Socialist Challenge No. 3, 23 June 1977
The scan: sc-n03-jun-23-1977.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge BUILD A SOCIALIST OPPOSITION FOR A UNIFIED REVOLUTIONARY ORGANISATION GRUNWICK: FIGHT THEIR FLOOD OF LIES
* Here is the 6 o'clock news read today by John Gouriet of the National Association for Freedom. do their duty•..
• In Soweto
wounded.
and burning
villages...
proprietor of Grunwicks?* to Mr. Rees.
*Outside Grunwicks groups of Asian hooligans, left-wing gangsters and trade-unionist riff-raff once again attacked peaceful policemen trying to disciplined teams of white volunteers helped freedom-loving policemen to maintain law and order. Only two blacks were killed and a couple of hundred
• In Rhodesia the democratically elected Smith government repelled a black invasion force from Marxist Mozambique by crossing the border several border
• The 9 o'clock news will be read by Mr. George Ward, the
Rees is a liar!
Merlyn Rees told the House of Commons last Monday: 'Some people are using the picket as an excuse for violence against the police... The police are maintaining the right of picketers as well as the right of those being picketed?
We say that the Labour Home Secretary is a liar! The press. TV and courts have encouraged a campaign of hate against the Grunwick strikers. And now Rees adds his voice. Without police interference the strike could have been won. With increasing trade union support it will be won. That Is our reply
On pages 8 & 9 we nail Rees's Iles. We explain how the police really behave. We show how the Grunwick strike can be won.
Dagenham.
INSIDE
...andat Ford
As with Grunwick die pres have dotally msrepresented the Fords dispate, which hus led to the occupation of the plant wt The principle at stake is that workers should be paid for being laid off through disputes which they are not lavolved in This is a long-standing claims of
* Union reports and conferences......
* Soviet Constitution (The New Draft]
* Spain after the Elections.
Ford werkers, supported offclally by Ibe unions.
BUE: Ine suppurted the current round of strikes and occupations. SenSee meanness Pond managr ment have extended the dispute by locking out Ford workers at other plants.
The attempts of Fords 1o
* Medvedev banned from the Communist University..p3
INCORPORATING RED WEEKLY
23 JUNE 1977 n0.3
0.0
punish ome set ul Ford workers Just one more varient of the old divide sad rube tactic. At Fords Itself this inctic can be enuntered bs more occupations and strikes being run hy democraticaily-elected committee, Hasmerable to nass MCCURS
...p5 -p11 ...p10
Page 2 scan of this page
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Page 3 scan of this page
TyNESIDE
CLARKE CHAPANE
power!
Pistols, "no future in England'S dreaming' Thirties.
TERRY RODGERS, person of the AUEW-TASS of. fice committee at Parsons and a member of the Socialist Workers Party talked to Socialist Chal lenge on the main features of the struggle. The internal situation in Parsons is simple: modern capitalist rationalisatio is that small bosses lose out
one with tbe workforce. Parsons both bosses and workers wein Drel, end hotel alpier veinstock, even though chees are beginning to appear.
DIVISIONS
As a result tbe management save given union many facilities ALL THE SADIE SHIK EI couraged divisions in the work force especially berween the fice and the shop floor, which has wenkened workers' organi sation in the plant. Rodgers told me:
"At the frequent mass meetings we have always said that we being granted facilities for lobbying because it is in the interests of the management at the moment. BAHAVE MCLE WONG moving to a situation where the division of interests will become obvious.
Any in net to decles the 90 dancies in August when the day's are up will be one of these
Babcocks there was a similar situation, a joint commitlee with maDagetent on it. When it came to a question of sackings they went through very smootbly...
HOME NEWS
BOILERMAKER POWER
NEED WORK USTRY
DONT FORGET
Fighting for workers
by HILARY WAINWRIGHT
There's no future, no future for you", sing the Sex
It expresses exactly what the apprentices at C.A. Parsons must have been feeling about their own futures when they heard two weeks ago that the Government had put their futures in the hands of Chopper Weinstock. But they do not feel the same despair as the punk rockers. They are fighting back - a fight which has already involved the two biggest demonstrations that Newcastle has seen since the
•We're making approaches to the GEC Combine Committee because we sense there is a lot of stock's stated intention to sack 40 per cent of the workforce in the urbo-generating industry sund to hit GEI workers. has said that he would close more than factory and stewards are already saying he would close Rugby, cond thoughes to have second thoughts meeting them formally within Che next week. The TASS people ar Trafford Park with the Consmittee's position with it ether • at Larse are not happy The streamlining' of British ins bit the North a hard. Unemployment i ty the of. average. The multinacional invasion has meant a ruthless chopping and a united workers" boose 1 Lhe omy way the dail
Led how workers at Parsons emphasise this:
PAROCHIAL at have ta to thent evien we try to fight redunCancIes on i purely parochial basis then we're fighting from a weak position. We have always projected to the ithin the plant the wider impl ations for famibes, the effec oung people an chich th closure of Parsons, Reyrolles, and Clarke Chapmans
E STEAM
PARSON
JOHN STURROCK (Report)
He Combine and the
profitably in the area. You've got to fight
roundancies on wider following our successful demos national hink we 'Il get a good response t
the meeting of shop stewards and s called for 30 June and we hor something will develop our of chis meeting.
The struggle against multina ional and Government plans fo Industry increasingly raises
Such plans are not blue-prints
mchine ta Be objective of
nationalisation coutrol. A group of TASS work-
00 without loss
effect Rodgers says they
'Our people are discussing it Everyone recognises a limit to
VICKERS
SCOTSH000
SAY WORK
NOT
TERRY RODGEAS, Chairperson of the AUEWITASS shop stewardi committee at Parsons: We ahould be utilising every skilled worker whe n8s 8 contrarion to make on energy to find alleroative sourcos
issues,
LD HOLIESL
representatives whic there's no otber destroy society but.
every scientist,
the
tremendous obstacles, basis for under workers
EIT•
Jobs, Terry * WORKERS POWER found the
CENTORE NOOD
DOLE
Medvedev LAYTHELOD Soviet scientist CONVITE information tion.
the anti-fascist Jaskion.
with the fasciss.
performed?
College, sense ANUE TOURE
natural resources — coal, ga LONELLITE MISHAn we have no alternative but to go
COLAN. even thouch there's no other choice. I may
choice may course nonsense. We should be utilising IVOW LILIS 13
every cogineer contribution to make on care. every skilled worker, who has a this pamphie is ity, very sod find alternative sources.
the workers at Parsons fues
but th • overcoming these ha been laid. The only solution les in imposing a workers" answer fo the problems of the power indus
A HOLDLE NEAT ORCHY
plenz and energy industries 40)
in pourl. From Red Books, 183
News
nowhere
censored again THE COMMUNIST University Independent hody. No-one denies
spirit the organisers extended an
and dissident, Zhares Medveder to speak ar the Tomany ways Zhores was a good choice. He is both a socialist and a dissident. He brother, Ror. 1 3 distinguished dissident historian whose book Let History Judge
on the crimes of Stalin. Roy isalso a socialist However. those attending the CUL this summer will not be able to bear Zhores Medveder. The Precutie Countice or the E.P decided unanimously that should not be allowed to speak and the CUL rescinded the invita.
Live Theatre THE LAST NIGHT of Destiny, Edear, was packed out. The dange audience left the Aidwych theme with Edgur sexhortation to smash ears. As they left the theatre the Here met by a line of National Pepper and metrol into people s Party newspapersellers who threw Rarely could a play have been vindicated in such a stardlime
The militants in the audiencestayed and chanted ar the leave. The regislar theatregoers, however, found the whole affair somewhat disasteful and left Aarriedly, eguating anzi-fascists In addirion, the kindly theatre manager refused to allow one al those antacked by the fascists back our of his eyes. Do these people even see the plays that are being
The Backs to the Wall Game to the old bay worsestershire AUTOR ETERNIECE SCHI
Vol Malvern
Rogers bell the old Malentin Headmaster Martin nomicsituation the school today is in an extremely strong position That's morethan can be sud fo sebools in Giovan or Batterses -but then Malvern is something SPOSHI ALIC LIC TUTION OTHER late sixties and early seventies. Kogers continues, 'it is encourag ing to see a return to common
and reasonable values people. I believe that scoools ike kivere bove s very important role in society
LIKE C SIOW COAL CILES tional values of sensible disciplin in a friendly community, work and 2 balanced educatioo
example helptorescue the country's educa tional system from the sorry stati in which it now tinds itself. 'Some of the qualities for which our schools were so well known in the individual's character and for the ability to accept responsibility (and, dare one say it, to surely desperately needed today. Mr for no ding haps that, Mosside is now being won on tbe playing felds of Malvern. But it seems that there is a fly in ch are under attack and if we are to overcome the problems and diffi need your support. I do not mean
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1877 p.3
from
your financial support (perish the thought) but your moral
Su qu and calore car continue to make an important contribution to the welfare of the
consciousness foryou
Racist of the Day
DEREK MALLISTER B ployed as editor of the day
a solid, upright citizen who deter mimes what you see on your T screen when I's news time. When asiced if he was seeding a reporter to cover the launching of the new CORIOD ON POCRE BAUST McAllister replied: "No, It's Just snotber coon-show geiting on the
Enter Walden stage right
person on Weekend World has gone to Brian Walden, the Labour
from Ladywood, Birmingham, Walden's final de parture from active Labour poli LIES JUICE LOST DE BAS SISCO US all hopes of achieving success in Lar sobere
There is little doubt that Walden Is an extremely intelligent rightwing politician. His fallure to cumo the poutical ladder is due te Wisson's unrelenting vendetta against him for some patronising
the Leader on TV after the 196 Labour victory. The jobs Walder
posts and calculated to insult
He became a bookie's consultan some years ago and was nand i fairly hefty salary. He will now be
on tbe breadine on a estimated
45,000, At school Walden wa known as "Cobra because of his "snake in the grass attitades" Lefties of all sorts should beware before they step into the Weekend World studios. Jay at least read WIRTESEAIMS YEUL DOES CIVILE his views. dispense with such niceties. Crazy Censors THE FILM censors have imposed on X-certifacate on a povem ment-backed ser education com mercial, preventing it being shown
The declared aim of the fum isto cut down the 200,000 unwanted TERRORE UPER As a fair proportion or these invarve school students, the film censors are ob
praject.
Hatchettime IN THE MAY district counci them, control of the med wilt tbe Labour Party Glasgow lost 24
Needless to say, a great furore has erupted in Labour circles. So
ruders Pat Lally and Dick Dyne i that former council
ofcandidate
One of the main causes of Labour's detent was its disa rou
store the let on Last oh
CHERICHIK caught out helping ber son to quee-jump the council waiting
Lally and Dynes bad meanwhile been engaged in a public row ove the proposed selling off of counci houses. They became linked in the public mind with the kind of Sor0 ocalings 1n which M Cantley's was only tbe latest стальрі
news that the hatchet is out for Lally and Dyne shouldn't give cause for hope thai UNKROW SEHEEAEESSEKULI turn left. Theobjection to them by party bosses is semply that the
public.
Page 4 scan of this page
Islington 18 confront editor over racist report
Workers' enquiry into 23 April demonstration
protestors, including parents of
On 27 May, Tony Alcock, Miter af the istingion Cazette, ran a long verbatim report of the rosecution's allegations sgainsi de Islington 18 who are threst-
lust for
Trail of Terror' and referred to the pattern for mag-
and thefts" at last sum
er's Notting Hill Carnival. singe ted with the paper's hand. blacks, ing of race issues, the story was the Tast straw. The Islington 18 Delence Committs including arents and teachers of the black rouths on trial immediately
ontacted the Gazette chapel of the National Union of Journal-
WO HUNDRED people meeting in Goldsmiths College last wich took un the call for g march in South London on 2 July in defence of the Lewisham 24. The
Those homes were raided by police at dawn on 30 May and who
s rapidly become the locus of a
termined fightback again
The arrests have all the hail
arksofastepped up campaign of
dice intimidation. It follows in
he wakeof the charges against the
od bogus "statisties" throughout
TEIN
Socialist
this pariad - 12 Issues for 81.50.
LOUn 8.
enclose $1.50.
NAME ....
College ........
Address to whiich the peper should be eent .
HOME NEWS
AT AN ANGRY meeting last week, editor who ran a racist report of the Islington 18 trial was confronted by
defendants and his own journalists.
Lists.
And it was after discussions with the journalists and their Tull backing that the defence committer mounted • 30strong picker outside the newspaper demanded to see the editor.
NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Phil Marfeet of the defence committee accused Alcock innarins months of local action around the Islington 18 case and then suddenly splashing the court 'W's not only a vitally important local issue i's sie and oser picketers then and other picketers spelled out the main facts of the
March for Lewisham 24
the press on mugsing and black crime have laid the groundwork
conspiracy charges.
The defence of these youths isthe best way to cackie the physical danger black people confront daily on the streets from bath DESEMEN MULT ICI ROU class organisation must be pressed o take up the demand of the Defence Commitler tor the im mediate release of the Lewishar 24 and for an end to vicious police Murch to defend the Lewishar 14: 2pm, 2 July, Cliton Rise, New A Lewisham 18 Defence Committe supporter hangs grimly on to the Pallings es heis attacked by National Front thugs who broke up a street meeting in Lewisham est Sunday. The varmin had demandad that a bleck comrade alop speaking, end than set about the meeting with fists raing
Students
Socialist Challenge is assential reading for all millents. But we know that many students hare difficulty special subscription offer to cover tue e ant trouetten o Sociale Challenge, Just linto Don't foel Inhiblied Il you'ru not a student, thia li
To: Distribution, Soclalist Challenge, 328/8 Upper Street,
Please send me the next 12 issues of Soclallst Challenge. I Chaques & POs should be made payabia io Socialist
an by
KATHY three
LOWE
case in which 18 youths agea leween 14 and 19 were arrestes with - over teo months after thie Parnival!
I don't disbelieve you', Alcock replied, after the three mothers described harassment and brutality suffered hy blacks in Islington. But we can't print comments on the case MISEIL WIC TES SHE CONIA OR
he paper, be insisced, was no racist. We are neutra did was to report what went on in
the Tring ton 1 h chine n
00-atrong of national hrough the area the followin month, then "You mustn't have sent me an invitation'. by MICK GOSLING
THE ENQUIRY initiated by
National Front march and police action on 23 April got anderway this month when representatives frem Barnet, Enfield and Edmonton, Huckney, Haringes, Isling-
TUC
takes
a
noble
stand
by IVOREVANS
NO-ONE CAN say the TEC does
not claim to figer agriest racismn.
story. The TUC has called •
natinnul demomstrution in Man-
United Against Racialism. The
trouble bil in't uniting
even beard of the demo!
Tbe event ls hardy kely ho
ELLE CET HOCHES d
NationalFront, let alone force the
Labour
EN 01 1L5 CASL
example, by implementing last
year's Labour Party conference
BUSIDAS DATECINE
With their left band the TUC
bureaucrats call
against racist ideas. Wich cheir CALIS PUE DHARDOUS
right hand they demand restric-
workers in the hotel and catering
industry.
Anti-racists on tbe demonstra
tion should lobby trade unionists
to campaign against che increasing
immingstion restrictions, The de
portation of immigrants, and tb
abour Government's nationalit
proposals
The demonstration assembles at
Ipm in Ducie Street Car Park
negr Stranaeways Prison, and wil
march through
Whirworth Park for a rally at
tles
OSLINCTI
constant police
All we
Asked why he had not
demonstration tion and Jamely:
defence committer. meeting.
provocative мела: 10112104 YORK STUDENTS
TONNEL RE praeticully no one has
Coveroment to change
-LUI
an ineffectual
dead' This
were escorted out Their
Manchester formed a CITATAC.
FREESEP
END
RETORTING
ASLINGTON FREE
АСРОК TONC
Picket of Islington Gazette office in North London condemns racist reporta.
When Clive Steele, father of the chapel, sold his editor that Steele, the journalists wanted to cover more stories on the discrimina-
problems suffered br blacks, Alcock agreed ta consid er any articles sent in by the ton, and Waltham Forest trade Cosnci, councils attended • planning
The inquiry will be examining why and how the Frout was allowed to po ahead with their
who responsible for attempring to bun the anti-racist rally on Ducketf's Commun: why the police employ- 23 April d 'snaich-aquad tactics СЯГНІ he many incidents of fascis viale the dim of the inquiey is to
cinze rout the politica implica-
dicas for trade unionists of the Mack mouth.
events of 23 April, Witnecses
the above aspects are antedi lo
statements fo
Harry Lister, Haringey Trades
Zionists lose support
Union recognition sou funds from the campus Jewish Society on 15 Jume. This decision
rom the society in which 1
leclared Iself to be Zionist
tinina people
In esplaining the Union's de ision te stop funding the Jewisi ard Burden chareterised Zlon-
THE LOCAL PRESS RACISM, AND THE FRONT A working conference sponsored by the Campaign Against Racism in the Media Sace and Clas Poter non caper N0. and Class].
North London Branch)
Saturday 9 July 10am 6pm entral Landon Poly, Marylehone Road, London NW Further detalls: CARM, 13 Cleve Read, London NW
Fascists barred from Leicester meeting
"IF THEY are black, seod em back, If tbey are red, shool eu
was the message Souait Worker. Pary modine outside
last week. ance the few National Froot members had sneaked into the ball early -
cohorts outside de manded to beler in, as a body, to
the meeting, and militants fron
all political rendencies oo the lett
barrier across the Palice arrived, and aller farcher confusion the moer-
FOLIEN THE
ERUTAL
FREE
*HIE 15
And would he alse, asked Clive
demonstrate the paper's good intentions by running a report on the picket? "What! Print accusations that the paper is racise?* exclaimed the neutral Mr. Alcock. "We can't to that!'
Gc/a Tottenham
Trades Hall, 8 Bruce Grove,
London N/7. Socialist Chal-
who wirnessed the events of the
At the trades council plamning meeting, delepales made the point that many of the police on duly on
among those перопміне Tor the auuck co Che Right to Work march in Hendon harassing the Grunwick picket ait a number of frame-ups o
In generul it wus feil that trade unioniste shouid be plasing • mach bigger role in the light agalest racisme sad fuscism, incinding insade their ova unions.
ism as a form of racialism.
Burden made it clear that
anti-Jewish, but was in opposition to
oups whose aim is to suppe Turther subjugation of the Pales-
New week'r Surplus Value: Fred should be allowed free speech.
(Vice-chairperson, NU.
Ing hegan - behind locked
But all was not quiet. Halfway trough the evening, the police asked to bring in a woman who claimed she had been assaulted This was refused. It was consid ered that no one should be able to enter with the sole purpose of picking out ar random a berber PEINE SUOLLE As militants lett the mering in
procection it was clear that the respectable' imag cultivated by the fascises during
recent county elections bad all bur disappeared.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 P.4
CAMPAGN
MEDA
Kathy Lowe is a reporter on the Hornsey Journal, amember offh NUJ's North London branch, which har taken excellent initio-
member of the Cumpolen Agalasy Racism in the Media wed Hackaey Trades Counci agroed to organise joint transport to the TUC rally aguinst racisme im Manchester on Satarday Yanly.
Racist
of the
week
THIS
town of Leicester. A former chaleperson of the Young
be ls
his legui practice and his positior Nations Eroat. organiser of the Leiceste
is Anthony Reed-
Laccusaie De Tascis
leaders Tyndail and Webster,
whom be then stabbed in the mick ny voue lot tar expir
something which they
have mot forgotten
He muid wel be ouedi m the
ming woeks is a scupegoat f
e NT's poor performance in t
local Sections. Reed-Herbert's
activities aie well-publicised by the Leicester Mercury (CARM please pote), the local right-wing rag.
DETERMINATION
Commentiog on Martin Walk-
er's book NF. ReedHerbert told rhe Mercury: For
what he (Walker) falls to see is
that the destruction of the white
Tabons of the world meins the
end of human civilisation. Whai
Africar
• DENTEL
concerned this
depend on the response of the
Immigrunts... If we are talking
about a breach of the law we will
either have a government prepar-
ed to meet vialence for the good
af tbe
wan't" (29 April, 1977)
Reed Herhert is the most
dangerous of Taesiats, He wears
bebiod
which lark the strong arm thugs
who break up anti-fascist meet
Penda to a la ce ne decher
by Webster and Tyndall by
scoring a fen supcesses, such as
winning local Tonies sympathenic
to fascism over to the NF and
DeCDIDIDE a councillor himsell.
all developments on this front.
Page 5 scan of this page
The n B D orgatised to meet the future crisis. Ite failure to win more than third-rate victories, the separatiam displayed Conference and the colapse militants before the Broad Lell's
indeuvre to divert the oppe
a to the Social Contrar INTERSE ON rACICHEI
welfare Keynsianism, means that NALGO risks Tenor a demon Unes there is a drastic reappraisal on the lelt.
On Today the Camera Sec retary, Geoffrey Drain, visited London for a meeting of the TUC Economic Committee. The next day the National Executive Colnel out ao Ineir second line speakers against the oppositior from the floor to win itse If a fret
Icadership has deciared itself bound by policies which chibose the state of the economy
to protece the low paid, resolve JOm01EO pay bility, strengthen price controls,
Dn the two major issues facin; he union, a third phase of th Social Contract and the cuts in the health service, general secreLUTS manoeuvre the majority of the delegates into accepting the exec-
But the conferenoe was not without its scares and defeats for the COHSE leadership. The exscutive's emergency motion Ta vour of another round of the Socia Contract submited BE che last minute, was coo much even
the silent majority of the COHSE delegates to swallow.
However, anotber string to its bow in the form of a bureaucrant compasste of all the motions that supported
dose This called for 'the orderly return AUEW Broad Left STEPS are underway to produce a 'new' Broad Left called Engineering Gazelle, In a
Ken Brett, one of the assistant general secretaries of the AUD Enrineerine Section urges local groups to organiac moetings to discuss this project
the Presidency of the AUEW
Striketoolate
'ABout for ten days". Thar was tbe overwbelming verdict of Os forshire teacbers when they voted
education cuts. A hundred and fitty teachers face the sack when
eptembe
For them this action is too little
end of the school year, reinterces the refusal of teachers
HOME NEWS
Union conferences
a total rethink
The Scarborough Conference of the National and Local Government Officers Association ended last week leaving members of the largest white-collar union exposed to a further year of job cuts and assaults on living standards.
TENTES - дост поутепь, тетол:
Pate the economy directy. Th pending cuts and stim EC a year ago, with an cair amme was proposed by t unsurprising lack of sucpess
State for the E vironment, Feie
repeated the Govern meni's coonomic policy to the conference, and made it clear that the cuts would continue with both limits on public sector
sention in local goetimine
10005gainst the NEC and Sbo e left seemed to prese arguments of subetance. was in sharp contrast to last year's Conference when the delegates at least preferred to hear
spoeches, mandated TUC delegates vated
This is not surprising. Indus-
overwhelming decision to call oft
memhership had disobeyed the
to organise
ALBERT SPANSWICK will travel back to his office in Banstead with a sense of relief after his week's work at the Confederation of Health Service Employees conference. COLIN SMITH reports
to Tree Collective bargaining torether with a shoopine list of half-nucasures.
Although the majority of deleBates who spoke were araist this proposal, Spanswick was able to play on delegates fears of losing out in what he called 'the jungle of free collective bargaining A similar scenario was played ou ou cuts in beath socode.
The platform successfully sup
Por oposition te te d
oppostion lo the cols bs secking to reduce unemployment among qualified nursing staff at the CAOLHE OL workers such as nursing auxilia-
It also advocated wastage', and accepted cuts if there were some increase
Union flash points
to supervise dinners or cover far
Union leaders
decided to back the strike after IL bours beland lockeu doors. trying to reach a compromise with the council OTECIAIS bave They have refused
COCCISAIR using pupils for
Parson's pleasure A NEW ATTACK ao union democracy "democracy" of course been launched by kea Parsons. right-wing convenor of the Com
Mary of the Transport and General Workers Union.
LICE and assembly plant branch, the main soure of opposition to their
NALGO: Left needs
continuing
This By JOHN WHITFIELD (Delegate from Essex and NALGO'B Contract Council, In a personal capacity]-
Decision of the January Specia conference to impose the ban in with an droves.
Sabotaged by the national
who incited their branches to
COHSE: Left starts
called General Secretary Albert. Spans wick: infuriered overcalling of saft oppos/rion menting which is exactly what the De partment of Health says! 'natural However, the bureaucracy was delcaled on two important moions which indicate a growin villingness of the rank and file t class colaborationist policies in Leyland's Cowley complex am are drazging in the Untord area They want ta
They split the branch in two and set up a new ussembly plant branch,
Lavender Hill to LAVENDER HILL giris" school has been given a year's grace sefore tbe tirear of closure looms Hunter, the school's NUT representative.
in the name of hairperson of tbe Developmei
has Sub-Committee
gave this news to the press two
and David weeks before the Sub-Committer
discuss the future of the school The explanation of this rusbed Is the 5/293
Margaret Morgan douhtedly warried about
union
fiasco of the County member Eastem District
the base sectarian bureaueracy
to their
intimidared by Hall reachers and
offices on Manday. Bury Cuts
pisos reports Berty by NALGO'S
•Labour involving €4,000 planned of the Inner
to 7.
In BUTYS NALLU
was the ship.
disobedience, the ban was ended with a hundfull of votes agnins.
ASLCNMABLHHHTES SAIL last week, the action against the cuts has beem unsuocessful be-
fought in branch after branch separately, against the employers
the Government by the whole
The NEC now has a free hand to accept the continued rundown of the public service. Individual
fight individually, bur after the
overlite ban,
The NALDO Action Group NAL.GO, appears now an SWP the focus of the left rumip following the decision of he CP to split earlier this year NAO was boticeably less organised and represented this year than in previous years.
future of NALGO and the left's stralegy for the next year or so,
and drift. Only the members will suffer from this — victims of this
of NALGO wasted if the colapse at Scar tive. borough is wot recognised. win a fieht back arninst th
solationism of the COHSE len Conference. ers and their pital bowing and scraping. A call for full support to be given to joint shop sewards
passed, in spite of Spanswick
ravinas against che the other health service untons
Delegates also vored lo sup- srike
ort the demands of the Workin
the Charter Campaign, while rejecting an anti-Benyon Ball
What particularly upset the
throughout the week in BlackDoo was the List signs of an organised opposition
sell-outs and ouvres. Over 20 delegates. ITOG branches opposed to the Socia Contract and in favour of real action against the cuts attended a
that me wick's angry denunciation a the mecting. They now plan to co-ordinate the apposition.
can Conference
determination of the Lavender
Te Br Tory Colid
the leadership of the local government workers unions to accomodate 1o Tory
was dealt a sound bow special
acceptance of a fall £200,000 -was firmly rejected by 300 votes
This decision reflected tb initial steps taken by the the left
A further meeting of the left is scheduled to discuss now to concinue a unite left fightback against the cuts and the betrayals of the leader-
Speakout
Tasks of
teachers'
Open
Conference
DAVE WHITELY, General Secretary of the Wandsworth Teachers Association and a delegate to the national conference of the teachers' union, explains why so many militants who attended it feel even more determined to mount a real fight against the cuts and the Sociai Contract.
The cail for a teachers" Open Conference recleved the suppo Annual Conference. They were herrilled st the suge managemest condacted by the Execu-
They blocked every attempt by tbe membership to mount a real Social Contrac. Perhaps we car rain some confidence tron groundswell of opposition in the union that the Executive have to behave like the Mafia
was given lop priority at the NUT confer ence called for a national cam That is the basis for the Open But to strengthen a call for anti-cuts action there are other areas that need to be tackled; in particular the fight to bind the Executive on class sine policy apl
rules which prevent NUT Associations from taking
action. A amendmens at the National Cobimpose a maximuer caar size of chica Tol 30 stodeots. This was only narendment opposing further restrictive rules on local Associations
CAMPAIGN
of the Open Conference means
can tackle the crucial Issues that were side-atepped by the NUT leadership.
Anocher important thing that
come out will be a well-coardinated Ralona
which can take paicis to busid st grass roots level and not fall int
OPEN
CONFERENCE
OF N.ULI MEMBERS
AGAINST THE CUTS Red
SATURDAY 2 JULY 10:30-5PM BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNION
Credentials and furtber infernation fram 22, Kanerth Gardens Lamden SEI
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 p.5
DAVID
WHITELEY the trap of taking short cuts or overestimating its progress ar any Orle giveo tint
The campaign will natura. involve participation in the NU Cadersaio clections which comi up this year. Je is no use attackin
present incumbents if we do ne LONGOUT to ther seriously, We will look a laugh ing stock if left candidates stand
London during the last clections.
PLATFORM
It will be vitally important to attract members from such areas as Oxford, Surrey, Stockport Tameside and Widham to thi conference. These are the so called 'bad' arcas where the NUT
militant posture. What we have to do is build up communication
of the country. We must ensure that these mulitants are given a public platform from which they can help in the launching of a national campaign.
Finaly. there is the Wola Tyndnle affair. In some respect tbe ideological battle is
What has passed fi progressive educacion in man ancas has been nothing of th kind. It has been nothine mor than treody gimmickry which has enabled many carecrists to 'bet ter themselves at the exnense o other teachera, children and th real areas of progressive educa
The Open Confereoce can b used to inunch a national counte
ites and to give further exposure to the dirty tricks' campaign amanst the Todale teacher. Al chis makes a pretty tall order bur when one considers the
SUL DITAIL
Page 6 scan of this page
Britain's
his politieal career there is nothing he has loved more than to run • anyone who will listen to him • the British ruling class sa rone on al great lengta abou ow be despises and fears Iris Rebade the same point over
lectio main Hansa Fall front bench apokes: Charlie Haughey,
ron who was involved in t
he Many people beieve the
fore very long Mr. Lynch wil Hanna Fail and that Mr. Haugh
country prepared
se with the recond of Charles to be led by a
RESOUNDING
The Irish electorate answered bat question at resounding Yet at the poll week with a at week
pite 1
trymander the constituencie
anna Fail was returned with record 34 seats, against a joint 60
its for the coalition partie
s for O'Brien, whose suppo for British Imperialism was supposed to be Paried to to relecion He More GMWU backtracks THE GENERAL and Municipal Workers" Union was one of the first unions to appoint a national annual conferetice it decided to abolish the union's special deparmentor women
The GMWU national executive is now considering putting a reso ference calling for the abolition of the special five seats reserved far women on toe party balone! executive.
Featuring women
THE ENGINEBRING Uman has dendecto devie one but of ever
six copies of its monthly journal to problems facing women workers.
The June sue of the ALER Journal is wricten solely by
Features in the issue include a
IRELAND/ HOME NEWS
Irish elections give breathing
space for Irishmilitants as
collaborators
get the boot By TOM MARLOWE
CONOR CRUISE O'BRIEN, former Labour minister for Post and Telegraphs in the Fine Gael/ Labour Party Coalition Government, began his election campaign in the Irish election with an interview on BBC Radio's World at One. He followed that up with a long interview in the Times.
That is O'Brien's style. During dropped by over 3,000 to 3.588;
while Haughey received 11,000 voles, topping the poll in a smaller constituencySIGNIFICANT
There were a number of other gnificant results. Noel Brown no was rejected as an official Labour candidate, stood as an democratic platform and got
This Fianna republican views on the national question, was casty Cope of Donegal, with over 10,000 first preferences.
Two other independents, one similar to Blancy and the ober similar to Browne, were also
at a Socialist Republic (rish Soction of the Fourth Inter national) received 122 vole In & constituency crammed with in dependent candidates.
More significantly the Bottom Dog campaign attracted the suppart of most sections of the That type of unity is in itself a big step torward At to the wider implications of the clection results, ast promi some militants and republicans. rest and the complet
Women & the Unions
Report on the TUC Women"
Conference by Hetty Crawford Houal opportunitics, Equal pay, Women in industry, Legislation, Unemployment among women and snor Kin.
ALEW. 110 Peckbam Road, LondonSE1SSEL.
Barbaric wages THE LOW PAY Unit's recent wages reach as low ns 40-54p an CHUT 113 not-unionised jobs.
as' EE.11 on average. The report focusses on the plight of women office and factory cleaners.
It shows how contractors who claim to pay El an bour — when they send their bills to clients more Skelu to Bocker do to 40p to themselves and hand over only 60p
rejection of the strong law and order line of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, nail the be that th population of the 26-counties would can a mile trom any Southern involvement in the national question.
If Fianna Fail's leader Jack
over lease some of de more blatant least some of the more
Jurisdiction Act, by which No bern political prisoners can t thed in the south The other main plank of Fiden Fall's Northern anding tbat Britain names traditiona!
of the Coalition's law and order Fail think twice before following the same road.
PROMISE
Lynch also faces the problem of delivering all the other hallot box promises: cutting ment, reducing the size of classes, and giving a -1,000 grant to first-time house buyers.
Everywhere, will probably be fo otten by Flanna Fail now they at they do at defeat et Briet and the retu breathing
in the memories of Irish miliCAPICI
campaign
ETHEL CHIPCHASE thiaks CameRana Bise the Women's Charter will go away if more women tbe unions. At least thei's wb she told Labour women wher she spoke at their conference JESTELALDU The AUER
Ms, Chipchase, secretary o from: the TUC women's adviser
committee, said the rational campaigas for women's rights was that so many women remain unorganised. But her reuments don't matc up to her facts.
One million
975, according to her figuri and this is the same period i
matter is thar these campaigos will continue to be vital even if wonen joined unions at double their present ratel -ягс The Working Women's Char-
ter Campaigo is one of campaigns which chase bebees is owlside the
never went off. also promised
Crimical Lav
policy
Gets outside British suldiers. republicans.
may at least make Fianna
unemploy N1. school
to recognise their union
Working WomensCharter
Working the cont-Calls
would only jol
Sont
al its conference
is.
campaign over cbe ence. A national
also on the cards.
Ethel Chip-
Defeated Prime Minister Liam Cosgrave — the gun was cocked, Dur
Troopsout Conf. called
Army arrests
strikers inBelfast
THE CONNECTION between questionin the class struegle in this country and Britada's war in Ireland was As London police ssswalted pick-
Gruewicks, peaceful picketein Belfast were arrested by
The pickers in question were reason trikers from Eastwoods scrap attend the
Troops Out Conference: 2
and 3 July, 10,30am-брiв for
White House Hotel, Church
Road, London NW 10. A
sociul l being held in the
evening. Contset Box 10,
182 Upper Street, London
biant in the Catholic Big Flame. Andersonstown area of Belfast.
They have been on strike since?
June, when management refused
hey were arrested by soldie
I the Royal Military Police whil standing peacefully on picket duty on 18 June and later released after stiend.
Programme set for renewed
by ANNE CESEN
labour movement'. If by thai she means that it is not Lied k
of union bureaucracy, then she is spot gramme
The Charter Campaign shou
SELETE in London last month that it is unwilling t roduce the struggle to one of 'changing social attitudes many union leaders would have
1 number of important que
ione which bave dogsed
past yea were resolved at the confer. against the Government's at- UNCILLAIM
tacks on momen it schedules
for the new year. A stepped-up campaign to meet the attacks on women's right to abortion is
Finally, it was agreed to
launch a campaign to establish
the Charter's Dewspaper, with The Sun or Product 55!
page issue on a monthly basis.
telfast Sinn Fein commencir on the acrests said: "It is now clear
ar British repressive laws ar
against Republican activiscs but against I political activist
hese arrests give one mic
whis
and the be ed in Loopen
on 2 and 3 July.
The conference aims at rebuild ing the movement in this country trish people and the imbediate withdrawal of Brirish troops from
ranches of th pooried by
Troops Out Movement as wel 9s namerous political organisations, includin Sinn Fein (Home Counties), th Internationa. Martist Group, and
The agenda for the conterence features & speaker from the Irish Front on the current situation in the Nortb, as well as discussion on future activities
All Socialist Challenge readers are urged to make every effort to
One of the most hotly con tested debales at the confereno was the decision to from amending the hat keeping the Charter as it t
- as a taal to stimulate actior cather mana - would lay the best basis for unity with sections of ine labour movement around women's struggles.
DETERMINATION
Certain problems remain, but with clear merspechive 10 action and a determination to discuss the oriensation of che socialist feminists, these can be
i stronger national campaig
THE DIE TONE HAYC TU in relation to women in struggle. The response to the appeal
nass picket ar Grunwicks on 13 June shows that there is every reason to be opcimistic about the implementation of confer ence decisions.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 p.8
Socialist
Challenge
EVENTS
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ira the Manchestar Socialis Chalents Cane Thirt
Silver Sarant, Bury.
LIVERPOOL Supportera day 23 Jure. 8pm. Slan
Parliamentary Sto
WANT ON.
very Towaday in Bowling Green Pi SUDDOrD
Iverpool Road, Wiger
30pm. Wind
851-802 8079 tor cetalia:
MIDLANDS
Discuasion.
a Proletariar
LEICESTER Pubille Forum, The Tasks
of Socialist Onellange: Spa 204UEN Hall, Lette HOME COUNTIES READING. Reader WEST & WALES
Ism and Sociallem PUD C Walsh
Hatel (opposite the prison|. Card 1l
BRISTOL Socialisi Challenge Ber
LONDON
SCOTLAND
For Information on Socialist Cha
Queen Stee, Biasga LT40--IL91
Socaliat Opposition
YORKSHIRE
• Thusay. More tom
Page 7 scan of this page
OPEN FORUM
Talking
about
far left
unity
by Duncan Hallas
SOME COMRADES have asked if we should reconsider our attitude towards an electoral pact with other organisations of the revolutionary left. In practice this is raised only in connection with the International Murxist Group, since 'the other organisations which have run candidates in the past, the Workers Revolutionary Party etc.. are interested.
The IMG on the other hand is making the issue a central feature of its propaganda and is directing 90 per cent of this propaganda at Socialist Workers Party members and sympathisers. At Stechford, IMG mem-
bers distributed leaflets al Paul Foot's meetings which deplored competition between Paul Foot and Brian Heron (IMG candidate) and concluded:
"The IMG repeats its call to the SWP to discuss with us the possibility of united tar let siates in toe colng cicagons and especially in the General Election. All
fisunity in the future. They had pre viously called for a joint candidate in Stechford, a joint slate in the GEC
Well, why not? We are certainly in favour of joint action with everyone in the working class movement, whether Labour Party members, Communist Party mem bers, independents or whatever to fight the fascists, to fight hospital closures, to bert the social comes, HaD so pu and se forth — always providing that it is action, We CODE TOWEr OT WAS TO REC propaganda. We put forward our own ideas in our own paper. The distinction is obvious enough.
Unity in action with everyone who can he pulled in to support the particular action, irrespective of their views on other matters. Independent expression of our own ideas at all times. We don't stay out of any senuine working class struggle and we don't make our participation condifinal on others agreeing with us. At the same time, we don't hide or dilute our politics or pretend to be other that me
The Socialist Teachers Alliance is an unstable alliance held togetherby dislike of unofficial industrial action and hostility to the SWP.'
How does this apply to parliamentary словят кстовапопиту шестусова з parliamemary elections at present is: escotially a propaganda operation; means of contacting people and involving Tem In some O our avies 8nG 01 recruiting. We judge our saccess for failute in a centest pe members recrusted contacts made. Socialist Worker readers rained and so on and mot mainly by voters gained.
Of ourse, it is very pleasing if we get a better than expected vate, a little disappointing if we get a lower iban expected vote. But it is not the main thing, We are not partiamentary roaders.
Even in circumstances where there is a serious prospect of winning a parricular contest, this remains crue, It would be very uselul for propaganda and, indeed,
purposes revolutionary MP, even better to have
1g
revolutionary unity. The International Marxist Group and Big
subjeot from the IMG.
submit a different text or alter the existing one:
in order to make available these views to our readers.
several. But this will always be secondary to huilding the party in the workplaces, to fighting for leadership in the day-to-day struggle of working people and inside the the unions. Our aim in contesting parliamentary elections is to build the SWP.
Wedo not put the emphasis on getting the biggest possible vote for the "far left" Protest votes, and that is what is boile
poken of, are not without significance
ut they are incomparably ass imponar than building the party. Where does this leave us with respect to the IMG? Since many of our members do not come into contact with this organisation, it may be useful to say a little abour it.
The IMG regards itself as a Trotskyist
and is rare to ine biggest of the various bodies claiming to he the Fourth International, IL CINImS ED have 680 members. The IMG differs from us politically on a number of matters for example, it regards Russia, China, ctc., as workers" states, although degenerated or actormeu, and 1s keen on sons uke "the sliding scale of wager, open the books and so on.
But the most importaat difference, l believe, is not chese disgreements but the approach to building the revolutionary Dariv, The IMt puts the emphase On building blocs, fronts, alliances, etc. with other organisations, and what it calls tbe broad vanguard' (ie. unaffiliated left wingers) and within these blocks etc., it hopes to establish its own 'hegemony" meaning dominance. It hopes to dominate a sort of left coalition which will develop. it hopes, into a party
The IMO regards the SWP as the bigeest obstacle in its path rightly so in view of the relationship of forces tries hard to use other (non-IMG) peaple to put For unless growth of the SWP can be checked. their
Socialist Teachers Alliance in opposition lo Rank and File from which the IMG teachers splici
The STA includes a faie nomber of noe-IMG people, mostly to the right of the MILE ON RAVINE COME DUE OLDSEI denounced RaF people as 'sectarians'
a writer in a recent issue of the IMG'S paper, "for the SWP/RaF to break out of its sectarian polities, ackowledge the STA as a lorce win coual a nor greater Influence both in Loodon and nationally. and unite to win a massive vote.." elc.
But we were united in RaF until they split. In fact the STA is an unstable alliance held rogerher by unofficial industrial action and hastility to the SWP. Its leaders regard R&F as tending.to adventurism' — as in the "no cover' campaign and put nearly ail
An important question contronting socialiets-in Britain is that of
Flame have approached the Socialist Workers Party for an agreement on participation in the next election. No reply hag been received to this letter or previous communications.on the What has appeared is an article by Duncan Hailes in the SWP's internal bulletin stating his views on out proposale. Given the lack of response, we informed the SWP comrades that we would print the Hallas article untess they wanted to
No reply has been received. We are therefore prioting tho Hallas article from the internal bulletin (not a notmal procedline)
their emphasis on work in the union machine. It runs candidates agains RaP candidates in union elections After the recent National Union of Teachers tbe IMG paper claimed that • definitel: replaced RaF as 'the main tendency' on the left and bad 50 delegates ‹15 recruited at conference). The real significance of the right on all important issues. The STA is, to adaptation to rightwing dominance, a soft option for soft lefts.
Similarly, a Socialist Students Alliance has bees set up (on much the same basis) as a rival to che National Organisation of International Socialist Students and the IMG paper tells us the SSA has now replaced NOISS as the major force after -Those made for many other "fronts" the EntLe nas sponsored over the wears. The SSA ran its own slate against NOISS (as well as the Broad Left and the Tories) at the recent National Union of Srudents LOTECTCILL There is no Socialist Engineers Allianee or Socialist Electricians Alliance but char is only because the IMG has few people in do support the "indopendent Broad Left' paper Engia eering Voiceagainst Engineers Charter). To the recent Transport and Geceral Workers Union general secretary's election, the TMG called for a vote for Thornett, not Riley. Where the IMG has no possibility supports" SWP efforts. The Right 1D Work Campaign is a good example.
And it is not unfair to say that IMO support for the Right to Work marche last year was of the sort that Lenin callec support as the rope supports the tab being hanged". . For weeks on end, the ING naper carried attacks from all and sundry on the "bureaucratic', "sectarian" and of course, politically hopeless R TW leadership, complete with atrocity stories.
Red Weekly sees this sort of thing as important. Nearly every issue contains attacks on the SWP (three per issue is the norm) alongside calls for 'urity"?
Compare the absence of atlacky on the IMG in Socialat Worker.In spire of our forehearance, they concinually denounce the SWP as sectarian. Now we learn that the IMO is going to launch a new pape called Socialise Challenge, which will also serve its various front organisations -these include a Scotish Socialist League and an Asian Socialist League (in Birmingham) as WE SUG WHETHE Aliances. Jewill, so Red Weekiytellsus, 'be a non-sectarian polemical paper', Thereace no prizes far guessing who most of the Polemics wE be auneu all Some of our comrades understandably get indignant abour this kind of thing, but we should not take it too seriously, It does us licle damage but to reply in kind would
do us much more damage. Hiding your politics, sailing under false colours, never unity proposals have to be seen against
What the IMG has in mind is not a prances arrangement that socks to avoid. or at any rate minimise, the Srechford-type sitiation of two far left candidales. What they are after is, as they admit, a "joint slate a common ninitorm, and a united campaign — not not only an eiectoral
An article in Red Weekly on the Freuch municipal election agreement between the far left groups puts the line very clearly: While Lutte Ouvriere inicially saw the agreement as requiring only joint electeroi work, the LCA (the French IMG) join platform... Our comrades also argued
CACH Ocumu electoral arena, to build theimplantation of the revolutionary organisations,
They [the IMG] believe that the way forward is argument... about pollcies between people who regard themselves as revolutionaries. We
left that kind of behind years ago: thing
Now this is Bonsense. Eirber there is basic agreement ahour buiding the party - Is which case the organisations ought lo unite in a single party — or there is not, in which case they calmiol burld the implantation. How can se build jointly with the IMG when, wherever they bave strength, they build blocs against us, with forces to the right of us? To repeat, we are out to build the revolutionary party not to maximise the vote by alliances which binder building.
Is actual unity Feasible? The dilTerences on Russia etc. are, in principle, containable within a single democratic-centralist orgnaisation provided thar there is an agreed approach to building the party in the working class.
In the past, the MG has pur the emphasis on work everywhere enceps in the working cinss, but in the last few years it has changed its line and says it agrees WHEN USED This. Onlontunaccis ir nas moved well to the right at the same time and thinks in terms of hlocs with "independents' who have official posi tions, racher than building real rank and file movemscals.
Another problem is thar the IMO is a coalition of permanent factions (tbey cail them tendencies), a state of affairs they regard as positively desirable, and are noe likelyro accepe demacratic centralism as we understand it they want to stay affiliated to their Fourth International"
But the bane difficulty, I believe, is that most of them do not want unity at all bu oniy "unity maboeuvrer" to try and SECEDEED Their problem is that we would bave a buge majority in a united organisatioo. I we accept, , as we must, that they seriously believe in their own political conceptions, then their attitude is ubderstandable.
Understanding, however, is not the same thing as weakness and it would be both weak and extremely foolish to give countenance to these unity manoeuvres Tbe IMG has developed a theory to says that it is 'sectarian" to put the
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 p. WE LEFT
THAT KIND OF
THING BEHIND
YEARS AGO!
empbasis on huilding the revolutionary Unfortunately the present sectarian course of the SWF placed the needs of their organisation above the best interests of the working class, says Red Weekly This goes down well with people who like to be on the left but don't waat to commit themselves to an organisation. It is not so new citber.
Years ago Trotsky wrote of the SAP, a left breakaway from the German Social Democrats, that when they criticise the "party egoism" of the Social Democracy and of the CP: when Seydewitz (a SAP ander assumes us lat so far as he 15 concerned "ebe interests of the class come before the interests of che party", they only fall into political sentimentalism or whar is worse, behind this sentimental phraseology they screen the interests of their own party. This method is po Food. Le Interests or tae class canot o formulated otherwise than in the shape of defended otherwise than by creating s party.
That is our position and it used to b the nossbon of the MO 100, We Star from a profound conviction that the problem of carrying our a social trans formation in Bricain requires above all the building of a mass revolutionary party wrote Pat Jordan, then National Sect present rage ta be led the present fragmentation arising from the lack of such a party. Once the process of building the revolttionary party proceeds beyond its embry-
ELSE tendency clearly establishes its hegemony in theory and practice — regroupment will commence.
This was written, in part, to defend the MG's rejection of the proposal to unite the two organisations into a single party which was our policy in 1968 and 1969. In those days, they believed they conld build their organisation faster and better than ours could be built. Then we would unite when they had the majoricy. In the creat we built and they did not — they are bite stranger now thao ibey were then. One reason is that we turned our backs on sectarian bickering and they did nor.
Jordan also deak, in this article or 'Unitt and Seckriscism': winh the sort o approach the IMO now has, the method frangbt with dangers. Ir is one thing to organise a carpaign on a single issue such as Vietnam, wbere for revolutionaries the Issue is cienr cur. bur another thine onc one attempts ro cover a whole series of questions, each of which can give rise to political and cactical differenoes."
This was directed agains various "independents" and 'New lefts wanted a bloe rather than a party. The IMG has changed its line because of ou growti, its marked inferiority ro the SWP and its unwillingness to go for real unity An elecroral hilar of the sort they propose "front' & out of the question. We figh
There isa fundamentalissue involved. We know that the revolutionary party can only
avovement in workers suraggies, by drawing in workers thraugh those struggles. In these terma the IMO is ircelevant in most cases.
They believe that the way forward is argument polemnic is the word they use -about policies between people who regard themselves as revolationaries. We left tha kind of thing behind years ago
Socialist Challenge will be replying to Duncan Hallas's article next week
Page 8 scan of this page
GRUNWICK - a str The Company Cops
Remember the battle of Saltley
GRUNWICK
into the police brutality.
But it is unlikely that the inqulry will look at the real facts behind the law order' merchants who have trodden on the rights of trade unionists at Grunwicks as viciously as they have stamped on the pickets themselves. Who is responsible?
In the front line are the police who operate from Harlesden station, the main body of police on anti-picket duty. In the last few years particular police force established a reputation racism and thuggery in Brent area where they operate. For instance on 24 June last year six young women arrested and later beaten up by the Harlesden mob. One of the women Yew and order guard.
gates
THE WORKING CLASS has its
strake has brought to the mind of
many trade unionists the glorious
during die Jabuary 1972 miners'
NF155
Then a mass bicker closed the
coke depot, preventing the transportation of scab fuel designed to
The picket was especially important for the solidarity it illustrated,
BUSIAS workers joining the miners at the
Saltley gates. This is the type of
underway at Grunwick. In saying
'Remember Saltley'
Cholerre reccils the Jollowi
extract of an intervies with York-
shire miners" leader Arthur Scar-
Bill. hrst published in Red ole
Just after che miners' victory,
What is at stake polically may be
different buttherelevanceof these
words to Grunwick 1977
'The events of today wul po
down in the history of the British
NOTARENS
THE POLICE VIOLENCE at the Grunwick picket line has sent a massive shock wave through the trade union movement. The arbitrary arrests, the beatings, the kicking, the hair pulling, have brought angry protests from lawyers, trade union officials and pickets. Home Secretary Merlyn Rees has even promised an inquiry
was knocked unconscious, another received swollen lips and hruising on her chest and back. A third was and treated for a swollen jaw, and bruising on her abdomen and back.
According to the women their arrest was accompanied with such racist abuse as 'black whore" and "black bitch'.
Despite Iwo independent astnesses who confirmed that it was the police who started the trouble the women were still found guilty of "assaull'. that has FOUND GUILTY for the Police officer PC Taylor explained one woman's injuries by saying that she had 'collided" with him.
That the women were found guilty is not surprising considering the nature of the Brent judiciary Glasoow police allack anti-lascists in May 1976, shorty After McNeo -now Commissioner for the Matropolitan Police - took over the Glasgow
fistoric day when not just indi
amionists decided that ther had
They had had enough of tarmdarion by the police in obtaining
Earlier this year anotber of the local magistrates convictions of black people for assault on police was quashed an appeal.
Urian Smith and Wayne Philips had been convicted after they and a community relations officer had heen beaten up in a police yan -again by Harlesden mab, Smith had been told by one policeman to 'get your head down you bluck sooty'.
This time the frame-up didn't work and Smith and Phillips are now sueing the police for assault. The incident made Brent's senior community relations officer sever all formal links with the Harlesden police.
As one Grunwick picket quipped last Wednesday seeing the long line
police oulside • Black kids can walk the streets of Norh London in safety today:
Accompanying the pobice on their anti-picket duty are the Willesden Green force. They too have a history of racism and thuggery stretching back ten years They also have much more forma links with the Grunwick manage ment as Willesden's former Chief Inspector now works for Granwick on their "security staff"':
POLICE
The Special Patrol Group made their appearatoe last week record of this wing of the Metro politan police includes the police riot in protection of the Nationa Front in Red Lion Square three ears ago which resulted in th leath of student Kevin Carel Siting on top of this pile in the new Commissioner for the Metropolites Police, David MeNee
STe Rober Matt. associales with Grunwick manage-
sonal Association for Freedom. He
vassage througie the picker lite
for scab iabour, and they decide
todosomething aboutit.
wars the worker of this lond
Assurance,
Harlesden person of NAFF.
COMPETITION then The The other brand of WAS shown
Glasgow
MeNse recently took over from
Mark now
the Nat gress sale alterwards "We had a lesson in workeri"
sits on the board of Pboenix
LILICEMET they just Lord De L'Esle is also the chair-
СОЦА
MeNce has established similar close ties with the ruling clas When he was head of Glasgow police he advised all his officers to ake courses with the British Tistitute of Manaeement — Indeed a couple of years ago three of his officers shared first prize in a BIM compelition for young business-
side of McNee's "law and order'
May 1975 shortly after he became head of
police police Moted outside the city's Kingston Hall in defence of the National Frost meeting being held there. order' They attacked a peaceful picke of anti-fascists and arrested scores including David Bolton, vice prest dent of the Scottish miners Rod Jimmy Milne, general secretary of the Scottish Trade Union Condecided thar the nation would be defied: ther the staie sistem would WEPTER CAR CAL MOGIE MOLE! deper wowld be closed, Az 10.45 thosegates were indeed closed.
"This was Gestupo-style tacties...
maura 1a grabhing und kicking anyone they
But MeNce is not at the very top of the ladder, His appointmen was caiber a surprise and it emerged later that Prime Ministe Callaghan insisted that he got the
And it is with Cullughan and the Lahour Government, where, wit mately, the "buck' rests for the police violence at Grunwicks.
A low words from Callaghan or Rees could stop the attacks, or better still remove the police from the picker altogether. They refuse
entering Grunwick factory for their ten break will continue. fitting symbol of the happy family the Grunwick toRbapement and the force of law and order make un
A lamily which on the law and
side streiches from the Jowest racist in Harlesden station through the National Front protector MeNee, to the ex-adviser of the Police Foderation, Jaibes CalGEOFF BELL
suppose, in the future, which will
made union movement that 1s
necessary to combine the whole
TANE ONE TORE TAPECT IO
Dring about a socialist revolurion
A Spacial Braech spent wh dren out. Roy Grantham c
ONLYAFOOL, OI Home Secretary C strikers have bent o these last 44 weeks
The union agree " negotiate' last we the anti-union Joh for talks with the De to limit the numbe
The
You wit have
nette class pre
time to find w
wick strike sach
Bore it the
Comminee
case
1n: Che
200 Wes
of the Chapter R
Rood factories of
Processin On.
sicike was discler
unioni
Scot
SPEAKERS trom the
lo attend a Scotrish cont
Movement Democracy
Page 9 scan of this page
‹e that has to win
(reported thertwo pickets' who threw
spaper owner, or a Labour deny that the Grunwick ackwards to be reasonable
go to ACAS, agreed to ader the chairpersonship of uriet, agreed to meet Ward nent of Emloyment, agreed pickets. scan the or a long the Grun- office workers, about: process workers. as of an he Strike
strikers"
19ib century:
beginning ugust, over walked put nd Cobbald nwick Film APEX, recognised nember the icial by. our
Democracy in the Labour Moveml daneto zive bAde of place to the Grunwick 300803
APEX, which is one of cbe SPORTE DISER SUEEI CISSE
GRUNWICK
contempt. Socialist Challenge says:
is won;
strikers case.....
What Are We Fighting Against
1.125 for a 35 hour week for
2. t26 for 1 40 hour week for
Compulsory overtine: 4. We have only had a wage increase of between (2 and ela week in the past two years.
In short an employer who pays poverty line wages and forces us to work in feudal like conditions so employer more suited lo the
What Are We Fighting For?
2. The night to betang tra Union.
The right to have out union,
The re instacethent of those who were sacked for joining the union and those who camp out po
sh support for strikers
'We nim to take the Grennick strikers to every town represented at the conference: meelings are orguaised to hear famds, and join their fight for
botties at the acaba 'coach wore questioned by stewards. Upon which one disappearou eno mo oier sompeo fto a porce cart
All this has been thrown back in their faces with
*No more concessions to Grunwick racist bosses; *No more concession to law courts and police; *Unlimited mass picketing every day until the strike
*Demand the TUC organise sympathetie action; *Demand the police are removed from the picket
Strike in thei detenc I, A decent living wage, prope wurking conditions and an end to the abusive and cyrainical attitudes of oi management Dor wage levels are between: 235 and 25 per week less-than the indestriei agreement negaliated hy oneof eu sister unions wich che Asocietion of Fim Laboratory Emplosers?
Stnce then the company has:
Retused to cooperale 10. ap inquiry bondited by ihe Arbi trary, Conciliarian and. Auvison Service. Retived to ascept the con
mendation of ACAS that the company recognise APEX Refused throughou 1o negoriate with eicher the slokeis.
CaDE
bosses and Brent Police are
Punne driais or tos panter ence can be obrained from S.
NicLenan. TE Street, Glasgow
virtually ignored.
So the massive given to the Grunwick struggle
Photo: JOHN STUAROCK (Report! last wock may have come as a
surprise. But the way the ruling class press handled the struggle was not. Througbout the week, the popular press, the serious press and television acted out their tradicional role propaganda weapon for the ruling class.
on Wednesday 15 June. It was the Picket Line Pay Off' Mory, as the Mirror put it. This was the absurd allegation that the union had offered to pay €50 a week to any scab who joined the strike, that the local Labour council had simiJarly offered a council house and that various scabs had been intimidated homes the previous night.
Every paper coverage to these stories, repeating management, Ward, Grunwick manager, in particular.
ALLEGATIONS
a Brent councillor.
allegations'.-
claims,
the claims as fact when
Mated:
proof of these allegations. picketing
Carrington
night.
Fleet Street-
WEEK AFTER WEEK, month after month, the Fleet Street press have ignored the Grunwick strike. The assaults on pickets by members of management and police, the strikers' demonstrations and the conditions they came out against have all been
coverage
sinke which
ruary...
APEX
report was that the
The main offensive started
in the haller.
Guardian:
their
gave wide
the allegations of and George
sald.
The Mirror devored 40 tines to reporting the claims, and confrontation only four to a derial of the council house bribe story from
The Express also reported the allegations at length and the factory. gave one whole sentence to a denial, "Mr Grantham, generul secretary of APEX denied the
for cxample
The Sun gave 49 lines to the
3 to a denial from union leader told'
The Mail even reported on Cit COLLAPSE
*On Monday several (of the
scabs) were visited by pickets al their homes. Some had their
front doors daubed with white paca, again with the inevitable
Nor one paper offered any talks'.
DAVE CARTER reports
THE FIRST ax mouths are the essiest, reads a telegram of support Kertering joeranlists to the and lington. The Darlington Journalists Times: do not intend te let their dispute last 22 weeks, as the Kentering atribe did.
They are artempting to obrain a closed shop agreement from North of England newspapers, part of the picket. giant Westminster press group, ant the dispute la seen as a test case be Journalistschroughout checountry.
NUI members from Kettering, Glasgow, Sbeffield and Tyneside -together with local trade unionists answered a call for a mass picker at the Darlington offices last Friday Their First success was in per-
The battle for minds
their
off the pickets."
This cype of "objective' reporting was furcher illustrated in the Telegraph feature on the
reported *Mr Ward ordered a ballor in Feb-
which revealed only two out of 260 employces wanted to be represented by several months.
What the Telegraph did not
strikers were not allowed to take part
For that the company had refused to co operate with the ACAS ballot. DO.
The big story on 17 June was the rigged meeting between the scabs and Grantham in the DISTORTIONS factory. This meeting had been previewed in the previous day's
*Mr John Gouriet of the National Association for Free dom said he would try 10 arrange a meeting berween Mr Ward and Mr Ray Grantham. "1 have certain proposals that could settie the dispute. depends on how much they are prepared to compromise", he
In fact the meeting turned out nothing like a usual nego- from a hype tiation, but a stage managed
between some workers and Grantham. course the papers didn't report the faise pretences on which Gouriet had got APEX into last wock.
Only the fixed meeting was tem bers reported, and that in the usual "objective' way. The Express
headlined the farce " "We don't want you"
The Sun returned to tbe subject of John Gouriet and Protz. said the collapse was a bitter blow for John Couriet, direc tor of the National Association for Freedom, who set up the
LAC
A late news item in the same. week.
Mass picket boosts journalists' strike
sanding NATSOPA membersnetto drive vans through the picket linesto collect copies of che Northern Echo Stockion desperation, management iried to break tncu way trauga coc picketa, The personnel tanager was arrested for throwing a punch at the 30 top was a botaine for alleged intimida Eventunlly police allowed news agents to collect their bundlles. Only 20,000 copie of the Northerr Echo's normal print run of 118,000 Jefithe building The sucpess pf che inass pickets in the coming week can be decisive in winning the strike. In provoking the
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 19T7 p.9 paper informed its readers that NAFF bad made a statesnent saying, "In view of the way the Grunwick workers have made
views knowi to Grantham. we bope be willcall
The impression from this article is that Gouriet was acting as some neutral nego tiator, and after studying the case had come down on the side of management. The Sun did not mention that NAFF had been the closest advisor for Grunwick management for
London's Evening Standard of 17 June devoted a sibole page to the strike, with three separate stories. So you would think the strikers" view would have got in somewhere. Bur
One story was made up of quotes from scabs and cheir "terrifying ordeal' in crossing the picket line, another was on the show of force" on the picket and the third was headLined, "Pickets who've never been in a Darkroom".
It went an, 'there are people on the picket line who have never seen the inside ol a photographic dark room. They would not know a developer
Although Fleet Street con tinued spewing out lies and distortions, that message did not impress the thousands who turned up outside Grunwick
Among them, needs to be said that some were
of the National Union of Journalists.
An official circular from the
NUJ urged its members to support the strike, and among
those who were on the picket
were NUJ vice-president Dens MeShane, National Treasures
Charles Harkness and Nation-
al Executive members Jona
than Hammond and Roger
Their presence went some
scull way to compensating for
the filch and fairy stories which
bave come from the mouths of
ruting class media last dispute, Westminster Press management incend to smash the wer of the NUI within the pub
They une being aided by the sca Institute of Journalists, which ha who refused lo Join the NUJ Institute members nelude sac CELEBLA Robin Day. Victory for the Dar- Dennis and
Jingion journalises would be a real blow for the power of the magnate of the newspaper industry. . They deserve the support of all socialists. Oblain picker dermis (send messages af support to: NU Strike Cominitiee, 9 Pictoria Road, Dar Engron Road. Prome: 0325-50282
Page 10 scan of this page
tired of being told it - but it is true.
With a little help from his friends - justover a quarter of the
imself just where be wanted. Hi nternatonal irends have rushed Socialis Party (PSOE, 10 win
Party (PSOE) to win more votes. Jenny Little of the Labour Party uncerpanional acc urtment explained that, as Adolfo suarer Centreis only a baltion the PSOE is now the largest party.
Gonzalez doesn't need to do any explaining. If his party had won
machine open here fort
• Government. Communist Party (PCE) leader Santiago Carrillo
Sen over himself to pust Gonzalez into a coalition with Suarez but Felipe himself is more cucumspect.
REPUBLICAN FLAG
Carrillo explains the low vot
soderate people who were jus
ming to socialism felt that th
SOE was a safer bet. That migh movince the party faithful but it
when you
has been consistently to the left of the PCE's.
While Carrillo has embraced he monarchy, called for an end to
: Banque groeral strike - an
— Gonzalez has wrapped
Imself in a Republican Nag anc we tight. He is banking on the ame tactic now.
making implementation of
SUE conomic poley a prcoon
son for entering the Govern bat of the opposition inn retains his position a ant knowledge that Prime Miniher Adolfo Suarez will be able to ore a few Government
PREMATURE
So any comparison with Mario Soares in Portugal would be premature. It isn't thar their policies are so dissumar, No-ori is scared by the PSOE's verbal
went in the cent the he job n the event the lef parties did less wel than exceeted, not least because of the over-weighting given to the con-
But it was a weighting which favoured large parties, rather than simply right-wing ones. Bur ou might also remember that our of the left slates, which might have expected a few seats, campaigned in illegality. But whatever the composition of the lower house the Senate will still be able to exercise a veto -and the the upper bot a clear majority in.
upper bouse.
Add to that the fact that Juan Carlos appoinsed 41 senators. No prizes for gutssing their political compo, but some exampic will illustrare this point: Lale Dies-Alegrin: former head
in Franco's Nazi Blue Division, Rodolfo Murtin Villa and Mar.
Suarez Goveroment.
Alfonso Osorie: former minister, nember of the National Cathouc Association of Propagandist
id vice-president of Ess Angel Salae: Francoiet air-force chief in Civil War and a member of the Blue Division:
Marquess of basi: Cambridge oducated director of a numher of
INTERNATIONAT
Speedy Gonzalez:
just where he
wants to be
Felipe Gonzalez is a very clever young man. Readers who have followed the Spanish elections in the British press [or the Spanish for that matter] will be sick and
commitment to Marxism. The point is that the PSOE has won support as part of an upsurge of the Spanish workers movement whereas in Portuen the Socialist Party was a direct instrument of counter-revolution.
DANGEROUS
Of course the PSOE will play the same role if it is necessary -and it will be necessary - but at the moment is trying vey bard to keepitsnoseclean. And that could make it all the more dangerous.
seen by many as the man who illusion which has been assiduously cultivated by the reformist
down to negotiate with him. was no surprise that ti DOURT SIRE
fact that the Christian Democrats only won two seals Carrillo, who, after his own oor showing, has set himself u s a sort of Delphic oracle, ha omethang to say on that as well. because Carmile IDE TAHUT because Ruiz-Gimenez (the former Franco Minister) bad been eased out and rol. The Christian
comment, will probahly prefer to do without Santiago's advice.
ORACLE
The relative failure of the PCE is casily explained. It was not, as the Delphic oracle would have it
country as extreme contrary. The PCE is, and wil
within the workers movement than its poll might suggest.
Unlortunalelv the Darly's enthusiasm for dropping every
Democracy JuanCarlos style
companies. including. Standard Electric (ITT), who gave such an admirable service to democracy In Chile Miguel Primo de Riveru: great-
nephew of the founder of Spanish fascism; Counciller Realm; married to the daughter
RICHARD CARVER Speedy Gonzalez arrives for
whistle-ston meeting in as private jet. distinctive part of its programme along the parliamentary road to socinlism" drove many workers towards the PSOE, which has a fine republican tradition to craw on, or which have led the struggles the PCE have ignored old friend But reason which is absolutely correct: the party was only legalised twe months before the elections. What JULIA SONIA OTEARIAN are still a considerable number of workers parties illegal and that their vote has been considerably affected by baving semi-clandestine campaign.
HIKE never bothered to suggest other than that the elections were froc
he remaining political prisoner No mention ing. No mention of the conrinued Quite the
sowever radical the new parlia
to overturn its decisions!
Salis.
ADOLFO SUAREZ (from Triunfol
of GRAPO kidnap victim Antonio Maria Oriol the nail on the head: the right *had more senators appointed by the king than consensus vote of the Spanish
people."
won a clear Galicia
something cise
in
to do with that. militant The Basque
gives another
Commissions leader,
Pinocher to intervene'.
DIRECT ATTACK 10 run a
Chonzalez, -has marked
direct attack on Suarez
DO SETSEENE
Led ionalises. 10 Madn
Madrid)
class struggle. ando (head
elections.
Madrid
win a seat)
Gonzalez bit is acceptable
elected by ive opposition
Madrid)
VOTA
It was a dead cert that the nationailst parties in the Basque country, Catalonia and Galicia would sweep the board. We predicted as much on this page last week. Well, betting on elections is a good way of losing money — only in Catalonia did the nationalist vote approach the opinion poll predictions.
But even there the Socialist Party ionalist
majority of seats. follow the Democrats, national trend and the Basque country... tbe Basque country was
The obvious feature was that the Con a sit seat more if the Communist Party (PCE) did • May biggest working class conccotra- democratiser
clectoral boundaries had nothing smarting from there sat int workers are on their general strike last month.
The party refused to call solidarity
and were openly defied - 311E Marcelino Camacho, the Workers
they
The whole PCE campaign was
Pinocher-spotting ThePSOE. outbrotber band. was the only major party to launch a
and it naved off The POE's Basaud campaign was hardly distinguish-
Redondo's remark about Unity
airlytypical — but they had bo smart enough not to scab openly on me recent smac, teer pape position of support for the self determination of the oppressed
Take ALL OuR MARE DEW SUETONE a good few votes from the nat-
The PNV, the bourgeois nat* The conniey needs positive
ro provide ir. " Leopoldo Calvi Sotelo (second on Centre slate
For the Popular Allance Sire Manuel Fraga none only important Chead of Popular Alliance slate
We intend to overcome the
Nicolas Red of PSOE slate in
* In realizy we have won the
Alfonso Guerra (second on PSOE sate
The math is that we look with sures/action on the giodai resuits of the elecrions. "Ramon Ormazabal (head of PCE slate in Fixcaya where they did noi
remains.
dr deceptie and redee
deeds match up to us words, the FCE will play the role of a construct-
Santiago Car. rillo thead of PCE slate in
TOMBRES QUE DICEN LO QUE
IENSAN, Y HACEN LO QUEEN
AL
PARTiDO COMUNiSTA
Men [sic) who say what they think, and do what they say, vote for the Communist Party:
Basque workers shun CP
successful of all the Christiar most bear my Centre coalition into third place That isn't surprising either. After ThE Cure Can wined the way through the Basque countr the workers were les толок то вс suater us ne gres Although the PNV's record leaves everything to
radical nationalist vote must have come their way Bw most striking was the election of a deputy from the Euzkadiko Ezkerra, a far left slate
Arithmetically progressive
'LEFT gets over half the votes in Spain'announced the fromt page of the Morning Star, the British Conmunist Party daily. Unnever explainshow they urrived at that conclusion.
It wus made when 70 per cent of the rote was counted, which point the combined vote SOULSEES Commanist Party, Socialist aad the far left mus
Ispent a long time with pencil and paper trying to conjure up the extra ten per easiest medhod is subtraction. the Centre and Popular Alliance vote and you have 57.5 percent - u dear
Fromright toleft
INAKI SARASKETA Testerday as a prisoner,
Task that maintain and defend ail th
Popular masse and do not allow ampone to appropriat
which have cost the workers so much in lives and tears... When
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 p. 10
Hai CLI
supported hy a number of the radical oationalist groups. He wa elected in Guipurcoa, the beart of last month's strike, but his platform was far from adequate:
*Weare Basques. It was here that we were born or came from. We
our coumury, because it is ours or what we have adopted. We want the Basqu country and all that distinguishe it to be respected: its language, it culture, is customs and tradi lentin a similar vein for some
* The full far left results will only be knowa when the final figures
to do press. Next week we will curry full manlysis of their camporus and pores
mujority for the left, consisting of the aforementioned parties plus the fascists and all the bourgeoisentionalists.
If von re feeling charitable towards the King Street statisticlums you could leave out the TANTS DATOMASOON EN boargeois nationalists mast stay. If, on the other hand, sou HIT TO COU BROU Nutiumulist Purty | The interests of America of Humanis noons the left ibere isumultermative.
Strice the nationalists Tand the far left it you like] and include Suurez purty on the left side of the balsace. That gives TUE NEESE BE LES
Alternatively you could... The working ciass
Dread and freedom" must be understood as sunnes
bread and freedom, HO
giveness for the crimer of the
арригали Inaki Saraskets Jonner LCR Ball
cal prisoner now in exile in Norway)
Page 11 scan of this page
iPs a wonder he can stil stand up. Soviet was unanimous.
Party.
SMITH reports.
ted for the writing of a new constitution the Soviet leadership hasproduceda New Draft". JEwill Supreme Soviet in the autumn. SIGNIFICANT
The text differs very litrle from the Stalin Constitution of 1936: both solemnly Soviet people the right to freedom
masand demonstrations
criticisms shall persecution for
declaring that
prohibited'.
Yet, as any honest observer of the Soviet scene knows, af groups monitoring the Helsinki human imprisoned Cast weeke been Last week's Socialist Challenge publisbed Crisorenso's appeal to the West ern CPs on behalt of some of these
1,200 documents proeners are being met in s confiscated. Many
Spank 5 years in one of there Soon fear in one of the toe Victor
protesting, alang much tbe same ünes as the British Communist
against the invasion of Czechslovakia.
INTERNATIONAL
LEONID BREZHNEV: now Sovier Presidentas well as pertyboss. With the number of madais he has given himse/r
New Soviet Constitution
More of the same
On 16 June, Leonid Brezhnev became President of the Soviet Union. Needless to say, the vote in the Supreme
Having brushed Podgorny, the previous President, Brezhnev combines this post with that of First Secretary of the Communist
For reasons of 'protocol the Soviet Union has now fallen in line with most of the other East European states in making the party leader head of state. PETE
The *the privacy of correspondence, telephone conversations and telei registered leers tom e raid use Peace Foundat letters from
Woked the Ko. We being
Hocked by NontottEst bracisces will end with the passing of this new draft the The only significant change baked to beappearance! thenew draft is the promotion' of Brezhner to the Presidency, and TREMeSATE Or a neW clause allowing a deputy president to operate.
UNDERPINNINGS
But the real value of the jew of the Soviet bureaucracy i nar it codimes the basic 100
Stalinist regime. wanted a version that would stress MS CHONE IOCOLOMANI BOSL tions as agaiast the Senlinism of 1936, This was blocked by opponents un TENC Agreemen: on the now draft is a sign of the ascendancy over the various currents within the Sover leadership.
The most significant fact about the new draft & ics failure to Channe one basic component Di aside past coostitutions: the view
national misprities. brev's rule there has been 8E increasing arise for centralisation power in th All-Union authorities, combine with a massive effort to "Russify the Used natimalities within LIQUIDATION Some ideologists were arguing For the Liquidation of the nationa republics and the removal of all taik about the right to secession. no tact mar such wase ol taken place is a sign of th
are heing FIRE ULTE BE BREE LOUE
logical change in the constitution Otherwise the new draft's signi ficance lies largely in the greater political autharity it gives to the Party as a
monopolistic Soviet state, Article 6 states: The COIDOUTS TORY DEIC DONI Union is the leading and guiding force of Soviet society and the nucieus of its political system, bi all state and public organisations. No other parties are permitted.
As far those Sovier curiens risbing to campaign for genuin lockers" democracy in the UISS) unmistakeable take the phrases about politica liherries too seriousle. Article 39 declares that citizens injure the interests of Society and
his ICAOCTAITO the ss shall be obliged en
which safeguard the intereses of the
Soviet stare, to prestige.'
From ALAIN BROSSAT
refusal
Beaneter.
munist Party.
the would be expelled.
Kurt
Hamburg Jusos leaders, its own party membems.
Uader Brez-
hands of the
From a correspondent
at Pau in
ship.
STATUTES
within the
congress as a
Raliy warning not lo Workers
Blain.
must bo Easern Europel NUS Erecutive
candidate for
contribute to tbe
Best tube Oxford Circus).
German Socialists
ban YS leader
cold let to he Tall or le defend goernmental coalition with th liberal Free Democrats. One of
issues hes been the
dected chairperson of the Young Socialists (Jesos), Kigas we
(the German
There is mare than an echo of
Benneter came trom the lelt al th system Jusos and was thrown our by the party machine because he advo CAL JOHN MORE PID LIE SOME
The crisis has spread throughout the party.
The Jusos of Hamburg, a toan where social democracy has been
would measures apatiast Benneter to be reversed. In a text published last wock they assured their former chairperson of their full and complete solidarity' almost
The only reply was for the federation of the party (Ste Hamburg demand that the 62 senatories withdraw cheir names or they
one said
cruiser bri
BERUFSVERBOT: the word refers to the banning of faft-wingers Irom state employment. The seme Goverment which Implements if is now gagging
Cold split in the
French Socialists
THE FRENCH Socialist Party congress in Nantes has failed to rescive the cold split berween the
majority and the left. it ratitled IDE UPSIDE Of Cos Is Cong
1975, to exclude representatives of the left-wing
The majoricy, led by Francois
debate about
statutes rather than policies. I
POLICE MURDERS,
SOLIDARITY WITH POLISH
WORKERS AND STUDENTS
Led Specters Comer e Speakers: Oliver
Donald editer, Labour Focks or
Andy Durgan in o persona
Carly LETPU and rank and
EETPU presi-
Friday 24 June, 8pm, Room 94
Polechnic of Central London,
Regeur Street, London WT (mear-
that: if we are no longer able to
the position thar society is a class society this
that in furore the work of he adiled: "There are many on the right of the party who want to prepare the ground for
Tories) because ibere is no other way they can resolve the crisis of the capitalist Wand's comments show how lar the unity or to ore da become Little more than a for
week five social democratic deputies that they would nor vote on the Government's project for fiscal refote. They stressed Ibar they
of socialise principle
85 STRET appeared. In a routine which is also reminiscent of the Labou Party, all bur ten of the rebels faithfully trooped into the Gouerasent lobbies Nevertheles the very fact that the rebeis conde have brought down the coalition has shown just how fragile the Government now 15.
Jean-Pierre Chevenement, the CERES leader, explained that second political debate.
CERES, which is supported b political about a quarter of the party, has
tifferences with Mitterrand ove
the calcot of nationalisaloons, Lu Comman Market and relations with the Communist Party.
But the fear of creeping social democtatisatioo did bot stop En CERES lenders from making massive concessions to gain
Their as nacE 0s 800 finance, while the Mitterrand leadersbip sat tight. The rank and file majority delegates chant-
•Unity. Unity"". but their ClenT that unity would only be on their ferms.
PRESSURE GROUP
Mitterrand may have been dis-
appointed with the outcome of
but the attitude of
the CERES leaders ensured that
tbey will remain a pressure group
ton — and a weaker one at that!
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 p.11
IN BRIEF
ERITREA: Troops of the Derg military dictatorship have driv en back the forces of the right
Union in the north of the merillas of the Ethiapian Peo the SAME ple's Liberation Front have entered Asmara, the capital of
ETHPIA: About forty Ethi MORE SUCHES ACCUSE D the Parrice Lumuumba Univer sity in Mossow
nice to Ernie has rained
in London on Friday 24 June al 4.30pm. The embassy is at 18 WB.
SENEGAL: Tbe Dakar student atrike (reported last week) har
seen followed by a genera
trike of rail workers, with th
Governmenr's attempts to use the trade union ELOUD ID stop the strike have so far failed.
THAILAND: The trial of Sucham Saengprathum, the general secretary of the nation al studen
tary reginne's anti-communist lowe remove any legal guarantee from detendants charger under them.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Two former Government Ministers are among the 750 signatories ofthe Charler ? numan ment manifesco. They are Vilibald
Bodicek, Education Minister ic
the former Food Mini ster.
CHILE The Chile Scatland
lootball match went abead lat seck, but the Chilean people showed what they thought of
Only 17,600 turned up to the SH CARP CAUSE SPOUSE
EAST GERMANY: The Chil
can Government has just ex changed Communist Part
member Jorge Montes for 11
ers. Which is strange
assuring us they haven't got any!
DENMARK: The five mooth SLILAL UEU leading papers ended Jase wok M0g print workers were forced to accept redundancies as part of management's new WE PHILI routine'. Something of a mis BEAUCE
INDONESIA Chavernmen
parachutists have been sent to quell a separatist revolt
Trian-Japa, the wester part oe
Panua-New Guinea.
same time the indonesian re gime denies that the movement
has any support.
MOROCCO: 'We bope thar
the Moroccan action under the
DAU charter has alerted Africa
continent from external Inte HIML
ference the Morrocan For
eign Minister, commenting or
his army's external interference
In Zaire.
CHINA: It is well kaown that
Teng Hsieo-ping is well on 1be
way to being rehabilitated Bu
so is the great Marxist teache
Joseph Stalin. He never had the
distinction of heing labelled a
capitalist ronder mut he di
get left our of the 1975 colle
lion of writings on the dic
tacorship of the prolecariat — a
rather strange omission. Refer-
Stalin's
Tabous techniques for per
suading peasants of the virtues
issue of the Peoples Dally
praises the way in which he bled
LEASAIS
Union so that they followed the
socialist road'.
Page 12 scan of this page
Left win in Bengal
THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) - CPM scored an portant sidory in the scatc elections in West Bengal.
A five-party alliance domina
d by the CPM won in overa bengal will once again have ensuring that Wes CPM-dominated government with the CPM having an overall majority in its own right. This ten without depending on othe parties in case of rifts
Jyoti Basa, the CPM leader, has indicated that he expects no conflicts with business interests ever the problem he is going to face is that the masses, and Calcutta, might not accept this view.
Serday before publication
alitical Revolution in Eastern Eu
diffik MATTE the END THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
NOW
Orders of 10 or more 10 Cash with orde
ON SUND DO Woman
ME Front Marking cordere
London Mo Beer silent peake
CARM, 13 Cieve Roed, London NW
INTERNATIONAL
For over half a decade they Have been at the recesving una o state repression backed by loca big business interests. They could
of anticipatory struggles both to elebrate the CPM's victory and to anticipate some reforms. l they are disappointed the situation could become precarious for the Cry on the mentary front.
It should be recalled that it was after the CPM's victory in 1967 hat she Naxalites split the pare
struggle'. This was a failure from which lessons have been learnt An orranssed miss struegie could prove to be a different affair altogetber, especially as this time the CPM will not be able to 1is the excuse of not having an overall majority.
What'sLeft
TONDIL
orge ince C 14. 70 01-40/89
a Pride Committe, adora
nittoo, 5 WEDGE: New revolutionary joumal
msey Park Road. Loncon Ne. T
-888 176
FOUNSLOW
on Beers London wet. Pridey
extra-parliareports.
hey colice seld bome pote
chief Brigadier Jan Visser, 'bat when their lives were in dange hey had to protect themselve Soweto hy the evening of 16 June,
trong them two young children. sunday her ple represent a None of them wasanned. Eleven at Kahahn township near Por Elizabeth arrested more than 100 black youths court sentenced to caning. Like last year students has quickly spread outsidetheSowctocownships, but.the police have also used the last year 1o busld up their weaponry-
RUBBER BULLETS
"Sneeze machines' are the latest — a vicious new way of serving up tear-gas Jinumy Kruger proudly announc using rubber hullets. But, judging by last week's events, they still have a preference for the real variety
But we can still draw solace from INC BOWE IT DOES Ok sional inefficiency. eleven dead was
ccidentally shot by one of hi FIVE HUNDRED students have been arrested and an opposition
the Braziban dictatorship's lates crackdown.
The students weredelegates at an
assembly of college faculties fron restoration of democratic rights. The Geisel Government is trying, SO 1ar wuDOur success to reviM
Union of Students.
It a a last-ditch bid to stop the
Sowetofirst anniversary
Police shoot
demonstrato
Callaghan
optimistic
There was overwhelming support for the Sowelo Students Representative Council call for a stayaway strike on 16 June. The centre of Johannesburg was almost completely deserted and the townships filled with black-clad marchers. It was a show of strength the police could not ignore. CHRIS O'BRIEN
were wounded in
Hern Africa.
the activity by black about the need for the and police Minister way connected with this.
cently granted to
One of the I policense EXCLUSIVE PICTURE from Brazil shows not troops moving to crush student demonstrations.
Brazilian dictator arrests 500
the end of
National workers movement
collengues, and another policeman managed to wound himself in the stomach, chest and shoulder
FAKE INDEPENDENCE
Prime Minister James Callaghan
"statesmanlike spooch on soutb-
On Namibia, where
pushing whead with its fake indipendence plans againse the wishes
was optimistic for a negotiated
He was also rather disparaging
struggle' (as be insists on calling it;
dence be seems to think that we will continue to find another way"
Unfortunately be was not ques
which British Petroleum (with a
Government holding) has in the racist regime was in any
Nor did he botherto mention Ric police drive LOUS HASSIVE SORIC TO TRE Namibian uranium industry or the
licence
supply the South African Govern cent share. ment with a military communica
Government.
It probably just slipped his memory that the South African
From a correspondent
revival of the student opposition which already threatens to spread
inta the workers movement. O the eight oppositionists arrested al
April Incloding
members of the Wockers League the Brazilian supporters of the Fourth International — a number HOIC MINE BE THE ICES MIE
But repression on its own has not
SOWETO mar gas victim. 'When police ives were in danger they had to protect themselves: said the Sowero police chief
around in Land Rovers built by British Leyland (nationalised) or that the tear gas (see picture) is manufactured by a company in which ICI has a 40 per
Healso apparently forgot which
which war, which occupied territory not a million miles from the Irish Sea, worked The eight have Coon the focus of a mass campaign which even the latest acrests have doneumeto stop
Geisel bas also clamped down on the only legal opposition, tb (MDB). MDB leader Marco Srito has been removed from his seat in
ing a speech which the Govern ment cinims was a paraphrase of a
Communist Party,
first developed the rubber butlets which Jimmy Kruger is so proud
But to point all that out at the very moment when police were
streets of Sowero would be a little tactless. And, when it comes to the
Timisnothingif nottactful.
Chileans
оссиру
UN
From a correspondent
THIRTY Chileans have occupied tbe United Narions building in Santiago and started an indefin
told what has happened relatives who have disappeared.
carly days, the military junta has resorted to sooner arrests and the
on criminal charges as a way of covering up is suppression of BUT CAMEL
Among the hundreds of Chile ans who bave disappeared in thi
beader of the Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Jorge
both whom disap peared outside the country and the eight youme Santanc workers whose case was public ised in Red Weekdy carlier this
Messages of support can be sent directly to the hunger strik
of Menuel Balbon, ers, Edificio Naciones Unidas, Vita CALL
Santiago, Chile, The Chile Solidarity Campaign is also asking supporters to send telegrams to Kurt Waldheim, LIN genera
ecretary, UN Plaza, New York 1001, calling for an investigation into the cases of the disappeared
Page 13 scan of this page
SURPLUS VALUL
For bourgeois society, there is something particularly shock-
speak on the subject of art. Marxists may be grudgingly tolerated when they speak of history, politics, cconomics — for that, after all, is their patch. But the sacred shrine of art mustn't be defiled by the grubby hands of materialists.
For isn't art the expression of all that is uniquely 'individual", the finest Rowering of the "human spirit", of the 'eternal essence' of humanity? Doesn't it foat sublimely above the sordid everyday concerns, speaking of what is "universal" and 'spiritual'? Art is the last spiritual refuge of a bourgeoisie on the run; and It even that can -De analysed in a materialist way. then surely nothing is sacred.
Karl Marx once wrote of capitalism's deep hostility to artistic production. And indeed the philistinism of capitalist society contrasts sharply with that intense concern for art and culture which the Marxist tradition has always shown. It is, ironically, the materialists who have taken art scriously, as a real social force, a dynamic for transforming social consciousness; and it's the idealists, the 'cultivated' elite, who have trivialised art by reducing it to a ritual or a pastime, a cultivation of the private soul for the weary capitalist on holiday from the office.
CULTURAL CONTROVERSY
Marx and Engels were themselves formidably cultured people who seem to have read just about every important work of literature in most European languages. The Bolshevik
plosion of artistic innovation and cultural controversy, much of it centred on the figure of Leon Trotsky, And since then there has been a rich heritage of revolutionary debate and experiment in the cultural field.
What is the relationship of art to ideology, its role in maintaining the power of class-society! To what extent
1 art ellect a revolutiona trans-
rmation of consciousness? Shou revolutionaries devote themseives to building a 'proletarian culture"? Can there be a 'scientific" analysis of art along materialist lines? What should be Marxism's attitude to the 'great" art of class-socicty, produced as it was our of exploitation and elstism?
These are some of the questions which the Marxist cultural tradition bas raised, and they obviously can't all be dealt with here. But two main issues can be separated out: the relation of art to ideology, and the material basis of artistic production.
It's clear that art has a close relation to ideology, and so plays its part in preserving the cultural and political dominance of a ruling class. But the Marxist cultural tradition has on the whole protested, rightly, against reducing art to ideology.
POWERFUL
Art belongs to the superstructure' of society, and only becomes fully possible at a certaio stage in the division of labour; but it's relation to the class-struggle is usually by no means a direct one. Indeed art is so ideologically powerful precisely be cause it isn't just propaganda. By creating 'fictions", Imaginary worlds which engage our sensuous and emotional responses, art can carry the values of a ruling ideology into the very bloodstream and nervous system of those subject to that ideology.
Art transforms ideological values, brings them to dramatic life, casts and re-casts them into continually fresh and surprising shapes. In doing so, it plays its part in resolving' certain contradictions within ideology: by
level, it produces certain potent myths which embody - and thus help to confir - the way people live out
relations...)
their relations to their social conditions.
For a revolutionary, this means two things. I means that art quite oflen provides us with an insight into the way ideologies actually work which is available to us in no other form. This is what Engels meant when he remarked that Balzac's novels had given him a deeper understanding of French history than all the coonomists and political theorists put togetber.
It isn't that the role of art is exactly
Art in itself won't bring about revolutionary change. But it can become part of that process of "cultural revolution" in which women and men experience their social conditions in new forms, and thus are impelled to change their real social
TERRY EAGLETON writes on
Art
and
Revolution
АВТОР РЕЖИССЕР О. ДОВЖЕНІ
ЗІМ.ІЯ
historians,
to give us a "knowledge of historical conditions': the artist is quite free to "falsify history, invent things that never happened, give full rein to fantasy. But in doing so — since the artist is always rooted in certain historical conditions — the work of art will give us the 'feel' or 'experience" of life ar that particular historical point, and thus contribute to a scientific analysis of the workings of ideology.
No work of art, or course, will give us i 'complete picture of the historical conditions from which it was pro-
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 p.13
duced. Every art-work is related to history at a particular angle, grasps (and distorts) it from a particular ideological perspective, which may or may not correspond to the dominant ideology of the time. The way art 'reflects' ideology isn't just a matter of theartist's conscious political views. It's
matter of what is possible within the laws of the art-form itself. For every art-form has its own laws, its own methods of procedure, which aren't reducible the laws ideology, much less to the laws of the mode of production'.
If I decide to write a love-sonnet, theo the conventions of that particular art-form already in part determine, shape and limit what I want to say. If, on the ober hand, I decide that the love-sonnet is a clapped-out artistic form, then historical materialism will want to know why: why is it that, at a certain point in bistory and the class-strugale, this art-form no longer seems to correspond to the way people ideologically experience their social conditions.
CULTURAL REVOLUTION
If art transforms rather than merely "expresses" ideology, then it's possible to me it to transiorm ideology in a revolutionary direction. Of course, art in itself won't bring about revolu tionary change; but it can become part of that process of "cultural revolution' in which women and men experience their social conditions in new forms, and thus are impelled to change their real social relations,
It's at this point, however, that we areled on to the second issue: that of the material basis of artistic production in a particular society. I may well write a "revolutionary novel next week; but the obvious retort that springs to mind is — so what? Who will publish it, read it, study it? My novel will become a commodity to be sold on the market like any other; it will reach a mere handful of mainly middle-class readers; if it's successful, it may be bought up by the capitalist communications media, or made part of a university literature course to help educate the ruliog class of the future
The conclusion is that we can't change consciousness through art without simultancously trying to change the social relations of artistic production. We don't just need new messages; we also need new media, which will break our of ruling-class cultural institutions — the arl-gallery, concert-hall, elitist theatre transform the relacions between artists and audiences.
NEW TECHNIQUES
This, indeed, was the major insight. of the greatest revolutionary artist of all, Bertolt Brecht. Brecht didn't just write revolutionary" plays; he actually transformed the shape of the theatre and the nature of acting. Mayakovsky, the great Bolshevik poet, didn't just write Marxist poems: he developed new techniques by which to recite his poetry to mass proletarian audiences.
This isn't to argue that what we need is a "proletarian culture". For it's in the nature of capitalist oppression that the proletariat is culturally deprived; and thus no genuinely revolutionary cul ture can be merely an expression' of working-class experience, It needs rather to be an intervention into working-class experience, transforming it in a revolutionary direction by the use of new techniques which strip "high art' of its sacred privilege and create new cultural relarions between women and men.
Only by the overthrow of the capitalist state can this process be properly developed; but it's one which can be begun in the present. It's to this task above all that revolutionuties working in the cultural field must address themscives
Page 14 scan of this page
COMMENT
THIS IS an open latter to the South
com socialist feminiats on th revolutionary left. # naa also been sent to Spare Rib and
has seen the менонІ слоново тогтя
or more a ration eve
women's libaration movament who are conscioualy identitying themseives as both femi-
importantly a8 women wnp s88 that the struggle for both
and the struggle tor socialism aro inte-
As scolalist feminists. we do
of attempt to put either ou
truggle for our liberation or th class struggle in a secondary
sition - rather, we 869 Do as primary. By DESIRE
Necessity organisation, women's self organisation two lights.
We have found through our
wn struggles that we can only egin to build oursalves and ou
organisation hes a revolutionary dynamic which takes forward the struggle for socialism among many sectore of soclety.
The CP
THE DICHOTOMY inside th
Communist Party as nrescoted il
Socialist Challenge (9 June) as,
on the one hand, opponents of a
me who back 'the bureaucratic
See the one, ter focal demo.
crats 'with correct. though very
partial, criticismos of bureaucratic
TIES cople of Easters Europe
learly eut wat is worse is Socials overschematic
Challenge's idea selecting
elements from both sides. What
CAPURRA
connection berween the various
elements of political practice. It
those who uncritically idolise the
existing socialist regimes
have a view or sexual pollics thal
can only be labelled reactionary;
Open Letter to
South London
Feminist Group
expresaion in the decision of the South London Socialist Femin Is Group to re use the nant of particloation to women who are members of groups on the revoArguments were brought forward which attempted to equate
THE SONGS OH TOrnan
separately trom man win this
TAHSONS
Ne belleve that as socialis
CONCA DO CO TOKE 101M SO OUT common strugg. v8 belleve that our revolutionary organisations have all the nor obieve trat partoipation mixed organisation will nece arily preclude honast and oper debate inside the socialist femi
MOCISIST THINNIES counterpose ourselves to radical reminiate, • he man to rea division as the our oppression Rather, wo see the make links with all those forces who are seeking revolutionary change. axclude from socialist
from une Tar lert us not omy to eave those women who are struggling against their mixed organisations even
connection
the workers" states colours tbeir view of politics in Britain with a crude dormatism. One of the threads ruoning through much of Lenin's work (theoretical-practi-
of sucb elements.
The attempt to with one nature to rocket itself. defended trots a liberal stand: right paintiny ones chich conne very ones which
of
Obver MacDonald notes tha
clementary minority rights, don't challenge the rules PETE MASON (SW London)
more isolated in their struggles,
Ability
revolutionary change.
We are distressed also at the
include also organisec in reformist organisa-
and the Communist Party? How detarmine centrallat organisation will have a worse effect than participation in organisations like the Labour Party. whose Government is in the process of attacking the very think thet all women who are willing to take up the fight, both theoretically and should be able to join with other socialist feminists.
We think, sisters, that It is on these questions, and if we annot do so within the contex
South Landon, let us at 30 CE the pages of this periodinecessity to ONE WIS WOTO RODE TOTEST
able 10 struggle together.
ANNIEJANOWTTZ
MINNIEJANSEN зеківт in JUDITH ARKWRIGHT
SOOT AROUN
NS'
TION
Expropriation?
Won't roader
fused if this point is not made BOOISELY ASTIGE!
VALERIE COULTAS [Brighton|
separate off a Banner boring international
socialist
SWooper. very cathaslestic.
Jest ome comment. 1 Ond the way 'Socialist Challenge' is priat ed on the paper's banner boring
Cominental papers Blaring wher weeks
La prize (say 25) for a new PAT MAGILL (Manchester]
the comment al toast 970-5
The second issue
the Spanish LCR
largest and strongest
Brtain. Although
extreme left
strength
whether
Asian and not clarity Finalry.
Sighting for? We
practically,
Fi group in
unite in scallholders, the Contract ourselves.
JUBILEE
RACISM
i expropriation
and The
O SEEINEIR polish as the savages
Ittle con-
Front. ground printed some pictures
hanners were
UNFORTUNATELT the first two attacks
issues of Sociallet Chailenge
Workere Party, In the tirat issue
so its DO NOSE DIE BATOrTURED HE
howere expecting nothing actually
bigger man zoe Srish sWp bu it le quite false to say it is the
growing verr rapidi 85c.7s the
largest Trotakyist group, three
organisations
Spain are numerically larger
knowing or forces and not eras The comers on Spain
(nerefore heip to spread conta-
what Barth SUICIOU
NONCIES OUTGO SACRO
the SWP? There are real deberes
to be had with that organisation
which should be considerably
polemics have a place. But little
only divert from
the really big issues. These hiltie
Having a good
first meeting, one against the Social Contract, on this recent wet and wintry Saturday. The first balf, held on Ashion Market Ground, faced an audience which Consisted oncE of one of two worker
odd pensioner, a middle
shouting 'Communists, communists'.
After an hour speaking to what seemed a vast empty space, we moved to the shopping preciner and scarted all over again. Strangely enough a good time was had by all. Two of the speakers had never spoken in puhie before, and the speakers ranged from Lahour Party, Big Flame, and Tameside IS (ex-SWP)
We sold 16 copies of "The Case Against the Social
and many or ramese лордет &рщ: bulletin. We didn't have a sale of Socialist Challenge
after a party the night before.
The united front didn't appear out of the blue. For a year or so we have been working together in the various rank and tile action arouns in Tameride Wo on our part ill Tameside had adopted the French Sincan No Enemies on the Left. comrades from the other tendencies and parties made
different positions, we all took for granted that ibe others were also revolutionary with similar airs co
Six woeks ago Tameside IS (ex-SWP) took tbe
In order to show its sensitivity to the racism and chauvinism Bo
the local Jubilies
organisers put on a spectacular Rorke's Drift, with the British
hundreds of savage Zulus
with locals in boot
This brutal act of expanding
ed 1o be fun for the local people.
sure that Leicester's Asian and West Indian population real-
Not poiltical? Ask the National
They counter-picketed
members clalmed that the left are re-writing history'. Generous
in the Mer-
cury in the special Jublice issue
blacks hit the
Imperialist Ideology is atrong, and we see here how the
burghers' nostalgle for the good ald days of colonellam. All T can say la Sowato to the lot of you!
PAUL ULMSTON (Exec. Mamber, Leicester South Labour Party)
Stop these little attacks
• cowid pennyworth of tar that spoils the
Thay should be stopped.
JOHN ROSS North Landon!
CAN Sociallet Challenge rise to
prove Itsel more than the old Ret Woekly in a new package al a nev
attacks
oups that sametimes appean
Rod Weoklyreappearin the ne
The absence of any editoriallyganctioned material of this nature
encouraging sign Soclalist Challenge is
П 00 SOME DO COST! what is and what is not worthy of should have editorial disclaimers
DOINTS OH NIHE DROV the first Soclallet Challenge.
400-ward Straitjackel is kinder ta those seeking to promote slanders and
to refute tham. Suffice to say •TOE
ranging and goneral attacks -
time in Tameside
TAMESIDE UNITED Revolutionary Front beld their initiative in calling a meering of the various tendencies
SEYCIEL weeks and four
some withoul party altulation.
the right direction.
only rank and file activit
so test and clarity our own ideas.
The calibre of
revolutionary groups in Britain today
present aims and objectives.
Tameside internationul Socialists (es-S₩P)
MARXIST
SYMPOSIUM
sessions on gramsci
speakers include
crest mandel quintin hoare g denise avenas
robin blackburn
norman geras michael ToWy
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 22 June 1977 p.14 TEnS Labour Pany. combinad syndi cuportuniam: socialisi policies. uncritically SHONE Party' sectarianism and bureau expulsions. 'Mengheviam 10 which it coes not substantiate in On tap of this there are all the ald slanders - support for the support for the troops in Ireland t9! onlareluctant suboor forthe NUI
Healy on a field day. And then the compares the SWP to the WRP! And wonders at the hostil ty of some SP members! expressing the hope that SocialChallenge would become a forum for debale Given this, editorial board has an colinatior 1o take a rim positon on coe sor of articles the paper carries, Irit is to flourish, Sociallet Challenge refuse cary must he soon to be the lost to criticise such material. If it is to this sart of rubbish. if is heading rovide an uncritica platform tor SCOUT 14888199 domise G.W. CHAPMAN (Oxlord| with the objective of forming a Revolutionary Federation. We drew up a federation agreement which was agrecable to all the tendencies and individuals. Six
meetings later tendencies represented are as follows: Anarchis. Big Flame Communist Party, Labour Party, Tameside IS, and
We all realise that it is early days yer; and although I write in a personal capacity I feel that I speak for us all in saying that we feel that we have taken a few steps in
The advantages we enjoy are as follows. Firstly, we present a united face to the working class in Tameside. Secoodly, we are able to carry out revolutionary political activity on a united basis, instead of formerly
Thirdly, we can discuss and debate a wider range o political generalisations than was possible before, and Our latest indoor meeting, for instance, was on the issue of Anarobo-Syndicalism, something many of us were only aware of vaguely, and yet a tendency soone of whose positions have become that of the present
We send out best wishes to Socialisr Challenge, with the home that both it and we wainsam and achieve co
THE BUROPEA EVOLUTIC
'eurocommunism spam poulantzas womens struggles easter europi revolutionmary -strategy
at the LSE we.
sept 9,10,llth
DETALS, REGISTRATION 1AMS UNH Socialist Challenge
Page 15 scan of this page
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Page 16 scan of this page
Soweto:
Fighters
Must
Win!
students' president, from their platform.
Natlonal Oroanisation of
the South African struggle in the student field.
The constituency of Lady-
wood in Birmingham has
become vacant. The sitting
Labour MP, Brian Wal-
den, has moved elsewbere.
The Plunning Meeting
called by the International
Marxist Group and Big
Flame in Birmingham on 2
July to discuss a national
appealfor "Socialist Unity"
candidates at the nest
general election therefore
takes on a more immediate
significance.
The meeting will take up
the question of the Lady-
wood constituency and the
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Freedom
SOME 2,500 people marched through London last Saturday lo mark the anniversary of the Soweto uprising in South Alrica.
This number represented a considerable success, considering the failure of the demonstration's organisers, the National Union of Students, to serlously build It, and the positive harm they did to the cause of solldarity in the preceding weeks with their sectarian decision lo axclude Teletel Meshinini, the former Sowelo
At least half the demonstration was made up of the united contingent organised by the Socialist Students Alllance and the
Intemational Socialist Societies, reflecting the leading role of the far left in bullding solidarity with
An even larger and broader proportion of the demonstration shared the SSA and NOISS articism of the NUS Executive
Socialist unity
in Ladywood
recessity of having a Socialist Unity candidate to avoid the mistakes Stechford. An lavitation is being sent to all socialist groups inviting them 10
Planning meeting on 2 Julyat 'Golden Eogle", FIl Street near New Street station, Birmingham starting at noon.
All correspondence and enquiries should be ad dressed to: Conference Planning Committee, Floor, 14 Picadilly, Manchester 1.
Socialist Challenge
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the and demonstration
TOUGHE
3rd
Anti-racist
lobby call
LABOUR PARTY confer-
éDoe last year
resolutions on racism calling
for the rocal of the
imenigration laws, Needless to implemented yie L bee say noac of
Government. Sidoe tben the
Labour Party has organised
one
racism. Nothing cise
lo the meantime the righs
wing are on the move both on
the extreme right and in the
Socialis
favour of a Day of Action On
nice the Cut Can
Jereoce in Brighton this
initial meeting of
tians which
laying seige to the
Party conference in October.
For further info Tuation wrile
1o. Socialin Challenge (Payof
Action), 328/9 Upper Street,
Landan N1.
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majority's splitting tactics and backed their call for an alteralive platform to the official one, on open and democratic principles. Al
Vol the domonstration gathered around the officlal platform. A bl 600 majority gathered instead to hear the altemative viewpoint.
The ludicrousness of the NUS Executive majority's position was highlighled by the fact that on this day they had no-one on their platform who had been Involved in the Soweto struggle
From the allemele platform, lormer secretary of the Soweto
Shinisy
secholo
voted for A
fiver
for
demonstration against
Challenge is in outside (and also SUCWe are organising an would ppor abou
La quarter of the DIONAL
karth internation
AL GROUP
thriving readers
Socialist Challenge
SRC, Bamay Mokgatle — who had flown in sapecially from Atric: for the occasion - brought greetings from Taletsi Mashinini and other londing Sowoto milllants.He spoke out against sectarianism in the liberation and solidarily struggles and urged everyone thare to continue the fight for solidarity with the liberation struggls. The supporters of the altemale platform responded by lilling the whole square with reaounding chants of No slanders — no exclusions -solidarity and "Victory to the Freedom Fighters'
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group. And in a whole munaber 01 other smaller towns like Wigan and Warrington in the North WestIt is the mushrooming activity around the new paper which makes as conti dent that a fiver is not toc much to usk that the new und vital project of the left can sacoped.
We know that this is a substantialsom. Butthenit's a very substantial project.
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← Socialist Challenge No. 2, 16 June 1977Socialist Challenge No. 4, 30 June 1977 →