Socialist Challenge No. 246, 21 May 1982
The scan: sc-no246.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
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Page 1 scan of this page
Challenge
WITHDRAW THE FLEET
No. 246 21 May 1982 25p
Unemployed and strikers 10p
TORIES GO FOR BLOOD BATH
Socialist
NAPOLEON once said 'you can do everything with bayonets except sit on them'. true of the Atlantic. If they withdrawn - now be a terrible bloodbath.
Britain is fixing a breakdown in negotiations; an invasion only awaits this breakdown.
The world can now see Thatcher is out for blood. The junta was quite prepared to sacrifice Argentinian this cynical betrayal Argentinian people enough for her. She wants complete and utter prostration.
She can't diplomacy, The same is could not ships in the South
are not - there will things
will have to be
only escalate. of the
was not
STOP THE WAR
WITHDRAW THE FLEET
NATIONAL
DEMONSTRATION
this Sunday
Assemble Hyde Park 1.00 Called by Falklands ad hoc committee get this from because Galtieri cling to power if he complied. So she will have to impose it by force. This means that
cannot end with an inva- still sion; 10,000 troops, stuck out in the middle of the South Atlantic, cannot be sustained without further aggression. Argentina itself
'subdued'.
Thatcher goes ahead with her invasion, the war can therefore
So much for the hypocritical claim that Thatcher's war was going to help world peace. This desperate government is not on-
ly driving itself to yet more ac of desperation - it is draggir the rest of the world pell-mell
Where will it end? Thatch
refuses to answer Tor Benn's request to confirm deny that the task force carrie
weapons. Columni James Anderson says that it n only carries such weapons, , DI the commanders have the rig! to fire them.
There is only one way to sto this government in its track. Bombs and pockets of t the ships, troops, gun. South Atlantic - now.
Page 2 scan of this page
Mass action can stop the war
- The Tories: Neanderthals have it
DO YOU WANT THIS WAR? Because it can be done.
Ask yourself a simple question: is this government a strong one!
The opinion polls show it sweeping the newspapers report it surging to military victory. — and the lies — there is rhetoric desperation.
Why are the Tory Party, the Commons and the press followbreakdown in
the countdown for
Argentina is therefore only days away.
Why has Thatcher so insisted on a bloody show down with Argentina?
Why did she reject the Argentine concessions on sovereignty made the middle of last week? Simp-
because any solution amen does not our brusn imperialism in a stronger position than Dence lie retrieval of the Malvinasramanes tines would be a disaster tor the future of British imperialism.
The facts are that BritaIn s international economic operations are far too bloated for the present strength of the home conomy lo sustain. ior this reason that Thatcher has defeating the working wlass at home with the sledgehammer of unemployment. She realised that to maintain Bri-
Cabilalisl conal holdings and opera-
something quick and dramatic be done to bring the domestic
But the contradictions the British economy and its international role are there for everyone to see. This is why Galtieri knew he had every chance of pulling off
winner the justifiably popular cause
reclaiming the Malvinas-Falklands for Argentina.
Anything short of imposing iron-clad British
below
Name..
Address
Age..
Union/CLP (if any).
50. London N1 2XP.
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 2
TO STOP Tory
tions when
country. The in to her demands? These But behind the government AS WE go to press, it seems that Britain has
negotiations at the United Nations that it wanted and has started
the invasion of the Malvinas-Falkland islands. An all-out war with
rule on these islands thereore a massive body •lOW Brinch imperialism. It would only be orate before others followed the Argentine road. Not so much the e-appropriation of direc colonies like Gibraltar, but the restrictions the vuciallull of British apital, the closing u of protected markets and, ir some alsonnes, the propriation British assels. I his Is ine tear.
All sections of the Tory party rallied to Thatcher's war aims (as did the SDP-Liberal Alliance and the Labour leadership). But the weakness of British imperialism and that of the United States gives no one great confidence that a British push for its own interests will not proOUCE counter reaction which will get out of contol - in Argentina, inen the rest of Latin elsewhere. Will America and Britain's unet bluff. for this is basically What actually be capable of being carried oll, reason several or britain's allies in the Common Market. This is why Common Market backing condoscu These fears also touch oft a uncertainty amongst secLUIS Party But to suggest that there is eye-ball to eye-ball conflict between Thatcher and her foreign secretary
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ing the Neanderthal wing of the
Party? Why has hysteria grown so far that the left finds itself defending the BBC? Why did Thatcher have to stall negotia-
Argentinian une government was virtually giving
are not signs of yet strength, but of weakness. Only a
driven by desperation born of hopelessness would proceed so audaciously.
Why does it get away with it? URE Francis Pym is ludicrous.
As Peter Jenkins put it in Although ostensibly the leader "peace party' wildle me government he may not have pressed as boldly or decisively along the road as nis knee-jerk suspect'
The reality is that the main critics of Thatcher's from the This tune that Thatcher is Tory right It is to dancing.
Thatcher taking incredible risks. In all N. St. John Stevas - a Tory wet.
Editorial
Why does it not fall? Not because of its strength • but because of our weakness. It is because Foot has backed Thatcher to the hilt; because the Labour Party Front Bench has. stayed silent; because, faced with this paralysis, the labour movement has not
acted to deal with government.
But it can be done. When America went to war against Vietnam, it was stopped by a mass movement of opposition.
T
likelihood the impact of an invasion ana probable bombing of the Argentine mainland will provoke wide sympathy for Argentina and throw imperialist solidarity disarray The loss of British life and those of the islanders not to mention the lives of Argentine soldiers will turn the tide of support for Thatcher in Britain. Her government will therefore be in serious jeopardy But she and the British ruling class have very little choice. Such is the pro-
CND brought 250,000 people out on the Missiles. take to the people who came on and that demonstration is
present war is an even more deaa• ly threat than the Cruise Missile. the
continue the rallies, the statements. must lead to action. Marches -small, but growing beginning
e Wild Bunch.
blem that
imperlalisit faces in the present relationship of LUCC world scale.
If, however, Thatcher is successful, this will bring the threat world closer. Will lead to a firmer alliance of other imperialism's behind Reagan's war drive. alrect interventon will a once be made more accessary _because o the crisis of its proxies -but also more possible.
These are the stakes.
One and a half years ago, the
Cruise demonstration The message we have to 23. This, tional this: the Reagan
We appeal to our readers: insane
resolutions, the government.
But these
- are now all over the country. war May/home
US Darwin,
£10 air.
London has seen a demonstration every Sunday, with a national planned for May and 6 June - the na. demonstration against must be turned into huge demonstrations of the real feeling in the country about this war, and this insane
ALL OUT ON 23 MAY!
ALL OUT ON 6 JUNE!
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Page 3 scan of this page
NO.M
ITH ARGE
the war
settlement said
Scargill welcomed the proposal invite the Argentinian trade union federation, the CGT, Britain. 'But I can see the headlines now, ne t 'Arthur's flying pickets go to buenos Alies
The rally was the first step in a series of proposed major changes through which Tribune is passing under its new editor Chris Mullin, who we interviewed fortnight in Socialist Challenge.
The changes aim to make Tribune an open, campaigning paper fighting within the Labour
and accountability.
The the first issue Tribune has had confront. Recalling its anti-war traditions during the Suez crisis, it has come out editorially against the
has linked this Wal. stand the left-right struggle in the Labour
front-page Party. editorial claims that
'I CALL upon people in this meeting to stand up and argue for withdrawal of the task force, for an immediate ceasefire and for a diplomatic
miners' president Arthur Scargill to Tribune's 'stop the war' rally held on Wednesday 12 May in the House of Commons.
'History records that whenever the self-styled "tolerant" wing Labour Party has lost the arguments, it has opted for a witch-hunt.
Tribune intends to build up a nation wide network of sellers, says, coupled to a series of major rallies.
Attendance at this first meeting was disappointing, reflecting Ine disorientation which the Caused amongst some of the left proSLOTEC amonds!
Tribune's present readership.
But the meeting was very clea evidence of the growing tide of opthe Labour Party the disastrous stand taken by Michael Foot and the front bench.
Amongst trade uhions NALGO the USDAW and SOGAT have TaT come out against the war.
SA: NO 13
WAR OVER THE
FALKLAND ISLAIDS
Tribune opposes
seafarers union decisiod
union decision lo call tor an invasion was thrown into a slightly different light by a contribution from seafarer George Cartwright. who said that only two per cent of the naval reserve had agreed to volullect.
The pressure on the union executive is caused by the simple fact
Challenge has pointed out that you cannot sit in the middle of the South Atlantic with one of the biggest armadas in history without exposing crew and troops grave risk of life.
'Get in or get out' is the sentiment amongst
Black opposition from the Labour leadership has driven the union into an even more bellicose stance than Michael HOOL the NUS is only following Foot's logic.
Tony Benn, speaking from the platform, • recalled the Labour response to the Suez war. He told the audience that a motion calling on the NEC
paign against the present war had been defeated.
Dealing with hysteria whipped up by the press and the Tories said that 60 per cent of the country was opposed to any loss of life This was not reflected in the Com-
He reminded meeting that the House of Commons had bitterly opposed votes for women -
this in Arthur
allu 1 sa Scargill's Souse of Commons
Commons is the last place to go and find out what the people want, he said.
The small, but signillcant meeting welcome first step towards
serious co-ordinated of reaction against the war from the Labour Party. The next task for socialists put weight of local Labour Parties and unions building mass demonstra tions and rallies against the war. LOWS itself into this task it will meet enthusiastic response from the Labour Party rank and file. ar Gelders articleon page • Foot see Tessa
the
the
Hackney Verlous standing orders Newport Cardiff Portsmouth Lewienem Leamington t Anon the Grant
TOTAL into TOTAL SO FAR
SHOULD BE SHORTFALL
Socialist Challenge
FUND DRIVE '82
A week's wages for
Socialist Challenge
5 wages to Soctaist Chelenge, Uniy 37.00 12700 12:00 16.00 43.D0 00 40% CO 00 3:50 00.00 2410200 3636,50 7E34 58 83843.05
press
more
ever
quarter alone of on top of large scale debts
previous quarters. And it this
Ches quadrupled. The axin anything like its present form
to all our readers for a such a commitment tot mess, allow us to in the purchase of aur building or move
erlousness with
our supporters is whet FUND PRIVE
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
The Argentinian CGT should be invited to Britain to discuss with British trade unionists, said Tony Benn at a New Statesman debate on the Malvinas/Falklands war on Tuesday 11 May in London.
He was replying to a question from Socialist Challenge sup porter speaking against the war, along with Frank Allaun, MP Speaking for the posite vieW were
George Robertson a ne Sam McCluskey of the seafarer's union NUS.
George Robertson
Labour previous Party policy statements
of the 'islanders' rights'. Tony Benn replied that no body of the Labour Party had ever agreed to go to war with Argentina over the principle - and that moreover, evaluation of the princi-
self-
letermination, 'the fact that these islands were taken by force a hundred and fifty years ago also be taken into ac- the British snouid count.
impo mile he story is
harsh reality of life that you can't 10,000 soldiers on an island 8,000 miles away
defend 1800 people here' who can l avor come
Tony Benn also argued TOOL SENT determination had to be viewed in enta light of Britain's immigration policy in the islands.
There must be room for many people
than the 1800 islanders if they can station 10,000
troops there,' he said,
'but no Argentinian is
ever allowed to settle
Manchester
400 STRONG rally ana Greate war, called by
Greater Manchester
Committee for Peace
the ad-
Judith
Hart, Frank Allaun, and
Litherland and by
North West TUC secretary
Colin Barnet.
The rally was joined by
a 150 strong youth con-
tingent at the end of a ten
mile sponsored walk. They
had just
send an unemployed youth
delegation to the o June
national demonstration
against Reagan's visit.
The marchers were
joined and addressed by
Mary Simpson, Man-
chester, representative of
the New Jewel Movement.
She warned marchers of
Edinburgh
Committee public meeting on 13 May,
= out CND
NEW SOCIALIST
Debate on war
there.'
This view the oilfields in the region had had an important impact on
'I remember as Energy Minister that no American companies
from us in the region,'
said, 'because none of them believed it was going to remain British.'
Cont Falklands belong to us', he said, 'and both they and the whole of the Antarctica should be a UN possession.
His view was echoed by questioners from the floor, cluding one who drew loud applause ATer remarking I've been in the Labour,Party for fifty years and I've never
much about self-determination as in the
The fact that an imperialist power, a hundred and fifty years ago, settled the island with our own people, doesn't make it theirs any more than the penguins. It's a fraud: they'll give the islands away after it's all over.
Georoe Robertson drew an angry response from Guyanan member dience when he defend-
ed the British presence
in Belize on the basis of a Venezuelan threat to
Guyana. 'The working people of Guyana have nothing to fear from the
Reagan and Thatcher's
threats to the Caribbean
revolution and called for a
'hot reception for Reagan
when he gets here.'
Prominent slogans on
the walk were 'Withdraw
the British Fleet' and 'No
war'. Terry Wade, speak-
ing on behalf of those on
the walk, told the
Falklands rally that
Labour leaders had allow-
ea Ine i ories to taunen tne
war, and called on
evervore prescill
the Labour Party and fight
against the betrayal.
A demonstration has been
called by the Peace in the
Falklands Committee for
10.30 at All saints In Ux
ford Road, Manchester,
on Saturday 22 May.
SOME 200 people attended an Edinburgh Stop the War
called at a few days'
Speakers were Ron Brown MP, Steven Maxwell of the Rev Professor Duncan Forrestor, and Jill Loo
photo: G Cookson
working people of Venezuela', said the
and the government of Guyana is as much our enemy as
Venezuela. We will set
London demo
Leamington
PACKED meeting of over
centre
Leatiazion last rnday heard
Malvinas/Falklands,
tle our own problems ourselves and as tar as we are concerned the Malvinas belong to Argentina. The black people of this country have nothing to gain
PEACE!
bench. he said. and because
they have not spoken out they
suffered in last week's local
Taiat: Sahola. the
toral secretary of the Indian
IGB iha: ano
Atencar imperialism wanted
their main
from what you are doing. absolve Tony
trom the past decisions of the Labour Party and I am one hundred per cent with him on this issue. vicinity. Ine meeung agreed to set up the ad hoc committee
withdrawal of une lice
• negotiations through the UN
A coach was arranged by
the local ad hoc committee to
taKe lla'
don on 23 May.
Round-up
IN BRIGHTON 300 marched against the war and for withdrawal of the fleet on th initiative of the War' hoc speakers from the El Salvado commutice
San in, CND •an(
others, cluding Har , pro spectiv
for Pavilion consti tuency.
The Executive of Kemp
Constituency.
Party refused • back the committee by votes to
Militani wick porters volca with the right wing
In Newcastle over 700 at a meeting called by the trade: council agreed to set up an ad
Glasgow LU c
conniulice wam over Amar. ched from Leyton to Selborne Park where a meeting was ad dressed Labour for Waltham rOIeSL
TEESSIDE THORNABY
General Vallas b ment Committee has passed a resolution calling for
withdrawal the the South Atlantic and for settlemen neaotiated on the basis 01 recognition of Argentinian sovereignty.
Birmingham
BY A ONE vote majority
Birmingham trades coun-
cil supported a call to set
up a 'British Forces Out of the Atlantic Committee at
its meeting on Thursday 13
April. The resolution pass-
ed by the trades council.
moved by AUEW
branch, read as follows:
"This trades council ex-
presses its deep concern at
the developments over the
Falkland Islands crisis.
calls for a policy aimed at
achieving the resolution of
the United Nations Securi-
ty Council for withdrawal
troops trom the
Falkland Islands.
The council fully sup-
ports the security council
resolution and calls for a
de-escalation of the situa-
tion by recalling the British
task force, the ending of
the 200 mile war zone, and
the reference of the whole
situation to the United Na-
S Wales
By Barry Wilkins
LASi week s annual cor
ference of the South Wale:
Area of the National Union
mously passed resolu
tion expressing its 'anger
policy
the
Falklands crisis'
The resolution called for
an immediate ceasefire and a
United Nations solution to br
ing about a withdrawal of the
sides, and
TOICO
peacerui necollalcu settle
Moving ine reso utor or
behalf of Maerdy Lodge, Ivor
*the British
claim sovereignty Argen is an
lucius ar
LIld
Channel Is anes
islands are entirely dependent
on Argentina for supplies and
communication.
The crisis, he said, stemm-
ed from failure suc-
concede sovereignty. He call-
WARD. Vauxhall Labour Party in Lambeth has passed the following resolu
This GC condemns the tions of the Tory Government in their millary daventure l the sourn Allanac and Is not
Argentinian note with anger the failure of the Labour front
itself bench from the warmongering of the
In particular, we con demn the shameful
Foot Iviiclac Healev in collaborating in this adventure CanC - cal on the ECo calls for an
on the immediate organist nationwide campaign of • al tion public demonstrations coordinated
Parliament
• the total withdrawal of the fleet from the • South Atlanti + ine renouncine or al Drills c aims to te vavinas ana unt
of the Argentinian claim
financial compensation or ane granune or run cilzcl. ship rights avs anders
work with local CND in thei bennon canvale lo siuo ul war. anato subdore such l
demonstrations called by the Peace in the
Committee aim to stop ine war tions, aimed at establishing a UN administration of the islands, pending settlement of the question of sovereigntv.
An amendment, proposed Socialist
Challenge supporters and others in the Labour Party, read as follows:
'The trades council agrees to sponsor a 'British Forces Out of the South Atlantic Committee, an anti-war contingent on the Ronald Reagan demonstration on 22 May in Birmingham, and supports the
organisation of a major
Movement rally DOEl
with speakers including
Tony Benn.'
Preparations
organise the committee are going ahead, and 22 May
will see the first major
opposition to the
public
War
ed for the withorawa ol lae
Meet for the Tories yo
Parliamentary
une Labour rarly
He also rejected the idea
that natchel fighting
fascism in • Argentina.
of
tionaries in the governmen
Salu not humaniy
possibie inat tney can ume !!
alan Baker or akan
South
Alan of Oakdale explained that
memoers or uc armca 1orcc
were there because thev couc
not find work at home and
not because they wanted to
workers.
ns s a colona war a
said.
vrore O'Sullivan
qwer Lodge strongy ureed that the Task Force be made
Britain step
lichessal
Deacell settlement He also
Thatcher had supported the
in of the Argen and repression and
vultucky
working class
Page 5 scan of this page
By Tessa van Gelderen 'ONLY extra-parliamentary activity will stop this war.' Tony Benn, speaking at the Tribune rally against the war last week, has become the spokesperson opposition to the war.
Tribune itself, now under the new editorship
out clearly against the war.
Its back page has an article 'Will the real Michael Foot stand up?' Written by Anthony Arblaster, it ends on a note of warning to Foot: 'Your failure and that of the whole official Labour leadership, to oppose this ruthless, futile war makes it your darkest leader of the Labour Parly.
This growing awalc ness inside the Labour Party that the Labour
are on the wrong Icauchs side in this war has raised the stakes inside the labour movement as a whole. The crisis that is looming for the Tories will not by-pass
National executive
gags anti-cuts fight
has been expelled from the
in opposition to Labour Group policy.
reinstated
pend him trom the responsibilities. Ray issues to Socialist Challenge.
'By taking this decision the NEC is gagging councillors like me who want to campaign against the cuts.
During the last 3 years l've
Oll firm "no cuts" platform
the valleys of South Wales and throughout the trade union movement.
'How can 1 publicly in the outside community campaign on a firm "n0 cuts' position and then go into the council chamber and vote for public expenditure cuts which cost Jobs and services? As far as 1 Call all only implementing the 1981 con-
resolution which called for "a major campaign to defeat the proposed (Heseltine) legislation' and which stated that the conterence denleves Inal Labour councillors must Tenuse make le Culs that will needed to balance the books'
'1 am bitterly disappointed that the NEC has gone. against conference
decisions and backed the
Glamorgan Group against The
COURCH has organised no fightback
government onslaught. Il has just implemented the cuts when asked. A great opportuni-
against Tories. weakness will be of great comore to ine lories wao will no doubt come hack again and Will punishing cuts.
Oppose the war!
Kick out Foot!
for the growing movement in
Labour. ne resuis for Labour in the local elec-
Michael Foot, 'inveterate has shown his true colours: he SUDOUILD Elle forces of oppression and exploitation.
The present leadership of the party has shown itself to be incapable implementing socialist policies in the next Labour government. growing anti-imperialist movement is chanense LEUS leadership. Between now and the Labour Party conference in the autumn, that movement will be out on the streets in its hundreds of thousands: against the war that ThatRAY DAVIES, Mid Glamorgan County Councillor and a member of the steel union, ISTC,
Council Labour group for the third time in as many years. His 'crime' was to vote against social service cuts,
Previously the Labour Party's national executive had accepted Ray's appeal and he was
on the Labour Group. Last week, however, the NEC backed the decision to sus-
group and all council Davies explained the
PAUL HIGHFIELL
Ray Davies 'My proposals to the Council meeting involved ine vie amorcan counCouncil, the largest in Wales, tang a Weish initiating a camagainst Heseltine's paign legislation and the calling and file Labour Party and trade union conferences to plan the fightback. This was rejected and replaced by total capitulation. *1 appeal to CLPs and trade unions to contact tue NEC and demand reverses its decision. This isn't just to defend me. It of all other is a detence councillors who want implement national ference decisions and vote against the cuts. the final decision of the NEC, I for deflected from the task of defending Jobs and services of work ing people."
cher, aided and abetted by Foot, got into;
Trident and Cruise; against Reagan's visit and his policy in El Salvador.
That in itself will be a
indictment Labour leaders who supporting •nalener s toie in the South Atlantic.
How can root pose as
leader of the nuclear disarmament movement when he endorsed the sending of the fleet? More and more the voices of opposition are making themselves heard.
Arthur Scargill, president of the miners union, has come into conflict with both right and lett allke ir his opposition to the war. The Barnsley Labour Party supported a resolution moved Scargill and backed dalegates, calling for the miners'
task force to be sent back.
The Malvinas issue will lorce tne dig ballanons Ill the working class to take sides. LOUS DOS union, which supported kenn in une cebury cali paign last year, cannot remain silent tor long
Labour movement activists inside the trade unions and the constituencies will want to register their opposition war and the stand taken by HOOL and Co Lası ycal. the left focussed its campaigns for reforms in the party through the Benn for deputy' campaign. The campagn was, as Benn put it, around 'politics not personalities'.
Now more than ever the left needs a focus to take deep into the Labour Party so that it can register its opposition to the war,
leaders. Tony Benn has to
Labour Party
stand in opposition to that leadership.
Michael Foot can no longer, by any stretch of
imaginalion. regarded as a prisoner of the right'. He is condemned by his own words and action. Denis Healey continues ne spokes person for the British ruling Tony himself has argued at
82 that Labour Liaisor the crucial issues facing the labour movement are the Falklands/Malvinas issue,
defence, the Common Market anc Tebbit.
Scargill: facing opposi. tion from the right anc loft
But the over-riding
concern of the left now has
wild side will the Labour Party take
Thatcher's imperialist war? It is a crucial test for all socialists. How Labour responds to this issue will determine its course over the next few years.
The growing anti-war movement in this country
Britain's war the South Atlantic is the basis
for winning the Labour Party to socialist policies.
Tony Benn making a firm
challenge this renegade The 'peace monger' supports Britain's imperialist war
leadership of the DALV can be a tremendously imGM portant component of that process. Standing against
clearest way of showing opposition to all nat ine Labour leaders stand for.
As the leaders of all parties take into bloody war the left has to take a position of outright opposition. has as matter of urgency to fight to link local Labour parties to the growing aiSwar movement
Never was the need so great to oppose Thatcher and her attack on workers
home and abroad. Never was need great to get rid of the right inside the Labour Party
Against the War! Kick out Foot! should be our rallying cry.
Opposing Foot would be the best opposition to the war
leaders think
Photo: JOHN SMITH (IFL)
ment and get our industry going:
coalition governments that
fight a clear menace.
Thatcher.
understanding with ing.
people's decision.
Roy Grantham General secretary,
the APEX Journal. 3 April 1982.
Roy Grantham: saying what other Labour
Coalition with
defectors THE supreme responsibility of all people of good will who want to see Britain a decent country in which our children and so many others can find work is to ensure that this government is thoroughly beaten at the polls. It may well be that neither the Labour Party nor the Alliance will have a majority but their obligation to the unemployed is to make clear that they will co-operate to cut unemploy-
The Labour Party has a hang-up over
goes back 1o 1931. But in 1940 we joined a coalition to
In 1976-78 we had a clear agreement with the Liberal Party to keep a Labour government in power to tackle our economic problems and keep out Mrs
The need is greater today...
That it will be difficult to construct an
people whom regard as defectors is clear. The SDP equally has no reason to love the Labour Party. But the need to get Britain moving again, is much greater than the foibles of politicians.
David Steel was the author of the 1976-78 agreement with Labour. He has the reputation to act as the man to bring together the two groups on a programme for two years to start to get our country and our people work-
. Thereafter we can resume our legitimate differences and put them to the test of the
Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staffs writing in
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 pag
Page 6 scan of this page
Big issues before
Bradford 12
'acted in
By Paul Hutchinson in Leeds IN THE third week of the Bradford 12 conspiracy trial police defendents making petrol bombs. Inspector Sidebottom gave his version of the arrest and questioning of Tarlochan Gata-Aura on 30 July 1981.
Tarlochan's first statement WALLCU bv himself admitted involvement in making petrol bombs. He was emphatic that they had been for possible use in the expectea rascist al-
on black communitv in Bradiord
For example, there had been a phone call to ine Fourth Idea Bookshop, a local radical shop, about a possible attack by skinneads.
Two subsequent statements were written by ponce wich tney claimed were taken at the same tune outshong look place but Mike Mansfield,
Why abortion is
a 'crime'
By Leonora Lloyd THE CAMPAIGN against the buff form introduced by the earlier this year and the threatened prosecution of doctors showed clearly the inadequacies of the 1967 Abortion and led to renewed discussion in NAC on the importance of Many people do not realise that abortion
tain. Until 1803 it was legal under common law and had been tolerated for six centuries even when
passed which made abortion after 'quickening'
abortionist, while abortions done earlier could be population was nearly three times or deportation.
passed and this is the one which prevails today.
society' governs women's lives today! use the issue of abortion to control women's lives.
forced to the back street abortionists.
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 6
self-defence'
testified about the Detective
Tarlochan's counsel challenged parts of these.
For example, these statements Sav that defendent made references to Brixton and oxteth Tarlochan GataAura'S first statement referred to Southall where local Asian youth acted in •erence das a mass alon their community Dy willie racists.
It also emerged that Sidebottom had obtained Tarlochan Gata-Aura's photograph trom records in what is called 'the collator's office'
He was reluctant to say anything about recoras out eventually auTory government
Act
decriminalisation.
Abortion has not always been a crime in Bri-
In 1803 however, the Ellenborough act was
(foetal movement) punishable by death for the
punished by whipping or transportation up to 14
The passing of the law was not the result of
directly out of the needs of the ruling class at the
Britain was fighting a war with France, whose
French were actively pursuing a policy of demographic aggression - there was even a campaign to make celibacy a capital offence. In 1801, the first census in Britain showed that the population
In 1837 an act was passed amending the laws relating to offences against the person which made the punishment for abortion the same at any stage of pregnancy; imprisonment for up to three years
The census of 1861 showed the success of this policy — the population had doubled! Despite this another Offences Against the Persons Act was
Under this law the abortionist can be kept in penal servitude for life, or for any term no less than three years, or for up to two years with hard
It is this law which in the so-called 'permissive
The 1861 act implied that abortion could be legal under some circumstances and in practice this came to mean when the mother's life was under threat. In 1929 the Infant Life Preservation Act introduced the concept of viability (ie the state at which the foetus could exist without the mother)
The 1967 abortion act was merely an amendment to this law which means that abortion is still a crime today. Its history shows how the ruling class
That's why it's vital to take up decriminalisation since this would be a fundamental challenge. But this must be accompanied by legislation to en-
the facilities are available so that women are not
mitted that they included
information unal did 'not necessarily' concern illegal activities.
Sidebottom also said
that he had never heard of
recent Home Office report on racist violence. This report included an By Ann Potter choice doctor, Peter facilties and laws
that NAC, 374 Grays UMIST,
2 June will be another mass picket and rally in Leeds
analysis of West Yorkshire and showed that overall, likely to be attacked than
Judge Beaumont got increasingly edgy about questioning that exposed police indifference to IN SOME ways the past year has been a successful one for the abortion rights struggle. An attempt to severely restrict women's rights to abortion through removing the social grounds for abortion and prosecuting the leading pro.
Huntingford was
where our major work must be.
NAC has been and must remain a campaign to defend and extend the legal right to abortion and for facilities and it should keep the name which lor seven years has done this.
One resolution from Leeds NAC suggests that the constitution of NAC should be scrapped in favour of a declaration that the main aim of NAC is 'to contribute to the attainment of a society in which every Wulilall.. has the right to control her own fertility and determine her own sexuality:'
This is absurdly vague.
It would mean campaign would become so dissipated so varied that there would nothing hold together.
National Abortion Campaign
NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
22 and 23 May in Leeds Bellvue Centre, Bellvue Rd, Leeds 3 ib sponsored, 14 waged and t2 unwaged Please register in advance:
Inn Rd, London WC1 tel 01-278 1053
Manchester Socialist Challenge Rally Women fight back for their rights Film: Rosie the Riveter Speakers: Rulecan women strikers, El Salvadorean woman, plus others Thur 27 May 7,30
racist violence and during the of Sidebottom suspended proceedings and summoned all counsels to a secret meeting.
Two defence counsels refused to attend.
The Bradford 12
NAC conference
The question of abortion remains the key issue for controlling women's
If NAC does not keep up the fight on this issue, hay ultimate goals we most.
Have lost Moreover, there is danger that we will allow much of the fantastic support that NAC has built up
inside the labour move-
of women to fall away.
Concern
It is clear that the fight
means over. The proposed
taken up by conference as a means to araw public al
Battersea Park, London from noon Rally *Music *Forums* Stalls Theatre* Children's Events Refreshments * Creche available*
defence campaign stated: 'We say there must be no cover-up The Bradford police have been guilty of sustained criminal negligence for year. I ney nave conspired to neglect our Tears
Police interest in the politics of the defendents was reveated in lne cross examination of Detective Sergeant Huntingdon. He was sent to Tarlochan Gata-Aura's house to loot for evidence of the alleged ottences
Literature he took from the house included a copy of Bradford Black, local journal; a book by Malcolm X; and a copy of The New Statesman. inese were suooosed to be evidence of the defend ents' extreme vews 11 C books by Enoch Powell were left untouched
It was also clear from this that Huntingdon's conception 'extreme views was limited to
ridia He delinea pi
nions. defined wing as 'anything that's against the police or in general criticising the runtention to the vast inequalities in abortion provision throughout the coun try and the effect of Tory cutbacks, and demonstrate the inadequacies of the present legislation.
It can also be used to show LOC quality of facilities that women need
build support ihe facilities bill which has
parliament.
NAC has been discussing positive legislation since 1976. Yet it has not developed this campaign very far. The 1967 Act has proved itself inadequate to defend our needs. The pro choice forces fighting for the type of abortion law and practice
WOMEN'S
FESTIVAL
Saturday 5 June
WOMEN SRIGHTS TOJOBS & EQUALITY
ning of the country.
The defendents and defence campaign received
morale boost at the beginning of last week in the form ot telegram from New Delhi from the All-India Coordination Committee of Working Women which stated
solidarity and sup port to your demands and call all greetings? Revolutionar
addition the picket for black defence campaigns on 26 May, the campaign is calling a fina mass picket to be followed by a short rally for 2 June in Leeds.
KRA HORI 12 APPEAL FUND. One of the was told that defende Masaar
This father had unexpectedly died. • An appeal Tune has Deen launched send his bodi Cheques should made
marked for the Masaad Malik appeal.
Bradford 12 National Mobilising Committee can be _contacter clo BOX Cookridge St, Leeds 2. Tel which we want and committing the next Labour government to take this " The next stage in such a campaign is begin to KOOK decriminalisation of abor-
Huntingtord laced thirteen years jail because abortion is still a crimina act This must be changed and decriminalisation must be accompaniea Dy legisla LION which could woman's right to choose whether or not to continue
with a pregnancy.
NAC should be getting to grips with thest
issues and consolidating its gain inside the labour
movement rather than sitting around discussing its owll Halle
WOMAN'S
RIGHT to WORK
DEMONSTRATE
5JUNE
Badges available at 25p
each + 12½p postage.
oraer from
Arkwright, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP. Bulk rates available on re-
March to the
Women's Festival Assemble at County
wateroe 10.30 to move off at 11 Go to Battersea Park. The march is called by the
Action Committee for a
Woman's Right 1o Work
and co-sponsored by the
DOUIT tas Regional i
Council of the TUC
Page 7 scan of this page
Why black people should march agains
Stop Reagan,
stop Thatcher's
war events
BIRMINGHAM: Sat 22 May demo, 'We won't die for Thatcher — we won't die for Reagan', assemble 10.30 at Colmore Circus. Sat 29 May sponsored walk on same theme, assemble 9.30am Chamberlain Square. Mon/Tues 24/25 May factory tour by Manuel Bravo of El Salvadorean FDR, including Tues eve 8pm meeting for trade unionists at Star Club, Essex St.
BRENT: Reagan Reception Committee at Brent Carnival, Roundwood Park, NW10 on Mon 31 May, all day.
EAST LONDON: Thur 20 May Rock Against Reagan gig at Stoke Newington Town Hall, N16 with Walking Wounded, Kaleidoscope, Oxy and the Morons, Parkdown Jets. Tues 25 May Newham CND meeting, Reagan', with CND, El Salvador campaign speakers, Lister Rooms, East Ham Town Hall. Wed 26 May Reagan Reception Rally at Stoke Newington Town Hall with Ernie Roberts MP, El Salvador FDR, Grenada New Jewel Movement. Pat Arrowsmith.
GLASGOW: trains and buses for London demo (ring Scottish CND for details, 041-331 2878). Glasgow march on Mon 7 June, 6pm Blythswood Square to Custom House Quay, Clyde St. Rally and festival from 7.30pm at Kelvin Centre, Argyle St. Reagan Reception Committee secretary Alec Park (041-423 4719). LAMBETH: Reagan Reception Committee rally, Fri 28 May 7pm Brixton Town Hall with displays, slides, posters and Stuart Holland MP, Central American solidarity campaign and CND speakers. Rock Against Reagan gig on Fri 4 June at South Bank Poly MANCHESTER: 16-22 May Week of Action against warmongers including tour by FMLN/FDR of factories, four AUEW district committees and colleges. in Room 16 Moss Side Community and Education Centre, 'Revolution in the Caribbean basin' speakers from FMLN/FDR and Grena• dian NJM. Fri 21 May 7.30pm at Central Hall, Oldham St, Manchester. Film, the decision to win'. Speaker Manuel Bravo, FDR. Demonstration on Sat 22 May 11am All Saints, Oxford Road, 'Stop the Falklands War' called by Greater Manchester Ad Hoc Committee for Peace in Falklands. Sat 22 May Rock Against Reagan gig at Hulme Labour Club, Bonsall St from 8pm till late with Harlem Spirit and disco and bar NORTH LONDON: Sat 29 May Twelve Hours Against Reagan festival at North London Poly from 11am, with films, speakers, discussion, stalls, food, music, El Salvador, Grenada, Namibia campaigns plus Tariq Ali, Jeremy Corbyn, , Andrew Thompson. Special debate on the Falklands. Evening Rock Against Reagan gig from 8pm with No Nukes Music in Pied Bull, The Angel. Groups include: Living Legends, the Stockbroker, Oxy and the Morons. Fri 4 June Rock Against Reagan gig London Musicians Collective.
Camden from 12 to 2pm floats, leaflets, etc. NOTTINGHAM: Sat 22 May Demonstration, 'Stop the Falklands War', 1lam from The Horest. . Called by Ad Hoc Stop the Falklands War Committee.
EDINBURGH: Demo on Sat 22 May 11.30am, Stop the War', march from Waverley Bridge to Caly Cinema, ROTHERHAM: Tues 25 May Youth CND meeting, 'Stop the War Drive' with video, Salvador - Another Vietnam'. speaker Clive Turnbull. Phone 78401 for venue.
SOUTH WALES: Lobby Wales Labour Party conference on Sat 22 May against War in the Falklands.
2
weeks
'Stop the Missiles, Stop Thur 20 May 7pm rally
'First fruits -
exhibitions. Speakers from
CND, Turkey, Chile
Attila
Sat 5 June Cruise around
called by Stop the War committee.
Reagan
By Toni Gorton
swing into the final two reparing our welcome to Ronald Reagan, fen f any of the major black organisations seem to be with us. anything to do with black people in this coun try? On the contrary black people do have a stake in coming out to 'greet' Reagan.
First, because he is the leader of the greatest im-
systematically oppresses Ku Klux Klan are the friends of Roagan's anti-black policies
By Paul Lawson
THE UNITED STATES is preparing to
to war. The enemies it
targeted for attack are the growing
movements for revolution and social justice in Central America and the
Caribbean.
Since the proclamation of the 'Monroe
doctrine' in the 19th centurv the United State
has considered the whole area as part of its
'back yard' • under its exclusive domination.
American multanona corporations 11ke wic
United Fruit Company, have long dominated
the economies of the countries in the region
making huge profits at the expense of mass
poverty among the people.
The United States has specialised in sup
noring rotten and reachonary real wine ac
the region, politically
militarily.
In line with this policy of domination of
the region the US has been willing to intervene
directly to put down any threat to its rule. In
the left-wing
Jualcilala 1734.
regime was overthrown by a ciA-organisec
invasion. Some 40,000 American marines in
Republic in
vaded the Dominican
overinrow me covenmen or Jua bosca. c
moderate left winger
of the Cuban revolution in
lysy signanea inal the peopic or le regiol
were beginning to fight back.
States bolstered its clients in the region, sup-
porting vicious military repression to prevent
further revolutionary victories.
Stop the missiles
Why? Doesn't this
the third
aspirations of the people there, through direct military in-
O KLUX FIR
Reagan prepares for war
that. has on une deodies
equipment ne endouring and inforced,
Nicaraguan border
Arbenz other parts States continues its
Guantanamo in Cuba The . But the United
tervention of 'destabilisaDON Canvasu the CIA. Examples are legion:
Vietnam, Dominican Republic Angola El Salvador, Jamaica.
Grenada, Cuba and many others.
Second, he should be opposed as the main ally OI Margarcl leader of the British which dedicated to repression of black youth, restricting the right of blacks to live here and imposing such economic measures on all working people that the right to work and to decent living standards are denied the VaST majority of black people.
Austerity
Third, protesting against Reagan would express solidarity with blacks in the heartland of US im While US black movement has been
picking up steam again as blacks suffer the effects of Reagan's ausicilly pro gramme at nome and its increasing war drive.
Malek Miah, a member of the National Black Independent political party leader of the Socialist Workers Party in the United States recently DassCU Britain.
He told us: 'Reagan's elec tion is clearly a shift to the right by the capitalist class He has not only continued Wally Carter OI and the Nixon , policies before of
him, that is, anti-labour, anti-black, all wulllali policies. He has qualitatively accelerated the nature of the offensive Austerity alves. discussion of militarisa-
draft of young people into the army Reagan say we all have to sacrifice. He means working people have to sacrifice 'What this means for
But two recent events have changed all
In March 1979 in the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada the dictator Gairy was over. thrown ov the vew Jewe Movement. Ane
Nicaragua the Sandinistan reputart
revolutionaries overthrew the Somoza dictatorship.
The Nicaraguan victory in particular spur red on the revolutionaries in El Salvador and Guatemala presenting a regional challenge to the Us-backed dictatorships
Reagan's response has been to declare wa
of the region. Hundreds o millions of dollars have been poured into backing up the dreadful dictatorship in EI
including US officers and advisors and millions of dollars worth of military
US military personnel in Honduras have beer and they assist the counter revolutionaries in carrying out raids across the
nese same counter revolunonary croud. received training at camps in rlorida and
of Central America The United for direct orcarations military intervention inrougn seeking new al bases in Colombia and Honduras, , together with a series of naval exercises which have involved marine anna me us tava base a
clear Reagan and Secretary of State Alexander Haig do not intend to allow further left wing victories in the region. And thev are orepared to go to war to prevent them. Our task is to stop them.
blacks is that since Reagan
_COl office unemployment has Creasce Unemplovment for blacks has always been twice as high as for whites - 12/13 per cent while 6/7 per cent the population as a whole
'Among black youth traditionally ment has been 30 per cent official. In September 1981 for the first time since they've been keeping figures, official unemployment among black youth was 51 per cent. Youth
'That doesn't count the youth who've stopped looking for work or who are underemployed.
In some CLIC like Detroit where the official rate is about zu per cent. the rate for black youth is in the region of 80-90 per
'It's always been a saying in the black community that a recession for the economy as a whole means
super-depression for
Trade unionists
demonstrate at
By Fred Kingdom
the proposed site for 96 Cruise Missiles.
The demonstration was trades councils Greater London Association of Trades Councils the NUM executive and many other union bodies It aimed, not to 'try and stop work on the base' as the media has claimed, but to start a dialogue with the
construction workers and lorry drivers working the base.
The demonstrators
leafleted the workers
entering the base
morning and about fifteen
They heard Tony Woods
southern region organiser
of the building workers'
union. UCATT
'UCATT wants you all to
have jobs but building
houses and schools rather
than nuclear bases which
are only there to be used to
launch an attack and get us
exterminated
process.
Later Tony had a lively
discussion with
workers. many of whom
said that they would prefer
WORK elsewhere
simply had no choice
Some expressed support
for the demonstration
others that they didn't fee
strongly enough about the
issue and that they
didn't work there, others
surely would
Claude trade unionist and Hạrvey,
black
blacks who've never rea got out of the depressi of the 30s. 'So Reagan coming has meant a worsening conditions for black p example one the gains of the 1960 ci rights movement was i provement in educati including desegregation schools, progr in bussing programm Reagan is against all th "There's been back in the schools wh affect all youth, with few grants for blacks to go college 'Across the bor things have got wOr This sets the stage for wl happens movement about should be done Just as the black mo this COUL responded to the rights struggles USA, so should it join new black movement opposing the US war dr and act in solidarity w US blacks fighting agai racism and the drive.
Greenham Commo
ON WEDNESDAY 12 MAY over 200 unionists attended a demonstration called London Region CND outside the works g entrance to the Greenham Common Air Ba
local UCATT official pressed the hope tha the next Labour governm
would dismantle all American bases in Brit and refuse the Сп missiles.
The demonstrat was the first of its k since the 1950s. It was encouraging to ser union banners and delegation of construc workers from Southai UCATT national deles conference in Great 1 mouth, the south region will put forwar resolution calling for union to boycott all w on missile bases. say chairperson, told a p Alan Sapper,
conference before demonstratior "There must be indus
paign for nuclear disar ment. We've got to b nuclear bases Such important me need to be linked to the creation and impleme
tion or alternauve • for production «abouT movement so workers employed ir arms industrv are no ing asked by other tr unionists to go on the d Industrial action aro the bases should be lin to the building of a n movement to force government to unilater disarm Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982
Page 8 scan of this page
They say: We should fight for the islanders' right of self determin
WHOSE AGGRESSION must we oppose? That is the point at issue. A factory occupation is an act of aggression: does this mean we should support the boss against the workers? A riot is an act of aggression: should we support the use of the police terrorise brutalise those taking We say that oppression is the cause of aggression, and this is what should be opposed.
Any oppressor can manipulate events in a dispute so that it appears to be the injured party, when the real cause of the conflict is a longstanding injustice, sustained might of the oppressor over decades and even centuries.
'The Malvinas were taken from the Argentinian people by force over 150
This is pointed out in an
The Malvinas were taken from the Argentinian people by force over 150 years ago.
advert entitled 'some facts you may want to know about the Malvinas and have never been told,' inserted in the Times on 24 April 1982 by a group of Argentinian Americans. From to 1811, it points out, Spain claimed the islands; this claim was disputed by no one. In 1774 Spain put the islands under Buenos Aires' jurisdiction and handed over this task to the newly independent nation of 1816. In 1820 Argentinians settled on the islands.
On January 1833 the British came in force, ordered the Argentinians out and forbade them to return. Is this aggression justified because it has been unanswered for a hundred and fifty years?
But even setting these facts aside, the underlying issue is this: Britain is an imperialist and colonial nation WILA economic empire worth over £67bn in foreign investments -the government's own figures. Argentina dependent foreign debts of over f16bn.
Argentina's major owned by investors from perialist nations - including large British shareholdings.
Sacmis: Cretenge 21 May 1962
They say: 'We must
oppose aggression'
earnings of British over and come from overseas. part?
class depends on millions slaves throughout the world.
alice ed OCC American armed keeping debt collectors crushers.
their iron grip.
The 'something profits.
1600 now: do we
If British workers try Argentina
sion which Argentinian workers.
simply oppress
defeat
according to
with
industries are
the im- group of
Argentina's
page &
Thus Argentina, with a foreign debt of £16½bn, pays £2bn per year in service charges on this debt alone; while Britain has an income from foreign investment of f8bn and a further income from the City's 'invisible'
f2.5bn. Over bosses' profits
What does this mean? If you strip it of all legal niceties, according to which Argentinian workers 'of their own free will' contract to sell their labour to British bosses, our ruling
of wage
But slavery can only be maintain-
The British and forces, allegedly 'world law and order', are and rebellionThey are not just lighting 'communism' but every revolt against
This is why America has backed Britain and not Argentina. As one American diplomat told Newsweek rather shamefacedly 'We never told them that we cared about things other than communist subversion and now they're surprised to find that something else matters more.
else' was imperialist
The problem facing socialists is support all rebellions helps against our slave-owners or does it depend who is leading them? Argentinian workers are exploited by British bosses whoever is in the government.
to pick and choose who to support against Thatcher, we will participate in the oppres-
ner class visils on LO LIC
But these Argentinian workers are in a different situation: their bosses
them and no one else. Galtieri's actions cannot harm British workers: but Thatcher's actions can and do harm Argentinian workers.
we, as socialists, seek unly Delween the workers of the world to
capitalist aggression against the working class. This is the only way to remove all relations of force and oppression from society, by removing their foundation: class society. But unity between workers is impossible, as Lenin argued incessantly, while any
workers supports the violence of its own ruling class against other workers. It is Thatcher's aggression that must be opposed: and in Bri-
And here is
Young
tory. cher's war.
WHEN THE Tories use this argument it is nothing short
They founded the largest empire in world history Britain's. Everyone who broken free has had to fight for it. The Tories have never supported self-determination except when it
them Britain's domination of the world.
Their recent joint naval exercises in the Caribbean with the USA, volving more than 45,000 troops, in-
mock invasions of Grenada and Cuba. And Britain was the only European country to send observers
'elections' in El Salvador while the United States was plotting proxy intervennon in unai country Dy Argentina itself, and while Argentine "advisors' were already working with the Salvadorean death squads to help suppress the Salvadorean people.
When the USA recently asked for the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean as a naval base, Britain just evacuated the 1300 islanders to Mauritius. And fifteen years ago when the island of Anguilla wanted independence from the created federation of St Kitts Nevis-Anguilla, a British naval task force was despatched to stop them.
Moreover the Tories don't even accept the islanders' own claims to be British. Their immigration *ever he slanders from coming
Winston Churchill
with the news
"TRUTH - the first casualty in war' said the BBC on the front page of its weekly review, The Listener. The Tory Party's neanderthals are demanding a propaganda service so slavish that even the Beeb has to defend itself. The media aren't exactly God's gift to the working America's Henry Kissinger was asked about the British media he said, 'if we had had this sort of coverage during the Vietnam war, I would have been the happiest man alive'.
That is what makes the Tory onslaught so horrifying.
Winston's battle for air supremacy over the BBC shows yet again how this was is being used to erode working class and democratic rights at home: another reason to oppose it. A radio and television service adapted demands would be little more than a Goebbels-style lie fac-
But the press - and not just the Sun - has repeated and supported the Tories' main arguments. Goebbels worked on the principle that a falsehood, if repeated often enough, will be believed. The Tories' lies must be answered. Since the war began Socialist Challenge has done exactly this: week in, week out, we have explained the real issues involved.
At last the movement against the war is beginning to take off; and on these pages, as a service to it, we summarise what you haven't heard from the BBC: the arguments against That-
to alter the act to let them into Briof tain, Lord Trefgarne had the following comment to make: has 'I must remind their Lordships that however strong their affection, the fact remains that the Falklands are not and never have been part of the United Kingdom.'
'I must remind their Lordships that however strong their affection, the fact remains that the Falklands are not and never have been part of the United Kingdom. - Lord Trefgarne, speaking in the Lords on the Immigration Act.
The Tories organised a three-line whip to prevent this fact being chang ed in the Lords.
The islanders are only allowed to come to Britain once every two years British- for a short stay: yet they cannot, for the most nart. lives on the island. Seventy per cent of ine lana is ownca by Islands Company, a subsidiary of the Coalite Group act them out of their tied cottages when inel user working lives are over, su they have to
"ARGUMENTS AG
LISTENER
Pages 31-38 CHUIDE
people. When Winston's facilities
tina.
elected
stake stands. mineral plundered by tury.
actually live out their
democratic the Falkland
This company turfs
junta
'emigrate' New
THE I
6 May 1982 Price 50p (IR 76p, USA
The first
casualty of war
trut
Zealand or Australia.
The islanders have been used as an excuse for Britain's territorial claims. Although the community has declined from 3,000 to 1,800, no Argentinian has been allowed to settle there If there had been free movement of peoples, a majority of islanders would by now be Argentinian, since hospital
HOSL and other services are provided by Argen-
The island's independence is completely nominal. Their administrators are appointed trom Britain
and the 'governor', Rex Hunt, is also governor of British Antartica in his spare time. Who voted for him - the penguins?
These facts show what is really at
the territory around the Argentina's and resources have been Britain over the cenNow that oil has been discovered oft Argentina's coast. Bri tain's territorial claims would allow oil companies like Coalite to secure the title to much of this wealth. The islanders have been used as an ar-
device rights Their would human best and be
preserved by allowing them to resettle at British expense, and by helping the Argentinian workers to overthrow the
Moreover, once we look at matters from the viewpoint of the Argen-
Page 9 scan of this page
ISTENER
ion'
inian workers, we see that a different ssue of self-determination is really inolved: the right of the Argentinian eople to self-determination. If they re to free themselves from imperial lomination they Illust mesncica access lo lie esources of their territory.
A different issue is really nvolved: the right of the Argentinian people to elf-determination.
Those who point only to the fascist nature of the junta ignore the eelings of the Argentinian hemselves. They feel the should be part of Argentina, want access to the seabed and mineral I COULLES of the South coastal regions, and it is their rights which are being attacked by the third argest navy in the world.
In short, the issue is a typical Tory crick. The alleged 'rights people are being used as an excuse to attack the rights of 27,000,000 people on the mainland. It's the same dodge
Norman Tebbit's Employment' Bill which claims to detend' the freedom ot 400 scabs —
as to smash up the rights 2,000,000 trade unionists.
For socialists who termination, Argentinian sovereighly should be supported as the only consistent policy.
AINST THE WAR?
ROM THE have natural island they
Atlantic
of 1,800
su-calcu
defend self-
Who do you trust to fight fascism? Argentinian oppositionist
They say:
Tories and the Labour Party front bench, this Plaid argument is hypocritical.
From 1976 until 1979, Britain was the junta's biggest
military supplier. At that time not even America would sell arms to Argentina, because of
Carter's human rights policy.
Mass mobilisation in Buenos Aires. Fighting Thatcher and the fascists
Blimps
The Tories carried on this
Cymru MP Dafydd Thomas testified Socialist Challenge that a British made T-42 frigate, sold to Argentina this year, was still completing its trials in Cardigan Bay in early March!
But the Tories went even further. Within three weeks of arriving in office they slammed the door in the face
'We must fight fascism'
policy. of the junta's political opponents. LIlS *Friendly' governments like Chile and Argentina couldn't be antagonised; SO Thatcher's henchman Ridley closed down the refugee programme. As far as he was concerned the best place from which to fight the junta was inside its jalls.
Nor has friendship with Chile ended. How can Britain fascism when it makes common cause with mass murderers General Pinochet?
But, members, although shouldn't socialists fascists without hypocrisy?
But let's look at the facts. Has the British navy ever replaced a right wing government with a left wing one? No — and for a simple reason. ruling class's navy. It can't be used for progressive ends.
Sit back and think: if Britain stations 10,000 troops Atlantic, and the Argentinian people rise up against Galtieri, do you really believe the troops will support the people against the junta? Of course not; they will be used like British armed forces in the Caribbean, who are supposed to be there to defend the people of Belize tators' in Guatemala. taking part with the USA,
in the have overthrown dictators Nicaragua, and Grenada.
British armed forces are also helping
dere the Guatemalan people from themselves overthrowing their dictators.
Only those who have nothing to gain from slavery will fight against
The real issue facing socialists is this: in whom do we place our trust to fight the fascists — in our own class, which has been fighting the junta for _ six ycals
Thatcher
Nicholas policy. who have
be fighting with Galtieri. like Chile's
Labour Party
this is all true,
fight LIC
accepting Tory
It is the
South
it easier.
against the 'dic- facts
They are now in joint naval exercises directed against the
Caribbean that This
Cuba, become Ana ine
Salvadorean and the country.
Thatcher
were lo
from power
in Margaret him.
and her navy who profit from the activities of dictators throughout the world, and in many cases put them in power? A socialist
those nothing to gain from slavery will fight against it.
Our objective must be to create the best conditions for the Argentinian working class to settle accounts
It is not true, as the British Militant seems to think, that Galtieri can be crushed between the British navy and the Argentinian working people If Galtieri is forced to retreat before British military might, the most likely outcome in Argentina would be a right wing coup and a more repressive regime, which would not only have to accommodate Britain but contain the anger of its own people.
A British victory will make it harder for the left in Argentina and a British defeat will make
British victory will make it harder for the left in Argentina and a British defeat will make it easier. The
show this: since Galtieri recuperated the islands, the trade union and political opposition have had much more freedom to organise
is not because Galtieri has the people's friend, but because by biting the hand that feeds him, he has weakened himself inside
Those who argue that Galtieri's move is merely a manoeuvre, to win popular support, fail to understand how to prevent the manoeuvre succeeding. Galtieri retains what support he now has because he is fighting
- in short because Thatcher is fighting him. If the British fleet
sail away tomorrow, the Argentinian people would not feel any inhibitions about removing him
The war helps sustain Galtieri: ending the war offers Argentinian workers the chance to deal with
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Christian Rakovsky:
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buy Socialist
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page 10
Selected Writings on USSR postion 1923-30, In • Edited and Christian
Rakovsky. wits Pagne Allison Gus Fagan. Allison
The Bookshop, £4.95 plus 20% p&p.
THIS IS the first collection in English of writings Porary of lenin who has Christian Rakovsky been HE USEV BICACCICU He was one of the outstan-
ding Marxists of tributed
contributed significantly building of the first workers state.
Rakovsky was truly a man for all seasons. Born in Bulgaria, he joined the revolutionary movement as a youth and became the best-known leader in the Balkans. He was repeated-
arrested
one country after A lifelong internationalist, he knew Frederick Engels and worked with George Plekhano, Lenin, Rosa Trotstburg, He and Leon Trotsky. fought against World War 1 and the treachery of the social patriots in the Second In ternational. He was one of the organisers of the antiwar conference held in Zimmerwald, Switzerland, in 1915.
Trotsky
Rakovsky imprisoned in 1916 by the Romanian government for his antiwar activities, and liberated by Russian
and Romanian workers in 1917. He was
Selected Writings on
Opposition in the
USSR 1923-30
Christian Rakovsky
£4.95 pb Allison & Busby
Samizdat Register I Edited by Roy Medvedev :£3.60 pb Merlin
Woman and Russia • First Feminist Samizdat
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Thurs Fri
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catalogue.
revolutionary in
opposition
active in Russia on the side of the soviets that came to power that year. He joined the 1918 and became member of its central committee the next year. Assigned to work in the Ukraine during and alter the 1918-20 civil war in Russia, he became Drestdent of the Soviet Ukraine.
At the head of the government the Ukraine, Rakovsky fought against Ducall all
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The Challenge of th
Left Oppositior (1928-29
Leon Trotsky
€4.95 pb Pathfinde
The Alternative in Eastern Europe Rudolph Bahro £4.50 pb Verso
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Under Review!
Christian Rakousy
and oppressive policies Stalin employed against non-Russian nationalities
the Soviet Union. In 1923 ne aanered Leninist Left Opposition
The hencedov Opposition sought to
the Communist Party and the Soviet state
the internationalism and workers democracy that prevailed before Lenin's final illness and
For these Stalin managed to have By Andy Miller RED LADDER,
Attempting
on her life.
There's OCUL of humour in 'Playing Apart'
particularly the appearance of bike-riding
Vorman Tebbit. The pisstake of the SDP — 'With a glass o claret • ana a new VOLV car, new politician who's bound to go tar' - is manous. 1 ne music is also good.
"Playing Apart' subtly shows the different aspects
women. The narrator
sexual harassment in the
By Frank Lovell
Rakovskv •removed from the Ukraine and assigned
diplomatic DOSLE abroad. As ambassador to Britain and later France Rakovsky negotiated recognition of the young workers state by those countries. This earned him a reputation as a
revolutionary diplomat.
Deported
In 1927 Rakovsky was expelled Iron ane Com. munist Party along with Trotsky and the other Up positionists. He spent the next seven vears in places of remote banishment under conditions of severe repression. Despite these conditions and ill health, he stood firm against Stalinism and the weaker elements in lne Opposition, like Karl Radek, who capitulatea to stain. Alle Trotsky was deported to Turkey in 1929, Rakovsky was recognised as the prin
apar upposuon Icauer I
side the USSR
But after being deported to Central Asia, he was isolated from his
and from political information. He was wounded during an unsuccessful escape atLCOL after deportation.
and his
11LICOS i broken, the 60-year-old Ra struggle in 99ave Rakovsky finally up bureaucracy pressured
tion submerging his : differences with the party and submitting completely to discipline.
But Stalin feared and never forgave him, and in 1938 Rakovsky was tried
Playing apart
the Leeds-based socialist theatre group is touring clubs around the north of England with a new show 'Playing Apart'. It is the first play the present group has written. to break new ground, the play follows the story of a young woman from the North east and the impact of unemployment
office: 'The men used their brains and women their hands - at least that was how it was supposed
to be. As far as I could see
was the COLIC way round.
weakness of the play is that the characters
helpless Cass an and powerless The main character gets no backing from the union when she is
Her
Naut
father goes to get drunk
the night ne is given nis notice. The song that ends
and convicted in the thir Moscow frame-up Like other revolutionar leaders, he was falsely a cused of conspiring wit the German and Japane: imperialists to overthro the workers state he ha done so much to build. H was sentenced to 20 year in prison and died or wa killed in a prison camp i 1941.
The present bool selections extrac from Rakovsky's writing as an Oppositionist in th intormative, 8-pa ge has a ve informative ir troduction by the edito
Fagan, Sociali:
Challenge Britan about Rakovsky
long and inspiring caree It is the best and fullest a count available in Englist This alone makes the boo worth reading.
Memories
The selections Rakovsky include: a shol autobiography he wrote i the mid-1920s;
Aspect about the national que: tion the Com munist Party's 12th cor gress in 1923; his memorie of Lenin; his constantly ir terrupted speech th 15th congress 1927 when he was expelled fror the CP; and six document he wrote during banishment. These were preserved becaus Trotsky published them a the time in his Russian lalizuati Bulletin of the _Oppos tion. This is the first tim they have been publishe together.
is sincer from
socialist pape the play tries to point o that things can be chan ed. But is not stror enough to get the messa across and it doesn't flo from the rest of the play
Red Ladder tries to g Lne orence o ask ole tions rather than providin Icau answers would have been possib
VICSCIL al without ramming a lin down the audience throat. out and it's free But it's night Definitely recommended
Future shows include. Mar chester 25 May; Leeds 27 Ma
1 June, nanax zo Ma Shelte do full Raise hal Rotherhar 5 June. For hese nother forman 79222819. Pam
Page 11 scan of this page
Vital
forceof
reggae
WHEN I read the Linton Kwesi Johnson interview (SC 29 April), I gave thanks for him pure dread. Not only can he write good poetry, he also understands the relevance of his chosen art form in society - poetry plays a role in the struggle for ideas, ideological terrain.
Whilst Socialist Challenge has occasionally reviewed radical white music there has been little or no reviews of the vital force of reggae and dub music. (The notable excepnion was toe exceren aru. cle by Paul Gilroy at the
Bob Marley's death.)
Linton has said rebel music is 'the groundbeat of survival itself. It is a music that Is al once violent and awesome,
aggressive and cathartic. It is
against the walls Babylon, walls may a-tumbling
heavy historical load that is pain, that is hunger, that tread bitter, that is
This is the only thing which black people actual-
possess control their cultue. The poetry and lyrics and the roasting
tial' It contributes to the oral history of black peo Preeting memory us history not as
the distant past, the
RICHARD ROZANSKI in his article about the LPYS Conference (SC 22 April) writes: "The defence of the workers state against also means defending the have nuclear very depressing statement. distortion of socialist theory to end up with 'right' weapon!
A nuclear missile is a "I'm leste is d by scientechnology. tists and produced by men in faccortes. It costs a lot in money, and lives too, in exploiting the earth's resources needed to produce them. Even to consider the effect of one weapon is heartstopping
They indiscriminately and horribly kill all people, old and young, handicapped and well, animals. They put the planet at risk
RAJ-END
Our flabby union jack now hangs slack.
We forget the ack-ack guns of world war two ran out of flak decades ago.
That shabby flag (and all it stands for) is just a flashy rag no longer fabricated in mills of Accrington, but manufactured where this scrap of cloth no longer flaps its flaccid vanity -in India, Taiwan, Sarawak.
The union jack is just a load of cack.
PAT ARROWSMITH 21.4.82
the struggle on the
unbearable weight of the
present .
Even pure dub music
(no lyrics) is experiential,
conveying things too dread
words The lanizuake Rastafarian., these forms
al li The
of Rastafari can no longer
be passed off by the white
revolutionary marxists
promoting political
passivily.
The historical ex-
perience of black people is
one of the most acute
human suffering, desola-
tion and despair which br-
ings about a need for 'in-
peace an inner
strength or 'spiratual well-
bein this impelling need to
be free of the inner pain,
the oscillation between
psychic ot despai
and rebellion does not op-
the physical and
BUSC
social quest for libera-
tion. The historical
called
lastafari is in fact laying
the spiratual and cultural
foundations from which to
launch struggle for
liberation.
STEVEN ARCHER
Leeds
Russia: no right to nuclear weapons
destroying
imperialism guts, they right to tions.
this thing!
What a
nuclear
vantage. delivered to
of actual
of the Hiroshima and bombs 37 vears later. and these were tiny comparison bombs.
YOTI today the 30,000 weapons
has an advantage.
WORLD
Letter!
Write to SC letters, c/o PO Box 50, London N7
the structure of nature, and through radiation worming into our skin and blood and sane.
will kill future genera- CND How can there be a right to
Nor is there any sense whatever in the remarks by Richard Rozanski about the arms race and the US ad-
Steven one weanon The its target the effect CND will would be crushing, not only in terms pening.
damage, also about psychologically. Look at the effects
Nagasaki
to modern real US has ahout life. to the USSR's 10,000. In terms or numers the us
In terms of the Bath VINCE
WAN
dend frie
Linton Kwesi Johnson: poetry in the struggle for ideas
Letters ATTer SETTERS
Editor reserves the right to cut any letter over 400 words.
future of the planet, talk of an advantage to one side or the other is in-
concentrates on the technological object the bomb Its not a deterrent or a defender of democracy; it's a monstrous product of some really sick men, capitalists and communists. young socialists who JoIn learn about what's hap They will see that CND is something beyond methods of government or different uses of money. It's about waking everyone up from a nightmare that's true possibility. The nightmare of the destruction of all
PETER ELLIS 2995-
Letters
SUOT anti-imperialist orientation within CND the stand taken by Youth CND at
conference las reported in SC 29 April) is a heartening development. It BrAVE ANS quite graphically the gap exists bet ween the leadership of majority of ias and the majority sup porters.
The vote that i os taken the Council London Region CND effectively reversed a decision taken at that body's AGM which voted to support activities organised
Not a proud record
and their union'.
The NUM was largely responsible for getting women out of the coal processing jobs they the surface of Lancashire nits right up to the mid fli
There is no getting away trom that and there is no getting away from the fact that was a reac tionary policy.
Jack Lavin can smugly
the Lancashire area as being right wing . But this had nothing to with
alca. actuall Nottingham) had got rid of women process workers long before Lancashire had, and it was the union in those areas, as in Lancashire, which led the campaign against the women.
He can just as smugly point to the actions Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire miners fighting to better the pay and conditions pit cleaners and canteen workers, but this misses
the point alt ether.
the type of job done by women which is central debate. Cleaning and
traditional women's work and (with some rare exceptions) ine miners union has always. argued that women in the
Wonder Woman
strikes back
of Super Financier (SC 29 April)
Forward
tions of finance.
PAULA FRAMPTON Acton Amazon Faction
CND: desire for respectability
during Reagan's visit. This decision was laken by d collectinore represention
LIGION CND groups and supporters. Whilst they
alc busy organising meetings
Salvador and Reagan Reception Com mittee speakers to mobilise for all events taking place before and during Reagan's visit, CND seem
portunity to oppose the
portunity to oppose world's number one warmonger.
Instead of denouncing Reagan's bellicose foreign policy in the Middle East and Latin Ame a73 and remember in the crisis US forces went on worldwide nuclear alert; instead of drawing attention to the clear links bet-
deployment generation of nuclear warfighting weapons and these policies CND de-
nounces the RRC and its activities.
This is a continuation of the far-left bashing that it has indulged in since the resurgence of CND. The reason flows from the clear strategy that it has, in particular the CP, for advancing the campaign. Its desire for respectability, to win the support of respon-
JACK LAVIN must need his eyes testing (SC 6 May) if he reads Eileen Murphy's article on women in the mines as 'an attack on miners
pits should be restricted to those areas. Having
inere. no one is disputing that the NUM will then de. fend their pay and conditions What Eileen was sayyet it any seceion or ine section of • a11)
NUM fighting to restore women's right to work in Ine now exclusively male processing jobs on the sur-
less strenuous than the! were when the Lancashire pit brow women did them uncle should never be seen by socialists Bou. beyond any criticism There dispute that the history of women in the mines is full of complications and contradictions, DUI NUM's record throughout It is not a proud one. Ina has to be recognised Jack Lavin should read Angela John's excellent book on the subject; he'd find the involvement the NUM extends much further than Joe Gormiey 'and his right wing colleagues.
NEIL DUFFIELD Secretary of Bolton Trades Council and member of Pit Prop Theatre AS A member of the Amazon Faction (British Wonder Woman Support Group| / would like to claim responsibility for the disappearance
Our agents will ensure that HE will not be swinging into action. HE will not pour money into leaflets or deliver FISTFULS of anything to anybody as we have deprived HIM of HIS
equal representation for members of the Amazon Faction on ques
sible persons (parsons) leads inevitably the downplaying of the most position of its poli NATO position unilateralism, and the most consistent advocates of those policies, the far left. This is the real reason for the hostility to the RRC and its clear anti-imperialist thrust.
Yet CND has made an excellent response to the Malvinas crisis. Its clear headed opposition to the sending of the task force and to the dangers escalation inherent in the conflict (the task force apparently carry
midst howls jingoism. But the question
warmongering That. cher in the South Atlantic. why not oppose the visit of her mentor. Ronald Reagan? Why the contradiction?
It is a question whose answer has everything to do with CND's, and the CP's sectarianism The contradiction will be over come on 7 June when the ranks of CND turn out er masse on the picket of the US embassy.
PHIL WATERHOUSE East London Socialist Challenge 71 May 192 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Washington's war against Vietnam goes on
Israel prepares to
Seven years after liberation
By Gary Erlisker SEVEN YEARS after the liberation of their country, the people of Vietnam face massive problems. These are due to the legacy of imperialist ticularly that carried out by Washington in the 1960s and early 1970s, campaign to starve and economically throttle Vietnam.
A good exposure of US
olicy appeared on IT\
9 April Return to Viet-
documentary about the trip of a group of ex-US servicemen back to vietnam lale last ycal. was a stirring indictment of Us policy.
The servicemen returned at the invitation of the Vietnamese,
about destructive effects of the OUl chemical defoliant Agent Orange and to assist the Vietnamese in tracing
missing US livous.
Agent Orange not only had horrific defoliating Vietnam, also widespread
deformities in children
whose parents were expos-
By Ernest Harsch
after Zionist forces seized it in the 1967 war.
In a statement to Israeli
military IOCCS. Defence
Minister Ariel Sharon pro-
called. 'We are
demonstrating our desire
move forward
peace.
Just how committed
the Zionist rulers are to
'peace' in the Middle East
was demonstrated in tne
weeks preceding the return
of the Sinai:
Since late March, and settlers thee cuest bank aies UNC Bank and
Gaza Strip have been
shooting down Palestinian
youths protesting against
the occupation.
• In the Golan Heights,
Syrian territory that was
annexed Israeli troops Israel
December,
and police have been try-
ing to impose Israeli iden-
cards defiant
population. Haim Cohen,
former justice the
Israeli Supreme COUL
condemned the Zionist
egime's policy LUIC
Jolan Heights April 15 a
'the law of barbarians':
• Following weeks of
threats and provocations,
Israeli jets struck at a series
of Lebanese villages south
Four rays before use
before
Sinai's formal return, kill-
ing more than a score of
Palestinian refugees
• On the very day of
the turnover, military
tribunal in the West Bank
convicted Mayor Wahid
Hamdallah of Anapta of
occupation
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 12
exploitation and destruction, par-
and the US-organised
ed to it. While this is obviously much more prevalent in Vietnam itself, also affected US, Austra-
New Zealand and ilan, other pro-US forces who
were occupying Vietnam.
Durinietnam the course of the war Washington dropped more bombs on that coun try (which is about the size of the UK) than were drop. ped by sides theatres of World War II and the Korean War combined.
Millions of people were killed or wounded and 15
left peopic WCIC homeless in their own
Over a third of the rice paddy areas were
invade Lebanon
Shortly before dawn on 25 April, an Israeli flag was lowered at Sharm el Sheik in the southern Sinai Peninsula. A few hours later an Egyptian flag was raised in its place, marking the completion of the Sinai's return to Egypt, 15 years
regulations, specifically
TOT *involvements
political affairs not direct-
ly related to his activities as
mayor - he signed protest
petitions,
manifestoes and protests.
The Israeli authorities
Hamdallah
Osassed
from his position five days
later, LICI fourth Palesti-
nian mayor they have
deposed since March 18.
very statewhich Defence
Minister Sharon preached
about peace, he spelled out
the government'S celer-
mination to extend its grip
over occupied
ritories even further — in
the 1.3
million Palestinians who
live there.
• 'We shall turn to in-
creasing and consolidating
settlements on the Samaria (the West Ou in Judea
Samaria (the Bank) Sharon said, Gaza district,
'settlements
that are an integral part of
our security, settlements
La true basis
political plans — all in the
framework of the Govern-
ment's avowed policy.
The same point was
stressed two days later by
Begin, who stated that the
dismantling of the Israeli swould never be repeated in settlements Sinal
Golan Heights, West
Bank, Gaza Strip. 'It
will not happen again,
Begin declarec this underine
taminated by US defoliants. Over 11¼ million gallons ot Agent Orange were dropped on Vietnam, along with huge amounts other defoliants.
VIETNAM
usane ears ago tennese
thousands Chinese troops invaded Vietnam, placing massive strains on the country.
determination, nine
Israeli settlements were
opened in the West Bank
the same week
The Israeli rulers never
intended to abandon their
aggressive signe dolines when
Camp
they
David accords in 1978.
What they did want
was an agreement with the
Egyptian government.
This, ine Calculalcu
would free their hands to
try to crush the Palestinian
liberation movement, both
occupied territories
and in Lebanon, and
enable them to concen-
trate their military forces
against Syria
Israeli hopes that they
would be able to deepen
the split in the Arab world
by enticing other govern-
International
'It is an honour and a privilege io De lne first soldiers to cone back' and begin the process of repairing the wounds the servicemen told their Vietnamese hosts.
This brought out the effects of the US blockade of Vietnam.
For a start the US has not paid penny of the miserly $7.5bn agreed in 1973 as reconstruction over the next five years (the total 1CUl Washington spent through the war totals $479bn!)
Because of the effects of the war and its aftermath some 20 percent of Vietnamese children suffer from malnutrition.
But, in the words of Assistant Secretary of State for Pacific and East
Affairs John Holdridge, order make Vietnam 'feel pain' was actol recently prevailed upon the EEC to stop sending 15,000 tons a
ments to join the Camp
David framework were
also a total flop. Instead,
the Be Piser erically
round politically
isolated
But the Israelis have
not up on their
plans.
Since early April,
several divisions of Israeli
troops have been
in northerr Israel, along
the bordel with Lebanon,
and Israeli spy flights over
been stepflave
ped up. The Palestinian
in Lebanon braced
for an Israeli invasion, and
the Lebanese government
was so concerned that it
sought to raise an interna
tional alarm about an im.
pending attack
On April 21, Isracli jets
pounded the
Dreaminantly Palamr
villages Damur,
Vietnamese victims of chemical warfare
year of dried milk, oats and oil to children's hospitals there.
When Vietnam appealed to the UN for 384,000 tons of cereal to feed 10 million people, Washington refused
Naameh, Aramun, Sadi ran Kaalde Doha, BerzbudA cust just
south to Beer Lebanese
ding the
government, were killed in the bom
ings and many more were
wounded. Two Syrian jets
that challenged the Israeli
attack were shot down
The Zionist war
preparations, however,
meeting growing op-
position in the region
Within Israel, more
and more Israeli workers
are resisting the govern-
ment's efforts drag
them into a The
Palestinian force
Lehanon are getting ready
io meet any Isract
sion. And in the West
Rank and Ciaza Strip,
contribute and lobbied other countries to follow Sult The Reagan gang has
also tried, with some sucLoss, prevent private charity and rene agencie. in the US from sending any aid.
Left, Palestinian camp
Palestinian youths
continuing to stand up to
the brutality of the Israeli
occupation forces.
Following
statements by Begin an
Sharon that they would
never give up the occupied
territories, a new wave of
protests broke out. Israeli
troops answered with gun-
fire, killing more
demonstrators April
30
In towns and refugee
In order to stop Reagan and Thatcher and their allies killing _ a lo more, Vietnam desperate needs support. necessary to press for : US and allied hands off Vietand for massive natu reconstruction aid. under fire, , top, Palestinian leac Arafat, above, children in Palestinian camp in Lebanon
are camps throughout
West Bank and Ga Strip. yout demonstrated by the hu dreds, blocking roads al the
clashing with troops police
outlawed Palestinian fl symbol of th hopes and their strugs for national aberation they defiantly showed j they thought Begin's 'peace' policics
Page 13 scan of this page
By a supporter of the Namibian Support Committee MARGARET THATCHER claimed Panorama (26 April that her action Falklands was 'standing up for all those small territories and peoples the world over ... for self-determination ... for the international law against international anarchy! So opened a new chapter of Tory lies and buffoonery.
Named naul
Ine fighting a 15 year long
cuballull.
alike, for the first time in British legal history, have
lion backing up a string of
weeks, Britain's two largest
meetings that they would
In amala
Apart from diamonds,
luxury turs
banning of plastic bullets. Every
Rev lan Paisley,
ported the resolution which was
passed by 110 to 43.
At least 43,000 rounds of the bullets
have been fired in Ireland causing at least
13 deaths and dozens of serious injuries
maimed were innocent children.
Valera of Fine Fail opened the debate at
ine European
these
Despite the Strasbourg parliament's
vote the British government and the Nor-
their determination to continue to use the
deadly bullets.
said: 'We are seriously concerned about
the situation but our decision is quite
Namibia: where
Britain ignores
UN resolutions
on BBC's on the largest in the world. government, amongst others, intervenes to save them and the ICJ rulings. Euro MPs call for banon plastic bullets
labour A police spokesperson demanding plastic bullets.
stop ine trade since 1973 still lies on the Walworth Nodu shelt.
Just continue Labour's
Tory practice The truth is that both
1m
the oppressed masses.
These three SWAPO fighters, Comrades Sagarias, Jason and Malambo, captured deep inside Namibia, are at the centre of a show trial to prove that South Africa is countering SWAPO militarily - they may well be given the death sentence this week. SWAPO regards the court as illegal, the prisoners as POWs, and is demanding that the British
bian uranium will be stop-
WOrKCIS
by a revolutionary anti-
clear. We will continue to use them in accordance win our current hist uclons The failure of the government to heed parliament decision is further proof of their preparedness to ruthlessly repress the natinalist population in the North of Ireland. It is not the first time that the British government's policies in Ireland have been condemned as either il-
national bodies like the Euro parliament.
Equally sinister for the labour movement in this country is the fact that the police forces of England and Wales have now stockpiled some 5000 baton rounds of these same deadly bullets for possible use in 'riots' in British cities. Nor has the government denied reports that it has just bought two new water cannons from the West German police for further use As the Tories prepare for war against the working class at home, the British movement has every interest in the government im plements the Euro parliament's ban on
International.
imperialist movement.
Huge racist South African troop movements and reconnaisance are tak-
Angola prior to a possible
SULLEOSCI series of attacks in central
racist troops and destroy-
forces
farmers fled to the nearest (where a British-registered
Dougll a vualici
demanding to know why the SADF could not keep
Namibia Support Committee Conference
Sat 22 May 11-5pm County Hall, London Speakers from SWAPO, PLO, ANC, Amrit Wilson, Lionel Jeffries and others; plus films, creche, Details from NSC, 53 Leverton St, London NW5. Ring 267-1941/2
The South African generals had lust previousIy been boasting of 'breaking SWAPO's backbone'
reality they had been oracle
White politicians were
population of Namibia has been reducca rom call
powers started their secret
troops in Namibia has in-
country, local with very low population concentrations and against
equal in size and strength and backed by the full
plan for Namibia since it sateouards and a peculial
OU
lected these food
Thousands
back Polish
general strike
By Davy Jones
movement. Despite
in the Warsaw and Gdansk areas,
Elsewhere too drivers jammed their car horns and people hung out oI ol fice and house windows to SHOW defiance against martial law. inakon more than ten thousands people were dispersed bi riot police with water canROOS and another march
claimed that 679 people in
were arrested
leading members 01
They include Jacek Kuron alre
Polish authorities released
clulivilly
or 19o1 buca a resuit I d period of Solidarnoss's ac
DONE Independent SeltGoverning Trade Union 'Solidarność', to the Polish people the court-rooms deserve the highest praise.
1981 gave their lives for freedom.
and its leaders, together with Lech Walesa. one minute at midday on 13th May.
still and let the sound of car horns be heard.
Temporary Coordinating Committee Zbigniew Bujak (Warsaw Region), Wladyslaw Frasyniuk
Wladyslaw Hardek (Krakow Region), Bogdan Lis (Gdańsk Region).
TENS OF THOUSANDS of workers in Poland supported last Thursday's 15 minute general strike called by the underground Solidarnosc
systematic threats of repression by the military authorities, workers in a significant number of factories, especially
downed tools for fifteen minutes at midday on 13 May, five months after the imposition of martial law.
gives the lie to the myth that Solidarnosc was in any way 'responsible for the economic crisis.
This is doubly proved workers have been forced the Hal lal law authorities accept nuge cut their living standards Government
is more urgent than ever the To all members of the Five months have passed since the introduction of martial law. Contrary to the calculations of the authorities social resistance is not weakening. The
The thousands who have been interned and arrested, who refuse to be broken and bravely voic the idea of Solidarity in the camps, prisons, and
they are released, the 13th of each month will be a day of protest against repression and violence, a day of commemoration of those who in December WE CALL FOR all enterprises in the country to stop work between 12.00 and 12.15 on the 13th We ask for freedom for trade union activists
WE APPEAL FOR all urban traffic to stop for
and buses, cars and pedestrians come to a stand-
The coordination of action nationwide will b a measure of our solidarity and strength. We call on other Regions to join our protest, at the same time, not giving up any actions planned locally. Socialist Society
ULU, Malet St, London WC1 Daniel Singer, Oliver MacDonal Mario Nuti, Monty Johnston
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
* Rail: the war at home ≥
BR Workshops
under attack
By R. Brooks, NUR Guard BR WORKSHOPS at Shildon, Co. Durham, and Horwich, Lancashire, 6,000 jobs throughout the country in all 12 BR workshops are threatened in the next 18 months.
snildon produced £800,000 of the £1.3 million profit of British Rail Engineering (BREL) last year, and its previous managing director described it as the most efficient waggon works in Europe. The first railway in the world ran through Shildon, and three or four generations of local people lave worked there.
BREL getting enough orders from
BR's locomotive, Las ycal. canade and waggon fleets were reduced. The waggon fleet alone is to be further slashed from 132,000 to 4U.UU ane next three years. Shildon Works has no orders for 1983.
By contrast BREL has received f50 million worth of new export orders supply 74 coaches Kenya and 124 waggons to Southern Ireland. three times last year's orders.
Whilst the Tories con-
run down the railways, other countries are re-stocking and modernising. So the workshops which deal with export orders are being kept
whilst those dealing with British stock are to close.
This situation will con-
Annual General workforce meet
give
tunately this is not the case.
leadership.
Thus,
and the union still backs BR's plans.
ship's strategy of the
against the traindrivers.
decide.
portunity to look at
with a card vote.
belongs.
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 14
are to be closed, and
tinue unless the rail unions fight the Tories and stop the destruction i! what used to be the world's best railway The unions are well aware that BR has a lower level of investment per train kilometre than any other European country. Some 98 per cent of diesels and 60 of electrics in BR's fleet of 10.000 are over 15 years old. Just to replace them means an increase of 30 per cent investment in the next ten years. This is not happening. us icau. ment is going down and the rail subsidy for this year has been reduced by £15 million.
NUR members should ensure the union carries out les inreal or strikc al tion to save Shildon and Horwich and put an end to any further job losses in the workshops. We must get resolutions through our oracle. calling for support for the action being taken by the workforce at both places and rejecting outright the job losses. We should collect money for a tour of the convenors at the threatened workshops, that every depot in the country can be made aware of the extent of the Tory attack, and the need for solidari-
Democratise the NUR NUR guards and
IN THE build up to the National Union of Railwaymens
Meeting (AGM), conferences of the - the 'Grades Conferences'.
You might think that such conferences are designed to
membership opportunity democratically put forward policy for the union. Unfor-
These conferences have no authority with the union
They cannot mandate the leadership or even send resolutions to the AGM. They have a purely consultative role through a system of liaison committees.
last year, for example the traffic grades conference unanimously voted against the 'open station' concept, a 'productivity' exercise which will decimate jobs by getting rid of ticket collectors as we know them. In spite of this outright rejection, two pilot schemes are continuing
The NUR leadership uses these conferences to reinforce the divisions in the railway workforce. Such divisions act as a brake on the united fight-back against the leader-
'common approach' between management and the unions — something which has led to closure of 'collected and delivered' parcels; the openstation concept and one-person operation of trains. These led to the loss last year of 9741 jobs. Attachment to this same strategy found the NUR backing the Rail Board
This year's AGM is a rules revision conference. This gives an opportunity to change the structure of the union in order to make sure that the views of the membership
Delegates at the grades conferences will have the op-
this lack of democracy inside the union. Key here will be the two proposals which militants have been campaigning around: that the general secretary should face regular election every five years and that the AGM should be restructured to adequately reflect the views of the membership to allow one delegate per branch
A campaign around these sorts of reforms in the framework of the rising tide of militancy and action by railworkers can lead to a transformation of our union and by giving control to the ranks of the union where it
BRu
By R Brooks, NUR guard to
ches to the Guards and Shunters ference in Brighton on 21 and 22 May.
Nine of the 48 resolutions fostering and they are take
against it. The resolutions refer to the anger and concern' felt
, and ask for the agreement renegotiated. Streatham branch has put out a call for special meeting to consider cancellation of the agreement.
Drivers are not the only railworkers to stand by a guaranteed working Birmingham 4 branch's resolution demands that all future negotiations are based the fixed guaranteed day.
Other resolutions like Dundee's point to the lack of consultation at brancr level and the loss of jobs to
flexible rostering leads. The lack
the functioning of the NUR, and the
the 1OI JOSSCI al C key issues faced by the conference.
Trade Unions
NO JOB
FIGHT for
the RIGHT
*HORWICH
OUR Childrens future.
OUR Works.
OUR Town.
shunters conference '82
SIDNEY Weighell's oft repeated statement that 99.9 per cent of guards support flexible rostering is not reflected in the resolutions put forward by National Union of Railwaymen's bran-
grades con-
Both the 'open station concept' which has led to huge reductions in platform staff, and the 'one operation' of trains rail which directly guards jobs are rejected. be Tinsley branch calls on the NEC to refuse any discussion with BR on one man operation. the Streatham wants the NEC to honour grades terences and AGM decisions which are all solidly against it.
day. flexible The rostering al calcull which guards, including the Guards Action Com mittee in the London area, have been having with the NEC shows that the struc-
undemocratic. LuTe the If the NEC NUR had referred flexible rostering to the branches, of and had wide discussions at depot level, their mandate would clearly two been not to agree to it. But the NEC is out of touch with the branches,
LOTS
to WORK
www
with the different sections of railworkers.
Two branches have put forward resolutions which try to deal with this problem. Three Bridges branch wants agreements which fundamentally change the conditions work to be reterred back branches, whilst resolution wants future proposals to change the working day voted on by all NUR branches.
The strong feelings behind the resolutions con-
which will be discussed are summed up by the statement of the Nottingham and District branch over their resolution opposing
flexible rostering, grade of guard is being us ed as a scapegoat for traf fic losses over the past 20 vears' Guards shunters know only well that with all other railworkers they are being asked to pay in wages and Come tons for the crisis created and ide Tories management support have for resolutions at this con-
carried terence forward to the AGM of and the NUR.
Fighting
unity
develops
By Chris Jones FIGHTING UNITY against British Rail's closure plan is beginning to develop between the threatened workshops of Horwich, Shildon and Swindon. All three will attend mass parlia ment called for Tuesday 26 May.
The campaign in Horwich has taken off in a big way. Posters are appearing windows and car stickers and
Male being duced. 10,000 leaflet
being ildren put through doors. TrON local schools are
Rail chiel Peter Parker asking him to reverse his decision It is their jobs which he is destroying.
BR is of course tryina to divide the cam. paign by offering local talks, which the Town Councils were in vited. Dennis Green, deputy convenor, plained the works action committee boycott of this 'public relations exercise' on the
grounds that 'it woul
to get involved in talks level when the matter is being handled tionally.
whilst employed
NUR Supports
ding British observers.
elections
war continued
murdered, including 17
munication 'the
and
flexible rostering.
Freight
stop By R. Brooks BR has put a temporary stop to freight traffic from the continent because Sealink, now private subsidiary company. has not got enough ferries to transport 250 wag gons from Zeebrugge in Belgium.
Sealink got rid of three ships from its Harwich/Zeebrugge service, leaving one which does one round trip a day.
So anyone WIIO thinks privatisation leads efficiency should think again.
Freight losses were halved in 1981 with a small increase in tne amount o. freight carried. Four new rail heads have recently been built at factories and according to BR, business nasmade surge forward this year.
But whilst the Tories' main priority profits, rather than building an integrated transport service, freight, like everything else in rail will continue to b subject to the whims 'productivity' and 'efficiency' measures short term gains for their friends in the city and long-term chaos for the system as a whole.
Death on the Tracks During the first three months of 1982, 10 rail workers were killed at work. 7 were killed on or near the track, 2 of them being hit by trains
lookout staff. This number is double that of a similar period last year. Statistically, working on the railways is one of the most dangerous jobs you can have. This is not reflected in the low wages earned by 'permanent way' workers (track workers). El Salvador Campaign The NUR NEC was against the recent deci sion by the government to lend authority to the elections in El Salvador in March by sen
They sent a letter of protest to Lord Carrington explaining that the
could not reflect the democratic views of the El Salvadoreans whilst the civil
They drew particular note to the number of trade unionists who have been
members of the ex ecutive committee of the Salvadorean Com-
Workers Union and the General Secretary of the International Council of the Federation of Transport Unions all of whom were opposed to the present dictatorship. Guards besiege NUR headquarters to protest
Page 15 scan of this page
Famous Names strike into 5th week
By Joe Reddick on behalf of Famous Names strike committee
OUR BATTLE for a decent increase in wages
weeK strike action taken
the Guidally Famous Names Confectionary Greenbank, Bristol.
A claim put forward to the company by the union, which takes into account that eight per cent of the workforce is
that they wowell. on the lowest grade and the lowest pay is for £10 across the board.
Wages
company's low offer of five per cent has
numerous and will continue to be
preparod
Solidarity among the worktorce 100 per cent and building more strength from the support it's receiving from the labour move. ment.
The mittee would like to extena ten grawude behalf of all their
300 march to support
Kigass women
ON Saturday 15 May 300
demonstrated in Leamington in support of the women strikers Kigass. The who have been on strike for seven weeks, led the march chanting 'union
recognition emonst
demonstration was called by the Coventry West District Committee of the engineering union, AULW. and was supported by the local Labour Party and Trades Council, Talbot Shop Stewards
and Masser Ferguson shop stewards.
At the rally a cheque for £320 was handed over from Massey Ferguson plus £140 from Warwick University collected from Association of University Teachers branch.
Your Bank
Name of Account to be debited
Account Number.
Our Bank.
Co-operative Bank Ltd 110_ Leman St, London El.
Account No
Sorting Code..
Amount to be paid.
First Payment due...
Signed...
members of Famous Names to all the people and all organisations supporting our struggle which is not a lone one
fact •{01 recognition of workers' need for fair wages, better standards of living and for a shorter working week.
This is tiona worldwide fight.
We on the stewards committee are prepared
discuss and exchange
alla within the labour move- build solidarity
Supportant iman te rike
commitee Transport House, Victoria
JUDITH ARKWRIGHT spoke lo one Of le women strikers at Famous Names on the picket line. JEAN
cent or ine women work at the factory are on grade two jobs the lowest grades paying take home rate of £45 per week.
The demonstration
forced the Kigass manage-
ment to cancel the normal
Saturday morning shift,
and the strike forced the firm to pull out of
world gas exhibition
because
lack of orders. AVEW off the rally that official the they were going to step up the action in support of the
Kigass strikers ano
demonstrations will be arranged'
Mass pickets every
Saturday at 5.30am at
Warwick factory ana
7am at the Leamington
factory. Donations and
messages of support to
Standford St
Helens Rd, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE BANKER'S ORDER FORM Socialist Challenge.
70267802 08-03-08
Monthly
....And on the same date
in the month thereaftef
The grading system was introduced at the sam time as the equal pay law
order to avoid paying the women equal pay.
The demand the strikers men and women - is for f10.
She went on to say that the women's jobs were extremely hard: 'We work the hardest and we should be
The men simply wouldn't do our TOUS. Here the men on the picket line agreed vociferous/y.
'In our job we have to ask lo go lo ine louer ana now they want to cut the time for our tea break It's like the slave trade. They keep saying it's only meant
be for pin money anyway but we don't work for pin money - I've got six to look after.
'Her husband and my son work as fitters they've accepted the offer and they're working inside - they support us though.
"The Convertur woman and just before this strike new stewards were elected ine ola
were win management too much.'
By Stuart McLennan
THE ANNUAL conference of the
Public Service Association
adopted.
The Broad Left group-
from power electing members to their three
The new president is a
Militant supporter, Kevin
Raddy and the senior vice.
president is a member of the Communist Party, Ray
Alderson.
election
reflect the revulsion of the
membership over the
mishandling of last year's pay campaign and the lack
of any serious campaign
this the decisions taken at
conterence. Illust by large majority, also show an increasing politicisation
and militancy among our
By Keith Legg & Dave Carter
Stockton Taxes branch secretary and delegate
A BIG SWING to the left
surprised the Executive
Committe of the Inland
Revenue Staff Federa-
tion at the union's con-
ference in Peebles last
week.
ecutive by voting for flat rate Delegates defied the CADay increases. and a total
News.
ON
CiVIl service
union swings
to the left
Civil and held last week marked a gigantic swing to the left in the election of its national officers and the policies
members. the conference made the historic decision to campaign for affiliation to the Labour Party and contemptuously rejected the attempts by the incomIllE wing general secretary secation to ONDevent af-
Two of the most far eachin cacheo ov une ront wir in its last months of office the interim agreement on new technology which did not guarantee protection against job loss and a new agreement on trade union tacilities which fundamentally encroached on basic
Tax officers' union moves left
vertine ban. Allanol CND been supported to by
was uuly Conterenes desote a warning from the union solicitor that it was out-
over memoers tended the inaugural meeting
Bowling them out on the Famous Names picket line rights of representation.
In addition the DHSS section, which is the largest with over 50,000 MenDels overwhelmingly to go out on a
membership to campaign analist culs.
All of these decisions and others invariably set Ine rDA on a collision course with the government.
The dramatic events at the CPSA conference are being reflected in other parts of the civil service The Society of Civil and Public Servants meeting in Ene same week consolidated its moves to the lett and a Broad Lett has been established the Banking, Insurance and Finance Union.
whole article in the following cays rinancia limest
The traditionally moderate IRSF now has a wel organised left as more and more of its members realise
only , political solutions lilal
way iulwall ine attacks or mer eneloycr the Tory Government.
THE National Society
given its third reading this week
means to mobilise the movement
At a conference called Humberside regional
une rebon ami-wade union legistation.
against the Bill.
THE first strike in over 200 years by 550 members
General and Municipal Workers Union REDDI ē at Flavels in Leamington , over their annual wage ce claim ended after nine > days in confusion and bit-
Photo: terness.
company which manufactures minutes turginal fered
£4.50 per week.
This was increased by another 50 pence on
playwright of our day.
subsequent
mained for the rest of his life. For readers of
probably lies
ty. Peter Weiss
the contemporary (Mandel).
Revolution and rehabilitates
List method of historical analysis. Weiss'
Kafka's novel, capacity houses in Stockholm, but he not only a great playwright. greatest many-sided genius.
justice co ar niscorical character (for which) cannot
(Mandel).
Offprints 50p). From per Street, London N1.
Mechanics call for
TUC led 24-hour
general strike
of Metal Mechanics' conrerence last weekend called tor the TUC to organise a 24-hour general strike to fight the Tebbit Bill bein
The resolution came from the union's youth con. ference hold earlier in the year and was critical of the TUC's 'half-hearted' campaign. It saw the strike as 'a
by the Yorkshire and TUC in Sheffield Arthur Scargill, president of the miners' union declared that 'extra-parliamentary action' was necessary to defeat
A collection of £1,808 was taken to finance the TUC's campaign Flavell strike ends
Wednesday 12 May. The members rejected this and on Friday the GMWU full time official told a mass meeting that the company's orre Was now £5.40 week. , A vote was which was colmer accepted.
This vigorously contested by many of the strikers, who telt that the officials had sold them OuL. Peter Weiss By Charlie van Gelderen The sudden and unexpected death of Peter
Weiss in Stockholm, at the age of 65, robbed the world not only of one of its greatest play. wrights but certainly of the greatest Marxist
He is perhaps best known in Britain for his Marat Sade, written in 1964 and later brilliantly directed by Peter Brook at the Aldwych Theatre. This play dealt with the bourgeois revolution, the Great French Revolution, and it was during his research for this work and its
production that Peter Weiss became a convinced socialist, which he re.
Socialist Challenge the chiet interest in Peter Weis. : with his play Trotsky in Exile.
Although he had joined the Communist Par.
retained his considerable critical faculties. Just as the theme of Marat Sade was the bourgeois revolution, his Trot. sky in Exile dealt with 'the forty odd years of
socialist revolution
In this play Weiss examines the October
men and ideas submerged by official Stalinist history. It reveals Weiss as a thoroughgoing Marxist with an extraordinary skill in combining his craftsmanship as a playwright with the Marx.
Trial, based on presently running to was Perhaps his the three-volume The
Aesthetics of the Resistance, a semi-fictional account of the history of the German Com-
munist Party. After a visit to that country, he
created a scenic collage of 2,000 years of Viet namese history, which made a great impression when it was shown in both East and West Germany. His Canto of the Lusitanian Bogeyman, exposing Portuguese colonialism in Africa and his Oratorio in Eleven Cantos on the Auschwitz Trial, were other facets of his
Socialist Challenge salutes the memory of Peter Weiss who sought, in his play on Trot. sky 'to sketch the historical truth and to do
be a fight against socialism, for socialism, the truth of our century, has no need of crutches built on lies
Mandel on Peter Weiss' Trotsky in Exile (Spokesman
The Other Bookshop, 328 Up
Socialist Challenge 21 May 1982 page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Metal Box workers 'chain things up'
Health
workers
step up
fight
By Dominic Johnson, NUPE convenor Churchill Hospital, Oxford THE PAY struggle in the health service has now begun in earnest. On Wednesday 19 May tens of thousands of health workers in every district of the country responded to the official call for a one day national strike.
struggle against a government determined to keep thousands of wages.
It's not difficult to explain and militancy of the health
Last week High workes.
Court judges were award-
large as the annual wage
health workers.
Over the last five years governments of all shades have consistently exploited our relatively weak bargaining position to impose real wage cuts.
This year the government baaly #scalculalcu the mood in the health serVICe
Hyen with a faltering leadership at national level the rank and file are displaying a willingness to fight which has surprised
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Socialist
Challenge
This started what promises to be a tough
NHS workers on poverty
even those seasoned optimists among us. organised and led with the full supDIODCILY. port of the Labour Party trade the health workers could deal a body blow to Thatcher's entire economic strategy.
Unfortunately union leaderships are not building on Wednesday's success by escalating the dispute through prolonged
emergency cover under worKers Contol.
Instead series OI weekly two hour stoppages are planned, together with selective action. Certainly selective action can disruptive.
At present for example
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laundry workers at the Royal Infirmary Aberdeen are out on strike, together with Central Stores Newcastle and Northumbria
But it must be spelled out that on its own partial
cannot win disputes. Without placing it in the context of a run up to national sun ke acuol involving all members' selective action will rapidly play a demoralising role The main task in the NHS today is to weld together the action at local level into an irresisuble force 10l extended national strike action.
An opportunity for this occurs next week at the NUPE national conference
NUPE is the largest health service union with the greatest tradition OI mutancy. There will be a major push for NUPE to 'name the date' to call out its health service members.
At the time the rest OT movement must make the
struggle WORKCIS their own. In fact a victory will depend concrete solidarity obtaifled from
The call by OLICI workers.
South Wales miners for a one day strike through the coalfields is an important
By Toni Gorton 'WE'VE chained everything
enough,' declared
The 350 engineering
plant on 4 May have now escalalcu licir completely sealing off the main engineering block in
attempt to stop management from imposing compulsory redundancies on the workforce
Metal donaly Box unions have accepted 9000 voluntary cies in the past two years along with closures ot entire plants. The Shipley
has LUW excluded TASS and APEX members who were not
suel as the managems as
management who didn't 'move fast enough' operation, said Richard. was SAS 'with 30 men dressed in
clothes with balaclavas rushing around in the middle of the night chaining everything up.
'We set up an action centre: we've got a hardship desk, transport desk, and a place to get ad-
vice about the DHSS. It's like a huge union building
with little offices everywniels
various aspects of our fight
•We've set up rotas for staffing the place and everyone has a job to do
The issue is clear. mere will Coll
pulsory redundancy.
We've told
Illallasculicul
we're ready to meet, despite them cancelling a meeting last Thursday,
and despite them sending
letters to our members'
wives.
Richard went on, 'We're stepping up the action. We'll pickelng
One of the many rallies of health workers around example
The initiative Chesterfield trades council in calling for a token one on Wednesday sylvaulty stuppage must be followed up in all areas.
up - including some of management who didn't move fast Richard
the head office in Metal
Reading and our BOXI delegations are going out all over the country asking for solidarity from other Metal Box plants and labour movement bodies."
Socialist Challenge meeting in East London on 11 Ray Giles, a shop steward from the occupation, spoke alongside Barry, leader of the Laurence
HELP US
TO
HELP YOU
Locally Socialist Challenge readers should: • make contact with health service workers and offer practical assistance • make regular collections in workplaces
Scott occupation which set an example for all workers struggling for jobs
Ray explained how the company was trying to victimise the union by selecting three shop stewards for redundancy, two of whom are key to the national combine.
discussion followed about the danger of the AUEW national executive selling out the struggle happened at Scott's; the danger of the
Bill for the basic rights trade organisation; and the ex-
the country • discuss solidarity actions in workplaces • get resolutions of sup port Inrougl and Labour Party branches • send acregatons to picket lines
perience the Staffa dispute in East London
showed existence of official strike DreaKers
A collection of over £22 was raised and labour
set up to build solidarity for the new occupation
Metal Box is one of the main engineering employers in Britain witl some 24,000 workers in 50 plants throughout the country. It is also part of a powerful multi-national
plants South will Africa, Chile and India.
METAL BOX COMI
METAL BOX
COASE
COLSE
• organise public meeting • invite healthworkers onto platforms of public meetings building for the march and festival on 5 June
The fight in Shiples will have national and in signiticance and readers of Socialist Challenge al C contact the strike committee and offer all assistance in the form of: • resolutions of support • arrange labour move ment meetings • get official collection sheets Contact Stewards Committee c/o Mackin Westcliffe Rd.
Yorkshire. Tel 0272 590520.
WORKERS
SAY NO TO
COmPULSORY
REDUNDANCY
← Socialist Challenge No. 245, 13 May 1982Socialist Challenge No. 247, 28 May 1982 →