Socialist Challenge No. 264, 9 October 1982
The scan: sc-no264.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.
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Challenge FOR A LABOUR VICTORY SOCIALIST
EXPULSION
No. 264 9 October 1982 25p
TORIES OUT
• Health
Days of Action October Merseyside Northern reg Midlands TOTKANITE East Anglia Wesleanes S West Scotland 11 Wales 19 S East
National Lobby, London 19 Oct Transport Day of Action, early Nov • Pits
Ballot 28 Oct Regional rallies (public/triple alliance etc. Scargill speaking) CLODET Wales 20 Birmingham
Regional NUM conferences
• Steel
6 Oct - delegate conference against redundancies Sheffield • Triple Alliance
Scottish lobby London 28 Oct
• NUR
AGM 12/13 October Birmingham lobby obby Birmingham, AUEW office
• POEU/Telecoms
20 October Days strike
• Water workers day strike
18 October
Unemployed and strikers 10p
Socialist
held within next week.
leading
hunt. whole
DEFEND
Socialist Challenge calls on all its readers to respond to the call put out by over fifty delegates, fifteen MPs and
members of five trade union broad lefts at the Labour Party conference, to build the national conference to be held on 30 October at County Hall against the witch-
This is an essential component of the wave of action now unfolding against the Tories; essential if we want a Labour government committed to socialist policies.
We call for resistance to expulsions to be organised at national, local and regional level. This resistance must organise all the forces of the labour movement as a first step against the attempted hijack of our movement by a right wing cabal whose cowardice in the face of the Tories is outweighed only by their fear of having to implement the policies to which the movement has been committed.
This is not just a fight for the constituencies but for the
labour movement. Sidney Weighell showed his members exactly where he stood by his breaking of his mandate to saddle tham with a Healyite political leadership. and having the barafaced effrontory to defend that action.
Conference of delegates from CLPs, unions, LPYS branches, LP branches, women's sections
POLICIES
NOT ONE
Labour against the
witch-hunt
30 October Country Hall, London Contact: Labour against the witch-hunt 107 Nevill Rd, London N16.
This challenge has to be answered. Weighell and the righ wing have shown that the trade union left must place th battle in the Labour Party at the very centre of their strug gles for a new leadership. The support given to the 30 Oc tober Conference by sactions of the trade union left durin the Labour Party Conference is a welcome step in that dire tion. We further welcome with open arms the formation of new left group of MPs and the support which their leadin members have given to this movement of resistance.
The witch-hunt has exploded in its instigators face Now for the first time since 1969, the prospect exists of a ne tional left wing alliance between trade union, parliamentar and constituency force that can units, not just around th election of a Labour government and not just around le wing policies, but around an organised struggle to forc such a government to implement those policies.
That is why we finally welcome the proposal emergin from the new parliamentary group to convene a nation conference in the new year of MPs, trade union broad left and constituencies to join together in a fight for a Labou
continued on page
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/ lan Harrison, Fulham CLP THE HEALTH debate 1 moved composite 32, hich was the only one opposed by the NEC. hy did I move it and why did the NEC opise?
Composite 32 was the most far-reaching. ost importantly it was the only one which equivocally called for mass action by bour movement to force the Tories out of of:e.
It was the only one which clearly called for e abolition of all health charges, and the only ie which set a minimum target for health orkers' age and a 35 hour week. COHE's composite id that 'long term pay arrangements would i made for all grades of staff. duce the need for industrial action. Our composite also lled for inflation-proof otection for health orkers" pay. This, and
nimum wage, are in my inion the best way and ssibly the only way to sure that any long term
alth service workers ges being held down for o or three years, croded ay by inflation and cut ring a future incomes licy.
Another point in comsite 32 called for the nanalisation of all private spitals and clinics. The C's grounds for oppos¿ this was that there is a ssibility that we won't quire private hospitals
continued from front page
and against any expulsions whatsoever.
retreat as labour starts to fight back.
- is at stake in this dispute.
: opened the road to a Labour victory.
Nor can tha i will not let Labour betray their hopes.
of a coup in the Party.
Sidney Weighall and
General Chapple at the cronies in charge of its election offansive. cialist Challenge 9 October 1982
What health policy
for Labour?
the
pay by calling for a E90 minimum
which will
and clinics to be nationalised." Perhaps the NEC hospital waiting lists!
Composite 32 also called for the nationalisation, not only of the manufacturing side of the phar maccancal moustry. but the retail and wholesale side.
In my speech I explained that this did not mean the High Street chemists big concerns Boots, Beechams, ICI and so on. Of course the NEC chose to ignore this and opposed the composite because, they said, of the chemists on the corner. I think their main concern was to limit the extent of nationalisation and limit
victory. for the defence of the socialist policies so far won.
Why has the witch-hunt happened and why are we sad¿dled with a right wing NEC? Is it because, as in the fifties. the labour movement is in retreat as capitalism regains its ¿nerve? Nol It is because Thatcherism and Reaganism are in
After three years of retreat, even our timid TUC has had : to face up to Thatcher and put its weight behind the health
And the response has been massive. Is this a political strike? Yes! Whatever Chapple and Bickerstaffe : might like to say, the government's policy - and its future
Is it a popular strike? Yes Whatever happened to the argument that strikes lose elactions? This dispute has managed what two years of Foot's leadership failed to do. It ; has lifted Labour out of the trough into which it was dragg;ed by Foot, it has exposed Thatcher's government and
tremendous 5-2 vote in favour of unilateralism just be ignored as in 1960, when Labour supported unilateralism by a narrow majority which was quick: ly reversed after the vicious right wing organised against it. Not only are the unions far more solidly unilateralist than ; over before - even Sidney Weighell's union is in favour -: but this vote rests on the actions of hundreds of thousands ; in Britain. This movement in alliance with millions in Europe
That is why the sabotage of our movement by its leaders ; has reached a new and higher stage. It combines open : treachery in the trade union struggle with open preperation
What a fine example of leadership has bean set by
the TUCI What an advert for 'democratic" idealsi. At the very moment when the movement has found its balance again, they have saddled us with
head of the unions Generalissimo Healey at the helm of the Labour Party. How can they claim that they are praparing a Labour victory?
When the health strike prepares the defeat of the Tories they put the strikers' most trenchant opponent in charge of the unions. With unilateralism the most popular policy Labour has to offer they put its lifelong anemy and his
Frightened as they are of defeat at the Tories' hands. they are even more frightened of arriving in office and having to implement the policies we have forced them to adopt.
page 2
them to the manufacturing sector.
Finally the NEC took exception to our proposal for a £90 minimum wage since, they said, should be left for the TUC to decide. But if it was up to the TUC to decide, why didn't they let trade union
vote freely on the matter? Then least the burcaucrats would памо had to go back to their members and justify their refusal to support their interests, instead of hiding behind NEC opposition -while the NEC hides behind TUC opposition.
Earlier I was told by a COSE full time worker that COHSE would oppOse the composite because it would tie union negotiators hands! I think what he meant was that it would make it more ditficult for some union
sell out the health service workers.
The composite was detented by block vote but it won a lot of support for a properly funded health service, for an end to private profiteer-
OTIVELC and the pharmacuetical industry and for a socialist heaith service which pays its workers a decent wage, Www no conce
Labour victory
areas where Labour did best. and organise the left. SUCH
and
leadership.
Solidarity_
Trade Union and Labour Party hierarchy's apologists for private greed.
That hierarchy, by opposing this composite, appears to be leaving the conduct of the health dispute to the unions alone. They rejected our proposal to throw the whole political and organisational weight of the Labour Party behind the fight for the 12 defence of the NHS. and the But this does not tie the hands of local Labour Partics. They should be doing all they can actively to support NHS workers by joining picket lines, launching massive publicity campaign on the housing estates and shopp ing centres, and campaigning for a general strike to bring down Thatcher's government That's the way we'll get unity in the labour movement - unity in acNot the shabby *We'll scratch your back and you scratch ours unity practiced by the platand block VOLE barons block the demands of the rank and file. And that's the way to ensure that future government will implement socialist policies for the health ser-
They know the resistance they will meet from Thatcher's friends in the Penatgon, the treasury and the CBI and they don't want to fight tham. They have two options, both of which they prefer to victory. The first is outright defeat at their own hands; the second is a coalition with the SDP. It is up to us to stop them. It is up to us to win a Labour victory.
The idea that the Militant and the left are an obstacle to
is a crude and patently false Militant's influence stop Labour making important gains in the local elections in Liverpool? Did the cleanout of the right wing prevent a victory in Islington? No: these were the
The purpose of the witch-hunt is absolutely clear. The one thing that stands in the way of their manouvres is an organised and militant left wing, linking the party and the unions. This can mobilise extraparliamentary mass action, as Skinner promised an enthusiastic Tribune audience, to force an elected Labour government to fight. Those who remember 1969 know only too weil that such a movement stopped the labour right's anti-trade union offensive in its tracks then, and they can do it again.
That is why the fight for socialist policies begins with the fight against the witch-hunt. That is why it goes from there to the creation of an organised alliance of the left, committed to extraparliamentary action against nuclear weapons and in support of the health workers. That is why we urge our readers to strain every nerve to defeat the witch-hunt
But thare is one final struggle and one final decision to be won. A spectre haunts the movement: the ghost of Michael Foot, who has become a zombie of the right. Nothing illustrates more clearly how much the right wing are really on the defensive than the fact that they have to hide behind
pathetic figure, and fall out themselves when they risk appearing too openly for what they are. The lesson of the Labour Party conferenca, a lesson which delegates were drawing in their hundred as they left for their own constituencies, is that the fight for socialist policies cannot be held hostage to Michael Foot's
Why does it matter, therefore, what Tony Benn does? Not because the movemant will not organise without him. It is organising without him. Not just because the leading trade union lefts, such as Scargill, are hanging fire in backing this struggle, until Tony gives the word. They can be force to fight, with or without Tony.
No: it is because the left wing, if it is to present a genuine alternative to a Foot-Healey government - or, for that mat-
start of the TUC's regional days of action.
Despite the short notice less than a week
WE WORKOMES SenT delegations. Large contingents marched behind the banners of the health workers. These included dockers, car workers, building workers, printers,
breaks
Did into the
movement. of information. demande even amongst
fighting back.
vital step.
Big turn out in Liverpool
Several thousand trade unionists marched through Liverpool on Monday 4 October at the
seafarers and -tobacco workers. lively demonstration and strong ooposition to the Tory government was very marked More technicians, POLETS cleaners from the hospitals
ter, a Foot-Jenkins government - must have at its head a figure capable of heading a government on its behalf.
In time we shall create the forces for a genuine workers government, that fights wholeheartedly for workers interests, that will finish the job Labour hasn't finished, that
Britain's imperialist monarchy. the lords, the banks and their ramshackle state
pages democratic state accountable to those who work for their living - the first step to a socialist Britain, Indeed the forces for such a government will be assembled in and through the struggle to implement the policies already won in the labour
But the further policies needed to secure such a government have not yat won. Thay are not yet the policy of the labour movement. They can become its policies if it learns how to face Thatcher's fury when she is deposed from office. But the policies which propelled Tony Benn into leadership of the left have the support of the labour movement. We are committed to unilateral disarmament. We are com mitted to get out of the EEC. We are committed to oppose incomes policy. We are committed to full employment social justice for women, blacks and youth and to freedom
If the movement is to have the confidence to come onto the streets, not just in hundreds of thousands but in millions, it must have the confidence that Tony Benn will be with them when they get there. And Tony Benn must start to build that confidence now. He can put his weight behind each and every fight against expulsions. He can come to the forefront of avary extraparliamentary struggle for the policies he supports.
He can tell Michael Foot that, Shadow Cabinet or no Shadow Cabinet, he will be there by our side fighting.
He has not done so. He has not committed himself to our struggle: he left his supporters at conference puzzled, angry and bitter. This vacillation must end
But one thing is for sure: with or without Benn, we're
Our fight back starts with the Days of Action against the Tories. It will continue with action to sack the right wing who stand in our way: and for this, 30 October is a first, but
Kick out the Tories!
For a Labour Victory!
Fight to defend Socialist Policies!
Stop the witch-hunt!
turned out than 22 September On that day large contingents had left Liverpool to go to the London demonstration The large presence of health workers had a big impact not only on the other marchers, but got great response from peo ple the sidewalks, showing once again the tremendous the health workers enjoy. past, despatches the
of history books and creates a new We can unite in action around these
Page 3 scan of this page
—US troops to stay in Lebanon
Israeli policy means massacre
By Phil Hearse
BEIRUT a re-united city again.
An international peacekeep-
ing force to
Palestinians and keep order.
The foundations being laid for
strong and
Lebanon. Sounds pretty good
eh? This is exactly the impres-
sion being given by the media.
But the reality is a little dif-
ferent.
The 're-unification' of the city means that the defensive barriers,
so long patrolled by Palestinian
and leftist militias are being taken
down. ine Leoanese army, over
whelmingly a Maronite force, will
patrol West Beirut.
the international force.
By Bernard Chandler MOST PEOPLE were massacre of Palestinian refugees with the task of democratie Israel' could be responsible for such an act, the British media laid heavy stress on the personalities of Prime Minister Menachem Begin and his Defence Minister Ariel Sharon.
For a socialist, such a simplistic скріапаноп clearly unsatisfactory. In fact. ETEBCITUL MESSACIC was the only possible out-
oi Ine genocidal Israeli incursion into the Lebanon, and the invasion of Lebanon was in turn dictated by the logic of current Israeli strategy in the heartland of Palestinian nationalem: the occuese territo and Gaza
Bank and Gaza SiriPhe bsraelis intend to expel trom the Occupied Territories, but pliable minority of Palestinians. In it present phase.
Ic sray has two prongs. Firstly, an all-out atlack on the symbols and SEOns DeCaCsnan nationalism. Then the Iostering or a conaborationist alternative' to the PO in the torm ol Ine lavishly financed "Village bcagues The war against the
PLO took the Israelis into Beirut WIIn results which we have seen.
For the Palestinians of the Occupied L CLOTT the outcome of the Zionist strategy is proving no less
tragic. Land confiscations HEPC 39% of West Bank land roceede iDEicC
now in Israeli government hands. Iine ciecied
PLO municipalities have hean dissoived • InIS YCaE
more Palestinians have
BCC SO OCae Ov uc an
my in the Occupied Ter-
ritories than in the entire
Resolution on Mid-East passed by Labour Conference This conference, suffered by the Palestinian people under the military occupation CSCOBETEE TS TERReerOWTROu Me neCi dec erer r support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self determination within an independent MDORIRELDDOUE POrIV DRAP ATEISCO PEMeREM TerOn'sa the Palestine Liberation Organisation as the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian peopie.
Lebanon with its horrific toll of death and destruction. ference believes that the time has state unegmvocallvis support for the fundamentai righis of the Palestinians and its condemnation of the continuing pattern oj
to pursue this policy through the Socialist International. Moved by
DUNDEE EAST CLP SeCONHA DET EAST CL.P
Bring First, protect the
independent
This COTLEV Israel is after.
The
the
have their
courtesy of stringent hotugied in Beirut. the
STaCEH Faced explaining 'civilised.
1967-82 period
ECOHLCES
the handling of Palestinian
demonstrations with the
treatment of
Israeli HIUNE protestors
Yamıt).
Racist Isracli
hoodlums from set-
tlements have become in-
creasine v tree to terrorise
abduct and murder West
Bank and Gaza Strip
Palestinians. With govern-
ment connivance, attacks
on ISlamic holy places like
the Al Aqsa mosque are
virtaully an everyday oc-
currence. The Palestinian
press is crippled by censor-
ship and banning orders,
and Palestinian
UIISCT
sities, when not closed by
government order, are
subject persistent
military harassment.
Failed
Still the Zionists have
failed to make any real
Palestinian
LEILS
resistance. Nobody has
come forward to take the
places the dimissed
nayors. Support for th _eagur
VHRTG
miniscule, and the in-
fluence of the reactionar
Muslim Brotherhood, at
time dangerously
(the, is noollab orationise
collaborationist
politics Brotherhood have the
been
тогоцдпу exposca Dy 11s
refusal to participate in the
anti- sraeli •CIOTISITa-
tions of the past ycar, evcr
CCTCHCCOE
recognising the injustice and oppression being
sovereign state and calls
In addition, this conference condemns the Israelt invasion of
Con-
come for the Labour Party , 10
and calls on the National Executive Committe
But two other factors give the whole event a much more sinister
Reagan's announcement that US marines will stay in Lebanon until 'all foreign troops' are withdrawn. Second, the plans of the new Lebanese government, revealed in the daily An Nahar, to expel the overwhelming bulk of the Palestinian refugees from the
exactly what
Lebanese governemn plan is to reduce the number of
country from back 500,000 to around Palestinians would StaTUS retucees withdrawn, and would be subject
WOEK permit and ed residence regulations - designed
Palestinian militants ma de links ОП West Bank have elements of the Israeli peace 3i Zeit Solidarity SULI the Zeit ommittee. The rising tid ›f resistance on the Wes Bank has stirred the conciousness the beleaguered Arabs within
International
to keep them well away from the major cities.
In order to effect such a sweeping expulsion of the Palestinians will require a massive use of force. This force will be provided by the Lebanese army - with the support and protection of the "International Peace Keeping Force.
The massacre in the Palestinian camps provided the excuse for the return of the United States forces. This time they have come
armed to the teeth and determined to stay. Reagan intends to make them a credible military force, capable of engaging in combat with any of the arm-
forces currently Lebanon. But their main role will
Israel's pre-1967 borders.
A highly successful general •SEKe as neO owrae1 Arabs Land Day (30 March) this year, biggest Palestinian war demonstrations took place within Israel.
The Palestinian cause still faces grave dangers as well great 89UU Protest against pogrom in Lebanon Israeli troops out of Lebanon!
Saturday 9 October
Speakers Corner 12pm
be to back up and support the
Lebanese army
tor of a unified state.
of a strong and unified Lebanon
means the defeat of the Muslim-
based left for many years
The future of the Palestinians
is grim. One of the key objectives
of the Israeli invasion was to en-
sure that the whole of the Palesti-
nian population was expelled
first perhaps to
ultimately towards Jordan. The
Israelis regard Jordan as the real
"homeland" Budget
inside Thair programme
region is for the Jordanians to ac-
E
tunities. The focal point of Israeli strategy will now SWHCE TTOHH LEC SeDanOI back to the occupied ternitorics, would be afrermao thod the Beirut aftermath Beirut massacre, Zionist methods will be any less bloodthirsty-
A state which has been
- the sole guaran . The creation
transported Jordan.
Syria. but
of the Palestinians.
part of the
TOT the
murdering and dispossess-
Palestinian.
years is hardly likely to
SCU massacres will be smaller, Future
more efficient, and INOTC
a Labour Goveroment. To
a Labour Government.
the people on the receiv-
ing end the difference will
be a somewhat academic
one.
Sheikhs
Meanwhile Arab reac
tion, in collusion with US
imperialism will try to
force the PLO to recognise
Isracl, in return for some
kind of Isracii withdrawal
trom the occupied ter-
ritories. Support for
ODIUOIO EBeSE InCE
not confined to Reagan
and the oil sheikhs; it
strong amongst the well.
Socialist Challenge
cept some Palestinian 'autonomy' on the West bank of the Jordan in the state of Jordan itself. The bulk of the Palestinians in israel itself, and all of those in Gaza and on the East Bank will also be
eastwards into
Despite the current conflicts between the United States and Israel, the United States forces and those of the Lebanese army are about to collaborate in ensuring a key part of israel's war aims.
Paradoxically, the massacre of the Palestinians in the camps is
same process as the sending of the American troops -the expulsion of the Palestinians and the handing of all power to the Phalangist-led Maronite state.
intentioned people wh ZCHIU.HCY WANTOC end to the suffering of th Palestinians.
Socialists must expiai that, because of the in BeTeIY TCSCLOIEY expansionist nature ZIOniSm. , only the destruc tion of the Zionist stat Col. end that -suffering The Palestinians hav already paid a heavy pric for the world socialis movement's confusio the nature Zionism. Now we OW them our full solidarity it any imperialist solution •HIE Middle East.
The author has just com
for several yeers on th West Bank.
9 October 1982 page:
Page 4 scan of this page
Railworkers meet in special conference
• Hazel McPherson JUNE this year the NUR's Annual General eeting voted to suspend a national strike er pay and productivity. The whole package as then taken to Lord McCarthy's tribunal. s recommendations, which are listed in this eeks Socialist Challenge, add up to a massive tack on jobs and working conditions. On 13 and 14 October a ecial General Meeting the unión will consider
proposals. ilworkers who will be ending a lobby of the eting on the Wednesday I be very cicar about ir demands. We want a
s attached. The SGM st reject McCarthy and, he words of the General retary's report to ine iM this ycar "stand and ht" to project jobs and Whatever standards.
the SGM's SOUPE IS TO CONDE it the suspension of the IKC CalL ECADILE CLAC ssive support it received i the sell out on flexible tering carlier in the year
raised important estions in the union conning the need nocratise the structures 1 overturn right wing
pay, lty and political quesns like nuclear disarma-
Railworkers
should pare now for mass ac-
elecoms: one day
HE TORIES have given notice that they intend ¡ sell off British Telecoms after the next elec n. The right wing dominated leadership of ie Post Office Engineering Union did nothing i prevent the first stage of the privatisation of ie industry with the formation of the private ompany Project Mercury utilising British Rail 105. However, in relation ireat, the POEU has called a one day protest rike for 20 October.
Socialist Challenge spoke with Phil Holt, ecretary of Liverpool icretary of the POEU Broad Left. muld you say something out the present stage in e campaign to prevent ivatisation of BT? emendously encourag-
The Broad Leit ha ised the issue over umber of years that the lion should be camugning amongst the iblic and amongst its
lyde bridge
VE GROUP of workers ho lobbied the Labour
chanting. laggie, Maggie aggie, Outl Out! Out!' are from the threaten-
Clydebridge steel ant in Scotland. issel - Clearie. cretary of the Joint ade Union Committee the plant explained:
*On October 6th the JC Steel Committee has Iled a delegate meeting Sheffield to consider its sponse to job losses in CROUSLY including at
Clydebridge plant ere the has sunced 575 redundan-
We'll be taking people
to lobby that
scialist Challenge 9 October
tion to defend their industry and get rid of the Tories. 22 September showed the determination of working people to tight this government. The next few months will see a Post Office Engineering strike HEATSE BHRYGUSGEUS water workers strike over
the possibility 01 a miners strike and the ongoing struggle of the
workers. The best way we can defend our industry is to build support in the union for the proposed day of solidarity action with the healthworkers by calling on the NEC to give its support and campaigning the
and depots for support and action.
Finally, whilst Brother Weighell has been busy ig. noring nis mandate at LP conference Eric Clarke (the candidate he should have voted for) has announced a Triple Alliance Parliament at the end of Alliance lobby this month. This is a
TO the present
internal POEU and
own membership to alert them to the threat of privatisation.
Part of the first stages of any industrial action to bring home to the government that they Tace serious challenge as far as their plans are concerned. should be a one day protest strike. Steel
metal sport me tor
verbal support something hard and tangi ble. This should be a collective issue. It's not about playing one group of steel workers against another, Scotland versus Wales or England."
Clydebridge lobbier Jim Craig backed this up. We don't want statments that the union will fight future closures. We want a commitment for a fight against redundancies that are happening now. The only way we can really do this is if we come out on strike. We had a 13 week strike for a pay rise
guarantee wage coming in by fighting for Jobs is more important.
tremendous opportunity to build the Alliance of coal, steel and rail workers into a fighting formation and we should campaign to support these events throughout our industry.
strike called
The Executive after a tremendous CHILDULLE of pressure from the branches around the country have now adopted that, and we welcome this as a serious step forward in the tight dustry.
Obviously over the next period the whole of
will be alerted to the campaign of the POEU, and we would hope that every trade union, every branch, every district Labour Party, every local ward Labour Party will be taking POEU literature TO distribute the public, and to the general trade union movement, in defence of an important,
A THE IRON LADY
SHOULD BE
CAST IN STEEL
•THEN SHELL KNOW
News
NUR general secretary Sidney Weighell. Far from defending the nationalised industries he's heading up the witch-hunt. He was caught red-handed at Blackpool helping purge the miners from the Labour Party NEC - against
• Lobby of SGM Wednesday 13 Octobe 9.00am onwards AUEW Offices, Holloway Circus, Birmingham. • Socialist Challenge fringe meeting after
profitable publiclyowned industry.
What do you think of the record of the right wing leadership of the union in organising opposition the denationalisation of our industry?
The right wing's record Has nor occu parueular the
perly alert to the dangers of them not fully carrying out the campaign in the way demanded overwhelming majority o the activists in the bran
che But as we have seen, if
pressure is put they can be pushed along the road of making a stand at certain lanes. But at
HOW WORKERS FEEL
KERS
NUF
WORLD
DEFEND OUR
PUBLIC SERVICES
lobby. White Lion pub. opposite AUEW offices.
Triple Alliance: rally in Edinburgh, 23 October lobby of Parliament, 20 October.
each stage we have to press them further.
How would you characterise the right wing leadership's strategy and what is the Broad Leftsaying about that and what is the Broad Left doing? The basic strategy of the right wing is to hope that the return of Government will reverse
measures that the Tories have put in train, or at least that's what they
publicly. I personally believe that the strategy which they ошис Із по being carried out with th sam: thu asm that it should be
For ISTENCC members should be drawn into discussions about what they feel a Labour Government should do with telecommunications industry when it
power. then at national con ICTERCES plans for the renationalisation of the industry without compensa tion after that full membership consultation
Stan Orme that Ne don't Want National Executive
the next Labour government placed in the same predicament as the 1945 government, when they were ask ed to nationalise the mines and the miners urch cannons on nationalisation the
We need a strategy that
circumstances, not one that is at best just a gamble on the return of a Labour government.
McCarthy's
con trick
By Rose Knight
productivity
reductions in railway jobs.
jobs between now and 1985.
also put forward
Tribunal agreed with
Bedford/St Pancras
freight trains to start immediately.
The National Union
line for
states:
operation as such'
•To De tortner reviewed oy te RoNt
tions, so guards commercial duties'
needed.
take over guards jobs.
guards job, as a grade, will disappear.
for single man locomotives Further discussions on
ministrative level. committee convenor of Ferranti Oldham, was sacked
was sacked
There charges. They allege that a clocking-in
explained the background to Laura Mitchell.
*It is no coincidence that statements from management were put out during the period up to my sacking about redundancies and short-time working. But the company as a whole has increased profits 100 percent over the last three years
We have gone from being the lowest paid 1975 to the highest paid
Ferranti's 1982. This started with nine-week strike in 1975 We did well out of that in terms of wages but it also really strengthened the union organisation in the factory. This had a big effect in all subsequent disputes.
Management's target in sacking Tony is precise ly to undermine unis imon organisation This came out clearly at the appeal
THE RAILWAY Staffs National Tribunal (RSNT) report states that the British Rail Board should offer a pay increase of six per cent from September 1982 tied firmly
and further massive
Fifteen thousand jobs went between 1980-82 and the BRB want a further reduction of 27,000
To sweeten the bitter pill, one days extra holi day from 1983 and an increase in the minimum carnings level of six per cent from April 182 are
Guard's jobs will be the first to go. The
the Board that the line should be operated without guards thus opening the way for driveronly operation of all suburban passenger trains. It also wants three pilot schemes for driver-only
Railwaymen has already agreed to 'a changed role for guards" and accepted that guards are not required to operate the new electric trains. The 313 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) which are already used on many suburban lines have door buttons in the drivers cabs, presently covered over, but ready for use once the Board has achieved the principle that guards are not required to operate these trains The Union is arguing about safety procedures, and
"commercial duties", but as the report the NoR is not opposing driver-only
McCarthy very skilfully plays up to this. His report suggests that quards are kent on the st Pan cras/Bedford line for a mimimum of six months,
But since the object of driver-only operation is to cut jobs, there's little chance that guards will be kept on, especially if the open station concept for busy commuter areas is rejected as the report recommends. Ticket collection will be done at sta-
will not be
"The six months job' is a tactic designed to undercut any immediate opposition to the plan by guards. It also holds out a cherry to platform staf and drivers in the form of extra payments if they
The trainman concept which the report recommends for discussion covers over the fact that the
Driver jobs are also threatened with the plan
productivity is to in clude cuts in passenger services, work "reallocated between depots, cuts in administrative jobs and more cuts in running costs particularly at the ad-
Convenor victimised
ON 27 SEPTEMBER the joint shop stewards
Cairo Mill, supposedly defrauding the company and gross industrial misconduct. The workers held a mass meeting voting for industrial action if their convenor
is no substance to managements card was incorrectly filled out by the convenor Seven weeks after the event, they sacked him Tony Purtill, convenor of Ferranti Cairo Mill,
hearing after the convenor's dismissal on Thursday 30 September Managment proposed that give all union credentials in exchange for the offer of a job in a dirferent section. Thus their was not deal with an alleged clocking offence' but to remove an effective union convenor.
The dispute is now going through the final stages of procedure with an external conference between union officials and management on Thursda October. The Cairo Mil shop steward have laid the response a basis for determined the ment decide to carry through their attack and this could be extended to the entire Ferranti group nationally
Page 5 scan of this page
*Jobs not Bombs' march hits Labour
holidaymakers who lined the streets and from 5,000 stron Labour CND demo which greeted us, our work was not quite over. Our aim was
and leadership.
A delegation immediately set off to the Imperial Hotel where Labour's NEC adjourned to greet us. We handed them a petition calling for
• a two thirds majority at conference to make
disarmament part of the Labour Party manifesto at the next general election.
• for the Labour Party leadership and TUC to mobilise their members in 1983 with demonstrations and industrial action to stop cruise missiles being sited.
• for the NEC to reject any attempt
-CHIEVE from the Labour Party the people who support CND's policies.
19 NEC members signed this statement and we lobbied delegates with it on Mon-
Somehow the NEC members like Neil Kinnock, who signed the
By Andy Miller
the Coal Board's 8 per cent offer. The ballot takes place against the background of falling demand for
levels. The Coal Board's annual accounts show a loss of £428 million.
Scotland were blamed for the losses. The Coal Board are trying to persuade miners that if they accept falling living standards and the closure of pits, everything will be fine and dandy. there is no alternative to their policies.
SIS ACCLAARESTOD nailed in ine ound-up to in pay ballot and the I sara gie
closures and that le 1o What are the
real 60301 TOT THO coal board's losses?
While the press were quick to point the finger of blame at the South Wales miners. But
тепло burder interest DEVICEEL
241 million or ove
cr working miner, Nor did
hey point out that 0313 1868366 00 09
OUNC COSTS Increased 01 per
So while the miners are
beis the pro dieter
very-nicely-
Tones continuing tighten the screws
the borrowing amits set by the COVETCH DY proportion
get.
nancing from 20 per cent to millen. Of course the Board
conference
WHEN 200 tired youth spilled out onto the Blackpool sands to enthusiastic applause from
to take our message to Labour's conference
statement but supported the witch-hunt, didn't seem to see the contradiction in their actions. So we issued a press statement pointing it out: we are one hundred percent against the witch-hunt, which will rapidly lead to expulsions of unilateralists unless it is stopped.
Joan Lestor paid tribute to the marchers, from the platform, during ner introduction to the debate on nuclear disarmament on Wednesday. It was a huge boost for us first demand wach our became bilateral nuclear disarma- reality:
ment received a five to two majority.
Yet the problems in turning this vote into action soon became clear:
Roy Hattersley was on television the same night explaining that even though conference had reached a two thirds majority. the NEC was not obliged put unilateralism in the manifesto - just to think
Coal industry under attack
MINERS will be voting at the end of this month on
energy. including coal. Coal stocks are at record
Miners in 'unproductive' pits in South Wales and
than They claim that
actually money tot thic inveciment ci it was forced to go into the red to pay 1 closer look at the figures From aer dire t DICTUES productive' miners driving industry into the red which was put over in the Fleet St Press.
Heads we win - tails you LOse Sine Board and the Tories to the Heads they want the the cost of massive den miners to bear the burden gramme of investment in the
falling living-standards. Tails
used miners through the introducLOLL SHOTICE Week ame rearement at n stead it will become another threat to jobs. unemploywhat coal boss Norman Siddail calls it. minere biggest threat The comes from the policies of the Tor Tories* man MacGregor
Stop the missiles
about it!
Throughout then next day delegates were coming forward to the rostrum to demand that the NEC repudiate this and that the leadersnip give a clear commitment to put unilateralism in the manifesto.
We think the best way to ensure there manitesto commitment -and to make sure Labour carries it out is by mass action, and that's why we marched from Manchester to Blackpool.
But the Labour Party won't
Steel launch another jobs massacre
mean even more miners' jobs under the axe
Over the new is monins
power into operation, three c and, three nuclear
20 ner cent of the Electricit Board's peak capacity and
than oil and an estimated 40 per cent cheaper than nuclear
pow the Tories get their was
it will mean a programme of
since the 60s.
Accepting low in-
allowing be
ost will not stave-off this threat. It is a reciD:
There is an alternative to
like some
laughter. Industrial action to
ment on full pay, and a four-day week without loss of pay Fighting for united action
and steeiworkers in the
O0S. the labour and trade union move-
are the poncic which stem the tide of the Tory at-
By Martin Marriot, youth marcher and secretary. Prestwich YS
YOUTH MARCH ®
JOBS
NOT
NO CRUISE weight behind mass action if the right wing succeed in their demand for a witchhunt: by Thursday they were calling for the expul. sion the Young OCHIS S who together with YCND sponsored our march.
We pointed this out at the fringe meetings. youth marcher told a New Socialist meeting on Tuesday night that supporting CND was incompatible with expuisions, and no way to inspire youth and I got a warm response from Thursday evenings Tringe mecting of Labour
reveal... Britain blocks
series of confidential
highly revealing
documents.
According to
aid for Central
budgetary proposals.
than development.
there is growing.
and refuse British aid.
halting aid to that country from the EEC.
economy.
SEPTEMBER
BOMB
Parties against the witchhunt when I told them:
This witch-hunt is an attack on the policy of unilateralism which conference voted •decisively. And the further we el it go, tne lurine: everything we've fought for will be lost. That's why the marchers are with you against the witch-hunt.
But please remember that action to defend youth, and action to defend a unilateralist policy, are the best bitch tunt. 1 for one whil fight
be at the Hackney conference on 30 October. Secret FO telegrams
aid to Nicaragua
THIS WEEK'S City Limits publishes a
Foreign Office telegrams, which accidently ended up in that magazines letter box. Already the Foreign Office us taking legal action to prevent publication of any more of these
and entertaining
The telegrams and teles cover a wide range of questions. Among the more con troversial howevar is the revelation that Britain is the only country in the EEC objecting to giving aid to Nicarague from the community.
'Brief no 3 for the recent EEC Council of Ministers meeting Britain 'is not prepared to accept any expenditure on
La merica outside existing
According to the bried Nicaragua is 'spending its resources on military bulld up rather
Moreover. the Nicaraguan regime is becoming increasingly repressive and Soviet and Cuban influence
It is natural that the Thatcher government should line up with the United States on this
But it is an absolute scandal that Britain should be instrumental in
Labour should raise this in parliament and demand that Britain withdraw its objection. Further the PLP ghould demand that British aid be sent to help re-construct Nicaragua's
Salva
lidarit Il
mpaigh-Ir
Cabout
jovement
Conference
ABOUT 40 Salvador
on Quarterly National
ticipants
mittees, and the difficulties analysed.
extremely preoccupying tion. movements in the military alliance
political alliance
its counterinsurgency plans.
La negotiated
and Central America. than ever needed.
Solidarity Front Salvador', how
an increasingly
next ELSSOC January.
Trade-Union
Movement Conference. ference will gather
tuniles for the whole campaign.
chester.
All ELSSOC
the local committees
which fights the same enemies. suppor
LOC
- No D
SATIA AMERIC DELEGATES of the El Solidarity Committee (ELSSOC) from all over the country met
Sunday September 26, for their Conference. The questions discussed and the contributions showed a very deep motivation and a high political level amongst all par-
Through the reports of all local com-
the experiences were shared Everyone acknowledged the appaling lack of information in the media on events in Central America at a time when the whole region if reaching a boiling point with an
US interven-
National and international events have a crucial impact on the running of the solidarity work. The Malvinas' war first, the Middle East now overshadowing the dramatic reality in Central America and in El Salvador.
The Reagan administration is steppling up a gigantic offensive against all revolutionary
between the Honduran, and a through America Democratic Community' which has been launched by the State Department for
The US Administration is trying to stop the tide in El Salvador and Guatemala, involving Costa Rica and above all Honduras in military actions and air raides against Nicaragua, putting pressure on Panama to enter the political
settlement in Salvador. They heavily rely on Israal, since 1973 almost the sole supplier of arms to Latin
Israeli military 'ad visors' have been seen on the battle fields.
The ELSSOC Conference felt that because of the silent invasion (as Danial Ortaga from the Sandinista government called the US attacks and manoeuvers) and the unbelievable increase in repression everywhere in Central America, international solidarity was more
How to be an active part of the World
with the paople OT EI to cooperate with other solidarity campaigns in Britain, how to build
needed Anti-Intervention Front are going to be the main topics i of the
Conference, the AGM in
To develop solidarity in Britain, ELSSOC
Commission decided to organise a major event for 1983: the Labour
This national conan estimated 250 delegates from trade-union and Labour Party bodias. Already backed by some of the biggest unions, this day of information and active participation opens tramendous oppor-
Provisional date has been arranged for 14 May, in Man-
delegates greeted the an nouncement and are starting to prepare for this national mobilisation. In the meantime.
MASTE continue their educational campaigns, raise funds for the FMLN/FDR and intervene inside the anti-nuclear and anti-imperialist mass movement
Give your
If you want to get involved or receive in formation, phone 01 359 270 or write to 29 Isl ington Park Street, London N1. They will put you in contact with the nearest local commit-
Socialist Challenge 9 October 1982 page
Page 6 scan of this page
Nye
Bevan's
conspiracy
By Martin Meteyard
WE ALL know how opposed
Michael Foot is to tightly knit
groups within the Labour
Party. But Foot the party
leader has conveniently forgotten what Foot the
biographer wrote in 1962
about the rise of his mentor
Nye Bevan (Aneurin Bevan,
Vol. 1: 1897-1945).
Bevan's home town, Tredegar, was run by the local mining com-
pany. No real challenge came from the Labour Party. So Bevan and : some friends started something callsed the Query Club in the winter of 1921-22.
Foot notes that, Membership : was open only to those who had been strictly vetted'. That alone would have kept them off today's register. But there's worse to come.
*If we go to meetings and we know what we want, we'll get our way", he (Bevan) urged. Secret signs were arranged so that tactics could be changed and one Query Club member could indicate to another when a resolution should be moved or a barren argument adjourned. Soon their ciders were complaining ot these youths who pushed and talked and argued to such purpose
Secret signs, indeed. Even Militant have never been accused of that!
The Query Club - 'enlarged to some twenty members on the same strict selective basis enforced from
didn't confine itself to the Labour Party but also carried mula root cals us purposive in filtrations' into the 1 Trades Council and miners' lodge meetings.
"Its existence was not secret, although many of its particular ob Jectives might be. "The people sitdescribed the older Labour leaders, were often outraged by the pressures of the youthful activists. But it never occurred or scemed possible to the older men and women to outlaw them and forbid their manoeuvres.
One reason why it never seemed possible was because, as Foot points out, Bevan's base remained the union: Which leads us on to another interesting little episode.
How was it that Bevan came to enter the House of Commons in 19292 Yes, you've guessed — he ousted the sitting MP in a reselec tion process! Worse still, it didn't even come about through the local party machinery DOYLINES SID ly imposed on the Ebbw Vale party by the miners. It makes Barnsley NUM seem most restrained
Not that it was at all undemocratic. The sitting MP, Evan Davies, was the nominee of the South Wales Miners Federation: and inder pressure the agreed to ballot he miners to see if his nomination should be renewed. The result was a triumph for Bevan - and for workers democracy. The nomination was his on the third ballot with 5,097 votes against 4,336 for the other two remaining candidates.
If it was good enough for the young Bevan — and his biographer
it should be good enough for us. But then Sitting in the best pews gives one a different outlook on life. As Foor will no doubt explain.
Socialist Chailenge 9 October 1982
THE LABOUR PARTY
ference we
Blackpool was not the Labour
Party conference you
about in the
delegate who seconded the
vote of thanks summed it up.
*1 attended one conference:
then I read
one.
The press reported a conference in
which Michacl Foot
Labour's true leader. The Conference
delegates went to was the one at which he lost any shred of credibility he re-
tained with the left, and surrendered himself finally and irrevocably to the right.
The press reported a conference threw
chances to the winds by voting for unilateral disarmament only to be rescued by Roy Hattersley rushing to the television cameras and explaining that the NEC could ignore what conference had decided.
Delegates attended a conference in which Labour adopted the most popular clection policy going in Britain today. It committed Lahour to a gigantic mobilisation of the unions, the party and CND to stop Cruise in "83. The left in particular are determined to impose this commitment on their leaders come Hattersley or high water.
The press reported the quiet and efficient removal of the Militant. Delegates sat aghast as their leaders launched a purge capable of destroying the party. majority then determined to get their unions witch-hunt.
The press reported a recalcitrant constituency left line with union common from CLPs and unions alike, conference fixed by a handful of block-vote mongers: and left with the intention of taking the campaign for democracy to the union rank and file.
What really happened? The progress of understood in the context of the crisis through which the TUC and Labour icaders are passing.
The contradiction which ran right through the proceedings was this: on the one hand, all factors combined to Torce the bureaucracy to put up a battle against Thatcher and Thatcherism yet on the other, they were scared stiff of arriving in office committed to the policies which they knew were needed
Thatcher,
page 6
JOBS
NO CRUISE
Jobs not Bombs Marchers hit Blackpool
con- therefore, attended in in the party. the field of Party policy read The and elected an NEC majority against it.
about another
fight. they voted for.
Labour's election
recovered from
Michael Foot,
Party Democracy
clectoral means alone.
day evening reserved for goodbyes meeting called by against the witch-hunt'
The delegates in their and Labour to resist this
the register
being brought into Sunday "reality by kindly trade
Delegates, saw
and uncertain
can only be 2.000-strong
year's postponement 'democratic TESTICUTS ARO ference instead of the NEC
They had, alternative. As Johm Gardiner
NOT
only one choice: to take away, on the field of political power
what they surrendered on
They gave in on unilateralism -with They delivered demagogic speeches in support of the health workers — and threw out the only motion committing Labour to action which could help win their
They voted for women's rights — and rejected every motion seeking an increase in women's political power in build for the Party. Most important of all, they meeting. launched a divisive and destructive witch-hunt against those in the Party who championed the very policies
And the left fought back. Slowly, inch by inch and day by day, they
the disorientation fostered by Tony Benn's support for
by the failure of the Monday majority of the Campaign for Labour resistance to the witch-hunt, and by to organise their own hopes of quick success by
By the end of the conference the tant this basis for resistance had emerged. Two hundred and fifty delegates on Thurs-
the one normally drinking and sayıng resolution, came to the fringe around Labour Parties EVICTELS They heard hands.
Phil Holt of the POEU, Ray Hill o the ISTC; Martin Flannery MP, Ernie Koberts MP. Joan Maynard MP, and Jeremy Corbyn, a parliamentary can didate, support a fight back against SOOn
How did the fight develop?
mood of
tion,
Several hundred delegates turned up to the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy meeting, many dispirited
perhaps encouraged by the enthusiastic Jobs not Bombs youth contingent at the morning's
CND demo. meeting two lines were put forward for dealing with the witch-hunt. From the CLPD platform came a recommendation to fight for a 'fallback ICe resolution on the register calling for a
and for register with milder controlled by con-
But from the floor came a clearer
OUTH MARCH SEPTEMBER 1982
Luton East, and a member of the
CLPD executive explained, whatever
the outcome of the discussion on the
fallback amendment, delegates had to
begin now to prepare to resist expul-
sions, and they had to take the issuc to
the rank and file of the unions to call
their executives to account for their
support of the register
Bridget Elton of Hackney North
Labour Party then explained that fif-
teen Constituency Labour Parties had
organised a conference against the
witch-hunt and urged delegates i to
Thursday night's fringe A caucus of all those in
terested in preparing the meeting had
been called that night: over twenty
delegates and visitors attended,
cluding a handful of trade unionists,
to begin the week-long struggle for
sponsorship and support.
CAE
Monday soon showed how impor
initiative was be Delegates got their first inkling that the right wing were not to have it all their own way when an emergency
insisting Onl debate CLPD's fallback amend passed on a show of •I'm sorry, but 1 didn't hear any call for a card vote, Judith Hart calmly assured furious bureaucrats. It was a symbolic reversal.
CLPD's hopes for a reversal were
dashed when fallback amendments fell that afternoon by a majority larger than the main com posite against the register. But the
conterence WIS already changing. Moving the NEC's posi
Mortimer assured con ference that only Militant's inner circle would go and that the register was not a political witch-hunt.
But his attack on Militant was consciousiy political, and delegate: were shocked to the core by the ran ring speeches from Roy Grantham of
and John Spellar of the BET PU. Both called for the expulsion of Militant's 'paid sellers" and argued the case on clear political grounds.
Michaci Foot's summary cut little
when he repeated Mortimer's assurances and claimed that Militant were under attack, not for their views but for breach of Clause II. Wha about Clause IV?*, Ray Apps aske delegates to thunderous applause
But it was a speech from Martin Flannery MP that brought delegates
BOMBS
NO TRIDENT
to their feet in an ovation twice as large and long as Michael Foot's *This is the first step in an attack on all the policies we have won in the last three years,' he said. "It was not the Militant that lost us the last clection but the Cabinet
Monday and Tuesday were both days of preparations, set against the background of the electrifying debate on the health service. Playing to the group of uniformed health workers in the gallery, even COHE's Albert
spanswick promised what sounde like near-insurrection against That cher. The main resolutions on health wete resoundingly passed but the most militant and composite number 32, was defeated On Inc NEC's recommendation. Did NEC really want a socialist alternative? Apparently not
The feelings to which Martin Flannery had given voice came out at the eight-hundred strong Labour Herald mecting that same night. Not only did Livingstone and Maynard call for a rejection of the witch-hunt, but Arthur Scargill, NUM and John Aitker of the EETPU Broad Left, called for all out struggle against the Tory government No, it's not Mussolini. It's Callaghan
Page 7 scan of this page
Tuesday
All day sponsorship forms for the tch-hunt had been thering beginning with an sapper or me sell who nad aved the opposition to the register. e real meaning of this battle came me when the NEC results showed a ar right wing majority with Joan aynard and Eric Clarke off.
Moreover delegates were preparg for other policy victories. They tre lobbying for a two-thirds marity for unilateralism. They were shting for Dundee East's excellent solution on the Middle East calling
Palestinian scil-determination, d for a debate on emergency resoluins on the same theme. They were shting for composite 17 against astic bullets to be taken to the conrence floor on Thursday.
The mood of intense discussion is reflected in the high attendance at New Socialist panel meeting on the anifesto and a further meeting, at pm, to which several hundred came e Labour Solidarity meeting
Labour's conference
tightback
beains
to hear Tony Benn, Jeremy Bray,
Michacl Meacher, Alan Freeman and
acoate ine muture or democracy. Radice echoed a theme taken up by Foot in his second con-
ference speech, in which he tried to claim inheritance of the socialist governments or owcach, rusua and
Greece.
But as Alan Freeman pointed out, there was no mention of Germany where Social Democracy had been in office for many years coalition which was now set to ditch
it. Could it be that Radice and his
friends were preparing a coalition in Britain? How tempting it would be, just to keep Thatcher out! And how tempting it would be for a group of right wing MPs to walk over to the SDP benches to stop unilateralism being implemented!
We want the left to organise now, said Freeman, because this time don't want a repetition of 1931. We don't want a decade of unemployment, war, and Labour defeat. want to win - and those who do not want to win should be made to step aside. Wednesday
It was on Wednesday bombshells started to go off. Conference unilateralism got is two-thirds ma- exploded
Jorily and within hours Hattersley was exprammg to me mena tat tac NEC could not be bound by this decision. Conference erupted with anger as the union block vote was used to crush resolutions calling for women to have more representation in the party.
At this point a differentiation in delegates reactions suriacco. blamed the unions as a whole and echoed calls for an end to the block vote. But anotner, more dominant view came over: this said we should democratise the block should go into the unions and fight.
This latter sentiment came to a head with the extraordinary scenes surrounding the NEC election. front of cameras and delegates alike, first Clive Jenkins and then Arthur Scargill came to the rostrum to protest the result. Was it just a counting error? As one of the scrutineers told us, it was rather hard to find out since the count was organised by the fulltime officers! But then it came out:
the
Weighell had broken both his mandate and his promise to the NUM by casting his Tom Breakell, depriving the miners of a seat on the NEC for the first time in ycars. became a certainty. was not Michael Foot's but Healey's. with a 16-13 majority. What on earth did this have to do with the policies conference WES as part of a made their opinions clear at Tribune's
rally. Kinnock got a magnificent standing ovation - from one person.
to precede one Dennis Skinner in the speaking order. man. And in the most popular speech of conference, he ripped Kinnock to pieces in a sustained masterpicce of sarcasm. Kinnock has for the funny rallics — but Skinner would have held his own in competition stand-up comedian in Britain.
We audience loved it.
this? he said. struggle ahead. Twenty-six countries are rescheduling their debts. Half our banks have debts to developing coun tries equal to twice their assets. Wil tell you why I want to nationalise the banks: I want to save them — for us!' that the "There's E636 billion there,
went on, and our bankers are raking it in at 26 per vestments while the cconomy is ravag ed. And can anybody wonder? Why
when you can vote for the rightwinger
With these revelations a suspicion
The new NEC stitutions.
passing? Delegates
And he was unfortunate enough
Skinner is a plain port lukewarm given Tony speech, speeches at Tribund sent membership -with any The
Yet he finished on a deadly serious
*What is the backdrop to all
"Well, there's a big Thursday
The put cent on these inOld acquaintance: Benn, Maynard, Foot. Who will stand up to the right wing?
By our correspondents
put money in industry at five per cent
get ten to twelve per cent from the building societies?
*The industrial economy is being flattened,' he told a now silent audience, 'and we haven't even got the guts to pass a resolution so that workers can take over the financial in-
Skinner's forthright speech. his call for a fight, 'all the way down the road and on the left hand side and his endorsement of class struggle ('let's organise the extraparliamentary ac tion that will refresh the parts the Party fails to reach") got tremendous sup
This was in sad contrast to the
and puzzled reception Benn in the closing them, where he called for unity around the present policies, the pre-
and the present Foot'. leadership. It was the first time in a few years we actually saw the benches emptying as Benn spoke. tersley
But the stage had been set. On Thursday delegate after delegate ros to challenge the NEC to declare it tant,
unilateralism manifesto. Ray Hill, an. unemployed steel worker, traumatised the trade union leaders with a vitriolic attack
on Bill Sirs' leadership of the steel strike. Composite 17 opposing the use of plastic bullets was debated - and passed. Sunday's anger had turned to determination.
Only one person could deflect such a mood: and he did. Looking as uncomfortable as could be expected, Tony Benn called for endorsement of the Liaison Committee report economic strategy with the scarcelycredible claim that it 'did not constitute an endorsement of incomes policy". Thus Michael Foot will be left free to "negotiate with the unions" -and we know what he negotiated with the unions in 1976. To set the seal or the contusion Benn explamed. in a remark that was clearly intended for the media and was cagerly seized by
that would *wholcheartedly and unreservedly for a Labour government under Michael
was not what delegates wanted to hear. They wanted leadership in the fight against Healey, Hat-
and Weighell - and the didn't get it.
But the momentum of opposition fixing was not going to be stopped.
That night's packed fringe meeting against the witch-hunt, thrown together as it was even as conference unfolded, marked an impor
faltering, first step: a step towards an organised resistance, a step towards organised offensive; a spelicies on a Labour government. towards imposing labour's
AT He TO HARRIS
Socialist Challenge 9 October 1982 page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Labour women - eyes on the ranks!
And the Labour Par-
eyes more than ever
organisation in the
not one of the pro-
block vote to avoid
delegates to return
Tric NhS
MARCH & RALL
Photo by JOHN HARRIS
Socialist Challenge 9 October 1902
What Labour Women wanted
ALL RESOLUTIONS on women's rights were passed. But the NEC successfully opposed all resolutions calling for a change in the Labour Party's own practice in relation to women. The
* For the Labour Party women's conference to have the right to put five resolutions, as of right, on the agenda of Party conference. * For the NEC members in the women's sec-
Terence instead, as at present, by a vote from
* For the Women's Executive Committee to be elected from the women's conference. * For the short list of prospective parliamentary candidates in each constituency to include at least one women, if a woman has been
positive discrimination in women in party appointments, ticular for women's organisers to be women. NEC and ensuring
section of the NEC women who wanted
Why did this hap-
dominated. But it is E Women taking a lead in struggle must also be brought into leadership in the Labour Party and trede unions
page 8
portray the defeat of
ference proposals
as a trade union/CLP unions and the
unions to put their
Labour Party
following lines:
of ordinary women
pay in the NHS,
school and nursery
women's strength
transform the mass
• Pushing forward
force the next labour
tually implement changes. The ex-
posal on the struc-
that would really
women's conference
seriously - and give
tion to LP women's
them a block vote
members in their
then mean that both
ed and the votes for
women members of ment should make a Tories and re-launch
next year's con-
To win this battle
of the party and the
mon cause. The bat-
entering the corridors of power.
Woman Delegates
speak out
seconded of the organisation discussion,
rights.
Why do you think the NEC opposed the resolutions on women's organisa-
They feel threatened by women's organisations
Ine Party. The: recognise women are aligning with the left
for example, women's conference
the Falklands and called for
out NATO.
rellects the more radical position of wome a5 a wole because Ine are under such heavy at-
Sylvia Jones, APEX, argued against your resolu
on the grounds she got to her position on her merits. The implication was that special measures in favour of women, and women organising together. should not be
-SLO ported.
Women are forced to organise because it is the only way to combat male domination.
denies that women have merit? Then
aren't they represented proportio to their abilities.
ment ace
dominated by demand representation inal accords to our con tribution.
Is there a conflict between the unions and the CLPS on this issue?
The issue has been
Iscusse in the
Until this vear the women's conference didn't have trade union delegations.
At the base of the unions women confront the same problems. And Sylvia, for example, is in a big contradiction because the
E11OII SUBDOTE positive discrimination against the employers but not in the Labour Par-
Every Labour Party member is also a Trade Unionist. We have to take the issues into the union branches. We also nave to use campaigns, such as the Abortion Campaign, reach out TO union members. Then we can ensure there is a discussion in affiliated unions.
What do you think of the proposal for a block vote at the women's conference?
I support it. The union delegates threw it into the discussion
try Cand
seconded one from Composin
composites
spoke Socialist Challenge about the discussion on women's
deflect the argument for women's conference
310R say, would force the unions to discuss their dolley wome and it would wake up rank and Ille women to what male bureaucrats are doing on their behalf.
And we're not just talking about WOWLICIE issues. I would be very happy if the unions had to dicuss the resolution we passed on the Falklands.
But we would have to ask who clected the delegates. We don't just
male wheeler dealering in smoke-filled
Women in the unions would have organise to enforce their views
We spoke to CHRISTINE BUTTERY of Birmingham Ladywood, who moved composite 40 propos ing election of NEC women's section delegates from women's conference.
IT'S A QUESTION
powe ROHE NOTE Who control it tin rank and file or a couple of
bloc votes in their hands? I/ the
vomen conference chose
NEC delegates eleen saddled WOWNE HOVE
Gwyneth Dunwoodie judging by the heckling she got.
We want representation because we want power:
been passing hons on women 5 tighis to
I wasn't attacking womer
to see more activity from rank
file unionists in the Party. I don" want a split between CLP
as a whole and the controllers of the movement Ine e these pr some
the
SEPTE who get a career them and think that's
My experience in USDAI
attitude on the shopfloor is different.
don't want to women who struggle in the
• attitude tha
can that gets up my nose
Can women in the CLPs link up with those in the union branches?
Not just women! The pro blem with the Labour Party is that it's too oriented to parliament and should spend much more time on the picket lines. We'dlearn a lot more in struggle than in
same time if you want to involve the shopfloor
The a bone WOEFORTHE Trade unionists shoud get involved in the Party because aren't political parties - in theory anyway.
Page 9 scan of this page
with
TWO IMPORTANT breakthroughs for Irish freedom were scored at conference. First, composite 52 opposing the use of plastic bullets was passed by an overwhelming majority, with a small group of bureaucrats -notably Terry Duffy of the Engineering Union and Frank Chapple's Electricians - voting demonstratively against.
Second, the debate on Labour's Irish policy was given a huge boost when Tribune, recognising the strength of feeling on the issue, McAliskey at its 2,000-strong fringe meeting on Wednesday night. also spoke at a well-attended meeting organised by the Labour Committee on Ireland, what she thought the British Labour
Irish people.
I'VE BEEN To Labour conference several times before and 2ILS DOVIOUS there have been changes.
One change is that Ireland is being recognised as an issue for the labour movement. This is the first time I've been sponsored by a part of the labour movement - the Co-operative Party - and this shows the issue of Northern Ireland
is being seriously discuss-
Front bench opposi-
tion has. and
that is why, thirteen years
after a gigantic upheaval in
wnat is supposed to be a
part the United
Kingdom, are still
fighting for a hearing.
But there is an obvious
move torward, particulat-
in the Constituencies.
There is a gut feeling that
the only realistic policy is a
United Ireland.
The problem is that as there has been
realistic discussion of the
working class will achieve process which
this age-old dream
which, after all. we've
been after for 900 years.
Can you say what
the effect of the new
Assembly will be on
Northern Irish people?
BAN
PLASTIC BULLETS
Interview
Bernadette
McAliskey
gave a platform to Bernadette Devlin
Socialist Challenge asked Bernadette, who
movement's response to the demands of the
It will launch a further cycle of frustration. Participation Northern Irish clections is normally very high 80 to 90 per cent. But this time have never seen less enthusiasm.
People feel they are being used in a game by Prior to put a facade of normality over what is going on. The level of violence - and 1 mean state violence raised daily.
There is a deterioration
'A United Ireland by consent is like abolishing Apartheid by consent. No-one will consent to give up privilege'
of any standard of justice or fair play. For example the police have. without retribution, taken into custody and "persuade" them. by threat and indren - to turn Queen's ducement really evidence.
They remove them
crucifixion'
from the community for months one man has been under house arrest in Guildford for a year with two RUC men in the police cadet barracks. A hundred and seventy people have spent twelve months in custody on the evidence of twelve people under this kind of house arrest. NO to the PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT
Yet out of six who have returned, the refused to testify and in the sixth CeSC the cops refused produce evidence until the day of the trial, with the result that 60 lawyers have now threatened to withdraw
*People in West
the PLO
from the courts.
This is just one example.
The facts are that to
protect the peace'
civilians lose their rights and kids are shot up in the
streets with plastic bullets.
And this isn't driving
people away from the
Republicans. You see, on-
ly in West Belfast was the murder of 1,700 Palesti-
nians greeted without sur-
prise. With horror, yes.
but no surprise. People
say, simply. •What would
happen to the us without
the IRA is what happened
to the Palestinians without
the PLO
A United Ireland by
consent' is no excuse. This
is like saying abolish apar-
incia Dy consc.. No-one
will consent give up
mrivileges. Therefore the
labour movement has
understand that the border
issue is the vital issue.
Now, this is essential
because you must con-
vince catnolics who now
think there is no difference
DEIWCCE the STITIS
'Don Concannon is seen in Ireland as
the man who offered vinegar at the
Labour and the British rul-
ing class. At present, next
to Margaret Thatcher, the
most hated person in Nor-
thern Ireland is Don Con-
cannon. He is seen as the
man who offered vinegar
the crucifixion.
came to Bobby Sands
deathbed to say he doesn't
support him.
CAROL
KILLED, ANN KELLY
BY PLASTIC
"BÜLLETS,
TEPHEN -CONOMY
Ireland.
The experiment of partition has failed and must be abandoned. What we should be discussing how, within the framework of a united
Ireland, the rights of
British Nor.
thern Ireland can be pro-
Belfast say 'what would happen without the IRA is what happened to the Palestinians without
tected. Now there's a way
forward: the problem
you see, not that the Pro-
testants are frightened of
reactionary legislation
the South. They fear, like
the white Rhodesians, that
they will get the same
treatment they are now
handing out to the na
tionalist population.
Can you tell us
how the anti-
imperialist
ment is dealing with
the elections?
There has been some
disagreement. take
minority vIcW: think
there should have been a
united anti-imperialist
boycott. I think this would
have made it easier to win
the confidence of the mass
movement, even though
the SDLP is standing.
Sinn Fein has changed
its views on elections and it
is now standing in many
seats. But I think they've
only learned half their
lesson: they now think you
should stand in all elec-
tions, whereas I believe we
should judge each election
tactically.
Sinn Fein are standing.
but only in key areas.
Independents are sticking
with a boycott. And the
SDLP reap the benefit.
I say, however, that we
should now, and can now
begin preparing for
united boycott after
election, Sinn
People's Democracy, and
the Independents He demand the SDLP hold
good to its promise. that 73 C stop Assembly working.
All badges available from Troops Out Movement PO Box
London NW5 4NH at 20p plus s.a.e. Dis count of 25 per cant on orders of 20 or more.
This Conference noting:
(c)
civilians: (1)
(ii) instructs /oved b DEPTFORD C.L.
Seconded by (c)
The
ment will:
the Fein. and
SO this
Moved by
Seconded by
Conference passed
PLASTIC BULLETS (a) that plastic and rubber bullets have killed 14 people in
Northern Ireland, 7 of them aged 15 or under; (b) that since July 1981 plastic bullets have been made available
in their thousands to police forces throughout Britain;
the European Parliament resolutions of May 1982 calling on
member states to ban the use of plastic bullets against
condemns the Government for refusing to implement a ban on plastic bullets; the National Executive Committee, Parliamentary spokespersons on Nothern Ireland to campaign for the Labour Party withdrawal of plastic bullets from the Royal Ulster Constabulary and army in Northern Ireland and from the
(ili) calls on the next Labour Government to ban the use and police in Britain:
production of plastic bullets (or any other baton round) throughout Britain and Northern Ireland.
SHEFFIELD PARK C.L.P.
Conference rejected
This Conference notes that the continuing war in Northern Ireland is the inevitable result of the economic domination of Ireland by British rulers and its occupation by British armies, and that:
(a) the Northern Ireland state is inherently repressive and
structurally incapable of democratic reform.
(b) the division of the Irish people can only be overcome by the
removal of the British interests that have created and main-
Stained that division, and by the end of Partition. British workers have nothing to gain from the continued occupation of Ireland and that indeed, repressive security legislation such as the use of the Diplock courts, the Emergency Powers Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act anc the use of plastic and rubber bullets introduced in Northern Ireland will increasingly be used in Britain
Conference therefore supports the Irish people's struggle for self-determination, and resolves that an incoming Labour govern-
) withdraw from Ireland, without conditions being imposed by the Unionist minority: (ii) implement a comprehensive Bill of Rights
Conference resolves that this should be a major part of Labour's electoral strategy, and a key priority for the next Labour Government. Conference believes that the formulation of an alternative policy must be informed by close co-operation and dialogue with democratic sections of the irish people-particularly the LAbour and trade union movement and representative community organisations which are also campaigning for the re-unification of Ireland
Conference calls upon the National Executive Committee to establish the closest possible links with such organisations in order to facilitate debate in this country.
HACKNEY NORTH AND STOKE NEWINGTON C.L.P.
NOTTINGHAM EAST C.L.P
the
and our Parliamentary Socialist Challenge 9 October 1982
Page 10 scan of this page
a victory, but more
A VICTORY has been notched up against the Home
its 2-year old Moroccan woman
tain on compassionate grounds
Najat left her husband
cruelty, but when he was deported by the Home Office they said she also had had a British born The fact that she
son, and had built her own in-
of no concern to the civil
They simply assumed that she was just an appendage of her husband.
big campaign called the *Friends of Najat Chafee' was organised and
had to the me Offier
threatened deportation.
This is great news and shows what can be done by organised action. But there are still a lot more like this to be won. In 1980 970 people were deported from Britain, an increase ot over 30 percent on 579 Shen laporeek The deported 1979.
Guardian reported that 50 Ghanians who had arrived at Heathrow rights had al three all been
To carry this summary deportation, THAT CHOR ORCUSCOR mandeered 50 scats on a
Hught to Giana
and had booked these
who booked these seats.
Fortunately
the growing deportations has begun to build up recently. In Bradford a oint committee CELIS deportations has been set up to oppose 18 threatened deportations in the city. Scottish Labour Backs Polish Demo
THE SCOTTISH Executive Committee of
the Labour Party is to back a demonstra-
tion in Glasgow
December to mark the anniversary of
martial law in Poland
tional Union of Mineworkers, will also speak
at the final rally.
Solidarnosc. The conference of the Scottish
Council of the Labour Party last March com-
mitted the party to organising a tour for a
Solidarnosc member, and it is expected that
this will now take place immediately before
the Glasgow demonstration.
ticipated from the Scottish TUC, though this
has still to be confirmed.
the Glasgow Polish Solidarity
which earlier this year coordinated several
members. Further details of this and other ac-
tivities can be obtained from its secretary:
Gordon Morgan, 59
Glasgow G41 (tel. 041-649 8958).
Socialist Challenge 9 October 1982
Deportations:
to be won
attempt to deport Najet Chafee, a
Vajat has been told that she can now stay in Bri
One case concerns Reggi Yates. Although his wife Felicia is British, this does not quany me to stay in Britain. The state is using the tact that rencia
deny him permission. This
deny him permission. rule denies many black women the right to marry non-bullsn men and stay in Britain.
Whilst the rule allegedly concerns all people irrespective of the colour of their skin, it is essentially aimed at blacks who are Tar more nkely have been born abroad than Whites.
Activists
Anti-deportation campaigns now exist in most of the big centres like Leeds, Manchester ingham. But there remains an urgent need to unre all these individual campaigns into one massive campaign against the ImLaws. The Bradford Joint Committee has suggested that such a campaign could COOKSON behind the demand for an maculate amnesty For a illegal immigrants This is an excellent suggestion. mediate, It and places a im- acheivable CM
demand on the government and we should Photo mano that tac Lacost rar ty pledges itself to carry out such an amnesty on the day it takes office A demand such as this would draw new forces into the fight against the imSaturday 11 UTI
Its chairperson, Jim McCafferty of the Na-
Another speaker will be a member of
Support for the march and rally is also an-
The demonstration is being organised by
Committee
83100 Solidarnosc
Durward
page 10
HO MURE POLI
migration laws as it could be placed in the context of a campaign for the repeal of all immigration laws. laws.
A step in the direction of uniting the campaigns is being made by the calling of conference by the Campaign Against KaCISI Laws (CARL) on 23 October is a broadly DANCE OR SONOR which brings together many black and lanom mOve ment bodies. It includes in
the Indian Workers Association and last year it called a 10,000 strong demonstration against the Nationality Bill.
The conference aims to highlight four particular points:
CARL Conference Saturday 23 October 10-5pm. County Hall London
CARL, 56 Edithna St London SW9 9JP
Anti-racism.
By Chris Guthrie
STOP BANST MURDERS
ICE RACISM
Black people take to the streets against racist violence and the police.
• Opposition to internal passport checks in hospitals, education, employment and hous ing.
• Ending the waiting lists of dependents and UK passport holders.
• Ending the ban on foreign husbands and fiances.
• Stopping all racist deportations.
It will discuss calling a national next spring and will call on loca Councis to declare themselves against passport checks and will ask the trade unions to op pose and refuse to imple ment such checks.
Details and delegates credentials from
I hope that Socialist Challenge readers will make sure that they attend the conterence and that they will get their trade unions and labour parties to send a delegate.
ON TUESDAY 28
major victory was won the Precinct 8 Defence
when Mohan Pipia and Charlie
were Magistrates Court BT LOOM TV BOISTTALES of
and abusive behaviour likely to cause a
second pharge of posting
property were fined E40 each plus 29 each go to a bus shelter. compensation
No we Pipial and Charlie Stuart WOTC August. They were putting up posters announcing a comin
harassmen when
approached by two drunkard
A policeman, PC Greenwood (1313 Milgarth
Oxley, one of the
climax on raday me er ooptemper
bars, bottles, one with a knife.
Asian youths
On Monday, 20 September, an Asian boy was so badly beaten up at
playground by white youths from a different school that he had to he taken to hospital.
The Asian youths then heard that the white youths would be lying in wait for them outside the 501001 Friday, September
About 15 Asian youths
school children. This was effec tive and no white youths turned up- The Asian youths were afraid that the WHE VOWAS WOO DO ing in wait somewhere near
to circle the vicinity to en-
for the SUIC children as the police were not present, although quested by school. They were followed by
children, curious to see if anything more would hap pen.
Suddenly a car drew up and 3 men got out and attacked some of the Asians while other Asians dispersed. The 3 white men had weapons and a fight developed
Almost immediately a police dog van arrived and suddenly the area teeming with police, abour 40 in all turned up The seen you lice an
police because they the attackers whom they thought to be the white youths, to be stopped. But as the 8 youths were arrested appeared that their attackers were plain colnes poncemen
The Asian youths were kicked punched and sub jected to racial abuse in ine police vans and in int police station, and one was splapped and punched and
"fucking cheeky bastard" in the enquiry room in the presence of the other 6 youths.
One Sikh youth with a turban was particularly supiected to racial abuse All the youths were told to say that one of the older youths was responsible for
Police frame-up fails
Mine. When assualted
defended
restrained Oxley , Mohan and
Charlie went on their way bu
were then themselves pursued
and arrested
rogated Mohan and Charli
about pontical beners
and their attitude towards the
Mohan
bokins for a fight and accus
ed Charlie of joining in Bitter
In his summing Wieney
defence
exposed the way which PC Greenwood left the attacker, Oxle in order to
paran de
Gc and showed that Mohar and charie were detained for GYUE Donce inventee stronger case against them. He sug gested fact it was
Newham
THE HARASSMENT AND RACIAL ATTACKS on the Asian children at Little Ilford School reached a
when 8 Asian
Yauths were arrested in Dersingham Avenue, Manor
One week 15 white youths armed with sticks, iron
went into the school playground and threatened an 11-year old Asian boy Fights developed, and this resulted in the arrest of 3
hitting a policeman with CUTOR BREE SELESTI police car window but the
Alter this the Asian youths, accompanied their solicitor, informer
police of the antise The solicitor threatened to press charges against the police. Although the police sergeant requested the youths not to pursue charge and apologised the vouths rejected this
All of the youths have been charged with serious offences ranging from threatening behaviour to actual bodily harm. One is still in hospital recovering from his injuries. Youth
munity on Sunday, September 1982 attended
host ethnic groups ang in in presence of several coun cillors, expressed anger the treatment the youths and the way in which policing in Newham is carried out, It was decid co to organs a ocicie campaign on a major level to write to the police and the Home Secretary asking for the charges to be drop. ped and the meeting also heard from a solicito: connected with the Bradford
12 case. A committee of 15
was elected by the meeting to help the Newham 8 in their defence
This latest incident part of a wider scene involving continual attacks and racial black people in Newnam
The community reso ved in its tion to defend the 8 youth:
arrested, and a number of activities are being plann ed to mobilise the community. A public meeting will also be called. The campaign also intends to
organise a picket of the
West
Ham Magistrates Court
(west Ham Lane, Strat
ford), on 5 November at 10am and is calling for the widest possible support.
views which had Brought
them to court and that the
- THEE TESSCO serious charges because
their political objection to the
contents of the posters.
serious attack
the right to picket. the police forced picketers out
Great of arrest, claim ing that they were causing ar
10T 103 harassment was that the picketers were clearly
and money from sympathetic members of the public.
the Precine will be heads
FEELS THALESTREES OREL DE
• The Precinct 6 Campaign is again
caline anim outsiuppor
Loui Chas Andrews tes. Haw cana tony Lany ap pear on those days
Page 11 scan of this page
Further down on Maggie's Farm
IF YOU MISSED IT this time make sure you see the repeat of BBC TV's showing of God Speed Cooperation the story women in the Women's Cooperative Guild (a very different organisation than it is today!).
In history books today all you read about is the suffragettes and their more spectacular campaign for the vote - never about the thousands and thousands of working CaSS WOLED who paigned for birth control for ITCC school meals, maternity benefits and around all aspects of women's lives.
T've had nine children in seven years and I've on-
A SECOND book of the cartoons of Steve Bell, 'Further down on Maggie's Farm and other stories' has just hit the farmyard's bookshops.
NOISES of several creatures rolling in the mud reached the ears of the farm's management. HILARY DRIVER managed to review a copy.
preciate that the best features in a newspaper
where most of the coverage has been moving
rightwards at a rate of knots, are the cartoon
strips and
have been enjoying the delights of the Mag-
gie's Farm' cartoon strip in City Limits land
formerly
by Steve Bell. who must certainly rate as one
of the best political cartoonists around.
some of the more memorable political hap.
penings of the last year, from the real causes
of the riots to some behind-the-scenes glimp-
ses of the Malvinas war. Although the car-
toons are consistently good throughout, for
me the best are those on the war. They
1C1R 5000
EEEEEEEEYOWW
EEEEEEEEEYOWW
DAKKADAKKADAKKA!!
of working
ly one left now,' stated one of the many hundreds of members of the WOUICH Guild who wrote letters telling of their experiences as part of the campaign for ES maternity benefit for married and unmarried mothers.
The misery and terror of being on a conveyor belt of compulsory childbirth, miscarriages, infant morTalIV. ill health and exhaustion powerfully Before the thousand assorted
If you are a Guardian reader, you'll ap-
'Doonesbury'. Londoners
Time Out) for several years. Both IF and Maggie's Farm are written and drawn
The cartoons cover a cross section of
portrayed. "Family restric-
tion' then as now was a key
issue in the fight for even a
glimmer of equal rights for
women.
In those days cure was
used rather than preven-
TOT 3815 one woman
remarks in her letter:
It's not OTEVCHION that
women use. It's much
cheaper, you see, to go out
and get those drugs at the
chemists, hikey pikey, gin
and gunpowder, iron and
aloes, turpentine and
washing powder.
For these women
brought up in the belief
which they soon found out
to De laise nat too never feature what must be one of the most obnoxlous cartoon creations (news editor of the Morning Mule) - and one of the most likeable, member of the nuclear-powered armoured punt HMS 'Incredible'.
Hardnose combines together all the attributes that make the British press the scummiest in the world. Interviewing an Argentinian prisoner he shows no compassion: "Ask the damned cowardly gaucho whelp what he does in Civvy St.* ""He says he hauls freight on the River Plate." "AHAI!" says Hardnose, "so you're an ARGY BARGEE!!?!'
As the introduction to the 'Unlike Jaws Two, Godfather man Two and Leviticus Two, this is possibly evan better than Maggie's Farm One. for those boring moments before demo's
going. Further adventures... makes an ideal present.
Further adventures on Maggie's Farm and other stories' is published by Penguin Books at E2.95, and is available FrOm The Outer Bookshoo NI 2XP (enclose 50p for p&p).
BANG BAMBASH
EEEEEEEEE
Review
'God speed cooperation'
sends a babe without the bread to feed it", discovering the Coop Women's Guild must have been truly a liberation - opening the door to knowledge and understanding means to fight back fas well as the divi on the shopping!). 1915 the Guild had 30,bg Founded in members and by 1933 90,000 - mainly working class women.
Mrs Layton, the main character in the TV story Harry Hardnose
Kipling. only crew book says:
Two, SuperA must
328 Upper Street, London
DAKKADAKKADAKKA
WAKKA DAKKA DAKKA!!
Bell
(which is partly based on her book Life as We Have KnOWn l published by Virago) is a typical example of the women who joined. One of fourteen children she went into serice the age of ten.
Evolved she had to walk six miles to conferences and back because she couldn't afford the transport.
The courage and determination of such women is truly an inspiration to us all and is part of the heritage of the modern women's movement as the suffragettes are.
The Guild was one of BACK HOME:
Sur To BE KING
EEEEEEEEEE
KABOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
BOOOM!
PARDON ME SONNY, JOIN THE
BUT HAVE YOU EVER TEBFORCE
CONSiDERED TRAINING
AS A NORMAN TEBBiT?
HEAD KICKED IN YOUTH
BACAUSS WE KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE
the first organisations t demand legalised abortion and also in 1913 came out in favour of divorce by years separati after too years separation which outrageous idea they had all their funding from the Coop cut off for four years.
Women seen as key to the Coop because the idea was to have "peaceful revolution' bas ed on women's 'marketing basket' wealth being redistributed through the dividend paid out to members. Fortunately th women memoers did not restrict their campaigning
FINE MORNiNG'S SPORTBAGGED TEN TRiTE ANDTWO GILLiES! WHAT'S UPGEL?
SPOT OF MORNING
SiCKNESS??
CONCEiVED
By Judith Arkwright
to thie may uton wee may think we've Come along wasince then really sometimes wonder whether Maggie Thatcher and her cronies aren't trying to send us back to those days - when you se things like the funding fo Brook Clinics (which provide funding for young people are withdrawn and abortion is being hived off into the private sector.
The issues which our sisters raised before us are still vital today and we have a lot to learn from them.
NO, I'M JUST NAUSEATED BY THIS TORRENT OF SYCOPHANTiC DRIVEL MORNiNG IN THE PAPERS.
GAG!
Vo Daily - Mule a VE SALUTI THE ROYAL •EMBRYO That was a
Party Political
cartoon Strip
on behalf of the
Conservative
Party
SeveBel
YOU'RE GONNA GET YOUR Y *@*9! HEADS KICKED İN!! Socialist Challenge 9 October 1982 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
MINERS PREPARE
Tory plans
exposed
THE ROW in the Conservative Party over the report of the Think Tank' Tories Central Policy Review staff shows the ultimate policy. The report suggests a complete dismantling of the welfare state, and in particular the health service and free state education. The would be replaced by private medicine, and free education replaced by education 'vouchers' - purchased by the parents.
Without doubt the report was leaked to the press by a secret 'wet' in the cabinet - to the fury of Thatcher and her supporters. In the run up to a general election, the proposal to completely dismantle the health service is about as popular, as one newspaper put it, as a proposal to nationalise beer.
Thatcher and her supporters had hoped to keep the report secret and use it as the basis of Tory thinking for a re-elected Conservative govoriots.
Certainly a plan to be implemented, but not a plan on which to fight an election.
Now the 'wats' have blown the gaffe. The first person to rush to dissociate himself from the report was the health minister Norman Fowier.
For Fowier the leaking of the report came at a particularly bad time. Already Britain's most unpopuler man, fronting for the Tories the war cainse ins heath Fowlar was anxious not to have to fight a war on two fronts at once.
Tory Party chairman Cecil Parkinson and Thatcher herself neve report has been 'shelved' and had not even bee discussed by the cabinet. But the report had been more or less openly defended by treasury minister Leon Brittan and Rhodes Boyson. With an absolutely Impeccable sense of timing Edward Heath has denounced the proposals, and called for Thatcher to openly reject them. Thus a major row on the issue is bound to be created at the Tory conference.
The proposals to completely dismantle the
STELE are plemented by a future They could only be pushed through on the basis of new defeats for the working class. But what the Tories have in store for us all should be shouted loud and clear throughout the election campaign.
SPECIAL OFFER
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Terry bullets Duffy ed at the Labour Conference voles agaist the resolution
from Hampstead
responsible for the deaths of 14 people.
Ban Plastic Bullets
A Labour Movement Delegate Conference
The Labour Party conference voted last week for a ban on plastic bullets. So far 14 people,
seven of them under 12 years of age have
been killed by 'baton rounds' in the north of
Ireland. The conference
February of 1983 to urge the banning of
these vicious weapons. contact: Plastic Bullets Conference, Box 15,
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....
By Celia Pugh
overtime ban against closures and the derisory 8.2 per cent National Coal Board pay offer. This is a prelude to a ballot on 28 October which 'gives the NUM National Executive the powers to call industrial action if necessary against pit closures and at the same time to find a solution to the wage demand".
This decision was taken by an overwhelming vote of 134 to 2 at a specia NUM conference on 4 Oc tober, with all the NUM arcas voting against Tory attacks on the industry.
After the conference, Miners President Arthur Scargill NUM annual conference
OVCTWACMHELY stop pit closures and the
down OI manDoWe and to get carly retirement and negotiations for a four day week. Cuts
The NCB have tied the question of jobs and pas together They have told
WC 112VE "technological unemployment and efficiency part of the deal. This can
mean pit closures, they are inextricably linked.
In the last six years we have lost 37,000 jobs. The Bant to cur capacity by i2
this is the equivalent of at least 30 pits. When the jobs were lost in recent
because the leadership did not accept
By Megan Martin
packed into an East London hall on Saturday
night for a banquet
revolutions in Central America and the Carib-
bean.
Socialist Challenge
supporters from as far
afield as Glasgow, Man-
chester. Sheffield
Mansfield came for the oc
casion. Supporters from
North, South and West
London added the
crowd.
There were rail-
workers, London Trans-
port workers, carworkers
from Fords, Dagenham,
teachers and a whole con-
tingent from East London
Metal Box.
There were CND ac-
tivists, Labour Party ac-
livists and youth active in
everything.
After forcing down
double and in some cases
I FOR BATTLE
MINERS THROUGHOUT BRITAIN have begun tinga vote for action at the
threatened my view to fight closures and job loss. From this committed to thiare now
The principle of the overtime ban is the same as in 1971 and 1973 which WEST DURE Rallies hay tional strike.
called the country to build sup
Wales 19 October Newcastle: 20 October in Birmingham: 21 October
Sheffield and 23 October in Scotland. I will be speaking at all these to get the support we need.
Miners from the Kin neil Colliery Central Scotland will be well picased with this decision. They lobbied the special Terence to Pus. for just such a battle on closures.
Kinneil NUM delegate
Lots employ allenge Old
CHEDDLOVE people and it's threatened with closure. There are still vas reserves but the NCB won't invest. We're lobbying to impress the need to tie up the wages and closure issues. It we accept the 8.2 per cent offer we're accepting closures. We're very confident about get-
East London Socialist
Challenge raises £1100
More than 150 Socialist Challenge supporters
in celebration of the
triple helpings of trifle and
chocolate cake, the
assemblv listened to laime
Lopez from the FDR
FMLN representation in
Britain
He explained the need
for renewed solidarity with
the people's
Salvador. Jaimi high-
lighted the role of US in-
tervention in Central
America and emphasised
the threat of the civil war
in Salvador growing
over into a regional civil
war.
A message from the
Nicaraguan embassy
underscored the imminent
threat from imperialist in-
spired intervention there.
pit end of October. today i conference there weet
Scottish ference of branch officers
COLTELC members throughout the coal field This will organise pit head meetings with speakers from the Scottish Ex ecutive and massive Icafleting campaign.
We're calling for port for the rall on 23 Oc
Tober Sangure were
Arthur Scargill WATH speaking Then we're hopfrom Kinneil to the Scot tish Triple Alliance lobbi in London on 26 October This will be a massive lobby. Action
Bill Snedden, NUM Group 2 member of the Scottish Colliery Engineers, Boilermen and Trades Association echoed this SOVIES "WaRes. shorter working week, carly retirement and investment are all intertwined You can't sepcrate them out. That's why our fight at Kinneil is so important We're going ahead with the Triple Alliance, we're uniting with steel and rail workers at our Edinburgh rally because we are all in this together
But we're faced with the likes . Sirs and
Weighell. ine issue mus be to mobilise the rank and file of the Triple Alliance
speaker from
Socialist Challenge, ex
plained the role of the
paper in bringing the truth
about the struggles in Cen
tral America to workers in
Britain. The speaker ex-
plained, too, the committ-
ment of Socialist
Challenge CLU provide a
platform for these workers
in Britain to link up with
all workers in struggle.
The banquet
gave E500 to the Socialist
Challenge fund drive.
They followed this up im
mediately with E300 in an
auction of posters and
photographs from Cuba,
Nicaragua and Grenada.
At the end of the evening
Socialist Challenge had
raised E1100.
Donations Challenge: Po Box 50, Lan
don NI 2XF
← Socialist Challenge No. 263, 2 October 1982Socialist Challenge No. 265, 15 October 1982 →