Socialist Challenge No. 266, 22 October 1982

Socialist Challenge · 22 October 1982 · 12 pages, 15,213 words read by machine

The scan: sc-no266.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

MINES, STEEL, HEALTH Take on

No. 266 22 October 1982 25p Unemployed and strikers 10p

Socialist

Tories

'28 October is the most vital day for decision in the history of the mine worker. In these words, Arthur Scargill, President of the miners union, addressed over 3,000 South Wales miners in the first of the mass rallies to win backing for the NUM ballot for strike action

The decision of the miners will be vital for the whole working class movement. A spirit of determination is welling up inside the working class. The water workers struck solidly on Monday in their first ever national strike. The strength of feeling that exists resulted in strike action even before the management had made an offer - much to the fury of the Tory press.

Telecom workers followed with a massive turn-out for their one-day strike on Wednesday. They are determined to prevent the Tories privatising their industry.

Meanwhile overwhelming pressure is mounting for all-out strike action by the health unions to bring their five month battle to a speedy conclusion.

*The British miners can be a catalyst that

US NOW

LATER

can spark off the fight against the Tory government stated Mick McGahey. NUM vice-president at the same South Wales rally. 'The Tories can only chase you if you're running. It's time we stopped running, stood firm and started to fight back'.

Any retreat has been seized on by the Tories. As Scargill put it: 'if you want to avoid the butchery of British Steel and British Rail; If you want to maintain your jobs and those of your grandchildren, then there is only one answer: Vote 'yes' in the ballot'.

This same question is facing nearly all sectors. It faces the steel workers threatened with more redundancies. It faces car workers at British Leyland and Vauxall who have rejocted company offers.

This has a meaning for the Labour leaders. Again, as Arthur Scargill put it: 'Our message is that the next Labour government has one prime objective: to show the same loyalty to their class as the Tories do to theirs.

190g B

N-U-M 1951 Mick McGahey, Scottish NUM Ieader 'The Tories can only chase you if you're running'

Mick MeGahey Arthur Scargill

Page 2 scan of this page

Birmingham, Peckham: which way for Labour victory?

Dear Tony

REPRINTED here is an open letter which was produced

and distributed by Socialist Challenge supporters

West London at public meeting addressed by Tony

Benn on 6 October attended by over 800 people. Socialist

Challenge endorses its proposals.

Dear Tony Benn,

TWO YEARS AGO your campaign for the deputy

leadership of the Labour Party inspired militants

in the trade unions and the constituency Labour

Partics. Tnen we were still reeling trom the deteats

imnosed by Jim Callaghan and Denis Healey.

Now; many of the policies

fighting for have been won, and the mass move-

ment is finding its feet again at last. Labour is com-

mitted to unilateral disarmament, to full employ-

ment, to withdraw from the EEC, against incomes

policy (just about) and for social justice for

women, black people and youth.

The tremendous demonstrations in support of

the health workers have shown we have the capaci-

ty to fight the Tories. A Labour victory is within

Yet with this victory in sight, last week's con-

ference saw a right wing NEC imposed on the par-

denied greater representation: leaders like Hat-

tersley rushing to the media to denounce con-

ference policy.

divisive and destructive purge launched against

those who defend socialist policies in the Labour

Party.

ranks of the Party and unions for these attacks by

the right wing. We believe that if they are challeng-

ed - and we intend to challenge them —

unseat the right wing leaders like Sid Weighell and

prevent another Healey-type of government.

Moreover.

challenge can be made hostage to 'confidence in

Michael Foot' as a leader. We must begin now to

stop the witch-hunt by refusing to accept any ex-

pulsions, supporting the Hackney Conference on

October 30th and create a national network of par-

ties and unions who will resist

disaftihations.

alliance,

Labour MPs formed

Labour

unions, to defend socialist policies and organise

action to secure them. And we believe you should

put your whole weight behind such moves.

past.

whether to act on them. If we wait until after the

election, by then it may well be too late. The aim of

the present right wing offensive is to destroy our

gains before the next election, because they are ter-

rified of having to implement the policies to which

the party is now committed. We refuse to accept.

We're fighting back.

fight. The media will say it is a challenge to Foot's

leadership. If we succeed, we will be challenging

Foot's leadership.

totally insane to allow this fact to deter us from

defending what we have won and fighting to en-

sure that it is put into practice.

fight on its 'existing policies, existing leadership,

and its existing membership',

contradicting yourself. This leadership is attacking

the membership, and when it has finished with the

membership it will destroy our policies. So, which

are you going to put first? The membership? The

policies? Or the leadership?

By Alan Freeman

28 OCTOBER will see a major election test for the three parties after their recent conferences.

Pundits will be itching to 'interpret' votes for Labour witch-hunter John Spellars in Birmingham Northfield, and moderate left

Socialist Challenge 22 October 1982 page 2

we were then And more important of all,

We don't believe that the support exists in the

- we can

we don't believe that

expulsions and

We believe the left must now create a broad

proposed by the new group of 22 last week, between and the Parlamentary letts

You have spoken out in favour of them in the

But everyone on the left must now decide The demand we put to you is this: join this

But it would be completely,

When you say, therefore, that the party should

we think you are winger Harriet Harman, legal adviser to the National Council for Civil Liberties, in Peckham.

Of course they'll attack the left whatever happens. If the both do well it will be down to 'Michael Foot's firm leadership'. If they do badly it will be Militant's fault. And of course if Spellars does better than Harman, the Sun will go

THE KICKING OUT of Weighell means than the getting rid union leader. Its implications reach into the trade union movement as a whole, and Labour Party in particular.

Scargill's exposure of Weighell's double dealing came about because the miner's leaders knew thai Weighell stood in the was of building a fighting Triple Alliance But cargill also Knew that Weighell had Take over the Lat wir Par wing to ty NEC.

Having been caught out Weighell took a gam ble which blew up in his face. And this gives the left

the union, and in-

chance to start to change things.

Weighell's exodus means that railworkers can

out of what passes for its mind

But in reality Labour's vote will depend, not on

whether or not VOTeES by national events that the Labour Party ment its promises, and whether the false glow of competence and resolve surrounding Thatcher dissipated.

chance of Labour victory comes

He did not tall-

he needed a push

more of an obnoxious trade

the

begin to demand that an official NUR delegation is on the lobby of Downing St. The Broad Left should now push forward in the ranks and at NEC level for

united cam

includes Joint action against job losses

The left must now get a candidate to stand for the nOW

prepared against job losses and help to make the union more democratic and responsive

the needs of the membership.

Weighell used his vote

healthworkers marching through Peckham this

The recent modest recovery Labour's snowing dates from the start of the health strike which made the first dent

the Tories self-confidence and work millions of people up to what privatisation means in terms of human need

The Labour Left is de nounced by the media and its leaders because it provides a focus for such extra-parliamentary action

parucularly around

—News

to try to make sure that Tom Breakwell a rightwing EEPTU candidate got on the NEC instead of Clarke, the nominee of the left-wing NUM. Such practices have been all too common, although they are not often discovered as the right-wing union leader's impose their nominees on Labour's exccutives.

The union members like the rest of the working class cannot afford an NEC dominated by the likes of Breakwell because such an NEC will not fight for policies which serve the interers, or NuM. interests NUR

Although the left on the NEC and in the rail depots was able to STEELEISC around stitutional issue to oust

nuclear disarmament. By defending itself against the leadership's the left will defend the very methods and policies that offer the best chance of a

But something more needs to be said. If either

andidate loses, it will be

either wins it will be a vic tory. Any defeat will b scen as a vindication Thatcher's Maggie heartless treatment of the

and will BENDEACO

Weighell there has still not been a significant campaign around jobs and pay. The SGM voted to accept the McCarthy recommendations which will result in massive job loss.

But the vote to accept the McCarthy proposals was much narrower than expected and this shows that if the left campaign and organise, the decision can be turned around

Past decisions by the AGM have very firmly committed the union to re tain the grade of guard and conferences of guards and shunters have come out against one-person operations.

If the NUR is not to be blessed with another rightwing secretary last week's

must be rammed home. That means an all-

drive Labour's right wing into even more frantic attempts to throw out hard. won policy gains.

That is why Socialist porters to Join in and work Challenge urges its

both constituencies: to put the case for a vigorous defence of socialist policies, to persuade other

activists to build for

Labour victory by backin the days of action, and to take the next step in turning the tide against Thatcher.

out campaign against job losses and for no worsen. ing in working conditions.

As long as the Labour Party and union leaders let

lorge ahead without resisting wholesale slaughter jobs and services or her war mania the Tory vote will stay united; and demoralised Labour voters will not bother turning out.

Moreover if the leadership spends its time denouncing its own members instead cher it will cause confusion fighting That

and desertions from Labour's ranks

RIGHT THE

TORIES

VO

PURGE

NEW BADGE! 20p each

Orders over 10 post free

Orders over 20 - 15p cac

Orders over 50 — 12p each

Cheques payable to:

Labour History Group

Send to:

SO Box 50 Can ..

Page 3 scan of this page

Solidarnosc lives!

have been arriving at the rate of seven a day -

a vital time to seek delegations: many Labour

build the conference in this last week.

of the Post Office

on all POEU branches to do likewise. TURNER of the POEU HUNT, don Broad Left, to find out why.

Carol: 1 understand your branch is Prankhey Contring

you tell me wny?

SOU probably know the National Executive Committee has recently sent a

all branches lelegates Labour Parties to support the register.

with a pamphlet, by Labour Solidarity, which was a scandalous attack Our DISCUSSEUTE ALL BAILUCICO CO to write to Head ornice ex-

TYGOONIK

Sation

POCZA TEE POZMOW Polish car workers reading the first issue of Solidarity's independent newspaper.

Fight the witch-hunt

say POEU militants

SUPPORT is growing for the 30 October conference against the Witch-hunt, initiated by Hackney North and Stoke Newington Labour Party. It was reported to the steering committee that applications for delegate's credentials

and rising. The last week before conference is

Party General Committees and Trades Councils meet during the week. We urge all Socialist

Challenge readers to pull out all the stops to

The London South Central External Branch

Engineering Union has decided to support the Conference and to call

CAROL spoke to DERMOT Secretary of the LSCE branch and Lon-

pressing our opposition.

Meeting at decided to decided support the Hackney ConTerences Dermote tes. We'd received details Southwark Trades Council who were askIT WIL, all decided to WILLO BR PUNU to do likewise. The

by the NEC and Golding, th Political Officer, to support

asked them if they wanted to

Solidarnosc calls general strike for 10 November

support thralled abou

we veaskeo me rest or the

branches to suppor the Hackney Conference

legates because register is an attack on

fend their views. . The real aim he the mocteric and bick en Labour Party con policy gams

Carol: What's your view of he register and the witch Dermot: Well, I think it's

at our There

reasons to oppose the regISter

First. the witch-hunt against Militant is completel misdirected. It's the left of the party who support the policies of party conference

Sccond, an attack on Mil lant is the thin end of the wence. increst orinelertare next in line.

And finally, its real aim is to get away from th issues. like the differences

comes policy and unilateralism.

It diverts attention from the rad anion leaders pony fact Labour TOLECEL DILACH

THATS particularly true of the right wing POEU leadership.

News

refuses

June this year, Lobby NEC against witch-hunt

30 October Country Hall, London Contact: Labour against the witch-hunt 107 Nevill Rd, London N16

PeT will AT ITS Annual General Meeting in the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign decided to ballot its membership on whether the campaign should apply to be included on the Na. tional Executive Committee's register of non-affiliated groups within the Labour Pa the result of the ballot is now known: LARC's members voted overwhelmingly

The Steering Committee of the 30 October Conference against the Witch-hunt have called for a mass lobby of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee when it meets at

Labour against

the witch-hunt

We reprint the 9 October declaration of the clandestine leadership of Solidarnosc, the banned Polish trade union. It was issued in the name of comrades Bujak (Warsaw), Lis (Gdansk), Hardek (Cracow), and Bednorz (Wroclaw|on behalf of the Provisional National Commission of Solidarnosc.

*The dissolution of all Polish trade unions is unprecedented in the

civilised societies. With this act the military council recognised it had suffered a defeat

The military council has failed to destroy the trade union movement, and its attempts to corrupt leading trade unionists have come to nothing.

For ten months during the state of siege, workers have showed their opposi tion to the regime of military repression.

illegal

The Diet, the ver same which accepted the creation of the military council without and in breach of the Polish People's Constitution which endorsed the illega Council of State decree which opened the state of siege, has dared against its elector's wishes to dissolve trade unions organising 90

cent citizens of Poland. It has thus deprived itself of its

So The indepe

independent self-managed trade union.

Solidarity, cannot dissolved except by decision of its members. Our

eXISt: and

pursue its activities to

scil-managed republic

Solidarnose's provi-

mission clining al

mission calls

workers and unions to boycott the new fake unions. Refusal join these unions will constitute a type of national reterendum through which

Labour Abortion Rights Campaign

La campaign.

sion. union branches.

the national pro HOUSE against repression, against the enslavement of the people against deepening BALINCE thirty seven years : social and catastrophic economic policy.

Boycott

Not to boycott the new unions would amount to treachery to the ideals of independent trade union movement. This

in the annals of people's Poland and our rulers wil find it hard to falsify the results. 10 November, second anniversary of Solidarity's should be day of protest. We appeal all workers, regardless of trade union affiliation to protest massively and on a national scale against overty and the violation of the law.

On 10 November we

oil four hours curation

hours duration from 10 o' clock in the morning. The strike must be organised so inal its leaders are unknown. In every factory every workshop and in every sec secret must be set up to prepare protes 10 November. The unfoldin of the demonstration wil trace out the future path of the union's strategy.

•Solidarity exists and will BRISL whether you like it or not'

(Lech Walesa, addressing Solidarnose's first паtional congress against registration, thereby supporting the views of the AGM that registration would render LARC totally ineffective as

Sixty seven percent of the membership returned ballot papers. 87 percent of which were opposed to registration

The General Secretary of the Labour Party has been informed of LARC's deci-

the end of November. It asks constituent organisations of the Labour Party to endorse the lobby and send people with banners.

Socialist Challenge asks all readers to put motions to labour movement bodies backing the lobby - particularly Young Socialist branches, General Committees and trade

Conference of delegates from CLPs, unions, LPYS branches, LP branches, women's sections Socialist Challenge 22 October 1962 page 3

Page 4 scan of this page

'This is a struggle we can't afford to lose'

What

privatisation

means To Telecoms

How much is BT worth?

It has assets of 65 billion but the Financial Times says 'BT will be a difficult animal to price. It is thought all BT's holes in the ground, ducts and cables are bound to be undervalued in a sale offer. much is a gas filled hole likely to inspire the public imagination!

How much is BT likely to be sold for?

The FT suggests a price based on half the assets 'E2-3 billion'. The city institutions are already collecting over BT's starved body like a flock of vultures. They remember the sale of Amersham International for £71 million. The market undervalued by 223 million. The profit by the banks and finance institutions came out of our pockets. eager anticipation for the next hand out from the tax payer. 51% of BT amounts to the biggest share issue ever offered to the world's markets and the biggest de-nationalisation in British history.

But won't the money made from the sale be used to cut our income tax?

The assets of BT belong to every worker and government could spend the E2-3 billion it is likely to make by giving us all a 2-3p tax cut for one year. would then afford to pay its £1.5 billion contribution to the pensions scheme has not been answered. If the government sticks to its commitment to paying this money then it can only cut the standard rate of income tax by lp for one year.

Yes but the taxpayer cannot afford to finance the modernisation of telecoms?

Why not? If an integrated socially useful efficient communications system is going to provide so much profit for private industry can it not improve the assets of workers? The French PTT. been successfully and rapidly modernised within 10 years. After all if we can afford to buy cruise missiles which are neither efficient' nor make a profit, we can afford an efficient telecommunications system. Won't the workforce be better off under private management?

The Financial Times says that in order to privatise BT and reap enormous profits BT's *25 percent over manning will have to be cut*. A confidential Department of Industry Paper forecasts the axing of 45,000 jobs in BT. That will mean 1 in 4 of the work force in the next 5 years. The vision of the dole queue will hardly be seen as a good thing for the BT workers or the working class.

The workforce will have a chance to buy shares and therefore control the company, won't they?

What good will E100's worth of shares be if you are on the dole? The interest will not even pay your telephone rental. No person employed in the engineering grades can atford the kind of money that finance houses and the city will use to buy large share issues. After all if the worker could afford to live off the interest from their capital they wouldn't sign on every day.

The decisions about technology that will invade our homes and mould our society are being taken now. The truth is that private companies are more concerned with their overall efficiency of the telecommunications system.

How can trade unionists get the truth about privatisation?

Socialist coverage of the issues involved, the response of the unions and the Labour Party and campaign reports from the POEU areas. To combat the Tory propaganda of the Sun and The Mail trade unionists need to read a paper they can trust to bring them the facts. That paper is Socialist Challenge.

Socialist Challenge 22 October 1982 page 4

After all how showed quickly that this was

No wonder the city waits in

The problem of how BI

a nationalised industry, has

the kind of

profits rather than the

Challenge will have regular

MINERS

By Andy Miller THE COAL BOARD and the Tories are trying to turn miners against each other. They are frantically trying to drive a wedge between 'efficient' areas and 'loss-making' areas like South Wales or Scotland.

But the decision by the special delegate meeting to fight on the question of pit closures means that it possible to build a united national front to defend Jobs. STRET have been created by the bonus system can be overcome, through fighting for

retirement and rate protection.

Last week the Coal Board confirmed that Sherwood colliery in NotTYRONE O'SULLIVAN, secretary of the Tower Lodge of South Wales NUM spoke to Barry Wilkins

ARE campaigning for industrial action over both jobs and wages and this 1s a struggle that we have TO win. It will demonstrate to the working class that the way to win through strong Icadersnip. will show that the Tories are not

and begin a DIOCES fighting throw them out

After a slow start, the campaign for a 'yes vote in the ballot is taking off.

At Tower colliery we have already had six meetings to cover all shifts, and more are planned. I'm confident that in Wales and other militant areas we will get a solid majority for action,

Trade Unions

VOTE 'YES'

tinghamshire will be closed number of other collieries time. in the area are nearing we end of their reserves and are clear 1UE closure.

Plans for 'mergers' are rumoured to be in the offing. This shows only too clearly that no area is safe.

"The Crunch' is the

iront page headline in th

Miner. The NUM's ballo is a crucial one. If the union fails to win a 'Yes' Tyrone O'Sullivan (second from right) picketing during health workers" day of action' and that nationally the vote will go our way.

We have lost 37.000 jobs in 7 years and 12,000 in the last vear alone We intend to stop this. This is the first time that a national ballot has linked jobs, closures and pay. This means that it is more likely that we shall win the support of more moderate areas who might have been prepared to accept the eight per cent pay offer on its own.

It is the NCB which has linked the issues of pay and wages. During the negotiations they offered more money if the union agreed to cut production - in other words to accept

vote, there is no doubt that Coal Board boss Norman "sod-all" Siddall will start wielding the axe. A vote will mean that it will be an uphill task to tight pit closures. The Coal Board and the Tories will be calling the shots.

Since the February 1981 strike, 14 of the 23 pits on the hit list have been closed. Now 50 to 60 are 'under review" National action is vital to stop this threat. Victory is by no means assured.

The next week will be decisive. Thousands of militants will be attending rallies taking place up and down the country. But vicjob loss.

But the miners have learned from the steel workers experience. Their leadership had the wrong approan ancy remused te fight on jobs and pay in the 1980 strike. And now look how many steel jobs have gone.

MINCES TCCOATISH that new technology in the pits also threatens jobs. At Selby, through new technology, 5-6,000 miners can produce more than 27,000 Wales. That's why we need a four-day week technology doesn't mean miners on the doic.

The overtime ban will show miners how low their basic wages really are E64 for sur Tack workers

£84 for coalface

tory depends on the campaign depends on whether the in the

campaign is taken into the less militant areas in a big way. accide whether militants can tip

Last year Gormley allowed negotiations drag on allowing other groups ol workers to De picked off one by one.

Today we are in a dif ferent ball game. If the miners vote to take on the Tories over Jobs and Day they won't be fighting alone. Steel workers,

Telecorkers well is

workers in British Leyland Telecoms workers

In South Wales there are already strike commit-

- вита Laeserye on the experience of the '74 and *81 strikes. Through these district based committees every pit is involved in planning fo the strike. This is a strug gle we cannot afford to lose — so much is at stake, not only for us but for the whole labour movement. MARTIN HILL talked to Kevin Hallender, a young miner from Beighton Colliery, South Yorkshire THE MINERS at my pit are for a strike by a big maZOHEY. roansing now that they didn't back Ine umon on last year strike call. They know

and Vauxhall are going in-

action alongside the healthworkers

The miners' solidarits with the healthworkers gave a lead to the whole

Labour movement. 'Yes' vote by the miners would give a big boost to the growing resistance to the Tories. It could help wanstorm days or action into movement that could sweep the Tories out

of power That's why, as militant In the pits working flat out this week for *Yes SYULC they won't be just fighting fo miners" jobs and for their union they will be fighting for the whole working class. they've got to this time or

What we get this year wil affect our wages for years to come. Different pits get different - bonuses Last year I took home £94. That's with the best bonus Eve had for months.

But I'm on top rate. Surface workers average E65 That affects all

As you get older. or if you're injured, Have to Bo Dr surface working. Then you drop back to the lowest rate

It's not just wages that matter either Our pit is a suspect pit. If there are closures, we'll be hit. We know every other industry is being hit by unemploy

Ours is going to bi hit soon. A lot of pits are up for the chop. We've got to be ready to fight that.

Page 5 scan of this page

Import controls won't save jobs

By Bob Pennington

serious stage. After the

solidarity from

September,

enthusiastic.

the other unions.

But inese are not the

sole, or in fact the main

reasons. What is really

placing a question mark

OVer successiul OULT

come bette dayed by the

role being played the

rUC in general, and

health workers' leaders,

like Albert Spanswick in STEEL WORKERS massacre. union, the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, has tried to direct workers' attention to foreign imports as the real root of the problems they face. Waving his 'import control' flag, he has serenely watched nearly Steel Corporation jobs go down the drain in the last three years.

against the current threats to close two of the big five plants, foreign imports. BERNARD CONNOLLY, crafts convenor at Rotherham real answer to job loss in last week's Socialist Challenge.

against Sirs' ideas in June 1980. The arguments are just as relevant today.

Why do you oppose import controls?

Those who suggest that import controls are Ally CHIS WET ID the problems faced by steelworkers are misleading the working class. attention away from the real enemy. to our brothers and sisters overscas. It takes the heat or me succi managemen and their Tory backers.

What takes our jobs is not imports, but the ups and downs of the capitalist economy over which workers have no control.

In 1973, projected capacity for BSC was 36m tonnes per year. Today the plan is for 15m tonnes Yet imports have hardly risen that period! They stand at

TOTES The massive loss of tonnage is a result of the recession, and not the use of imported steel.

We hardly got out of one recession, and now we result of the last one, ship- another. building was halved: car production was down by over a third; and construction was cut by a half. ¿ nese and ounce maustries needing steel are taking a nose-dive. blem is. BSC would self be This is where the declaring redundancies if not another ounce of steel was imported.

TUC must act

THE HEALTH WORKERS' dispute has reached

great display other workers on Workers to the days of action have been less response non-health

This is partly due to the fact that some of NHS. them were called at quite short notice, and that in a number of regions a vigorous campaign steel, was not waged by either the health workers or defeat

The dispute is now in its fifth month, and it is clear that the government have staked their all on putting the trade unions in their place. As far as Thatcher is concerned this is a battle she cannot afford to

to oke a barement

movement are facing another jobs Bill Sirs, leader of the main steel

100,000 British

As steel workers once again stir into action

Sirs is at it again berating

BSC, explained the

This week we reprint an article he wrote

Even if the tonnage level was maintained in the British steel industry, and if the entire national industry used only British wouldn't guarantee jobs.

The bosses are com cerned about squeezing mOIC STOLS work of each individual.

We can be certain that tonnage increases would go hand in hand with changes in manning levels, producing deals, and so LOn. This involves more job losses.

Wouldn't import condustry rough our trois protect inTalking about 'our' industrv is just a contrick to make workers take responsibility for the problems of the economy. only we hear talk about WHICH are losses, not when profits

Once you accept the need for 'our steel make profits, you are drawn into slimline agreements, speed-ups and rises below inflation. Fords makes a massive profit but has just announced redundancies. Profits and workers interests don't go together.

But wouldn't it give us just a breathing get the industry

Health dispute-

can afford to lose. A vicof LOTTOR Thatcher would 22 not only be a blow against

the 10W DATO health

workers, it would open the

door for carvine up

-ane

whole SITULLUTE the

After the roll backs in CHIS and rail, for the health

workers would also make

other workers less confi-

dent about taking on the

government.

With such high stakes

involved the labour move-

ment can not afford to be

anything but decisive. The

stop threat-

ening the Tories with a

dispute that could go on

but sorted out?

Sorted SOUL for whom? North Sca Oil was meant to be a bonus, and it could be. But who benefits just now? The oil companies with their record profits.

The only time import

by the government is if the

return would shi mean way. This

ALLULAS on workers.

The reason the Tories won't go for this policy just now is because Britain relies on exports so much. Volvo takes more British

war might develop if the CrISIS gets WORSE It happened in the '30s. But the

depression certainly didn't help any workers I SHOW

Surely accepting imports accepting super-exploitation other workers abroad? British steelworkers are Would it have helped l

Have helped during our strike if Ger man workers stopped STUSE grounds that we are low paid? What we needed and what we got was solidarity. This What indian South Korcan workers need in order to fight their low wages

only wish it had been

have visited

abroad during the strike. They would have seen that the bosses in other coun tries are trying to sell the same lie to workers there

the problems they face are also due to foreign

For me, it is a natural progression from organising cally organising internationally. You can do that with a policy of import controls.

So what is the answer? Steelworkers have to start from the need to save jobs. If there isn't enough work, then it should be shared,

News

organise action that will win the claim this veal

The leaders of the TU must recognise, what most health workers and thei militant allies in the other unions already do. Namely that one-dav disputes are not enough. Only by an indefinite Ne general savid the providing emergency cover only can the Tories be defeated

That kind of action would inspire the health workers, making them confident of their vic tory, and it would make it casier to get solidarity ac-

other workers, making sure the Tories were forced to meet the claim. with no loss of pay. Overtime should be abolished.

We need a decent wage without overtime, and a fight to force management to take on more workers

especially young workers. Train them. Give older workers time off to study. Lower the retiring

But this would bankrupt the industry.

So the government will have to give a subsidy to have right to Wi 1980s, not the '30s. have to smash through the cash limits.

But don't forget. terest DELICILS he money lenders account for over half the by BSC This was nearly [200m this year alone. The cancellation of these debts

has toe can ristiy

can't stop there There is a market for steel.

we don' need ess steel than we did in the 60s, let alone the '30s. Wo need more hospitals, more schools, more roads, more railways, and more cars.

Where some things

— New Socialist-

TONY BENN

(Parliamentary leader of the Italian Communist Party)

NO T.U.C

IN HARRIS

Bernard Connally

aren't needed any longer

lets could her in a

could tha Africa has enough tractors or other machinery which idle factories here could produce? We couldn't produce enough steel society based on people' needs.

We need a government that breaks from the profit system. One that sets people work building the roads, hospitals COULDERCH we need. One that begins to plan the economy in the interests of the majority the working people and their tamilies. debates GIORGIO NAPOLITANO

Which road to socialism

in West Europe?

Contributions from the floo Friday. 29 October. 7.30pm

Friends House, Euston Road, London NWI

(Euston tube)

Creche available

Tickets E1 (75p unwaged) at the door, or in advance from: Tickets, New Socialist,

150 Walworth Road, London SE17

Co-sponsored by New Socialist and Marxism Today

CALL

US OUT

UNTIL

SCABBING

ON NIH

AWE WIN

By John Parkinson

clerical staff at GEC

Tuesday 19 October or be sacked.

strong reaction from strikers,

of APEX and ACTSS (TGWU).

Yet, despite the

.CO. demnation the APEX officias are still recommending a return to work despite the : dispute being

spect of the min

multinational giant GECi too much for APEX chief: шке сталлат wao preie. to fight the left inside their

and Labour Party.

Rejects

Support has been w

rom other staff at Presto

unanimously to reject any moves to recruit and trai

whether strikers feel they can fight their unions well gian! GEC. Our deter mination to date has seen 24 hour a turnouts for the

day, 7 day week picketing Strand Road site at

Following the last mass meeting this has been stepon in chester GEC Traction

A meeting of 240 convenors Middlesborough representing week

SUCCIWOrKCT TATOURIOU

Teeside voted with only three

against to support the 24-hour strikickets

be at every

plant from 5:30 am. At 1lam

main entrance to the Redcar

Ultimatum by GEC

AFTER OVER FOUR WEEKS on all out strike,

Traction Preston have been given an ultimatum to return to work by

Not surprisingly the decision has generated

union officials and other GEC staff. All have condemned the GEC decision following the refusal of the company to meet with the national union officials

with support being sought from plants and the AUEW District Commit tees in Manchester to enforce the blacking of firms crossing the picket line. Support The problems faced in winning SUDDOTE from other GEC sites echoes the problems faced the shop floor in their June dispute. The by the Manchester up neering Research Group for meeting of GEC Power Engineering shop stewards strike committee and the meeting will take place on Saturday 30 October in Manchester Support for the strike is likely going to be needes if we are to force Lord Carrington's multinational giant to rescind its sacking threat.

Financial support is also needed and copies of the list of the scab be obtained from GEC Strike Commit tee, c/o Pauline Haigh, 26 Mersey Street, Ashton Preston Lancashire.

Teeside Steelworkers prepare one-day strike blatan Mich reg brina day. visited The whole trade union movement in the locality is be ng urged to attend. A deput Shildon Br Rail wagon works, themselves threatened with redundancy will attend to show their solidarity.

Socialist Challenge 22 October 1982 page 5

Page 6 scan of this page

WHICH WAY FOR A

By Brian Heron The Labour Party Conference and Trades Union Congress clarified the British political situation, summarising the state of the labour and trade union movement following the Malvinas war. Both of these congresses faithfully reflected the same fundamental trends inside the labour movement.

This in itself is a dramatic confirmation of the increasing oxtent to which the strug. gle in the unions is producing deep and immediate repercussions inside the Labour Party and vice versa.

British politics, for all classes, is dominated by the issue of government. For the ruling class, the problem is how to align what will become a deeply unpopular Tory Party and the new SDP/Liberal Alliance Parties to prevent an unstable Labour government coming into office under mass pressure.

The Tory Party conference was the occasion for Thatcher to reaffirm her commitment to destroying the social and economic gains won by the working olass since the Sacond World War.

The Social Democratic/ Liberal Alliance was reconfirmed by their respective conferences as a vital element in preventing votes of disaffected Tories going to the Labour Party, and to play a role in any coal. tionist manoeuvres that would bo necessary.

The public sector and health workers, who are now leading the strike battle against the Tories, are the same workers whose Winter of Discontent' in 1979 helped to bring about the collapse of the previous Callaghan-led Labour government.

Today those same workers seek a Labour government of a different type. They are looking for every way possible to win a Labour government that would be a total break from a government of the Wilson-Callaghan type.

The relatively short-term prospect of the most important election since the war means that such concerns on the part of both classes will come into sharper and sharper focus in the next months.

In this framework we are seeing a tremendous eruption of working class struggles, which are breaking up the social peace that the Malvinas war was partly designed to create.

The days of action around the hospital workers strike have involved over five million workers in strike action, leading up to November's transport strike.

Post Office Engineers are embarking on strike action to stop the Tories selling off their profitable nationalised industry. Water workers are preparing a national strike.

Steel workers are on a similar course. And now the miners at their conferance have decided on a pit-head ballot for strike action in defence of jobs and for a 30 per cent wage increase.

These moves on the whole have been forced on a reluctant and fearful bureaucracy, who are being offered no concessions from Thatcher that could help to guarantee their own stability when they find themseives under

Socialist Challenge 22 October 1982 page 6

siege from the ranks.

The dismissal of Sid Weighell,

by the NUR Special General

Meeting is one of the most

dramatic products of this

pressure.

The bureaucracies" desire to

put a shot across the bow of the

Thatcher government has given

focus to a furious wave of anger

against the Tories. Despite the

truly massive unemployment,

the serious set-backs and the defensive struggle of the last

three years, the basic trade

union strength of the working

class remains intact. Each national focus that emerges

underlines the capacity and will to fight of the mass of workers and in the trade unions.

Such conditions are the base from which very important policy advances were registered at the TUC and the Labour Party

Conferences. These included a resolution passed at the TUC, and the amphasis placad by

many speakers on the need to take forward the wave of trade union solidarity actions with the health workers (which complete ly transgresses the new trade union laws enacted by the Torias.) The Congress specifically stated their intent to break these laws.

At Labour Party Conference, the battle for unilateral disarmament won a tremendous victory with a two thirds majority of votes registered for the policy -which traditionally guarantees Manifesto status for this policy. Additionally resolutions were passed in solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinians and a big programme of nationalisation was confirmed.

in part, the victory for unilateralism and more specifically the resolution on the PLO was the product of the emergence of new forces that first surfaced in opposition to the Malvinas war and which have begun to construct an anti-imperialist current especially amongst the youth active in the mass movement against the

The decisions of Labour's Conference not only give a tremandous boost to these new forces in the British labour movement - they further serve to direct the political attention of the vast anti-missiles movement to the problem of winning a Labour government that will implement these policies.

The rise in the fightback against the Tories is one side of the current stage of working class politics in Britain. The other is a big organisational and political shift to the right within the labour bureaucracy as a whole.

The bureaucracy's response to the new stage of struggle is the fight to 're-stabilise' the Labour Party. The message which they wish to issue to their own ruling class is that the Labour Party is on the way to becoming a stable prop for ruling class policies.

Alongside this political fight, which was opened with a vengeance at the TUC and LP conferences, the bureaucracy hopes to persuade the ruling class to begin again to open the door to negotiating and the balancing role in the polarising struggle between the classes.

The centrepiece of the bureaucracy's offensive is the • witch-hunt through the weapon

Photo JOHN STURROCK

Boyd

Party. Vast numbers of union by trade union General

the witch-hunt is the Militant tendency and its constituency Labour Party-adopted parliamentary candidates, the witch-hunt's longer term purpose is nothing less than the break-up of the power of the movement behind Tony Benn and the radical policies with which this mass current is

of approved (and non approved) groups which work in the Labour block votes were cast in favour Secretaries despite union conference after union conference voting against any witch-hunt.

While the immediate target of

policy.

associated and defends. It is this

current that is 'destabilising' the Labour Party from the standpoint of the bourgeoisie.

The right wing offensive took other forms. Despite the vote against incomes policy at the TUC, the TUC and Labour Party Conference agreed a joint document on economic policy which, under the euphemistic title of the national economic assessment' includes incomes

The document was passed virtually unanimously at Labour Party Conference.

Secondly the TUC General Council has shifted to the right around a technical manoeuver reducing the representation of

Photo G.M. COOKSON

Healey

smaller unions. The National Executive Committee of the Labou Party elections were worse Benn supporters on the NEC have been whittled back -especially in the women's sec

where the bureaucracy was determined to block the radical impact of Labour Women's Conference on Labour Party as a whole. But this has not benefited the 'centre' of the party and Foot, the party leader. On the contrary, the right wing leader Healey now has an NEC majority. This has important con sequences.

There is now a majority of Labour's extra-parliamentary Isadership las well as amongst

Page 7 scan of this page

LABOUR VICTORY?

Benn members of parliament) who are opposed to unilateral nuclear disarmament and other major policy gains won by the left at Labour's conference over recent years.

These gains for the right were sufficient for Labour right wing leader Roy Hattersley, who appeared on television immediately following the historic decision for unilateral disarmament, to confidently announce that the decision would never be applied by a Labour government.

The deep contradiction in the labour movement, which has unfolded around the TUC and Labour Party Conferences between the evolution of its laader-

Chapple and Duffy

g ship and the big upturn in strug. gle against the government, has had immediate and dramatice effects

The strain of trying to drive to the right and at the same time deal with the growing force of the gathering mass movements against the Tories produced the most anarchic and disorganised Labour Party Conference for

it one person could be said to have summed up these contradictory pressures it was Tony Benn. After the deputy leader ship campaign of 1981 which brought Benn a few fractions of a percentage point from the deputy leadership of the party. Benn

has insisted that he will not open the fight against the Foot leadership unless certain conditions applied.

These included the opening of a witch-hunt, or the attack on established Conference policy by the leadership of the party. these conditions now apply with a vengeance. Yet in the face of mounting frustration of his base within the labour movement, Benn has adopted the policy of reaching out to support the Foot leadership.

At one of the biggest meetings on the fringes of Labour Party Conference following the defeat on the register and the victory on unilateralism, Benn said: "We stand for the same party

leadership now. will it do?

perspective.

Cookeon

Photo Graham

ment.

Photo JOHN HARRIS

will certainly face.

Both

elections in the party.

and the same leadership.

Terrified of the right's campaign to blame the left in the party for Labour's disastrous showing in the opinion polis (the latest shows Labour trailing the Tories by ten points), Benn wants to break his isolation by building further links to the labour bureaucracy. In this process he is giving little lead to those prepared to fight the Foot

But the pressure building up for such a lead was graphically shown by the announcement of a new left wing parliamentary group which broke away from the old Tribune' group, of which Foot is still a member. Benn sup ports the break-away. But what

Several of the MPs involved are for the calling of a national conference of the trade union, party and parliamentary left. But such a course is completely out of the question in Benn's current

"Why should we'. he asks, 'minoritise ourselves?

The witch-hunt now in progress in the Labour Party is beginning to bring togethar all of these trends. Every possibility of winning a leadership and policies in the Labour Party that will begin to reflect the big struggles underway against the government is threatened. In that sense, the witch-hunt strikes a blow directly at the mass move-

The right wing in the Party in. tend to start with the leaders of the Militant tendency. They will continue with the eviction of the Bennites from all of the key policy committees in the leader. ship of the Labour Party. Pro tracted war will break out in many constituency parties, as the right wingers demand the 'registered credentials of left wingers.

The witch-hunt is already well underway in some unions. Weigholl in particular has been prominent in leading an attack on socialists' activities in his unions that is aimed at breaking up the leadership of the reform movement that arose in response to his spectacular sellout of the other major rail union, ASLEF, in their recent strike

In this respect. Tony Benn and other leading left wingers at Labour Party Conference, consistent with their approach to the party and union leedership at this stage, gave out the line that we should not seek confrontation on the witch-hunt. Rather they propose that the left should concentrate on the policy advances ragistared at the Labour Party and TUC Conferences. In reality, without fighting the witch-hunt, such a line neither protects those policies nor mobilises the left for the battle it

The line of advance for the left in the unions and the party today demands a frontal challenge to Foot and his allies in the trade union leadership. Naturally this is not a question of demanding immediate leadership

Rather the witch-hunt, led by Foot, must be fought, and socialist policies defended. This stand, together with deepening joint Labour Party and trade union action to kick out the Tories can ensure a labour victory in the coming election.

Today it is the right in the party and the unions who are

tion that they are more frightened of a Labour victory with the present policies than of losing the next election.

The perspectives for the labour movement in the coming months in Britain flow in part from the upsurge of the mass movement against the Tories. and in part from the right wing offensive opened up at the Labour Party and TUC conferences. These two have to be brought directly into collision.

Mass forces at the base of the unions, amongst youth and in the anti-missile campaign are more than prepared to fight. They are coming up against the rightward shift of the labour leadership, and, on the crucial question of the witch-hunt, the immobility of the left leaders.

Such conditions are guaranteed to increase the difterentiation and divisions in Benn's base. Such divisions are inevitable when Benn's base is already coupling the prospects of a Labour victory with their own capacity to lead mass and industrial action against the Tories.

Over the past three years support for Labour within the working class has been whittled back to that section of the movement which associates the Labour Party, however abused by previous leaderships, as the only serious prospect of any radical solutions to the crisis which they face.

One third of the working class has traditionally voted Tory in Britain. At the 1979 elections one third of trade unionists were polled as supporting the Tories Traditionally the only alternative to the Tories has been Labour.

For the last two years, as the Tories drove home their attacks, sections of the workers detached their support from the government, became politically de-stabilised as the SDP/Liberal Alliance emerged as an alternative to voting Tory: were recentred briefly by the Tories around the chauvinism whipped up by the Malvinas war, and today remain undecided as to their political direction.

Labour has been pushed back to its basic working class bastion, and, even in today's conditions, trail the Tories in the polls. It is from this point of view that a fundamentally new develop ment within the workers movement is beginning to emerge

The only perspective for a Labour victory and for driving forward the reform movements in the party and the unions is for the minority of the workers movement around Benn and his counter-part in the unions. Arthur Scargill, president of the National Union of Mineworkers, to take the lead inside the working class movement as a whole. And it is precisely that which is beginning to be posed by the current upsurge of the mass movement and the trade unions.

Whatever the manoeuvres of the labour bureaucracy. thousands of workers no longer believe that vigorous industrial struggle disrupts the prospects of a Labour victory. On the contrary, in however unformed and confused a way, the mood is gaining ground that only the bit terest fightback against the government has any chance of changing the political relation of forces within the working class itself.

Socialist Challenge 22 October 1882 page 7

Page 8 scan of this page

Socialist Challenge

FUND DRIVE '82

Rally for the

paper

THREE THOUSAND POUNDS - that's the figure we've received from our supporters for the first two weeks of this fund drive quarter, That's quite a flying start! But much of this money has come from our regular supporters' groups contributions, very little from fund raising events.

Our next big target for raising money is this weekend's Socialist Challenge/Revolution Rally in London commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. We hope to raise a bumper collection for your paper at this event.

So local supporters and readers of the paper, bring your cheque books and cash The spirit of the Russian Revolution is still alive and well, championed Challenge and Revolution, but we need your cash to help us keep going

Our thanks this week to the following who have contributed:

Manchester Southwark

istington East London Banquet Bristol Barnet, Vokes Leeds НПОГ Cardiff Swindon Blanco White Hackney Liverpool Newport Wan sworth camuen Huddersfield Middlesborough Coventry OXIOTO Hemel Edinburgh Lewisham Glasgow CHATTOR Haringay Sheffieid Newcastle Outer West London Lambeth Exeter MerrIs Pietrasik Dunn Coulson

Total

Plastic bullets Conference on the way THE USE OF plastic bullets in the North of Ireland has continued unabated. Indeed a recent attack by the RUC shows an escalation in their use.

The RUC arrived at a crowded disco in nationalist West Belfast claiming to have received a 999 call which said there was trouble inside. disturbance in the management told this to the RUC. 'The police insisted in going up in force to the function room at some speed, owner said, They fired at least twelve plastic bullets and from the marks on the walls must have been aiming at chest and head level.

Most people were on their way out when the police arrived. Some patrons were assaulted and arrested.

Father Denis Faul called the events 'a sectarian attack by 'vicious escalation of the use of plastic bullets'.

For us in Britain it points to the vital importance of the National Ban Plastic Bullets Conference to be held in Manchester in February, recent sponsors for which include: Ken Livingstone, Reg Race, Jo Richardson, Geoff Bell (author of A Troublesome Business) and Michael O'Riordan, the general secretary of CPI.

Further information тегелсв, Вох 75.

Hanging Ditch, Manchester M3 4BN.

Socialist Challenge 22 October 1982 page 8

by Socialist

52TO3

241

88

134. 8.83 109. 30 50

5g=

67 60 3005.09

There was

disco and the

the the RUC and a

Ernie Roberts,

from Plastic Bullets Con164/6 Corn Exchange Buildings.

By Phil Hearse and Valerie Coultas

ON 28 OCTOBER two crucial by-elections take place - in Peckham and Birmingham Northfield. But for

the by-election SocialstS, some problems. The Labour candidate, John Spellar, is a notorious right-winger who opposes all socialist advances of recent yaars in the Labour Party. And he is being challenged by a Communist Party candidate. Birmingham pard.

That Spellar is indeed a sort is not in the sl sort is not in doubt. once boasted to Tribune journalist Nigel Williamson that he was "well to the right of his union boss Found Chapple. He was a founder Social Democratic At SP precursor of the

evnel ed from the Labour Party for its inLEULEOH didates against Labour.

Author of the witch-hunting document, *The Mutation of Labour', he is on the steering committee

the wing Campaign for a Labour Vic-

He was censured by LILY his local Bour Party consti-

Labour in

980 for statements to th press calculated to pro-Labour Parties: and Bromler

The DEEMISCHE mccumg for Bill Rodgers in his local

club HUSL davs before Rodgers left the рагу

Recently he has been Democratic editor of

Socialist Bulletin which bemoans the exit of the SDP irom the Labour Party,

Rogers

Such credentials as these leave no doubt about

Spellar's political views

He wants a Labour Part which is pro-capitalist with the bureaucracy firmly in

from someone who is head of rescarch in Frank Chapple's EETPU.

Spellar makes no secret that he opposed to unilateral nuclear disarmament and opposed to

TARTE

used to have big

TOCA

NORTHFIELD BY ELECTION

Why we say

vote Labour'

in Northfield presents

the

secretary Pete Shep-

withdrawal from the Common Marker. Ranged against Spellar, the Communıst Party candidate Pete Sheppard ha: paigned for unilatera nuclear disarmament and British withdrawal from the EEC, and has championed the struggle of the lealth workers.

In the by-election the CP has presented itself a the pro-working class, internationalist, unilateralist

parte huhen do we sa

Bans

The tactics of socialists in judged LECTUES concretely have The be two by-elections on 28 October will be a crucial test of the popularity of the Tory government, and will have a signilicant political

Birmingham Nor chfield is a marginal constituency Labour MP Ray Carter was ousted by a few hundred votes in the last election.

Whereas it is odds-on that Labour candidates Harriet Harman will win Peckham (she has a big lead in the opinion polls) a Labour victory is not at all certain in Northfield.

Win a rory government in power, and very confident, the question 1 ог whether wins by-elections can become an estabrishing the morale of important factory the contending political forces.

A vote for Labour in Northfield will be a vote against Tory monetarism and Thatcher's plans dismantic the welfare state. It will be a class vote

To be a rock star

-Labour Party

against the Tory govern. ment, quite irrespective of the right wing politics of Spellar.

In this situation, the intervention of the Communist Party has the effect of disrupting class unity against the Tories. Its only conceivable result will be to win away a few hundred Labour votes, making a Tory victory more likely. his divisive ractic is utter.

irresponsible; a cheap party building the expense of working class interests.

There is to doubt, of course, that the CP have been able to politicall capitalise right wing line. "he Ci support the health workers unequivocally, whereas

introduce BUPA private health scheme for some of its members.

The local CND have called a meeting of all the candidates unilateralism, where the

will be able, if the for Youth - Kick out the Tories demonstration

other candidates turn up, to present themselves as the 'only unilatcralist parStrong hacking ve the strong backing Longbridge convenor Jack Adams the Longbridge plant is in the constituency.

Spellar himself even more unpopular with his refusal to let supporters of Militan canvass on his behalf, ensuring that all potential canvassers are 'vetted" wingers le

themselves be drawn

behind the campaign the Communist Party they will fall trap preparco jointly by Spellar's right wing policies and the CP's sec LE DESE Socialists should judge attitude to take

towards this election by its

overall national effects. Workers who vote Labour to defcat the Tories show a

correct class instinct.

The Tories will be overjoyed by saving Northfield at this stage.

SOUR FI 6000 people marched through Liverpool last Saturday on the LPYS Jobs

Fbu

But the Cory government did provide the tax haven.

John Spellar - well to the right of Frank Chapple Vindication or That-

vindication Thatcher's anti-inflation policies and her 'Falklands spine nanonal unity we.

If Labour win the election it will be their first by-election victory in a Toryheld seat since 1971. While not of course in any way decisive, two by-election victories will be a step on the road to a victory in th general election Challenge That's why Socialist supporters will fight for: Labour victory thield, victe at the same Nortime continuing to argue the case for socialis

witch-hunt the Labour Party.

Fighting for a Labour victory puts us in a bette position to fight against the right wing, not a worse one. And if by any misfor tune the CP were to actual ly lose the by-election for

Labour it would be a who the politica views of John Spellar up and down the land.

Photo JOHN HARRIS

CiMA

It's called dire poverty

Page 9 scan of this page

Stop the Hanging of Kuttimani and Jegan -

Germany's coalitions -

THE death sentence imposed by a Sri Lankan court on two young Tamil nationalists - Kuttimani and Jegan - who were tried under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act is yet another in a long series of attacks on the Tamil nation by successive Sri Lankan governments.

separate state of homelands

unleashed on the

ment which recognised the need defence against state sponsored violence.

Kuttimani and Jegan have been singled out for execution in order to inBy Alan Freeman THE EMERGENCE of a Christian-Democrat/ Liberal coalition in Bonn will put paid to any lingering doubts that West Germany will accept its share of the 572 cruise and Pershing missiles that NATO wishes to deploy in

John Palmer of the Guardian explained as succinctly as possible why the Social Democratic - Free Democrat coalition in West Germany came crashing down last month after sixteen years in office.

The West German coalition's fall must have been on Michael Foot's mind when he addressed Labour's conference on 28 September. For some

reason he kept talking 'SPD instead of the 'SDP' The Democratic Party, Labour's sister party in the Second International. The SDP is know what the SDP 1s. well, What do the two parties have in common? Coall-

Threat

If Labour finds itself in the general election, er

general election, even if it secures a majority but is then threatened WIEN MILT Healey will argue. with Foot beside him: why not SDP/Liberals, because at into coalition with the least it will keep Thatcher QUIE:

What the ex-

erience of the Germar

SPD been COLEONE Not a very happy one. It took office in 1981 with over fifty percent of the vote and by autumn 1982 was showing 31 percent support in regional elec tions.

It demoralised its supporters by backing NATO

in the teeth of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who have been trying to stop cruise missiles; its austerity policies have brought

unemployment reach of two million; it has

cut unemployment

benefits and real wages.

The German

bourgeoisie judged that

release all political prisoners.

The oppression of Tamil speaking people over many decades resulted in the emergence of a movement calling for the establishment of a

Eelam in their traditional

The continual harassment and virtual oc cupation of the Tamil areas by the state security forces as weil as frequent racial pogroms

Tamil speaking people resulted in the growth of a resistance move-

for self-

timidate and terrorise right of self-defence and U10SC who support the

Healey's dream

Western Europe next year'. With these words

the moment had come to ditch the Socialists - and wonderful WIld demonstration of parliamentary democracy in acton it was. ne acco was done by a group of people: FDP ministers in the cabinet.

group of MPs representing at most five per cent of the German people were able government elected by 53 percent of the voters! Moreover SPD leader Schmidt was unable even to force a new elecChristian Democrats introduced motion tor a constructive vote. of no confidence' which unseated Schmidt but did not oblige the incoming government to seek an immediate mandate.

Suicide

If Labour were coalition with the SDP it would be subject to exactly the same manoeuvres and you and I, if we relied on parliamentary action alone, do a thing about it.

Moreover the coalition was itself the instrument by which the SPD was induced to commit suicide.

It fell when FDP cconomy minister Lambsdort presented "dossier" demanding the reversal of everything the coalition had ever done - DESCE the introduction monetarism in Germany. years the she has then last three the road to such ADITHI ingent austerity budgets in 1982 and for 1983, often using the excuse that it had

advocate the right of self determination by the Tamil nation in Sri Lanka.

The trial itself was an obvious frame up. They were denied the jury trial which is officially opened to every person charged with Lanka. serious crime in Sri

Moreover their convictions were, entirely based on 'confessions exacted while they were being held in an army camp and by means of torture.

At their trial witnesses

gave detailed evidence of

he manner they were tor tured by the army and the police. They were repeatedly beaten, hung by their feet, metal rods inserted in their anus and forced to inhale choking

to keep the FDP in the of coalition. As a result it

demoralised its own

voters, OST support and

encouraged the German

DOSSCS federations

through the FDP, to put

the boot in.

All that has happened

is that the bosses now want

International

powder etc

Even the trial judge, however, admitted that these youths had been held in a secluded and lonely place, without *access to

relations and 'amongst lawyeis armed and soldiers, without knowing how long they would be held in custody"

He went on to whether those facts

would not statements of the accused make alleged inadmissible in evidence But he concluded that the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act does not permit him to make that ruling.

Tamils in Sri Lanka Helmut Schmidt architect of defeat by policies of coalition

to farther, and the

rely the SPD

because the demonstra-

and resistance

TOTA

austerity are starting

have an effect inside its

ranks.

However, there is

good chance

manoeuvre can be made to

have been subjected to a long series of repressive measures. began with the disenfranchisement of the 1.2 million

workers prantanon 1948, and the imposition of Sinhala, the language of the majority, as the official language. In recent past the frequency and the intensity of anti-Tamil pogroms have increased.

Twice within the last five years August and June to August 1981

Tamil people have been brutally attacked and their property looted by racist mobs organised and couraged by the ruling United National Party leaders.

The Revolutionary

backfire Already

SPD's support in the local

Hesse Land clections has

shot up as workers realise to what the FDP-CDU

government might have in

store for them.

The GIM, a German the revolutionary

group and the German sec-

prisoners in Sri Lanka.

Marxist Party, Sri Lankan

ternational, sistedly oppose thesise policies successive capitalist governments in Sri Lanka and stands for the self-determination of the Tamil nation up to and including secession. Furthermore defends the right of oppressed Tamil GOT LOTENC steps necessary to defend themselves against racial

The United Secretaria of the Fourth International condemns the death sentence imposed on Kut-

upon the government to stop the hanging immediately. to the tion of the Fourth Interna

tional, has called for two

measures to deal with the

new threat: first, a campaid extra parliamentary

extra-parliamentary

protest around an acuor

programme to save jobs

The STOD CrUSe MISCS

second, a joint slate in the

Socialist Challenge publishes below a sta ment from the United Secretariat of the Four International calling for the release of politi

release all politi

Prevention of Terrori:

Act The Tamil bourge parties and politicial such as the Tamil Unit Libration Front, been proved to bankrupt t in the face of t continued repression Tamil speaking people a also to have sacrified interest of Tamil masses their narrow parliam tary ends.

People in Britain : urged to get their lab movement organisatic

Lanka Embassy dem: ding that these two you people shall not be ha ed. elections from the • mmunists sociausts and the 'C ecological party LaDOUr good cause to carefully at wha Dening in Bonn: if Healey has his way, i be our turn next.

Socialist Challenge 22 Cetober 1982

Page 10 scan of this page

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Socialist Challen • 22 U-tober 1982 page 10

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ETа21с Organised by Palestine Solidarity Cam-

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OUT NOW *The

the origins and nature of the

States. new book from Workers Power and the Irish Workers Group. £2.00 plus 40р

Workers Post-es Power, HON 7750, London WCIN 3XX.

Neil Williamson

Friend, comrade and

from his friends

By John Ross IN EARLIER ARTICLES in this series we saw how Marx first developed the theory of permanent revolution from European revolutions of 1848. We also saw how one of the fundamental bases of this analysis,

historically progressive role, has been fully confirmed since.

apoch between the time of the analysis of permanent revolution was first put forward by Marx and Engels, and the time of figures which er discussed such as Nasser and Khomeini.

In this hundred and thirty years the history of the class struggle and of Marxist theory and politics are inseperably connected.

Nowhere is this more true than in the case of the theory of permanent revolution. Al time this theory of Marx and Engels, and its later development by Trotsky

VINCE its full prominence by revolutionaries. Tundamental worke in the fundamental work which Trotsky first developed at length the application of the theory of permanent revolution to Russia was bilblished oi the Communist International in both Russian and other languages.

In the new introduction which he wrote 1919 for the book Trotsky noted possible for us now to re1551C CITETENOR this pamphlet written in 190h and conceived in Is fundamental lines already in 1904... (shows that)the final test of a theory is exBy Phil Hearse GUERRILLAS of the Farabundi Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) have launched a huge new offensive against military dictatorship The offensive was announced by Radio Venceremos and Radio Farabundo Marti in casts which could be heard in the capital San Salvador.

During the offensive, which started at the beginning the

revolutionaries captured two towns in Chalatenango province -Las Vueltas and Jicaro -both about 50 miles from the capital.

They also overran San Fernando and Torola In Morazan province, and are besciging the major government garrison in Perguin

At the same time the FMLN launched a series of diversionary attacks in San salvador itself, ambushing a national guard patrol leaving seven wounded and bombing electricity sub-stations throughout the capital -including one just two blocks from the presidential palace.

Radio Venceremos has warned people to stay off the national highways until Saturday since it intends to carry out concerted at-

Stalin attacks

But of course there lies a whole historical

*Irrefutable proof of our having correctly applied Marxist theory given by the fact that the

participating and even our of participating them, WETE

ago. (2)

tion OI works, published his

sky, tore the

ed the

theor

that ESSCERTI LITE

of 1905 directly

tions. (D)

the Revolution took place however

attack launched the rising

El Salvador revolutionaries

launch new offensive

Salvador

propaganda broad-

have

and nounced: the

cam-

high will COn ECLU cut clectric

is off.

fensive the revolu-

ta's "elite* troops have

tle. Radio Venceremo

killed One

What is Trotskyism?

August 1939, in an article entitled Three Conceptions of the Russian Revolution, *It may said that the whole of Stalinism, the theoretical plane, grew out

the criticism theory of permanent revolution as it was formulated in 1905'°.(3)

Stalin however put forward two charges against the theory or permanen revornon which have been repeated this day. his tollowers down to

first charge was that Trotsky 'underestimated the

Stalin OCENTELL

We shall not dwell at length Trotsky' s position in 1905 when he "simply forgot all abour the peasantry as a revolutionary force. (4)

The second charge was that Trotsky held that the Russian Revolution OF 1917 had confirmed the theory of permanent revolution as ne nad put 1 forward in Results and shot down by the FMLN in

fighting Chalatenango.

The government claim that the present wave of attacks are not causing too

This estimate is frankly a joke.

In the period following the FMLN's offensive during the fraudulent elections last March, the government troops have been carrying out large scale 'search and destroy operations' in the countryside.

Just a month ago the junta held a big military parade in the stadium in San Salvador which took on the aspect of a 'victory" parade.

But the junta's claims to be winnine the war nave heen shown to be hollow and empty. The revolutionary forces are on the offensive again, inflicting heavy casualties on government and paralysing the country.

The Salvador Solidarity Committee is holding a trade union conference as its major activity in 1983. For details write to El Salvador Solidarity, 29 Islington Park St., London Ni.

Prospects from 1905 onwards. Stalin wrote, The new Trotskyism does not deem necessar! to openly uphold the theor

revolu"simply" tion hing October Revolu-

confirmed the idea of the *permanent revolution" (5

As regards the first of these charges, that *underestimating the le Furinera, a a

Furthermore, shall discuss later, it was

ridiculous lie because peasantry in Russia were actually circulated by the Bolsheviks themselves with full agree-

Highjacking is a

nasty crime

By Bob Pennington

ing that are done for political ends.

West Indian island of Mustique

young men in the 'Family'.

all in the pockets of the 'mob'.

speaking for, had better look out!

ment at the time.

But on the second point Stalin was absolutely right as to what was at stake Ine Revolution of 1917 did confirm both Marx's views of 1848 and Trotsky's theory of 1905. Trotsk: applied that analysis to world politics until the end of his life. As the United State: revolutionary Joseph Hansen wrote in 1966, In tribute to Marx. who formulated the general idea, Trotsky named this theory. which permeates all - his writings and guides all his activities from 1905 on, the theory permanent revolution. *(6)

In the next weeks we will look at how theory was developed by Trotsky and applied to Russia (1) Trotsky — History of the Russian Revolution Appendo

Permanent Revolution p32 (3) Trotsky Writings 1939-40

(4) Stalin - On the Oppos: tion pl47 (S) Stalin — On the Opposi tion p/35 (6) Hansen - Dynamics of The Cuban Revolution p330 LIKE YOU READERS I am getting more and more worried about international terrorism and crimes like plane highjack-

A real shocker took place last week. when a sinister international mob 'nobbled' the pilot of a chartered plane on the

British journalists who had chartered the

thought to be one of the up and coming

The extent of the influence of this mob, known to some as the 'royal mafia'

known that the guy was helped to get on

Padgeham and security men, who even wrestled with the journalists, who were trying to get on a plane their papers had

Even here the fix-up does not stop. Surely you would have expected those

Street newspapers whose plane had been robbed, to demand that the conspirators be prosecuted for piracy. Again you would have thought London's

who I can reveal knows the name and address of the man - would have taken the SPG round to his pad and

But there was no clamour from Fleet Street. Sir Kenneth, like the airline pilot,

and all the Fleet editors and owners are

When you set up an operation on that scale and "fix' that many people, you have got real clout and the poor old law

Page 11 scan of this page

Media made for monopolies

Abortion rights under attack -

CABLE TV:

change in the structure of

The Hunt report

recommends the introduc

tion of cable TV with vir-

tually no restrictions of the

kind which apply to the

BBC and ITV. The list of

things which are not con-

trolled is formidable: no

restriction on advertising

time, no vetting of pro-

advertising,

no requirement for any

sort of balance or variety

no requirement to cater

for minority tastes or

even pretend to put

minority points of view,

no rationing of films - no

restrictions on anything.

Far from being some

sort of liberation' of

broadcasting from

authoritarian controls, the

ner resun wu oe an endless

flood of trash and huge

profits for the cable com-

panies.

experience of

cable in the United States

where there are more than

15 million subscribers) and

Canada shows the danger

of unregulated cable TV

Cable TV is what it

SOTOS HKE new televi-

SIOn channels broadcast

OvergroUnd

underground cables from

a local broadcasting centre

(the "head end"), via trunk

and feeder cables direct in-

to the home.

Cable TV was invented

to service hilly arcas which

found difficulty in receiv-

ing normal TV signals but

the advantage soon realis-

ca was that a single cabie

hundred

channels. In the USA most

systems have 12 channels but new ones must have a

capacity of over 20.

At its inception cable By Jude Arkwright THE IRISH GOVERNMENT is holding a referendum before the end of this year which would, in the words porters, demand an amendment to stitution to guarantee the right to life of the foetus from the moment other words abortion could become classified as murder a decent life of the mother. Abortion could be illegal under any circumstances.

The irony is that abortion is already illegal in

all political POTLICS opposed to decriminalisation.

Women are again the

the politicians and the church.

Garrett Fitzgerald of Fine Gael originally suggested the referendum Charles Haughey of Fianna Fail jumped in to back it in an attempt to curry tavour with the Catholic Church

The referendum could De passed SUCC ninety seven CHILL the population are Catholic.

But that doesn't mean it

of cable television into Britain heralds a major

the media. The technology of cable TV makes it very versatile - and absolutely tailor-made to reinforce the tight grip of big business on communications.

TV was considered

the a service because of

the necessity to relay

programmes via the head

end. Many hopes were therefore raised that cable, being locally networked,

could offer local varicty

and access for local in-

and community

groups. The franchise for

cable networks in the US is controlled by the local authorities, and generally they insisted on "access"

clauses in the contracts. Because of the smallness

many of the local systems, advertisers did

express a great inLETES

Change

An important technological altered this general pic-

however. Gradually the industry realised that by transmitting from satellites to the head ends, the cable system could be

nationwide.

Cable thus is gradually los me is local character and becoming a system of nationally networked OTOgrammes. This 1s leading both to a steep rise in

INECTESL, and the edging out of local acLC33

Another result is that cable systems are gradual-

by being take munications

communications monopolies.

Cahle systems are extremely expensive to build. It requires huge capital wore to produce the programmes and broadcast them via satellite.

from left and right

committed to

of its supthe con-

conception In

- never mind the right to life and to

reflects what women want and need it only means that the Catholic Church 3.500 Trish women they need Some

go to the backstreets despite what the church tells them and undoubtedly feel guilt and misery as well as going through unnecessary physical suffering

Bernadette McAliskey spoke to a packed meeting at Liberty Hall in Dublin to launch a campaign to get the referendum dropped. The campaign will try tọ stop this reactionary ac-

CHE women fight it. It can help

HEAD END Therefore a process of company concentration is

Bie americh companies

Express, Warner Brothers and the Westinghouse

Broadcasting Corporation becoming the field leaders Control is in fewer and fewer (capitalist) hands

Line priorities and values of cable networks

This especially scrious since cable has the potential to become the major means oy waich we receive news, information, CELCHIOT and conduct

and walk around in fear and tremblTO PEEL COLDERNe Catholic Church.

The of the church is also weighing down on women in France and this time -It 15 Socialist Government which is bowing before it This government had pro-

Detore 310 after coming into office that it

women who had paid for their EIDO CONS before ten weeks. Not a huge conces-

suring that rich and poor WOUCH CING NEC ACTERI to determine their lives.

Ethics

On 2 August Pierre Bérégovoy, Minister of Social Security announced that this promise could not

He claimed thic was for 'ethical reasons' and reasons of respect for religious families.

What about respect for

News,

business transactions. By Linking pocket size keypad to your TV set,

linking the head end to computers, cable enables the viewer to vote in televised opinion polls, DUCE DOES SOBS ask for bank statements and so forth.

Virtually any sort of information can be broadcast to the viewer by cable. One recent innovation on one of the United State's biggest cable networks was a soap opera, the story which was controlled by opinion polls among the women? and for their right

and make their own deci sions? Sixty-seven per cent of French people in a re cent poll think reimbursement should be made. No respect for their views is shown. But the opinions of the Catholic hierarchy are widely reported by the media.

We must give our support for women these countries where the forces of reaction are on the of-

Petitions and postcards in support of the anti-amendmen campaign in Ireland are available from Inn Road. NAC 374, Grays London WCI

WELL! this space for details of solidarity action.

Their fate is our fate eventually and their struggle is ours - we must stop once and for all the control

Catholic Church and the politicians who try and dominate our lives.

We must fight for all women's right to choose.

viewers would be asked questions like: Does this show now need a more sex b) more violence c) an admixture of both?

Home burglar and fire alarms can be fitted to cable TV. and two-way terminals will enable conferences to be held via cable.

The Hunt Report now proposes have restrictions whatever on this extremely versatile technology. However, the TEACHES SCHOO

expensive The tre ly

CADCISIVE Idea 'free' cable stations, like Italy's free socialist radio stations, is a non-starter.

In the United States

weekend. You can

Labour left, and much more!

This weekend event,

be booked in advance.

Saturday 23 October

9.30-10 Registration

10-1

Lunch Break 1-2pm 2-4 Workshops

Labour Party

Break 4-4.30pm

4.30-7

Sunday 24 October

9.30-10 Registration

10-12

Lunch Break 12-1pm

1-3 Workshops

3-5

women's liberation

Socialism weekend.

creche.

Name.

Make che

N1 2XP.

over access to cable TV; a whole 'access movement' has developed in the localities. It is gradually being defeated by the stranglehold of big New York. For example in New there are 37 channeis on the cable network, and 36 of them are given over to programmes made ouside the area. All the rest - public informaCrammed into the one re tion, education maining channel. Local community programming gets two hours per week.

But the Hunt Report makes no reference to such considerations. Cable will be handed monopolies lock, stock

DEBATING SOCIALISM

23-24 October

JUST ONE WE the International Debating Socialism monetary crisis, a debate between Bea Campbell and Valerie Coultas on women's liberation, Ken Livingstone on the lessons of Labour's GLC, Frances Morrell and Alan Freeman on the new

packed with discussions gramme for the British crisis, will be held on 23/24 October at Kingsway Princeton College, near Kings Cross in London. For just E4 you can attend all the sessions, or spend E2.50 to attend for one day. Snacks will be available, and a creche which must

This is an educational event you can't afford to miss. Fill in the order form below for your tickets.

Kingsway Princeton College, Sidmouth Street, London WC1.

Plenary session in main hall Ernest Mandel on the international monetary crisis

La) Ken Livingstone, Hilary Wainwright & Tessa van Gelderen on the lessons of Labour's GLC b) Bernadette McAliskey on the Irish revolution c) John Ross & Duncan Hallas debate entrism and the d) Ernest Mandel on Poland and workers' self-management

Plenary session in main hall Frances Morrell, Labour Briefing & Alan Freeman discuss the new Labour left

Plenary session in main hall John Ross on the British political crisis

La) Pat Hickey, Alan Thornett & John Deason on the tasks for socialists in the unions b) John Harrison on the British economic disaster c) Paul Gilroy on black crime and law and order d) Julian Atkinson on Labour's youth movements e) Mike Davis on Exterminism and the Cold War Plenary session in main hall Bea Campbell & Valerie Coultas discuss Sweet Freedom and

Please send me .... tickets for the international Debating I enclose £... for the tickets. Please reserve .... places in the

Address

The response of ti established TV channel and in particular the BB has been Alasdair Miln ditecte general of the BBC, ma quite extraordinar statement that the Hur Report had gone a lor way to meeting the BBC Icars — apparently on th basis that cable TV won get the big sporting even like the cup final!

The Tory motto vate industry knows bes being applied to cabl TV with a vengeance. Th monopolies, and in pa ticular, the big America monopolies, will have held day. near Ernest Mandel on the international ble to: International, PO Box 50, London

Socialist Challenge 22 October 1982 page 11

Page 12 scan of this page

By Brigid O'Mally

the problems of the economyl

record unemployment

gap somewhere.

to strengthen the

mont'.

Peoples Democracy

the spearhead of the *60s

Civil Rights Movement

socialist and organisation af- COULICHCE

filiated to the Fourth International ran two can-

didates in the election, Feargus O'Hare and John McAnulty, after first try. HE HI win the imperialist trices to

organise a bov at of the

elections. Statog that PD

considered the key

Lovement yat bought

bought

down the old Stormont, PD promised that its can-

didates would.

• refuse take their

seats in the Assembly

campaign for the holding of elections to an

All-Ireland Assembly representative of all the

Irish people.

Socialist Challenge

ERNEST

MANDEL

COUNTY HALL LONDON SE1

FRIDAY 22 OCTOBER 7pm

• STALLS • FOOD

10570 70 77 Me 12 TiDe MateD MoNE L100 LENO 508

Registered as a newipaper with the Post Office. lished by Cardinal Enterprises, PO Box 50, London NT.

Socialist

Challenge

IN THE RUN UP to the 20 October elections for a new Assembly in the six counties James Prior, Tory Minister for Northern Ireland, promised that the Assembly will be able to solve

Considering what the Tories have done to Britain with

and the wholesale destruction of industry there is a big credibility

What is really at stake is that British imperialism through the new Assembly is trying

division of Ireland, strengthen the power of the Loyalist population at the expense of the nationalist Catholic minority; and prepare the way for a new 'Stor-

• campaign for the forming of an anti-imperialist government workers and small farmers to lead the fight for British withdrawal, to win for nuine independence the country and create a real peace based democracy rather than repression.

For O'Hare and McArulty, the fight for a united Ireland is also TIENT for OCCCTI housing and proper living standards. But calling on the working class not to wait for a united Ireland to ine creation of tens of • the creation of tens thousands COT jobs shortening the working week to 35 hours without loss of pay of all industrial jobs to be set aside

celebrate 65th Anniversary of the

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

as a quota for catholic workers offset past discrimination • the demolition of all

housing and massive public works programme to provide decent housing for all

militant rank organisations in the trade unions and communities to force the implementation of this programme.

PD rejects the claim that majority rule in the six counties is democratic Loyalist rule. has created the argucs,

ALOS backward reactionary society in Europe. Opposing all forms of repression be they political economic, social or sexual, PD calls for: • the for free nursery provision • an end to the scandal of on lOW wages for women workers and equal opportunity in employment • positive steps to end sexual harassment

People's Democracy have USCO election campaign to help build a united mass movement to bring abou united Ireland. Hel them contributing to their election fund. by Donations to: PD account no. 03514/29 with the Allied

Andersonsiown SHORTA Belfast BTII 9DU; or PD, Connoll Bookshop 6 Avoca Parki Belfast I

REVOLUTION

BERNADETTE

McALISKEY

by

NO

For a free,

and smash Stormont Unite Free United

Build reland

VOTE

Democracy People's FERGUS O'HARE

united Ireland

Unite and smash

Stormont

Build a Free United

Ireland

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