Socialist Challenge No. 247, 28 May 1982
The scan: sc-no247.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Challenge
NO'MORE
THATCHER
MARCH WITH CND 6 JUNE LONDON'
No. 247 28 May 1982 25p
Socialist Unemployed and strikers 10p
GREET REAGAN
CND MARCH 6 JUNE US EMBASSY 7 JUNE Grosvenor Square W1
DEATHS
FOR
Page 2 scan of this page
How many deaths?
BRITISH IMPERIALISM
revealed itself in all its barbarism. why. then. Is the anti-war move. ment much smaller than many on the left would have expected? Despite the encouraging turnout last Sunday should remember demonstrated in US imperialism's limited intervention El Salvador. 10,000 come out when British imperialism is murdering hundreds? ine reason is not just tnat une left is chauvinist. The key problem the fact that Galtieri is a military dictator. The confusion will be all the greater if Britain wins military round and resistance can be made to appear the cause of violence.
In reply we have to explain the cause of wars, and place this at the centre of mobilising for 6 June May.
This sentiment
was echoed by one of the union's sponsored MPs, John Prescott, who addressed delegates the day after they had passed a motion effectively suppor-
of the island.
I am at odds with my union on this issue,' said riescoll wiio got all ovathe lorr, splich faint
Wals ceasefire.
"The resolution was passed on a tide of emotion,' Cartwright told us.
They backed Spruhan from the executive when he said that we should 'Get in and get them' because they were told our members' lives were risk. bul sprunan snowed a very shallow understan ding of the politics of the matter. Afterwards when the press claimed it as a victory for Thatcher, they had to wheel out Kinnock to try and whitewash the decisions. He said the media had no right to claim backing for Thatcher: but the media were right.
But the resolution was not all an accurate
of Senates feelings. 'When McCluskey said that he would not stand
below
Name...
Address..
Age.
Union/CLP (if any).............
Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO 50. London N1 2XP.
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982
has
not Readan comes.
If the islands,
London, that 15,000 wars of March bloodshed,
Why do only There will Britain, perialists rom the
settle account
down their necks. the first Argentinian Withdraw
Seafarers divided over war
'THEY ARE going to repossess in seas of blood what they will relinquish in drops of ink.' This was the verdict of George Cartwright, delegate to the National Union of Seamen's annual con. ference at Tenby which ended on Friday 21
one tear for the Argentinians died in General Belgrano, evel quite right wing delegates said this disgraceful said Cartright. It must be remembered also that fourteen of the 64 voting delegates are officers the union; and of the other 50, 18 voted against the resolution.
When delegates how the resolution was used by the press, a petition was circulated calling for a
which was signed by three quarters of the delegates. wonder how the government would have
been black,' said one delegate COOference. is a hollow sham to say we are fighting fascism, Cartright said 'If Galtieri goes they will sit cheek by jowl with the next general to along.
There is no war fever amongst seamen. In Felixstowe where two boats were sent out, only thirtymerchant seamen votice cu It's the politics of the dole • and it's come to something when we have to have a bloody war to get a job.' JOIN THE FIGHT FOR
SOCIALISM
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page 2
and this is why the mobilisation must go ahead in full whether or
Britain wins, and stays on it will neither rid the world of dictators nor make the world sater it will make further
intervention, further and tion, much more likely.
be no peace until America, and all have been removed seas. Nor will the America be able with their dicnavy breathing
the fleet and recognise the Argentinian claim: these are the demands socialists should put forward on 6 June.
But there is a further arena of struggle: inside the Labour Party.
Revolution/Socialist 'I COULDN'T have done anything else. I said from day one that the fleet should be brought back and my views haven't changed one jot, explained Labour MP Tom Dalyell, who voted against the in the commons debate or the war and has now been removed from the front bench by Michael Foot.
Thirty three MPs voted against the including two other front benchers also boon sacked - Andrew fourth MP. Gavin
Editorial
PO Box 50, London N1 2XP Phone 01-359-8189/8180 (editorial and distribution)
The Tories are acting out of desperation and weakness strength. They have taken a huge military gamble There possibly hang on to what they are now trying take makes support disgusting.
Who will pay the price for their disaster? Labour had sistently fought government would fall the
of position became clear.
As it is, Foot threatens to make us pay the price.
Healey, Foot and Shore have shown their colours -of imperialism pure and simple. It is on questions like this that fundamental political aligments are drawn up
No one who supported this war should be supported for the
LINE IT HOT
Challenge: a class stand against war
Front benchers vote against
Thatcher's war
Strang, resigned from front bench over the issue.
'The point is that wo had to prove the House Commons united behind the Dalyell explained Socialist Challenge. 'Nicholas Henderson has consistently used this as justification for the adventure.
Foot
Bus Michel
sign slackening his jingoism growing storm in the party. Peter Shore oven welcomed invasion Weekend World.
Labour NEC. Tony Benn was quite
• not right to insist to
supported for the NEC on the sole Califi
criterion that she has opposed the which war effort. doubly Others the
left' have failed the same test; in particular the Militant tendency whose class treachery in refusing con-
call for the withdrawal of the
mo- fleet one of their episodes in the histor
who claim to be Trotskyists.
The Labour delivered tens perhaps hundreds of thousands of
on by tamely fooling that-
supporters tion lamely
He suite conference there
bloc with anyone movement
TA CRUISE
Foot: pacifist image finished
Healey and Foot are steering the Labour Party to disaster. With conference resolutions coming up for discussion at severai Labour
wingers Labour Liaison take that Judith Hart should be
Malvinas
so-called 'far
the bleakest Socialist ot those relentlessly leadership have thousands,
following with us.
At the labour Party COMES be there
Socialist Challenge will make a
in the labour including right
Socialist ChallenE
N
OUT
Party branches, it is important to ensure that the Labour Party con ference is used to hold them to account.
The fact that MPs
and pacifists -$ who action against this Pacitism can be no answer to the
'problem there likely to be more bloodshed in the future unless the islands are ceded to Argentina. But the pacifists, unlike some self-professed 'Marx
have taken action against the war; all credit to them.
Challenge sup and reader. IUS! take forward the movement against the war. Now we are in a small minority; our allies are few although some central leaders of the Labour left are
But when the reckoning in the labour movement must be no let up Thousands of labour suoporter can be won to our side. And Foot and his cronies can be branded for the class traitors they are
who have not previous. ly been part of the left are prépared to take a stand on this issue is & clear sign that this can be done.
Page 3 scan of this page
Action against the war
WE.
Photos: GM COOKSON (Socialist Challenge)
... but already more than 600 have
AD -HOC
MMiTTEE THE WAR
DEMONSTRATIONS against the war took place. all over Britain on Sunda.
A march of 10,000 people went from Hyde Park to AFTER heated debate and much back-room negotiation, the annual terence of the Wales ConLabour Party in Swansea on 22 May rejected further military intervention in the Falklands. The final resolution stated: 'in view of the landing of British
WONT
DIE FOR
ATCHER
CAMBRIDGE
STOP THE WAR
COP MITTEE
An estimated 10,000 marched against war in London, and a further 5,000 up and down the country
Trafalgar Square to hear Tony Benn denounce Thatcher's war drive as the poison nationalism'.
He argued that the Tories Wales Labour Party rejects Thatcher's line
forces we in the Wales LP call for cease-fire and for the introduction of a UN peace keeping forces to supervise Ene Samancous drawal of British Argentinian forces and for the UN supervise diplomatic settlement.
Malvinas/Falklands-
SENDA
CHEQUE
TREMENT
were using the war divert attention from problems at home and that Thatcher Was using war 'for her own political purposes'.
Among the speakers was the of one of the sailors on board Sheffield when it sank. Representatives of severa unions together with Argentinian oppositionist Rafael co also spoke. Rafael Runco said that Thatcher was playing the game of the Argentinian dictatorship'.
500 people marched through Manchester to op-
DAMAGE
A TORY
TO THE FUN DRIVE
Rafael Runco, Argentinian refugee, speaking at the London demonstration
Greater Manchester CND Socialist Challenge sup porter Dick Withecomb the denounced the war as one of shed More lies bloodshed other people marched Edinburgh in a highly suc CESSIE demonstration organised by Edinburgh Stop the War Committee
Andy Bar chairman Run- the Scottish TUC, burgh CLP, Judith Gray oI North cainburgh of YCND and Socialist Challenge supporter Kevin Holmes. At the same time. 500 people marched through Glasgow
By Steve Potter crisis. by profession.
Favourites'.
bath.
hard" school. stop it. and than
about you?
of
Total so far Should be Shortfall
Socialist Challenge
FUND DRIVE '82
A week's wages to
save Socialist
Challenge
THE CAMPAIGN to save Socialist Challenge has got off to a flying start! £1639 given in pledges and cash has meant that we are still here fighting against the Tories bloodbath in the South Atlantic and backing the health workers in Thatcher's 'other war'.
The need for a workers' press has never been more evident than since the start of the South Atlantic adventure. Let's look at how the bosses press has covered the
• The Sun. From the very beginning Murdoch's rabid rag has been demanding death to defend imperialism's Interests in the South Atlantic.
The headline 'Gotchal' when the Belgrano sank with hundreds of its crew perishing, will go down as the most infamous response in the recent history of a grub-
• The Mirror. While holding its hands up in horror at the attempts of its rival to cash in on chauvinism to boost its circulation, the Mirror is frightened to death that its own brand of soggy reproach to Thatcher will lose them readers. So at the same time as violently attacking the Sun, it gets in on the act with photographs of 'Forces
• The Daily Mail and the Daily Express have both acted as the mouthpieces for the Neanderthal wing of the Tory Party egging on Thatcher and promising retribu tion for those Tories like Pym who look over their shoulders nervously at international reaction to a blood
• The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph have both acted as the mouth pieces for the military top brass Peregrine Worsthorne has barassment, transformed himself from the Argentinian junta's chief apologist to another hero of the "hit 'em
• The Times, while calling for negotiations, reveals itself to be Murdoch's other arm in its firm support for the actions of the government. • The Guardian turned up a surprise in the shape of SDP champion Peter Jenkins' continuous opposition to the war. But for Jenkins the war in the South Atlantic is the product of the mistake of calling an emergency session of Parliament and the rash decisions taken in the heat of the moment. Jenkins will never explain that the reason that the Tories sent the battle fleet to the South Atlantic was not misplaced patriotic ardour, but the fact that whenever imperialism's interests are seriously threatened it will respond in the most determined way whatever the cost in lives.
Where the millionaire press has either backing to the war or has sought to disguise its causes the workers' press in Britain, however small its circulation, has convinced a growing number of people that this war is uniust and that action should be taken tc
We can claim with justification that from the very beginning Socialist Challenge has played a leading role; never wavering in its denunciation of the sending of the fleet, its call for action and in its reflection of rank and file feeling about the war.
But it is at this time when Socialist Challenge faces the most serious threat yet to its existence. We face thi threat from two fronts: • The rent on our premises has just quadrupled • Mounting debts have threatened our ability to pay our publication costs
Last week we launched a campaign for 'A Week's Wages to Save Socialist Challenge'. We are quite aware of the tremendous sacrifice we are asking from our readers and supporters. But we think that to keep the flame of revolutionary internationalism burning, sacrifice is worth it.
Both journalists and business management workers on Socialist Challenge have helped to start the ball rolling by donating a week's wages to the paper. How
Received this week
If you have any enquiries about the fund ring the editors a 11-359 8180 or the business manager on 01-359 3371
without the slightest em
given full that E2536 E6073.14 8615.00 £2542.00
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982 page 3
120 CIES
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Leadership of 'Militant'
By Alan Freeman THE LEADERSHIP of tendency in the Labour Party has rejected the demand withdrawal from the South Atlantic and called on its readers not to build the growing mass movement against Thatcher's war.
editorial article by Ted Grant in the 21 May edition of the paper, entitled 'Demand to withdraw is no answer'.
In the 13 May edition of Socialist Challenge we appealed to Militant to join the movement against Thatcher's military advenrureSuch a demand is completely unrealistic and futile, 'says Grant; his article, which spells out his reasons for this outrageous position, is a socialist endorsement for continuing the war.
It is a model of what Lenin called 'socialism in words, and chauvinism in deeds'. Against such policies which sent millions of workers to their deaths in the imperialist war of 1914, Lenin organised the Bolsheviks Russia and the Third International in 1919.
Grant's first argument is that the Tories cannot be made to stop. No appeal 10 Thatcher in the most heartfelt terms about loss of life or the horrors of war would have any effect on the ruling class, says. This argument both false and spurious.
false because workers can stop their imperialists making war and have done so in the past.
In 1920 the TUC establish-
" Hands off committees which stopped Churchill's war 16 -tervention in Russia. In
Party organised mass rallies and the Suez war which played
major parl 1n nominious end. And America's dirty war Vietnam was stopped by the combination of Vietnamese military resistance with the mass anti-war movemen lo which gave rise inside America.
The argument spurious because it is not Grant's real reason for rejecting. the demand for fleet withdrawal. If the only reason to reject it were
CORMAC'S
BAD
TASTE
the Militant
for British
Its position appears in a full page
its impracticability, why does Grant not place it on his programme for Labour
governmell which, he says, will bring peace?
His actual justification is far more serious: now ine lask lorce is nere, ne says, it cannot be stopped because the working class support it.
One wonders, on this basis, why socialist organisation is necessary; perha similar tou has-
similar thoughts. 'Once the task force has been sent, the die is cast, he says. 'The lefts, by putting forward pacifist position, cannot gain the support of the working
" He tells us. 'Marxists must not take haughty, superior titude' to workers feelings.
With this extraordinary position, he puts Militant on the right of Andrew Hellos At the very moment when thirtythree MPS vote against the government in the. Com mons defiance Michael Foot, Militant's leadership chooses to stab them. and itself — in the back. We ask vou Conrades.
MPs have votea Foot, Thatcher or Benn?
Sincere Labour Lefts have become more and more isolated on this ques. tion, says workers hero, as ten thousand march through London against the war.
'Many will become silent and change their position, he tells us Tam Dalyell is cheered to the echo by 1000 marchers in Partick before he even starts speaking. 'Once hostilities take on a more intense character there will be a feeling among a big majority of the Labour
and trade unions that there is other course but to support the war, out of solidarity with the British workers uniform, not for chauvinist reasons,' he pontificates branch
I READ THE NEWS TODAY.
THE ENGLISH ARMY HAS JUST WON THE WAR!
opposition imperialist war. impact of World War I. after branch of the Labour Party reacts with outrage to Foot's betrayal
'The job of Marxists is not to ve uke ine ultra-leti sects on the fringes of the
beating thei breasts and strutting around with slogans, ' he informs us as Scargill puts the case fol Argentinian sovereignty over the islands.
'Marxists, by explaining carefully their position will gain greater and greater support for their
told. But what are these ideas? For or against what Thatcher is doing? 'Marxists have to explain, ' says Grant, that the wringing of hands and
declamations
"bring cannot change anything.
No, Comrade Grant Marxists have to tell the
because the truth will out. This war will benefit Thatcher; and when workers realise they have been duped, that hundreds and perhaps thousands of lives have been wasted for greed and profit, there will be a reckoning. What will you tell them, Ted? That it
WOlLS because Militant kept its nose clean? That it's better to die than be haughty?
Grant continues
propose his extraordinary solution 'socialist federation of Argentina, WARWARWAR!
Malvinas/Falklands
backs the war
Lenin and Martov, founders of Russian socialism. Lenin argued for
Martov's
Britain and the Falkland
America and the Isle of Wight?
Argentina and Britain are completely complemenLul. he generously. Of course they bloody well are: because the people of Argentina have been held in virtual slavery by our imperialists for the past hundred and fifty years to ensure that they produce for the needs of the imperialist economies! Before any economic unity can created between Argentina and Britain, the first step is to get our imperialists off their backs.
Militant's stand is a serious blow to the Labour left and the growing antiwar movement. At the very moment when serious opposition is taking shape, Militant has come off the fence on the wrong side. The mose inmate fects will be in the Youth are not subject to the chauvinist illusions of
workers and have always been in the vanguard of daLimperialist struggles. Youth built the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign in the 1960s; youth are in the forefront of and anti-Reagan demonstrations, and youth have the most to lose from this vicious imperialist war. VENTURE BY JINGO!!
class group disintegrated under the
Militant, who have the
threaten to miseducate generation of Labour Par. ty members on the most
Militant will also weaken the Labour left, which has taken a stand against the war. It now possesses a clear basis on
unite against Foot's disastrous leadership: rejection of his backing for Thatcher's warmongering, and support for a positive policy of unlateral disarmament
When the full extent of Foot's folly becomes clear there will be a massive demand for a reckoning instee the Party: where will Militant stand
WHere stand?
But it is particularly disastrous for trade
Moronists Even reall
workers and workers are being accused of 'treachery' papers such the Manchester Evening Post for daring to strike while 'their' country is at war. What does Militant counsel them to say?
are helping the i nal iney war effort?
HOW should this betrayal be dealt with? First of all, the left must be absolutely clear: there should be no let-up whatsoever in the defence of Militant against the witchhunt despite the ophairyaaya
position their positions will earn them will never defend itself if it tries to pick and choose, or take factional advantages of errors by throwing some OI lts members wolves. Organisational measures SuCH expulsions will not deal with a political problem Militant's stand on the war must be defeated in open political struggle
The most important task for socialists mobilise the Young Socialists against this war and against the line of Militant's leadership
YS branches should
as Michael Foods stand
: Michael Foot's stand
the war. backing those MP's who voted against it
the Commons, affiliating to local ad-hoc committees and calling on the YS leadership to endorse this stand They shole Wite Youth, Militant and Labour Weekly asking for their positions be published order that they may be debated out. socialists in the YS, in We call cluding Militant sup.
to join us campaigning to commit the YS against the war.
The considerations apply in the unions, where Militant readers are working alongside other HACKNEY NORTH Labour Party Young Socialists has called for a public campaign for the withdrawal of the British Fleet. The following resolution was put to its 19 May meeting:
'This Party calls for the British fleet to be withdrawn from the South Atlantic and resolves to campaign SUULICI for withdrawal. We call on th
and the PLP to op pose the war and demand
By Davy Jones AREN'T OUR BOYS in the armed forces wonderful. Truly they are defending the principles of justice and freedom and self-determination Except in Ireland, where they gun down innocent twelve-year-old on their way home from shopping
That's the official verdict of the coroner, James Elliott, in Belfast last week on the death of CaroleAnne Kelly of the Twinbrook Estate.
Carole-Anne was
victim British Army's plastic bullets, which have killed
broad left activists on Hially issues. Broad lefts should not allow themselves to be deflected from building trade union opposition to the war; the
should be openly discussed out and Militant's case, as well as the alternatives, should be published 1n and broad left journals so that the membership can give its own verdict.
However, a particular duty Militant readers and sellers. On
future of socialism and our cass sLaKe blind loyalty to Militant's editorial board Canno transcend class loyalty
We appeal to Militan readers to build the antiwar movement : on a class
Militant readers' meetings
them de likewise; and to write to Militant its stand and demanding its reversal: and to launch a thoroughgoing discussion about the Marxist attitude to war going back to the historical capacite of our class in the First World
and in anti-imperialist revolts.
Comrades of the Militant tendency; in the interests of vour class. Ine time has come to call • your leadership to order.
Hackney North
LPYS opposes war
withdrawal. This Party
organise pu withdrawal an favour
withdrawal and invite other local labour movement organisations to support the meeting. We condemn Foot and Healey's support for the War.'
The resolution was passed overwhelmingly. An amendment was also passed calling for mobilisation on 23 May under the slogans 'Stop Loe war; recall the fleet; kick out the Tories
Our boys
at least 13 people since they were introduced into Northern Ireland replace the 'dangerous rubber bullets.
Last week too the European Parliament called for a ban on the use of plastic bullets by member states because of their appalling casualty record.
Needless say the British government has made Il cical that it wil not abide by the ruling He cave arcau distributed more than 5000 Valui rounds British police force chiefs for use against riots this summer
So next time you hear about the heroism of 'our lads in the Falklands', remember how they were trained - in murdering innocent tweive year olds on the streets of Belfast.
Page 5 scan of this page
Stop Reagan the war
Manchester labour
movement backs
El Salvadorean
rebels
By Redmond O'Neill GREATER MANCHESTER's week of action against the warmongers Reagan and Thatcher from 16-22 May culminated in a Rock Against Reagan gig attended by over 300 people.
Manuel Bravo, of the FMLN/FDR Salvador diplomatic representation in Britain, summed up LIC prospects following wee or acion wa cal ol all-out mobilisation against
Thatcher's wars Reagan and ~ in ine Ma vilas. in cenal America and at home against
British and American WUrKeIS
Over the week Manuel had
factories and spoken dozens of shop stewards and
convenors about the US government's plans for a new Vietnam in cerra America. ne sooke ai nine public and rallies in the area chairing platform with assurteu Calic lenders. The week of action and leaders. also involved daily film shows
exhibition of the struggle of the people of El Salvador.
Rally
tour was the decision by fifteen shop stewards tees ano Inree custrict committees of the AUEW to affiliate to the El Salvador Solidarity
ano tionally The was
The Bury district committees of the AUEW will be following up the tour with
showing of the film •El Salvador Another Vietnam' at its next shop stewards Guartery.
At the final rally in Central Manchester speakers Ton une FMLN/FDR, inc New Jewel Movement of Grenada and the local Reagan Keceonon connuttee nomea in on the urgent need for mili-
against the Tory government's wal wIll
Interationa
INTERNATIONAL May issue now out!
Socialist foreign policy, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the GLC, Labour's youth, politics of sport, Darwin, Just 75p, or subscribe for £4.50 a year. Overseas subs £5.50 a year surface mail, f10 air. Cheques to: International, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP.
the crisis that this war has
Aincrica, m barlculaı that Reagan's support for Britain has ruled out any short term possibility of
Argentinar ITOOD, against El Salvador. Already 300 Argentine military adfrom Central America.
Jingoism
At the same time it was clear during the week of action mobilisation
Reagan and solidarity with Central America has been affected by
ulll Dact of the Malvinas war and above all by the mainstream Labour Party
SuDDUlL for jingoism.
Olit factory, SEI Heywood, a discussion with the stewards committee rapidly moved on from El Salvador to discussion for and against war with Argentina. At many omner racioric ue issuc was raised and heated discussions ensued. Stewards rape ted Lial Wave jingoism whipped up by ine Fleet St press it is still possible to put the case against the war.
6 June
Overall it was clear that there is a significant minority opposed to the Malvinas war, especially at the level of the
stewards committees.
march not only against nuclear and
wcabulls Reagan's plans tor a new Vietnam also against Thatcher's war.
Va7 N63
IMPERIALISM
GOES TO WAR
European nuclear free zone,
"Missing', reviews and much more!
monger
By Davy Jones
of the SALT II arms agreement.
Falklands crisis the President has ordered the US DeTence Departmell evaluate the new 'dense pack' system which involves clustering 100 missiles in hardened silos
alca 10 15 square miles.
The SALT Il agree-
which the USA agreed to abide by, specificially rules out the construction of 'additional fixed intercontinental ballistic missile launchers'. This flaunting of LOC SALT II agreement Come Reagan has proposed to USSR President Brezhnev the preparation of further nuclear arms talks in the autumn.
Previous plans to site the MX missiles on moving plalloris vast underground network of tunnels in the Utah By Paul Lawson
army is beginning to peasants who did
ried out on been abandoned
vote because of the fighting.
The reports of reprisals against those who did not vote come as no surprise
ell the portions ine
time of elections indicated that the relatively high turnout was precisely because reprisals. Voting is compulsory Salvador under Article 145 of the transitional electoral law
Britain was the only country to send observers to the elections. The report of the British observers John Galsworthy, former British ambassador Mexico and Professor Derek Bowett was published on 7 May and is a complete whitewash of
Central America
announced plans for basing the deadly MX missiles in fixed silos in the US desert - in direct contravention
Nevada deserts were abandoned when warmonger Reagan baulked at the projected cost of $30 billion. Other fantastic schemes are also likely to be dropped, including building new aircraft capable of staying in the air for up to three days carrying the MX missiles.
Reagan's decision to ignore the SALT II agree-
Construction or sue the
construction the infamous MX missiles gives the lie to his claims to be interested in peace.
The Mass movenell against Reagan across Europe has one more reason for mobilising the hundreds of thousands to stop the warmongers.
All out for 6 June in London, 5 June in Paris and Rome, 10 June in Bonn, and 12 June in the USA.
Army reprisals in El Salvador
REPORTS from El Salvador suggest that the
take reprisals not vote in last March's phoney election. Aerial attacks have been car-
villages, and many others have by peasants who boycotted the election or who were unable to
the government's terror tactics in forcing the elections through.
According to their report the 'election was fair' and the armed forces were exemplary in taining from voung and providing the necessary protection for the elections to take place'. They conclude that the high turnout for the election was 'a decisive rejection of the left's call for a boycott of the election'
In sending these observers Margaret Thatcher was acting out of a sure sense inter-imperialist solidarity.
Apart from being alone in
IN PARLIAMENT
FES
EVENING
CONCERT
7pm
International & British
bands including
Yolocamba Ita from
El Salvador
speakers from Namibia
and El Salvador,
Joan Ruddock (CND)
Tickets available from
Chile Solidarity Campaign
129, Seven Sisters Road, N1 01-272-4298
Tickets $2.00; £1 unwaged Stop Reagan the war-monger National CND Demo, Sun 6 June, 11am Belvedere Rd, London SE1.
Picket US embassy, Mon 7 June, 5.30 Grosvenor Square, London W1. Festival of Peace and Freedom, Tues 8 June 11am-10pm, Central Hall, Westminster. Glasgow march, Mon 7 June, 6pm Blythswood Square to Clyde St and festival at Kelvin Centre, Argyle St from 7.30pm.
Western Europe in sending observers to sanction the phoney elections, Bri tain was only one of eight Colmase agree to send observers.
The British observers were carefully guarded and closeted 1n luxury hotels — well away from the fighting and the poverty-stricken shanty towns which surround the capital of San Salvador Their knowledge of the overali demonstrated in their reference to El Salvador's 'frontiers with Nicaragua' - in tact no such frontiel exists.
Meanwhile the direction of the new government which emerged from the elections is becoming clear. The new President Alvaro Magana intends to suspend the limited land reform decreed by Chris tian Democratic President Duarte. reform did not challenge
AN ALTERNATIVE FORUM
TO REAGAN'S SPEECH
TIVAL FOR
PEACE &
FREEDOM
11AM-10PM CENTRAL HALL,
Speakers from Parliament,
don Poly, Holloway Rd.
The Angel from 8pm.
rally, Hall, Brixton.
the huge estates of the rich
nave croppers the , possibility of owning their own land
Although rarely put into effect the land reform was hated by the middle class as a symptom of Duarte's alleged 'weakness' towards communism. supporting Magana as the new presi dent the United States insisted that the land reform Saolle stay. Magana's decision to jettison the land reform is indicative of where the real power now les — with the more reac tionary sectors of the army and the extreme right wing in the assembly Roberto D'Aubuisson, president of the assemb t and leader of the fascist ARENA party
Since the elections on 28 March there had been a relative lull in the fighting
the LICIC has been
TUESDAY JUNE 8TH
WESTMINSTEI
Human Rights G-
Peace movement and International organisations
Trade Unions.
Workshops, films, exhibitions, stalls
Domocratic Rights in Turkey
North London Twelve hours agains Reagan' festival, Sat 29 May 11am-11pm includes debates, films, food at North Lon
Plus Rock Against Reagan gig at Pied Bull
Lambeth Reagan Reception Committe
Fri 28 May 7pm at Lambeth Towt resurgence of guerrilla activity, especially night time raids and the collec tion of war taxes on the major highways.
The continuing paign of solidarity with the pcopic Salvado must highlight the solidari
angan. The reportf the Thatcher and British observers is a scan. dal and a disgrace.
Only the blind and Thatcher's agents could fail realise thousands of Salvadoreans not oni wanted to vote but were desperate to vote - - to ge their papers in order anc their identity card stamped. Those didn't are now facing the tender mercies of the arm and the national guard who according British observers, COR CROACA fashion'.
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982 page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
Druze Arabs resist colonisation The Golan'soviet'
From Ros Kaplan on the Golan Heights HIGH on the slopes of Mount Hermon and the mountains of the Golan occupied Syria, the Arab villages (about 13,000 people) are engaged in against the annexation of their land, and the extension of Israeli civil law to their area.
since 1967. Their struggle involves a complete general strike, a boycott of Israel and a refusal to accept Israeli civilian identity cards — in effect become Israeli citizens.
Since 1967 the Israeli government has made several unsuccessful attempts to 'persuade' or force the people o se Golan to accept Israeli
-Peace Movement
grows in Israel
By Ros Kaplan AND WHAT of attitudes inside Israel
Zionist government it is one of confu-
winning their struggle!
companying violence and repression, is seen by many Israelis as an unnecessary provocation.
the Israelis towards the Druze is very different to that towards the Palestinians. A Golan Solidarity Committee has been set up comprising anti-Zionist and left-Zionist
Wing supplies for the Golan, the solidarity committee continues to organise support, including the sending of food and medical
back of Sinai to Egypt, and the determination of the government to annex all the
have an impending sense of catastrophe.
sion, and are less prepared now
economic hardship for the military adventures of the Begin government.
state will be unable to mobilise people in the event of another war. But it does mean that the majority of Israelis will go into another war with a great deal more feat-
and expansionism with the full mobilisa.
tion of the people, this is bad news and
Thus the tide is beginning to turn. 'Peace Now' movement has been revived as a response to the failure of the Camp David agreement and the repression in the
Now' movement gives open recognition to
the Palestinian struggle - a big step for-
ward on their simple 'peace'
pressure of the Bir Zeit/Solidarity group Unprecedented in the history of Israel, this united front body including the anti-Zionist and the Zionist left organises around the slogans of 'down with the occupation, unconditional withdrawal from the occupied territories, dismantle all settlements and self-determination for both (ia. Palestinian and Jowish) peoples'.
'Peace Now' movement and forging links in struggle between Israelis and Palesti-
are Israalis prepared to be beaten, tear-
gassed and imprisoned in the joint struggle
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982
Heights in Israeli-
heroic struggle
The people are Syrians of the Druze Islamic Their land has been occupied by Israel
citizenship as part of their LEC Golan. The formal nouncement of the annex. ation of the Heights last December came as no the Druze people seem to be Despite the arrests of people organisThey see no reason for military aggres-
This doesn't mean, of course, that the
and scepticism than was the
In a militarised country, geared to war In large part this is the result of the There should be no illusions that this
massive impact on Israeli
For the first time in many years there
page 6
shock.
The response was swift and dramatic. Al a mass meeting of around 5,000 OCODIC representing four villages a three-day general strike was declared and a letter sent to the UN sori clal y general. On 12 February a letter was sent to Israeli Premier Begin demanding a withdrawal of the annexation - and
general strike would be declared if there was no response
On 13 February the israchs movea in quickly and arrested Druze senders TO M Majdal Shams, including three over the age of 70! They were sentenced to three month. aust ave detention, and on 13 May a further three months.
Line Druze people add ed the demand of the release of the prisoners a
meeting attended by 3000 people.
'We are Syrian Arabs of the Druze religion this is our home, our land and we will continue
for years necessary' everyone I talked to was resolute on this. The resistance is tremely organised and virtually unanimous only avour ten people nave ac. cepted Israeli identity cards and thev have beer ostracised by the rest of the community.
Ideas about how to A Druze village on Mount Hermon
PASSTNAN..
AND CLOSED DOWN
International
discussed informally, thei village meetings, representative
Deleings of all the villthese
Delegates meetings are rotated to endemocratic and there is no one group of 'leaders' for the Israelis
The of the strike have deepgoing. All shops and schools are The
shoe une Line'
working at Israeli settlements, and
Shmona to work.
Threats of
seriously Israeli
Wing tories
Hall apples which are sold to the
Very land expropriation has taken
nearly
tually no have given the solid LIVE ON THE THE ISRAELIS HAVI WEST BANK...
STILLEM „ON MY LAND.
AND SHOT UP MY AND KILLED MY
KHBORHOOD. FRIEN-
basis for carrying out long term resistance.
They nave gatherec supplies • of essential food
least a year. Since the beginning of the strike, workers who do not own land are being given plots
PAESTNA...
distributed farmers, and food is
according need — with milk going only to children
The Palestinians have begun to arrange collec tions of money to supply the beseiged people of the Golan. On 24 February the Israelis made preemptive strike to attempt to stop this, with military clockades veing set up a the entrances of the VIllages. Blockade
Palestinian helpers
including journalists. ALOUSI
villages Israeli
Israeli
admit
identitv woman
the army had be to hospital in Arab East
period blockade.
the Zionist
soroner. into the
CUISCADICI army and they them people, hospitality.
Curfew
so necession, said
said the Druze people, they had
choice but fight back. And this has been
The Druze Casc resistance has been democratically organised, disciplined and, in the
main, The
occurred people
army Majdal and the military The ignored and broke out. General tional Northern Command
back
year-old and
At least 17 people treat-
injuries severe beatings. Haifa
On April in the neighbouring village of Mas'ada (while 3000
were being positioned in Majdal Shams) the army took away the old identity cards and gave out new Israeli civilian cards. Resident. flung them back and fights broke out. The army open ed fire and people fell to the ground Wheneve given the new identity cards the people either
and repression is continuing Thirteen people are being held in Jalami prison in Haifa, under ad ministrative detention for three months without trial
Many people have been given fines
oeve shorter periods of deter tion including 16 shepherds. two of whom were eight years old, whi were given 7-day detentior periods for allowing their animals to graze outside the permitted areas
But in effect, everyone inside the area is now political prisoner of the Israeli regime.
Page 7 scan of this page
A charter for victimisation'
Wives organise to support sit-in
140,000 ENGINEERS are already on the dole in the sprawling area of Shipley, Bradford and Leeds. Their industry has been ripped to shreds by Thatcher's monetarist madness, management incompetence and in part, national fight by the engineering union the AUEW.
Box, Shipley seized their plant which they have now occupied since 4 May to force the company compulsory redundancy notices three shop stewards among a number of others. The bosses' move is seen as a direct threat to union organisation.
shop steward at Metal Box, Hackney in East London and Toni Gorton visited the occupation and spoke to some of the activists. Here works convenor, describes the issues and what the sit-in hopes to achieve. A mass meeting on Sunday 23 May voted overwhelmingly cupation.
METAL Box has been in Shipley since 1963. It's a major employer with about 600 people. In the
past iwo year umployess
about employees through redundancy. This
the first time that management have had a crack compulsory redundancy.
actual fact Metal Box's problems began when they entered into a cartel all aleccil America. Metal Box didn't anticipate the amount investment that would be put into it from America and this resulted in an over capacity in the canning market.
However we are in machine-build ano the market still exists for this. sull Lne stared ars we've been of WOlK There's. been deliberate policy of cutting Shipley down size because we've been very strongly organised.
When all the Metal Box plants have been hit by job loss why has yours decided to fight back?
This lot of com-
WIVES and workers at Metal Box are organising to discuss the problems that they are facing and how they can support the strike. MAVIS GILES, wife of Ray, a senior shop steward spoke to Socialist Challenge about why women should be involved.
Why do you think wives and companions should be involved in the occupation?
Gradually T.nesike s progressed women become SO aLeU within the home facing the
BODCIS any strike brings.
The wives are at nome some with small children, with little U10blems with bills, not knowing whether they can claim on social security, difficulty finding out exactly how the strike is pro-
SHIPLEY METAL BOX
the lack of a
350 engineering workers at Metal
to withdraw its
to
On the 22/23 May Frank Gorton, a
RICHARD LEE,
to continue the oc-
pulsory redundancies have
ed everyone to think 'well enough's enough'. It's about time we resisted and fought back.'
The thing that's changCOustEs anens matne redundancy exercise . is a charter for victimisation.
We've been well organised and been the
negotiations tions.
It's this that's important for the company to break.
Do you think you were right in the first place to accept voluntary redundancies? The principle is the same... It means jobs gone out of the industry.
We're trying as best we can Lo uen oos oss did we recognise that even volunteers means job loss. Our azumcu ras occi
man volunteer to give up his job anu is dall chouza lo dose then we aren't going to argue or stoo him. in tact we can't stop him.
Ihe redundancy terms of the company are very
companions of the occupying
gressing and whether
there's HOver with management.
Sometimes their husbands are away they get the news from the radio or the press. So we
felt that if we had a wives' action group we could get
together discuss pro-
nenc unai affect us as a
roup and individually. : direce c pente Cot to talk directly the wives,
DulC us uo to car and tell us how the strike ColllCe wiltol happening.
good, three and half weeks pay per year of employment which is far in excess of the state scheme. People very seriously consider taking high payments and selling their jobs.
We've got enough on defending the jobs of peowith out arguing with stay WilO want Stay ple who want to go. But l accept that the trade union movcucHl and OULSCLVC are not saving jobs.
Do you think it's asking a lot for workers in the
to take industrial action over Shipley when they haven't taken action over the job loss and factory closures on their own patch?
We have given pledges of support of industrial action to others . ror example, the Crawley convenor was faced with the closure of the machine shop with 220 jobs to go.
We convened a special meeting in Lancashire and called the five factories in Metal Box Engineering together and took a decision that we would go on strike behalf Crawley.
That convenor turned around and said that if he wen back toms menoe with that message that Iney u Hallg nim. They want the redundancy mOnCY
The basic difference is that this is the first time anybody has shown a real willingness fight off redundancy.
Denis Allport, chairperson of Metal Box inspecting
Also we can find ways in which we can be involv-
In ralsing money and helping each other with practical problems CuKe baby sitting.
Management are making noises about jobs being Laucalcicu direci result of this industrial ac-
The Illaliul ing that if the men don't
the sit-in then they might lose everybody's jobs because the factory wl chose
This can be quite frightening if you read this in the newspaper and you haven't had prior knowledge that this
was an expected attack by manageLibill It's things like this that
need to be discussed as a group with the officials of
Solidarity
Richard Lee, secretary. Metal Box is part of a large national and international corporation with some 56 factory
What are you asking of the labour movement?
We're asking the Labour Party for both moral and tinancial support We've been doing very well with this up to now.
We've arranged have lobby of the shareholders meeting. number of labour controllca councus Have silarts Ill Metal Box, the GLC has something like 359,000. We're asking them to ask plants in Jamaica and Trinidad. MB has investment
the union.
Some of the people at the action committee were suggesting that LEfl- girlfriends were not in sup. port of the strike, that
meeting that dead some of the women were locking up their men to stop them from coming into the strike.
In the first place I'm nol
of the colvilccu wives think like this. It seems that the wives who do take this kind of action against their husbands are the ones that people hear about. We don't hear toc much about the ones who are giving quiet support
can appreciate that women are getting anxious
HOURLY FAIL)
ONLY works convenor and combine
give us the proxy.
We've asked the Labour MPs to give us financial support and to ask questions in the House of Commons, especially about the South African connection
It's times like this lnar ever mae aroce org road political man suddenly realises that this big army of people are there and willing to give us a tremendous amount of help
I think a lot of us have felt guilty about the way we've felt about plulos like the Socialist Workers in South Africa, Chile, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Singapore, Malaysia
and miserable about the financial Situalol that they might look at it in ine short term
Fortunately many of the wives see the issues a being much broader and the implications wider.
The management will colu uv cone dack wn
more and more redundan cies They'll be able to pick
the shop prese neten and
the shop when and how they because they'!l know they've
broken off resistance
They can eventually close the factory down if they want to because management that has no opposition 'and no determinanon among tne snop floor can just ride rough-
people's jobs SnOu OVCI
sites in Britain and operating in about 30 other countries.
Party. But its people like lls you nave to rely or and not just them but in the SLADOU Without them we would have been really in the shtuck.
The have
Coman tried to make SWP help in-
political issue. The SWP has collected money, has given moral support ana aavice bur tne swr has never been involved inplant in the dispute.
Last week you picker ted the Metal Box headquarters in nedoing te and livelihoods.
Is wny after 11 years of peaceful inaustriai relations tne men have decided that they have got to make a stand because in the long run it will save Joos
We need to stop redundancies and if we don't it
What you can do
• A London tour is scheduled to begin on 1 June
anu ar tavow movene evers se brc urcu.
toci arank Goron desyso normalor.
official collection sheet.
Metal Box plants exist in
conec tor mre strike
Contact the Joint Shop
Mackin, renature
Yorkshire, Tel 0274 59052
force the managemen back into talks. How dic that go?
While we stood there eight brand new Cavaliers were delivered for the management car pool. Most of the directors rolled up in registered autol dark green with a chauffeur driv
The building itself is like a hotel. In the outbuildings they've got saullas swimming baths. tennis and squash courts
You should have occupied that.
No I don't think so. It's just that you get the sense O ICSC CHECCLOSHaKs decisions about the lives of people and they bear no consequences for them
They're just lording it all has been achieved on revenue from the plants. And although you know that the com
director, Denis
Allport gave himself a 9°
£67,000 a ber cen ase lo year it isn't until you see it that it really strikes you how disgusting it all is. Wie expect to meet with them this Thursday.
will mean far greater job losses As there are no engineering jobs left in W eN Yorkshire there nowhere else that the men can go for jobs so people will face years and years on the dole - and that will be a permanent financial pro blem. Anda al lamet saren oreni ie t rea. lease ries
• Get resolutions of support and donations, using the
areas of the countr Sell Socialist Challenge outside to tell the MB story an na Westrte Ca, Stipey, West Steward
Socialist Challenge - 28 May 1982 . page )
Page 8 scan of this page
ONE HUNDRED YEARS How Britain and the
Let the voice
of the
Argentinian
opposition
be heard
In all the publicity about the war one voice has been left unheard - that of the Argentinian opposition who have been suffering at the hands of the dictatorship. Socialist Runco, an Argentinian political refugee In Britain, to explain the reactions of the British media to the Argentinian opposition's point of view.
'Shortly after becoming Prime Minister in 1979 Margaret Thatcher closed down the Latin American refugee programme, preventing anyone not already on the entry lists from getting in the country. Since then Thatcher has been busily selling arms to the junta but giving no material aid whatsoever to the Argentinians who want to come to this country.
'Since the war began Argentinian oppositionists have not had their point of view heard. First, it has not been pointed out that the Argentinian people support the government's stand on the questions. oppositionists have not come to this country to explain their views, like the Argentinian CGT.
'And the Nobel Peace Prize 1980, Adolfo Perez Esquivel told the Times: am a trouble maker in the eyes of the Argentinian military government. I am also seen as a trouble maker by which has refused me a visa to travel to London, apparently upset by my statements that as an Argentinian i share my people's claim to the islands."
"Third, who have bean interviewed by the press have faced many problems. For example I was invited to be gramme "The Falklends were British islanders, relatives of British servicemen, and 8813333 and linked •up Argentinian along with British people.
Frost asked people how many in the audience had originelly supported sending the task force but now had changed their minds. There was a big majority of hands up. But this was totally missed out of the recording of the programme shown on TV!
Also the programme almost totally on discussing with reactionary Argentinian politicians in the likes of David Steel, James Callaghan in this country. Then they said they were sorry but there was no time left to talk to the islanders or the Argentinian oppositionists supposed to be about.
I was interviewed on LBC radio. It was broadcast at 8.45am but my whole explanation of the feelings of the Argentinian people about the islands was played the part where I said we were for a peaceful solution.
'And ITN interviewed me twice. The first was never broadcest at all. The second time there was a very long interview where | explained the Argentinian point of view. They only played the part where I said that I personally had been well treated by the Home Office. Taken out of context the quote was a complete distortion of my views.
The Argentinians are very disappointed with the establishment media here in Britain and the way they have presented the conflict. We would like to have explained the real feel. ings of the Argentinians about the war. We have always supported a peaceful settlement of the dispute.
Galtieri, who is not suddenly seen as patriotic, but if the British imperialist aggression continues everyone will fight for national independence even if this alongside the dictetorship.
But we will not forget that once this conflict is over we will continue our struggle against the Argentinien armed forces. Next week: a longer interview with Rafael Runco about the state of the apposition in Argentind.
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982
Challenge asked Rafael
war but not on other Second, importent Argentinian
allowed to
runion 1вавтaden.
winner for "1
British
those oppositionists like myself
the David Frost TV Special": There Argentinian politifrom Montevideo, oppositionists in the audlence
the
concentrated
Montevideo and David Owen and
- the very people the war is Oll
left out. They only
We have put no confidence in
means fighting page 8
By Will Reissner IN THE current conflict between the Argentinian British governments over the Malvinas Islands, the critical commentary in the big business media focuses on the fact that Argentina is now ruled by a military dictatorship while Britain has a parliamentary democracy.
This obscures a much more fundamental difference
the two countries that Argentina is colonial country while Britain is one of the major imperialist powers in the worid.
Decisive control Argentina's economy is not in the hands of Argentinians, but in the hands of the capitalist investors from abroad. fact explains both how Argentinian economy developed and it been misdeveloped.
Argentina is one of the most highly developed, and one of the most industrialised the senicolona countries. But comparisons between semicolonia. aircillila and perialist Canada show the limitations of industrial development in the semi-colonial world.
Argentina and Canada have many
Both were settied over whelmingly by Europeans. important producers or grain livestock. Both export large amounts of food and raw materials. Both have educated and skilled workforces. Both are largely urban.
But the following chart on this page shows the tremendous difference in their levels of economic development. The reason for the gap between the two countries is explained by the principal difference between Argentinian economic development has been deformed and distorted by
predominant role that capital has played in the development of industry, and by the fundamental influence that imperialist companies exert on the Argentinian state.
Argentina's economic ment has been largely determined by an alliance between Argentinian landowners and imperialism. The landowners, who raise grain and livestock
huge estates (estancias), traditionally been content to export their produce and import industrial products, which are generally cheaper and better made than domestic production.
Their power rests on the staggering concentration in landownership in Argentina. Only two-tenths of 1 per cent of the landowners control 65 per cent of the country's acreage and employ 50 per cent of the agricultural labour wo land companies alone own as much land as the total areas of Belgium and logchick
While 160,000 farmers cultivate 1.5 million hectares, the 2,100 largest landowners cultivate 53.5 million hectares. Two out of every three farmers do not own the land they work.
While in absolute terms Argentina's agricultural exports mous, its agriculture is inefficient by advanced capitalist standards, being based on minimal cultivation of huge tracts. According to 1964 and 1966 figures compiled by the United Nations Economic Commission Latin America (ECLA), Argentinian farmers used 19 times fewer tractors per arable acre than their counterparts, and 140 times less fertilizer than West German farmers.
The fact that Argentinian exports are overwhelmingly agricultural make it particularly vulnerable to shifts in
and
hypo-
bet-
semi-
over
This
the
has
has
economic stranglehold the world market.
While the large landowners are mainly Argentinian, investment became the dominant factor in Argentinian industrial developBoth are ment in the third quarter of the 19th
That from Britain until the 1940s, was in- cellul y itially concentrated in railroads and the meat export trade.
But investments system were made to further the interests of British capital rather than the internal needs of the Argentinian economy. Lines were laid out in a fan pattern, to move exports from the in. terior to the port of Buenos Aires and to move imports from Buenos
foreign
develop-
have
put are col.
British
Al Haig, dependent Argentina over
Juan Peron, unable to break out of the imperialist
imperialist munication
investment, largely imperialist
in the railroad nian
For archetype US imperialist, backed Britain against the Malvinas/Falklands
Aires to the interior. No grid was built to facilitate internal trade and com
between the cities and regions of Argentina itself.
The second major focus of early
investment was in meat-packing industry. The develop.
of refrigerator ships in 1876 made it possible for the first time to transport large amounts of Argenti-
• beef to European markets, and by 1890 a fleet of 278 refrigerator ships was constantly moving between Buenos Aires and Britain.
intents and purposes, Argentina had become a British colony by the turn of the century. Fully
- OVERTISEAN
- VOSS POrU
• AGAINSE Not everyone supports the w
80 per cent of all foreign investm the country came from Britain,
influence aspects of Argentinian life
By the 1930s, British capit controlled three-quarters of the road mileage, most of the urban sit systems and utilities, much o meat-packing industry, and had stakes industrie Capitalists from other countries had a substantial presence in A
During the 1930s and 1940s was considerable developmen consumer-oriented 'import sub tion' industries in Argentina. D the world-wide capitalist depres markets for Argentinian expor Western Europe shrank, leavin country with less money to pur manufactured goods abroad. when markels agriculture picked up with the break of the Second World Argentina was still unable to pur industrial goods due to the conve of European industry to war pr tion.
Population... % Urban......
Gross Domestic Imports ... aXOUILS.....
Electricity prod (kilowatt hrs).......
Crude steel produced (metric tons)..
Autos in use.
Autos manufactured.
Trucks manutactured Rail freight (net ton Telephones..
Beef production
(metric tons).... % 5- to 19-year olds in school...
Infant mortality
(per 1,000 live births)..
Page 9 scan of this page
OF COLONIAL EXPLOITATION SA 'underdeveloped Argentina
R?
E DONT WANT
DON T WISH
HAVE TRAINED
E BUILT sinst Argentina
By the close of the war Argentina had built up gigantic foreign currency reserves, and the nationalistic government of General Juan Perón used that money to buy out the holdings British capitalists in the country and establish state-owned companies to develop new areas of the economv.
At the end of the war, Argentina seemed to be poised for large-scale independence industrial development. It had established a considerable industrial base in the previous decades, it had bought out the largest imperialist holdings, and it possessed large amounts or capilal oult during the war. But the hoped-for independent development did not take place.
With the end of the war, the imperialist Coracs could turn their attention to Argentina. By the early 1950s, foreign corporations, now predominantly US, entering the county numbers, often purchasing Argentinian owned companies that had been built up in the preceding two decades.
Argentina Canada 27,300,000 23,940,000
72% 75.5% $61.5 billion $245.8 billion $6.7 billion $62.6 billion $7.8 billion 29.05 billion 335.71 billion
3.2 million 16.1 million 2.03 million 9.02 million
135,000 1.14 million
45,480 610,800 10.37 billion 215.35 billion 2.6 million 14.5 million
3.19 million 1.06 million
59% 76%
59.0 12.4
To controlled by or
HARRI with foreign capital.
amined the
Photo: JOHN
by Argentinian capitalists
chases existing
tions.
automobile industry growing COnTOl
functioning in Argentina,
ship. two
up
locally-owned again
were again
in the industry in the early 1960s. large Today the story
ferent. The
the remaining panies are all foreign owned
'Between 1958 and 1964, that is, period during which
industry was made,
that amounted to $52.3m.
1970s when annual dividends and royalties
capita invested period.'
Crying for Argentina, by the military
In 1954, a study of the 100 most important companies functioning in Argentina. Iound that at least 89 were cians,
closely connected
Another study in the 1960s excountry's largest companies, as defined by sales, and found that half of the total sales volume
to foreign-owned firms. one-third to state-owned firms, and only one-sixth to private companies owned
The trend toward imperialist pur-
Argentinian industries is continuing. Of the 50 large state enterprises that the Argentinian
over private control between 1963 and 1968, 29 passed into the hands of US corpora-
The evolution of the Argentinian
of imperialism. In 1960, 21 automobile companies were
of which only 4 had majority foreign owner-
The remainder were either entirely or majority Argentinian owned, and operated under license from imperialist firms. In 1963, locally owned auto firms still accounted for more Ine than 50 per cent of total production. outflow
Leaving aside the fact that all the
companies were already tied to imperialist corporations through licensing agreements, these figures show that there was still significant Argentinian participation
Argentina is totally difArgentinian producers have folded or been bought out and
fiye automobile com-
In a study of the Argentinian auto industry, British scholar Rhys Jenkins points out that the imperialists take far more capital out of the country than they invest in it. He reports that:
most of the over foreign investment in the automotive
the inflow of $33m into the industry was exceeded Colly by the outflow of dividend payments
Jenkins adds that the situation got even worse in the late 1960s and early
payments OI foreign to foreign owners exceeded the total new foreign
six-year
This pattern is not unique. In fact it is the norm. Contrary to the myth
expounded by generations of pro imperialist economists and politi-
foreign investment does not result in an inflow of capital to the semicolonial world and does necessarily result in the creation of new industrial capacity
of the United States Department of Commerce shows that between 1950 and 1965, US private in. vestment in Latin America totalled $3.8bn, while in those same years the flow of profits from Latin America to the United States totalled $11.3bn.
In addition, most "foreign' investment does not bring new capital into the semicolonial countries from the imperialist countries. According to a US Department of Commerce study, 96 per cent of US foreign investment in Latin America is actually raised in Latin America.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America points out that: "The growing tendencv of foreign investors in recent years to purchase all or part of industrial enterprises that are already operating in Latin America, far from providing a stimulus to industrial activities in
region, entails an increasing of financial I CoulLeS. without the creation of new producton capacity to justify it.
This pattern imperialist investors borrowing Argentinian capital to purchase Argentinian industrial plants and sending the profits out of
impact besides the export of capital from the country. It also establishes Argentinian industry as a branch office operation, in which imperialist firms satisfy the local internal market through their own local production rather than through imports. But all research, development, technical innovation, engineering, and the like is carried out in the 'home' office.
The degree of imperialist control
Argentina's industrial production has had a big impact on the relationship of class forces within the
As Argentnan economisi Gustavo Polit notes: 'Since its birth Argentinian industry has been centralised in a few hands, inextricably intertwined with the landholders and
capital.' As a degree of concentration of ownership and production is higher than in the advanced capitalist countries, which developed in a more organic and rounded manner.
Argentinian corporations were
huge from the start. As Polit shows, they 'emerged in the economic arena of Argentina as fully developed offspring of large foreign enterprises.'
Already by 1936, still in the early SLaLC. Argentinian development, (one-tenth of 1 per cent of the total) employed 15 per cent of all workers -a degree of concentration that was 10 times higher than in the United States at the same time. largest establishments responsible for 20 per value of production.
The Argentinian working class, therefore, concentrated in large factories, which are the most conducive arena for the development of sciousness and organisation. result, the Argentinian working class has traditionally been one of the most class-conscious and militant in the capitalist world.
This huge, powerful working class confronts stunted capitalist class. In face of competition from huge foreign corporations, most Argentine capitalists are content to play the role of junior partner to imperialist firms, or avoid industrial inYOU LOLY.
The Argentinian capitalist asks himself, says Polit: millions be invested in such items as blast furnaces if a capital investment will bring high and immediate profits when invested in not land, elegant buildings, market, or textile enterprises?
This stunted Argentinian capitalist class finds itself sandwiched between two giants — the Argentinian workers perialists. Unable to control and contain the working class on its own, must rel on brute military to keep the workers in check, and it turns over the reins of government representatives perialism.
on the
out to 'PEC'
150 largest
industrial 47 individual factories porations government ministers
By 1954, the 69 alone were cent of the
was from its beginnings
working-clas conAs a
The since 1976, Argentinian economic
tial palace.
sion:
end of Because of 'Why should
much smaller ted profits,
trom Japanese and deformed $35bn. and the imits millions, tions. breaking force by the capital
im-
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In 1970 and 1971 James Petras and Thomas Cook carried out interviews with the top executives of the
corporations and in dustrial associations in Argentina They found that 55.4 per cent of the top executives of foreign owned cor-
have nelo Argentinian posts as cabinet cabinet advisers, ministerial subsecretaries. But only 19.7 per cent of the top executives of Argentinian owned companies had held similar posts.
Today Argentina is in the midst of a terrible economic crisis characterised by years of triple-digit inflation, a rising wave of bankruptcies and bank collapses, unemployment that is of ficially 10 per cent but is thought to be nearly double that figure in reality, an a dizzying fall in the living standards of Argentinian working people.
military, which has ruled has no solution to the crisis. In 1981, five different officers occupied the presiden-
one arter anotner wa. swept out by the deepening depres-
Today Argentina faces the dead
semicolonial development. the penetration of imperialist investment, Argentina sends massive amounts of capital to the imperialist centers in the form of remit-
and then has to turn around and borrow that same capital
British, US European banks to finance infra structural development. Argentina's foreign debt now stands at more than
The Argentinian working class, in
with its fighting tradiis the only force capable of the hold of imperialist on Argentina and taking charge of the country's destiny. From Intercontinental Press Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
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BOB MARLEY died one year ago. his legend and influence remain just as powertul in death as Here we re-print the tribute we published when he died by PAUL GILROY.
DESPITE the music has helped many a stuffy social find its feet and start dancing, will be many on the left who will balk at considering Bob Marley as more than a 'pop star'.
relevance of the autonomous politics of which Marley should be warned coverage of his death.
This went to ridiculous extremes to prove that his music and purposes were unrelated to bolitics and nothing to do with revolution.
Radio 4 informed us that Get up, stand up was a 'spiritual plea
while the ATV tribute explained that Crazy Baldhead carried 'mystic message of peace and reconciliation'
These views were a predictable insult to man whose political influence continues to gulde the political struggles of a generation reared on his instruction, 'Don't forget your history, control your destiny' Babylon
Bob Marley was not a 'protest singer' who
drew attention to strug•
gles of which he was not
part. He was a commit-
ted artist whose works
were indivisible from
the struggles they ex-
pressed.
His powerful words are evidence of his political intentions, and their political effects
elevated him above the shallow pop culture
which he evaded while
alive, but which has attempted to claim him in
death.
When Island
Records released The
Wailers' Catch a Fire in
a cigarette lighter cover
in 1973, they sparked a
political and cultural
during his life.
fact that his militant
there
Any socialist who fails to see the
black was part
by the media
revolution, whose flames were felt throughout Africa, West Europe and the Americas.
Marley preached
relentless anti-imperialist doctrine. Built on Dread PanAfricanism, but unswerving from commitment to the righteousness of the op-
pressed whatever
Babylon system sucked the blood of the sufferers, Marley's understanding of
Babylon was to prove all too powerful, and far more materialist than metaphysical.
Direct intervention
behamaican PMich ael
behalf Michael
Manley's People Na-
tional Party got Marley
Review
Marley lives!
shot for his pains, and he left Jamaica.
His commitment and priorities can be gauged from the fact that the Survival album, which marked his return to music, was more resolutely outspoken than ever, turning his own experience at the hands of the assassins into a symbol for the divide-andrule tactics of the capitalism that he despised. Millions of black people in the
world who feel capitalist domination through racial oppression have taken up Marley's new Garveyism and used in their struggles.
But they were not his only constituency.
He had knack of presenting a. black experience undiluted in
such a way that univer-
sal, general and class-based interpretations
were also possible.
He invited anti-
racism while servicing
black liberation. The
calculated ambiguities
of a song about politica
violence Jamaica
made relevant to
England in a different
way:
"They don't want to see
us live together,
All they want us to do is
keep killing one
another'
The impact of Afro-
Caribbean culture in
general and reggae in
particular on the lives
and politics of white
working class youth in
this country is too often
overlooked.
Rather that abandon white youth forever to the swelling ranks of the British Movement, we must realise how many young people found something of their own In the language and symbols of Rastafarı which Marley made famous
White young people flocked to see him per. form and bayed stana up for your rights' back at the stage in their cup final atmosphere
relationship flowered briefly in the cooperation of black and white which marked the early days of Rock Against Racism and prepared the ground for the shortlived but important 'two-tone' craze.
Marley's influence powered over all this and the connections he fought to reveal will be harder to uncover the next time anti-racism becomes fashionable.
Of course, his rise to
international stardom was only possible once the leisure industry woke up to the vast protits to be made from
reggae.
Third World markets for records in Africa
and Latin America demanded new products and the domestic 'rock scene' had grown stale under the deadweight of the Eric Claptons.
The image of the
primitive and licentious
herbsman was to prove a novel selling point to the rock fans who gasped over No
Woman, No Cry. In this period many people were tempted to think that Marley had ababdoned our cause in the cynical pursuit of fame and fortune.
He accepted the constraints of commodity stardom as the price of access to larger numbers of people who could make his vision of the internationalisation of Rastafari a reality. Irony
The move ANOV C away from root reggae towards pop, willcl started with Natty Dread — his first album atter the original Wailers broke up should be understood as a strategic ploy to open up black America to the political culture of reggae and Rastfari.
It is sad irony that he should have fallen ill just as Stevie Wonder's Master Blaster
seemed to have made this con. quest likely.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Bob Marley was a mystic just because he spoke a language of class struggle which you
find difficult to translate
He spanned political and cultural traditions, and the dif ferential effects of his
Pheitcleinor enti on in
metropolis and third world present precise picture of the contigurations of imperialism
His music and political achievements are the best obituary. Listen to Burning and Looting and remember him serenading Zimbabwe into Independence.
Page 11 scan of this page
Cuban foreign policy Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, vice Castro, his visit goes beyond cil of Ministers, is now on an French-Cuban relations. It is official visit to Paris. A central part of a new series of Cuban
foreign and economic policy. editor of the French revolu-
As
revolution.
its choice.
ple, military action seemed imminent.
of Cuban foreign policy.
'Tension has slackened off since,' he adds, 'but we would be irresponsible if we did not
prep re tr entere nse
our entire people mobilised and in military train. ing to repel any aggressor.
L CitOr tation. But it is not our choice.'
Imperialist aal cosil. mobilisation, revolutionary rise
Central America, negotiation: These are the key words around which the Cuban leadership's foreign policy now developing.
First, a popular mobilisation, deper and more widespread than we have been used to during this revolution. An internationalist MODusa. tion, solidarisinge with struggle Central American revolutionaries, Cuba is living through the daily experiences of Nicaragua, Guatemala. El Salvador. There is not a workplace assembly nor a meeting of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution where the situation there is not discussed. Combat
'Our future is at stake here as in Central America. plained Cuban Minister recently. "Their struesie ours, the placards and posters, often clumsily designed, which can be seen on the walls of the workshops and offices. It is an internauonaisi mobilisation, but it is also in defence of the revolution: the workers' state and its gains.
The decision to constitute "territorial militias' taken at the end of 1980 and ratified by the Communist Party's 2nd Congress, has received wide sup-
Tens of thousands DULL. workers have 'detachments' In workowces. devoted much of their holidays to military training and collected money ior their own arms.
In Havana. each CDR has set up 'evacuation committees' house by house, street by street. Exercises are held regularly and everyone knows what to do in case of attack. Those who have lived through dramatic moments of 'missile crisis' of 1962 seem unanimous in thinking that this mobilisation is at least as big.
president of the Cuban Coun- run
figure in Havana, he is respon- diplomatic initiatives.
sible for cordinating Cuba's
'number three'
regime after Fidel and Raul the new moves.
twenty Washington's aggressive attitude to us has never slackened. From the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, to the economic blockade, the list of attempts to isolate or destroy us is long. Imperialism has never accepted the Cuban people's decision to adopt the social system of
But, with the triumph of the Nicaraguan revolution and the successes of the Salvadorean peo-
this hostility has surpassed itself. Last October,
The speaker was still adolescent when Fidel Castro entered Havana in 1959. A cadre of the Cuban Communist Party and a member of its Central Committee, he is one of those today contributing to the elaboration
But it is more structured and more confident.
Now that the revolution has celebrated its twenty-third anniversary, such facts many others — are proof of the We the of politicisation and of large sections of the people, ana or me lnks wnieh involve the Castroist leadership with the masses. are
Cafonronatae "Rodiguez
of confrontation awaits Rafael the recently told French agency. The Cuban leaders are convinced the military aggression tneir islana ls greater inan al any time since the 1960s They fear this not only as a response to the revolution in Leilra deep down, an adventure by the Reagal dumnst anion. m tnel most eyes this is 'the most conser-
most reactionary and the most SCELOI American bourgeoisie.
Jean-Pierre sector which reacts to problems and events fashion, WIELM seem to have prepared in advance by pseudo. ideologues blinded anu-communism.
Washington
'problems' right now. Internal problems which leaders follow from close up -and international problems.
Particularly
them Tne economic crisis parent solution. accelerated re. armament and - regionally LITC military Salvador and Central America In their view this escalation, if it continues, can only lead to a geographical escalation.
nat entalt maared ey
national (ClileAl
among numerous explosive local situa-
tions - from Southern Africa Fidel Castro and Mexico's President Lopez Portillo
enthusiasm
calm and well-
Rodriguez
press
risk
against
They ical.
the ll ls a
International.
of the mill bi-lateral in the tionary paper Rouge, assesses
'in a mechanical they think reponses perialist been with their is meeting shows this fear justitied. the Cuban The fears and disturbing for combination without ap- blems' openly, EI informal' escalanivl
the Soviet marked of the Raul Castro and Kosygin in Mexico
Beauvais,
to the Middle East, for example
that any imadventure
Ialvinas/ raiklanas years, not un-
Cuban leadership's worries cannot be dissociated from their growing concern with the 'accumulation
SoCsL cainD :
This is a subject whict no Cuban official will discus:
but from 'friendly and exchanges and 'small phrases' the indications are
principles
The chronic difficulties of
economy, the massive indebtedness of most tlon
'socialist countries' disturbs the Cubans: what will the long term effects be on the
put out by neW.
against high
Another, Fidel's,
military Poland,
wards. ai C divergence Union
aid — still vital — which Russia gives the Cuban economy?
Moscow's entrenchment in Afganistan worries them too *The Russian losses are heavy: they will have to fight there for
Conac heard delivered in critical tonBut above all it is Poland that concerns them
On this there is an official position. It is a position whict
of nas cen one watce dru re mains very discreet. It insists on the fact that the present situa tion is 'above all the product of the incorrect application of the
of MarxismLeninism' but, in essence, it re mains - without any equivoca-
- a position of support for Jaruzelski.
But many questions are bethrough their jobs, hase access asked those who, to olner inrormanon Wall Wlal
the Russian Tass reproduced areny. liberally by Prensa Latina and the whole Cuban press.
'One cannot build socialism with the majority of the people
you, commented functionary in the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
old friend recalled convinced that if the Soviet
had intervened the Yankees would have intervened directly after-
In spite of everything, Jaruzelski is the lesser evil.
Around these questions there is, obviously, a discussion at the heart OI Ine Cuban leadership. This is a strictly internal discussion and its limits
obvious: any major with the Soviet whose massive aid
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and military support have been determining factors in the sur vival of the revolution in the face of imperialist aggression — is a priori excluded.
'To the extent that we are pursuing the same historical objectives... there is and will be a broad coincidence betweer Soviet foreign policy and Cuba's, ' writes Carlos Rafael Rodriguez in an important arti. cle buonsnea in tne mrst carlol
Cuba Socialista, the new theoretical review of the Cubar Communist Party
These limits having been established, a further point can
affirmed which commented on as soon as international questions are discussed: the Cuban revolution 'must not only have an independent foreign policy, it must have its own policy to use Rodriguez's formula in the article already quoted
This is the first time that this theme has occupied such a position and the first time it has been so clearly enunciated since the 1970s, that is, since Soviet influence began to weigh so heavily on the revolution.
'Although Cuba is disposed to subordinate its national in terests permanently to those of socialism as a universal aspiration, this does not and canno!
nean that our foreign polic
win us owi oo ecuves. culki subordinated to the policies of
SOCIESY Sulc, writes Rodriguez
It would be wrong to see only rhetoric in these arguments.
Ón such vital questions as Cen tral America or relations with Washington, and on many others, Cuban desire to develop
"its own policy' is more and more perceptible Nicaragua: The San. dinista Revolution Henri Weber f2.95 pb Verso The Triple Struggle Audrey Bronstein £3.00 pb WOW
Women at Work A Workers Educational Ass'n Book Chris Aldred £1.75 pb Pan
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
RAPE and violence against women most extreme forms of degradation of women in our society. Such acts are not one off oc-
performed by reflect women's position in society and the family. Twenty five per cent of all violent crime takes the form of sexual or domestic attacks on women in the home. Forty seven per cent of rapes are committed by people known to the victim and only a few are known to be mentally disturbed.
that has taken place recently in the pages of Socialist Challenge.
fact that women are trapped in a subordinate position inside the because women are materially dependent on men within the family. They are the provider of domestic services not supplied by the state.
The only possibility of
ment of women is not by having tougher
but uhrougen changing ts
through changing socer wilcis base•o coercion in every sphere of life alle establishing society where free social ana sexual relahons exist.
In this context we can ЗІРоТОНТ ЗОс ПО ТоO achievements of post capitalist beginning to challenge the overall position of women
society алететоте changing attitudes and treat women.
Russia in the early days of Photo: G Cookson ple, the most advanced troduced For women. Free efore since was abortion, civil marriage and the right to work was enshrined in the constitu-
and began enacted.
Family
In Cuba today, a topic of debate in many of the letters, there are free nurseries, abortion totally legal as long as the woman wants it, children born outside wedlock are considered equal, thus challenging the norm of marriage and monogamy.
addition there is advertising in Cuba. Thus women's bodies cannot be usea to sell commodities — an important factor in encouraging sexist titudes in capitalist countries. There is a mass womens movement volving eighty per cent of women and taking up the fight for
demands and challenging 'machismo'
OIC would claim that such societies can get rid Lauc and violence overnight. Even in a country like Cuba this Is nol une case. but such problems are nothing like LOC Scout problems which could be found
duvaliccu capitalist country
Ultimately, however, complete alternative to the family form Wlll be neccessary to change attitudes
Without that
Wullica. they cannot be fully free and independent,
wallus play in social
socialist unallenge 28 May 1982
Rape and sexual
violence
are the
mad men they JUDITH ARKWRIGHT replies to the debate
Violence toward women stems from the
family subordinate
production, cannot play a
full role in public life and will continue to be subordinate to men.
Women will not achieve full equality until this is overcome and an alternative to the family and domestic labour developed. Attitudes toward women which generate hostility, sexual obiectitication or violence can change as part of this
The fight against violence against however, cannot be postponed until 'we
DONT KILL
YOUR WIFE
10
8 LET US DO
achieve socialism' - it has to be taken up as part of the fight for socialism along with other demands.
Women against Rape for example, have just launched a campaign for
recognised iaue within marriage which they intend to take into the women's and
The fact that
recognised shows how
are regarded men's property to be sexually abused and exploited at will. The capitalist state endorsed this because wants to ensure women's role as reproducers and child rearers, not as sexual beings with their own rights.
Demands
We should demand an end to police and judges' harassment. we should call for balanced jury composinon and tor automanc compensation for rape vicums witnoul naving la go through a separate claims COlE We should demand
funded which are tree trom state
page 12
Such demands do not imply any reliance on the state and in fact show up ine role oI ine state in perpetuating violence to wonted These demands can be used to stimulate the set activitv of women to fight for their needs. struggle women around this and all the demands for our liberation will show quite clearly that we will have nothing to do with the law and order' brigade and their proposals for combatting rape which centre
ment' of the individual
Such people do not have the interests of women al neart wnen Iney demand stiffer sentences Ul Hallgig
What would women gain from this? Nothing
In fact quite the opposite
Many strengthening of the state apparatus weakens women's fight since it is precisely the same parliament, the same courts, the same institutions which attack women's rights work, to fertility control allu so ol
Our emphasis socialists should be on campaigns which benefit women. We should take these demands up within the labour movement pointing out how GUCStions like cuts in public
affects Lan DOll especially, demanding that unions negotiate on behalf demanding provisions of women members alarms, self defence lessons in worktime and schools, better street lighting, safe, cheap transport, for meetings to be at suitable
tor women and so on. In addition unions should draw up codes o conduct in relation to sexCollective
The fight for women's liberation begins to challenge the
wiltel mael have of women and forces them to treat women with respect and as equal beIngs. This type of strategy takes the emphasis away from the individual man and the individual woman and towards collective response. men off not matter of letting LIC TOOK anti-
and anti-working
our movement and we defend the right of women to organise against such actions.
The increase violence against women is a product of the social and
COSS • OI society. The liberation of
fighting this system and in the con-
movement and labour
strong enough and confident enough to fight back on all fronts.
Sexual Politics
PORNOGRAPHY
By Valerie Coultas
wonder how
it would be a shock
slideshow about violence put together Women's Group.
end of the show.
Starting off with the postel advertising Rolling Stones Album 'Black and Blue', where a 'glamorous' woman is tied up havıng been supposedly beaten 'black and blue' by the Rolling Stones and, acCoring it, the writen coon. cording the caption, mentary explains how women in Los Angeles forced the advertising company to withdraw this hoarding from public view. The slide show illustrates how fine the line
between repectable advertising and hard porn.
A slide is shown from a DOrI magazine woman's legs. are spread open in the air, no other part of her body is in view.
man stands above her with a huge drill. Another slide comes on the screen. ine Image Is similar bul this azie innesial ene this time, once again,
The most vivid and horritic sides those that take women's bodies
pleces mical to lls literal conclusion. In one succ a wonal is baccu ol a plate of rice, her bottom
her body covered with sauce. She looks just like a piece of chicken. In another we see
mincer 'grinding Wollas •OOV The woman's head (of course) have gone i her bottom grinder; only and legs are left waving in the air to titillate the male viewer. The final slide caps them all. It is a 'snuff' picture, a woman is being tortured to death, her nipples are being torn off by a male torturer.
many Socialist Challenge readers have ever seen a slide show about hard porn? If you're female it would shock you to see some of the images of women that are portrayed in hard porn magazines. For some men
too. The Swindon Women's Liberation Festival recently showed a
pornography and male by an American The effect on the all-female audience was a dramatic one. Stunned silence and a general feeling of discomfort greeted the
Outrage and anger against the male sex as a whole natural response to a slide show designed 'sensationalise' the issue of male violence. Many women A woman's body to advertise men's clothes like myself - in the audience had never been exposed to such vile images of their own sex before Dul my reacuon was nol
Self defence is no offence -unlike the adverts in Sunday's colour magazines.
From outrage to action
simply one of anger at a world that encourages men to view woman in this way but also a gnawing anger
at the bias in the slideshow itself
The atmosphere that the crealed room was one of a feminist sennice where we t anc
fed our anger at the male
sex in general. A slide had
been shown where a boss leaned over his was forcing his female employee to strip. It had
nothing to say about the
VOWCI of the man, as a
boss over his female employees.
When it referred to 'snuff' films said nothing about the bloated, degenerate capitalists and their hangers on who provide the to finance these sadistic trips
into foreign parts to trick women to their deaths said nothing of the profits
the records, churn out the porn magazines. the larg wage packets promised to the women who can get far more for taking their clothes off than they ever will as lactory workers, hairdresser, schoolteacher or even top secretary.
It is far too simple to allow
our are armies general to determine the
that should take against por
Of course it i vile. course degrading. Of
course we should oppose it and take individual men up for con doning it and consuming it
they do their thousand. every day their lives. But when i comes to action against 1 we have to attack the Souls. tion, of the problem. not the manifesta Millions
We have to attack the class system that courages and luctate women's inferiority -the home and at work. W have to point the finger at the firms and multi-
that make millions out of the porn in. austri and ensure that a future Labour government takes control of these industries, using their profits for things people really need.
We have to demand that all women are given the right to live independent lives by having the educational and work opportunities the family planning and welfare facilities, that will ensure that no woman is forced to sell her body either in mar. riage or for any other reason. These are the ways we move from outrage to action.
Feminists have accused socialists of past. When
DEAT blind in the past. discussing pornography the modern women's movement has to avoid beIng class-blind
Page 13 scan of this page
Witch-hunt call from Wales Labour Party
By Paul Hutchinson
and subsequent arrest.
Tariq Ali was 'invited'
to the police station by Det
Insp Windle. Windle
described what immediate-
followed at the police
station as a 'natter' about
Ali's political views. Ali
put it to the otticer that it
was "a heavy political in-
Windle
denied Ali's contention
that he Was also LILCIrogated about the whole
state of apartheid in South
Africa.
Ali later wrote a state-
ment when interviewed by
Det Insp Sidebottom and
Det Sgt Huntingdon. It
admitted involvement
making petrol bombs but
in terms of the need
resist fascist and racist at-
tacks. It pointed to events
In Southall and the Dept-
ford fire. this context
Ali's said Incy
took 'the news that coach-
loads of skinheads were
collie wo Draurora ven
seriously Sidebottom obviously didn't.
By Helen Slyomovics, Cardiff North delegate to Wales LP conference
Labour Party conference last week.
pulsion of Trotskyists.
The vote these resolutions went against the Wales Labour Party executive's recommendation to support a posite resolution which called for democratic reselection and an end to the witch-hunt.
Photo: PETE GRANT (Socialist Challenge)
Stop press: Tariq Ali has just received his member ship card. At the time of writing Eric Heffer is about to visit Hornsey Labour Party. The decisions of the Wales Labour Party will not aid the fight that is looming inside the party.
BRADFORD 12
Police deny knowledge
of fascist threat
THE PROSECUTION case continued throughout the fourth week of the Bradford 12 trial. Tariq Ali, defending himself, and other defence counsel, cross examined the police officers involve in his detention
Mike Mansfield, counsel for Tarlochan GataAura produced copies the News of the World dated 12 and 19 July 1981 (Sidebottom had said he took this paper regularly).
The 12 July issue had an article on the National recruiting gangs skinheads to attack black CountLes. the following week was on Southall and organiscu fascist violence. Sidebottom said he hadn't read these articles.
With last week's proceedings also came the adMISSION that Special Branch officers were wen severa or me defendants were picked up. Det Insp Windle when cross examined in relation to the arrest of Giovanni Singh, admitted the presence of Special Branch officer when they went to his house and said Ine Special Branch were interested in links A BLOW against democracy and for the right inside the Labour Party was struck at Wales
Resolutions were passed which called for an inquiry into various groups in the party and for the proscribing of the Militant Tendency and the ex-
Right wing MP for Swansea West, Alan Williams, claimed that the left had started the witchhunt with their demands reselection of MPs.
OUCh pathetic arguments, which confuses reselection ana expulsion, snowed ure
News
between disturbances
Bradford and riots in other areas of the country.
Police maltreatment of the defendants was also alleged by the defence.
Tariq Ali said that he was thrown into a cell with a
British Movement skinhead and that police officers had laughed at this. Sidebottom denied for Saced Fussein, Helena knowledge. Counsel
Cense Yorer put it to Det
Const that her client had been hit round the head three times.
Det Sgt Morley denied threatening Ishao Kazil
with being charged with a conspiracy to murder
policeman if he didn't give
them MOre information.
But he did admit that he had told 'I'll give you credit at court for not going along with them (the other defendants) if you tell me everything'.
Morley said that he had not been implying that ishao would get a lanter sentence. The defence case will start someume aung the fifth week of the trial. democracy is held by the right wing. It was the right
union, Tenera and Municipal Workers, which initiated these blatant attacks on the left — backed by the engineering amoni.
Unfortunately the transport union abstained on all these resolutions and allowed the right to win. George Wright
of Wales TGWU (as well as SCUICLary of the Wales TUC), claimed that to do otherwise would have 'split' the union delegation. Yet opposition to the witch-hunt iș part of the TGWU's national policy.
An abstention meant in fact a vote for the right and cannot unanswered. Derek Gregory, secretary of the public employees' union, NUPE which opposed the witchhunt argued, 'Yes we need basis of implementation ot on the
decided policies. Otherwise con-
mace mockery of and we need a
leadership valle WICI supports party policy. Labour cabinets have departed from these policies in the past and there has been infiltration from the right for many years, such Shirley Williams and Reg Prenlice.
This hypocrisy of the right was highlighted by
THE BRADFORD 12
N.U.M MARDY LODGE Dave Warren, Swansea LPYS, who pointed to Labour Solidarity, an organised tendency of the right wing in the party and who call for the expulsion of the Militant tendency.
As Derek Gregory continued. " don't support the Militant tendency. think SONG their arguments infantile.
Wales National Union of Mineworkers opposed the witch-hunt in the Labour Party, unlike the TGWU
But I defend absolutely their. right to put their arguments torward in this party? Now the decisions of the Wales Labour Party threatens that right more than ever. The role of the TGWU shows the need to continue to take up all opposition to bans and proscriptions and to take that fight right into the heart of the unions.
Battersea Park, London
from noon
Rally * Music* Forums* Stalls
Theatre* Children's Events
Refreshments * Creche available* least one organised by
worker plained,
have women, out of work.
ted the management; the
jobs.
prentices but women that is
percentage every year.
places like ours and women want.
In BRISTOL,
build for the day's events.
Every major city
Glasgow and Leicester, Ealing,
And there's more chester, Newcastle, Southwark.
sure you're there too!
your issue of 6 May, 1982.
She asked me
among them. published interview
You may not
have omitted it CHRIS MULLIN Editor, Tribune
l'oure is to become a forum for the
about appointing women journalists. Tribune.
Tessa van Gelderen
WOMEN'S
FESTIVAL
Saturday 5June
WOMEN'SRIGHTS TOJOBS & EQUALITY
THE 5 JUNE demonstration and rally for a woman's right to work promises to be a massive event for women's rights.
In MANCHESTER, the Labour Party are organising space in trains and in at
factory a coach has been the union Ferranti assembly over the last two years Ferran. Laura Mitchell ex
put 2000 workers, mainly
in the Holligwood plant, divisions between men and women have benefit.
men in the toolroom wouldn't fight redundancies in the assembly section (mainly women). Then when it was their turn, the women didn't feel inclined to defend the men's
Ferranti's now takes no women ap-
they don't prioritise they don't have a policy of positive discrimination. I think the union should fight for a guaranteed
We're looking forward to the festiva - it's a step in the right direction. But the Labour Party should campaign in
find out what
the predominantly female workforce at the Famous Names tactory, are hoping to get their union to organise a coach as well so that they can come down and get support for their strike against low pay. They'll be speak. ing at a public meeting in Newport to
will see women pouring down to London on 5 June with coaches also coming from as far away as
Edinburgh. Public meetings held in the last week
Camden, Lambeth have attracted fifty to a hundred women from trade unions and Labour Parties.
to come in Man-
Women are organising to protest against this Tory government's policies. Make
Women journalists
I THINK I have been misrepresented in the inte view with Tessa van Gelderen which appears r
how many women journalist: there were on Tribune and I replied as follow: 'We normally have only one and a half journalists We've had about 20 applications and there's i number of very well qualified people among them. I regret to say This reply did not appear in ine that there womer
have been satisfied with m: answer but 1 do think that in something which pur ports to be a verbatim transcript you ought not to
Apologies to Chris Mullin if he thought I misrepreserie: him. As a journalist, he must know it is impossible 10:" clude everything in what was an hour's interview.
great upsurs among women' then the journal has to think serio:.
no gone. should be taker i
Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982
Page 14 scan of this page
Tories take on transport workers
By R Brooks, NUR guard THE National Union ecutive has given British Rail a deadline of 7 June to begin the annual pay talks. National strike action is threatened if BRB fail to meet
The Board has said that it will not discuss pay with any of the three
until the drivers' union ASLEF agrees to flexible rostering, and the NUR to the 'one-man operation' trains on the St Pancras to Bedford line. It also wants Ine Nor to willialaw Is opposition to the closures of the railway workshops at Horwich, Shildon and the rundown of Swindon.
Brighton
Ian Williams, NEC member and guard, made this announcement to the 258 delegates at the guards and shunters grades conterence Brighton last weekend. The conference was in a fighting mood right from its start when it was reported that the general secretary, Sydney Weighell, had attempted to rule out of order 15 of the 48 resolutions submitted, including those against flexible rostering and 'one-man operation of trains.' The president of conference said that the executive committee of
ed this attempt to break down the autonomy of the grades conferences, and the resolutions were taken.
John Marks, from Kings Cross No 1 branch spoke against the conference executive's decision not to call a special grades conference to discuss flexible rostering. The secretary, Geoff Hensby, Paddington No 1
MAY 1982| By Kay Bastin 'FLOAT OF ANGER' is how the local press dubbed a float in Horwich carnival in Lancashire last weekend. black, portrayed workers performing different tasks all being axed by an axe-
It was produced by workers at British Rail's Illal. local workshop, protesting al plans to ciose It dowli.
Links have been made with the loca community.
including schools, and the
labour movement,
including trades councils
and the Labour Party. The workers petitioning and
earletting has now spread ram Bolton and Wigan to
recognise cha: 28 May 1982
of Railwaymen's ex-
branch. grades conference had the that
power CLO overturn the decisions of the NEC, and for that reason, and also lack of time, the executive decided against it.
Questions of union democracy and the lack of any consultation between the NEC and the branches and grades conferences were laker do urrougaoul the conference. Russell luck, assistalll general secretary in his address to conference said, 'No executive officer can ignore the decisions of this conference', but delegates drew attention to the fact that the Conference Liaison Committee which Tecommends une decisions to the NEC only met twice
Dasl vedr Con ference passed resolutions year after year which were not acted on by the NEC.
Flexible
The support ASLEF's stand was lustrated not only in the unanimous resolutions against flexible rostering and for all future negotiations to be on the basıs of a fixed guaranteed day, but
the loud shouts from delegates when Tuck blamed the bad response among NUR members to flexible rostering on the ASLEF dispute.
Delegates begged to differ and said that flexible rostering had been troduced to pay for the 39 hour week at no cost to management, and that it was a
"productivity' deal which
HORWICH LOCO WORKS
NEEDS YOUR HELP
Campaign Bulletin
Issued by Horwich Loco Joint Action Committee
HORWICH LOCO THE WAR AT HOME
82 the Government via British Rai
'Based nn the 12 week Ou
this is a national fight and are intending to participate in Tuesday's London lobby. They are planning
cluding a marathon run to London next month link ing up with other rail workers. The emphasis is on unity between all rail workers and other indus-
unions particularly the Triple Alliance. Both OLICE steel and coal have given their support.
Ron Hardman, assistant secretary of the Horwich workshop NUR branch spoke *to Socialist Challenge
'Last vear everbod: pur heir hands up against the
Railworkers in fighting mood
Horwich
workshop:
By Hazel MacPherson
REFLECTING the
amongst railworkers,
workshop addressed
Saturday.
down the rail industry
of the industry.
Horwich
tend to privatise it at a later date
of the workshop closures.
closed along with the works.
has to stand up now, because if we don't,
there won't be an industry left.' he said. BR's refusal to open pay discussions. As Den-
nis said. The struggle we are faced with to-
day is your struggle tomorrow,
Confarence magnificent £103.50 for the workshop action fund.
Messages of support and donations to Action Commit tee, Stan Davis, S1 Fernhead Ave, Horwich, Lancs
was bound to lead to job losses.
As a delegate from Waterloo and Clapham branch said, If management try to impiement u al Waterloo they will meet with industrial THINGS THEY SAY
closure of the Ashford workshop, but because there wasn't a nationally coordinated political campaign half of the members of that workshop opted for voluntary redun-
Now we see more attacks on rail - flexible rostering, privatisation, etc -and the workshop closures are the key issue of the fight.
'The power is at the base of the unions. We must push forward for na tional action amongst all
workers. It's not enough to call out the signalmen and shipping (Sealink). We want all out.
It's the same in the workshops: won't accept any redundancies. It's one out, all out, and we re all staying put.
solidarity grows
growth Dennis Green, deputy solidarity convenor of the works committee at Horwich shunters grades conference in Brighton last the NUR guards and
Conference had just passed resolutions opposing two aspects of BR's plans to run
- flexible rostering and one person operation of trains. Dennis explained that a key aspect of this plan is the privatisation of the more profitable sections
works has one of the most sophisticated and expensive foundry plants in Europe. Money has been poured into it over the last few years and after the closure, BR in-
Dennis went on to explain the human cost
They will destroy the communities of Horwich and Shildon, turning them into industrial wastelands', he
The apprentice training centre which had 691 applications for 31 jobs last year is to be
'This industry
Delegates had already been told about
responded by collecting
The conference showed very clearly that the fight over flexible rostering and against job losses will be part of the struggle this year to defend the railways - jobs and services.
By Martin Eady, vice president LT District Council "In reply to a recent question in the House of Commons, Mrs Thatcher said that London Transport's fares were too high and she Select Committee on would look at proposals to separate London Transport from the Greater London Council.
The Transport Secretary Howell told a meeting vative party year in office the Labour-controlled vireater London Council had failed to produce a workable policy. Instead, he said, it had pro duced record high fares and general confusion.
LT News 7 May 1982
For sheer these twc beat. The Law Lords ruled against the Labour GLC's policy, and the Tories Douglas Jay's bill in Parliament to reverse that ruling But they set the alarm bells ringpassengers and workers. The Tories aim to achieve a reduction in fares by slashing services and decimating workforce, and prepared to take direct control London Transport from the GLC ir order to do it.
The stage has already been set by the announcement 01 engineering staff redundancies, plus 65 apprentices who will have no jobs
The train drivers'
(above) has rejected McCarthy's proposals on flexible rostering.
opposed this
hoped the
Transport
(David of Conserthat after
transport Lords' ludgment
result guards and so establishment unbridled hypocrisy operating by,
unspecificied number
nara to
Cuts already cheap fares schedules mean
opposed staff taken off rosters
'spare redirected bv management to
Transport ILLICSS
drastic cutback
they London Transport
of
miles a year. bus would be leaving 20
union, tions.
ASLEF, led by Ray Buckton reaffirmation of the union's
unanimously
Their conference last week another confrontation with
and worsening of staff condi. Tories.
Danger signals for London Transport
when they finish training in August. vacemen soweo recruncul lu a trickle immediately after the Law Hence ant shortage due to natural wastage will not redundancies trains operating side (drivers, conductors, FUSE on). But the total
estabissment bly heby ape rail
2707 yet, an leaders has made bus large numbers of and put or lists, to be used as a pool, fill gaps left by retirement, holidays and The were All these job losses will mean a in an already run down public service. On the buses, wants to take 860 of its 5000 buses oft the roac The scheduled level of service would organised, fall from 201 million to 172 million LUsi A number of routes withdrawn or shortened more miles road without any bus service at all. A Tur.
This, together with
commitment to the keep. ing the guaranteed eight-hour day, sets the stage for
any the Rail Board and the
ther 16 routes would become one-
Denson oocralcu
On the underground, there is a
•roposee recucuon mm peak hour
on most lines This means • how frequencies increasing
from 8 to 10 minutes. 6 branch lines
and 13 stations are under threat of
complete closure.
The response of the trade union • not been encouraging
They plan to link the campaign with
pay claim, believing
workers will not otherwise take ac
tion. Already a 5 per cent offer has
been rejected.
dangers of this approach well illustrated in steel
tial victory on the pay claim and los
ing the jobs/ closures battle
The one-hour strike organised
on the buses on 10 May was DOor
uneven in effect and important,
ordinated with the underground.
The unions will have to do better
than this if we are to defeat the at-
tack on jobs and services.
Page 15 scan of this page
SOUTH WALES MINERS' CONFERENCE Action needed from TUC on
By Barry Wilkins in Cardiff
TWO ISSUES conference in Porthcawl of the South Wales miners: the fight against the Tebbit Bill and the struggle for jobs in the pits. was a strong consciousness of the responsibility of the NUM to play a leading role in the battles against Thatcher. he South Wales Rest, set militant mood in his opening address
'We have no intention of going the way of the workers in British Leyland or British
compared with now we wil DrOLCCL Our meonate runure.
Williams urged the lodge leaderships not to take the militancy of their members for granted.
By Stuart Sleath ROLLS-ROYCE Bristol are blacking a Kigass aircraft component used in the Pegasus engines of the Harrier jets in Britain's South Atlantic task force.
The action, in support of the eight-wee
women AUEW members at Kigass plants
Leamington Spa and Warwick union recognition, has been described as 'unforgivable' by Coventry South-West Tory MP John Butcher. He also said that no dispute at this time Vall merit this particular kind of action, and added:
would suspect that General Galtierie laughing all over his face.
But AUEW convenor at Rolls-Royce, Phil Higgs, claims that the management at kigass have the
VOLCANOES &
HURRICANES
THE PEOPLE are like volcanoes: no one sets fire to them, they explode alone. And Central America is a volcanic region.'
this new pamphlet.
Published this supporters in East London it provides up to date, factual intormation and is an invaluable introduc tion to politics in this area. 16 pages: 3 colour cover, postage. bulk rates avanadle on request. Io sale Oi return.
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Tebbit Bill
dominated the recent annual
Above all there
Leadership levels must strive constantly for the NUM to be involved 'in every issue which concerns education, health, social secunty. employment, war and peace, freedom and oppression.
La thing of the past, acclarca. willatos gave Scargill, new president of the NUM 'a gentle word of warnmust rank and file miners and their aspirations.
Kigass strike continues
workers in Coventry and
same attitude trade union rights as the Argen-
Soon atter the decision to black Kigass work had been announced breakthrough the dispute was achieved when the management agreed to meet union officials for the first time.
Kigass managing director Arthur Wardman stated that he is prepared to concede union recogniplant if the workers agree tion the Leamington to a long list of conditions.
These include: no talking, no rattles or collections exfor the Save the Fund, 1Uld For a Reagar-free Caribbean Fidel Castro, July 1980 Defence of the revolutions in Cuba, Grenada and Nicaragua and support for the revolutions in progress throughout the region are the twin themes of
month by Socialist Challenge
30p a single copy plus 12½p
Also a singularly beautiful new badge! For a Reagan-
Area ana olack. zup eacn plu. 15p each for orders over ten.
East London Socialist Challenge
Other badges can be ordered as well, please specify: 1. Jobs not Bombs 2. I won't die for Thatcher: Stop
We want an open leadershin with no wheeling and dealing with Prime Ministers
chairmen bohind the
seeins we wall you cl unue with your campaigning spirit.'
Emlyn Williams also moved executive
on the Tebbit This declared immediate supDOIL TI anyumon allackcu ane cale upon me c to initiate a 'strategy of total opposition based deeds not words'
Williams explained that his Bill is designed to soften up trade unions for further at-
'If it goes * ріс Matress would
He attacked the TUC's coce response an• lolcations inat lne tmi fighting fund will be used as 'a bonanza for barristers'
system to use the canteen, and an understanding that engineering employers'
rates ot would not be implementec before June 1984.
After the meeting, AUEW district president Mel Griffin sala union recognition is not being offered at the Warwick plant (named Abex). He said: "There is no way we are going to accept conditions for Kigass and sell the 22 workers at Abex down the line. 80 are out, and 80 are going back with full trade union recognition.'
Mass pickets are every Saturday, 5.30 am at Warwick, and 7.30 am
Send donaellielor. tions and messages of sup-
Mrs E Stanford,
7 St. Helens Rd., ington Spa, Warwickshire.
local decronis in Wand
Wandsworth courtesy of the
Wand ralklands Crisi
worKord have continued action against the Tories and their plan to put refuse collection out to private
The Tories have decid-
Heaster has threatened to sack by last Monday anyone taking •ustral Nonetheless manual workers voted to defy
MUCH PUBLICITY over in the nana dee the row that broke out at the
Scientific, Technical, and Managerial Staff week.
last une unlol execullyt was under attack for mishandling the finances and causing a big deficit t in the union's funds.
important Iuliulls nasser on the racadas/ Wal vinas and on nuclear disarma-
Conference voted overwhelmingly for an immediate
south Allan nic. vesorte lue larce lla uri-
News.
He warned 'if this is the thinking of the lUC we can' rev on unem as Imenos mn unl struggle. The miners must say *take us on and you take us all on
Laurence of Celynen
Kay out codge moveo a resolu tion demanding the replacement all workers leaving the pits. He explained that an overtime ban had been imposcu al ms oil lo ury lo cicalc MOTe 1ODS.
Gilbert Evan of Coedely
starvation vestment and recruitment
Oakdale
Alan Dakel Lodge NURS plan to close Britannia pit and
the Oakdale. Tom Bowden Brause for
won plause his declaration 'we're not going to Oakdale we're staying where we are.
Tyrone O'Sullivan
Tower Lodge urged an mediate ban
al va arguing that 'nothing is so im portant as loos ano recruit. ment — unless we have work
we camin for any, hing
Emlyn Williams, executive said th I CoUlULIUl that Hau met le Wales NCB management and told them 'he would fight on issue ins so be closures binates. the cardinal
Williams added that the executive would consider an
make progress over
The area executive resolunon on wates moved ov vice president Des Dutfield demands £120 week
By Barry Wilkins in Cardiff
workers.
the health service unions.
The resolution supported by the miners' area
Wandsworth: Fight
against privatisation goes on
these threats and continue
five week strike ac. tion.
Delegates at the NUPE and General and Municioa Workers Unions conference this weekend are arguing for tional port for the Wandswor WORKERS against Тагест от privatisation na tionally.
The TUC has been call-
ed on by NUPE Prit-
to
Terence boycott chard's the
now carrying out
refuse collection street cleaning in Wand
ASTMS in conference
some were pet forward and
views
I was lie stung support hur
me execuuve wada cyclud. ly won the day.
ASTMS has previously taken posinons in opposition to nuclear weapons
support of CND. conference built on that com
one acrost. delegates voted to put specific effort into th need to convert the present economy from one produces arms to one auces socially useful com
Des Dutfield minimum for sunlace worker. with differential TOT other
bates on advancan
advances have obtained are atter nave saown a preparcaness lu fight,' that industrial action would be needed to win this claim
Ray Laurence argued that an overtime van would WIl The miners at Cyne Sount
regretted voting against munsulas
Wage Occause ater meir overume van ine could see how low their basic wages really wer
carried resolution moved b: Tyrone O'Sullivan
vousing Labour Party ane calling • 101
: a Labour governmen 'founded on socialist policies.
argued that because their policies rejected by the party 'they are prepared to wreck the party and then
left. He insisted orallic li That socialst boncies would win strong support provided that the party unites around them.
Miners back nurses
THE ANNUAL conference of the South Wales miners meeting in Porthcawl last week passed an emergency resolution in support of health recommended there should be a one-day strike throughout the whole coalfield at a date to be agreed with
leadership was moved by
from Tower Lodge. Ivor sworth.
But the fight has been
NAME DYN
nationally withdraw official support
thus forcing the local branch to withdraw from the dispute
manual workers decision to continue the in«usual acton ourine une election campaign nas pro ved core ot despite the
loca have held or in the hope 0 mbers. T
Wore have meant defeat without a shot being fired.
modities. Conference called
the union initiate world wide on peace and disarmament with the trade unionists United Soviet Union, the States, Japan and Europe
The rest of the conference reaffirmed past positions including position to Tebbit by breaking law necessary incle was subdul! tor the exisme sunkes lakıe olace inside the health service
in the NAs unions i didnt
discuss extending that action.
Pit closures to be fought
England, who seconded the motion from Maerdy Lodge, emphasised that
Issue compared the treatment of health service workers with the given to MPs, judges and
parasite company tors'.
Delegate after delegate came to the rostrum to speak of the special importance of the National Health service to the
tion of the job done by health service workers
Gilbert Bevan from Coedely Lodge summed
ip the feelings of man
delegates when ne said a
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Name of Account to be debited
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Our Bank......Socialist Challenge
Co-operative Bank Ltd Leman St, London..
Account No ..
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attack on the health ser-
vice workers sanaace
on the NUM'.
Emlyn Williams, President of the South Wales NUM emphasised the need for the miners to support not but all health workers and he pledged the South Wales NUM would insist on a big demonstration on their one day strike.
Wales TUC •LIC for co healte service health service workers, he miners would take the Lead We won't be constitu tionalised out of action', said Williams
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE BANKER'S ORDER FORM 70267802
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Socialist Challenge 28 May 1982 pago 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Rotherham
miners strike
for nurses
OVER 2,000 miners
Maltby, Dinnington,
BARRON, Yorkshire NUM Maltby.
At Rotherham Trades Council on Tuesday night we had a report trom local nurses about their fight for 12 ber Coll. They told us that they would like to visit pits and factories IO get support. So 1 invited them to come to Maltby on Wednesday morning.
We organised a meeting in the canteen for them to put their case. whe wiev were addressing the meeting management called the police to have them removed from
which really got everyone's backs up -
police left before the meeting ended.
The support for the nurses was Iw per CenT all 300 men present voted to stop work for the day.
But they didn't all just leave and go home, 30 odd went with the nurses to help with picketing and with support elsewhere.
Following our meeting
2000 rally in Edinburgh
By Kevin Holmes THERE was massive
the Edinburgh area for the NHS
day strike Wednesday. However when two thousand Nho workers rallea al the Caley cinema they
ook no time at showin‹
heir anger at the TUC
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from four pits in the Rotherham area took strike action in support of the health workers day of action on 19 May. The stoppage came after nurses leafletted the day shifts and addressed mass meetings at
Thurcroft, and Silverwood colleries. Clive Turnbull spoke to KEVIN
delegate from
NACODS, (National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfires), also met and
Both the afternoon and day shifts followed suit and took strike action.
The strong backing for the health workers in this present dispute follows on from their struggle 1974, when we also came out on strike in support.
We understand the position that the nurses are Our industry has been subjected to cash limits by this government. Cane nurses are having a settle-
which would mean just 69p per week extra in some cases. So much for the Tories not having a pay policy, and allowing free bargaining. So the health workers have got all our sympathy and support, as we know they can't engage in all-out action.
refusal to call for an effective fight for the full
The rally ended in chaos as shop stewards and members besieged the platform after union ‹ fulltimers limited debate and refused to take a vote on all out subscription to PO Box 50, London N1
Ealing
catches
public eye
By Eve Turner, TGWU shop steward at St Bernards Hospital (psychiatric wing of the Ealing nossora IF WE achieve nothing ense we move coment public's imagination'
literally hundreds of cars and lorries tooted their horns in support of the COHSE and NUPE picket outside Ealing Hospital's general wilig.
Support for the strike was broad and enthusiastic with nurses, porters, cooks and cleaners all joining rogerner on tne une
Ambulances though still were onl doing emergencies and local TGWU bus workers refused to take buses into the hospital. The picture ir
Bernards (Ealing's psychiatric wing) was not so bright.
Although NUPE was solid and the craft unions - engineers, electricians, construction — came out
support for two hours COHSE and TGWU members were thwarted by
leadership with both branch secretaries crossing the picket line.
Despite this workers from both central sterile supplies department and nurses still came out. It is almost certain that there will be tremendous support for the next stoppage on 27 May.
strike action.
Immediately after the shop stewards from the Royal Infirmary, the biggest hospital in Edinburgn, met and arranged for strike action to start on Thursday morning. when pickets brought out NUPE and COHSE members on all out strike.
Once this news reached the City Hospital on Thursday after-
shop stewards called out inel members. The day workers from every
at the Royal Hospital struck against management withholding their wages and on Friday this strike was transformed into all out action for the 12 per cent by NUPE and COHSE members.
Other hospitals are expected to follow the lead of these three who are united in a joint strike committee composed of stewards representing each hospital. The joint strike committee is coordinating other hospitals, funaralsing and negotiations with management at a district level.
Lothian joint strike ctte, c/o Edinburgh District Trades Council Picardy Place, 031-556 3006
By Jude Arkwright
National Union annual conference
cent pay claim. Indefinite
country. on
the NHS.
The been given nas
already given CONSE NUPE and members at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital who have gone on all out strike
PAUL Scott (GMWU) is
team cleaner at Chad's Hospital Birmingham. Richard Jesson (NUPE) is a porter at the same hospital. Val Coultas spoke to them on the picket line. Paul: 'I'm getting f48 take home for a 40 hour week at
that's with bonus. We can get double time on Sunday but that's been cut. l'd make f2 out : of the 4 per cent offer, 70p after stoppages
'All the ancillary stafi in the hospitals are out today, all the unions in the health service are supporting The nurses are working to rule.
Audrey stepped in: 'I
GHWU
Stop
curs
nalón
Pay the
health
THE ANGER and frustration of public sector workers came to a head at the
of Public Employees when delegates unanimously called for all out action from 4 June in support of the 12 per
action is already under way in many areas of the
The next day-long stoppage
27 May will undoubtedly receive even greater support than did the last. But the urgent question now is to press for all out action from all the unions in
for the 12 per cent. They have set up a joint strike _commullet wiLl ouner hospitals in the city, and are working to spread the dispute. Birmingham hospital workers speak out
work in that house over there. I'm domestic From now on lil lust bi doing clinical areas not the administrative and reception arcas Richard: 'We had yesterday of GMWU and NUPE and we all had a vote. 4 per cent's just nothing. A lot of people are proud to work in the NHS and they think they can play on this. 'If sent Margaret Thatcher my wages she'd send them back. Most of us only about four hours overtime. Nurses are in a similar position - all that training and they only home about f200 a LaNC month.'
COHSE
halgo
Smash the public sector pay norm
workers
Such joint committees
help to overcome the divi-
sions between the unions
at a national level. The one
day actions on 27 May, 4
«o o sume saolade usec
campaign for this united action
Already other sectors
have indicated their sun
port for health workers
and a fighting lead from
NHS workers can build on
this. Miners in South
Wales are being balloted
for strike action and those
in Yorkshire and Not-
tinghamshire well as
transport workers and
have pledged
Cuculeis
support.
The example of Ches
terfield Trades Council
who called support action
from all unions during the
Josephine Byrne, COHSE shop steward, works as a domestic at the Dudley Rd Hospital take home f53 a week for 40 hours, including weekend work They still ask some people to •do over time but there's a ban on it nowWe've
got support
are taking emergencies in-
the hospital but one's coming out. They're taking in patients on consistent care renal dialysis.
'What Arthur Scargill said was great That's what we need The . DIO blem is that they hold the patients against us. We are going to keep emergency
one-day action last week should be taken up and down the The
fight of the health worker could become the first big challenge to the Tory government and their pay policy. Other sectors Ine abour movenealmausi recognise that a decent wage for the health workers in gin essentia NHS
defending the from further attacks. An all out strike in the health service will spearhead the fight against the Tories cuts and wage policy.
All militants in the labour movement should be working for : maximum support for workers including dona tions, delegations to picket lines as well as strike action.
services going. If oxygen is needed emergency drugs it will be delivered.
'We've got to stand together now to improve the health service lney re making Wal Man. cutbacks that's what we've got to fight. I think everybody's got a right to
I don't see distinction between WU1 N men all y and women.
don't think they should have sent the task force to the Falklands in the first place, it's a total waste of money. None of us here voted for Margaret Thatcher in the first place There's no Conservatives on the picket line ...!
← Socialist Challenge No. 246, 21 May 1982Socialist Challenge No. 248, 4 June 1982 →