thought then it was a waste of time. But there we were checking things. Then we heard
Page 9 scan of this page
the noise.
She paused for a minute but her grip on my arms didn't lessen. She continued:
'He was suffocated. The air was so hot when it came through the ventillators we just couldn't breathe.'
'No oxygen,' I interrupted. She just nodded.
"The wind was next. I never knew there could be such a wind. It blew the roof off. Except, waking up, on fee next. remember what happened
I tried to move away from her, but she kept on talking.
I thought I would tube, get the underground.
got there, there underground left. Yet I remember those handbooks. underground they said"?
I explained it to her. 'It would have been the blast wave. Probably travelled along underground tunnels. The experts predicted it would travel along them and kill people up to 20 miles away from the centre of the blast.'
When I uttered the word 'experts' she let me go. She mumbled the word back at me with contempt, turned around and walked away.
I think they must have bleeped me after the first Cruise had been fired. Later I was told it had been launched from Greenham Common, near Newbury. I remember going to the horse racing Newbury once, it was so peaceful and colourful then.
got to the shelter in 13 minutes. The nearest one was on
Central
London
don't
get the
When was
"Go to the
the
other. was just being scorched.
the outskirts of Watford, just two miles away. Nobody knew about it of course, just those of us who had been given the bleepers. It was in the basement of a large mansion, owned by some Earl or
going into the shelter when it happened. I don't remember now which came first, the horrendous noise or the bluewhite flash which filled the whole ask. sky. The retinas of my eyes felt as though they were on fire. I could see nothing, I could feel my skin
I regained my sight just as I was being shoved into the shelter. I remember looking back and seeing the huge fireball on the horizon. I remember seeing the rubber on the front left hand wheel of my car burst into flames. How strange, 4. thought. Its fun-
ny, the peculiar thoughts you get when they drop a nuclear bomb.
The first couple of hours inside the shelter were like a collective numbness. Only the Army officers gave any appearance of activity: telling people that the Army was in charge now, that the government had been suspended "for the duration', although the duration of what, nobody liked to
I explained to them there was little I could do without my supplies and equipment which were still at the hospital, if the hospital was still there. Already some in the shelter were vomiting, the first sign of radiation sickness. Others had burns, of varying degrees Some just sat there, on the floor, weeping with the pain of it all.
Amazingly, the only
supplies in the shelter were bandages and aspirins. thought they would be that unprepared. So they said I should try to get to the hospital, which was just under three miles nearer the centre of London, which probably meant the same distance nearer the centre of the blast. They told me I would probably be all right and that the hospital would still be standing. They gave me a bicycle to get there.
Outside, ing. Huge winds had swept the area. There was hardly a building left standing. on the road that hospital. The further I cycled the more awful it became. The bodies became more and more charred, more and more unrecognisable as human forms. A few black remnants of what had once been trees still poked up from the brown grassless fields. I thought I smelt burnt flesh, but maybe that was just my imagination.
The hospital was damaged, but was still there. By now it must have been about six hours after the blast. At the hospital entrance there some order. The police and army, wearing bloated radioactive suits were outside it carrying guns. were groups of people just standing around watching them.
I tried to avoid looking at them, at their scarred bodies the pools of vomit in which they were standing, at their diarrhoea which formed around them. didn't even notice me, they were too much in shock. But a few did shout a half-protest as the army let me through the cordon and into the hospital.
The contrast scene at the hospital gate and inside the building was amazing. Outside, everythng was barren, doomed and silent. Inside it was all noise and chaos. went in a couple of nurses grabbed me as if I had brought them salvation. There were so few doctors there. I suspected most of them were in somewhere. Once or twice I tried to explain that I couldn't stay, but I hadn't the heart to finish the explanations. round the hospital, trying to do what I could for the patients who had managed to get there before the cordon Friends and strangers grabbed me to tell me what they had seen, or to ask me what was happening outside, what hope there was for those nearer the centre of the blast. I hadn't the spirit to lie. I told them, as clinically as I could.
I felt hopelessness. could really do in the hospital. After all, radiation sickness can't really be cured, not permanently. And even if there was some help I could bring there was no electricity in the hospital and no running water.
Then someone tapped me on the shoulder. totally incongruous to what was happening around me.
wearing a uniform,
a flat cap with red ribbon around
it. He called me by my name and I
nodded.
'We need you,' he said
they think', I replied.
boy. I'm told you're NDP, so I
wouldn't want any harm to come medical to you.'
'NDP?' never
hospital, radiation
there,
Wing at it. 'Radiation proof".
over the fires were still rag-
shots There were bodies
the cordon, led to the
through
We helicopter,
semblance of
There river's banks.
at
been. tiny lakes Most of them
between the
burning.
vice'.
As soon as I left, even phones.
our shelter
mentality.
Instead, I wandered
shelter. had been set up
I suppose
expected it.
don't know sense of utter There was nothing!
It was so polite,
aren't you He was you're the spotless, and
"They do here as well, or so
'Better do as we tell you, old
And at bomb fell.
'Non-disposable personnel', he explained, grinning
He took me to the top of the
gave me an antisuit and put one on himself. There was a helicopter
although I'd never seen anything like it. He saw me star-
'Like it?' he asked.
As 1 walked over to it 1 looked
Proof to the hospital gates. I had heard noises coming from that direction. They were
Obviously some of the crowd outside had tried to storm
desperate for treatment as they must have been. They were being machine-gunned as I watched. I looked over to the army officer. He shouted at me
This radiation mask 'Afraid they're not NDPs, old boy'. I couldn't see his face, but I sensed he was grinning again.
stepped into the and within ten minutes were over what had been the centre of London. There was a huge crater below, a couple of hundred feet wide. It was surrounded by fires. There was no fire in the crater because that was full of water that had once been in the River Thames. An enormous tidal wave must have burst the
On the water could make out tiny specks, floating there. They were like a giant swarm of tadpoles. They were, of course, people. Or had
As we flew to the other side of what had been one of the heaviest populated cities in the western world there was no relief for the eyes. All the houses within a ten miles radius were flattened. The metal bridges, half melted, formed a series of grotesque shapes. There were still thousands of fires
There were no telephones left to 'phone the ser-
There was no fire service if there had been
'Not too pleasant', he said to me. 'But don't worry, a couple of
missiles got them first. Moscow is no place to be these days, I understand.' I just looked at him, unable to comprehend his
'Where are you taking me?' I asked, for it was clear now that I was not on the way back to my
'Well it's really top secret, but you'll know soon enough. It was the bloody Rolls Royce. I mean who would have
The bloody thing broke down on the way to the shelter. I mean a Rolls Royce. I
what the world's coming to these days. When they can't even make a Rolls Royce that won't break down?
It seemed as if a car breaking down offended him more than anything else that had happened in the last few hours. But I didn't comment. I just asked him what Rolls Royce he was talking about
"The PM's old boy. Broke down on the way to the shelter,
listening? Anyway, expert they tell me.
PM's a bit ill, I'm afraid. Up to
you to set things to right. Can't let
morple 8o. Bad for the nation's
I came near to strangling him
then. Or screeming at him, , 'What
nation, what bloody morale'. But
he wouldn't have understood, so I
just laughed. It was a great relief.
that instant the second
Page 10 scan of this page
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*OUT
AGAINST
ORIES
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*OT BONES
Socialist Chall
THE MISSILES!
Islington
VICTORI Lambeth
Outer West Хоктнита апно
march
selling on the Youth CND contingent.
Fight the
missiles
with
Socialist
Challenge
Ocialist blenge
BRITAIN OUT NOTBOWIES ALLENGE FACING US IN 1981
Socialist Challenge st nge
S NOT BOMBS
Socialist
Re Challenge
MARCH AGAINSTNO TO REAGAN'S
NFIITDON
Brent
Block C Haringey
CROSS HERE FROM COACHES
ASSEMBLY FROM 10. 30am MARCH MOVES OFP AT 11.00 a soching books vill osley found an
Head of March: Ireland, Scotian BLOCK C BLOCK D BLOCK E BLOCK E
Sell Socialist Challenge on the CND
Supporters from out of London will be selling Socialist Challenge and Revolution on the trains and coaches down to the demo, including selling Socialist Challenge special subscriptions. On the march itself they will be
Our London supporters will be selling Socialist Challenge and Revolution on the place marked on the accompanying map.
Socialist Challenge News
Vietnam to the hilt.
Around.
first step was taken last year. the conference.
support NATO.
Socialist Challenge.
JOBS
BOMBS
Hackney Buack Block F
Вьюск E Wandsworth
Lewishar West Midlands, East Anglia, South Wes!
Students. Yorkshire. North West, North
on
IN 1963 when CND was at its height the Labour Party voted for unilateral disarmament. Yet within a year Wilson was pressing ahead with nuclear armaments, and backing Nixon's genocidal war in
Socialist Challenge was set up to stop this kind of betrayal hap. pening again. Two years ago, with the revival of CND, we set out to build CND, to commit Labour once more to unilateralism, and to make sure that conference decisions wouldn't be ignored next time
This week's huge demonstration happened because of this struggle. How did we go about it, and how can you help us? The
On our initiative, a newiy formed organisation - Manchester Against the Missiles - called a 2000 strong demonstration at 'Labour's Blackpool conference, with two aims: to lobby conference to support anti-missile policies, and to win sponsors tor a laboul movement conference against the missiles to organise practical ac tion by trade union and Labour Party militants.
Every day our Labour conference bulletin recorded new sponsors, as our team of supporters built an impressive list of over 200 backers. The anti-missile conference was taking shape before
The next step was to get the sponsors to agree on the tasks of
We argued it should stay clear of long wrangles about doctrine, and set clear goals for action which everyone could
But we said that to make this effective, we had to involve ordinary working people through the unions and the Labour Party. This would lay the basis for industrial action, and pile on the pressure to make MPs stick to conference decisions.
Seven hundred delegates came to the highly successful conference. As councillor Carol Turner explained to our lunchtime meeting of 200 delegates, the most important task facing the conference was to aim for a giant demonstration, built on the momentum behind CND. Such a march would draw in new forces, organise support among working people and give public and convincing expression to the tremendous weight of feeling against Reagan and Thatcher's war-mongering.
Conference gave its overwhelming backing to the suggestion and delegates left pledged to win support. The message was not lost and the whole movement enthusiastically backed the call.
These successes show why a campaigning combat socialist organisation is needed. Events like this week's demonstration don't just happen. They have to be organised and fought for.
The struggle is just beginning. We should link up with everyone fighting Reagan's madness, including with the freedom fighters in El Salvador and the Caribbean. We should commit the labour movement to breaking all links with the Pentagon and to get out of
We must ensure that a repeat of 1963 doesn't take place. This is what we stand for. Why not help us?
You can help by selling our paper on the demonstration anc where you live and work. You can help by linking up with othe supporters in your area, at work, and in your Labour Party.
Last but not least, you can give us money. Take a giant step against the missiles, support
REVOLUTION
SOCIALIST PAPER FOR YOUTH
Youth Fight Reagan's
War Plans
NO CRUISE NO TRIDENT
Revolution the missiles and the youth fightback You can Revolution Youth at PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
NATU en AtOM Youth special broadsheet
obtain it or contact
Page 11 scan of this page
Don't mince words
Letters I read Brother Voakes' gallant defence of the Healeyite misinformation Transport and General Workers Union (SC letters) and came to a new understanding of the power of the media to brainwash even the most committed socialist.
The Healeyites' version of the vote which Brother Voakes swallowed was that seven of the ten for him.
What is actually the
of the Cases unal seven ten Regional Executives interpreted vote for Healey. He seems to have 020 a clear majority both branches and votes
In Humberside, whereas a majority of branches were for Healey, a majorily or marvidual members were for Benn.
Contrary Brother or the branches the Pole Voakes' claim that of the branches vote was need will na pened was that while
dealev had the largest share between himself, Benn and Silkin he was very clearly minority candidate when the votes of the other two were added together.
This is not a minor point when you remember that the consultation was supposed to take into account the union which both Benn and Silkin (both TGWU members incidentally) claimed to support while Healey opposed. The Rank and File Mobilising Committee entirely right claim that the
Miners give
thumbsdown to
Tory MP
'THERE'll be no Tory MPs down our pit' was the response of miners Parkhill colliery in Wakefield when they heard that Marcus Fox MP was due to pay them a visit.
The colliery trip had been arranged by a local Conservative Trade Unionists branch. When NUM officials heard of it THERE is a lot of poppy-
talked COCK democracy. Is it really democratic to wake up
periodicall and tell them, in their bewilderment, to vote for good old Tom, Dick, or Denis?
Or is it more democratic for decisions to we made conecuvely py all those who are active and consistently awake and interested?
Just example democracy: about 30 year
Wals CILICONC lary of the very left wing committee of a local coopcrative party which met frequently and regularly.
The latter part of our year of office was an excep-
Letters etters nee
Transport union-
let conference decide
campaign In the
figures left everything to
microrelation.
find astonishing
that Voakes can attack the
delegates Ull EX•
ecutive for exercising their
constitutional rights
recommending a vote for
Benn. He spoke of their
move as 'a stitch-up'.
Yet he has no word at
all for Kitson and Evans,
who on their own volition;
attacked the Benn
paign from the beginning.
There is no doubt
my mind that TGWU full-
timers lay behind the deci-
sion of Silkin to stand,
and that if the ex officio
Chairperson Pemberton
had cast the block vote for Silkin in the first
round, then tewer
Silkinite MPs would have nad ine guts to abstain and ensure Benn's defeat.
As for Brother Voakes' recommendation
of the NUM system for
the TGWU might I re-
mind him of the nature of the union he is a member of. It is a general union.
It combines factory based branches with composite branches which cover a locality or even an economic sector. The pithead discussion vote system of the NUM is
impossible for the majority of our members.
happen they
al Tory.
Matthew Creighton WAKEFIELD
Democratic poppycock
tionally hard winter, and only a few members used to lumn up lo meetings.
Finding we always had a quorum we carried on the business. Inus wille
waded knee-deep in Slow. the general membership kept their feet on the mantelpiece.
Eventually word got round that the party was being run by a bunch of Communists who actually opposed the official policy
the Labour Party (not
the usual quorum
Wils å member of the CP).
About March, when
the snow had melted, the
Dolla careerist,
surreptitiously lacted interested people'
etters
It is precisely this fact
that made a nonsense of
LOO consultation Just
Transport House hoped it
would. It meant Inal in
Region 1 for example, the
dozen or so people (often
delegates from work-
places wro sooke tor me
hundreds in the West Lon-
don (RCT) branch had the
same influence on the out-
come the tens б.!
Lousands or meroes
Dagingle branch the less
Dagenham,
than two hundred in the
one at BOC
The democratic MUSL
body in the TGWU is its
biennial
Concicuce
Pemberton walked off the
top table as chairperson in
order to prevent the
1.00 lav delegates voting
on the Labour leadership
crechon. Why? Because
they would have voted
overwhelmingly for Benn.
Any socialist who
wants to fight for
democracy in our union
should be fighting for the
sovereignty of the biennial
and should
back the lay members on
the executive in any fight
with the full-timers
stead of talking
austial
tions and covering up the
role of the bureaucracy.
recommend this
strategy wholeheartedly to
Steve Voakes if he wants
to play any role at all in
the abDalllll?
result in Region 9 the next
time it discusses politics.
Ailean O'Callaghan
1/647 TGWU LONDON
a coudle of davs betore it was due to immediately made their
National Coal Board 'in no uncertain terms'. 'We told them there was no way we would wear someone like that at our pit, ' said Ken Capstick, branch delegate. He is an MP who has spoken badly of miners, apart from the fact that he is a The NCB did a quick turn-about and decided the visit 'would not be politic'. (right wing Labour members) and chaired a large meeting, which turned out the whole committee.
The chairperson used his casting vote against my re-election One 'interested' member said that she did not know my name as she had never seen me betore
This all happened long time ago. No doubt many active socialists toudy Have naa more recent-
similar experiences in the trade unions and con. stituency Labour parties.
mOve ment nas changed its spots. The ference would suggest that it has not.
Kathleen Jones SHREWSBURY
Letters-
WHY did the otherwise excellent front page article 'Ken Livingstone is right - British Troops Out!' in Socialist Challenge 217 have to be marred by its ambiguity on employed by the IRA!
Quote: "The tactical wisdom of the IRA's acLUIl question'! What on earth Cal. called into
is that supposed to mean?
Can we now expect serious and involved debate in the columns of the paper of the tactical pros and cons of detonating shrapnel bombs in a busy London
In issue 216 of SC, Matilde Zimmerman, reporting from Managua, outlined the emergency measures taken the FSLN government deal with the economic crisis. But it seems to me that she argues in a very unfortunate way.
She says that during the state of emergency 'various activities banned These various are price speculation and hoarding, the publication of false informatior designed panic, the sabotage of production illegal strikes and factory takeover
occupations outside the framework of the agrarian reform
This running together 'various activities is quite imper-
Provos' military campaign in Britain: does it help or hinder their cause?
on terrorism
the terrorist tactics
True, the first responsibility of British socialists
it Bripose the raise
British imperialism's fake moral indignation at the victims of its colonial repression daring to fight back. and the bulk of thi article did that admirably.
On the other however, everybody who has seriously been involved in building a movement
Nicaraguan emergency- caution needed
by of the workers against the bou to
to differentiate nature of these different actions Moreover, man's placing of
are activities
government itself against the against the workers. clultullil
the FSLN may seems to me that we need more discussion about whether it is right to outlaw strikes and occupations of cent of enterprises in Nicaragua ar
of solidarity with the Irish struggle knows that we cannot sidestep the issue of the means of struggle employed by the military wing of the Republican HOVeMent Of course British workers feel a sense of outrage at having nail bombs flying around their ears: our task is not to defend equivocate on it quaint little phrases about 'tactical wisdom', but to explain the roots of terrorism the anger,
missible, since some refer to the sabotaging activities of sections of the bourgeoisie and others (strikes land occupations) refer to actions
geoisie. Even if all these measure were correct, it would be necessary
between the class capitalists in Matilde Zimmerthese things together seems to reflect the 'ever handed' approach of the FSLN
• some actions capitalists, other:
The austerity measures taken by
be correct, but i precisely
We should remember that 75 pr
despair and sense of isolation of the victims of imperialism Socialist Challenge with its consistent recor on the right of the Irish people to self-determination and defence of the Republican movement an H Block prisoners agains British repression, surels does not need to minc words on terrorism in order to establish it: revolutionary credentials?
RTSMOUTH
still in the hands of private capital Eventually, create a workers' state and a socialist economy, these capitalists will have "The SLN measure. ex propriated. may well tend to dampen the sel! activity of the masses, and thei determination to take on the
Many case nowhere in the ar ticles does Matilde Zimmerman ex plain, why these measures on strikes and occupations are necessary.
I also think that her argumen! that the Nicaraguan workers have never known anything but austerit argument in justification FSLN's austerity measures. It
the every crook - that the people ar used to it and will understand Philip Jenkins BRIGHTON
Socialist Challenge 22 October 1981 Page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Loyalists step up terror campaign
LOYALIST assassination squads killed their third victim in a week on 15 October when they dead 6o-vear-old woman in the Markets area of Belfast.
The woman, Mary McKay, was asleep in her house when two gunmen kicked in her front door at 3 in the morning.
upstairs tne bedroom and SuO her times. Mary McKay had association with any organisation. She was killed for one reason - because she was a Catholic.
Her murder followed that of Bobby Ewing on 12 Bobby, who lived in the 'mixed' Protestant/Catholic area of the Oldpark district in Belfast was just getting ready to nine-year-old son to a boy scout meeting when he delayed for a few minutes watch funeral on television of another Loyalist assassination Belfast councillor Larry nody. Fired
As Bobby was watching the TV, two gunmen ran through his open front •DOr and straight to the living room where Bobby was sitting with his wife. One gunmen repeatedly, hitting Bobby twice in the head and killing him.
Larry Kennedy was shot on 8 October while sitting in a social club in the Shamrock social club
the Ardoyne Belfast.
Although he was a cillor, and a supporter of the H
By Penny Duggan The British press is waging a hysterical
at the Provisional
Their front pages and special inside soreads are full o Lile
those is any sing he pee bom
'calm heroism' of Major General Pringle as he was cut free from his bombed car They illustrate his great humanity in his immediate concern for the fate of his pet black Labrador, and compare the 'callous inhumanity' of TOTS Pringie probably cares more for his
dog than for the Irish people. Certainly the conditions endured by the prisoners in Long Kesh were far worse than any animal is subjected to.
Yet not one section of the British media, during the course of the hunger strike, thought it important to explain the conditions in Long Kesh. Not one of them described the filth, the cold, bad food, the sheer misery and boredom. Not one of them described the terrible suffering of those whose death took 60 or 70 days of starvation.
While ten men died for the right to be treated as political prisoners, Army, the RUC and loyalist assassination squads harassed and atracked their upporters. Yet there was no protest the British press, no denunciation of the callous and inhuman against the nationalist population.
in tnis siramon it is understandable that the Republican movement may feel
against targets in Britain.
Yet the hunger begin to move sections of the
has argued before that we have big new upportunitie: build • olidarity rnovement. The statements of «en livingstone in particular, as wen as hose from Tuny Benn, have stown it is mossle Ireland the Erirish labour
aro that it e the une r Socialist Chalienge Ze October 1963|
Block campaign by prisoners, another random shot the Loyalist killers.
Catholic
Church Derry on 11 October.
They
woman's
four by the loyalist no
political
Tene numerous October.
Legal
arive mis
the members Miriam Buntina Ken-
Bernadette McAliskey.
Most recently, man was
went crashed.
perfectly legal fired
turned down British governments.
of
coun- by Cullough,
Media hypocrisy over bombs
grisiv detalis or
sing une praise of ine
*terthe brutality used
strike campzion dic
British Socislist Challenge British
Irish
pathet its ment.
Fags 12
the Irish it is likely that Larry victim of
The Ulster Freedom Fighter have admitted responsibility for all three killings. They have also boasted of bombing a Catholic
Limavady, County
The UFF is a cover name used
paramilitary Ulster Defence Association, sections of it. There are feuding sections of the UDA and it is not always clear whether the official leadership of the UDA sanction
assassinations their members have carried out.
But the UDA leadership has been responsible for the murder
Independence Party politician John Tirley and IRSP
Daly, Ronnie and Noel Little. UDA members were also involved in the attempted assassination of
and Michael
La UDA gundead at the weekend when a hijacked taxi
The UDA continues to be a
organisation.
Repeated demands from nationalist politicians in the North of Ireland for its banning have been
by successive
On Friday 16 October the Irish National Liberation Army replied to the sectarian terror campaion
Billy Mca senior member of Aftermath of the Chelsea nail bomb change those policies from outright support of the Tories.
A bombing campaign in Britain could reverse those gains. The effect of such
argue for support for the nationalist population who are popularly identitied with the Provisional IRA. The weight of Diakarud Brike darting sons omit the working possibilities of arguing for support for the irish struggle by putting off many who tentatively want to question what Britain is doing in Ireland. Irish activists will face increased possibility of harass-
However understandable military actions againsi military targets may be, this
Ireland.
in the British press the UDA
Provisional Republican movement has so far resisted such retaliation. The latest edi-
is a mistaken tactic to pursue
the opportunities
withdrawal from portunity to do this will be at the movement
the
WIt and Britain.
ment Conferen s535 3ur
The family of Loyalist murder victim Bobby Ewing — a picture that didn't appear
tion its Republican News, 'Loyalism, understood The most important task is to take up discussion within the labour movemen TOT real debate and to will us support or a poncy or Drils.
A major op laboul
Committee for Withdrawal from Ireland in conjunction with the Labour Committee on Ireland. Only the ending of Britain's attempts to impose rule in Ireland
put an end to the deaths in Ireland
Labour Movement Conference on Ireland 27 February 1981
Details from Secretary: Labour Move
37 Carden Rd, Lon
newspaper,
can argues, analysed and the shrinking
Councillors
appeal to British
By Geoff Bell
the right of protest in the North of Ireland.
The councillors, both
Irish revolutionary socialist organisation Peoples Democracy, were among 34 people arrested on 27 June for attempting to hold a peaceful rally in Belfast's city centre in support of the H Block Armagh political • DEDUCIS
Trial
Three other councillors, including Carol turner from the Londor borough of Southwark, were also arrested.
On November charges against the first of those IO be tried, Joe Craig, will be heard in Belfast. This "test case is trial regarded as a the outcome of which will effect the chances of the other thirty three. Fergus O Hare have asked John McAnulty representatives of the British labour movement
attend this trial and observe at first hand the workings of British justice in the North of ireland.
The arrests on 27 June
foothold of British rule in Ireland
defeated through poltical policy and firm action directed against the main enemy, the Brits.'
labour movement
BELFAST city councillors John McAnulty and Fergus O'Hare have appealed to the British labour movement to come to the defence of
Callic O'Hare and McAnulty attempted to address a meeting outside Belfast's Royal Ulster Constabulary lial.
immediately moved in and broke up the gathering The counciliors' peal explains that the 'centre of Belfast has been used by all political, social, religious and cultural groupings, including lan Paisley' Democratic Unionist Party, CND, CB radio enthusiasts, Oxfam, the trade union movement and many more Everyone that is, except those who support the political prisoners in Armagh and Long Kesh Protest What is at issue, say the counchiors the basic democratic right to peacefully DrULCSL. right has been continually violated by the RUC • on a accallah Dasis.
The councillors' peal is being circulated to Labour-controlled coun cils. trade councils, Labour parties and trade union branches Copies IOm Socialist Challenge.
Page 13 scan of this page
prepare
By Davy Jones LAST weekend's Communist Party Central Committee set the authorities on a collision course with the Polish workers. strong possibility with Solidarity in the short term.
Under pressure from the Kremlin the party called for: • a temporarv suspension of the right to strike. • renegotiation OI the Gdansk strike agreements. • postponement of the demobbing of army conscripts in case of a state of emergency.
General
And for the first time the party has a general for its leader. Wojciek Jaruzelski, who was elected prime minister in February, became party chief to replace Stanislaw Kania, whose weakness against Solidarity enraged the Kremlin leaders.
the same time l central committee members resigned from Solidarity
DrOLest against its alleged 'antisocialist' development.
The vul caulials are preparing the ground for a confrontation with the Polish wolkes. in that context, hard-liner Stefan Olszowski is likely to be brought as the next prime minister. Broad
He has called for combination of repression and the creation of "broad' government of national salvation of the army, church, party and Solidarity 'moderates' whip the Polish workers rapanareou. military rule?
Polish rulers
for showdown
There is a of a major confrontation
The Polish authorities fear the development of a challenge to their rule over the working class. Since the foundation of Solidarity as an independent union the bureaucrats' monopoly of political power has UCCI under Increasing unreal.
GERMI
will he take Greece out of NATO's
Solidarity's first
tional congress called for free elections. eno le censorship, and the deve-
management in the faclones ana enterprises Co-ordinate
Already the majority of the major plants have organised workers' councils which have begun to
basis. It is the developa more gloriously revolutionary nice day than other comrades...
to NATO
LOOK the streets
election.
PASOK took some 47 per cent of the vote comparea то зо per cent for premier George Rallis' New Democracy Party and 11 per cent for the pro-Moscow Communist Party.
The Greek workers certainly had something to celebrate. In 1967 the army generals came to power and democracy was only
1974. Since that time the conservative
International
ment of an alternative workers' power that frightens the bureaucrats, and which means that a showdown between two powers is inevitable.
Socialists in this coun try should be alert to the HUNGARY "It has come to my attention that some comrades are attempting to have
Another blow
THOUSANDS of Greek workers and youth
last Sunday night to celebrate the victory of Andreas Papandreou's Socialist Movement (PASOK) in the general
New Democracy party has been in office with a thum. ping parliamentary lild jority.
NATO
tain: military bosses won't be rejoicing at PASOK's VILLULY part of Papandreou's election campaign was his promise withdraw from NATO's military wing and to kick
Jaruzelski: Poland has a general as party leader dangers facing the Polish workers. They are not fighting for the restoration of capitalism or TOT Catholic state. They are fighting for workers'
and SOCIS They deserve democracy. our support.
POLAND
Реготбол
VADIRK SIN out US military bases, just
CLUC NATO bosses thought they had 'sorted out' the Mediterranean countries with the Turkish military coup!
Papandreou's procranelse included other anti-capitalist measures which won't be to the lik ing of the imperialists. He has promised dum on withdrawal from the EEC and the nation
certain important économic sec-
pharmaceuticals, LUIS banking, shipbuilding and cement
He has also promised to lower the voting age
Fourth International
Socialist
literature
against the
After thirty-six bureaucratic
Poland. One workers say against workers' power.
Polish workers who
class struggle throughout
that the bureaucracy ween them and socialism.
countles, we can
between
On the other
the revolution in Central America, imperialist policy and pillage,
tory in France,
Eastern European countries.
their Polish frontiers, governments than
honsnic of significance
ternational has
Inprecor.
book Social the weapon In bureaucratic power.
resources
International,
revolution.
tional's Polish Publications Fund.
Make cheques
London N1 2XP
from 20 to 18, and to carry out a decentralisation of governmental administration, similar to that promised by Mitterrand in France. France
The victory of the left
the Greel elections follows swiftly on the heels of the French Socialists' election Both
office after year of into
office after •years conservative rule on the basis of a widespread desire for radical change and policies.
Socialist Challenge
launches Polish campaign
bureaucracy!
years of domination even words have lost their meaning in
often hears that they are socialism but for
would like to study the experiences of the working
• the world come up against not only bureaucratic censorship but also this deceptive barrier
has erected bet.
Thanks to the information coming out on the Polish events (despite the way this information is deformed in certain
see the historica significance of this life and death strug-
bureaucracy and socialist democracy which is recreated every day in the struggle of the workers.
hand the Polish workers have the greatest difficulty in getting information about developments on the international class struggle: on
, on on the significance of the Left's electoral vic
and or bureaucratic struggles in China or the
Now, they know well enough that
struggle is not confined to the that it disturbs other just the Polish bureaucrats, in brief that it is an integral part of an overall movement and rela-
forces of liversi
It is in order to contribute to breaking this wall of bureaucratic censorship and disinformation that the Fourth In-
decided to publish a monthly edition in Polish of its review of international analysis and information:
It is also undertaking the publication into Polish of works such as Petr Uhl's
Imprisoned struggle agams
Such an effort requires material
That is why we are calling on you -members or sympathisers of the Fourth
worker and trade union militants and supporters of the Polish
to help us in this task.
Contribute to the Fourth Internadefence of Marxism let us together take up the revolutionary slogan of the Polish workers: 'For your freedom and ours'.
payable Red Weekly (Polish fund), c/o PO Box 50, Three the po us of have tried the politics the conservative parties over the past five years and found them wanting Increasingly they are looking to the mass workers' pal ries for a reformict aite native. And in the process they are increasingly being won to radical policies Workers in this coun try should take heart from the French and Greek elec. tions and step up the strug gle to get rid of our owr replace it with a Labour government committed to socialist policies. 22 October 1981 Page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
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Page 15 scan of this page
Sid Weighell- self appointed McCarthyite -
National Abortion Campaign remembers
Attention Women trade unionists
EXCLUSIVE
By Mary Jacobs JOE McCARTHY would have been proud of Sid Weighell, general secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR). who is determined to rout any subversives from his union and the Labour Party.
Documentation from Weighell. which has fallen into the hands of Socialist Challenge, shows that he has begun a systematic witch-hunt inside the NUR. His target is, of course, the left.
special subcommittee is investigating six members of the NUR with a view to either fining or expelling them from the union. Their 'crime' is being 'associated with the issuing unofficial literature'.
This, according in breach of Weighell. is union rule 10, Section 1, Clause 10, which states no-one car issue dry cular unless it 'is sanction-
by Trina Shane NAC/LARC Trade
Union Liaison Committee Two years ago this month, the TUC called major defence of a woman's right to abortion.
of women and men in the labour movement, abortion was recognised as a class trade unionists.
Their success has opened the door for other campaigns different aspects of women's lives to become legitimate areas
Commemoration
Meeting Wed 28 Oct 7pm
Committee
Room 15 Friends Meeting
House,
Euston Rd,
London, NW1
Speakers from NAC, LARC and
the TUC.
by Liz Lawrence
21 November.
are actve in trades council women's committees and trade union women's rights committees.
Bradford, Preston, Trades Councils
In the morning session there will be short reports on the activities of trades
Here is a man
Led by the Executive Committee or the General Secretary in writing...
This rule was originally introduced to prevent fascists organising in the But like all such rules, it has only been used against the left.
Weighell's targets are leading NICHOCES Lic newly formed Broad Left in the NUR, the Militant tendency, the Railworker Group, DIUCommunist Party Forum.
The problem will Weighell is that he doesn't seem to nave any taith in his members being able to make up their own minds.
He is very concerned, for example, Militant demonstation in
Thanks to the unstinting efforts
issue, of concern to all
for trade union concern.
The demonstration
Abortion Campaign well
links NAC was able to with Lne movement subsequently Have been strengthened through its Trade Union Liaison Committee.
The Liaison Committee has not been able to reach all sectors within the trade union movement but the success the trade
ised with the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign (LARC), was a step in the right direction.
In 1979, a big victory was gained with the defeat of Corrie's anti-abortion amendment bill but the still A MAJOR opportunity for trade union women to get together will take place in Sheffield on Saturday
A conference is being organised for women who
The conference is sponsored by Sheffield, Leeds,
Wolverhampton and Covehtry council women's commitICED Ann and Gibson, speeches Secretary of from
the Women's Advisory
pamphlet Fighting Programme for the NUR have 'tried press our members to buy at 25p each.
Weighell obviously wants to save his members trom themselves. He certainly wants to save them Tronally intluence they might receive from anyone not of his political, right wing persuasion.
As he explains in his dossier, Weighell wrote to
the 'accused'
Olic Broad Left supporter, Tom Dovie trom Sheffield informing him that
Organisilig meeting designed to in-
NUR policy...he was in breach of the rule'.
Weighell also had
neat answer TOTI those members of. the union who speak in a persona capacity' — a normal proceaure for trade unionists who are not speaking on
ABORTION I
Kate Holman, NACILARC Trade Union Conference Hangs over women.
Much still needs to be done implement the proposals which came out of the trade union conference on positive legisla-
Committee to the TUC, and Joanna Groot, Secretarv of York Irades Council.
Workshops the afternoon will focus on
and unemploypositive action, and health and sexual
Thal assuicill work.
After the occupation
organised by at
Swollen
Home News
behalf of their unions.
He wrote Geoff Hensby, Secretary of Paddington No Branch: 'The fact that he was claiming to be addressing the advertised meeting in a personal cavality Cill
he was aware that hae
leaflet was did constitute awalc that the an unofficial circular. and
breach of the rule.
Sid Weighell has made no pretence that he wants to kick our une enrom the unions and the Labour
LABOUR
CAMPAIC A
NAC Trade Union Liaison Cttee, addressing
tion which could take the campaign for abortion on the offensive.
The NAC/LARC Trade Union alason Comillec
Lee Jeans and the TUC conference on positive action, this conference pro and necessary opportunity for trade union women to get together share experiences and to discuss future acutes fighting against unem-
action, both at work and in the unions.
Registration forms for
Sid Weighell (right foreground) - determined to rout out subversives
Party. abetted by Bill Sited was aided and steer UHON general
secretary, who tried to get
the Labour Party con-
ference to discuss rein-
troducing a list of pro.
scribed organisations.
He is now hoping the National Executive
Committee of the Labour
Party will put a stop
'the entry into the Party
of sort of elements
whose dedication to
democratic socialism is, to
say the least, highly
dubious'
Writing in the 9 Oc-
Dhoto: Anaela
is holding a meeting commemorate the defeat
of Corrie to inform sup-
to map out the road ahead.
the conference are available from: Shef-
Trades Council Working Women's Gnarrel Committee, c/o 18 Parkhead Crescent, Sheffield S11 9RD.
Registration £1 for employed and 50p for unemployed work-
creche will be ers provided.
tober issue of the NUR
aper, Transport Revier
veronel soers our wad
in the frontline of attack
You will know that I am
referring to the evidenc
of the Militant organisa
LON prepared by
Labour's former Nationa
Agent, Reg Underhill'.
But Sid Weighell,
despite protestations that
his main concern
'democracy' inside the labour movement, seems
have Cone himself in the NUR and another for his attacks on the Labour Party, which is The micro-chip that's getting up the Lucas workers' nose
New technology
a strikes again
THE WORKFORCE at
BRIAN SALISBURY
bine Committee spoke io Socialist Challenge. We had an agreement between both staff and shoofloo
on new technology.
Individual unions had negotiated agreements
staffing levels,
health and safety. So
LIlt workers rerused use int equipment.
mangoemen sole Wook crical workers and WACH T They clock This effectively 10CK 19 agreed to work normally
In addition, four workers 20 Master are out We re Green
• MEGSA Or like ¿ uesau non workers rogerner wnich Is unusual.
one union renresenialves made the recommendation
management pu ine workers duck unu moveu
not moving in a direction that he would like
Weighell is at great pains to point out that nothing, but nothing, can be circularised to members without either his authority or that of the Executive Committee. Yet Brother Weighell blatantly
union's journals to viciously attack the left inside the Labour Party.
He used the occasion of a memorial lecture to launch an attack on the NEC of the Labour Party which was then circulated to all NUR members as 'a statement of NUR policy' He further attacked the Labour Party NEC Transport Review for failing to uphold the expulsion of members on the recommendation of local constituency parties. This is not NUR policy, yet Sid Weighell freely circulate his unsolicited literature
Members of the NUF should protest loud and clear for Weighell to stor this witch-hunt and get on with the business of achieving better pay and conditions for his members. And if he can't do that then he should be the one to go Shaftmoor Lane Lucas Aerospace in Birmingham, walked out on Wednes day of last week. The 1,200 workers were protesting at the introduction of new technology without ade quate payment for the operation of new machines.
representative of the technical union, AUEW/TASS, on the Lucas Com.
into negotiations the strike
should start at 8 the next mor
The mass meening over whelmingly endorsed this
Management is in new technology reuncis stuck sever are sur Ing inousanas of pounas o. not having to pay interes! charges.
It's willing to invest in equipment but not the
We want paymen weekl пен tel evolut some measure
evaluating increased eff CICHC I We want a bonus fo
machines and a general award new skills needed to operate for all the workforce.
It's unique • staff and works here to be so united We'll asking Lucas plants for financia
Socialist Challenge 22 October 1981 Page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
By TGWU steward, Jaguar Assembly Plant FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER. As our mass meeting divides to record a massive 83 per cent vote for strike action, the sun shines brightly. The air is cold and clear over the Jaguar Assembly Plant.
It is a perfect match for the hard determination to
ning pride that swells up from the workers crowde at thee looked down
on the small who are voting to accept BL's rer and hi 3., per ve done cent offer and think, it, we've cleared the first hurdle.
'We have stepped out on the road to victory and this time we can win. We will end Edwardes' reign OTI LeTTOr. One week earlier a national meeting of BL's senior had voted unanimously to recommend all out strike action from 1 November if BL failed to offer substantial increases paid equally to all grades.
Jatulai stewards had met on Monday and agreed unanimously
hoto. MIKE TURNER (Socialist Challenge)
Socialist
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'This time we can win'
for the strike can Wre
the strike call We knew we would face a barrage chestrated propaganda and threats trom management and the press.
But the greatest fears that we had to overcome amongst the workforce were, 'Will we be isolated and sold out again by the national union officials?'
We answered, "This time we are united, mass meetings will be held at the same time. We will use the power we have never used before. It will be national strike action and this time we'll win.
On Tuesday BL announced the axing of three more plants. They will close whether we fight not. On Wednesday. Ene Board issued its sacking and laudation threat with the ominous footnote He Dee
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that they have invited Duffy, Kitson and Len Murray to intervene.
There was much worry
CHul Thursday mood was calmer contacted the law denartment at Warwick University. hey say Edwardes can sack us, but only if he sacks cyclic with no selective rehiring. the afternoon we issued shop stewards bulletin — not as glossy as the management's stuff, but much more closely read. It ends with the message: "This year nave gol ourseives properly organised, now it's up to yuu 'Tomorrow don't vote
for Edwardes he can look after himself. Vote for national industrial action.
The is 1,881 for and 387 against.
As we go back into the factory everyone is smiling Groups of workers listen to the radio as the solid vote comes in from other areas. It is only the
SPEKE OUT
AGAINST EDWARDES
HE CANT SEND YOU TO
COVENTRY
HE'S CLOSED IT
ALL OUT,
OUT
beginning but We have made a good start.
People comment that we are making history. Edwardes must go and if the Tories back him they will go too.
There is a new mood of confidence and feeling that we can regain some
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dignity after years of humiliation and falling wages at the hands of Ed wardes.
Now we have the supof the membership.
Bu shop stewards must en sure they give the leadership • needed to
BRITISH
LEYLAND
THE OVERWHELMING
Michael Edwardes'
oppose Edwardes plan' after years of accepting a decline in living standards and the loss of thousands of jobs.
Given the
of this world.
has forced the union make the strike situation inside
back.
Edwardes undoubtedly workers. confrontation with the Tories.
square behind the Leyland workforce.
leading to the vote at
Longbridge; what the BL
the claim is for.
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vote of BL workers for all out national strike action is a magnificent rebuff to Sir
blackmailing
of coming out on 1 November showed the determination of the workforce to
and his 'survival
treacherous role the union leadership has played in being party to these attacks, the vote was even more remarkable. For too long, the workers in BL have been sold out by the Terry Duffys and Moss Evanses
Now, with the derisory offer of 3.8 per cent on the basic rate, they have said enough is enough. They are no longer prepared to put up with Ed wardes' threats. Their determination
leadership to official. The whole BL has been turned around and the workers are fighting
has the backing of the Tories but their bluff has been called. Everyone knows that if the strike goes ahead, the very existence of the government is threatened. That is why the whole labour movement has to be 100 per cent behind the Leyland
This will be the biggest test facing the working class since the Tories came to power. Over the next ten days every effort will be made by the union leaders to reach a 'compromise' as Terry Duffy so aptly put it. They are not seeking a
But if we are going to get rid of Thatcher and Co for once and for all the BL strike will be a clarion call. The whole labour movement has to be four
Here we publish an account of the events in the week
the Jaguar Assembly plant. Inside (pages 4 and 5) how the vote went at
workforce has been through under Edwardes' management; and what
published by Penguin Books (usual price
← Socialist Challenge No. 217, 15 October 1981Socialist Challenge No. 219, 29 October 1981 →