Socialist Challenge No. 66, 5 October 1978

Socialist Challenge · 5 October 1978 · 16 pages, 19,579 words read by machine

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Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.

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Page 1 scan of this page

Socialist Challenge • The Labour Party conference voted by a two to one union leaders — for the simple reason that they have instructed the NEC to campaign against the 5 per cent a responsibility to organise a nationally co-ordinated • It is perfectly clear from Callaghan's response that • For there is an alternative way of dealing with the

party policy there are two intertwined tasks. The first the other Five Percenters is an old one: we represent is to utilise the local, regional and national machinery the nation. We are for the 'national interest'. This means backing all strikes which challenge the ludicrous. For the interests of the overwhelming bulk pay policy. It means NEC members and local Labour of the population [those who sell their labour power]

CALLAGHAN MUST COL All out with Ford workers - Weds. 11 Oct. Official demonstration — assemble Tower Hill 2pm. Smash the 5% limit - 35 hours now!

majority to reject all forms of wage restraint and

norm.

neither he nor the Labour government are going to accept this decision by the conference. In fact all the signs are that 'Cabinet ministers against the Labour Party' will soon be busy launching a dirty counter-offensive. • For members of the Labour Party committed to

of the party to campaign against the 5 per cent norm.

parties mobilising support for solidarity actions and picketing

Secondly, a campaign to get rid of Callaghan and the Five Percenters from the leadership of the Labour Party becomes an important priority. They must be replaced with people who are prepared to accept the decisions of the Labour Party conference.

True, there wil be a massive witch-hunt against those who wage such a campaign. Democracy is fine provided it goes against the left. If the latter makes gains then it can simply be discarded. This law of bourgeois democracy should find no place in the Labour Party. • Callaghan has challenged the unions. What is your solution, he has demanded. Healey has threatened further unemployment and union-bashing, using the example of the defeat inflicted on the FBU strike last winter.

Callaghan's challenge will not be taken up by the

No. 60 5 Uctober 1978 15p no other alternative. But militants in the unions have

opposition.

crisis. But it requires socialist measures which will please neither the City of London nor the International Monetary Fund. Some of these are discussed on our centre-pages this week. Others will be discussed in our pages in future issues. • The central slogan of Callaghan, Healey, Foot and

The very idea of a 'national interest' is clearly

can never be the same as those of a minority which owns and controls the banks, building companies, insurance and mortgage firms, defence industries, etc.

The Labour government acts in the interests of this minority which controls Britain. It puts their interests before those of the class which votes it to power. • What is needed is an alternative national plan to beat the crisis. Such a plan could strengthen the working class politically. For it would be based on satisfying the needs of a majority of the people of this

The left social-democratic leaders in the Cabinet are either engaged in sordid compromises [Benn] or are busy buttressing Callaghan's position [Foot]. It is clear that a fightback will have to be organised at the base of the Labour Party to remove the Five Percenters. We shall aid that fight in every way possible.

Page 2 scan of this page

Would you buy do-nothings a used

from this man?

OUR POLICIES 2

EDITORIAL

Socialist Challenge.

Jilted Jim

and the

Party conference.

of Tory-bashing, and the theme of "unity".

country, It prodded the union leaderships into action.

per cent were 'know-nothing' votes cust by a "rabble". NOT OUR CRISIS

The reasons are simple. relong lo accept that the crisis of the

'special case', The iwo arguments go together.

HE TAUNT

particalar category.

than the supposedly something, but they do nothing.

party or the goverument?

PATHETIC JESTER

away old man, white hairsill hecome a pathetic jester. it transcends the limits of Labourist politics.

MOHECT words.

struegle. The relationshio between the two

seeking to institutionalise.

I you agree with these principles and want lo be involved in Challenge supporters in your area, fill in the form below and send it to us.

* I am interested in more intormation about activities in my area. • I would like additional literature and enclose 50p to cover costs.

Daiate if not applicabin] NAME

ADDRESS

Send to Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, London N1.

Socialist Challenge 5 October 1978 Page 2

328/9 Upper Street, London Editorial 01-350 8180/9. Distribution Advertising 01-359 8371, THE FORD strike injected an element of reality into the Labour

had planned the conference to be a rousing, pre-clection rally. A bit of rheloric, lots

The Ford workers exploded these plans by striking when they did. Their example gave heart to other workers throughout the

The result was there for all to see. The 5 per cent was decisively rejected. The exultant crooner of the TUC conference sut dejected on the platform. Healey looked estremely discomfited. The Financial Tunes was angry beyond bellef. The votes against the 5

Some of the language deployed by Callughan, Healey and Foot implied that the Ford workers and the trude unionists in the hall at Blackpool were morons. Jilted Sim simply refused to understand how he could have heen discarded so rapidiy and without much

Growing sections of workers esponsibility. They are doing so in deeds rather than words

Their union leaders are hurrying to reassare the bosses and th government that the unions are as loyal defenders of the "mational interest' as anyone else. But this or that group of workers is a

This is a load of rubbish, of course. And unless militants begin to understoo nattocre is no such Ening as a Bamona materest 10 a society divided on the basis of class, the houses will always have the

No, it is not the workers or those who fight with them who are Ine moroos ne the know-nolaines, It 4 those who helese tha! they can deceive workers all the time who should be classed in that

It 6 the leaders of the Litour Party who know that their goverament is wrong, but refuseto fight back, who are even worse

know-nothings, For they do know

When Callaghan shouts: "What's your alternative, then?!, the do-nothings stay silent. It is this silence which has now become

What did Tony Benn feel as the conference rejected Callaghan's , interference policies? More to the point, what will he do? Is he, the firm believer in the authority of Labour Party conferences, going to defend his

Cynicists and apolitical manoeuvring cun go so far and no further. Does Been realise this, or is he totally hypnotised by the Parpect of a peacetel transition to the leadership of the Labour

As for Foot, he is displaying clear signs of political aod physicul senility. A Falstalfian figure, he now appears parhetic. One could almost hear some of his former friends shouting at him: "Get thee

Where Bean evades, Foot justifies. Where Bean resorts to manoeuvres, Foot is blatunily apologetic. The difference in tactics is explained by the fact that one hopes to become the leader of the Labour Purty, whereas the other has already lost the battle.

Il is obvious that a broad-based fighthack against Labour's policies is urgently needed hoth in the unions und at the base of the Labour Party itself. But this fight can only he successfully waged if

defeat Callaghan and the "do-nothings' camnot simply he fought on the terrain of the Labour Parly. A contest will be necessary in the broader arena of the class demonstrated by the Ford strike. It is one whied we should he

actres by s0cas

pay

SIR TERENCE former Hrilish Arms officer in India and Malaya and now boss of Ford UK, made a speech last week in London to the World Planning Congress

Or. to le more precise he made two speeches, GEOFI BELE explains.

The first speech had been staried. Copies

that speoch attacked what "government interference" industry negotiations. He termed such

Bar before he rose to speak Sir Terence changed his mind In the second speech — the one be actually made — all criticism interference the goverument ations was dropped. Instead the Ford hass took up a more familiar anion-bashing theme.

So instead of Sir Terence attacking the government tor Insisting on a rigid pay policy, he arracked Ford workers for striking against

A such a chance m lEne such an extraordinars example

double enough. Sir Terence then went on to attack the unions on the grounds of morality.

He said that union decisions to make the walk out at Ford ollicial represented the -break-

solemn What's more,

society revieliunary suristicie ane

Tu huild brusd-hoed doss

FORD WEEK TWO

policy

Beckett,

2300 million. la bour

alone Beckett he called 15,000 And while including produced this

La species of have suffered

For its rose by 36.5 per cent. pay negoti- SamE period

estimates that

that policy: tour years.

thunk, wast't

the fabric af society'

pronuscs bas actions renowned for its threarcood the whole fabric of + integrity:

April 1977 can be cited: the least, such Capitated is in risis. The leaders of the Labour Parm and the trades saion offer solutions ibalt ane in lhe interests, not of the morkers, hut af the capicati these Challege tellerer that the tan

clace-collaburstiniem in the labour mosement. These should be non-escines in charieier grauping togethet militants hulling a wide range of polnical virus, *To hopin lu fight fur the creation of a unthed and democratic revolucionary satialed urganistion which ess, through in application of united front incis begin to be sern so an aliernative he thousads of workon engaged in strugsle

Sulk an organiction should be based on ine understanding there

The struggle for siciali-m seeks to unice the fight of the anthers agains the bnes with that of oiler oppressed Inson of Masely sugaling for their biberatios. and be achirved hy creating new or pans of power and defeating willi all

cossan means the power of the capitalist state

righteous pontificating appears 1

estimated tha: Ford UK will make a profit of something like

This profit comes from the

of the workers on the shop floor. In Ford Uk there actions are 57,000 of them, If you work it but, that means that this year

bosses and shareholders of over

they have

wealth, the workers themselves

dramatic we have

Between October 1974 and October 1977 the basis wockly rate of a "B' erade Ford worker - the largest single caregory

In the relail price index shot up by b4.& per cent

Bringing the comparison up

October, Ford workers will have experienced a 20 per negotiation, ele. tent decline in the real value o WELL MUCH DUS BIH

Faced with such facts, it is hardly surprising that Terence Beckeit resisted the not very strong temptation to discuss thie merits of the Ford workers'

enough claim and instead wandered off into the realms of morality and

had a unique

actually af Hemy Ford Il in

Nobody's making a con-

tal tasks confronting

oppositon h

FORD BOSS Terence Beckell:' sumer buy anything. He (sic) hays of his own free will. Now

getting screwed. And we built

lois of lousy cars, no questor aboutin, can't deny it."

Or if Beckett wants to talk ahout the evilness of arbitrary

as he did when condensing the untons for breaking promises - there is

You will kilow that the new Cortina is one of the best selling cars we have ever built. In order to improve the supply situation

advised your shop stewardsofour intention to runt Hour instead of the present t hour instead of the present

Indeed, Che speed-up of lic assembly line wilhout consultation is a world wide practice of the Ford Motor Company, there whose EK chitirperson now has the cleck to prattle on about Ford

consultation,

When the Ford bosses aren'1 droning on about the need for

and Henry Ford 1, with his suppor:

good conduer — their lavourite

is to attack their workers for not working hard

For instance, Henry Ford 1

salusion which would permit his crip byces to work intherain: head down corrosion and to limi the

electroanalysis, was to prevent ros

Cer socialism will he inhasels more someratic chan what pride

sacalism' in the LiSR and Fasten Eerupe hate discredign sculise In the eneset the million of morter Ihrimehoat he wine Me an apposed le them and will afie full support in all iles fiaiting for socalise armurio

The interests if sothers and capitation an isconc uhle on a wo di serie Espilatom lay int onto crose a world market his saled ancid politie. Thus we fight ur wirkinerlauin on in internationa cade. This emily will in the long run he decoive la imperialist regimes in the West and he brutal de tabur ship-thies sustain in fal Anienca. Airies and Asid

In Britain a implies demanding the unmediair withomsal at Hanst Inup Froes ireland and billing the brish people determine rheir men hutum

The Coummunist Paries in Face are in anshi "tarcommons nor the pro-Miscus mino base ans mean aahul

are inore tammurable than over the presling threelecades. But such partisan caly be brilt hy rejecsin sectaraniem intering interul deme rash not al Securs but as a vital nessing Thie mean- the rilt to nannier tachine int

Rust-proof meta, are being developed, we are finding ways to preserve wood..

The point is, if there is

no reason why we could not do the same with the human bods There is co law agninst 3. The greal problem is to get people in the mental attitude where they are walime to try and do it...

with those elsewhere and to say how much more quickly a car if produced in Belgium,

than Britain

In diflicuit to establish the exact truth of all this, but there is some evidence. For instance the most productive Ford planEs in Eurone are those Hordcaux in France, which alle happer HILL automated, lt is also true thar

fewer unofficial strikes in Ford Germany than in

Bur if Ford manageiient HIS TO ELLISS SEA BLAE sons they have an easy option

-FORTE MINCEMEAR tave been asking Tor che full ligures on productivity, em ployment. and Wage rale throughout Ford Europe. Just as One management have refused to make public suct

When shop Hour warkers at

Ford bowes latter's unwillingness to discus

real facts aboul the Sunsor omic Brlish worker is understandable of the capicalist state. Now recolatiuman

Page 3 scan of this page

A 19th century

IT'S A summer's afternoon and the shills have not lone changed. On the shop floor the temperature is over 30 degrees Centigrade and already several workers have fallen ill with the

been provided, so their mates

FORD WEEK TWO

horror story

take on their sick comrades'

HITS CLUENS

The heat and UNCHENE promise of more breaks has

has if anything been increased.

Working for Ford in West Germany

Beneath the racist-daubed walls, and under the eyes of the management, a sweat-soaked are workforce grapples with new yesterday's output targels and hangs on for the next break, the end of

A leaflet arrives and the workers struggle to read it: it's • battle. for nearly all are

arange, and production goes oa, so i's one sentence at a time

Because of the new sales situation', the leullet explains. *the requires full production on every Saturday from now until Christmas?

The readers are diseased -

strong probability that they will Iose their weekends for the next four months. There's even a management call for starting a *special shift on Sundays!

Something from the nineIcco century, peraps, Dr 1

weeks ago in the

Ford complex in Cologne, West Germany.

MICK HODGE, whe was an assembly line worker in this plant last month, describes whut it wus like.

It's in the stench and beat of This Tactory that 31,000 workers create the production figures that are the toast of capitalists and stock-in-trade of hack journalists everywhere

Henry Ford rakes in the cash

international 'family' to follow

legendary German WOEkers.

pockets full of moncy, cic.

Agood time, then, to look at what those production figures are really madeal!

A Granada in less than thirty hours means a line whose speed i constantly changed without consaltation; it means working CE DO SUC once because your mate is sick;

cars that ran into cach other as they are so close together on the finishing band.

STOPPAGE

I's a lost break bocause of is mine conteer mechanical Stoppape:

SUCHE 30 minute dinner break; and not just walking quickly but actually running. And it is also losine every weekend from now Till Christmas!

production figures are, however, made of much more STELE quickly They are made of Mone a Bore base and of vital consequence to workers everywhere - they are made of sacrificed rights. DISUNITY

permeated by disunity and fear

*fear of the poverty of the Turkish or South Italian village where over 90 per cent of the

Sheen slupped from land where their

means inscant return;

workers queuing before damn al the employdent office. For Ford deliberately site their plants of high unemployment

*fear of the guy down the line, a qualified electrician who is sweeping the floor and badly needs your Job

It is fear of saying anything in protest when informers are everywhere and a word is enough (for all new applicants

Averted by the political police, and in a climate where

liberals are dabbed "terrorist sympachisers*

YUL must be careful what leaflets and papers youread!.

Iis the disunity of racism, o

separale break table for Turkish workers, of the "bette toe management To te harred that still exists following the defeated strike in 1973, when the press set the German workers against the foreign-

ENCOURAGEMENT

And it is the disorganisa tion of a union which, unles you srody

meton might chink had

The whole acmosphere in this supposedly model car plant lucely by incident that took place just before 1 leil. A production manager actually punched an anan enver en oroceto mast hom more quickly, and called him a 'Turkish swine'!

A subsequent investigation

given access to an aticipreter deered that the manager hac and he ee waited. encouragement"

As many of the worker said to me: *Alt, but in England everything is different here they can do what they Eket

News from

nowhere

Police 5 pamphlet will is antended tha be ready 10 the A POLICEMAN in a North commemorate the 13th anti- versary of the UN Deciaration London borough was recently assaulted by a lad resisting

December 1978. arrest: The policeman came A few facts which we think out ofit rather badly and had to will not appear in tbis

pamphlet: fal How British oil interview him paper sent a journalist along to and write the and Tory governments, defen- companies. aided by Labour

isual story of ouT plucky Zimbabies it How Beian "human rights bohhies aw and order', et

The policeman revealed that what made the attack even beins tre shan or tran, for trou

Britain aids that well-known USIMILES SEMANUM second injury he'd suffered the Arab Gull. the Sultan of "What was the first?', queried the intrepid journalist.

there is the entire

Well", replied the copper, 'I record of Britain in Ireland, suld radally to his The ruling of the European bul. Gradually tale Court on British torcures will unfolded: In July he'd been in a not, we think, be included as an training session with the new

appendix. post-Lewisham riot-shields when he had a brick hurled a! him. He should have used the Remember George Ward? d? couldn't. Result: he was badly hurt and of his hearine in one GEORGE WARD, the Tory eur. This part of the story will employer who owns Grunwick. not be appearing in the local has been put on the Tory Party paper. Parliumentary Candidates List.

lax and order' = anyone surprised by this correspondent writes: 1 decision. Certainly no suppor absolutely disgusted al the ters of Labour will be reedess risks wach pouccu panamary worried. Have to undergo in the course of Bat opposition has come

from Tory trade unionists. Ja a immediate end to all such recent letter in "News For Trade

Unionists, a pablication of Conservative trade unionists, a ferocious debute is raging on

Power in the Darkness tes A large proportion of active

Tory unionists [i.e. 14 people| OUR WEST Midland corne- have demunded that Ward be spondent writes: remosed from the list. Thes

Task: "How can we, as'a purty Robinson concert on Monday. Pal and went 1o a lon which allowed the formution of Sold pleaty of Revolutions [a trade unions, introduced

unemployment benefit, broreference to the new revolutionary socialist youth puper which uglit in the right lo strike and was such a bit at Carnival 2]. peaceful pleketing.. Identity

•After u tremendous hand with an employer who denied for "Glad to be Gay' you coul! his workers certain of these

the bouncers thinking, righis?'

Answer: Because inest Tory here'. Ar he started to play Party leaders were strong

supporters of Ward throughout bouncers begun to beat up a kid strike. Because Thatcher

had numeroos meedings with

'Robinson stopped playing him and because Ward When they wouldn't leave the regarded as a champion of free kid alone, Tom screamed out, enferprise. Hence he is the stand up and fight for your darling of numerous Young rights" And the place Consercutive meetings and exploded: The kids rushed the SHOES CUD BE HAT CENTUCS stage. They trampled the Question: Whul ure all sou houncers air of the way lot doing in the Tory Party starled giving the clenched fist. anyway?

'We were in the balcons and none of the kids would sit down Tea without when ordered to do so by the

sympathy houncers. We got into a fight und the kids cume and got us

THE POSTPONEMENT of mut of it. I haven't felt so confident about where we're general election -has

going for a long time. Our musie critic comnsents: Tory gimmicks. Oue of these

Neither Dave L. Keep up the good work, Phil and friend. biography of Tony Benn. This

was tall of a tocity stones Two are particularly revealing The First was i statistical Revisionismo survey of the numher of cups of at the COl? tea Heun drinks in a year. THE CENTRAL Office of tea contains some stimulants. Inforcation is a propaganda the conclusion is obvious. outfit which serves the nceds of

drugged state. whalever govcromen: happens to be in power, A NfN reader The secood tale is more Dis intormed us mal a vie sinister. The author of tus publication of the masterpicce rabe. up Ксл

Coates. Was it true that Benn Surreny noraDis ceral revisions. Jong

The publication in question? telephone conversations with

pampbles catitled Human Coatest 1l give

Britain. This "reference pamphler as ir is revcal. who that coyly described Anthony particular onc*, replied Coates

But the deal wasn't on Division, intended largely Could it be, as Chapman for an overscas readership and Pincher alleges in the Express, will be distributed by British that the intelligence service- are Information Services through up to their usual tricks? Or was British Embassies and High it the officer in charge

hearing tapped telephone calls?

Commissions

Socialist Challenge 5 ctober 1978 Page 3

Page 4 scan of this page

Even the convenors

Ford wives

"Striking

for

everyone

murried to a striker from

*H's for eversbody

because what's at stake is

the 5 per cent.

*E's important to in

KINSMUS CHILL MES

otherwise there's

danger that the strikers"

wives will get divided

from their husbands.

+ The longer it goes on.

the more they'll worry

about where the money's

going to come from to

feed

could put pressure

hushands

return to wark."

Ms. ADJET's husband

Dagenham

body plunt.

completely behind the

strike.

hard job and with prices

going up the

Ford

'Cther

workers work hard and

everyone has suffered the

same rising prices.

COLVILLE RAINEY has been a steward for six of the nine and a holf years he has worked at Fords. He is in the engineering anion and in the hody plant at Dagentam. He represents 400 workers an the A shift. He is also a member of the SWP.

What lies hehind explosion rank and file militancy!

I comes froin the frustration that has buck up over Labom government's altempts Io impose Tory policies. For n

workers prepared accept restraint because they helieved

it could bring down inflation

Now this is soen not to be Irue. The real rexul: o1 ine

governinent policy is a massive

Encrease in prolits — across the

board, not just at Ford.

Are the high profits of Ford a

big fuctor in people's minds?

Socialist Chullenge 5 October 1978 Page 4

FORD WEEK TWO

wear

the

claim

badge

the £20 across the board wage claim.

about.

The Combine is made up of

and stewards from every major COmE BITE TE COLLE There are a couple of Labour Party LOUISIS

party, IWA, SWP, IMG and Big Flame member. Butit's dominated by none o them, independents: of the Combine last year's claim. Last year's claim was for an increase of only 15 per cent on basic rales — drawn up by the convenors and officials, without consulting

ORGANISE When Ford offered between 11 and 14 percent for different workeis didn't feel anything

It was clear that militants in Ford plant had to

strike committee

Yes. Workers are well aware that Ford puts is prices up every 90 days. They wonder why they can's have have higher wages in the same way:

Are they aware that they will have to take on the guverement" this Thay know tha. the govern

sten: will do all in is power lo imposethe 5 percent.

the

But do you think the present leadership or the were capable of wage against the government

Fords? Do you think Fords is a special cuse?

No. All workers are a special case. The los:

Leyland is the fault of the Leyland management, not the workers, We will he fighting to get support for our strike through

Ford (UK) Workers Combine

THE FORD [UK] Workers' Combine has played a major role in building support for the strikg and for

"Socialist Challenge" talked to the secretary of the Combine, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation. He explained what the Combine is

organise at a much earlier stage to make sure this year's cinim was worth fighting for.

Two groupings of militants — the Ford Workers' Group at and a lew Dagenhant and Langley Action Committee called a national meeting in April of this year.

OPPOSITION Thai form the Combine and fight for pay a simple claim with three main points - E20 across the boand, five hours off the week, and no strings.

Weran up against opposition the shop Ted within the National Convenors Committee.

They wanted a claim that did not mention a definite ligure bur called for rise, to avoid confronting any worth The Combine organised a campaign. and warked for resolutions

*We want an elected

We want successtul picketing of the docks, flyins pickets and mass peacetul demos.

Oh: viously the present leader ship won't carry that through We MUSt learn experience years, We will be fighting for the stewards initiative We will be resolution to the first stewards inecting calling for the recall of the Covenry stewards conier ence, and getting an elected strike committee. strike and wal sou be calling for the Javolvement of the workers regular nass meetings? profits cometopick up their wages and tax rebate on Thurstay. be callins for the holding of mass micetings.

throught the committees and branches

shop stewards conference

finalise mecting decided to

the pushing, endorsed by people stewards contitlos:

CAMPAIGN

substantial

We produced a

of mass leafleting

trom elle bast lew

Take

putting

the vicinity

nass of

mass picketing.

we will happening, Wrough (UK)

But few Ford workers live in Ford workers

AGAINS! IN 5.

ARE FIGHTING FOR EVERINE

Worker lobby the unian side of the Ford National Jwint Negotinting Committee.

shop stewards the union convenars

A day before the national

PLACARDS Coventry - called every yearto

the The madge convenors committee met and

struggle. night

NORMEND

of the hadges. 6020 The

denis

decided by 13 to 12 to support

that we'd been which had SUCCO several shop

5 percent.

The nest job of the Combine was to laench a campaiga for the clalm among Ford workers.

series PICKET leaflers, which went into all the Britiah plants, and our badge. which is now being worn by one | stewards meeting last Tuesday.

river." the claim.

walked

of Dagenhan:

Many have to travel up to 30 there.

taking

Do you think revolutionurie should try to make a common

But this already the Ford Workers Canbine. which is a grooping of left-Wing week.

carloads stoppedi

med. in 12 Ford workers. Even the

began wearing hut

has become something of a symbol of the

When Halewood first Henry walked out workers on the

shift produced large round placards with blow ups

task of tbe copies Combine now is to preveat a sell-out through productivity

The lines have been cut so much aiready that there's no

for increased productivity. Thac's why one of our most important slogans has

What's more, you can lose a productivity bonus if the line Deeaks down or if there 5 4 shortnee in suppies. That could happen a lot this winter with other struggles against the

SITATE

But our main arguments that it would mean harder work

Dagenhan: shop

Pie in the sky

THERE's a history of the union selling us down the

BILLY JONES from the Ford body Halewood on Merseyside told TOMMY HEALEY about the view from the picket line.

The Tramport Cnian ler us | the government, and the anons

Roow Iree months ago that th

strike wascoming up. Sincerber long

-andimsiswheretheunion has

fallen down - They so only hac

one leaflet out, telling us abou д0a1

The man item i money.

Secondly, the shorter working

And the toolies here 2ISIA1

allowances and holidays

Everything her been blocked

froin going in or our or ene

plant. I've just spoken 1o a coutracior who's boon threwit out. He said no one is going in

The strike is absolutely

sold, It'srcally iantastic.

The strikers realise they are

the Labour

The men and not just Ford

been

amazing. A lortuens ago it wal

dead I was talking to lads on

the line and they said 1 was

talking pie in the sky - €20 a

They've heen so put down be

mass picketing at Harwich — which is the por of entry for impons of Granadas. Capris and Cortinas from Germany was rejected in lavour of a slow *official approach

Three dass later, cars were still coming in. The Combing orgaaised a flying picker with our own small resources Tap

going ap aDL

REGULAR

Were also pressing repular mass meetings 1o beer everyone involved and infor

We Have proposed strike. committees invülviag both stewards and active striker but so far this has been rejected by the plane leaderships. But we aill continue to prest for these.

Our third priorty is to ge support from other groups of workers. We have to light che idea thar we are a special case

We are lighting against wag restraint not only for ourselves

for the whole of the working class, All sections of the class noed a big wage rise

We don't go along with the idea that jus because nurses don't produce a prosit for

Ford, they shouldn't get a wage rise.

SUPPORT

We've 15,000

explaining our case — showing how much wereally earn - and explaining that we're fightine

There's a feeling Ford workers that they can do it on their own, because of their strength. Bat this in't just a nant winine company

This is a fight with the government and the 5 per cent.

You can't take on Inc

covernment as just one section

of workers. no matter how

This means the setting up of

strike support committees.

It mucans pushing for workers

with claims pending like

Oxygen Vauxhall's

NUPF and so on — to launch

struggles for their claims now

and not to wait to see has ne

plant al

have gone along witl it for so

10W

They se readly been bashed but 5

they want something to have a

There is a bistory of the e

union selling as dawn the river

1r the trions and the shor

stewards keep the strike goins

we the alright. Well held out

and keep the morale poise

They don' involve the ship

no% what's goine on are bel

Moor, though. They need

Involved in picketing and so on

The a good laugh or the picket,

seeing Your MaTE li builds

confidence and solidar ly

•FORDS and the a per cent

was the subject of a 9 minute

phone-in dehate on Radio Cil.

Herseyside local radin

statian, a couple of days aller

the strike began.

Four out of live callers

opposed the pay limit and

supported the Ford strikers

Page 5 scan of this page

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Page 6 scan of this page

Abortion rights

Why we back Wolverhampton campaign

HOME NEWS

debt and its creditors are closing in.

borrowed

and labour movements.'

Inaway the present financial crisis goes back to NAC's very successes. The need to Del onl attempts by one right-wing MP after another to introduce anti-abortion legislation meant that. the campaign used to be constantly on full alert.

But since the defeal of the Benyon Bill a clear national focus has been lacking.

Many NAC groups have remained active on local issues - LICENCE FOE STAOCE, TOYE called rice one for an November,

But the national structures are in some disarray. The only left group which still sends repeesentatives to thieetings of the steering committee is the International Marxist Group. And the money's comingin.

So whar is to become of the campaign for abortion rights? One significant step forward is the trade conference called by NAC and the Labour Abortion Rights Campaign for 25 November at Caxton Hail in London.

As Sue Warkins explains: This is really the only major

the trade unions that there's

"The TUC's decision to call a demonstration

restrictive Bill has been a rea

build

Camosen smone trade unan

ists to defend abortion rights."

But as Sue adds: 9f NAC were to fold, who eke would

campaign?"

One answer is to look more

women's movement.

WHAT'S LEFT

Sch Dead o

TYPIST WANTED

Comrade with fast

Be panted the tome

callion Be part

in applications to FiS

London N1 2XP slaiting

BASQUE COMRADE from the Fourt

Christian

DT-226 0571.

The crisis of Castrolst centrism, will

LOH.

restina, Coal Cl plus pooled fare

ING Or LAF, HOBS.

50. Lorden Ni 2XP

ONNECTIONS: Britain and Southe

War one dey montirence for

ocialist Challenge 5 Ocrober 1976 Puget

NAC heavily in debt

THE NATIONAL. Abortion Campaign is £2,000 in

*The campaign is only kept going at the moment on fivers", says NAC office worker Sue Watkins. "What happens now is really up the women's

MARTIN METEYARD looks at what is at stake.

SUC ATRICS EBE NAL ACCO: to have a 'special relationship' tothe women's movement, and that in the past this hass't really been reflected inits onentation A closer relationship with the women's movensent would, she feels, lessen the problem of having to have a national focus since it feedback from the base Al any tale it sobvious that we have to take this discussion about the future of NAC into the women's movement now.

I'd like to see articles in Spare Rib, Scarlet Woman. WIRES. cle.

What ss clear is that the threat to abortion rights is far TOBE OVEr. election is restrictive Bill in Parliament is three

winning wide trade union support.

the Civil and Public

big

Sue: We got our branch to affiliate to the Wolverhampion in the year because we consider 11's moorlant for trsde unions to educate thie members in the

ROCK FOR REVOLUTIDN disco at th tea need cited ha, Londen Ni. Sal 7 del, Spm. Ach MANCHEBTER Revolutionary Com

own. Hall, Stockpan Fo

OWER HAMLETS Socialist Unily

suitable lo the Ocher

OUT NOW Workers Power pamchlet Maralam are the trade celone.

and Wet or les- art bookshope

Ana File carlorerce an ASTMS RUt Revision at Contrai London Poly or 21 OLDESS TIM HOOLIGAS

arthilies Wed 21

03-43-3749

-it's up to you

allow more

Very likely.

There is also a new offensive against abortion rights inter. another Again it is NAC playing an important role in

CPSA anti-racists explain

THE DEFENCE campaign for Dave Stevens and

other anti-racist militants arrested on demonstration in Wolverhampton on 11 March is

One union where it has been taken up in a big way is

Services Association.

AUSTIN (Wolverhampton branch chairperson] and JOHN KELLY (Wolverhampton branch secretary and Broad Left regional organiser, told us why.

danners of racismi We think this case is an issue that should be taken up by al trade unionists whenever pos which affects anti-racists. 'End all Bullerin No Snow are atle Wo-

Bookshop Chenie:

planned for nex: March. which is

the police on the

SUE leaving the

more like a police state.

How getting support?

Sue: things. Our motion to It isn't just someching council and

sponsor the campaign

vited to SUE WATKINS KELLYDELU helping to coordinate The national action which is being

So if you don't want to see the scruggle for abortion rights gounder, now is very definitely

What happesed in Wolverhampion was related to the way trade unionists were treated by members

Grunwick picker line. If we don': build Executive is campaigns on these issues we re

way oper for We've Britain lo become more and

Department have you gone whous offices. Repional

We've done lots of branch the local trades got them We sent Loren ber si

ANL organised

in Spitalfields

THE ANTI Sari League louk

rot in Spitalfields last Sunda!

as a new branch was organised

The main suwahers were Fau

Beasles, leader or me pock

council, and Chanie

he East End for many sear

The mean disuse ma

Isolate the new SE headquar

anion hoscott action

Huckney council has already refune

permission convert the

into office and

launch a vigoruus defener of al

CANE SNUE SECESS IN ONE

magistrates concerned, a M

Nichols, has made nu sermer ol

his view that people

"break the law.

the time to do something about i. Win sponsorship for the trade union conference, send a IN

"basically, says Sue Watkins, 'the message is:

address contact (please note that they've just moved) is: NAC, 374 Grays Int

London WCI Niel. 01-2780153). Write that cheque now and mailit off! the petition forms and leaflets LET HOUSEOTTERATINTE

- everyone from the Brosd Lett on the Natanal

sponsoring the

circulated petitions and leaflets throagh the CPSA in the Midlands — round all the

of Employmenr and through the Commicee and the

John: We also arranged for

se defence campaign to have

all at the CPSA Broad Le national confereno, and for

SOCIALIST FEMINIST scucarionals

onle, *perialism

Nov 16 20am 575

Masters aira ta unmantonscies or th

WORCESTER AN-

Sum. Adm 50026p angecos

have ready been handco thin

convictions, was sentenced to three tacket uristin Challenge sapporter, has beer sentenced lo month's hanriconment for the affence. Both are appealing further 'anomaly, He is

of Brick Lane.

The problem is that he lives

Is legally barred from going

to be colinborating with all

ares, and can be contacted cin

341 Commercial London EL 101-70

PHIL MARFLEET:

A CLARIFICATION

LAST week's issue we implied that Phil Marlos,

East End organiser of the SWP. had attacked the ANL toserber with a number of sectarian speakers.

Phil assure tha:

grossly Inaccurate,

withdraw remarks pertaining to him. Dave Stevens to speak to the

the case has been seat to our Broad Lelt burna Kroadside

Sue: We're also going to pat a resolution toury to get official union backing for the picketing organised by the campaien wheneser any of the caser come up in count su perone another of the people has his committal proceedings

Woberhampton Magistrates Court, and we'd like to be there with our union banner

HOUNSLOW HOSPITAL 3cmn

workscop discusalon; e Houns or

Resolutione cal Tendence d aralyses st

HARTER NEWSPAPER: open 3

1g meeting to prepare the laun

ABORTION

10.000/Minate the campaign's woll, ru

experienge

Camden Ad, Losoon NWI

Page 7 scan of this page

The same fight

workers to join strike

Garners workers

HOME NEWS

ASSTUDENTS arrive back for Ihe new terms the need for an organisation which will campaign ASSES EBITTENS PAMELA HOLMES. clarineh

There is no way that the latest grant increase of 8.9 per cent can cope with rent increases of

per cent Thousands

opposition to the increases, and i call has been made for co-ordination London level.

This looks like being taken

nationally as university

return themselves lacing the same

SoCi

andsupported by London NAI.GO. Workers Union, writes MICK GOSLING.

For the last cight months

strike for union recognition in order to nehi comitious which often thei working 70-hour weeks and taking home €28.49 for the compulsory 55 hour week.

Saturday sees a mass rally and picket in support of the strikers, starting at 3pm Speakers Corner afler normal (details in What's Left"). Far Tress markine the swan-song of

Ford and students

problems as the poly students The main problem with rent stnkes at this scope is that they cannot by themselves achieve a standard of living of students.

Continually Fighting to maintain a situation in which you can just about substitute for campaign around grants that is The National Union of all- Students has committed itself to a large-scale campaign on Brant ub scar, starne win the need for mandatory awards About 2,000 sicial workers marched through London on 27 September in support of the campaign for improved gradings. A one das strike was called hy the all-London social workers action group

Mass rally-picket

can win!

IT IS NOW nearly two sears since the workers at Garners Steak Houses in central London began to organise themselves into the Transport and General

the strike, rovent weeks have scen an imporcant new surge in active support.

The signs are that Garners hass Margolis worried by an 80 per cent loss in profils in his 11 restaurants, and feelers are now being put put for negotiations.

The boycotting of supplics is the with Margolis DIt SeniOT SRit in enmarked wans at the crack of

grants campaign, Should be seeking to organise local activity to explain and win support or a retura to ur acast the 1962 purchasing

ENORMOUS

is no The massive support for the

Ford workers determination

wages policy that has resulted in widespread poverty and an Fal standards for the majoritv of the population.

In the comtext of a national workers would mark the first

Liverpool social

one is Heale as ten

CULLU 103 rotate suppers every fortnight.

Sustained picketing is the ke ro victory. The vast majority o cross i picket line when the

them. seriously

REGULAR The Greater London Association of Trades Councils has

10 Tand case picke to ILL TETEN! The Executive of the Civil and

to purchase

students

level.

take part in that

shows the organising collections.

the should be

claims. in living The

public sector NALGO

Staff Committee|At a

feeling of should ne a tarmily.

PREDICTABLE

May. replied September.

begotiate locally.

his

nearby Job Centre.

Saturday's rally nearby picker.

Garners strikers SUPRICES

picket aNTOss 11 restauranla Public Services Association has | as large.

against the government's policy of making working people pay for a crisis not of their making, And the hest way that students can express their support is to

offensive. the

A tirst step woukd he ta invite Ford workers into the colleges dents union, CONSECREASE SEE TA SEITI

STUCHE developing the campaign around their own increases,

mose effective strategy would be to join up with che The country

unions submitting the cinies together and campaignOVER 300 Liverpool local authority social workers will almost certainly London and Newcastle over regrading, writes PETE CRESSWELL [Liverpool NALGO Social Services

packed meeting Inst weck, the social workers voted by a majority of over six to one for an indefinile strike front Monday 9 October. They now social workers have to be balloted before they can come out — but given the

the members, that settlernent.

We put in our claim on 22

the council only properly 23 Predictably [bey claimed that they could not heen given

It seems that the council is

to such rises

it meat year!

this will

While.

joined the pickeis, and CPSA members have also refused to

bandle Garters' scah jobs at a turned away

That Garners if not simpiy another Grunwick is one of the messages the strike committee will be trying to get across at

asking everyone to say and join a

Thus it is boped that this Saturday's activities will not criticism only serve as a focus for the | leadership for luding back the

and their WROOT CINI made by mouths have heen stretched out

but also for the labour abovement

/ commitlee.

trom

ing around them together,

The kind of unity around our common demands that can be

lobby or Oxford education commitice being orpatised by

South Oxford nursery campeign, Onford Poly STu- SHUT

and two local schools hit by the cuts, This is essential or students at Oxford Poly in zaining support for their campaign against rent

Such activity up and down

Elsat the granes campaign and give students their only chance of be joining those on strike in

banking on a national deal. But

utterly pathetic - they offer

nothing

What little there is also has to he taken out of nex year's pay

le's just altempt to divide us from the rest of our colleagues in the

Local Goversment Officers Association.

isconfusing a lot of people. The

breach the pay guidelines, as it sed is hased on extra duties we have

But the employers stabborn bess shows the impossibility of getting even the kind of pay rise under the - present pas policy. They say we're coticled

-TITUT BEI get a rise we will have to pay for

MAJORITY

The political signiticance 0f

not be lost op the majority of social workers

JOHN MARSION adds: The social workers strike in Tower Hamlets is really berinning co

Postal workers are refusing lo cross pickets pulside the town bail, which means that all council busiess has to be carried out by phone. Outside contraciors are also being

which could affect the supply of heating ou to council premises.

CORRECTION

*In lust week's report the malion barren ar

Dave Bunn Islington NALGO and not by Dick Chariton, a representative iF the Tower Hamiets strike

BRIEFS

Huntley

Street

MASS eviction August of 160 women, men

SUBASES London's Huetles Street has led to international solidarit:

Dutch squillers who besieged the British Embasss In The Hague, writes PIER! CORBYN.

The arrest of 14 of the Huntley Street squatters is the first large scale use of the new criminal trespass low. The charges against them relate to "heing' in occupation rather

Many eviction.

The trial is thus a lest case for the whole lubour move-

What i involved b 3 frontul altack on occupptions in factories, colleges and the community.

It is with this understandin

the Hustles Stree Defence Campuign is seekieg support from trade unions trades councils, the Lahour Party. tenants" and student urgunisutions, ete. The cum-

suhminting evidence to the TUE inquiry into the Special Puirol Group [which largely handled the eviction] and the Special Brunch.

There will be a mass picket when the trial of the 14 starts al Marylebone Court at 10am on 4 December. Details OF th campaign. speakers and video film from: HSDC, c/m Cumden Law Centre, Kentish Town Road. London NW! or phone 01-267 1456-

Papering

the Charter

Working Women's Charler Campaign 91135 issued an appeal for a new newspaper for the unions. The conference to launch his will take nace in tie sorus. wores CELIA PUGH.

The new paper will sock to involve the widest possible support from unions, women's groups, who fight around the issues raised by the Charter.

Already the NAIFHE national executive has expres-

interest and will send

meetings. Next meeting Saturday 14 Oclober, 13ps Transport House Hartshead Street. Shetheld. Do come!

Further information: Felicity

Jones, tel. Shelfield 103431

STA

Conference

THE achievements and future policies the Socialist Teachers Alliance will be debaled at its third AGM on 14/15 Octeher.

The possibilities Forleft unity in the National Union Teachers, und the role of the STAn journal, Socialist Tea cher, will be a major item of HIS SEASICIST

To provide as wide a forum

debate as possible, the

conference will inchide workshops on am-carm, nanca

salaries, palities of education,

All Socialist Challenge

supporters who are teachers or

students are arged to attend rhis

conference. Although voting

will be confined STA

members, non-members will be able to contribute to the discussions.

The conference will take

pluce at Stancross School.

Risinghill St., Londen Ni. For

further detalls contact John

Banes, 25 Blissed St., Landon

SE.10.

Socialist Challenge 5 October 1978 Page 7

Page 8 scan of this page

THREE YEARS AGO workers in the Lucas Combine — a company involved in the production of Concorde — drew up what they called a Corporate Plan. Like workers elsewhere in British industry, these highly skilled workers were facing the prospect of large redundancies. The Plan proposed over 150 alternative products which could be produced in the Lucas plants. The workers say they are fighting for the right to work - the right to work on what they call 'socially WORKERS PLANS-CAN

Afuture for all

OPEN FORUM

useful products'

The Lucas Plan

workforce over the past eight years.

The factories should enormous social needs which tion for profit leaves unmet. And it is this which has helped to generate the will to resist redundancies

This Is a new approach to the probiem, although previous examples elsewhere.

WORLES ALL WELL DOSEC ICRE 1950%, for instance, to demand that the LOTS DOMIC SACLES THIE BIAR luxury cars. But Lucas is a pilot case in

The Lucas Plan is based on an explicit critique of capitalism. authors reject the standard bourgeois explanations for redundancy mysteries of the balance of payments, foreign competition, too many foreign

The Lucas stewards TELL MARTY D COMMERCIS SHUELCHAAEY It arises not through lack of "demand" for moods. but because tree entesprise doesn"t find it profitable to mices the real needs and demands of society. Instead it casts workers and machines aside as 'redundant'.

Despite this, the revolutionary left has been slow in organising support for the Corporate generalised the idea to other places

strategies have obviously failed.

Page 9 scan of this page

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Page 10 scan of this page

Dr Owen's deadly

elimination of a

people

P.W. BOTHA's succession to the South African premiership will mean little to the people of Crossroads, the shanty town outside Cape Town. Hanything things will get worse since Botha is known as a hardliner on the squattingissue.

GEORGE CUNVIN reports

ale hulldozers to come and demolish theirhomes.

Crossroadsisonlythelatest of • number of such "squatter" townships which the authorities are determined in eliminate. DEMOLISHED

In winter 1977, the large smaller commumlie ot Mod derdam, Werkgenotand Unibell were demolished. Armed police with dogs supervised destruction of nearly 4,000 homes. Morethan 30,000people wereputtaflight.

Before the decision in Juneto demolish Crossroads, largest black squarter communityintheCapePcinsula.its

@ecial campaign of harassment. slarting in March. 1935 with COCLAI orders, including such things as the suspension of samtary services and the forced expulsion of wives.

The people of Crossroads

On 7 June 200 women marched

(Plural) Affairs Adminisiration

them bluntly: We are not

FICTION

The white authorities argue that many of the souallers and especially the wives of man who

Peninsula, are illegal immigrants — even though many of Cape'slabour force. them wereborn in Cape Townand should go back to their 'homelands in the Bantustans:

They thus perpetuate the legal NETTON METER WOE LETS 1EL the industrial areas of South

COTCHET

gastarbeitern' of the White' |

Save Mahlangu

THE trial is now under way in South Africa of Sechaba Dan Montsitsiand 10other leaders of mi Soweto STORE struggle, writes JOHN HUNT.

They have been held for 1s monthswitbourbeingallowedto

SHETES subjectediothe worstiortures of the oniformed sudisis of EDe South Africanpolice.

The charges relate to their part in the Soweto uprising; mutinums pensity death.

Yer the state prosecutor sass that it might not be possible to adtribute purticular acts particular people. But, be says, Soclaliss Challenge 5 October 1978 Page 10

INTERNATIONAL

Crossroads - the

the There is more behind the current policy af demolition than simply a brutal desire to drive the black people outof white' areas. the Foroverthrecycarsmorethan 200,000 black people have been TACKLETSCHC CRIS of the Cape Peninsula. current poly is a specialy post-Soweto phenonemon. and POTENTIAL These large conurbations of hack workers nose a potential threat to white supremacy.

form of resistance to the web of labour influx regulations (pass laws, migrant labour policy "homeland" citizenship, elc.) which rigidly determine their Lives as workers in Anca a system

tant black workers and the

the majority of the Western

As a spokesperson for the Cape Divisional Councilexpres

make it difficult to control the mix or persons an toes unstable conditions could be a

and the Soweto 11

the 11 are, still responsible for WTOOK DACE At the sume time African Nutional Conuress Solomon Mahlange laces death Sor his Dart at armen stricele againsttheregime. aBL On 11 October at Ipm the Anti-Apartheid Movement will be picketing the South African Embassy in Trafulgar Square over both cuses. We call on all the our readers working in central Londontajninthepicket.

Just as importantly suppor ters should messages WISE TEE CAME MOMEN bodies.

END MARTIAL LAW

IN IRAN!

DEMONSTRATION

Saturday 14 October

Rally at Speakers: Corner,

Hyde Park 1.30 p.m.

March to the Iranian Embassy Organised by the Committee Against Repression in Iran (CARI):

A BRITISH infantry hattalion and a Royul Murine communda are standing by to go into action as part of a 'United Nations pence-keeping force' anywhere in the seven duys HUNT reports.

message to the LIN General Assembly lad weck. Tou don 1 have to be a strategicul genius to guess macie ne Zimbabwe.

You cun go a bit further and guess what plan Owen has at the back of his mind. It goes something like this: a round mass table' is set up.

A deal is arranged between Patriotic Front Icader Nkomo and brune arranging a transition to

neo-colonial, Nkomo regime. The prohahly hopes, a section of the leadership of ZANU other component Patriotic Front — will conte into the deal.

A United Nations" force will we 10 mo supervise

South Facia

This involved, said Kaunda, a commitment by the British to tenewed attempts multi-party conference on 2 Zumbanwe settlement: I thank you will be secing that in a rew

Meanwhile the burning issue of British pii CUIT ICS MICES activities was, according to the Fisancial Times, 29 September, hardly raised"

The

new joviality was in marke:

contrast to his artitude a fes dave previously. conference on If September be

would be taken apainst Britain

RECORD

The UK government's record on sanctions was.

'atuch worse than Watergate

Such about-turns by Kaunda are Seprember of described rumours meeung Bad taken Lusaka beoween

Nkoma 35 dreams

Two days lace.

*Front Line admitted it had indeed occurred with Zanbian Laarhe sponsership

August.

Most press explains Kaunda's attirades as resulting from his

cersona friendsaip

Nkomo whose clevation to the

стоном си Presocny

main consideration.

SERIESI

INTERESTS

in tart his reflect the interests of Zambia's

prescription

world" molice.

David Owen's JOSHUANKOMO

transition. The

of the

deal. the

Jovial Jim and

cunning Kenneth

TV VIEWERS on 24 September were treated to the sight of jovial Jim embracing his friend Kenneth [Kaunda] and proclaiming what the latter called the "Kano Accord", writes JOHN BLAIR.

WEHE

Pany (UNIP)

supposedly ASSETS

foreign companies Zambian President's bepan life leadership used this to AL press

SO CITIESEL

cion with

The said. met for costne her лея.

That LACE 1E considerations Smith and

after ter its control. with the other Presidears', he IMPECCABLE

government 21 drastically

сомтептагу changing

now the This 150 per ceor since then.

POPULATIN cruck Cuhantrained troops Nkome has hail wAnts in reserve in Zumbia will move in and, with the support of the UN, smash those sections of the

Of course it might not work ruling burcaucratic bourgeoi- forcien

MEAT CO politically throsgh the coun

United National Independence

candidate.

Because, ar independence in 1964, all important ecanoenic respurces were in the hands of

For Jocal whites and Asians, this proop

with political 2501 acquire a

through highly paid office it

and parastatal (crcated by partial national

ations cffected in collabor.

foreign capital), corruption in allocation of sale resources, grants, licences, ete

Especially at the lower levels.

UNIP's holding direct politica. power remains essential for this

With clections due before the

the hecome para-

recession has luelled the thircat

Real wages have declined

employment has dropped, social services have deteriorated, transportation is crippled, farming bankrupted

all exports. Is price is 1965 Import prices have increased

problems. doubts exit thal the imperialist powers are unanimaus in support of Kaunda. His track record is impecenbie: certain. support for UNITA in the

RHODESIA-THE BREAK-DOWN out that well for Owen. But he

Imaps Timbuhwe for one purpose that dues not challenge British

The failure of the Morning War to comme on tven's

and killing of guerillas when they thrcatened detente" in 1975: consisten: invocations of the carent of

ideologies (read Marxism lin Africa.

la addison they fear the

Каржерме. CHIC ex Vice President who was bureaucratca le excluded Iram even contestine the nomination for LINIP's single presidencial

has called Tor the Rhodesian horder, expansibe ol trade / parade as the liberator KENNETH KAUNDA seeking a there and with South Alrica and an end to support for "ungrateful freedom fighters

Superficially this socus to accord with Western desires for a rapid normaisation' of the Southern African situation. In fact it would only worsen their

Nkoma would he homeless. civil war in Zimhabwe near

Turmeil, would be created inside Zambia

speech suggests that it is mor going to he easy le mount campaign unequivocul oposition to Refish indiar and political intervention.

Thosewho find if doematie and "divisive' to oppose the presence of the British army in Ireland may yet find a UN force in Zimbabwe a "progressive phenomenon, especially if the Soviet Union were to go along

The best way to oppose Oven's designs is to give

Imperialism:

ZANE and ZAPL - for as long as they continue the strugale

Power must puss into the

of the imbanwean themselves — not into those of IN administrators".

Socialist Challener suppor ers will be marching on the 21 October Anti-Apartlicid Morement demo [1.30, Hyde Park, London], and will be calling for a contingent on it opposing any

Zimbabwe. Join us!

Kapwepwe's clients sought their share of the spoils. Above all the expectations of the masses would be roused lo unguenchable levels

There has not yet been an announcemen of the ceonome arrangements made at Kann They will surciy sevolve more of the credits already flawing in

amounts over the past rec years from che West

A Zimbatiwican "settlement" would be le CHRONET 2401 Kaunda. I would enable hira to

Zimbabwe SELLICHIL southern Africa while promi sing the carth economically as a result of relations to be established with the new state

The urgent need to preserve

kaunda-insured albanice with Zambia's ruling class will be an important reason for the urgency with wilich the imperialists will pursue thic Rhodesian issue in the coming

Page 11 scan of this page

'Wild Geese' and the mercenary ethic 'Here I can shoot blacks

Give the Pumas the old up and under

TV Times.

So goes the trailer to The Wild Geese. attempts to glorify one of the

murder and torture machines

which has proved more durable than European fascism.. South African apartheid.

The film takes its title from the Geese Club Johannesburg, set up and run hy Colonel Mad Mike' Heare

best remembered for his part

TESSACTI Stanleyville in Zaire of 80,000

ushered President Mobutu to

IDEAL

Doubtless this qualified Hoare to be employed by the Film's producer Fusan Lloyd, as technical adviser.

Let's take a closer look at

ideal cuminina some at the Wil Geese Club members

Danny: The South African soldier is one of the woeld's best

could thousand franc note down in the jungle and one of our boys would run through a thousand rebels to get at it"

Jock Carton-Barber,Houre's old sergeant major CUTCHES Club: We're having LANIEMEN Soldiers gentlemen. We're doing a job that's all. Butif we were to fight the IKA, l'd go in a hurry. Wouldn't you?

The IRA are bastards. We were exterminators, that's whar THE 'Pumps might sound a pretty inoffensive bunch, but in fact they represent the latest sporting link between Britain and the Argentinian militury dictatorship RICHARD CARVER reporis.

After the World Cup campaign. at is hardly necessary to spell out why the junta is among the most obnoxious of regines and how sporting recognition only shores it up.

The World Cup showed that shoelis not aD eirective way af "building bridges". Although repression cased off slightly while foreign journalists were around, more than 500 oppositibnists have since arrested.

It might seem surprising that South Americans should play

THE SECOND part of un overview by Ernest Harsch on Ile Easiopian revolution so far is the main feature in this week's issue of Intercontinental Prese/lapeccor /Vol. 16, No.

Other articies cover the

INTERNATIONAL

legally'

*THE Wild Geese is on its way. The biggest, most star-studded movie ever made in South Africa opens all over the country on Wednesday.* — South African

we were. We killed rats and cockroaches (relerence to the Sinhas) They're (IRA) no

Fifty per ocat of the white Troops in the Rhodesian forces are mercenaries — some of them carne vin the Wild Geese Club.

Here is Walter Compton. 27-year-old Australian who had 18 months in Vietnam with the Australian forces: "Put it this way. If 1 shot a which Zealand or anywhere else in the black In Australia

world, they'd put me inside jail for 20 yeurs. Here I can do it legally,* One Rhodesian guiner mercenary finds killing a sexual drug: 'He will see a Han caname a tactica and open up with his machine gun. The slugs are chopping up the nice over the man's head at nathen lower, but too far behind. Now the gunner has the range, and is coming up on the min's heels.the moment the man blew up, the gunner had an

Already a significant number of the Rhodessan mercen-

government know titis and Rey MANI HE SALE CONTI

and assistance is given to

the recruitment service personnel on a contraci basis."

Field Marshal Lord Carver, who was designated to take over a proposed KINKED government, bodyguards hired from asragby But for decades Britain was the main imperialist power in Argentina and it has left behind it an Anglicised upper crust which enjoys such pursuis as lea-drinking and polo.

That clique has long since decayed and been replaced by US imperialism. But British economic interests persist. The

holdings is British American Tobacco CHaRENCES Richard bribing wogs' Dob-

Despite clear Labour Party and TUC condemnation of the

been Junta, the Labour Government

has said nothing on ArgenLITTH TREES SuCTS and continues to remain on such a stiff upper lipped game, cood terms in the hope of arms Intercontinental Press

Camp David summit, massacres carried Somoza in Nicaragua, suspension of the misers" strike in Peru, the austerity measures Colomhia, and background to the recent coup ins Mauritanin.

company called KMS.

This company is noted for its right-wing connections and an abdity to plack its employees straighe out of the army's elite

Carver's bodyguard, ex-SAS Major Andrew Nightingale.

They're South

AECTLCHNTICS offspring of white apartheid. The ratioshin between the two was aimply illustrated when Evan Lloyd, producer, placed a large advert in the Johannesburg

African Government,

African Defence Force for their New The film has

considerable promotional advertising from the SADF, being used to sell Defence Bonds. The bonds are used to finance the helicopter war in Namibia. It is in these

invested Eóm.

The same theatre where the World Premiere of The Wild Corse was held was inter used for a charity showing of the film. the proceeds going to the South African Defence Fund. which spends most of its energy Ille South African military bases in Namibia,

TORTURE

In 1976 Bill white conscript, deserted from the SADE and spilled the beans of retired frictally kadornas methodset their torture

operation*. "In mid-September *75, we started being "COIN-OP" Le. counter insurhas gency operations.

a l pleted, WEE SCHI

sales tothe Generals.

The British Argentina Campaign is calling for protests to reject that policy of collaborabon. I suggests pickets of the bealthy matches and leueis of protest

Rugby Association and the ForcienSecretary In Oxford there has already heen a successful picket of one of the lour matches, the biggest Gourdian estimaled the man-

ber of pickels at 100.

Sir

Matches still to be played: 4 Oct. Headingles. Leeds. 7.30pm. 7 Oct, Moseles: Birmingham, 3.00pm. 10 Oct, Glovester, 7.00pm. 14 Der, Twickenham, 2.45pm

21Ocl, Dublin, 3.00pm.

Single copies cost 30p plus 10p pop, but why mt sure money by subseribing; E9 For one yeur [48 isnest, E5 for 6l the months (24 inues), or £2.50 for out by an Introductory offer of H

LINES Please cheques/POs u finental Press and send to: the

IP/1, PO Box S0, London NI

by TIM BROWN

north of the

Cunene Dam anti February 76

for example

Alrica, the

the film's Focated.

Sunday

the South

police

the South

enjoyed

glonts the glossy marie:

Barclays Bank CHICH facilities

Involvement Anderson, a African military system.

London WCIV phoning 01-806 2809.

trained organising pickels of

This release.

Football

The 7.40pi. make

Intercon-

border with

Angela. ben guided ta-

We detained cattle thieves

vere suspected MPLA

them beaten by my battalion

I saw one of them subjocted to water torture. a ran was pinced on his face and water poured on continuously until he suf-

"One soldier who had been andered to take three suspects down to the river and stool them cut the ear off one dead prisoner and sent the ear home in a meths bottle. He cut off the

his gear lever, but it rotled?

When Euan Lloyd seeks to

mercenaries in

drama, together with several million dollars and slick shooting, he disguises the shadowy hands behind the mercenaries and

* This article was writen with the aid of the London South Africum War Resisters Group. The group consists of military refugees who aim to provide a support base for the growing isaber of South African youth who are resisting their forced

in the South

by writing to: BM Box 2190,

6XX, or by

In particular they can give you leufleis and advice

Wild 101 MAKEUS, Geese which is now on national Martial

Don't Feed the Wild Geese!

American mercenaries in Zimbabwe — still hunkering after the days of the sluve-owning Confederacy.

Peru strike

suspended

THE month-long suspension of the Peruvian miners" strike is nearly over. The miners union announced the suspension on 8

tary repression and the threat

been declared in five mining areas on 22 August and extended to five

and

them SUIE

Drovinces on the 29th. Troops were sent in. ransacked and union officials urrested

On 5 September the union's

proposed to assembly thar the strike be saspended. trif mentant workers from thr stale-onned Ceatromin mines swayed the union

The following day troops

police encampment of miners and their families who had marched to the capital of Lima, shipping

back to the districts. This was the linul blow and two days later the suspension Rosanneenced

WEAKENED

Lack of support from otber

federations weakened the miners in the face of this repression. Leaders the Communist Party-controlled

Peruvian Workers (CGTF| said

solidarity with the

have overchrow of the government and is replacement by Chile-lype fascist regime.

CGTP bureaucrats stopped miners leuler Victor Cuadros from speaking ul a rully in Lims on 2 September. Most of the crowd marched off so anothere? square to hear Cuadros und other left-wing leaders.

DEMANDS

The strike's main demands

miners sacked in the July 1977 gemeral strike and for the repeal of anti-working class legislo-

Sociulist Challenge 5 October 1978 Page 11

Page 12 scan of this page

IRELAND

THE LAST ten years have seen the most loteese and sustained strungle against British imperialison in Ireland since the War of Indepeadence (191921% And, despite the increased repression and Roy Mason's bousts about a return to normality the anti-impersist enormous gains in the last ten vears in

Sion Fein, the Workers Party and the Communist Party of treiand are Tond of complainite that we are worse off now chan in 1968, but that only lustrates their concern with incidental details racher than the essentials of the problems.

Tonged by the yardstick of whether British imperialism's gripinthe North of Ireland is stronger or weaker and by the sireneth of the anti-imperi alist forces, the gains have been

There were few places in the world in the mid-1960s where the ruling class scenied more secure than in the North of Ireland,

The Unionist Party virtually unchallenged for over 40 years and their formula guaranteeing Protestant privilege in an arca carefully drawn to ensure a Protestant majority seemed beatable. They looked set to rule for another 40 years.

The IRA campaign haul petered out miserably and the British though always present, hardly ever had to intervene. The

were so demoralised that WEETSTE most of the scats of the loca parliament were not even contested. The rest of the world barely knew that Northern Ireland existed.

That has all chanped sinoo 1968 The police attacks on the 5 October march in Derry unleashed a torrent of pent-up aneer and tristration from tbe Catholic minority wmich found expression in a

Subsequently measures intervention of the British Army August 1969 and soterament in 1971 only sharpened the anger of Carbolics and produced a formidable military campaign with considerable

The whole movement, political and THIS TH Bloody Sunday, January 1972, when I4 peaceful demonstrators were shot dead by the British Army.

The original demands of the movement were reformist — for civil rights - but in fact they struck at the very Toundation of the OSTEL T system of Protestant privilege which caables the Unionist hourgenisie to keep the support of the Protestant masses

And the constant pressure of the mass movement stripped away layers of mystification which had disguised the real nature of the Northern problem.

Thus, by shaking the old Unioris repime to its core, the civil righis movement forced the British Army 1o intervene apenly on revealing The power behind Stormant Tacade.

The continuing agitation quickly exploded the myth that the Brilish Arms as an impartial farce, holding the ring berween Catholics. Protestants as the troops were used more and more obviously drainst the Catholics.

There was clarification in another direcion when the Düblin go-erment's lack of response to the attacks

Catholic phetsos in internment Sunday in 1972 shuttered Norbern Carbolies Nosions in the Southern politicians and tught them

Mao succout from Dubli governments in the future.

The greatest deny lication of al came with the suspension Stotment parliament in 1992 when it became clear tha: the final obsracie te equality for Carbolics in the Sin Counties was nol Ecionist admination, bEt the British connection itself

obvious tbat the Brilish too relied on the Protestant

Usa keep their control over the North of Ireland and would not dismantle the sister of Protestant privilepe.

But the suspension of Storment

Socialist Chullenge 5 Ocloher 1978 Page 12

had ruled

the early civil rights movement.

was significant for more than its de Army, mystifying effect. It was the greatest

it so years Britie Carholic

Northern Ireland through Stormon and the monolithis Unionist Part with the minimun of troudle and inconvenience.

Now Storment has gone and all allempts lo replace it miserahly. Beirain is left with the unstable and unsatisfactory expedient of direct rule which exposes cleariy the colonial nature of its relationship with the North of Ireland and bring the (rish protest pouticar nic

As for the anti-imperialist forces. bke the despite periods of attrition and war

in weariness they have prown immensel

the Compared with the apathy and lack

of self-confidence of minority in thousand: Lav politicised in the last ten years

after

The most profound experience was the establishmens of No Gie areas in the ghettos of Belfast and Derry in August 1969 and 1971. In Derry in particular the RUC and British Army were liaby excluded Begside and Creaman areas for an entire controlled by armed members of the HICA Unfortunately made to cake advantage of the poEtical opportunities chit provided bul nonetheless.

Russia it 1905, the No-Cio areas have set an example which can be followed and developed when reaches a similar pach again streets The course ofthe conflict has also

the thrown up many now organisations

engaged in anti-impenalist scruggle, notably the Provisional IRA and the Irish Republican Socials Paris and. in a country Communis Party was notoriously weak and groups to the leil of it

and Virtually non existent.

MR have cablished a long record of sclive involvement and have been able a certain poirts to play an haporact, even decisive role in Le strugale 21969 Mereover a high proportion of the and Boody agitation of the last decade has been

the carried on through unired

organisations and the practice, if not the theory of united fronts is highly develoned in the Six Commies

of the

Had ise acher important effect: 1 has wateria: spasmodic response in the prostood

bigateu South of Ireland

demonstrated by the immense crowd wiich burned the British Embassy in Dublin after Bloody Suaday showing the potential suppor which exist ihere for the anti imperialis: struggle exposed the fallary of many of the non-Marxist

TEN YE

STRU

THIS WEEK sees the tenth anniversary of the civil rights march in Derry 15 October! which sparked off un explusion of discontent in the North of Ireland and led to the continuing crisis there. It ivalso the tenth anniversary af the founding «f Peoples Democrucy, un organisation which provided much of the driving force of

PD begun as a radical student organisation heavily influenced by the ideas of thi "New left? and movement of 1968, But PD has since developed into a revolutionary Marxist organisation und is corrently in the process of Fusing with

Northern crisis.

SD years Britain bad ruled 1968/9

bave failed of reforming it British

question into the centre of

decade ne Catholic the 1960 lens been deeply little effort WILk

like the soviets in

the strugsie

Catholic

parartilitary where even men:

revolutionazy

bourgecis

front

The experience of the sensele his

profound, most clearis determination

And the very progress of events las

EUCTIES pseudo-Marxist

analyses and strategies which have heen advanced in connection with che

The collapse of the O'Neill beforens

and the much mure Caborate Sunningdale structure in 1974 demonstrated conclusively the -inherently sectarian nature of the Northern state and the imposs bility

The intervention and role of the

ArEN Dublin government's collaboration with it imperialism in the coeflier and the all Ireland nature OEs control

5th

oct

Al oue polet or another the Twe

Nations theory, coonomistic views h the relarions beiween Protestant ac

wot -ers and romantic illasicins about lie nature of loyals

groups intervend to confuse the anti-imperialst move

But time and experience hav dareely dispelled the contusons. Tis Two Nations theorists (tre view Inal Ireland has Iwe 'naticas" Protestant, one Catholic). whether

Napo.pgists like Concr Cruise O'Brien or so-called Marxist Eke the british and Irish Communis Organisation, have discredited both (boiscles and their theory by takin;

The former liberal Cruise O'Hrien ended up helping to establish a po ice state in the wenty-six counties while the BICO have come forhe conclusic that amperialism has played progressive role in history and tha nor only the WAster Protestants but the Zionistan Israel have the right to sel!

The ecocomistic vies that the national question was irrelevant in the Norti: of Ireland and that the probles: could be solved simple by ignoring the national question and appealing to Protestant and Catholic workers on a case basis has been discreditod to

Even governent surkeys have

Page 13 scan of this page

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Page 14 scan of this page

COMMENT

BBC and

ANL

IN THE wake of the controversy surrounding the No Plugs for Thugs" campain to stop the getting airtime for Nazi propaganda. it was testing one the ne ANL carnival and the striking difference between the carly evening BBC-L report and the IN report a few minutes later.

I was at the carnival, and I thought the ITN report fair attendance at over 80,000 (hich there was no doubt about) healthy distaste for the NF and its march IO GE Eastern St. For once there was no equation between the NE and the anti-fascists, so often treated as rivals in some private game which is of no concern to ordinary, sensible,

normal pest i news,

The and carnival had been arranged solely to disrupt this (in fact the reverse was true: the NF's march was a calculated but unsuccessful attempt to disrupt

The BBC put attendarice at a mere 20,000 -below even the police's traditionally

estimate, and ridiculous to anyone who saw the size of the crowd. In short, the BBCS report was a deliberate put-down of the ANL, and the usual equation was

Perhaps the real reason the BBC so often tries to equate the NF with anti-fascist movements extremists* has nothing to do with

supposed between, on the one hand, a bunch of Socialist ideologues and, on the other hand, a movement of people who are prepared to be noisy in the defence of certain principles, such as the brotherand-sisterhood of the human race.

The real reason is that both are, to a degree, a threat to the establishment - an establishment that is no better epiromised, and no guarded, than by the BBC LOUISMACKAY (London N8) *A slightly longer version of this letter was sent to the Guardian but has not so far been published.

Put brakes

mistakes.

ONTHE Pull the plugs on NF thugs" Campaien: the fact that there is much racint among workers means that many are confused on the issuc. may be only sightly influenced by NF ideas. If it appears that the lell is trying to overcome their confusion by

we will never convince them.

NORTH WEST

group meals regularly.

Ne 1226 4287, 8C Minchester SALFORD Sodiellet Challenge sup-

now la laming a Sallera

socialiet Challenge arup

ELS

Aiber! Inn

Longage Market, Blokenson Ad

Socialist Challenge 5 October 1978 Page 14:

Their tiehts were prolonged struggle, and those

condemned by their own

immune fromthis rule.

NF NF

workerscensorship.

putting the

least the victim of and disguise

the situation at present. breaks the law we

proletarian democracy.

on the other racism by championing the march first,

ANE

caraval

-well

completely

Independent class,

and National

against NF marches,

It seens to me that the

DU10U9L

itself

workers

tobe physically smashable.

which means the

and the nature raising versus substitutionism. of contributions

discretion.

will withhold real publication on request

EIGH Socialist Challenge g

NORTH EAST NEWCASTLE join them, phone Pere on (0e32)

DURHAM Socallet Chillenge Suppur

» of Socialiet Cha enge.

LONDON

LARROW Socialist Challenis 101

*floe, Hce St, Walthemslow, Lonco TOWER HAMLETE Socialist Chal

through appear to attack these rights will be Neither the left nor the right are

By denying the NF the right to impart its message we are denying the workers the right to receive it, and to engage in opeit and unfectered debale The Tact that these rights are limled

ionaries have the obligation to be the most consistens, persistent defenders

CARL and extenders of these rights. Every argument we use, whether for sate or

can be used

But who gains from this? The scate is able to intervene and stifle political debate with less fuss and the NF is seen as the defender of democracy, or

censorship:

While it is true that, during civi wat, democracy isa luxury, that is not

If the N physical. mUst demand clementary justice and protection, Il the police and state cannot provide this then we use this in our fight for HIS DIULE-

hence

Above all, the revolutionary fights

demo cratic rights alien to the whole concept of racisen, and by motivating the

COP ME THUGS,

Never

NAZIS

mobilisation of the by building the autonomous back movement, and by persistent propaganda and agitation.

We should picker meetings, paper sales, and have mass mobibsations never pursue policies which alienate astrom the unconvinced workers and hurl them towards the NF camp.

campaien is being pursued for two

Firstly to gall prestige among the vanguard as to our and their fighting capacity, and secondly in order to raise the consciousness of

on the race issue. Not counting those who imagine the Front

IT we are serous we should bo fighting within the ANE to turn it into

precisely fighting rabid ultra-let

iberalism of the present leadership. Less will mean our passive acceptance of the confusion of young rebellious

workers on the ssues of democracy

PAELANDREWS (Landon SE22)

THE LENGTH of letters printed will

usually be kept down to 400 words in ord cornetians as pose 40

as possible. letters may he cut al the Editor's

Unsigned letters will not be normally be published, although me

names from

SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS

ma11C05 1201 Challenge Weds Starten Fe is

These and the light aganet necrom in

000810505

Science

and

Marxism

GARDNER's letter September about science "classical Marxism" is pure bluff. He ascribes to Marx, Engels and others

monolithic conception of found in their work: they were more than tentative in giving a scientific basis to historical materialism.

This basis had more in common with the natural sciences than the

(Mars intended dedicating Capital to Darwin) For

TEASOn historical materialism cannot be categorised a

and mechanistic 'undermined' by post-Einsteinian physics

Gardiner should sop equating 'classical Marxism' with Stalinism and perhaps re-read Feuerbach anu

End of Clasical German Philosophy where scientific absolutism is dealt with - for example.

Science... mounts from lower

higher levels of knowledge withoul ever reaching, by discovering so-called absolute truth, a paint i which it can praceed no further... Just as the bourgeoisie by Jarge-scale industry, competition and the world market dissolves in practice all stable time honoured institutions. dialectical philosophy dissolves all conceptions of final absolute truth and of absolute states of humanity corresponding to it."

PAULTICKELL (London SW9

Personal

and

political

THE QUESTION of the "Persona and the political" is a phrase currently handied around a lot in sortie sections of the left. The debate on "The Party and the Women's Movement' on the

sm mom in Septenter afreed

us an insight into how the practice may not conform to the theory.

In her introduction Bea Campbell te cared to her traumatic*

ship with the Communist Party. 11

La statemeat of a "Personal"

character unusual from a committed member of a left group in a large open

вороний о!

Now thought,

discussion to open out, for there to be more than an

'ahiectise accoun of the formal

relationshep between the party and the

women's mosement, for there even to

dialogue between the

subjective and the objective.

suppose, sterly predictable, Not one In Tact what happened

LONDON

WALTHAMSTOW readers 4012051 пона

SOUTH WEST

Commenda Read PreE

YORKSHIRE

POLY Socals!

Coratien siroggie in southen Eank: 12,93-2:00pm. 2 Dul. 4.302m. FCCm

but two people tone a speaker trom the platform) Incited onto this briet insight into somecue's emotional life with almost sadilated plee *Of course she was they said. dubo wondn t he Comntunist Pany: etc. understand what these poopic meat when they: talk ahout the personal abd Political'; exploiting I utterly reject the strategies and theorisations of the CP. 1 am entirely 014 in favour of winning militants from

and the CP who begin

reformien which is starine them in the face. Rut there is surely no shortage of polical arguments with which to do This Incident subordination of che "personal' to the 'political'. Bea Campbell's subjoctive experience of her relationship to the CP (in which, incidentally, J am she is not alone, not only in the CP bu in all other left organisations) wa considered less importane than the

Cop panic offered to criticise the

and

The implications of this form o prioritisation completely stifle any honest attempts by committed revolutionaries explore. understand produce tentative solutions to the contradictions which are inherent in our lives as revolationaries.

From this emerges the impoverishment of Marcist teary as well as the decimation the revolutionaries, It is time that all the verbiage ahout the personal and the political became integrated part of our practice.

ROGER ETKIND (London]

so this

Hope for

pope?

RICHARD Carver's

August on the death of Paul Vi is deplorable on can counts. First, il is written in an unnecessarily abusive and insensitive manner calculated to offend those socialists and progres sives working within the Carbolic Church arguments of those traditionalists in the Catholic Church (of whom people like Carver are che mirror-Image)

Catholics work cogether for common aims Secondly, and more importants. Marxist the article betrays an asconishing

insularity and indiffereoce to the global significance of the Catholic Church, to the struggles among tbe different political tendencies within relation- the Church, and to the manner in

which socialists should relate to these trends.

The papal succession is not question of finding one senile old celibate' to replace anocher but a is an struggle for the leadership of the

largest and one of the most powerful organisations in the world, a lactor of crucial significance in the revolu tionary process in Traly, Spain, and Latin America, ideological throughout the world was, 1 Finails, it is worth pointing out that

Paul VI did not, as Carver's article

in Ran Mie

" Freias 13 Get.

Untersity Gibusester An MILAN S

OUTHAMPTOM Socialist Challen ,, Post bree, п 10мт-трн

Socialist Challenge auls File in the Gund, Haymard SOUTH EAST

DEWSBURY Socialist Challenge sales:

HUDDERSFIELD Socialist Challenge supporers

traumatised". in the Now extreme right,

they mean personal "cakiiess far

the

Challenge's

marked the clear Carbolic Church

sure

will

and even

National September) ranks

While a serious and

conned

force as

never

Left.

arlicle 417 STOCH LOCOD

TEIMTOTEL the doctrinaire

that and socialists can never

country:

unemployment.

ROLLO

one-day

25 WE 45 318982

significance The Bociallet Chall

York does 11: 30-3.30) at Coney Street

ming am: 021164 9208 Street

LEAMINGTON Sociallel

TaseR Dammay Denter Leaming PIece Cammunty Senire..

COLCHESTER Socialist

suegests, represent the reactionary

within the Carbolic Church Paul VI's period in office was as anyone who has taken the trouble to find out will know, Charactersed by Sentiant Pretal seen tron, lead opposed hy the

by the former fascist Archbishop Defebvre.

TE socialists are to link up with and strengthen the radical anti-capitalist tendencies in the Catholic Church, especially in connection with the vital question of women's rights, which is at the centre of the ideological crisis in the Church, we shall need to develop an analysis and a strategy which go beyand the mere abuse and bigotry which appear to represent Socialist

posture towards the

DAWSON (Bradford)

NUS and

student

teachers

1 REFER to your article on the

Union of Students (14 comments on the Broad Left's failure SPIL with their policy of alienative user"

LOFTLE maintaining that this soet of ling 1 excellent Tor gaining respecrability with lie goveroment you lal to make any reference to the refusal of the majority of student teachers to be

Many more by the NUS die. quietly The largest area of NUS, that of London, ha

adopted hernative uses" despite repeated efforts by the Broad

Before alternative uses came into being, the Beond Left were in elective control of the teacher education

then ULIESA. now TESSO. They have not won an election for a single executive position since their adoption of alternative

The Teacher Education National Conference decisively rejected alternative uses this September and referred back the section of the TENC report that dealt with the college closures campaign.

organisine within London and naticnally as far as the student teachers wahin NUS are concerned a campaien against all cul and closures and for restoration of 114,000 initial teacher training places We look to the working people of this

whetlie: HUANTE education, or other public services for mutual support to smash the government policies of cuts and

SHERIDAN (TESI SO Convence, TENC 1971-78)

Socialist Challenge is organising a pondents on 28 Oclober. This will he LETTES vital in geuring ap the paper and in sapporters for the struggles leading Tall details next week.

BATH Socialist Challenge

the deal ol ali e ISLE OF Challenge trem the Oz Sho 0al157 44 Unian St. Ayo

SCOTLAND

toughou cotland plea contact Sociali: 64

Socialist Challengi

JUNDEE Intermalion about Societiet

Page 15 scan of this page

How we learned to be less self-conscious

Nine days to shake the world

Red Rock Revue

summer of "78,

its Cabbage', a B&B musical on Ireland.

Our productions have come from our own pobitical experience, and from informal

ment activists up and down the

subjeets have been diverse: wage restraint, changing Army recruitment techniques, the Lucas Acrospace corporate plan, the alienation of bid people, the fight back against che muttinationals..

Although music has played a large part in the majority of thieve productions, and the band has toured in its own right as a mauso union sier

making some records, it is only recently that we have felt able to move forward.

With the appearance of a music movement which has so forcefully orcated Tor itself a

• in the political arena, the

and has itself able to resolve some of the contradictions inherent in being political band which CHENYCO IN BEC SONICAL

Grease is here

WEARING suitably

That's the great thing about Grease.

what nostalgia is Yet

and sane along and loved the bigsest hype since Brian Clough claimed Nous Forest could play football:

The storyline of Grease is eminenily forgettable. In fact it is difficule tospot.

Ir's how Danny two step' Travolta discovers truc

summer sometime in (Olivia Newton Jolai, but due to the

T. Birdst has to pretend not to. Day should he very successful.

At a regional meeting of Socialist Chullenge organisers in the North-West

weekend, Manchester supporters reported that local plans for sales underway in about 20 venues in the Greater Manchester arce.

The success of the dash, said Iocal sals organiser. Vicky Anderson, "will depend largely on the confidence of the sellers - promoting and explaining the paper's policies is new

UNDER REVIEW

RED ROCK REVUE is the response of those members | fact that rock music was being of the Bell and Braces touring political company most involved on the music side to the

The company's shows have always been created in response to questions arising out of the prevailing political climate writes EILEEN POLLOCK, performer in the revue and author of 'Not so Green as

theatre.

Previously, not help but be conscious of the ambiguity of our situation poople of the rock generation ansious to challenge the forms of rock music in an attempt to

AGGRESSIVE The contradictions many, and many still remain: using the aggressiveness of TOLE MUSIO aggressive political ideas, while attempting to do battle with the sexism inheren in rock music and music's destegard for wards..

The contradiction in terms of audiences some the politics accepted the rock music. alien though it might have been to

way of expressing its politics; and TUNIL primarily excited by the very

Rub in the Brylcreem,

get out the combs

dark glasses and plenty Brylereem, MICK GOSLING insinuated himself into a crowd of 14-ycar-olds and greased his way into the opening night of "Grease' in downtown Hackney.

conclusion when Sandy abandons her white ankle socks and call length dresses they interest leather outfit

suitable partner for Mr Man

In berween It's song and adolescent smut.

OBSESSED If American Graffitti and love -That't Be The Day tried to say the something about growing up' in the carly days of rock Foll, Grease has no such pretensions.

Not even at the level of happy casting. Most of the male THERE ARE only nine days left before our first ever National Sales Day on 14 October, writes our new distribution manager, STEVE BRIGNULI.. And if Manchester supporters are anything to go by, the Sales

ways in Manchester group overcoming: che confidence many comrades Teci when they are doing mass. sales. are The Natonal Sales Day is not & one-olt event It a the first step in a three-month campaign. to boost the paid sales of the paper by 50 ger cent Many erotins have increnses their urders alrendy, again, Manchester has taken a

per cent!

used in this way. theatre

These, among other contra dictions, self-consciousness on the part of the company Bell and Prices may haw conle bearer than resolving problems. But the battle is vers far from being won, and the company's long-term arristic the band could policy constantly

around the struggle to evolve an integrated, ДОВЕСТИВІС-ЕВЕНАГЕ The emergence of a political

released the band trom its selfpolitical

bining of musical skills and political awareness.

This side of the company's work istaking its place within the political music movement. repardless of the fact that it still were

being aeither punk, nor respac nor jazz nor completely rock. Ti resent is only describable as Belt and

Braces Band, with ins slides and is lights and its theatricals, its techniciams usual performers,

could political DJ! whom The band hopes that Red

Rock HET HE continually capable of whatever is happening at the time, capable of being changed, WEIS updated, continually expanded

and improved.

of adolescents sport lise o'clock

shadows at & in the morning They are completely obses sed with whether girls "put out" Their attitude to women is sumed up in the phrase: 'But what do you do with them for for the other 23% hours?

and

The girls, interested in romance the exception of a bad' who nearly gets into trouble' This boringly familiar cliché of boy-giri relations mandard lyrics of the lilm viz: holdine my Hand got friendly, Sandy: He *She down in the sand." and

This sort of stuff is laid on with i trowel throughout the film, and hip swivelling from John CaTCH! supporters are off s Newport on 14 Octaher to T Lo win new readers. They have increased their order by 10 per cent oc a regular basis, and half again for the Sales Day Along with the increase in sircel sales, we hope to push ug lack

cent mosts. Every buys a paper on 14 October witl be askod to consider our spocial sun aller of three months 1o1 12.

I you Have any problems getting the paper on a regular why Onoe offer: Or, Tor t5. you can get

efficient delivery months, alus a chose of eithe he Big Red Dairy or Pan Africa Diary.

Ted to

most to •LIC

revolves

un-self-conscious

calegersation.

and seven

Including what well be Britain's firs

colving show.

VENUES In Tact it is CAPILLE

Farce

Pride

by coltrast,

inspires the not over bums.

Cent watchat home.

Grease got friendly will slip away

complete with eye-rolling

hundred thousand. stacking

be usefulls

in the tex.

peson who shop» stocked And

cot conder this

weck.

paper.

the following places:

HOWA HEYUE. UPCOMING

Elvis Presley respoctively

so overdone. with best backhanded comb movements I've ever seen, that you can't heip hoping that it mas be

The high. (or low) spot of the film is when three jokers decide to take national television for a

while it's filming the school's annual dance as a

typical American instication.

the spotlight following their

three take a bow — with jacks over bead but. as, trousers

Meanshile, the proud par-

AS DICKY AS IT arrived. And while you've heen

review the film's distributors will have netted another lew

Finally, we hope that the nex: tbree months will sec a big increase in the mumber of shops

Socialist Challenge.

North West supporters have discussed how a full day could

used just taking enouiries trom coery bookshoo - including placing customers

WH Smith to ger the paper

promotion BRISTOL: being planned — wall be up in as many shops and college as will rakethem A poster suitable for My-posting will be out nexi

If you don't already sell the

witty not joul the seler LEAMINGTON: ou 14 October. They will be in

GREATER

EILEEN POLLOCK on the road to Carnival 2 with Belt und Braces Red Rock Revue. shame Rudolf Valentino and in those days a socialist challenge was hard to come by.

But it's not today... Socialist Challenge

A popula pelllical weir

OLR NEW POSTER, with thanks to the Flemish ardise Pleder Bruegel. I's infended minly for college and work nulice hourds but we don't mind If it's Hyposted! Contact Steve Brignull (01-339 8371] fur copies.

Some at the places where yau can bu Notional Saine Day

cutside Mas Fiscene:

BIRKENHEAD: Sm

1200 elenas Sener

Ducen:

HUDDERSFIELD. The Plasza, Tian HULL: The aroge, Wonette Gale

Coventry

HANCHESTEN

12 Col. eoning, Dock Pond Fist

COOLESTS Centre. Lange ch: Market Choic

Wane water Paly Dcatury Co age Boo stuce to necica!

Boota, Bros SOUTHAMPTON: Port Slice. Bar WARFINGTON Min Sirsel

Socialist Challenge 5 October 1978 Page 15

Page 16 scan of this page

THE UNACCEPTABLE FOOT OF CAPITALISM

Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to 'Socialist Challenge'.

Registered with the Post Office os a newspaper. Published by Relgocrest Led. for Socialist Challenge 328/9 Upper 5i, London N1. Printed by Goodhead Press Lid., 25 Murdock Rd, Ricester.

years.

Labour's base

workers who kept constitutencies"

MICHAEL FOOT, 30 April 1972.

Before the memory fades compictely, 1e1 13 remember how: Michael FOot postured. How he denounced the late leader of the Labout Party, Hugh Gaitskell, as a "counter-revolutionary"

How he marched with the Campaign Against Nuclear

rainst the Amcrican war

FILTERIT Tribune group, and was once expelled Trom the Parliamentary Labour Party

being too left-WinE.

Foot's favourite theme throughout his political life has been the need for the Labour leadership to pay heed to its "base

DISASTER

He wed to stress that defying the wishes of the party rank and file led inevitably to political disaster and defeat.

Such is the past of Michacl

Today it is a history which is Inding.

WE MADE IT! With the help of 1500 from a comrade wha wishes to remain anonymous, wereached 12,743. For the first time since the paper's quarterly

HATERSEL 11,800 to 12,500, we've gone well over the com

What's more, we haven't yer added in the bankers' orders, which add up to t754 quarter So we are now position think about improving the paper.

As a firse step, we will be Name

Address -Complete and return to:

Labour Party Conference

'A POLITICAL PARTY should protect its base; that is the condition for success in all other manoeuvres and forays. And who will contest the platitude?

*The strange answer is that for months past, even

of, the most eminent well-wishers of the Labour Party have recommended an exactly opposite strategy, and occasionally the Labour leadership has seemed tempted to adopt it...

'But I repeat: this was the strategy of defeat in 1970.

Is the trade ugion interlocked with the dedicated phalanx of party

democracy alive in

same spood as the lost jobs of steelworkers in Foots Ehow Vale constituctica But last Monday at Labour Party conference when Foot wound up on behalf of Callachan in the debate on the 5 per oent limit, it was difficult to feel much anger.

in SICK the It is little more than a sick reminder of tinies long past that for as late as March 1972 Foot considered: The Jobless toral DE CATARAL BEER LOCOUT SOSE office was already intolerable':

OT COUrSe: charges selling-out past principles,

once office is attained, are not restricted la Michacl Foot. But where Foot has responsibilty Es in relation to the present state of the Labour Party.

He 15 now one of the misin leaders of a Labour governmcar wmca was so-cancany *failed to prolect its base c

OUR FUND DRIVE

making sure that our subscribers ger more efficient delivery of their copies. move towars a meal beate addressing system, which avon the often legible writing that comes with our present

Withough this involves a cos of'over (200, it will mean fewer this missing copies for subscribers In a and many hours of work saved althis end.

We are also investigating a - change to pre-paid postage

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Domestic: 6 months, £5; 12 months, E10 Abroad: Airmail, £16.50. Surface, £10 per annum. I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of

Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.

Socialist Challenge

supposed

movement

the

the of of Somersaulins

special avoiding peesebtly stamping cach issue.

We plan to Finally, we hope to adopt a new

and highly CUTICLE will system to ensure that a record 1 keD! Ol every leaves our offices.

All this will put us on a firmer financial footing results of the new subscriptions and the improver sales begin ta fall into our offices. countine on you. beginnine with - 1 Sales Day on 14 October.

SpeRT

LILEE BE billing

paper WalL rains. OvEr

to Ford workers

once the

the paper lies.

Were -However

especially the National

the horizon,

chance of will feel no

the doorstep,

WAR

That what Faot,

per CCHI

There's clearly an audience

Ford plant in Dagenham Inst Olliam. Friday, despite the torrentia

SD copies were sold

of Socialist Challenge groups are vital. For

last weekend's meeting of North West Soci- helping alist Challenge proup organi sers showed that many of our

funds. Are you?

Socialist lottery,

And that is not the fault of the

rank and file members of the

the factory floar. have

Foor and his colleagues in

gosernment over the past four

years. Too patient

But now, with the election on the self-evident

truth can no longer he hidden.

Labour hasn't a cal in hell's winning the next

clection while it pursues the

per селе norm. falls to tackl

unemployment, and rejeers the

advice of Lahour activists in

International Monetary Fund.

The average Labour activist enthusiasm for

arguing Heath-type policies on

The traditional Labour vole.

will foct Lictle compulsion to

vole for a party that sages war

on free collective bargaining.

is why -pontrary lo Healey and TURE

ruling class press argued the

decision of the Labour Parry conference to throw out the i

destroy

Labour's election chances.

If that vote is followed up by

the Labour Pany waging the

IRELAND 1968-78 Demonstration, 7October

BARNSLEY, Rock Street, 12.30 Called by the United Troops Our Movement, Bring the war home to Mason's constituency!

| oldest groups have floundered springings no places ale although new Cones

So the increased income we rerelying on. trom improved sales will also be put towards servicine lhese groups: provi ding more promotion material:

Dratise Soakers and MR tours: bolding regular regional mcclug of group 0108503539

COUT with local fund-raising, and soon Anon

On that last note, Manches ter supporters are plamnine a Guy Fawkes bonlite to raise

Plus week, wove had one more member of the Fourth Anon

CHEE year of his memhership with a | GHAND TOTAL

Xmas lottery

WHY NOT fry Four luck in Di

Challenge dion

For 10p per ticket or f1 for a book of lickers. Ding sa.c.. se can have a chance to win one of

prizes including: portable 12" bluck and while telexision; a cuse of French wine for the holding season; an unfographed copr of Ernest Mandel's forthcoming book, The Second Slump; a record

campaign against that its now pidged of and it

those whe still carmider

themselves left Labourites put

themselves at the lead of that

campaign, an election victory is

PROBLEM

The ouly problem is that i

mas diase all coine 100 late

Toi example, the

Tribenites launched such a

campaien ar the start of Phase

socialist stralery;

government, then today the

Labour party would he in a

much healthier state.

Such a campaign would have

inevitably overthrown the

policies of Callaghan. Healey

The Labour left has argued

Cha. It las bad difficulties

because the government was a

minority onc

Well, who is the minoriry in the labour movement? Cal laghan, Heales, and Fool — oi the 57,000 Ford workers, and the four million voles at the | Labour Party conference!

Goodbye, Michael Foot. We can't say it's been a picasure knowing you. But it's certainly been an experience. donation of E15. Thanks to Tony Southall.

Our thanksthis week to:

E100 Насклеу IMG 2100 Irom Carnival 2 lood stall)

225 Chris Scott Paul B. Freeson

J. Sprago E2

D. S Iverstone

P. Lalley Cardiff supporter -61.25 Tony Southall E15

1321 J. Irving

E50C

E2.741.48 token; and a year's subscrip-

to three pulications: Socialist Challenpe. Toterna Total and socialist cyrenan

The lottery will he drawn on 18 December in the Challenge offices, und the winning ticket mamber will be printed in the 4 January 1979 ISSUE CHEE CHAREE Organised ly D. Weppler of 328 Lipper Street, London NI 2XP

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