Socialist Challenge No. 22, No v, 1977
The scan: sc-n22-nov-17-1977.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge
for Arson and Murder This man is wanted for questioning by the working class in connection with the crimes of arson and murder.
WARNING: this man is particularly dangerous. He is now responsible for the death by arson of a number of people. He caused these deaths for the 10 per cent protection racket of his paymasters known by the initials IMF On 10 November he said any attempt to smash this 10 per cent racket would be 'far graver', than the loss of life IF YOU SEE THIS MAN — do not tackle him by yourself, organise in the labour movement. REES IS ALSO WANTED FOR QUESTIONING in connection with police attacks on Grunwick pickets, the The Irish working class are seeking his extradition for countless crimes he has committed there. FIGHT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS!
NAME: Merlyn Rees.
KNOWN ASSOCIATES: The Labour Government APPEARANCE: He occasionally disguises himself as a socialist.
and CBI.
he has now caused by his blackmail of firefighters.
17 NOVEMBER 1977 No 22 15p
WANTED
kidnapping of Philip Agee and Mark Hosenball, and the protection of fascists.
Page 2 scan of this page
THE NATIONAL FRONT IS A NAZI FRONT!
STOP THE NATIONAL FRONT!
HOME NEWS
of their duties.
Aden, Cyprus.
most concentrated repression in Western Europe. decent wage. strike in 1975,
strike? blowing ine rue crigade umon me nant or reply. myth of дова ир ет воке — негвну. shown. volence used by the Hoya wister the civil rights demonstrators in 1988/9. Ireland, but a rather more subtle
esce atons in Ine use or me troops or scagog
pay me manomers a aving wage.
bow against state intervention against sinKas, labour movement
- set up to deal with strikes.
SUING WITHER KEE UH
Tabour Pittand the trades ninnen:
ailatinns that are in the intenses, not of the
workers, hut uf she capitalior class.
ocalin Challenge believes that the twe sin
• Te Tild broad-losed class strungle tenden
mun-escover in character arouping logether
militants holding • wide range of peliccel
To begin lo fighs for làe crcation of a uni
led and demecratic revolutioner socialis
organisation which ras, throush an application
FORCE IMLEAN WE SUE MEETS M
le Ball thousandsor warra
let an urganisation should he based in the
Editorial
Soclalist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N Editorial 01-369 8180/9. Distribution 01-359 8301 Advertising 01-358 8371,
Scabs in uniform
CAPITALIST armies are not established to save lives. The protaction of working people and their homes is not part
It was the exact opposite when the British Army were in
Oman or any of their other post-war 'campaigns'. Neither is it their role today in the north of Ireland where they are the instrument for Inflicting the
And the protection of working people is not why thay are being used by the Labour Government to fight fires
From a practical point of view they are not an efficient weapon. Senior fire officers have warned that the troops will only Increase the risk of death because the soldiers are untrained. For the Government their usefulness lies
First, by using the troops the Government can make it appear they are doing all they can to prevent the loss of life. Everything, that is, apart from giving the firefighters a
A POLITICAL WEAPON
Second, using the troops in this strike is a way of making working peopie familiar with the use of armed
The uso of the amny in the Glasoow firemen's strike in 1973 was the first for 20 years. Under Labour it has been Quickly to lowed by the Glascow corporation dust drivers
and the intervention of the RAF in the
If 'saving lives' is the yardstick, what if nurses went on strike? Wouldn't a more widespread power workers' strike "threaten lives? Coal is necessary to maintain electricity. Isn't this a justification in using troops to break a miners"
But of course it is not a question of saving lives. The troops are being used as a political weapon, in what for the Labour Government is a political dispute. It is political because the whole attempt of the Government to jack up profits through the 10 per cent norm is at risk in this
Other supposed 'neutral' weapons in the hands of the employing class are utilised. Rees appears on television to put the Govemment's case. There is no question of
balanced" presentation of opinions and views
4 comparison can be made with the use of troops in the Norin of Imland. Year alter vaar we have been daluce with propaganda stating how 'our boys' are upholding reported torture in the North of Ineland. The reaction of Rees was to say the programme should never have been
THE IRISH LABORATORY
The tull horrors of Britain's war in Ireland have not ye eturned to the mainland. But the signs are there. For
picket lines on 7 November was remarkably similar to the
That violence and its subsecuent multiolication will be subject to an International Tribunal into Crimes Against lhe fish Peoole next vear. Hoceluly the lull extent or Britain's war against Irish people will then be on display. The use of ireland 38 g aborator for reoressive techniques against British workers will become clearer.
The use of troops in the firefighters' strike is a laboratory test as well — not for naked repression, 8a in
campaign of public relations and strike breaking. If the Government gets away with it this time, we can be certain that there will be new
The solution to the immediate problem is a simple one:
But there is more at stake. A victory for the firefighters would be an Important
but the a campaign for disbanding of all those special forces - such as the SPG
OUR POLICIES
people, sus
2
League,
in the schools.
The campaign is one of the first steps formed last Thursday. The ANL DESIRE aims to unite all
Britain imespective of other political differences'.
INC LEAVES DUBES BEATESEI! do not include mass action on the streets. They see their main task
Linda campaign, with the aid The meeting — Order Act.
the rights.
In court the prosecution alSeged I had been shouting abus ively and had raised my fises in The seragle for
servedling for their liberalion This saulism cae onle he achieved by crestin
and defeating with wil cesary messs the poser of the copialis
democratie chan what exisis In riesis
models of socialism in the solt and Easiem TANT YE STATHER HERE HE THE EYE DE
ane opposed to them and will after fall suppurs
launched
SCHOOL STUDENTS, together with the Anti-Nazi
are handig our schools. The leaflers warn thar the 'Nazi NF means no future, no freedom and no fun. They aim to counter the racist Bulldog paper being put our by the National Front
La [100.000 propaganda manched last week.
those who Front leiflet
Freedom for whom?
ALAN SOSKIN - railway worker and member of the Workers" League — went to a meeting of the National Association of Freedom in West Ewell last month. On 4 November he appeared in Epsom Court charged with asing "threatening behavior" and 'insulting words" at the
contrary to section five of the 1936 Public
He explains below just how little value NAFF - the well-known lovers of liberty for Grunwick sweat-shops
attach to even the most fondamental democratic
With the objeces with
The interests of workers and capita sale: Capitalism has not only created world market. It has created world politics: Thus we fight for wurking cla unit on an international scale. This unice wil in the he decisiee in defeaning hoth th perialise regimes in the Wr
and İriting the Wish poople delermine cheir em
4 communies wings here any messiagful strate •lutionary socialist parlies are more ni r than rer belor, Conditions Joday decades, Mur let parties in prete bair ecades, lut such parti
Anti-Nazi League
Neil
Led afficers
25,000 leaflets in London
Halberrow
C0).
leading the fund drive also
The League's sclivilics on this front are also underway with widening 35,000 copies of an anti-National
ECIn CITIOULEL for the 12 November by-election ing tigures in Bournemouth where the Front
women.
The sponsorship for the camPert MPs who see the campaign as ign is broad, involving over 30 who "an alternative to strectfighting"
CES
NAZI
VAnti Nazi League HERCE BUBI you"
aggressive manner', yelled out. ol strikin NAFF steward, What the evid
Clapped me on
into silence.
exit
pector Jenkins
police
LOONY I could not
Kinnock put it at
Thursday's press conference
Kinnock is one of Lie appoint
Others inchude Peter Hain (press afficer), Ernie Raberts, prospect-
Hackney (treasurer), and Paul
Socialist Workers Prity (лягіова огдапи-
It was unclear whether others
shared Kinnock's view. But for the time
campaign will be devored to
the Iratletting cam-
sunship for the campaign includ-
from the entertain world, and
Even Liberal and Tory MPs
should against the Nazis are invited to join the campaign although ence showed was thar NAFF
nasty little chug who despise democratic rights.
In the face of the star speakers Mass 1 exercised one of the Norris MeWbicter and Robert oldest established civil rights in a not was dad to shut up he h heckl
tewards, The chairperson asto If everyone could bear at th back of the hall. I replied, "The Grunwick strikers can't hear
MeWhiner talked nhour unions having too much power.!
"rubbish. 1 was approached by a character who
the shoulder.
Others tried lo intimidate m
5,000 Up
democratic rights. More
After a brief scuffle 1 was
treet over the cop ra cock
and the coppers took They turned out to
Superintendent Jackson and In-
both of 2 division of the Metropolitar
In Court, the main prosecutio
menbers and an ultra-right loony. -were in shambles admitted committing a technica
reasonably be convicted on such flimsy evi
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 Novamber 1977 page 2
whether they would extend thei support for a campaign of action seems dubious.
Tariq. Ali, oditor of Socialist
Challenge, welcomed the form ing of the League last week,
putting his name forward as a
*The growth of the anti-fascist movement in this
phenomenal. But the
unity in achon is den orable. lI the Anti-Nazi League can meet
this need it must be supported
first step democratic national conference
of all those active in the strugek
the new year' be said.
*Last week: the All-London Commiree of Anti-Racer and Anti-Fascist Committeer called
national conference. dence, and was acquitted
oth parts of the chang But
scre's a sting in the rail. 1 b to retain a solicitor and counsel to tight the charge, nod I lost a
NAPP thugs and although I wor the case Jeaving the Court wirhour a 'sain on my char
o pay f40 towards legal aid. A for contesting a charge wiece should never have been laid is the flest place!
VINDICTIVE
This vindictive decision could not have been
- where legal foe
paid from central funds: bu che Public Order Act is designes to exclude the righr to trial bi jury.
The lessons are clear enough Ruling class justice wil not work
the left The NAFF knows
- That's why it use: the lav against the lahour movement. 1 bas nothing to lose Detending -SERENE Ina is part of the class struggl like defending nurselves agains me 00ss ar work me call 1cis no the law to protect oursches
NAFF if exposed by this case
Bunch of sin you deme cate
to froccon does not extend to allowing those who disagree with them their freedom to leekle. And NAFF are not above using One arm AIST feET T02I froedom.
Page 3 scan of this page
HOME NEWS
carry on.
The mass picket heard the strike continter's nlans for the next stages in the hattle of
The
Vol the official of the trade union movement on the Grunwick disEmphasising this will be the token hunger strike which some
are expected to start next week. They will be starving themselves
Congress House.
MASS ACTION
The arke commities is aso finalising plans for another day
action. It is likely this wi De la Decalocre Fue stree committee is appealing for one-
40208295 rendy groups of workers, including miners and London bullang worker. have piedad support
THE BATTLE
OF GRUNWICK
view from the left
Pr Centen le tiling. and Tesse vas Gelderes
30- ocisle chalana PAM PILET
The Baltle of Grunwick: View
300 e
ers. leg 329-9
Upper Stract, London N.1.
Why the battle of
Grunwick goes on
LAST Monday, strike leader Jayaben Desai raised a denched fist in defiance of the actions of the company cops, and as a symbol of the strikers determination to
The police violence on 7 Nov ember was the most intense so far. Labour MP James Marshall commented later that he was 'appalled... by the degree of
complaints and the numtphotographs r cut ice with Merlyn Rees. He said: *The police have my full confidenice confidence of the Government. 1 AL-
will repudiate anyone who denles that"
But no one is likely to deny that the police ourside the Grunwick factory are getting the full back. Rees and friends have shown time and time again where they stand on Grunwick.
But while the TUC and th Labour Party wash their hand of the strikers, rank and file trade unionists continue 1o re pand. A shining example are th MUSCO MALICION MEDILLE MOLECU Picture left shows sister Cath
Cooney of Hounslos and teo of her coleagues helping one of the victims of police violence.
being organised to.
of the TUC
planned for eisewhere.
too late
about to win a race
confess
artacks
TE LE TAL
the dreadec
Wrong.
surprised
chapels in papers
confessional
A series of local conferences ane SELULICAL
such support for the Grunwick
The South-East region
Dromey - will be organising one for its area, and others are being
named Sulchure which las week tell and broke its neck justas it was
The horse in guston was ownsi ben Mr. t Ward, Wreathes should be sent to him, c/o Grunwick fackiry.
South
Omar!.
Free Buader. libe Photo: LAURENCE SPARHAM (IFL
News
nowhere
Joumalists
THE DAILY MAIL, flagship of the Associared Newspapers Group, is in the vanguard of the
workers secking to defend their living standards. this very moment, the Mais clite corps of investigators is combing the country for the firse victim of Merlyn Rees's burn, baby, burn policy, Only they won't quite pur
Of pourse, it would be utterly hypocrticlal for the stout and uprighr Hon. Vere Harmsworth's newspaper group to breach
policy for its They just wouldn't do any such thing
week 250 rep resentatives of National Union ol Journalists chapels in the local and provincial prese met to discusa their national claim for a E23 weekly pay rise. They were mothers and fatbers from the
BALSERIEL Newg provincial ouposts had to say. One by one they stood up to report under-the counter deal
pay rises of beiween L3 and
ohe FoC, it was like being at a Hally Grahan
What's more the increases, intended to head off militancy
which union wants paid from 1 January, will be added on top
Local and provincial journal ista are among the worst paid white-collar workers. chief reporter can gross as little as t50 a week: while on Fleer Street it 33 not unknown for reporters to live en thet exnense accounts. Need less to say none of this dissuade the Street of Shame's hacks from for a living wage. Over the past few days, however, reader of the Dany Mirror nave beer spared such diatribes, chanks to
withdrawal of labour by the NUT chapel. The Mimor jourial ists are demanding increases of 23,000 a yeur.
MacQueen (by appointment)
THE NATIONAL Assoclarion for Freedom detests illegality by workers, that is A particular farget has heen Post Office
in connection with Africa, and against the Keeping up the boycott of Gramwick NAFF'S podcy CLICOTE explains its choice of Branch organiser in Strathclyde.
fe is Hamish MacOween, wh
ur convicted in Sepiember 19: of Megully broadeasring Radio
Scotiand'. doubr NAFF's line an Scorland seangy anindependen and anti-devolarion - MAREARDE
factor influencing MacQween s
He spective cundidate for the Scon-
sh /vational Party
When a London representative of NAFF was informed of these
foets by the new Scottish lef
taking immediale oction: By way of the iran ruir aflaw, no dosht.
Fair cop LATEST in the 'Hitler's Chil-
saga. The officer change
with the official investigation of
IHTISERIE deuths of Andress CEDI
Gadrun Ensslin is General Ermin
Schule. The Paris daily Le Matin
reported in its 11 November issee
hat Schule was u prominent
Naci, joining the Assault S5 In
1933 and the Nutivanl Socialist
Party iself ton seurs later
with
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 3
from
instinct preservation Schule offered his services to th FINe armeS in 1990 10-Lr80 down Nazi war criminah.
When these detalls first emery
ched by Le Marin.
The last ex-Nadi exposed i these pages was Hans Marti Schleyer, the untamented kidnap vietim. We pointed out then thai
West German atate and political par ies had changed remarkably litt
Nazi days. The appoint ment of Schule - who can m doubt be relied opon to produce
"DITELUYE report only confirms that assessment.
The only other paper to plei
London Evening Standard, triec to discredit it by ussuciating oer sources with the Fast German Geverement. In cose the Stan dard wants to follow this one up We Con Corin Where to look: the ES Archives in West Berlin
inclode Schale's carricelon sitac wrillen for ar pication for promatien in
What the tea leaves foretell
BROOKE BOND's advertising.
lo judee by a recent example in
Guardian, co pany hitly profiable at іл s0 words of tha pibitation of -re maran continent, Samples We sack roots in Indian soul 77 arr ago, a unail team ment enamoured with Indian tea. And like the mighty bandon tre we feurished over the years.
This advertisemenz appeared
day that the storm troopers of the
Special Patrel Group were ussaul
ting the Grunwick mam picke:
The connection might not seem
¿onediareiy obvious latil Jou
opert a pucker of Booke Bond
ser. These presenaly contal d
series of Police
police state propaganda
and laudator
descriprions of the Specia Prime a sey poperation pol police-army co-operation gun chases.
standard
DANCES WERE the bait with
Hence lured
wayward_youths, All se." The
sow changed.
dente" acall at Tiverpool Uni
versity this tera offered fresher On display mere the alflance'
handbonk, and a coloerfel book
which
comes mith preity pictures of
NATO's seapanry-
As the aBlunce's
general explados in the intro SOCIAN
duction: The scoust ilustrate
how, in un Informal and prag
matic way and with the minimum
Eurogroup has been able to makı
a number of sebstantive Earo
nean coatrihutinas to the com
mon defence."
From which News from Ne
where era omly conchide
Tory students may now
Beffest, steering armoured
Intan, sailing airera
carriers threateningly siong
aly's shores. On the other
their meetings may already b
picked with enger KGB ope
Page 4 scan of this page
Police are really bugging us!
'D'ye ken
John Peel?'
the Anti-Blood Sports League.
THE STORY started on 23
mary this year, PCs William Robertson and George Hurst
on the Mó when they saw a Ford
Unattended. They chocked with the Police National
amputer Unit at Hendon.
get the
formation simply from
istration mumber of a vehicle:
the vehicle is stolen, which
tu it was stolen from, what
ne it was stolen, the crime bool reference number, *if the vehicle was not stolen: the
of the owner, romer's address, the lengih of one he or she has owned the ebide.
DESECRATING
But our twe constables found out a little bit more
Last month the car-owner and rwo others appeared in court
with desecrating the rave of the 18th century bunts
san, John Peel. John Kay, prosecuting, said The car checked on the Police Computer. He (the police offic er) was also told that the owner was a prominent member of the Anti-Blood Sports Lengue.'
• magazine of the
SEX EDUCATION 1A
V GOD.
SYENEN 3 P
WHERE DD I COME FROM?
BCOBB
inned from back pae...
a to join cuch a narty ... anu
: from the inside to ensure
e a decision like this goes no
ather than the conferenoe min-
1 hs debatable whether such
LIES CEESS
nce the Scottish Council of the
abour Party has been bending
bene is a warld of difference between conference and Govemment policy!
That is certainly true. The fight bow must be to demand that the Goverament drops abortion plans and implement
DEIC CICC HOIC, WAC NICEC dE
HOME NEWS
MORE ALARMING information has leaked out on what sort of data is held on the files of the British police and the Army in the north of Ireland. This data contains not only "facts", but hearsay, membership of subversive organisations like the Anti-Blood Sports League and even data about the known associates of suspects. Now police have categorically refused to say how a routine inquiry to the Police National Computer provided them with the Information that a car owner was a prominent member of
computing industry, took up the inquiry. They first quizeed Scotland Yard, but were told that the Police Computer was the responsibility of the Home Office. So they asked the Home Office.
CONSTRAINT
"This is a very compticated thing' Datalink was told. The Police are responsible, certain constraints laid down by he Home Office, for informal jon on the file. What are the constraints? "Ir mustn't exceod a certain amount of space' was the only concrete reply which the magazine received.
There are a number of possiblitles which could have led to the "Joha Peel" case. The vehicle been wasn't). The vehicle might have been registered in the name of the Anti-Blood Sports League, (iE W550 The other possibulicy is that the vehicle registration file at the PNC has an area in it in which can De stored any information the police see fir concerning the owner of that vehicle.
There are 12 million or so car owners in Britain.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR?
The Pope and friends
gislation which will be worth hile is the repeal of Sectiosis 58 CHUBETCELTECTALCS Against the Person archaic law was recently dug ou • Drogecute a 14-vear-old gil wha took laxatives and a hot bath lo try induce abortian, amu her brother. fo helping her pracure it The office of the Director of PIONL CrTSCSULICHETJOSLACLN admilled that it had made a mistake and a Royal Pardon is But that is not enough. There is bocbing lo stop this MW DCR U11 HOU Already there is talk of a Private Merbér's Bill or a 10-minute Bill TO RTe IE Cir. Uaur's tae Sort OE abortion legislation we want.
Datalink.
within
Datalink conctudes:
As mch information is either numeric in naruG DCR aY HUCILied via the use of codes tbere DH IE TOUC TECHNIL odds and ends -system ohviously isn't big enough to hold everybody. What does seem to he
IG PARK
KOAIPIER MON act. This
TINTO THOSE DINSINS pens, more af home in the Thind than a dangerous Dean. nemo ved fron he wal l office
TESCS TAR SOOE uNOue IONE
HAR MAURAO DUM S ELAO! member of the ractiooary Inst/tute of Joumalists,
rather vague of the vehicle guidelines which
altbough tbe
everything
there - what isa'i?
WARD
WOGS
and
North London
has been
The Police 'common
activitica. sation
are the actual govern the be information that's held there on the police antional computer."
"Are there any, other than Imitations of storage space?'
Because if membership of the Anli-Biond Sports League is held
The posters had decoraled the
again
paper, until North London NUU Branch ARAMAR WA CESI OMGIEIE TO SCY Haran NAUTLOOLUES JOUUO BU demanded that the lod member racism
de given a formal every turn.
We always
get our man'
by RICHARD FIDEER
CANADIAN Solicitor General Francis Fox and top officials of
CHOM EROSEISI ITOU LO have repeatedly denied that the RCMP breaks che law in The CouRe s TEE Bu since the disclosure of an illega break-in at the Agence de Presse TeOD uEDL judee's astonishing discharge of the police officers involved Cviocic Bus ocgan to pc ug showing that the APLQ actior was anything hut exceptiomal
This has tow been contirmed RCMIP: On the CBC televition individual officers of the programme "The Fitth Estate or 30 September, memhers of th force sere qualed as sayine COB! illegal wirecaps and break ins are Trined their partispa tin in det. , practice". des-
Locksmiths, on the RCMP's payroll as 'informers
how they regularis assist RCMP agents on some of the more complex assienments.
OVERZEALOUS
One of the officers interviewed by "The Fifth Estate" recounted how he and another cop onp were latening la the racio whi sitting in on a wiretapped conver
when thiey heard chen RCMP Commissioner Maurice Nadon on the radio denying such practices exisied. "There we were sitting there with all the equip ment in fromt of us."
The two officers who agreed to
Interviewei indicated that
hew had doodec to spenx ou bocnuse they feared the KOMP brass would disown them if their activities were revealed. thereby Kep. They ciled nevent statsments them alone to face the by retired RCMP Deputy Comimissioner William Kelly, an unofficial spokesperson of the
HOW IT USED TO BE..
HOW IT IS NOW!
by Calcured immiguten reprimand, with a warning that if ne ewe aso sco nnSr rOs m?
would be ORAS HOER dismissed for grave miscoriduer intolerab/e
told them:
NOW WIR HOOK WOr O SurCO DI
gnouic de resisteo Newspapers bear a
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page -
AMiE sEH hale 2 switcheahay 1%1 ТАРЕ МИ.
in tie shérest-
SCE TIN , DiSNES
forve, that illegal activities mere
The work ol 'overzealous" junior officers.
Recent news reports confirmed that the RCMP carries on extensive sureillance of trade unions.
Tarmers' organisations, the New
Democratic Parly. other
Ieli-wing policical partioa. lt ls certain that such Dreanisatanis
are targets of these illegal merh-
oie know that it is eften dane
senior producer Ron Hageart told the press, 'hut this type of surrenticious entry is widely used in all
hse inestretshow that the
conduct of Canada's politicai
police is essentially similar to that
of its US counterparts, the FBI . Iney indicate that
illegal police activity may be as
110500080 10 080809810
SOuLI ne CarOer
MULTI- RĂCIALISM
A threat to our children's future
is, the face of Beinas iu Colouret immigratioe not arl meni tee pi
particular respons/b/lity
La SUSTr especially in a newspsper office
STUT OCGOTSEIC IonerenTel
the NUJ's demends.
Page 5 scan of this page
As miners' leaders plane 33
HOME N
local deals
by Geoffrey Sheridan Jace workers.
Government, the
leadership.
OVER the past few days, the area execuves in Lanasnare aard Leicestershire have joined the pleas from a number of pits in Ihe Niclanus Tor tac Coai Boaru so conclude local SCHUIELS.
The NUM national executive
COU TInE S96 BIUYe D6 co0mter 10 11e Ds0nHal
bowed 55 per cent DAN IST IIC EVISYC Dr00
Spent most oi Ies Tate
been
Under the
Fr Al*
and Caterina
hospitals branch, reports.
NUPE's annual conference in May URBIO SSTSOE N end to all forms of wage control and instructed executive CumE. GamI CIaEIs TOra substantial inercase in pay with a basic minimum of 150 a week.
AISBECNSEE prepare action in support of the
WS
£135 - and now!
THE COURSE of the miners' pay ciaim has become a little too predictable for comfort. As Socialist Challenge reported last week, the strategy of the right wing on the mineworkers" executive is to delay for as long as possible any action on the demand for a £135 basic waze for coal
The immediate blocking device is the aftempt to swing local productivity deals, with the firm support of the
Coal Board, and Joe wreckers who hold a narrow majority in the NUM
ballot invalid. Instead the right contented BoeE wilh a 14 00 M vote to 'deplore' the activities of the left executives who the incentive plan.
MOUNTAIN
While Gormiey & Co now sh aym ente already bring back for a soie districhi, the mesi h dor its best to build these mountain. The reality is some wEstiSue As in every haneusryntived managements have ILLT
IS THE HOTEL FORTEN
ETABLISKMENTS WORKERS at rbe Hotel Metropole in Paddington, West London have Deon COSM WA SW NETOTUR TRE HAOUTAULNDBIUO Management are using their union's (GMWU] support for the 12 month ruke to realet the ciaim. Pickers are needed every day, with mass pichets on
NUPE rejects 10
per cent offer
THE executive of the National Union of Public Employees this week rejected a 10 per ceat pay offer, worth a miserable f4 a week to their lowest paid members. But strong action hy rank and file members is still needed to make sure there is no sell out. STEPHEN PAGE, NUPE shop steward, St Andrew's and Hellesend
csalon But ast month. st a coner ence of the Fastern Division of NUPE, the divisional officer TESUC LIEdE nat He Pay Pro pasals would be.
He spoke simply of la substanMOl BINC WETOJE ANECCC lo a E50 minimur Instead he
Gormley's
JACK COLLINS perits to speed up production ПСТС ПИЕ THRCAIRBSIE R wink from the local union. A bonus for
I31 OMITEain AULE SV
Governmen
US b smart
OUT SLAVE LOBOK
DR T-W
LOWER PArT
HOTEL VOK
SHOULD SET
PAY FOK la
LABOL
Friday between 6 — 70pm
Strike [Tel 01-723 4782)taiked about "Ebe smallness of the IS ODALLNE He indicated that the Union mould negotiate with manage CELs TOrTOSR AaRW io light could be seen at the en f the tunnel, they would presen the whole package to brancbes and take a ballat.
A recencly formed group called CAN (Campaign for Action in NUPE) who called for the 290
ference. LATE TOW branches to fight to ranke the UIL SINUC BILaELUd ference decision.
officials thar they had this.
STRIKES
one on the some wpe.
obvious.
working in watery
sotbelimes aul sac Soppor uI
vater. Teach-in whi toe CIUMARE SH But delay can be fatal.
lince the fiest mounting number of ewn fram the
Fi a lot to lose.
TC OEC TUC-backed class living standards.
LONDON
-OFFiCIAL
LINE
TAXiS n.
Messages of support, donations and ofters of help should be sent to the Commirtee, 76 Hatheriey Roed, Walthamsfow, London ET?
*an end 10
C10|
aL Ee Binua Don
calling on
So far the left leadership in the NUM has made it plain tbat i will strenuously resist all emprs to carve out socai deals which needless to say would be at the pits that are casiest to work
TUILHU LEGS DAYL ULIL YUER outs by miners at the Sutton, Süverbill, and Babbingion colleries in Notinghamshire in bra test at accusations by union
voted No in the hallet necause of ineir owe "private' incencive schemes.
are stampeded through, but his
dues is not the best way to fight
As Kent area national execuuve memoer Jack Colns Point out: "The ond time we've ever now complete wy wos Д fa strikes of 1972 and 74, because of the national power loudine agreeMent mice Dur vartay ewry
The lessan of that experience is
Te srigge ror the £135 must begin now. The miners
labour movement to
ut the knife to the pay policy
Every day that passes, with a Union
approved pay deal, strengthens the "legitimacy" of the 10 per cent norm and the 12-month rule. Every day sees a further drop in working Wrighr
Wright's good the
METROPOA!
HOTE.
PICKET
IACTUL
Photo: LAURENCE SPARHAM (IFL)
Socialist Important policies include: tne 12-montn rule, to che lu par *no productivity dealing to increase wages at the expense of jobs • tor a minimum wage of ESO, oqual pay with no stringe atlache
OrOUEE CEMEILLEC mass solidarity *tor industry-wide shop stewards conferences on pay local: shap slewarda. contenences WEIZDSDURWEIS CuIRACeuunecEiOOUINHMMISH
AUEW Broad left
Still honouring
Scanlon's
memory
THE POLICIES of the Engineering Workers could be a major factor in the fight against the Government's 10 per cent pay norm. The union's national committee, which played an important role in the demands for • return to free collective bargaining, met on Monday. JOHN GRAHAM reports. Left wingers io ine AUEW are exoeitei lo Tal lor iocieae 0f ahour 30 per cent and reduction In bours, while the right are likely CEO GIOCKAS BELLIERCU CIEUICEC
CIRCUCI IONY IO TEHYEHIOL national agreement, which was suspended during pay TOTTEAEAC HI AOICE HILA to the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions mitted to the Engineering Emplayers" Federation
banh mhn on ih ging
centres round of the clection of Hugl Scanlon's successor. Left wingers have no opcion but to vore the Broad Left candidate, Bob the only alternative being Terry Dutly Duffy is an arch right winger. who has made no secret of his support for the Labour Govern ment's ware restraint poncy. Thi Broad Lefl's national asserbly meets in Birminghar i on Sunday and will no doubt be celebratin performance in first round of the ballo his cond hep to cover soae facts the Broad Lelt Joay
The threat to teacher
militants
Farsky and Rich
THREE teachers who have actively opposed the compulsory transfer of teachers by the Inner London Education Authority are being hauled up before the NUT's Professional Conduct Committee on Saturday morning, NUT militants have called for a mass lobby of the meeting.
The case against Dick North, Bernard Regan and Dave White ley is being bought by Communist Party member Mr. Farsky and right winger Mr. Rich aruson, Pressdeot and Geacral trenr oi oe srOn Inner London Teachers Assoc
They claim the three teachers
an l. TA nunei mer de m lie
BUCH CACCEOHTR IOAOI school in East London tried to put their case.
Fred Jarxis, the NU/T general
NATIONAL RANK AND FILE DELEGATE
CONFERENCE SATURDAY, 26 NOVEMBER CO-OP HALL, MANCHESTER
delegated from their organisations on the basis of ihe Challenge supporters are urged to
fighting policies of Socialist Challenge. The most
CHOIE norm
*or automatic increases in wages to compensale for rises in the cost ofilving; for a sliding scale with workere in struggle; for the nationallsation of Grunwick
Credentials for dolegates from the Rank and File Centre, 265a Seven Sisters Reed, Landon w4.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 5 Amalgamated Union of like to forget, for despite Scu
ES OII ICHIU DIHAI
ard his con to to ti
deteracy, nie Brond Left har never dissociated itself rom him
And Communist Party mem bet Les Dion aiso a member of The resolution which eftei ar the naH voted allowed Lewland to sack the too! makers during their dispute in spring.
Dixon is billed as a
peaker al Sunday's assembiy, SUTE indication that the Broa Left, far from discussing these issues, will be using the meeting
to whip up support for Wright
While it is vitally important to prevent Duffy becoming the next president of ibe AUEW, there b alsa a need for national coovenors and he New Year LUELETCUCE the
This could launch an inde peodenl campaigo in support ol a pay cizim to delend basic rate and reduce the working week to 35 bours without less of pay
The Broad Left Assembly it at Toc poco Civic tenere, mingham on Sunday, from 11am to 4pm. secretary bas joined in the right
aing witchunt by sending better MCHLCPCICCHEHAIWU three teachers to. theit supporters, as evidence to the Profes
action outside hix responsibilitie and clearly designed to prejudice SEK CALA
The central issue in the case is the campulsory transfer of teachers by the ILEA from one school la another. Farsky and Richardson want leacners te kauckle under tbe employen
demands. North, Regar Whiteley have actively fough the poe ial
the ILEA is allowed te
COMEIE HS CoaSEa fer policy, ir puld mean further 600 tachers forcibls mosed this rear, and the loss o about 120 tesching Jobs. * The mass lobby is at NUT
mevucuuriers. Hamilton Houm Mabledon Place, London WCI.
to cash limits
set up local action committees on wagas
Page 6 scan of this page
Executive victory
eview of the ailing Morning Star, It was the first time in decades people acause the party of heing in a crisi
that this vote could
halt the decline of
The aim the first day
ISCHAEC the Draft.
LIKE BOD CETE TO BEYE was not forgotton.
nan, party secretary, set the tone in his
He emphasised the dangers to the party
sed by the Fre enchite splitters"
*the welcome such splits. This theme was taken
speaker after speaker,
arguments as break-away New Communist Party supporters.
McLennan also dissociated the leadership from the concept of Eurocommunism. He declared himself as loyal to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union as any other CP
ler in Europe. He declared in a carefully
statement that the CPSU
vorld-wide movement for progress.
voiding any ideological challenge to
zhnevite wing. McLennan argued th
HOME NEWS
Communist Party Congress
won't stop
the slide
DELEGATES to the British Communist Party's 35th Congress cheered and clapped at last Sunday evening's session when a majority of 193 to 137 delegates won the right to a wide-ranging But when a debate
membership had
DODIE WEPPLER and OLIVER MaDONALD argue below Dran, but Bicomfield
mark new problems for the incoming executive. The leadership will emerge from Congress with its Draft almost unscathed but a deep-rooted frustration still remains 48 in opposition. amongst CP members as to whether the executive will be able to
the Party in
of the Congress DIDOCOM were either orthodox Marxism, But the need to executive from the full-blooded Road.
Gordon Me- fuss about?
HOTRICE
strong action isolating needed strengthening The first debate
the main pro-Moscow speaker the issues He amendments would
should form 1979. and
Congress, Gium locks at Congress top table. Gordon McLennan is on the right.
defeated their leadership. for failing to produce
Once its practical work.
Ives the points they contested in the new Draft
For else they the party. appeared in previous versions of the British
He seemed to say What on earth is all the
Parent newling et executive felt on weak ground — notably on the leading role of the Communist Party in the mass movement and on the need for
against possible military
majority delegates
- the executive declared the Draft The
following the intro the man pro-Moscow speaker past ch
more ume to discus but said that more 2n0o already submitted. Bloomfeld argued the that the Congress debate on amendments
The basis of a new Draft to be In the the only existing programme could be adhered to
Iris conciliatory gesture seemed to indicate has supporters would not split atter the
Jeorge Matthews replying said the part
and right for its monolithic internal rules
Many alternative to the
unamwerable: how could anyone produce an alternative in the 390
the amendments began
debated. the consequences of the inahilit of delegates to provide complote alternat-
emerged. Mclentan was the only
Others in the parry who had coherent alternatives were unable to take squal time to develop their ideas before Congress.
The abscoce of noy righe to tort politica. tendencies on an equal footing with the
of party's execurive lefi without clear belween alternative strategies. The lack of
party democracy did not stop there
mendments also gave a free hand to the new executive to do as it wishes with ove 1300 amendments: they are accepted to be redraited at the discretion olf the executive. Forty w7e recammendes as non-sceptCOgnated reddie comes or designated for debate at Congress
CONTAILL C containing the 'sharpest" formulation of the differences, This meant delegates
-CHOSE CLIC Draft. amendments which were often the crudest
extreme formulations. all Congress with large majorities.
to be
The debate on
of the party and with a multirude
fraternal greetings from other Communist
Kunayer, Politbure member of the CPSL
The first theme of debate democratic alliance' role of the executive committes, attempes to balance different wings of the party. This concept anti sonopaly alliance which was THOSCICHEDY CHECHEN WISH WAS introduced. Not so at Congress.
HEROIS
After delegates argued furiously merits of the new concept — Jack Woddis of the executive stepped in to declare the executive was in favour of both concepts! The whole debate had been a waste of tine, could since tne new icam — c огодо остоста alliance was in fact replacing the old one of hroad popular alliance, not the 'antiNot by The executive does not have to appear as an open majority tendency own views darice ibe ore-Conaress dehate So the membership was left in this debate on alliances — and others - harling away.
upstaged by footwork from the Congress. The deed her storer a l party" received even shorter shrift. amendment from the Eurocomatunists spelt
developing a British
'communist
equality of each Communist Party". Their potions are a far cry from the traditions of
voles were mustered bebind this resolation against the executive.
inc pracnical work of the many will not be altered by Congress deliberations. The central question facing the working class -the wage restraint of the social contract -
Fi even are a men relation. Instoad, Genersl Council bE the TIC. - scaned tha unemployment was the numher one ponpern of workers today, covering up for the role of the Communist Party in apposing strikes
Which three to i spel on lim
the last alternative: the TUC has the policies, he said, "because 1 moved them. Now we just need to implement them'.
The dehare on racism and fascism pa
sartly directed agains: the so-called cmpr
laganeering of the ultra-left
No platform for fascists" slogar
supported its inclusion if they had bad the oprion. Other resolutions on the party's practical work — even burning issues like thac of Ireland - were carried without deta flight of the impact which ihe
CREBENTIAL
the new Draft waS
Dinmukbamed
the broad women's movement jac shed light on the
in its defily berween the
replace "the
was seen an an
ICECFCALC
party. The women's liberation.
the new Draft
further than
developing its
platform at the
tradition, there movements'
amendment howled 'Out of order" waited TWo
member of the
delegate
our the
The maver But a namber of speakers said they would have question mark
declining fortunes.
Party in Crisis.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 6 Communist Party has made in the women's [beration movement. no asrounding teamare of the Congress was the tiny number of women delegates, a mere handful of those who sooke as well as the lola absence of
iny debate on a strategy for building th
The fight for women's Giberation is Doc cated as integral to the struggle for socialism by the leadership. Hat even in the Dehare on the sostem of alliances where the question of the women's movement appears
the Druft, an off-band two sentence
was the only menon ol the existetce of the sovement.
equally evident that the wolDen themselves have been unable to make any dont in the programmatic positions of the were ether ended bail o/ere on / liberation
By Sarurday evening outside observers to the Congress would have had the impression that the party was peacefully sorting out
- without much worry on the part of the executive. But the conference suddenly came to life when a central aspect
oF the parties practical work was put abde
che spotlight: the debate on Morning Saur
Editor Tooy Chater's remarks went little
This publis appeal for the $187,000 deficit and to reverse the annual loss of 2,000 readers, printed two weeks ago in Morning Star. But the genuine dissaris Laction with the paper provided R TONs JOi discontent from all borners.
A fiery concluding speach from executive membor Gerry Cohen, appealed to party loyalty, and then in desperation claimed
difference hetween the amendment and the emergency resolution.
Bur when Cohen made an unprecedented plea on tbe floor of the Congress - - backed up by Chairperson MeGahey — te remit the
delegares As M. Page from expinined; We have already our reply Morning Star resolutions remitred at the
wide range of suspestions carne forward on how to journalistically improve Le paper and much coberete experience from industrial militants in selling it. Every
- Including the executiv membership enressed concern. But th remained unconvinced that the executive can halt the decline of the party in such a
The vote foe the amendment represented frustration, but not a hard-hitting alternarive stratogy for bullding the party's press with implicacions in all spheres of the pal couges of tie commune learny the intervention Nevertheless. he marked less by a reunited Party around a new programmie and rather more for the
delerites bisced leadership's ability to reverse the party's
Oliver MacDonald was the author of last week's Battle of Ideas: The Communist
Page 7 scan of this page
Socialist Unity meets in London to discuss How to fight in elections
*Return Labour, but build a socialist alternative'
The agenda before the confer
ice will be deciding an interis
inciuding items such as what
antitade militants should take BUM ArESTOCLABE
ment, where to stand candidates,
and the organisation of Socialist Unav Eclore and altei the elec Lions.
Socialist Unity cannot pretend
IASH
ICISM
SẢN
SUnit Socialist Unity conference to both stand
explains why and how.
THE MARXIST LEFT in Bri taln has been @lagued by the question or what to do about the Labour Party and elections ever
HAYS OLULE British Communist Party.
Eirher the far left has buried its
SaISUS LELOE unionism, mutering abour what a diversion the clections are, or
for L.abour.
Neither of these
ave been successful. To ignor elections arena free for capitalist politic- WEBILS leaving
A DETL masses are showing an interest in political questions. l1 also means заня co conron, te gaesnon of who should form a govemnBICIL.
"Critical support Jor Labour" has ofier in practice simply selling people so vore for
HOME NEWS
With only days to go before the Socialist Unity Conference in London, Pat Arrowsmith, well known peace campaigner, has added her name to the dozens of trade unionists and socialist militants backing the conference, In addition, Colin Talbot and Lewis Davies, two members of the NUS Executive have also signed, in a personal capacity.
Rio be a national alternative to Labuur but by presentine programme of struggle uniting militants both inside and ourside the Labour Parly it can make sure that the interests of working people are not submerged SUIC compromise.
Everybody at the conference
TALISM
TED COXHEAD, a member of the National Committee of the International Marxist Group, will be asking the
against Labour in constituencies throughour Britain and call for the return of Labour Government. Below he
A pedamenaly party with whose policies pou Goouret having litie else to sy in the election compuign.
WUw IP b CIn waere Lo D critical. and how to organise around your criticisms has often
'campaign of critical support for alben Marxiss participate ir elections they have to try and show beu the immediase issues which peonle are fightine sboul can be taken up and won. The have to put forward demands HIBT TOCU WTWI CON DE TOUROI open tapos sh maies or saei lim For through SOSIISE Labour's betrayals.
But today it is a stubborn fact chat the great majority of workneed to huild a sociatist aller-
will have voting righis, because they are the people who will be campaigning for the policies of Socialist Unicy
Women supporlers of Socialist Unity will be meeting before the COnTEC R COCE IRIn conference hall to discuss how They abould calassI port for the Socialist Unity in
women's movement in part
-om sece ot phe do estete
fromn CCHTE! submitied voting to the conferenice, Ted Cocheud explains why the IMG wil be againe toi the sloggo native to L.ahour.
fight the bossat candidates strugtle against cuts in the social STIEscious workers are ereo prepared to take up UCI S DEOHCSSn.
South African and the defence of democratic righis.
POLICIES
Om particular issues they are even prepared in SS LOTRE a adopl poloxs abd lake acbon which are in direct conflict with
she that saial beno ey s
Sic Biat socirComocracy willing to countesance.
But the great
KCIS MANC DO YCE TCITE reformist ideas, they still look lo a solution by PUL HIME LIEI GECISES.
The formation of the Labour Party came abous because the aerative te TRiDe IHOE
Liberals and formed a pert
xased on the organisations o the workiog class. This was a
trecing the working cless from
the conterenos.
organise in the und build further sun
November.
ments for the conference.
EuHoDaH VOTE TNDEOUTECONELUH AMETEIR SRLE
TESCCOD RESULT
issues like racism
ITCIA TO
caputals programme -
practice to
majority of Jeaders in direct
gosernment thar SKH RIS HAIE TREISG
OTOKE AIRLNE line. By use of
TOUCe mC
bruild a socialist alternative a CUrS DIHACIEE
In a subsogoent issue we will he printing material From Big Flame explaining why chey are tamts tas sopa ar tat stage
We asic our renders to inke suse that their area i repre Sa a MC LoacIcao nas
We ask you to circulare the leiter of support for NC ICICE ANO MIE BEHA NEE to read and discuss the docu-
Luters on Sociahs Univ ard vieas on the conference in partIcular are welcomed by Socialis:
tetrar"
tat te
BALOS
AHSAN.
Social the interests of the employers weakened
Stacks.
hesitanc pne.
Yer the result of the break in HOlID WiS Ine 1OEM30nOa
which sill retained UCSDILC TrAne URin BASeAT3IS5
ave the task of encouraging th
Eps wown breaking fee the
when breaking from Liberais, so thar it can build a party win a programne inal
To du this Lhe workine c185
open policical conflici. in elections. the bes
ay of doing this is to stan
ancidates who can present
Since Labour caie into office it has whipped its "left" wing into
LSLEKUCUE tract and its alliance with the union leaders it bas been able to But
UMOS.TECOIOCTALE policies of unemployment and cuts in living standards lave
A programme
for action
The programme below has been
wo ntiv suhmired by Hor Plans
and the International Marxist
Group for voting on at the
WRE LEHEY COUCICIAT
TUCH!
TOTS MINEC DOOMR DOnOmO
Lvira. Nota all mede controln - fo
an mma N MONS-InH-COH0 H
lo Public Sending Cute — For Betle
men. No discrimination in won @
legai and tinancia
mupAu IuwamCIu
SOCIALIST
UNITY
The Garage — University College, London WC1
Credentials: El for emplened and sradents, 50p for unemplaved
and people working in the home. Conference tulerin 20p. All
from. Kang Pree, Box 15, Opper Street, Landon N.I.
wekine pecie to Tatour al
Nevertheless a fight hack has started — although a halting anc
In trade union and ars election the lar-lett is vellin votes that would have seemer impossible a short time ago. Or ISC BRC TUCIA LICEELE organise in a union, momen's rights and the fight against wage
up in the ranks.
OPPOSITION
to cinss struggle policies can helg
socialist policies during the elec
and DoIntIDe PUESHNI activity after the election that really counes, if it is aimed at
bur's betrayal
candidates must sland trmly saist tbe returd of a Tory governmenr - indeed any goveromenc of capitalist
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 7 mans' raia and 'Hoad of Househok
hem, controlled by those who un
ghi Raciem, Stop the Fasch
il Rights for black People. No1 TEIS bocitiurkin, No oleinmn id het nacen cesan End l e
End all imn break
he racint regimeo . Withdrawal Sron NATO Ind ICI LOUIA UE CONOD multinationals, bulld links botea
markere of ail countres, Bulld th
CIRSA. LONERSOTH ЙЛя Parliement. Our strength lies in ou own atruggles.
The Resources Are There to Maet Ou Neede. End all interest paymenta 10 In ant-tasciet acbvities. Hepeel the FIAT MECE IO CIBU SLAa C National Conference
Saturday 19 Novemher orin by the Labom Goven urtie demoralisation
ment in the working class would
give them the chance to unleash
workers' movement Aleo tet world dien" 3 Tor
EOPCEDICET
growing radicalisation - a rad
icalisation thar is alore and mor
OPPOs Bs Eraul
tional ideas of social democrac
and
simple slogan of 'Get the Torie
l eelectet Labour Govern
will bot) automatically lead
morkers to turn their backs on
LUDOUE BEL IODR
tionaries, That has to be fought
for.
CANDIDATES
That is why the IMG argues
now for Socialist Unity to stand
CAn с 10 CCCEDISI
ates who raise the slogan: For
the return of a Labour Cover-
THEIBUE HACH NTELNLCT
Page 8 scan of this page
FIREFIGHTERS ASK YOUR SUPPORT
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page B
press lies
large letters.
for the fire fighters!
Right of reply. Almost all news is put together by members of the National Union of Journalists. The NUJ has a code of conduct. which all members undertake to abide by. It is DaCKCO 0y disciplinary powers, and member can bring a complaint against any other member. This is what clause 4 of the code states:
*A jourealist shall rectify prompily any harmful inaccuracies, ensure that correction and apologies receive due prominence and afford the right of reply to persons criticised when the issue is of sufficient importance. It is with the fire fighters that the right of reply primarily bies, so make sure your local FBU branch knows about clause 4.
And whenever the media presents a 'concerned citizen' denouncing fighters, demand that a statement of support from your union branch, trades women's group, or other organisation is published.
DOUG MACKAY, branch secretary of the Fire Brigades Union:
depending martial status. The rate for someone who has passed his qualifications' with four years in the job is E15 below the adult male average wage. And this for a 48 hour week, working shifts. We have to work two weekends out of every three. Even on the weekend off we have to work every Friday night until 9am Saturday morning.
The Government is offering us 10 per cent and an enquiry. What they ignore is that our claim is based on an enquiry which has just reported — The McArthy Report.
Contrary to many stories in the press we do not get any perks. For instance, unlike the police we do not get a rent allowance.
Our claim is for the average male adult wage plus 10 percent to take account of skills and danger. revolutionary demand.
We are told we can't have our claim because it would mess up the country's so-called cconomic recover. But they are quite happy to award her royal majesty a 1290,000 rise!
We are not responsible for the coun try's ills. thrown 1,500,00 workers on the scrap heap of the dole queue, slashed public expenditure, and let intlation rip.
The press are attempting to brand us as irresponsible baby burners. Let's face it. no one joins the fire brigade who hasn't got a social conscience. conscience doesn't pay the rent or food bills.
We urge all trade unionsts to argue our
How to fight back against
The fire fighters are being bombarded with every lie that the mass media can dredge up. On Monday morning, the banner headlines spelt out 'scah' in very But the bosses' press "freedom" is not inviolable. After all it is trades
So here is a fight-back checklist on the road to press freedom — and victory
Press releases. Make sure one is sent to every local news editor.
Phone-ins. Don't presume that only assorted reactionaries ever get on. Demand to be any heard!
Who to contact. Never take No for an answer. If the editor or reporter doesn't want to know, ask to speak to the union representatives, or arrange a deputation to meet them.
On local papers. the involved are: NUJ (edicorial), NGA (type. setting and machine TOOm), (clerical and printing), work), and SOGAT (distribution). national papers, the engineering and electricians unions are also involved. On local radio fire the main unions are: NUJ and ABS.
lelevision, it's NUJ. ABS. council, If all else fails: then why not arrange a
picket or lobby of your local media? And keep this checklist handy for the next strike.
Birmingham
Theaverage firefighter takes home E36 to f46 a week
on age and should you.
Don't fail those who never exam and fail you. Smash the 10 per cent. Support fighters!' what 1 get - E47 a week.
This is hardly It is the bosses who have
threatened.
But a social
of the firefighters,
wage.
DO
Labour Party meetings.
unions likely to be
Shale.
NAISOPA
SLADE (process DO
On the
OD and ACTT. existing bodies, such
case with their fellow workers to counter the press and TV propaganda. Our fight is your fight. As the first major group to take on the 10 per cent rule we need your support. The Government knows we are the flag bearers for the public sector. So
the fire-
COLIN MIDDLETON Area Secretary, Tyne and Wear Fire Brigades Union.
Leading firemen - those who are fully qualified are on about £47 a week take home pay. I've been in the fire service for 27 years and that's
If the lowest paid of us packed it in and went on the dole, we'd only be about ES on us. a week worse off. There are already members claiming family supplement and free school meals for the kids.
In this brigade, I don't think there is one of our members who dissented about
Labour's human:
JIM CALLAGHAN says he sympathises with the firemen, but that the 10 per cent norm must be observed by all. Home Secretary Merlyn Rees says that incalculable consequences would result from the FBU strike, that loss of life is
The concern of the Labour Government knows, no bounds. 11,000 troops are being trained to break the strike. Although Rees himself admits they cannot compensate for the skill and experience
The will not stop the strike by paying the firemen a decent
For Rees the dangers that would result
How you can hel
Fire
OPEN ALL DOORS to the striking firefighters. Invite them to meetings of your trade union branch, trades council, shops stewards committee,
The chief danger the strikers face is isolation from the rest of the trade union movement. The ruling class press will attempt to enflame this situation by a massive campaign of
Fire enthusiasm for the strikers' by building support groups in localities. These are best established by
•trades councils, public sector alliances etc. lated.
Socialis
Please display the strike. Feelings are really strong.
Rees himself promised us in May th our case was a needy one. We'vetoed t the line for two years. The police go th
rise in 1975, but we didn't.
We hope the public will stand by us and support us.
FRED HILL, Chairperson, West Mi lands Brigade, Fire Brigades Union.
The only people to blame i any casualties are Labour Government. don't take this action lightly. We wor be receiving any strike pay and this is t first strike in the union's history. have taken part in numerous sets negotiations and several working partic but all we have been offered is a palt 10 per cent Strike action has been forc
We will be countering the attacks of t press. We will be issueing leaflets to t trade union movement and we shall looking to addressing factory, hospit and workplace meetings. from breaking the 10 per cent nor would be 'far greater for the communit as a whole' than the dangers to life an limb arising from a finefighters" strike.
But who gains from the I0 per cer norm? Certainly not over 10 millio trade unionists whose wages are hel back whilst inflation rages at 15 per cent Nor the old age pensioners, who get meagre ElO Xmas bonus only to g without mear in January. Not the loc government and hospital workers, whi are being denied a basic minimum wae of t50 by the 10 percent nomm.
But the wealthy certainly do gain fron the 10 per cent limit. All it needs is fo
But try and make sure that what-
ever body is set up, members of the
Brigade Union are involved,
and the committee as a whole is as
broad based as possible.
DO
Make sure the strike is not lost
through lack of fuel. The fire-
fighters are receiving no strike pay,
so raise moncy frem them by
workplace meetings and collections.
DO
At least contact the nearest picket
line to give your support. The
strikers must be re-assured time and
time again that they are not iso-
Page 9 scan of this page
Challenge
FOR
Despite the fact that firefighters have a particularly difficult job and deserve recognition for it. still support all workers - particularly low paid workers in the public sector fighting for better wages and protection against inflation."
RONNIE SCOTT. Strathclyde
strike committee, Fire Brigades Union:
No firemen will assist or instruct troops in the use of equipment. There will be pickets on all fire stations and county buildings. Anyone who wants to support the pickets can do so through the strike committee.
Our conference decided to take out full page advertisements in the national press. Apart from that we expect the full
support of the Morning Challenge
Star, Socialist and Socialist Worker.
acrifice
groups of workers to settle within 10 per cent, for shares to rise on the stock market.
Rees says the firemen are getting a good deal, since he has already offered to cut their working week from 48 to 42 hours. Now that's really magnanimous of him. The firefighters have worked a 48 hour week for years. But since when has a 42 hour week been such a privilege that workers have to forego a decent wage to achieve it?
For Rees and the Labour Government profits and the 10 percent norm come before saving peoples lives. That is what they mean when they talk about "sacrilice'
DON'T
Stay at work, if you think there is a
fire-risk. Workers have every right
to refuse to work if their safety is at
risk. Those working with dangerous
chemicals are especially advised to
stay at home. Such action is also an
appropriate Way trade unionists
using their economic strength to
force the Government to stop
playing with fire.
DON'T
Pay too much attention to 'official'
statements from the executive of
the FBU. Remember they
against strike action. It is far better
to establish contact with the rank
Please display
region
and file firefighters - it was they who voted for the action.
DON'T
Forget the importance of the FBL strike. They are fighting against the 10 percent limit, and that fight is one that is necessary to ensure the health and safety people. A fighters will he defeat for the entire Government strategy of insisting on another year of wage cuts.
voted
1976
1971 of working victory for the fire-
public sector workers.
How Labour has cut the Firefighters pay (even more than most others). Average Earnings 1974-7
Average Male Earning Average Firefighters Eaming
1374 £47.70 (April)
£66.00 (August)
£75.20 (August)
E80.60 (July)
Solidarity the Brum example
The Birmingham 'Public Sector Pay Action Committee" was set up from a conference of over 150 stewards in October. It was formed out of the realisation that public sector workers face a common enemy in the fight to defend their living standards — the governments cash limits and 10 per cent pay guidelines.
In Birmingham they knew that any group of workers, like the firelighters which challenged the 10 per cent timit, would face a battle with the Government, their supporters in the union Icaderships, and theattacks of the press.
So to pursue a common fight against the cash limits, they have decided to hold a one day strike on 23 November of all Birmingham
With the FBU now in the front line, the Action Committee is turning all its resources behind them. The 23 November demonstration will be a massive show of solidarity with the FBU, so strengthening the fight of all
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 9 £48.10 (April)
£61.40 (April)
@66.00 (April)
£71.10 (Poril) public sector workers. 15,000 copies of the Action Committee Broadsheet building for the 23 will be supplemented by at least two further bulletins.
The first is being written by firefighters to strengthen morale and organisation within LACE BRUTESS
Teams of firefighters and members of the Pay Action Committee will tour hospitals, local government and water services depots in Birmingham to build support for the demo Broader solidarity with the strike will be discussed at the next meeting of the Pay Action Committee on 16 November.
Page 10 scan of this page
The goons of Castlereagh
IRELAND
and that safeguards against abuse are effective.
at Hola Detention Camp. writes LIZ CURTIS.
The Northern Ineland Office denpunced the Thames prog Tamime makers as lrresponsible and stated that the lives of police officers would be put at risk.
Kenneth. Newman, Palestinetrained Chief Constable of the
What's
Left
Word. Cople
in support af thel 200. sen Centrel 25 Novemb anora:
DONT be seen withiout our Socia
Op plus 7
Roe man the Eop omaneo
conference to ba hoid on Sat 1
vamber in the Univeelty Lectur
hoaire Block (LTB2), Unhersity of
Essex. Wivonhoe Park, Colcheeter
North-West
Peoples Festival A celebration of opuler curtare and struggle A day of fun and politics
Sun 27 November 11am-11pm
at Belle Vue, Manchester.
Taps and orher3. Detais trim
Mancheste 15. Har 95: 081-224 3378
Oraaniseo py me worn-vios
Communist Parly.
CACTL NATIONAL CONFERENCE Saturday snd Sunday, 26 & 27 November Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham
xcupations. Various workshops on both days
TaDIC. or full detalis and briefing documen 5 Wellington Street, WC2. Tel: 289-387
On Tuesdas 24 February 1959, Tory Colonial Under-Secretary Julian Amery had this to say: The Government in Kenys and the Prison Service in Kenya is perfectly capable of keeping its own boase in order and is doing so. Our contention is that the organisation of the Prison Service is right and is what it should be
A week later eleven Africans were beaten to death by warders
On 27 October the Thames Television programme This Week presenied a careful study, utilising statements from doctors and solicitors, of the interrogation methods used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary af Castlereagh Barracks, Belfast. Observing the response to this in Parliement and the press, you might be forgiven for thinking you had heard it all somewhere before,
RUC, was "furious". He claimed. storce b valy concerned with human rights.
As usual, Airey Neave, Tory SEULCESOT DINOTLICC land stole the show, The broadcast of 'uncorroborated" statemonts wowd De ruse tc propa ot socilir habortane: wil discussion at a meeting the Inatilute of Rac 1 Pariomvine Foad 20 November 247/2491
Gay Socialist Contan First planning meeting overber in Londo of ventum ring Phillip e
Challenge OCIALIST Thea Thei Wisa otar tarule Milks on 01.300 248 or Cable orl cn W (Sci. 6 Con
Penary micenen, sand lay toal, hoteia and ftai
industrial, hospital and student
Registration: €2.50 [ciaimants €1.50]. Creche and transpor contnet CACTL, c/o
Fassing spirit of declared.
Hard on the heels of these ECHE TICHEIIS versicns of Newnan's claim that 178500938 WOUEILE TESUIVIS gations indicare', said the eraph on 31 October, "tha: one HTa mC -PTOVADIR Wus large wbiskeys and a box of king-
size MITAITCI Castlereagh's Centre'
The following day that aur Airey, ably assisted hy the press. launcbod tis propaganda masterstroke. 'Shame ef our Soldiers in Ulter Stums"
Tront page of abour torture had been neatly headed off. gullible British public being led oy the mose into the uncamfortable bunkers of Crossmagien Barracks.
Amid all the thunder, not one Pr Costeresgh and other imerro- noie rice hasa r nT.
they don't simply throw open the doors and invite us all inside. only the tip of the iceberg. Eddie. TEMO TOULISCE COME Rooney, 25, from Ballymurphy, RE THOWE TOME SLOWJOUE window of Springhield Road RUC station during interrogaLUE OE CO ECIHUUY
In June, MeGrath was under acerropation reagh and ended up in an Omagh mental hospital able onls to say TATEL WOEUS - "Home. hospital"
During the Queen's visit in
Socialisi THE HOLIDAY resorl of Newcastle, County Down, was host to the annual conference of the
cial Democra
rty from 4-6 Novemt
Last year's seen this largely Catholic middle class party splic down the middle indeperdence and British with issues aramer or thest
party anda a biete of puticne
-wib the Tormation of the trish -nTORS real tribure to the party man. sh aithdrawal vere thenschve Motions
CAINE Be erroriam, h
TEVAEHT
were deliberately
Tele
for punching DWA C-CWHICa with the apparently
arresied was
by the RUC
lo strangle him. are TOOTHPICKS
64-year-old Peter toothpicks insered under
driver Insane at Castle-
factory' answer.
7 DAYS
in the
6 COUNTIES
JOHN MAGLE noets Nom Bells!
and Labour
conference had beens, bul never wasers'
La comicot- tron
with- Devlin was :
SBL.P founder Paddy
emerged titled Facing Reality.
wide choice of "realities"
prospect of
SOVULINA shon it is a hot-potch
demanding Brit- merely
August one of the many people was so badly heaten both by th Leo Army at Fort Monash and chei
Castlereagh tha September: his doctor sald he didn't know how he had survived, as well as being beaten all over Bis body, b had sandpaper rubbed over hi back, he was hit on the bead with a hell, and an atlempt was made
Many other detainoes have made statements describing bou
were made to go round the cell on all fours like dogs, had
their balr, been threatened with elec JUE SO JUEU the TORTURE trie shocks, had thumbs pressed into their cars, had a rope liod to the ankles which is pulled every time the victim pives an "unsatiswithdrawn and a resolution urging discussion af independence hot tac Nortl was passco Dyer
The Irish Independence Party was dismissed as 'not juse ha
the only reference to Devlin wat members
party leade Gerry Fill who said he was sac
"personal believe in
What the delegates did do was to give near unanimous support to a new policy docurbent enile choie of ealie : There is an emphasis on Loyalist antransigence, hur also one on the There is both the lrish dimen- LOWCI sharing" on" and reference to Britain's
responsibilities". inthe spapers over the divitions
SUSASECHA
Many of the statements con chide Ilke one nade by Mrs Cealpor her som fim, arested il Tur! Lodge
"The Branch men threarened to kill him unless he slaned a statement. which he dot so, because he said he coald no ake any more of the beating and mental torture which they were inflicting on him.
Such sigoed stalemients are the reason for the whole operation Over 80 per cenc of convictions in the no jury courts of Norbern SILNOQ BITOTEBi TIC OsE of such 'confessions*, which are cherefore the foundation of the RUC"s much-vaunted success at purting people away.
Torture to elicit statements complemented by the no-jury couris, is the lyoch-pin ot strategy which essentinlly in-
Thas while the Deputy Leader Joho Hume saw the document
in turning Ireland into a 'benuti Ful patchwork quilt - - united in oneraiy , Iwo punct. promenee
Ivan Coope aDd
nddy Duffy, declared, 'we har LU HSEEUC CICHE TAE MS
only one Ching British withdmwal Le mote that ursoange i UITUIC COUITIT Balumurchs Community Centa in West Belfast. Artended by over 200 militants. it was organISC Dy Enc ACiRIve Acbon Commitlee, which for the isst 18 monchs has been campaigning on the streets against che remor al of political starus from Republican prisoners.
T TORRENTUTEMLEISLT crence was the high level of political debate and tbe wid
November 1977 papa 10 NOIE MIlAg ao many voun Carholic working class people ic jail as possible.
PROTESTS
Whatever the public silence on this side of the water, protesta against torture continue to come trom calabusbmene bodies sucE as the SDLP und the Association of Police Surgeons, from a group of 30. Northern Ireland solicitor: who are contemplatine a hoyporr of the couns, tom West Belfas trade unsoaists who preunised protest march down the Falis Road Tast week, and even fron the UDA.
And in the ebeitos, lortare and the H-blocks are having the samt effect ou the children thar intertment did on the generation ciow in the forefront of the struggle -
an absding IISLEHL LACI hatred of British rule.
The Tale
of two
conferences
representation of political or anisations Only the SDLP a the Official Republicaes wore absent.
Enthusiascic support was given to a call from the Independent Sacy nd are Monene ton Socialist epa Mic Tor the bore Movement sa hane of temein wieh i of broad sopport :TOT R
to take place in Januars
wher speakers argued the nee
union movernent and to fight for industrial action in suppor of the prisoners
Michael Farrel of Peoples Democracy called for Tor the inernamal Tebanal
into British War Crimes, soon to he launched in London.
Page 11 scan of this page
New light on
Baader case
Dy ADRIAN YEELES
'NORMAL security check." That was the explanation Heathrow police gave last Thursday mishe when they arrested two repreShau-es ol the Commto Against Repression in West
Genot ine kind of thin meet
expect when you go to someone at the mety reminder of tne normal Heine Fanke, the lare Andres Tacing Tharsday's arrival Baader's lawyer, and angone in Wesl Germany brave cnough to gerson of the recent deaths or question official 'suicide шле ко асту rracton prisopcrs in Stammheim jail.
Speaking later at a packed meeting of the CARWG in
atest harassment of dissident: the investigation into the fatber af Gudrun Ensslin, who dared to sny that his daughter had boen murdered: the fact thai hone of the lawyers, wharever chey chink, dare to suegest thal the three were murdered; the press witch-
unt of the lawyers press con INCOO DELLT SOC OCALIS 'incitement to murder"
Funke also supplied more
by ROY ALEXANDER
A joint conference is heing
organised berween the
Apartbeid Movement and
Labour Party to discuss the
Party and affiliaced organisa-
Saturday, 3 Decemher 1071E will take place on
session will be
dressed by the Foreign Sec
ansacr questions abou Labour
poncy over
MOWO COC CORCECNE WHEEn
hreak down into separare semin-
aS on So AtA Emmogbe.
and Namibia, and meet in plen
ary session again in the after-
INTERNATIONAL
Formar oronror capoopowos dot, domg wo Anmony culna imitator He's now able to practice if in the relative luxury of Korydallos prison
Lawyer visits London
information on the events leadHELO LO LECO-PSS * Andreas Haader wats remowed from his cell one hour after the LICHE DES DETOT'S Schlever so that the guards could give it a complete seanch, all objects being remored, checked, and returned one by on * Although Gudrun Ersalin mas onty allowed to have battery-
poper e entent ane hiali
* After his death Baoder wis found to be wearing high lace-up nang popr wirt sRod in ere treadt This wes on the stath floor of a top securiy prison?
The mecing was also cold of the contents German police docunent detailJOR ORS TO KUAVErL CEC BErESEC the Russell Tribunal thar has been se up to look into allegations of LTOESIOnI Wet bermany Writen before the cecent deaths JE baps out a cantpangn SCHUTSC ARES InO THaTCIIS rele Wese Cerr no to expre- IDE SOSEILE CUE side West their solidarity with victims repression through support for the Tribunal.
LP Africa conference
Rbs g tar Labour Party Can-
terene Broke wen he Cour
Government's pro-imperialist manoeuvres, despite a desperare
the resplution from the Dewsbury constituenes party SUI SIELD material support lor the Zai
o elçe Fan wal Laur 4 1 10 e hasel al Thi Bet aena 2n tak 0 iging Africa and the organisation of hunwe freedom fighters
Motte nod demandeof Oen demand how, in the wake of such a decision, the Labour Governmeut's presentative ar the UO BR HUS MEU LC PIC! and the French African proposal: for action acains South Alrica This Conferense is an excelient opportunity to begin the organTITO DETAS DOSSINS IMAC Labour Pary who are fod up
by RICHARD CARVER IT'S NOT just the West German Coverament which is using 'terrOT1SI11 down on oppositionists. Greece, which provided a staging post tor ane usy commodo on as Mogadishu mission, has incred CHaB aH HE aE II in mne run-up to uus weck s general election Five newspaper editors-and a ee-and sharped wih mora ed and charged responsihility for protests a gainse to warces cole 1 he Mogadisho raid. They ir tude lannis Felekis of Odo rayn, ine paper or tne cirg
Communists, tbe Greek section Ot ine PoLnn aiernanon
WORLD CONGRESS
With two ocher far left groups ihe Olt breanised a tratest al Albens University, the day of the announcement of the Stam
agninu Felekis also relate to an tiele on the tenth anniversary of Che Guevara's death and the publication in 1975 of the resoMartin
Franch pares — North Africe si
a secret West
by CHRIS O BRIEN
THE FRENCH decision ta send paratroopers to Senegal increases the threat of direc intervention the mone
in the Western Sahara, a threat already raised by the alert to elite units in France.
The Association of Friends of the Saharan Republic in Paris
with the covere ment s cowrpuing lo thie racists and collaboration with American imperialism, and WalL SeC
Anti- pica hoat Owco, abd adopted a ry ot au chose digntme tor tnei
iberalion. It is to be hoped tha calling for practical
over ine ranks or tne Eaopur Party to this view,
* Joint AAM-Labour
could Conference.
ber, 10um-Spm, Transport Hall. ta sabotage Transport House, Smith Square, effective London sW1.
ton Gretenas and arter so TArMOnO nU:
Charlotte Street. London W1 or Lahour P'arty Internadional Dep"artment, Transport House.
Shadow of the
Colonels
as an excuse to clamp
the military dictatorsbip,
AMNESTY lous was
Internationalisi the Karamanlis
of a megapbone!
IT-1C 13101
Frenchthreatto Sahara
The empire builders
Algeria in the 1950s.
Front. the OCALISLOE
beth formier French divided
TEIDE policy of active solidar- ago.
be raken their demand Party Saturday 3 Decem
Registration fee
Greek clampdown on opposition
Jucions of the Tenth World Congross of the Fourth Internation M.LOC BEC DAIS LBEM may face rwo years in prison anyway for articles published in VLEE IVI SOMN SRIC TAI C
other
An Amnesty International rep head
ot publiced dir the cri
regione's record in bringing the ated' military torturers to justice. For-
even gien a speci
hicken dinner on the teoth an LUSAL OJ LOC BIEHLES CUED
Bur there's no sach lakness in
Government's licamncol ot the lelt. Tnireen people were recently sentenceo to a cotat of 28 months in jail tot minor charges arisina out or a demonstration. One got three and a half years far possession
lannis Felekis is no stranger to Greece's prison system. He spent Egine
sonels, and has been repes edly harassed since. After his entitled: ATOL A CEBRERC CEAEUEA! cacuse lor 1976 Felekis told Red Weekiy:
intervention in Algoria. says tbat the 1600 paratroopers and marioes bad alresdy been sent into Mauritania. The troops in Senceal Bre paratroopers from both the Foreign Legion and che regular army. The paras are still rememhered in North America for their brutali Tepressive Tole in
The ostensible reason for this larest move is the holding of eight ETENCO nOSaRCS DY TAC COILr
Saharan liberation The French an Lechnicians at Zouerate in Mauritania. Mauritania and Morocco,
colonies the phosphste-tich Sabaca berween beru wlico the Spanish pulled out iwo years
The Polisario has taken cle hostages to draw actention to Africn.
that N1OCOCOO Saharan complies with Red Cross requests to publish the names of Saharan prisomers of war. Of course, the it! chances are that it cannoe do chis, if the murderous record of King Hassan's regime is anything to go Nane of this moreles the French
Govermment in its much publi article by cised concern for Lite and limb The simple ceason lor its incerseation is the obvious one: to LLANS E TELDAT CERUIDIL L wup tercats in tbis potentially profitable arca. But it fits inco a wider strategy of more or less overt
My arrest mase have looked like one of the more brutal scenes of TIR CYCMRE. S TOC DOC LIECh me to the ground, chey kicked me and beat me with their clubs RIE TOLS INCY WOIC S IRELT ated that they ofien bit cach
*After a while they look me to a washbasio and shoved my
under water every time 135H faces were bruised and lacer-
This was the sarne man who had been tortured for sea solid montbe by the military police a LOUDIL DU ALOS LOILE
MESSAGE
Ironically the editors were First Haken to kondolor wal the rather conpenial home of George Papadopolous, but the authori-
take and transferred Felekis to
The five managed to smugale out a message fram Korydalios
We are the clectoral
dictutorship of Karamanlis'. military intervention in Africa, and an artempe to line up the French-speaking African wares behind the project.
Senegal, straregically placed in the middle of West Africa, is central to this strategy- It was from there thai ethe abortive invasion of Benin was organised in January. launching pad for French and Moroccan military intervention in Zaire in April.
In Zaire the idea was to take over Heigium's role as principal
the aftermath of the Shaba war French tums bave woo & namoci of the old Belgian copper mining 131074281015. President Giscard has a similar operation in mind for French-speaking North-West
The desires of the popularion which overwhelmingly supports the Polisurio — just don'i come inte
Nor does the Times seem very interesie ar woar tne sonarons
want — despile GiN Backine for the demand for setr determinotian. On 17 October it ran on
AVATTYDE (LWE Chaifont, enirled "Wily the Wesr
TURY Moroctans more serlonaly' The
HWICT ALtOrUNJESm arnicle redrres the Moroccan and ATOLA AMInA CHABErSS0 ROE C Western Sahara no Jonger exists!
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 11
In Brief
AUSTRALIA: Brisbane police arrested 100 people protesting at the Queensland GovernWCINa ue Cumonsnn The protest was on the day of the scate election, whose resuit WiS 3 Corerone concais on
he gerrymander is such th
a the last clection the Lahor
won more voks Wiat cither of the right-wing coali
parties, LCWCS SCRE. TACINT MERL TIM CO stop ,the Aboriginals having the right to vole.
SOUTH AFRICA : Police las HCCH - anested 645 hlacks in raids on houses in the Pretoria township of Atteridgeville. USSR: Leading dissident Pyotr Cingorenko is belug allowed to leave the U'SSR for an opera
but he told a conference of fears that be might noe be readmitred.
Burbese Communist
552 cropps were kille more chan 100 cantured heavy lighting in the north of the country last month PHILIPPINES: The Govern ment sasn that some $0,000 people have been killed fighting between che Govern ment and Moslem opposition ista since 1973.
EL SALVADOR: Ahout 1,300
for farm labourers occupied ibe Ministry of Lahour
IAS week, inkine tao dabiet Sir isters hostage.
IRAN: 2,000 Tebran U'nivers ity sredents are boysorring HASSIE TIUL BURTEETUI
ship.
TONE SIR LEE SATOIO DN students. The Shah is meeting President Carter this week to scus naman nans.
CHINA: China usod tbe 60th annivecsary of Russian Kevolson asthe occas on tor s sharp attack the Soviet leadership, which it described a 'a fascist party of the bureaucrar monopoly bourgepisie". But this didn't stop Chnirman (sie) Hua Kuo-fene attendine a lamis bocktail party ar the burenucrat monopoly embasay.
SPAIN: Santiago Carillo of the Spanish Communist Party homeser, refused to attend Sowiel Embaswy recention Madrid on the anniversary of the Russian Revolution. HLUD EC WEIL LO D CIMNCE DAR given by the King in bonour of President Bongo of Gabon.
WEST GERMANY AFTER THE D
OF BAADER,
ENSSLIN,
AND RASPE
AN APPEAL by the Fourth to ternatianal for
uniled soldarity activity with
PICH OI TCOTUSO UI wha berman AUCHs0OI the lerest issue of Inprecor
By with a deciaration b GIM, German sechion o the Fi
OrAsY aracisa In mis 158le No T$ [New Series]. plans for Internationn
sotior on & March the TOD EE workars
NEOSS.
H SOASSPAROEOE the Frelime
roveremant in Mozambique
Zimbab SFO, and the Popular Fron.
Wost Bongo Algo inciudan is a discussiai contribution by Mexican revo-
Course or me Carin American nEEDHTIT
Price 30р. Inpracor is avali
able trom Orher
auroe PO Bor 50, Lond by JOSE JI
Inprecor, Sr ea HB tor ak mora tel NT 2XP ar C3.70 for MAC sate Dooroba
Page 12 scan of this page
New murder raids on Lebanon
Israel's
strategy
M. JAFAR reports.
Ostensibly the raid was in
retallation for a minor Palestin
an guerrilla operation in which infec luraths wete reboried
killed. On 11 November Israeli
aircraft struck again. This time
mey aucu more tan se peopic declared strike since 1973
strike
ruling class.
The Argentinian dictatorship has represed the wave of public
OLTOT SInECs anG pO SOWs Wik
egan on 26 October, but it ha not completely recovered pobe crisis santed with a week. B2 SUP AC DY CB MOIO3 ne Beenos Aile Wonder of the Under ground, state-employed electricity, oil, water and dock work-
, and the pilots of Argentina's
aternational airline. The work-
Be increase: per cent constituted a direct threat to the gime s pay poncy, woicn na: fixed an upper limit of 40 cent inclusie of productiviy
CO-ORDINATED
The widespread and evidently co-ordinated character of the
ly RICHARD CARVER SO ENTHUSIASTIC was the Governor of Hong Kong to let aff the colony's corrupt police that he has broken the law to do
consultation with the Colonial Secretary, the Governof. Sir Murray Maclehose, conspired to breach the Statutes of Lamanon Ds CUrC U aLLIYties of the independent Com-
sion Against Corruption HENLE
These dass it is no secret chat the Hong Kong polioe force is MUO ELOEr SuD LO Last week's police revolt is con-
alonally explained by the ur
DELY CC RAAR HH a was they, we are told, who infected their British officers.
But Hong Kong, the British colony on the fringe of China, is one big red light district. Quire
and microscopic rates of tax-
mimetine of al sorte eetr
revelations of corruption in the British Porn Squad ate a remMOT CAAL BLARE ANTEM only operate with police collab-
INTERNATIONAL
of tension
On 9 November the Lebanese villages of Aziyeh and Hissiyeh were bombed off the map in less than two hours by Israell Phantom jets, missile boats off the coast, and heavy artillery across the border. Between 100 and 200 civilians were killed and according to WAFA, the Palestinian news agency, three Palestinian commandos.
near the Lebanese city of Tyre.
The swift and "reprisal" attack has long been at important instrument of Israeli policy. A succession attacks have preceded every major Arab-Israeli war in the
Latin American strikes
Southern cone flares up
The current miners" strike in Chile — the first openly
- and the recent public sector strike in Argentina are an indication that the brutal dictatorships of Latin America's southern cone are not getting things all their own way. BOB JOHNSON looks at how the Argentinian Government dealt with the
- another example of the use of troops for strike-breaking — and the rifts it has opened up in the
strikes made them the clearest demonstration yet of the ability fight back in the face of repression and cause wat are, at the very least, embarrassing dents in the military armour.
PROPAGANDA Affer some day's hesitation the Governcat sont in the croops arrested — and in at least one case shor — strike leaders, and DUNANL E SUCUM DETERFERERHing propaganda. However it also made some concessions, improvL EnE erELIous DIrcrs the final settlement to 35 or 40 per cent.
WEICASS OTTACEOL BIE ICH be cough to maintain the workliving sandards. Inflation wIll he close to l0 per ceel tus ycar.- which means further hig drops in real wages are to be sapaca oa tap or mic nopo
Her Majesty's protection racket
oration + a face the colonial administration has cunsistently tried le ignore Omly when it was faced with the political embarrassment of the 'Curry King" - police chier
Lebanese village after the bombs hard-hitting
of such
any, at mc. AraD
Kibye in Octobor 1953. This was hand.
witbout productivity conditions
come perilously close to a hreach
of the official limit and it is clear that these SCULUECHE SOUCINE ICOS TRAN A TOOREE victory for the Goverament.
UNPOPULAR
Politically
The strate Martines de Hoz in-
STOISE volves peshing through measures W'ana ate hichy unnonula? hot only witlin Enc but with considerable sections of Chile and in Arpertina in the TOTECISC -3LT51 military regime is to depress wages and to bankrupt a wide range of allegediy
cing for the home market. In the Jong run, supposedly, the overall TO TaIS efficiency of the economy will improve.
DUI ENCHOWING WICC 1S SERO0L opposition from the awners of the affected industries and from the weder forees associated with the ideolngy of desarrollismo ('developmentise"). This current is stronger and politically less
Hong Kong police
Pater Godber lake action. But the fourishing drugs, gambling and prostitution syndicae in Godber's: district had heen hought to the allenton of the autorities ax far
culminate in the 1956 war. village of h not within the armed forbes
the military DHCE BEHIELEL
able to build
MS H BUsLad
this is important. or Economy Ming.
squeezing
working class
rollsra interest
IESCUT,AS
pears of the previous
-us proposel policy.
DIVISION more important.
back as 1963, ted scope. thai the
thing else
the -BUTKIas
Line tinctly SCOnOE
state apparatus is threatened.
away, SAME SSE
LEOD - WES I TocCE LO
justine. and the
followed by a succession of raids on Gaza in 1955, which were 10 tension, and
These raids have invariably heen used by the Zionist regime
attacks
"peace
demoralised than in Chile, and it
without its supporters
So far the approach of Martincz de Hoz has prevailed because
back IbtO COlCH through what they had initiated and then abandoned ie 1967-65
the poules wero hefore they "eit a up certain
But even before the strikes sections of the military — especally the Navy — were beginning id sewe tre palest titer.
wages further ALLu o wctoDer ine nanona: newspaper reflecting the desm-
launched
aspects of Martinez de Hoz's
The strugele of the public SCLIU WOLACI RASTE MUD WIR it set out for. but it has helped to widen the divisions within the
WENK HINE political resolve which the armod forces still require to implement TEG POROS OL BECLE CODIC Er the long ren chis may prove
people*.
the
Even ibe ICAC has.a lim
When it discovered soie 70 or 80 per cent of СПЕЛОСТ present, pest-Godbe fonce
vas cornupi, al it coua do wi pick out a lew scapegaars, Any-
would have left the been colony without a police force.
The alternative - sending in
was hardly calculared to attract investment.
JL WOIS TID SUEDELSCELEN BIRLE SELECTIVE Hong Kong business community enthusiastically haçked the Gov.
CIAL WAUT OL dEalIL that it comined with selective discip espousal of
Law and order is a dis Donsder ss when such a crucial part of the
use
But the problem would not go
officers scormed che colonial administra-
The Goverment is now caucht herpeer the masses. whi wanl the criminals brought k this
finding ilselt without any polic wifizen fir gressing which
as a tactical means of escalating
building up the appropriate "climate of opinion' both inside and oorside Israel From the long terin biscorical Dout OE view there is no doab that these latest atacks will fit into the same palter.
But it is mistaken to concinde from this that the tost recen
will itimediately IEL anomCr B-Dur AmaD tsac war. For obe thins, the Geneva
settlement farce, on hich President Carter ta staked much of his personal reputation, has yet to be played UUI TISSE BIL BIOISE SIBEL has never gone for an all-out war
Chinese executions
Over to you,
Uncle Joe
RECENT reports from China indicate an imiportam change in the traditional methods of sertiin holisand of eenceos or political differences. opposinonts are more remin iscent of the Soviet Union in Stalin's heyday than the relative moderation of Mao's China
The scale and charter of the violace remains Hast been mo of cial or. Thin- There
toll or the sports, which are based on what visitors have been able to glean from wall posters
. the recent announcement of the convention of the National People's Coderess next spring was accompanied by none toc
warings le some bad
According to the wall posters,
current executions are part OL LOC COULIEU TIE GEELS sheppar. No doubl heat rat "gang four" icals are a prime target, hut thi purges are a way of settlin other scores with dissidents an
-TOE instance, Li 1-ch, the author of a Camous wall poster onacking thi beere inpris l e orad NICHOLE
imprisoned. would be his independent stance
The significance of the purge is
marks a more open Stalinist methods.
CEDAC BAVE ETH HOUCR CULL the thoms in the past, but hardly ever as a way of seccling inner-party disputes. wao s mecnod was thi
Not sections ol the mass movement against his opponents in ine bureaucracy, with a lai more selective use of organisational methods.
The last major artempe co dr
- the Cubural Revolution
hackfired The mysterkus death of Lin Pino marked the beginning af a turn away from the masser as a way of resolving
SOLAALO| CHALLENGE TE NOVEMDE 181r P898 12
without at lease the tacit consen
of American imperialism
Oo the ather hand, the Arab ruling cinsses, Syria included
desperately waot to avoid such a
moment.
President Assad of Syris
reported to have urged the PLC
TD WIEGERM CEOE 8S 09505 10 C0 south in accordance with the
Shtoura agreement mode thro
montha ago, immediately afte
the attack
And the spectacle of Sadat of
conceding to the Erracis all the
procodural obstacles which they
JACETCLE
Geneva, and promising to nogo
late personally in Tel-Aviv ibself
3E ACLCHR MS JOO RACINEI words. The Eeyptan regime's survival is naw completely tiec OP WIE WHAT I CHR BO CHL D Geneva. War in the short terin is complete suicide for it.
SIGNIFICANCE
What is the significance of the attacks theo? Israck Prime Minister Begin himsell dropped a hig
sald in a public statement to the Egyptian govern ment: succa out con nata co you. EL1
as. you knap
hand. The Zionist attack inletideu to unuerline the Istael negotinting stance at Geneva
which can be sumed up in the dictum: "Micht is Richt"
lts vast military over the Arab regimes and derived from the consequences of TEWI TOEA TOUCH STECHET ibe Lebanese civil war, are being ToStrca 3a enCiC WREPHET: attacks on helpless civilian targets. The Arah ruling classer are
ICH MEHUC SOUCHE bopes for the termis of a 'peace
sertlement much above the actua relationsbio of forets, soco in thi crudest of military terme. CHENG CHAO-LIM — not heara of aince 1934
hureaucratic differences. With the deach of Mao there ls no LEC VACEER CORTO IES COT mand cough support amon the masses lo dare to unleas Enem upon the pourcal scone
One croup of vicins of the Chinese regime wha have receis CU HEC DECIE ATC lECIT
1 2h a noer ary ottin
universary arist or two or lhe luodro of them who have since dis appeared without trace
The only cxoeption is Chem Chao-lin, a founder of both the Chinese Communist Party ang LtOsK SoTerial was known to be alive and still in jail as late as 1974, Ironicall Chene was an
bow rehabilitated Tens Heiso-ping,
As Orret Henson pointad out n a recent article in The Guardin it was Teng'r influence in 197 WICA Was DiDi Ine HEASL for several hundrod people des cribed as PENEDE PAT CHEMI tend ro his old comrade Chen ESIS TIL SCOL S TEMEIEYL
Iw r 3 to va aus
CIC TRAL E DEIS DUD R TIS has died since he was last beard
Page 13 scan of this page
SURPLUS VALUE
debate has recently exploded in the National Union of Students bringing to the fore questions too long buried - Zionism, the Palestinians and Israel. Unfortunately it has also become entangled in the issue of 'no platform' for racists and fascists and NUS democracy. It is crucial for the left that this debate untangles itself into two parts. The first is the question of the nature of Zionism and Israel. The second is the problem of democratic rights within the student movement.
There is no massive campaign to ban Jewish Societies in the colleges. A small number of colleges have passed resolutions which in one way or another limit the rights of Zionists to propogate their views. Such actions can in no way be described as antisemitic as the press and the Zionists allege. Nevertheless these moves are incorrect.
These mistakes have come about almost solely due to a mistaken policy of the Socialist Workers Party and its student supporters, a policy which shows a serious mis-interpretation of the "no platform policy. The SWP are not the only ones who have been guilty of this mis-interpretation, but they are the only ones who persist despite the obvious errors that have resulted from it.
FASCIST MOVEMENT
The too platform" policy was originally adopted by NUS to defend democratic rights. It was based on the analysis that the emergence of organised fascist groups posed a serious threat to the rights of the black community and, in time, to the whole labour movement. In order to defend their rights the labour and black movements had to act to prevent the growth of a mass fascist movement. As part of the campaign a policy stopping major fascist rallies and demonstrations would be needed.
The response to the NUS adopting this policy in 1974 was a massive press witch-hunt supposedly in defence of free speech. The response of the left to this witch-hunt was two-fold. The reformists in the NUS began retreating and eventually made a head-long dash for cover, completely dropping the "no platform" position. The far-left responded by the slogan No Free Speech For Fascists'-
This fell into the trap of actually believing what the bourgeois press said about our campaign - that we were out to deny democratic rights rather than to defend them against the growth of the fascist movement.
FASCISTS AND RACISTS
A further complication, and error, was the lumping together of fascists apd racists, fascism and racism. The essential fact about fascism is that it organises to actually implement its policies, including its racist policies, by direct action. While all fascists are racist and prepared to try and physically drive black people out of Britain the reverse is not true.
There are racists throughout the labour and trade union movement. Even the 'left' inside this movement supporters racist policies such as immigration controls. The NUS itself is committed to a policy of supporting equitable and democratic immigration controls — a racist policy. Does that mean "no platform' for the NUS? Such a position is patently absurd, but it is exactly the logic of the position of 'no platform' for racists, and the logic of those who seck to deny a platform to Zionists, or limit their freedom to organise
In fact "free speech" for fascists and racists play a very different role. The fascists demand the freedom to organise, demonstrate and speak in order to win recruits to their bands of goons and thugs. To them it doesn't matter if they lose debates, if the majority are against their reactionary ideas. They are a party of action. Racists, on the other hand, are actually afraid of free and open discussion.
An Arab student once said that the worst enemies of the Jews are the Zionists. They
Yet another massive press campaign has been launched against the British student movement.
The issue is Zionism and free speecn.
COLIN TALBOT,
Executive and supporter of the Socialist Students
Alliance, explains how Zionism and the press offensive can be defeated.
ZIONISM
and
FREE SPEECH
We refuse to de to the
did to our pareats. are certainly racist, a fact which is not understood accepted by the vast majority of the student movement who bold all sorts of illusions about poor little iscaci. The best way of exposing Zionism and Israel Is to openly challenge the Zionists to defend their case.
OPEN DEBATE
Moves to restrict the rights of Zionists have actually aided those who want to avoid an open debate about Isracl and the Palestinians. The NUS Executive have seized the opportunity to beat the ultraleft' over the head with both hands, ably assisted by the press. The majority on the Executive, the Broad Left, do not have a clear policy on Zionism and tend to capitulate to the pressure from the Zionist lobby. They do not want an open debate. which is why they did not attempe to get Palestine discussed at the up-coming NUS Conference.
a member of the NUS
The Executive has also been attempting to repeal the "no platform' policy for almost two vears and have been blocked by an alliance of their own supporters with the "ultra-left. By their heavy-handed attack on those Unions who have restricted the rights of Zionists they have sought to win the dual objective of avoiding a debate on Palestine and defeating the 'no platform' position. I1OSC like the SWP who compound this confusion of issues are merely preparing the ground for a successful conclusion to this attack, Only by understanding the specitic character of Zionism and the appropriate tactics to fight it can the muddle be sorted out.
RACIST CARTOONS
Racism is discrimination against people on the basis of their ethnic origins. Zionism, as implemented in the state of Israel, certainly does that. As part of an NUS delegation which visited the Near East, I saw a shop in Israel full of cartoons,
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 13
of which over half were racist jibes against "dirty, lazy, stupid Arabs'. We were told of the virtual lynch-mob atmosphere which was whipped up by the town council of Carmiel when one of its inbabitants proposed to sell his house to an Arab.
These racist attitudes stem from the basic character of Israel as a Jewish state. Israel was founded on the expulsion of the Palestinians in 1948, and we saw ourselves some of the camps which house half-million Palescinians in Lebanon. The notorious Israeli "Law of Retum" gives automatic citizenship to any Jew from anywhere in the world, whilst native Palestinians are allowed to rot in the refugee camps. Ethnic groups other than Jews are systematically discriminated against in Iscael, officially and unofficially. In this sense Isracl is certainly a racist state.
Racism as an ideology usually arises as a justification of theoppression ofone group or nation of another. It is often linked to actual natonal oppression - in the case of Israel the Palestinians - but it is not the same thing. The Israeli state is one which both oppresses the Palestinians as a people and breeds racist discrimination against individual Arabs.
Those who live in Israel, at least the anti-Zionists, know that since 1948 there has been a massive growth of racism as such. Overt racists such as Prime Minister Begin, who in 1948 were considered the lunatic fringe of the Zionise movement, today are nearer the centre of the Zionist political spectrum. It is important for the anti-Zionist movement to realise these two aspects of the nature of Israel, as national oppressor and as racist state, rather than USINg the crude formula Israel equals racist" and thinking that disposes of the problem.
ORIGINS OF ZIONISM
There is a furtber and vital point to understand about Zionism. It originated not as a justification for oppression but as a reaction against the oppression of the Jews in Eastern and Western Europe. This clearly macks it off from virtually every other racist ideology. The fear of antiseritism is still a real and justified one for most Jews, the Nazi holocaust has indelibly printed this fear on their minds, It is quite wrong for socialists to simply dismiss or ignore this problem. Zionism provides a reactionary answer to the Jewish prob lem", one which disarms Jews from fighting anti-semitism.
Zionists actually agree with the antisemites that Jews have no place in our society, the anti-semites want to push Jews our and the Zionists want to push them in, to Israci. Socialists must pur forward an alternative - an uncompromising fight against all forms of racism and particularly against racism against blacks and lews.
We fight for the rights of blacks and Jews to live in this country and to live their own lives with their own cultures. More than this we fight for abolition of the root cause of anti-semitism and racism, the moribund and decaying capitalist system. Zionism's answer is for Jews to retreat to the gbeto, even one as big as israel, while we say Jews should stand up and fight for their rights.
FREEDOM OF DISCUSSION
A campaign around the question of Zionism must have three essential elements. Firsily it must assert clearly the national rights of the Palestinians, for the disposses sion of the Palestinians is the single and most important question. Secondly it must expose the racist nature of the Isracli state, which is a logical consequence of the dispossession of the Palestinians and the project of a Jewish state. Thirdly we must put up an uncompromising fight against one of the roots of Zionism antisemitism.
The methods by which these objectives should be pursued are those appropriate to
By encouraging defence of democratic rights and the BLESTELHE freedom of debate the bureaucratic attempt by the NUS Executive to choke off the debate can be blocked, and a major blow struck at the "ghetto" consciousness from which Zionism feeds.
Page 14 scan of this page
Our editorial on Thorpe
COMMENT
Angry
WE ARE writing to apress out
ng abjection to
We are angry hat Soclelst Challenge should wck up gay rgnts so boi8oour Liberal and Labour Parties,
Be offering its readers shaliow and thoughtless analy-
le editorial ignores antire
dorstanding of saxi politica that goes moraing individualism aden beyond saya that t snourd oo molram wether you are heterosexual or
Socialist
Challenge
EVENTS
I'm a
Socialist Challenge
supporter
Do i ngan biho anr
Betalen.
Chese tul orin To or more T50
aure Ls adorancoonty. inig
HOME COUNTIES
heats 8 December aal
hutch Stroa
SCOTLAND
ore comit Scottieh Socialen
(21 7481). Open woekdaya 10-41 Leie MIDLANDS
ange ot Fi publications. 8.00pm. Wide
Dual Bied, oeigoe ale n t
11 am-2pm
SOUTH/WEST 1 sah a Toran Pl M Pader gre elly an
Bery Toui Tuletay alee romi
Basir 2430 Cantr, Honely Rams LONDON
an, Antibi Roes toit Loe High
p, London SE1R
making an edorial statement in TEAE DOORSI SUO.
HomosAsl that it le roev nh, and thar oue women and men know psychological and physical vioance mat wa ioa ovar duy s MOTCUS O DISnAEO V CIOR lan attitudes. All of us have
us injured - and we have never hought this is a sultable subвст тог ше тоскогу, wan eno ou trealed Norman Scott.
The violence discrimination and vietmisation faced nOTEn and thriving roots in a societ 310 101
phar onto roia omne ae
are born. It is because of this sexism, which is not Vic torlan, but modern and integral
toyo ihe L Beril arty co
question of homosexuality seriously.
aton ot tei pu sin ie no thr.
ation of the 'private" the editorial implies a
GREENWICH/LEWISHAM Socialis Chateno arden Mening Riy U1-009-1101
EAST ANGLIA
Cambridge. 30 - Registration L190 - Politice of the CPOB 2.30 - Lunch
14.30 — Polies of W. Europear
1.30-5.00 - Balance Sheat of
Lus ar Oliver MacDonae
spe Er Boo Rother Ron
Con es Sop rapino
ORWICH
arsity of Essex Road, Wivenhoe.
YORKSHIRE serere miD Belei On Turel Siret. of ho ancien e e ey nor MH
(ULL Sociallet Challanga moot ing, 2
TP. Bullion
Dora nei eretegy for ihe ra
and hiet,
Supran ottat octet Chall
LEICESTER Socialist
munity Centre. On Wedneaday 8pm
NORTH WEST For detaila ol activitios in the NW write or ring the Manchester Socialla
avice LIVERPOOL Bociniet
roup mosta forinightly on Wedne lays at Staniay House, Upper Parlament Stroet
GARRING ON Socuter Chlidan Chasmo Socialer Chilee oMiss for details. Dül-236 2352.
denai or sexuss politica and ГHОAНЯ ANS CORREN CENAIOation of the Inaqualities power implicit in the sexist structure of society
in particular, it has maine ableciw of the movement to fight for the possibility to and to the full: thia is not a prate put a pornce stuggio.
If the struggle against sekism by Honge woute net hase beti ati, nave strong
DIOSAUSII exuals so flippently and op
p roi oi ail
baders and at the same time
are irrelevant ALL LONDON GAY GROUPS (AGAINST SEXISM, AND FASCISMI.
I OBJECTED very strangly to the
AlAr n COCOnS Giaieno0 t
20 calling for a page of the paper
1o be given to the women's Sunday a
TInE comacis retuest sanma to be
the women's
tink mey -
might challenge, let aione AOm in tno me emenD disagree with
COELHOB Socialist
Ives to sexual politics. inder
hink there ha! eltonsi board in titiating de
bate on women's liberation in Its DrONGENT SENSH
But to call for a pege for the
women's movement
like a radical
MARTIN SHAW's article Politici
and Class Strugple ie the Local
irles (SC 20) provides an im portant reminder of the need to struggle in relation to the local DRES on Lenin an
thia subject which Martin ont
louches on brietly, which re
quires a fulier debate - that of
nterunning in lodal elections
The
tradition of making por ah imponem, daia. VERCIOD CAI
done basically for propagandist
unity to put over elemente of
alist Unity is doing at present
TR MARKERS OE NIS AADIOAE
is that,
nas the laft explored the po:
#lities of implementing socialist
This is partly because the lel goliat value of erecon te anly
anyway. In addition, it avoid:
responsibility of actuail progremmes
natrationar way -Challem
species of reformism.
Yat i Is only by demonstrat
ing in proctor
can bo run differently, breakin
WILD CAC COUmCOS CHuUC D0!
tics of the local Town Hall tha
воін рона то нено
LATOUE PAR- COMONSIEE OOL
the positive and negative sides
This process, as
• Smear
of tonia/ November]. you finish off: been a
gay women and men
sexuality publiciy
Marriner Front leaders.
while preeming need to specify.
cal What would you call ir?
RACISM
Awomen's page?
assumption behind the women's liberation
presented to and by movement an assumption 1 grated way socialist feministe
socialist
been a certain
lutionary practice
rathe of the Page
Local strength
pact of revolutionary change. of
Thera is one dimension to
Left ha tauch hing
Uaf the leve
Reynolds,
OCAMEHE
List
rarely in this century
accepte h PCI government.
criticise whict terms of their and
easily dismissed as a vides an indax of
that local affairs changed.
The achieve Democratic Reform DUE CORS io?r.
ALW.
APART FROM the hideousiy 88i7-PgH8pus T00g or your Col
Socialist Challenge, 3
Ewen aurina our succossiu campaign to axpose Peter Mar siner, the fascist agent in the Ladywood Labour Party in Bir
thing' on the sexual preferences or
and some Netioner
This of course invites your readers to imagine a lot of really have actually Juicy, and personaly discreditMOGOLUWURA IRONHE IRR politica/ opponents, without an o gay people
Cu anr UIr Pois er
out a good smear' [page 9, sama
ld cail your leader hypocriti-
CHRISTOPHER LILLY (Poplar)
surely cannot be scen as an ideal solution to this lack of overage.
Thẻ debales on the woman's
among revolutionarles about
Socialist hanenge cascara m aimee
MaIn SOESK PUTH Surplus Value. The and lealures paper develope ila coverage
MOMPA TOm tOemENS movement will request space
I don't think they need men or women in left groupe to formu late these requests for them. I
Aspects of revo not just to one page of sac/alist Challenge
VAL COULTAS IW, London]
Trading
avantg at Clav Cross. Howeve both represent a necessary de-
Many overall strategy for
In reality, such an orientation
traditional weight of the Labour argue, thet taand thud langed. these established channels
The role of the Labour Pary
locant
pamphlet by Murgatroyd, Ree
which wider discussion in the labour
In France, the United Social.
for one. in municipal councils (gainad in March 1977) as basee
struggle for the
mobllisations expected in 1978 CHILISO
the Italian Communist Patim ted to use ita cotro a has
00000 88 08 8828 1285
TH H C HIH Ca FuLI
uniustified
No doubt readers of Socialisr
Chiese su dorie te
such policies detail. Yet 1o
continue ignoring the problems
of socialiel advance in relation
to local government merly pro-
margin
alised position of the loft in thi: colet yr is eer going to b CIS TARES TOECOE
PETER JENKINS (Manchester)
60s
*Takig Local Decisionsi Th
of the Lab union and Local Govern ILP pamphiet. 50p, 11
Toa Maor Side. Loods
LEVENE ARSOLIRI ARARJIAD
your editorial in Socialis Challenge (3 Novamber). Let ue go through the worst points in TO Doer wUR OU loOd LICH
Ine first paragraon stmKS. IEs a 'Joke' about the (alleged) fact
Normal Scott murcered for having had a pa EB HEBEIL quiet about It. The bourpenis not koeping
press and Socialist Challenge can find this attempled murder a giggle because, in the and, they
MACVEr VouT ExDICi views, that in the meaning of the
this.
This typical bourgeois view of gay men is made the more NICKENIME OS MUR TOSE MIRI COSS yeer at least sight men in Britain
been murdered apialy for being pay. We want an editorial apology lor this insult
Test ls the iac MelE 191 longer a crime "Between con-
attitude remaina essentially Vicloran. This is tho onty senteno! Di aas ItC CoTorC is completely bourgeois liberal First, the choice of the criminal
which never been CAPCO TO OSD DOD. DUb KEN CONCUrNM ION COVIHI THE that lesbiens aro oppressed ta
Secondly, anti-gay prejudice no1 an Ideological hangover from INO WAT S VIOLETTEN somathing created in the present
Scargill
not challenged
/ WAS surprised and angry, Arthur Scargill in Socialist Chal 2000 010 446398389
Al no polot was Scargli por
on the spor about many
ant pollicar questions for whic he has sither no answer or the wrong answar. in particular he
was not questioned, and chal importa ae of the stugge the wiews he Yorkshire Area NUM haR o Ine TOrkerE Til
Australian
building workers
E WAS eSton Sre0 to roso in
Socialist Challenge 20 Octobe
(News from Now
Australa'sSIrICINE LuDcUrErS UTOr
presume you are refering lo
the union commonly know as
he Buldere Labouren
ation. 80. your praise ls quita
TOL SAN TaCa!
paid an average workers' wagı
recallable by BLF Is run by a bureaucrac;
which uses undemocratic meth testroy any opposiion tactica 1o
The hondas or te Bara
in the hands
Ss retore ted Colle Mech who
ie aasocieted with the
onmat Lepasi i
New COTY. "heade) Hune at, a Aun io Com, was Jack
Mundey's leadership MA NOW anch Boba00 Dro
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 pege 14
-Appalled
y the compulsary tamily (Be
iocialist Challenge, ® Septen
tia te rac am a inter moule
Though the aditorial seems to
Maureen Colguheun cas sackad
primarily. for being
Parly members do absolutely nothing about this. Ruther ae g prioncy, inay snouidoe campaigning to prevent the Labour Party discriminating ageins gays in the future. You do no
DD OLIUAWUICUICEE ERGEHGIOT
We Insist the private life of evaryone should remain private It is the soeciflc oppression of COEV PHILH TURE WE HIH SUPDOM
Winon making i ubie we
Without making it have littie chance happiness, and moreover there would be precisely struggiee and no gay movement. If you mean 'Keep the state ouf of private Hfs', you should say
The last sentencn of the OELI MEE LASEU INMA amugneas and seif-contradio
The aditarlal siands for gay Mahls but i appuars io unde stand nathing about gay libera-
PHIL DERBYSHIRE, BRINLEY
JAMIE GOUGH, NIGTELL PEICKEAENER
page three | the traditiona) page
it seems| a pis up and attemph
JO DROSER I THR SOARE OY
DHAM CUOReU OrE
Do the Crn alak cichor on 17
October 1 and oiner womer
from Sheffield were insutted by
Soangil in the Strike Headquart
CTS CYOR OC/DE ME DONCE DO
gan. Scargil emerged out of the
roulets with some or his mate:
Wor there's a beaulitu
NCM MRr On being obar
nge carin moe no deemo
to back apologise
Women's Libder
hot wanting equity out som
man and wsnrying
The Pace Three Pio Un on the
grounds that it sold papers to
miners and got them reading
about real politica/ Issues
I expected thet some chal
ferriew to this eert of mwan loure out do mane mm
sation of women and thal
oporeasion, поменег лопе That Socialist Challange agress Does this
with Scarg!i inar the strongl
nereu
man's oupress/oo and 1e saru
SAME PETRIE (SheBa)
grossive and militant poliales on
nany social question ITD
environment,
homosexual rights, and others
Hundreds of millions of dollar
worth of bullding projects were
held up by laws Imposed t
prevent destruction of the on
vironmont demolitian
was hit by unemployment whic
no strategy for
he paria cornal aton wi ent
TaUE CaROnC IMBEC HI
DOMESTOI- Icadership with the ald of the CIeciC
courts, the basses and thug
The former leaders o
the
NSW branch were expellan f
life and in the recent election
CHRISS SLEE (Parkvile, Aus
trailal
Page 15 scan of this page
Love of worker
THERE SHE /S, IRON The Communist Party's position in the 1930s that Socialism was largely synonymous with planning and that the application of science for the benefit of the people had an important role in this context, struck a chord among working scientists. Well-known scientists, such Bernal and Haldane, were prominent supporters of this view. But Dy the 1950s and 19605 this movement had largely dwindled and the focus for those who remained had changed.
scientists, East and Pugwash anti-nuclear weapons conference, and in scicatific trade unionism (the Association of Scientific Workers later to Ex fused with ASTMS), Science and
become
epoliticiser
ПЕЛС Vietnamese war, American capitalism was able to mobilise its scientists and tech sale and with l scale opposition. A large number of novo wompous were produce
or obviousl repressive pur
loses. The Honeywell Corpor tion, far one Nort means of overloading Vietnamese hospital facilities. the plastic bomb, which breaks into thousands of pieces each to X-rays. Slowly throughout the world the role of
-1193761
enot in the Victosm war boes to produce a reaction among scientists and the working class DIDERERU
One result was that graups of scicatists, reaching from liberals to Marxists, began to organise, BUT ONe OvEr On Singic Issues In Britain this process led to the Hot Social tea ponih Sociery Science, BSSRS (a name we were
UNDER REVIEW
Scientific
organisation
ABLE TO FIRE A POUND SHELL INTO AN ENEMY ENCAMPMENT AT A DISTANCE OF OVER
TWENTY MILES
strong and under the patronage -which the society was soon to of a string of eminent
230%. A science which had po aced handreds of repressiv harder to hold up as progressive.
Not could it just be Eysencks claim that their work is While a new analysis capitaliain is clearly booded, no concensus has emerged among The CP, for instance, tends to see the problem as still mainly one of the mis-use of science hy capitalism. Others see the whol of present-day science and tech ology as completely penetrates ay capitalist ideology and prac Lice. BSSRS exists uncomfortably between these two extremes.
SOCIAL CONTROL
BSSRS members agree, hon ever, that science and technolog nave particularly central roles contradictions bave scientific mercasmany wommases soc pro ductive
skiled workers ond forge thood who remain to work at their pace. It is also inregral to various ICINA DE SHARE COCOL hed how be gide the dies. LICE We S cribed hoa are involved in Lhe oppression of wonca and an a general polls cal Jevel, moves towards trong state are being assisted b he development of technologie of political control, such as riot conrol cecnniques and banks.
We foel that it is crucial tbat the Left takes up these issues, An effective respobse is will always sacrifice the health of us worstorce lo ensure prouts but this is particularly so at a
palliatives: che car defender, face
First published in 1923, when Larker Mes wisso winter if SEENIT dying. the period when the soviets had already passed a law to simplify che formalities of matriage and divorce. Did it mean the end af women's oppression?
Kollontai, who had fought to marry the man of her choice and then left him in revoll against 'The tyranny of love' to become Асси said to be
mask There is only one satisfactory
and construction of Lie broduc tion process by the workforce.
ASSRS has found an eager audience for its work in this area. Information from our pampblets and from Hazards Bulletia has of straggles in industry and the public sector.
There are many such fruitful areas of work on science, though the overall political dis
This year the organised as a conference open to al on interested, It is taking pince in Losdon the November militants cake more seriously the important сгиста science and techoslogs. Working
scientists are exampl Most of Saturday, 26 Novem-
her, working sessions pecific areas of political actio visionally chose include 1
hazards, agribusiness
and of pelical na
the
and employment, computers and adical statistics data holding the
considering the role an organisation should be playing in the radical scicoce movement and on the left possible: 151 Polent Ste Capitalism
Com er Morlefore Hall, Ha NOTCHEST hury Street, London El
liberation without revolution,
that argument.
Low shevik Party, knew better
political THA PODY
the family structure, The RFEC DESIGNED IT: 3
who understands that
care
and gogeles. Obviously control over the design of oppresaion.
way af Vasilisa, personal relationship
ment.
AGM is bein
very life Vasilise ha weckend in to renince a huge -It is important tha
possibilities thar exis
particularly
devoted Sunday we will be
AGM proper and
BSSRS as
trees mom
01-437 2728 Cheche
Socialist feminists argue that there cannot be women's
nor revolution without women's liberation. PAM HURST reviews Alexander Kollontal's novel, Love of Worker Bees, which sustains
an scive member of the Hol
Vasilisa
Her novel in absorbed with this
COCTACCI relations active a perma activity and
HOUSE. includes three interrelated narra tives with the theme of women's
Isolated
TENDOnSTEP fight for cancipation. All three are set a te comical of poa revolutionary Russia, obliged by the economic situation to intro other womeo: BUCCAC NEW ECONOMIC CRIC
The NEP gave the market forces a greater freedom. Kollon
because she saw it as a source of unemployment for women, who
tells us of the life of Vasilisa Malygina, a 28year-old woman worker. She is a member of the Bolshevik Party and a real debter for the and women's rights. Kollontai pictures Vasilisa as a woman of
worden will only be liberated if commu-
on household tasks and child-
up such a house but is confronted by many problems, all deriving from the AS I SEE CHUNISEL way of life imposed by centuries
difficulties, Kollontai gives us a real account of the problems confrouting the ICTOLLION, DECLINE NE RECEIL decide to create a new ideology and a new
life. The be CONSO COB AB ISEC
who turns back to a constraints. with an
her sexmal and personal fulfil-
"personal"
Tadimir has become an NEF mah and part of the bureaucracy.
He has all the trappings of the
& been trying Socialist Challenge Benefit
Fistful of Dynamite
Failpeed by a discusaion.
Wister Cheap drinks and food available.
All for only E1.20
servants and a mistress. Whe
the communal house to live with Viadimir she is expected to give up ber political
and the bureaucrat's
rowing demoralisation wit
Iniminating insigh
Vasilisa becomes more and more
and Jealous of VINEE SISTESS STEI LOCAL imprisoned in her role as house wite and by her submissive sexual
Kellontai does not conclude ou a pessimistic note, for as soon as Vasilisa makes new friends sbe realises what a shadow of herself she has become and begins to
WIL workers in her husband's plas to fight against his policie She well as sharp criticism of the abuses of the NEP Kolloutal
between marringe and fulfilment Vasilisa has regained her inde
The second story is a portrait
Not the family but of different genera
The grandmother is an old CHES MO SHUSSICATE CHIL time Jor women's equality. The mother, of the same generation
being a party activist and married
younger comrade He
generation, shocking her mothe by sleeping with her stepfacbe
liberation through the revolu tion, but cbeir consciousness
"Sisters', the title of the third story, is similar to the first. The narrator, wasilisa tell woman married to a NEPman She breaks away after years of
Her demoral BALiO ends when she gathers courage to talk to the prostitute her husband
All Kollontai's women workers Their common problem is the difficulty to make
become committed revolutionaries because through this strupple they find a way ol setting themselves free of the old
By making her readers aware
women's most intimate thoughts and acts, by bringin out into the open the 80-calle
problems, Kollantai
has burlined the basis of sol WHITIL SEICTLE PODIUL
Her beroines may be set in different contexts but their prob-
Socialist Challenge
Saturday, 26 November at 6.15pm. At the Other Cinema, Tottenham Street, London.
starring James Cobum and Rod Steiger. [Sergia Leone, Italy, 738 mins., italy 7971]
Set In Mexico in 1914 fallowing the oollapse of the Diar dictatorship with Coburn playin
member of Socialist Challenge
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 17 November 1977 page 15
bees
oppression becomes apparent to them from the confines that the Family imposes. Jealousy appean SO TO DEIRD WITH relationships, hut turns into love and sisterhood as soon as the relationship breaks from the Tamily circle.
Utopian? Perhaps, but Kal the totality prete problem the totality When
understood that ber fulfilment is elsewhere than in his house
hese problems of sexual attac
ment die immedincely. What sh does is to point to a direction in which women can tum recognition that to live as slaves
that through struggling for better living conditions TOILE
This underlies a change in th
consciousness of how women se
measure Kolloutal's enthusiasm Never in the novel does she the reader he depressco aDour U way things are moving Vasilis returns to the communni house hald. She is ready to star work in a new textile factory organising a créche for her child
way of life is developing and wil finally destroy the old conscious
story, a new woman created by the revolution, represents a woman whose life is satisfactory because she knows what she lives
• Bees vividly shows that by making a turn bo an active role in society, by coming to grips with tbe reasons for their oppression, by breaking
thinking and create the conditons for tbeir own Liberation.
Love of Worker Bees, by Alex under Koflontai and translates by Catky Porter, is published b) Pirage of EZ. 50.
Page 16 scan of this page
Who's behind the attack on abortion rights? The Pope, Callaghan, and
have reduced the risk Member's Bill, Health
International Marxist
Boih meetings were stieneed b prominent anti-abortionists. The ober side was represented by JOLE DOLLEI.
McDonald at the first meeting and Jo Richardson at the second.
SIMETE should be a compromise to tidy up* existing legislation, trengthening aspects of the 1967 Let at the same time as clamping
Find shortenine advic period of pregnancy when abortion is legally available.
The impetus behind this project omes from the highest levels The Pope 15. known lo have Listen The or waRE Callaghan, who has also received representations from the Bishop of Cardiff and othere. So it looks
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It's not very reassuring to find that behind last week's moves to restrict abortion rights is a cabal of the Pope, James Callaghan, and the Bishop of Cardiff. Although last Thursday's ballet in the House of Commons seems to
of an anti-abortion Private Minister Roland Moyle has convened two meetings to try and arrange a Governmentsponsored compromise Bill, writes SARAH ROELOFS,
Group representative National Abortion Campaign Steering Committee.
as thoud i is Callchan whe pulls Mayle's strings and he in turn is in close consultation with All the Labour women involved have expressed their dano reper then to one Abortion Campaign day schoo in Sheffield last weekend that such a Bill presented no
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threat, But any Bill which inclades these sort of provisions on bureaux and
Paign and NAC
give no more support to these
on the BRAINE WAVE
Private Memher's Bill seems to have fallen by the wayside. The
Private Member's Bills are pro abortion Tribunites opposition fourth a pro-choice Tory. Thi
Stevas, Catholic Tory. at number 13 who says he will give his place up to Sir Bernard Braine, who ha
• there
behalf of the antis.
Apparently Moyle and the antiSODEOnSE OREI Norman Buchan, the Tribunite who was drawn filth
though he is abstained MOTION DILLONS ASHTETMATOI it Challenge that, had been approached hy antiMOONE DASHEDS tended to sponsor a Bill an health
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The on the Whine sa luck with Buchan.
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After the Labour
its members pro-choice Labour MPs.
He was ANOTHER good
them post freetimportant develop
The
packing while stocks last.
TEMAND P
AN END TO RAPE
AND TO
SEXPLOTATION
organised in Germany recently.
Government abortionisis sect to De ouT 0
dangerous a targer
Conference vale in favour of free abortion on request, the Catholic Church in Scotland threatened to call on
DOt vote for hierarchy
vole and Labour's shaky position
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wock for the £765.94. fund drive. Over £200 poured in to our ever open cash box. Half of that came from the proceeds BETAC SHOE THEE ACACE BE LIC Otber Cinema. Another generous supporter sent in another E50 as a
Thar makes a grand lotal of agreed to A memento of the Grunwick picket line. A print of a painting by Dan Jones, Secrelary of the Bethnal Green and Stepney Trades Council
given
Proceeds from the full colour print will go to the strike committee.
want one of these hialoric prints then send E2 plue 10p for postage and
a hundred pring tough am felt the more elder come den to lar pro the
by deflantly marching through Soho last Saturday night. The idea came from a similar protest
woman was pulled ciear by other marchers — and when thepoliceman re-glamed his feet in the souffie, he remarked you women do your cause no good with this sort of bohewour. The same santimeet was echoed by a police inspector on the scene who Sald Get on home to your mum. After all we all know what you want.
In scotland. this makes the conference decision in favour of 'free vote all the mare SCOTTISI Trihunites Like Dennis Canaran openly suppon the Society for
Child, and others may also have a sudden change of conscience under pressure from the Catholic Norman Buchan himself has
pressure in the past. In 1974 he Nevertheless the fund drive is stil Ingging behind in the drive to reach CIBCD by the new year.
Our position would be greatly heed l all out readers eave hall per septers take baready have already However, Council.
was repeatedly visited by delegacions of children from convents and "repentant" Catholic women
WCTE wheeled out to debounde him.
The danger is emphasised by an
Observer: It would be uncal istie, in our view, for Catholics to WEEKEN Labour Party - The only real anawer is for concerned Christ
continued ne page d Healey and the Lahour Governneut bave temporarily put the blocks on this venture by refus ing to meer the just demand of
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