Socialist Challenge No. 70, No v, 1978
The scan: sc-n70-nov-2-1978.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
No 70 2 November 1978 15p
Socialist Challenge
CALLAGHAN DEFIES
THE
LABOUR
MOVEMENT
AS WE went to press the apparent determination of thi
eadership of the Labour Party and trade unions to def the wishes of their rank-and-file on pay policy took on more and more sinister tones.
MONDAY: the union leaderships of the public employees, following talks with the employers in London, declared themselves satisfied that the unions had received no offer. Ron Keating, Assistant general secretary of the National Union of Public Employees, explained to an angry lobby of his members that any such offer would be an embarrassment while talks on the pay policy between the TUCand Labour Government continued.
TUESDAY: Ron Todd, chief union negotiator at Ford, told a shop stewards meeting that he was not rejecting the company's offer of 12½ percent. Heand other union leaders implied that the £20 claim and the demand forashorter working week were as good as dead.
WEDNESDAY: Callaghan's Queen's Speech made clear the determination of the Labour government to ignore the Labour Party conference's 1. opposition to all forms of pay policy.
What all these attitudes have in common can be summed up in one word. Defiance. Defiance of the wishes of party and union conferences and the rank-and-file.
Just as the TUCleaders have no mandate to engage in their secret talks with the Labour Government, just as the local government union leaders have no mandate to wait until the outcome of these talks, so too Ron Todd has no mandate to barter away the full Ford's claim.
But the striking Ford workers now seem likely to be joined by otherstrikers. If the public employees made it a trio it woud beresistancesostrong that the 5 per cent policy would really be a thing of the past.
And if Callaghan, Len Murray, Ron Keating, and Ron Todd don't likeit, let them be pushed aside for others who do.
Don't let
him get
away with it.
Page 2 scan of this page
The fight for IGNORE
EDITORIAL
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, 01-359 8180/9. Distribution/ Advertising 01-359 8371.
The problem of
Labourism
the 5 per cent norm.
the ruling class are worried by
power-struggle within the party.
class [at the moment
down via incomes poncy. should not be lightly dismissed.
those at work.
The Queen's Speech will clearly see Squire to carry on regardless of Labour Conference decisions.
as the Fire Brigades Union were treated last Xmas.
Labour Party was formed.
Owen must go
Foreign policy SADOUE VIS Americans in Vietnam.
- Kinnock, Litterick,
craven support for the development since Americans in Vietnam. outside Parliament. When Parliament he should be
in Iran.
Shah or against apartheid.
should be a priority.
If you agree with these principles and want
to be involved in activities by
Challenge supporters in vour area. fill in
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Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 2
London N1. Editorial THEPOLITICAL situation in Britain today is characterised by two dominant features: the inability of the Tory Party to offer a coherent and united alternative to Callaghan, and the revolt against
The Tory Party leadership is seriously divided on the question of an incomes policy. The provocative statements by Heath and the publicity he has been given by the Tory press indicate that sections of
the petty-bourgeois demonstrated by Thatcher and other Tory leaders. When this frenzy fails to win by-elections then it can be easily transformed into a
In reality the real debate is between those sections of the ruling
Smal unemployment rise, and those who prefer to keep living standards
dilemma is that Heath represents the latter and Joseph and Thatcher the former.
In this situation Callaghan and Healey appear as capable and effective bourgeois leaders. Their real links with the trade unions make them even more valuable. They demonstrate, once again, what an important pillar social-democracy is for the British ruling
Within the organised working class there is by no means universal or even majority consent for industrial action to defeat government policies. The Ford workers have undoubtedly paved the way for further actions, but the mood of the Vauxhall workers at Luton
Lots of workers have accepted some of Labour's arguments. The notion that if we tighten our belts there will be more for all has been accepted by some as true. This view has been enhanced by the temporary economic stability and the rise in real take-home pay for
enormously boosted by the by-election results, declaring his intent the nation and not any one class' will be the refrain, which will be widely applauded by the ruling class and its press. The public sector claims will pose the bio test forthe Callachan regime this winter. ne success at Fords will make it more difficult to treat the public sector
There is, however, an increasing problem for those who believe that calls for more, more and yet more militancy aresufficient in this period. This is understood by many workers. That is why the fight for a global socialist alternative remains a vital task. Transforming trade union militancy into a political assault on Labourism is the problem which has dogged revolutionaries in Britain ever since the
It is by no means an easy task. However the precarious condition of Brush capital necessitates a comprehensive struggle to fight within the labour movement for alternative socialist policies which break with the logic of the market economy. A useful first step could be for local Labour parties to insist that conference decisions are put into effect and demand the removal of leaders who refuse to do so.
The breakthrough at Ford has to be consolidated. But it will need more complex and more political tactics than simple exhortations for more militancy. That is the real task which confronts all
IT IS a sign of the times that left-wing Labour MPs have not mounted a campaign to demand that Dr Owen be instantly sacked.
issues have not caused much dispute amongst since the rows over Wilson's support for the
In the past there was a tendency for left-wing Labour MPs to go along with Soviet foreign policy. Today's new wave of left-wingers
Skinner, etc simply don't seem to be interested in foreign policy issues. It is time they woke up. Owen's
Shah of Iran is the most scandalous grovelling
A campaign against Owen needs to be mounted inside and
the noble doctor visits university campuses nis recoro snowo be subjectea to serous scrawly-
hounded till he either withdraws his justifications for the murders currently taking place
Labour activists and socialists outside the Labour Party have tended to neglect the need to develop a socialist foreign policy. The result of this is clearly to be seen on demonstrations against the
The mobilisation of the labour movement or the larger groups of the far left has been little short of pathetic. A campaign against Owen and Labour's foreign policy
Socialist
rights
frenzy
favour letting OUR rights as British citizens are supposedly enshrined in a long and healthy democratic tradition. ments in the past week show how fragile those liberties really arC.
RICHARD CARVER reSPUTES * The Suppression of TerrorCallaghan, ism Act came into force on 24 October. One of its effects is to
*We serve broaden the extradition charged with political offence. and a0г0a0 * Joe Edwards, an Irish trade unionist, was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He had been in Britain to speak at a meeting opposing the British presence in Ireland. Heis likely to be served with an exclusion order. * The 'ABC' Official Secrets trial continues. The defendants are wolourauss anu atormici soldier charged with communicating and receiving official information.
MASS
The gave the world its first mass movement for rights makes it all the moresad that the British labour movement. for one reason or another, has been
The militant left movement has buried its nose in the factory. obscured by a sort of supe syndicalism, the left wing has not known what the right was doing.
Meanwhile the right wing ably represented by the present
Labour government — has been uptoall manner of nasty things.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act is a case in point. The failure of the bulk of the left to defend
revolution resigns defenceless against legislation
According to official figures 3,375 people have been detained under the PTA in its four year historv: 132 have been served with exclusion orders; only a handful have been charged with any offence.
And still only a tiny minority
1
THE FIRST WORD
democratic
But three developgrounds to include those
British citizens wanted
Party.
British working class
democratic ine narusts.
of the between Ministers Its outlook *terrorism'.
tise
deal with it.
the
number of
to political offences
pressuring Dublin suit.
exposed.
Capitalism is in crisis. The leaders of the Labour Party and the trades unions offer solutions that are in the interests, not of the workers, but of the capitalist
Socialist Challenge believes that the two vital tasks confronting
• To build broad-based class struggle tendencies class-collaborationism in the labour movement. These should be non-exclusive in character grouping together militants holding a wide range of political views • To begin to fight for the creation of a unified and democratic revolutionary socialist organisation which can, through an application of united front tactics, begin to be seen as an alternative by thousands of workers engaged in struggles
such an prognisation should be basco on tue onuctstanang bar
The struggle for socialism seeks to unite the fight of the workers agains the bosses with that of other oppressed layers of society - women - struggling for their liberation. This socialism can only be achieved by creating new organs of power and defeating with al
essary means the power of the capitalist state
YOUR PERIL
MURDER, RAPE
AND ROBBERY...
HoW BoUT YoU? dares to raise opposition to the PTA in the unions and Labour the
The Suppression of Terror- uncovered. ism Act has been a carbon copy or Ine FIA — a least in tne manner of its introduction.
enrecuve y VOSE removes the right of political as us bas use Droole of the Suppression of Terrorism
an agreement European Interior for combattle
The British state is a world leader in 'anti-terrorist' exper-
and technology. Anyone who hasa problem with internal opposition calls on the Brits to
Even the highly expert West Germans hired the SAS to deal with a plane hijacking last year.
It is typical, theretore, that
British Act actually goes between ABC further than the Convention in cases? denying the right to asylum. A
COLLIES have refused to apply the agreement
Not so Simply, good old Britain, which is now behind
to follow Call Dals!
Our third example, the ABC trial, has been more thoroughly
The whole world
OUR POLICIES 2
opposition to
THIS AT
INVESIIGATIVE KEPORING.. knows who 'Colonel B' is and
practice 01 official jury rigging has been
This doesn't mean that the problem will go away, but it is a step in the right direction
importantly, most serious ABC charges were dropped last week, leaving only those under Section 2 of the Officia Secrets Act (which the Labour government, incidentally, is pledged to repeal!).
The publicity around the case allows us to show the complicity of the entire Labour leadership in these anti-democratic moves.
For example, who would have thought that the nice Dr Owen had anything to do with ABC?
But as nominal head of Britain's overseas spy network it was he aDIC who approved the prosecution.
What •Terence and the other
an CAMPAIGN
AB and C have them substantial some of them journalists (who are always good people to have on your side), but more importantly many of them within the labour
Our socialism will be infinitely more democratic than what esists "
socialism in the Look and tastern Europe nave onercaned stars in the eyes of the millions of workers throughout the world. We are opposed to them and will offer full support to all those fighting for socialist democracy
The interests of workers and capitalists are irreconcilable on a world orld politics. Thus we fight for working class units on an internation scale. This unity will in the long run he decisite in
imperialist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships they sustain in lati
America, Africa and Asia.
In Britain it implies demanding the immediate withdrawal of British troop
from Ireland and letting the Irish people determine their own future
The Communist Parties in Europe are in [Euro-communist nor the pro-Mosen wings hase any meaningin strategy for the overthrow of the capitalist state. New resolutionary socialist parties are more necessary than ever before. Condition- todas
are more favourable than over the preceding three decades. But such parnes ca
only be built by rejecting sectarianism and seeing internal democracy not tv
luxury but as a vital necessits. This means the right to organise factions an
movement
ABC campaien ha organised openly and demo-
its opponents.
It is a lesson that other such campaigns could take to heart
the defenders of the West German Astrid Proll, for example, who may be the first victim of the Suppression of Terrorism Act
or persons unknowns one defence campaign for a groupof anarchists on bomb charges. concerned are some of them to remain unknown that thev onl surface to launch physical STRACK potentia supporters!
Their caution in the face of state harassment is understand-
attentions of Special Branch will not be avoided by going 'underground"
Each of these campaigns has
irrefutable case. Every reason, then, to take the issues out into the labour movement.
That is the only way we are Shit to can persuade too
can persuade movement that these political questions, far from being irrelevant, are central to its interests.
political parties and currents
Fi defeating both the
crisis. Neither the
Page 3 scan of this page
Ford in league with fascists in France
FORD
supplying trucksto the Nazi armies.
MARTINMETEYARD reports.
The fascists in question are involved in a bosses' union called the CSL (Confederation of Free Trade Unions).
It used to be called the CFT (French Confederation Labour), but changed its name late last year in an effort to alter LS maLe.
This face-lift became necessary arter an emoarrassingiy high number of CFT members had been caught red-handed in acts of open thuggery. included shootings, the break- , elections, ing up of factory occupations, dU S00n
The CFT itself was formed out of an 'independent union' at the Simca car plant, with the aid of Italian foremen from ex-members of Mussolini'sguard.
specialises in the car industry. From Simca it moved on to Curoca and t cugous ta three are now part of tte saru hug-ridden after Peugeor's takeover of Chrysker's Europcan opcrations).
Its most recent interest, with ine active assistance management, une factory in Bordeaux.
-Lns lactOry was opened in 1972 —typically, for Ford, in an area of high unemployment. It DOSTWOURIS
One, cailled C3. automanc scarpoxc - jU pc cent of them for the US. The OTDET BOP-CAT, MaKes gearboxes for the Fiesta, 90 per cent or wnich go to rord-Spain
The workforce is mostly very young. And not much is left to chance in its hiring.
IMMIGRANTS
One example: as in operations elsewhere, Ford has tried to split the workforce by Takne on a lor or maus workers.
In France most of the latter come from North Africa. But they've become a bit organised and militant lately. So Ford has played extra safe: 11S immigrant WOrKCrS mostly refugees from Vietnam, Laos. and Cambodia.
How did the CSL enter the picture. Many or une actans were recently revealed with the publication ISCTC confidential documents in the French rotskvist dailv Rouge.
The documents consist
He: here LOOH
Secret documents reveal
IN 1938 Henry Ford was decorated by Hitler for
In 1978 Ford is again working with fascists — this time at its factory in Bordeaux in southern France.
notes of telephone conversations and reports drawn up by a Michel Touzet Touzet is the local representative of a bosses' organisation in the engineering and mining industries Calee ue Touzet is no local freelance. OUSTCDORLS WCTC SCIL IO LIC UIMM's national office. And his activities fit in UIMM's reputation for dirty SUR CKS.
These During the 1974 presidential
mustaucc. produced 3 million copies of a broadsheet SEHCaLHIE Socialist candidate, rand. The headline: President of the Republic drawn Mitterrand decides: rationing
from Monday.
AIM ouzels toe was o neo Ford to counter the influence of
trolled trade union federation, the CGT.
The aim was to build up a
of strong section of the CFT (now Ford CSL) as Well as
another more
Ouvrière (which was set up with AUB0S 2S 2 S00Ol the CGT in the late 1940s). makes Touzet worked
glove with the director at Ford-Bordeaux, M Clara. The documents reveal that: *The UIMM arranged for Clara to meet the general secretary oT ine inen Auguste Blanc. The idea was to eraW up BISU possessing the required qualiUCS WIO Cole De KeI OId
its Ford.
*It fixed up meetings for him with other car bosses work1112 with the Archambault, Peugeot, and M.
Simca-Chrysler. more *The UIMM also brought in a
student leader named Dominique Pionat, connected with a
alC far-right university
Nation called UNI, Ford's personnel department. Touzet's memos spell out his role: *M. Blanc could suggest three qualified people and Pionat lets them in.. Pionat has ctre-cexcoreuse coroe
of employees (CGT).* ARMED thuggery is an important weapon in the French bosses'
squads patrolling
SCCH
44-0
UIIVIVI
with the
the
Mitter-
Francois
L.T.1
assisting respectable
hand-inpersonnel
This operation still continues as far as one can tell. And its effects inside the factory can be seen in what happened to SYUunE worker, September 1977 (the incident is described in more detail in a
people recent book. Les Truands di
patronat, by Marcel Caille).
L WUS ESE BHErOHWTe!
MK went to report to the factory quards that his locker had been broken open. A guard went with CFT: Claude
MimOsCe. director of Having only worked there a Melin of
Tew davs. wrong doorway. immediately assaulted him then, when he ran off, another guard fired a shot at him.
organis- MK was to work in unconscious, and then dumped
in the parking lot in the morning cold. Only after more than an hour did other workers manage to get the local police to take him to hospital. the Management ne a simpry nad an coneonc ne.
When this didn't wash, the CFT the evicting the workers in occupation.
DE DURI TWO CFT thugs at Citroen are paraded with placards denouncing their fascist sympathies in 1972. They were caught during an attack on an immigrant workers' dance in which two women were kidnapped, one of whom was raped.
the victim as a drug addict AS TOr MK. on 22 subsequent described as follows: *His
consciousness, CONTRURIS himself threatened,
WaS OO maCH.
MK went into the multinational The guard
militant trade unionism.
caught, beaten
situation.
claimed that
place.
G
Gervais-Danone factory in Marseilles in January 1978 after
Nazis
Paul positive
with CUnC one-time
CHaIrDCISOH
preach on Gannaway
Gannaway
impressed HICW SOCaISE paper.
110 and
Tyndall
Nazis*. jumped in to the bosses' rescue, circulating a leaflet describing sondent
MK himself. his condition was Mussolini?
condition doesn't improve. While he has regained
The remains Bower AORTEE no longer says anything and still doesn't
the huge recognise his parents. Theshock
That is Ford for you. The
behind whose smiling exterior lies a continuing history of attempts to smash
Ford isn't yet strong enough to try in Britain what it is doing KnewIL in Bordeaux. But it would like
syndicalist to. In every struggle it aims to shift the balance of forces a little
worked bit more towards that kind of
buried in
Because Ford know as well as we should that in the end it's them or us. Every time, in every SaLE
for its the Features Scotsman in To the horror LEO1TO1
News
nowhere
Popes Against the
KIND and smiling people's pope (the late John
unaue least one contribution to the workers movement in Bristol.
Philip Gannaway, a plumber
city council and EETPU delegate to the Bristol Trades Council, was
the local National Front. But on his return trom a visit to kome where he heard John Paul
-racial - tolerance announced his resignation from the NF.
told the local Evening Post how he had been
by the pope's "sincerity'. His brother Gerald, who organises private hire-cabs in thecitv. alsoresigned
This dramatic conversion has opened the way for Raymond Pearce, notorious for advocating white vigilante patrols in the inner-city area, to become the
chair These events coincide with the prosecution ol two well-known local allies of Pearce, responsible for several attacks on blacks and socialists, TOTCmRaCaE LIIE office of Bristol Voice, the city's
COmUE PHCWS
Perhaps the resignation of Gannaway, the trade unionist
"nationalist' and the re-emergence of Pearce, who was disciplined last year by
for nIS UTa-TIOn approach, are linked more infiltration of the NF by the British Movement than to the Dowero u00. Dul d lew oduk is certainly called for in Bristol Its theme: "Popes Against the
Our religious affairs corres-
writes: Ho, Ho, What'sall this then? Remember Pius and the concordat with
In memory of Fred
him:
WHEN THE Queen 'opened
pseudo-gothic monstrosity of Liverpool Cathedral, just completed some seventy five years after the laying of its foundations, probably no-one present at the ceremony had the bad taste to mention the legend of Fred Bower, if any of them
Bower was a well-known
SEOECHESUL of pre-World War One days. He
the cathedral foundations and is said to have
them a tin box containing the following mes-
future generations: SnOr "Within a stone's throw of this building there are dwellings not fit for animals to livein."
This is still as true today as it was then. The only difference is that the slums now belong to the Liverpool City Council, famous
"Piggeries". Roll on demolition day!
In life as in death... ON HEARING of the death of our comrade Neil Williamson,
Editor of The Edinburgh commissioned George Kerevan, close collaborator and friend of Neil, to write an obituary. How many words? asked George *About 600' was the reply.
The obituary was duly written and sent. But it never appeared.
of the Feature:
SOTEOI reruscd For publication. His excuse: how could you have 600 words for a revolutionary when the paper only prints a few paragraphs on
from
the death of Establishment worthies?
Neil would have been both amused and gratified..
Turning a new leaf? ANY DAY now we should be Bearne rom ne Dess a00uLa new threat to humanity from COUS ZUC OHSS,E of old people liable to broken Hms Decause or aurumun seaye left in the carrying young children skid. SUTCCES of cars
ding to calamity
The culprits? The road sweepers employed by Lambeth council in South London. They are demanding a weekly bonus of €10 to deal with the autumn windfalls. The council, led by Ted Knight, a supporter of the BOCIRTSI Campaign Labour Victory, has offered the roadsweepers f4.50.
The result: a boycott of leaves.
Farewell, 'Socialist Commentary'... WE HAVE heard the sad news that Socialist Commentary, the journal of the 'intellectual' right of the Labour Party, is to cease publication for lack of funds Its luminaries have included Shirley Williams, David Owen, David Marquand, Hugh Gaitskell, Roy Jenkins, Antony Cros and. et al
It has, in the past, survived Decause OL COnaUOns *Friends of Socialist Commen
Some unese werE reputed to be not a million miles away trom the CIA ncauquarters in Langley, Virginia.
Wepen these lines in tribute:
So farewell then, Socialist Commentary We had only one thing in common:
Our initials.
Are you really dying for lack of money?
Orlack ofideas?
Dave Wax laughed when we told
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! "Surely', he said, 'Owen can ge them money From the Shah.'
Cheers anyway.
Short stories
THE success of last year's special Socialist Challenge has still be universally acknowledged. Nonetheless wesoldier on.
Readers are invited to submit short stories for this year's
Story Comnetition Maximum length of stories ShOH PeSAWOTES
They should arrive at our Olrice Dy 24 November. Th judges will be: Mervyn Jones, Emma rennant, and rrancis Mulhern.
All stories should be sent to •Short Story Competition", ocus sistenge. ,328 Upper Street, London N12XQ.
NEIL WILLIAMSON
MEMORIALMEETING
Friday 3 Novembmer, 7.30pm
Assembly Rooms, George St.,
Edinburgh Speakers:
Tariq Ali (Socialist Challenge)
Mick Napier (SWP)
Gordon Brown (Labour Party)
Brian Wilson (Editor, 7 Days)
further information conacu Memona rune Cre Scottish Socialist Books, 64
Queen Street, Glasgow.
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
Danger! Productivity at work
Behind closed doors
RON TODD, chairperson of the union negotiating committee, responded to Ford's latest offer by saying that the unions were not prepared IO aCCCDE 'penalty but were prepared to discuss productivity and absenteeism in tandem wiln grealer improvements in basic pay•
In doine so he dilched ine fight for the full claim, explains BRIAN GROGAN.
BONUS
As we predicted last week, the DOSIS -OlPOrUs DrOOUCEy deal is an 'attendance payments
BECHEUOR undermine shop floor organisation by tying bonus payments to "continuity of production".
Now, although the press has given greatest prominence to the absenteeism, the real aim of the plan is actually to prevent the possibility of unofficial action aimed at remedying grievances.
The idea Is penalise workers in one part of the plant for unofficial action elsewhere. thus selting COne LTOUDS workers against another. This is completely .COnTAR element of the claim: the call for 80 per cent raies - for lavolls caused by internal disputes.
The same is intended by
NO WAGE rises for Leyland workers. The only way they can increase their through a productivity deal.
This is what Leyland boss.
•Mick the Knite Edwardes has
in store. writes JONATHAN
SESEKMAIN.
Edwardes might be forced to
concede the odd per cent. But
his intention is to defend the
Government's five per cent to
the hilt.
DECLINE
Edwardes will have at his
disposal the full force of the
capitalist press to prove that
Leyland can afford to pay no
more.
There is no getting away trom
this very real crisis-ridden state
of British Leyland - or BL as
I s now canca.
Its market share dropped
from 50 per cent in 1968 to 30 per
cent in 1974 and 24 per cent in
CuwauCss confident
prediction tht this figure would
be raised to 27 per cent this vear
was dashed when the figures for
the first nine months of 1978
were published. They showed a
further decline to 22.74 per
Mick the Knife and Sunny
Jim have a plan to deal with this
called the Edwardes
tuauoH.
plan. It involves breaking BL
down into its constituent parts,
sorting the profitable trom the
unprofitable sections,
chopping the latter.
MOUTH
Leyland Bus and
division, for instance, made a
profit of £43 million in 1976 and
the market is booming this year
Rover and Jaguar are su!
healthy.
The idea is that these will be
-ire me u-tared Standard
plant at Speke — will be closed.
Woven within the promtable
sectors, the Edwardes axe will
fall: the AEC bus and truck
factory in Southall is due for
closure by 1980.
The Callaghan Government
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 4
raising the absenteeism question. the ciaim cans tor hour off the working day. aim isto get more workers doing the same job.
The management's proposals will cut jobs. This is what productivity is all about.
For Ron Todd to say that he will be prepared to discuss the question of productivity and
give up ROSCaCCIs SO advance the fight for the full
Ford workers tremendously strong position. Last week'sstewards committee got a report that all Ford's European production would be brought to an end November. €250m and 62,000 vehicles have been lost because of the strike.
RECALLED
Mass meetings should now be called in all the plants to explain the stage of the negotiations and the massive possibilities for the full claim. The national shop stewards conference at Coventry should be recalled to elect a national strike committee.
Thisis the only way to win the full claim. KeSnCe OR KOn Todd and the other officials spells thing productivity deal.
The British motor industry
and
STaCK concentrated upon while others | intends to put its money where
its mouth is. Ten days ago came
the announcement that there
would be no more state
unless oetamanea
proves its performances.
Altogether, SOTU
Leyland jobs are at stake. But
BL is so much ai the heart of
The Productivity in disguise THE latest offer from Ford of a £3 attendance allowance means an increase for those workers who clock in for 40 hours.
But for those workers who clock in late or have to take time off, it will mean losing the E3 writes TOMMY HEALEY.
POOL
Ford is not offering this as a "phony productivity deal", but as a serious attempt to cut down on Jods
Ford runs a "labour pool' in a Is aHsS absenteeism, which runs at about l0/1s per cent among production workers.
This pool is what Ford hopes to cut back on.
The will also workers They engaged in a fight to get rid of the Friday night four hour shift.
With the introduction of the allowance, any workers who do not go in for the Friday shift will lose money.
British industry, with factories
in all the major industrial
centres, that perhaps ten times aid this number
threatened.
30,000 Today's motor industry
international. Even it Ine bl
bosses" problems of producti-
P
S
ON YO
pool covers
generally
attendance allowance
night
have been
like.
problems 80 militants, stewaras building and the docks. 10/64. the fightback'. argue:
are ultimately
workers.
HUSBAND:
FORD wives say: we back the claim! vity were to vanish overnight, thev wourld stilltace the problem firm, of lack of overseas markets, foreign competition and the Citröen,
BL = NO FUTURE
To attempt to deal with BL's
'internal"
ITOBEH mechanisms without confronting these 'external' problems is not on. There is no future for BL as a capitalist enterprise.
Thai's why Edwardes considers such draconian measures.
That's why rumours abound about a link up between BL and
PUBLIC SUPPORT for the Ford strikers continues to be displayed up and down the country.
saw Iwo Socials!
Challenge meetings last week on a Hull the Ford strike which attracted
including shop -ITOH engineering, meeting
The main speakers were Billy Ross from the Ford Workers Group, Keith Dennison, General & Municipal Workers Union Speakers convenor at Fenners Engineering, and Mike Power, a shop local steward from the Transport and General Workers Union branch tary of the
Ross explained: No way are we going to abide by the 5 per cent norm. We're fighting for a t20 increase that will restore wages to the 1974 level.
Power, after saying that the Ford strike is central in leading
WCnl On TO -THUSL fight to transcend all the divisions in the labour movement, particularly racism, sexism and the divisions furnaces. between higher and lower paid
Power's advocation of unity was taken up by a speaker from the Black Socialist Alliance.
FIGHT FoR
EVERYON
I the French nationalised Cal
Renault, following the link deal involving Chrysler and
That'swhy hand in hand with the present wage demandsof the Leyland workers, pressing need both for full information about the precise nature of Edwardes" plans and for an alternative trade union plan for the nationalisation of the motor industry as a whole without compensation and under workers control.
Such an alternative plal that would involve the protection of living standards against the effects of inflation through
Fords solidarity
who proposed the formation of
Liaison Committee against the 5 per suggestion was agreed by the CCIIL.
HACKNEY in East London was the venue for a meeting on 23 October which attracted an audience over 100 strong.
included Joan Maynard MP; Ernie Roberts,
Labour parliamentar
candidate; Ray Varne: . SOLICT
Inner London Education Authority distriet of NUPE; and Alex Gungi and Gordon Davy from the Ford
Workers Group
LEAMINGTON in the Midlands is the home of one of the fun smallest Ford plants. It has no great record for militancy, bur support for strike action among the workers has •ocen OVCI whelming - so much so that workers on the night shift walked out leaving metal in the
Despite such enthusiasm the local plant leadership has made no attempı to involve the rank and file in organising the strike or the picket line. So it's been
hoto: JOHN STURROCK IRAKKA
automatic wage increases.
WoWe mmvove Curine H lengih of the working week on -uDay aBer ma Cus Lac workforce.
If there is a problem in the market for cars, the trade union plan could look into alternative products along the lines of the EuLas COrDU dI DIaH
Sucha plan would provide the basis for uniting all car workers rather than have the bosses try todividethem with talk of profit of this firm, precarious state of
Such a plan would provide a real alternative to the schemes or Mick tne Anile left to gthers to do the work.
Last week a public meeting organised jointly by the Socialist Workers Party and the International Marxist Group was attended by over 50 people, including about a dozen from the local plant.
BRISTOL is the venue this Thursday (2 November) for another meeting on the 5 per cent organised largely through
efforts of the SWP and IMG. There will be speakers from the docks, hospitals, the Transport and General Workers Union, and local reluge workers. The meeting is at the Shepherds Hall at 7.30pm.
PEOPLE'S FESTIVAL 78 12 hours of culture, politics and
children's festival/ creche Sun. 26 Nov., 1am-11pm Belle Vue, Manchester Tickets €2 - reduced for non-earners Details: 28 Hathersage Road. Manchester 13 (061-224 5378) Organised by Manchester Area CPGB
Page 5 scan of this page
Not a penny on your pay
Gassing the five per cent
HOME NEWS
Leyland say:
JOHNNY HAINE.
across-the-board
offered...precisely nothing.
Asa cover-up, Leyland's boss
Michael Edwardes has
introducing discussion
panity
This highly contentious OTODOSC that accept the proposed
ve tade corporale structure.
redundancy-creating
DIOQUCIVILY SOUCIICS
the plant
previously outlined in
Edwardes plan.
providing the whole
scheme is self-financing by
"improved efficiency".
FRAUD
This is not an offer, it is a raffleticket. And not only has it a high price and long odds, but the draw doesn't take place until November 1979, and if you win you have to buy your own prize!
ine whoie ining is a trauc intended to diver from at 25 per cent.
Now BOC is
rejection of a 7.7 per cent offer.
Mick Gosling
Deputy
claim.
What are you asking for this year?
John Walsh: The claim is for a substantial increase on the basic with the company's profita-
to pay, consolidation of the E5 back productivity and 10 per cent we got last year, increases in shift allowances, night-out and subsistence anowances.a 35-hou week. It's worth about 30 per
been offered Tave YOU productivity deal?
Mickey Boulter: They wouldn't
DEOCELLIVELYEOUS. couldn't do any more work under the present manning unless they LaYC 11S workers
Wasn't there a productivity deal last year?
whatsoever. We gave productivity, we lost no hours, and we lost no workers.
We learnt our esson under Phase 1 and 2 of the Work Study Review (WSR) system at the beginning of the 1970s. We lost 800 workers nationally (20 per cent of BOC's entire workforce).
I never agreed with it but we had to abide by the majority decision, and at a price of 13 per
IN A move of startling audacity, British Leyland have made their position on pay abundantly clear, reports
In answer to their workers' annual claim of a £27
inflation-protected increase, 35-hour week, and other benefits, the company has
Edwardes conveniently forgets the company-engineered ballot last year, which stressed that the reviews now due conducico on a plant basis.
What it hides is that, in terms the
offering nothing!
and CONFUSION closures, the In some plants this confusion has worked, often with the
Inreturn, British Leyland will encouragement of union offi-
"give' parity in November next cials. There are plants where the
claim — agreed by the combine committee — has not even been submitted.
In others, no information -worse still, intormalon the stewards membership.
But the parity completely knocked on the head at last Friday'stop level meeting when British Leyland refused to consider bringing forward the
British Oxygen workers
IT TOOK 3,200 British Oxygen workers just four weeks last year to blow a hole in Phase 3 of the GovernmentTUC pay policy, winning an increase which worked out
entering the pay fray Management were due to reply yesterday to the union's
and John Ross spoke to JOHN WALSH and MICKEY BOULTER, Convenor and
Convenor for the Transport & Workers Union at the Hackney depot, about this year's
worker per week Hackney lost 30 per cent of its labour force After WSR 2 there will be no more productivity because people realised what a fraud it was.
How did you recover from that to winning what you did last year?
JW: We will have to go back a long time to explain that. years ago the union in BOC was just being organised.
There were no lay delegates on the national commince. we eventualy gol five on from the four regions in We 1970/71 representing the T & G and General Workers more At thesame time we led a fight from Hackney for a national meeting of delegates from all 46 BOC depots. The place in 1974.
Now in the event of a pay claim being prepared it is taken no meeting of representatives from depots where a resolution is adopted ane taken nacktoine branches where it is endorsed and submitted to management.
powerfulset-up this is. How has he company respondeur
MB: The companv is irving to break the union set-up in BOC
the dismay of the union officials BOTESCHL.
Now these officials cannot wriggle off the hook and the literally threadbare Leyland offer cannot be covered up Cowley stewards have seen through the contrick. Last Thursday's mass meenng carrica (win only a handful against) a resolution to Live une comany seven cays o should be put cash on the table in answer
to une clani This kind of well prepared action provides an Leyland the
obstinacy and the filibustering of union officialdom. group determined to see action on a company-wide 'Leyland Stewards Committee for the Annual Review', meeting regularly to gandise and push for a fight over the review.
APTLY confusing has been given One of their leaflets aptly and the sums up the situation: 'Get the
fraud was backing
Fords did it: so can we
For further details write to:
bury Rd, Moseley, Birmingham
muchta 13.
from national officers downwards. The weapon is overtime.
The union officers signed an with the ment in 1969/70 for 48 hours.
again. But what the company
indirectly through departments and individuals is to let some people go over the hours,
General So at some depots you have
OCODIe workine deudranieca OU hour week. We shouldn't allow
the strength of the unions in this
You work in a very profitable
dealing industry. Do you see yourselves
as a 'special case"
JW: We don't class ourselves as a special case.
MB: Nor at Ford's. How you be special at Ford's! They Ten are poorer paid than us.
They are everything they and more and it would still be negotiating inadequate for the work they are
doing. And there's no way they can give more productivity.
Municipal Has the Ford strike encouraged
BOC workers?
MB: It must do, mustn't it. We stood on our own last year. This first took
year's marvellous for us.
JW: Unfortunately there is not a great deal we can do. We're the two main supplier of gases for Ford
fact that they are closed we are supplying nothing What we are Hackney is that all supplies were Dagenham are blacked and so are the vehicles which would have carried them. We won't even let management use the vehicles inside the depot.
assembly plant
effective company's
of stewards
basis, the
propa-
with full of the membership
does different
as there are no strict
up with the low paid?
because of vear and m almost
Many firm
are claiming
60 Grundfos
instructions reports GEOFF RYAN. doing in the air these days.
destined for
These deals really mean.
BOC workers in Manchester during last year's dispute
now do you see yoursen unking their
MB: Well, we used muscle last
put rassed by it! Firms like BOC are making massive profits, carrying explosive materials on the roads all over Britain, and what do they contribute, what does
contribute, to the firemen or the national health?
We pay for these services but
members of Manufacturing in scheme Newcastle have been sacked because of their refusal to accept arbitrary management
productivity,
With productivity much in
what has happened lo the Engineering Union members at Grundfosisa lesson toall workers about what work on me
Four months ago the workers rejected a bonus system on
sackca
BRITISH LEYLAND
SERVICS ANISION
UNITY IS STRENGTHL
firms claim they are putting profits back into machinery and so on and get government grants as well. The private sector should be made to money into the public
You say 'use your muscle', but nave mese workers cor le
MB: 1 reckon they have, but what happens is that the press
Workers sacked
over productivity
productivity. They argued the and W cl Couruscu payment under it was uncertain Following the union relec tion, management attempted to step up productivity in other ways. But the workers resisted and reverted to the previousiy agreed levels of production.
A furious management then suspended the workers, and when they refused to return to :03S1S the productivity levels stipulated by management they were
astms
UNION OF SALARIA turns all the people against them.
If the dustmen come out l'Il be going round the flats telling people not to leave black bags on their balconies for the flies and rats.
Take them down to the main road and leave them there not on the kerb, in the middle of the road. They' ve got to show that il'sthe councils and government who are responsible for the
What about Callaghan's argument that anyone who breaks 5 per cent is a big threat to thi Labour Government?
JW: Well, I don't know and | don't particularly care. 1 do know that anyone who gets less that 12½ per cent this year will automatically be taking reduction in wages.
I want the workers to ger their fair share of the cake, and 5 per 1 cent is no fair share
The strike and now lock-out al arunaros invoives mainiy women workers. It may be a smal local dispute, but wnen productivity deals are such a
policy the Grundfos struggle
The strike committee have made an appeal for financial support and tnis can be sent le MsSE Starkey, 37 Donvale Rd, Donwell Village, Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
NUPE claim: 1979 is a long
HOME NEWS
wage and a 35-hour week.
now?
RICH PALSER reports.
If the union leaderships get their way, nothing will happen — at least until January.
Already the strategy of the National Union U0 10 Employees leadership is clear — put back anyaction till January, by which time the water and sewerage workers will have their claim in.
Denten offer forthcoming by then, they plan to stage anorner airy Jobs strike. Those econone muscle would conc out, with a levy on the rest of the
the strike.
FLAWS
This is a serious approach on the face of it, giving plenty of time to prepare. burn nas two major flaws.
The first is that the main reason for delay has little to do THE NEXT
considering how much time and energy
BRIGNULL.
We are noping that these collective efforts will result in a big increase in papers ordered and more importantly, actually
But it's not just important to win new first time readers. We have to keep them.
Many occasional readers will gladly buy Socialist Challenge
when they see it'. But that's not often enough.
We want to turn casual readers into consistent readers. That's why we've set a target of 500 new subscribers.
BENEFIT
If we are successful in our fight to win a broader regular readership, the paper benefit in a number of ways. First, more readers strengthen the paper politically.
New readers bring DOSS OV number of active fighters for the paper's policies: more critical minds can only help improve the papel, a wider network correspondents can be veloped; and, importantly, new potential sources of financial
are opened lo Socialist Challenge.
CASH-FLOW
Furthermore new subscrip tions helpus in a very immediate sense ine money tney orle in helps to solve our perpetual cash-flow difficulties.
To encourage our supporters to get out and win consistent readers we have taken a number of steps:
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 6
time away
IN A FEW days local government manual workers will receive a reply to their claim for a £60 minimum basic
Whatever the package it's wrapped in, 5 per cent is almost certain to be the content. So what will happen
with preparing the membership foraction.
TALKS It has more to do with gaining further time for talks between the TUC Government to find some room for compromise when makes the low paid la special case.
the Government to be more with heroe At best this is misguided.
Callaghan has made it clear that wage cuts are a central part of
the Government is willing to talk about is how best to achieve this.
The second flaw in this approach is the reliance upon trade union dustcart workers, sewerage workers, and others similarly placed.
All-out industrial action by
Socialist Challenge sales drive
Winning new readers
-and keeping them
National Sales Day for Challenge' is 18 November. So every reader should be
give the paper, writes distribution manager STEVE
* Set modest and realistic targets for our supporters in every town and city where the paper is sold. We have asked supporters to tell us if the targets are too high, but we have had only, optimistic replies. most comrades, a subscription driveis a new venture and they'll give it a try. * Printed special introductory subscripion cards offering a 3 month subscription for t2 or a six month one plus a 1979 diary for ES. Each returned card sold TOLER supporter will be notched up to targets set for that town.
Printed special gift subscriptiontokens. Thisisto encourage will supporters to give a subscription for birthday or Xmas presents. The token costs fS, and the recipient will receive a the six month subscription to the paper and a 1979 diary upon presenting it to our offices.
XMAS of If you are going to give de- tokenror an Amas present, wit wait till then? Help us out today by doing your shopping early.
The target of 500 new readers has been set in addition to the regular subscriptions each quarter through readers renewing from overseas readers, or from readers waoeccoconciown to subscribe.
We want these 500 readers to come through the eltorts of each and supporter of the paper. Can you help us? Would you like to
these sections is vital to show the determination to win the claim. But the decisive thing will be the political impact of the strike in other words, support from the rest of the labour movement Even the weakest organised workers, like the nurses in 1974, Can wi ev are sch to Have wide backing.
That's why a 'special case plea is dangerous. Far better for low paid workersto say: To end - talks our low pay we are fighting with all workers against wage cuts
and and the 5 percent limit."
Such an involve bringing forward in alongside Ford's and other workers.
SOLIDARITY
Similarly. - all that all-out action by water and dust
workers, rolling strike in the hospitals workers there to go out in flying pickets and win solidarityaction by factory workers the nurses did.
The union leaderships have Waler and every interest in waiting if they
think they can avoid having to lead a fight. The membership *Socialist receive some
forms?
Wewould especially welcome they can
supporters
and we will rush every bit of oromo on matcha we have te help you out.
Brenl
For
Cambridge
Subscription Drive.
Name..
Address...
We get
SLIDSCrOHOn.
personal
every
By Acting Now
the degree of attitude would fight
in addition 10 action they want to win their claim would Irec sional Council of representing just as the special order lackne
towns Hempstead 10 West
Chelmsford
Herbengton
Please send me promotion material to help Socialist Challenge in its
Fill in and return to: S. Brignull, Distribution Manager, Socialist Challenge, PO Box 50, London N1 2XP
CAMPAIGN FOR ACTION IN N.U.P.E.
THE CLAIM CAN Poplar High Street, London E14.
have no interest in waiting 1
Already the London Divi- file NUPE
NUPE, 100,000 over members, has called forward its nave divisional delegate rally to plan action, and called for all-out action to win the claim. This is
To fight for this, members of
Norwich Vottingham 1:
Outer We:
"aaaaaaaaaaa
Sheffield student
funds.
Worcester
the lines:
and tzu.
manner.
ment"
Who are we?
Copies of this bulletin can be ordered from: Campaign for Action in NUPE, c/o 47 Leyland House,
the 'Campaign for Action NUPE', a group of rank-and-
members who are union to commit it to a militant fight
produced
New threat
to student
union
autonomy
THE ISSUE of autonomy has been a recurring one in the discussions of the National Union of Students and an everyday problem in a number of colleges up and down the country, writes PAMELA HOLMES
In the last year, college inter ference in the functioning of
unions has become
Sabbatical leave has been refused to elected officers.
Principals have maintained a tight grip on some unions
Anti Nazi League posters Datoes canes meces and everything else you care to mention have been banned * Disciplinary procedures and * Facilities for mass general meetings have been denied.
The Department of Educa tion and Science and the Public Accounts Committee stepped sintothis situation in the autumn of 1977 to produce a discussion document aimed at changing
whole basis of union
PROPOSALS
The central proposals of their new scheme turned out to be based on establishing a two-tier
along the following
There would be a maximum subscription fee of between £15
established on an annual basis by the interested parties and paid in the usual 2. Unions requiring a greater income than this would have to negotiate an additional amount (a subvention) from their local education authority 3A 'memorandum of agree
should be established between the interested parties which specifies the right and proper concerns of a students
BY ACTING NOW arguing foraction now
This being distributed SMOOCEAN A CHOICE Challenge supporters in NUPE are urged to give it their fullest support.
The DES advises LEAs to
•a minimum fee of £l.25 per full-time student and 50p per part-time student
There is agreement within the NUS that these proposals are unacceptable. A request was therefore sent to the DES by NUS President Trevor Phillips asking for a year's delay to allow for full discussion.
CONFERENCE
The DES have yet to reply, which means that the above proposdi THISHL be imple mented in the academic year 979-80. So arrangements are going ahead for an emergency conference of the union on December.
This is only five days before the ordinary national conference. But the unions which conference want to ensure a ful called for CHECTSCHO day's discussion on what reply to make to the DES, and the executive said that an extra day at the ordinary conference WASH DOSSIDe.
The DES are expected to reply in mid-November. It the vear's delay has been agreed to, then a number of colleges say that ther will withdraw their calls for an
As one student pointed out: *Another year gives us time to organise'
But if there is no delay, it is urgent to build united action from all sectors of the student movement with the support of the labour movement to make sure that the remains independent from the state
Page 7 scan of this page
Abortion lesson among
HOME NEWS
the dinosaurs at the Natural History
the myths about the 'birds and the bees".
recorded commentary
arguments about abortion.
Consciously or otherwise, the oreanisers or une extionon ai the Natural History Museum
the guardians of morality and of
want us to believe.
EMOTIVE
That an egg once fertilized has an existence and rights of its own, entirely independent Ine woman in wnose womo une foetus grows and
from which it is expelled.
Describing the foetus as a "baby" clearly has an emotive
which aids the guardians in their determination to prevent women securing the right to control over their own body.
If contrary to the biological facts, the foetus is assigned an
mention a soul), then someone has to be allocated the power to decide the fate of the foetus.
Under the Abortion Act of 1967, two doctors can decide on medical, psychological, social grounds inal a woman shall be entitled to have a pregnancy terminated.
There is nothing automatic
Many seeking an abortion will come up against a
ANTI RACIST
1979 Anti-Racist Anti-Fascist Anti-Nazi Calendar. poster-size prints - 17ins by 24ins
Heartfield holocaust. Soweto, NF, and more!
VI 2XP. Cheques to The Week'.
Unnatural history
the dinosaurs
EVERY DAY parties of school students are taken on a visit to a special exhibition on the human body among
Museum.
Of particular interest is a display which puts paid to
Using photographs taken inside a woman's womb, the exhibit follows conception through to childbirth, showing in detail the development of the foetus.
Yet from the moment of conception onwards, the
reters 10 "the GEOFFREY SHERIDAN examines some of the basic
GP or hospital consultant who is opposed to abortion whose religious or social views therefore dictate that she must continue with her pregnancy.
This enforced suffering does not go far enough for powertul anti-abortion lobby.
The present law to 28 weeks of pregnancy. The anti-abortionIsts want to reduce this time of limit. They want controls over the doctors who nine decide.
They want crippling restrictions against the charities which provide cheap BOOTIOnS thousands of women turned away by their NHS doctor.
LAW When it comes to abortion. there are calling the tune doctors have "first refusal', it's the MPs who lay down the law, and their ears are often bent to the tune of the Vatican, and to namn or ine sancuity o family life.
It's politics, of course.
The deeper the mess that cabiasm eets mio. une fouaci the praise of the family as the institution best filled to keer women in their place at the kitchensink and the youth from
ANTI FASCIST
ANTI NAZI CALENDAR
on historical, international,
Posters include: George Grosz's cartoon "The White General"
spanish civa war.
Get yours now. £1.50 [plus 36p p&p]. Ten or more copies, £1 post free. Rush vour order to: SC Calendars, PO Box 50, London
baby'.
and
the
allows for
tighter
bring in
reacting too angrily at the lack
Never mind that pregnancy miserv to an unwilling mother
pipers That depressed living standards While the and the lack
facilities make a mockery of women's equality.
OBSCENE
That, whatever the circumIt IS someone other than the woman herself to choose whether she should be a mother.
The Labour Government has aircady spoken or a possiole Minister of Ones would be pleased. And the mass media never miss a chance lo tell women that their destiny motherhood, willing or otherWINC For socialists, the right of women to control their own fertility is a precondition for their liberation.
The call for free abortion on demand wach means inals women who will decide, OLen Labour Party and the TUC. So far this poley has remained almost entirely on paper.
moving, however, National Abortion Campaign's ABOUT 200 students. senting student unions, SCAN
1919 groups and anti-racist commit-
tees, attended the first national conference of Campaign last Saturday. 13 stunning Perhaps the most significant
decision was to adopt a Plan of Action'. cueens sunce and supported by all hut a handful
Nazi
up the following areas: • lo oppose all discrimination against overseas students,
enforced consolidate these efforts. well bring poncy government JALGO. for ot childcare 1l nas
obscene for
Raid
Marriage. The SLOU FIVE
has DOLl CInE evening.
got and the up to f50.
Against racism
students line up
repr
the Student
Against the Nazis "A" level courses.
Put forward br the
would seek teaching
trade union conference to be held later this month aims to
local workers" union, example. is le back all NAC's initiatives, and
circulated its 1,500 Abortion. branches suggesting they send represented? delegates to the conference. November.
London SWI.
Teachers, like so many other unions, considers tnat abortion is 'outside the scope of its aims".
Waterloo
on NAC
benefit
benefit.
ARRESTS and the
€ 100 followed a police raid on a women only Dener ned Do unt National Abortion Campaign in South London on saturdas
were
The five have been charged with selling liquor without licence, which carries a fine of
The raid was well planned.
ind sanchester called by ite
Manchester called by the NUs to oppose the imposition ASCIST of tuition fees of £1,502 on overseas students for 'O and
* To organise with 1s g national conference on racism
NUS President carnivals Trevor Phillips said that NUS winter,
Evolve the unions and school students in the conference If these * To take up racism in course content and teaching methods * To campaign for student
on
No matter, presumably, the
St.. what is taught in the classroom, or the effects on school students of those visits to the Natural History Museum
Trade Union Conference on
Will you Saturday, Caxton Hall,
Delegate form from NAC 374 Grav's Inn WC1. Tel. 01-278 0153.
Two prainciornes ponce women
start of the benefit, held at the
Action Centre near Waterloo Station.
They left 45 minutes later, to return shortly after 9pm in the company of 15 uniformed cops. Their main concern WAS obtain the name and address of all the women drinking, and to find out the organisers of the
Meeting with little the police arrested the five most vociferous women and carted off the liquor from the hall. At Kennington police station the women were asked why they
participating in women-only event.
NAU badly needs casn to make up for the booze and arrange legal defence. Inn Road, London WCI. | unionsloopen up their facilities to all those fighting racism and
* To participate in enquiries who into harassment and to suppori defence campaigns like that in Wolverhampton * Toorganise regional indoor
throughout the using student union facilities and open to all those whoare prepared to build them.
proposals are acted upon it will be a big step forward for the anti-racist and antifascist movement.
ANTI
RACISM
IN BRIEF
Defending the defenders in East London
DURING the demonstration to
Brick Lane 24 September thirty people were
bringing the total number of anti-racists arrested over the summer to more than sixty, writes COLIN TALBOT.
Jail sentences, heavy fines, and severe bai restricnons are now being meted out
Ine hacknes and Tower Hamlets Defence Committee and the Anti Nazi League have got together to launch a joint
those arrested.
Thirty people, including nine defendants, attended a meeting
to initiate the campaign.
The meeting, Ernie Roberts, heard that one SWP militant had already been jailed, while others had received "banning orders" and 'curfews" as part of their ban restricuons.
An initial picket has been called for 9 November and a demonstration being planned.
Messages of support and donations to: Joint Campaign (H&THDC & ANL), 245 Mare
London E8 Further info, ring Caroline 01-2472717.
It's an unfair cop, again
PAUL ADAMS, a young black SuODOTECI lenge, was arrested during an an ASCIs •DEOLCSLI •LIVCIpool's main shopping precinct, Church Street, on 14 October.
The previous Saturday the National Front had been leafletting and selling papers there, insulting and threatening passers-by une police did nothing. the Anti Nazi League decided to hold its own meeting there on 14 October.
nis ume the ponce cia aci to break up the AN meeting.
arrested and charged with obstruction when he protesica duns
The ANL then decided to hold a further mass picket in Church Street last Saturday, which took place without incident. Leaflets were distributed calling for an end to the harassment of anti-fascists and black people and a campaign to keep the fascists off the streets and out of the communities and workplaces.
The ovens next time?
MEMBERS of the Loughton, Chigwell and District Syna-
Kippur service last month to be National Front supporters handing out leaflets at the gates of the synagogue.
Fights broke out between some members of the congregation and the fascists, shagogue meters. Chen the also threw NF group eventually left, they threatened to return to cause
* The campaign of the Jewish Board of Deputies against the ANI has led to a debate in the
COUS One Jewish Chronicle. Much of the weekly journal's one-page letter column has been taken up with pro- and anti-League views.
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
Building a Socia
Scargill interviewed
CALLAGHAN has thrown down a political gauntlet — propose to fight inflation and overcome the economie crisis, what alternative is there to a Labour government?
The TUC has no credible response to these arguments, since despite talk of price control they accept Callaghan's framework. Despite 'differences opinion' over the 5 per cent limit, talks on economic strategy continue with the
without a murmur of dissent from the 'left' in the General Council, and the 'unity of objectives' in wanting the return LEDOUT
How do you think the Government was
able to get away with Phase 3?
It's not surprising in the sense that
we're living whole might of the media is hire ted system
towards convincing people that if they
adopt anything other than Govern-
ment policy it spells doom and disaster
economically speaking - for them. But it's also aided, inevitably, by the
TUC's collaboration with the Govern-
ment's policies, and more importantly
by the collaboration tactics or the
individual trade union leaders.
This has the effect of depressing the
whole movement and suppressing any
action that rank and file workers may
take on tneir own inmanve to bring
about fundamental changes in wages
41001080IS
At the same time, of course, one
should remember they've also had to
have a lot of phoney deals and they've
had to make
including the one with the
which has given a number of mine-
workers a lot of money and a large
number of mineworkers very little Report money.
In an interview I did with you a year
ago, you confidently predicted that the
first part of the fighthack would be a
struggle by the miners and that you saw
this as the way to roll back
Government's offensive.
You referred to the part played by the
miners in the struggle against the Tories
in 1972 and 1974 as an indication of
what would happen over this past year.
What balance sheet would you make
of your forecast and how would you
assess where we are at now?
Quite simple. If you look back at the
earlier interview, I think that under the
circumstances I was absolutely right.
What happened was that the mine-
workers went on record - in fact were
already on record - as wanting £135
Der week which woule nave naoune
effect of smashing to smithereens the
incomes poncy and une waoie social
Contract
that the miners in
democratic ballot some two and a half
months atter that interview effectivelv
defeated the whole concept of
and demanded a
reiteration of the claim for £135.
I don't think that you or 1 or anyone
else could have predicted that the NUM
executive for the very first time in its
history could completely violate the
rules and constitution of the union.
That it would ignore all conference
decisions and procedures,
every preccaent SCE
allowing their members, with the active
support of the Coal Board. to introduce
their own incentive scheme and thus
CIrCUlIVCIL the
and individual ballot decision which
had democratically defined the union's
policy.
The projections that I made were
absolutely correct. It was only when the
NUM executive ignored its constitu-
tion, and when the legal system came to
its assistance, that it was able to divert
SENC INUV away BONI
collision with the Government and its
incomes poncy.
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 8
government over-rides considerations.
DOHLICaI OOSaCeS. absence of any credible alternative from the left, fightback on a national scale.
The problem is not primarily union and shop floor organisation. of numerous local and sectional struggles (such as toolmakers and parity claims, Ine social workers disputes), incicate both the ability and willingness of the
while problems encountered when contron Hevented in the future? How such
First, the fight for union democracy is where the now paramount. You can forget wages
resolutions in the NUM because it's
quite clear that the
ment-oriented leadership of the NUM
and the totally collaborationist TUC General Council will go their own wa
and support Government policy.
Rank and file action is
You've got to have action on the scale
of the 1969 unofficial mineworkers'
strike.
I'm convinced that we'll now have a
spate of unofficial action in the mining
industry and in other industries that
will bring about a change of policy as
far as the Social Contract and incomes
policy is concerned. If it doesn't, then
obviously I'm wrong
When that struggle takes place is
Miners, trade unionists in general, miners, can be persuaded to vote for certain
policies that will be harmful to them.
But there comes a time when you can't
fool all the people all of the time...and I
Think that that HIne
approaching.
We've already seen the example of
spontaneous unofficial strike action in
the coalmining industry over a whole
number of issues and this points the
way to the future.
The question is whether this response
here and there
productivity schemes —
and organised response led by people
ike vourselt in a fight against
offensive of the employers
Government and for new policies and
new leadership for
Your position is completely
actory. rou cannot nave tne kina ol
spontaneous unofficial action that 1 am
predicting will nappen - 1 am nol
saying that we're encouraging it, but
that it will happen -
have the kind of WOLLE
unofficial.
The thing is a contradiction in terms an I agree with you that the NUM is not
separate from the rest of the trade
union movement — it is an integral part
of it. We have suffered the same attacks
as the rest of the movement.
But in the face of this situation, I am
trying to suggest that there will be
individual actions. I'm sorry,
don t agree witn you that you will ger and ignore the kind of co-ordinated
There is fragmented opposition,
among wide sections of the labour
degree of the argument that the answer
to the crisis is 'national unity' and the
-all the political arguments of the
Labour Government, including
things as the pre-eminent need to keep
out the Tories and so on.
Jane Iragmentaton mat exists can
only be overcome by developing
effective opposition lo all ine poncies
that Callaghan and the leadership of the
TUChave offered.
other ting the Labour government's policies
head on. the While we have seen a rise in full-time convenorships, shop stewards' organisation remains intact. Again it has been the ability of the trade union leaders to involve a section of the shop stewards in The their political projects, throuch a defeat of stewards organisa tion, which has been the main obstacle to a fightback.
Participation politically incorporated the stewards political leadership into management's plans,
but failed as yet to undermine stewards manoeuvres be
establish-
needed. rapidly
particular Ora concerted
and the
the labour
their interests. contra-
• aino at une sande
organised
more difficult.
not
You can't
the bureaucracy within the union.
thạt in but I question.
acton on
appear on the surface to be
but they were last week acceptance Lo
on the whole of such ропсу:
NUM
organisation.
Most
the independence of rank rather than Thus the
tion as the SWP suggest.
Leyland 'I don't want it to go in Socialist Challenge that Scargill says: Erect a leadership which is alternative to that which already exists".
Such an opposition is needed both to I don't want it
Challenge that ignt against the rient wing and lor alternative policies and leadership for me labour movement dne tO DrOmOt and organise support for struggles of workers here and now in defence of
It's an ideal concept to weld together all Decause the various groupings that exist within the labour movement into a central campaign against Government policy be disastrous. The theory of that is absolutely correct What The practicality of doing it is a little bit
even get unity within Yorkshire on central wages questions
All I'm saying is that there is now a period of consolidation to be done: there has to be a complete challenge to
An alternative leadership has to be built up at all levels to the right-wing domination
the union and this comes back again to the democraci
An issue will emerge which will
totally maybe connected with some miners dismissed from a pit a
For with the both demand for a shorter working week, or for higher pay - but then an absolutely clear political situation will develop and
Government
Im very interested in this alternative way. leadership that you say needs to be construcica, presumaory for te labou movement as a whole and also in the
generate unions
someting Engineering Union's climbdown over members. SU Carburettors, showing that, despite Duffy's political victory in the union elections, he has not been able to break
and file organisation in the workplaces.
main problem is not situation. rebuilding rank and file union organisa-
That's why the TUC could not simply accept Callaghan's ultimatum that there must be a 5 per cent limit. For us to collaborate with you' they are saying, government.
going into Socialist Scargill says: "Erect a leadership which is alternative to that which already exists'. I'm talking about a leadership being created which will be ready to replace the present leadership when that leadership goes.
I'm not talking about a caucus within that woue tene. my opinion, to even further fragment the trade union movement and that would
talking about sa leadership emerging within the mining industrv to replace those leaders of the right when they leave the arena.
Whether they leave or they're pushed, what would you say the central policies of this new leadership would be?
The central policies have got to b complete democracy within the union; unity in action on all issues or une day, including wages, shorter working week, working conditions and the rest of it; against the Social Contract What l'd like to add is that there doe. of course exist within the NUM and within the labour movement as a whole and left-wing organisations, and so the process is ir fact already in operation There are a lot of people who are of like mind who see the problem and see their responsibilities for coming against the policies of the right in a positive
We must be realistic and understand that unity will only come about if we are able to mobilise on issues that wil mass support in our own and labour
you must collaborate with us- - give us
sell CAB
The significance of the Ford strike should not be under-estimated. Faced with a rank and file walk-out the union officials quickly made it official, to try and regain some control over the
The strike forced them to cast block votes against the government at Labour Party Conference, and prevents them going along will sioney weignans call to recall the Congress and back the
movement as a whole.
As regards the policies of a n leadership, I think it's important clarify what we mean. There's a dang that it means an alternative leadersh now -a splinter group. What I think v need is an alternative strategy, wit people who are members of the labo movement supporing that poncy.
And organised around it?
And organised around it, yes. But th doesn't mean you're an independe organisation set up either within outside of the labour and trade unic movement; you are part of the labor and trade union movement.
And think it would be contradicton in terms to set up organisation which would be
union movement. What we ve got to is to challenge the very policies that no exist with socialist policies.
I'm convinced that in the long ter we can transform the whole outlook the Labour Party and of the tra union movement. When this will com about, I don't know. Maybe well t discussing this in ten years in Sociali Challenge By the way, 1 am certain that tl Labour Government will lose the ne clection. As certain as nignt Tollov day. I can't see for the life of me anyor among me ho mimon unemplorer their husbands and wives and offsprin 2T01 Government that increased unemployment by a millior
Next week: Arthur Scargill on women rights.
Page 9 scan of this page
list Opposition
But we shouldn't over-estimate what seans. It does not signal a return to the ges offensive we saw in 1972-4. For rd workers the political obstacles to aggle did not seem so great. Ford was making massive profits; y are well organised; and if the TUC re not with them at least they weren't
need far vincing that it is possible to win. I's why the Communist Party call 'ever widening militant action', for policies, fails to answer the major
fightback.
confronting socialists in the unions.
An organised left wing,
the by
be presented to MCDCISHED
more Callaghan UCTLCHECIS must
movement.
WHATNEXTINTHEUNIONS?
One day trade union conference organised by Socialist Challenge supporters in Yorkshire to discuss the problems of organising the
* The way forward for socialists in the unions * The lessons of Rank & File and the Broad Left
Agenda: 10.30 to 11am Coffee and registration. 1lam to 12.30pm Introduction and short talks on: Broad Left, Minority Movement, Rank & File. Lunch. 1.30 to 3.30pm Workshops on: 35-hour week; Sliding scale; Equal pay and sexism in the unions; Fighting the cuts; Fighting racism in the workplace. 3.30 to 4.30pm, Summing up and discussion. Supper and party later in the evening.
Saturday, 11 November Swarthmore Centre, 4 Woodhouse Square, Leeds 3 Child care and accommodation available-contact Leeds 629631 first
Rebuilding the left is the decisive task
far from being divisive, would greatly strengthen
allowing clear alternative strategy to meet the crisis to any
all the union
It is essential to show that a Tory
that instead the five be leadership at all levels of the labour
This does not mean that workers'
struggles must wait until the left has been rebuilt into a credible alternative leadership. On the contrary, the Fords strike has done more to defeat the 5 per cent limit and strengthen the left than
/ resolution to the Tuc.
But an organised left wing can be vital to the success of these struggles. In the Ford strike, one of the greatest dangers is that the absence of mass meetings and democratic involvement of the rank and file will allow a sell-out deal to recommended.
That's why a consistent fight by the left-wing militants in Ford for regular
who's not in
to "The Group
tO organise
been
political group.
The Ford fills This has left Combine
prepare ensuing struggle.
of the leaders.
mass meennes and the recall of the Coventry stewards' important.
Only by building an organised left to fight amongst the rank and file, and in the stewards committees, can blatant attacks on union defeated.
Most important of all at the moment is the need to organise the left on a cross union to fight for a be offensive by all workers with claims in A democratic conference organised by the Liaison Committee for • Defence of Trade Unions, and the Rank
Ford Workers' Group
Building a
movement
left in the unions and in industry.
The Group is particularly | supporting the union leaders as important for me as someone long as
Many political organisation. It has been able
militants from number of different political don't. organisations and those not in
completely DOLE independent and self-financing.
We have always stressed that it's up to Ford workers themselves
responsible
This contrasts sharply with the recent history of rank and For file organisations which have
more the industrial arm of an individual
Workers' Group vacuum which carved up. developed through the bureau- weve
socialist official union structures. In my union there is little life in the industry. official structures while 'Broad Leftism' did nothingto generate rank and file involvement.
La real gap between the rank and file and the officials. In this dispute, for instance, there was next to no contact between the national - negotiators and the rank and file leading upto the strike.
In my want asicane Was produced by the convenors, but wives we were on strike before we sav Group it! It was left to the Group - girlfriends then called the Ford Workers leaflets and badges necessary to to produce the
-ine claim and the
We are trying to build a movement which is independent
This means
conference is
in, for democracy
united -inese
Callaghan.
independent
of the leaders
GERRY WALSH works at Ford Dagenham and is in the Engineering Union. From 1967 to 1976 he was a member of the SWP and the former International
He talks about the left-wing grouping, the Ford
Workers' Group, and its relevance in rebuilding the
they represent the interests of the members, but being prepared to act independently of them if and when they
independence is political. This means presenting an anemnauve way fighting and an alternative in what we're fighting for. We've got to show that workers are not 101
unemploymentan
instance, things continue as they are there will be next to no jobs in the motor industry. It's not just Ford that's at stake here. British Leyland and Chrysler are being
alternative workers' plan — for the motor
DIVIDING We must also take up the question of women's oppres sion. In two important disputes in the motor industry -first at Cowley and now in this strike there has been an attempt to weaken the strike by dividing from husbands. The WIVE. and of members to participate in its meetings.
Racism's another crucial
question, especially in a multiracial factory likeat Dagenham.
We've still to build a genuine rank and file movement which can fight around such issues — either in Ford or outside. It's
and File National Council, would be a major step towards rebuilding the left.
The fight to break off talks with the government and to launch a united struggle by all workers now with claims nationalisation of all firms creating the 35 hour week and redundancy to tackle unemployment, the fight for the removal of Callaghan, and all the other five percenters, from The leadership of the labour movement rebuilding a united democratic left wing can only tackled by that offers a socialist alternative to
going to be a slow process. Photo: BOB MURPHY (Socialist Challenge
I know only of the Ford Workers' Group and a similar organisation in the building industry around a paper called Building Worker. I think we'll see similar developments across
encourage these developments, to link up with them and with similar accoonent within the motor industry I don't think the Rank and The Cigario ork Campaion ; Committee or the Right to an play a big role in thi Certainly they nave helped ti Group in getting off the grounc And that's been really usefu But in reality it is little more than the industrial arm of the SWP, and it continually claims to bestronger than it is Inis is not to say inat tne industrial workers around the Organising Committee don't have a very play building such a movement. On COLLary And SWP members at Ford's have played an active role in building the Ford Workers' Group.
We don't exclude unity with the Broad Left in building the movement on principle but it i difficult to win such united action in practice. The effect of Broad Len ponacs in tne earl 70s has been one of decay. We're continually having to fight them over the issue of democrac
Rank and file politics has nothing to do with Broad Left politics
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Breaking the
Ard Fheis (conference] in Dublin.
discussion.
Michael Pablo, a former ender oine national, stood on the platform ane old ine are enesi
*T have followed your struggle for many years. I think the struggle is near to victory. You
a very real and complete Victory.
Pablo was giving greetings to the Ard Fheis as a veleran anti-imperialist and on behalf of my wileand mysell
His presence in Dublin, well as, more importantly. greetings read out from SWAPO, showed the progress Sinn Fein has made in the last few years in its attempts to
links which have been one of the causes of the general lettward shift inits politics.
Nevertheless, the leaders of Sinn Fein are
aWdIC predictions of imminent victory need to be treated with caution. As newly elected vice-president Gerry Adams told SOCIAlIST Challenge:
the present situanon is onc of almost stalemate. Since 1975
OVer Clas been intensifying its efforts to so leine kebuolcan movemene from the base of its support.
*The last 18 months nave shown that they have failed, the Republican movement and Sinn Fein have survived and remain SHOUL
"This stalemate situation could for foresecable murure uniess tne British people mobilise behind the demand for disengagement.
*Until this is done I believe that we will have a continuation of the last ten years.'
During those last ten years the Provisionals have offered more ceras Tess ance tall any to another British imposed solunon or me trisn prodiem Specifically, it is the guns and Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 10
ON 21/22 OCTOBER Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Provisional Republican Movement, held its annual
GEOFF BELL reports on the two days of debate and
which nave denied imperialism its victory.
But as the Sinn Fein leaders mense ves realise. bombs are not enough. As Gerry Adams put it in a speech to the Ard Fheis: *We have the situation where the IRA has proved it can resist the British war machine. We in Sinn Fein need to prove we can provide a political alternative.
"The successful
Station of our socialist policies and the withdrawal of the Brits the will prove we have
alternative.
It was understandable that na conterence which on lasted two days the exact nature of these socialist policies did not clearly emerge.
Indeed. in a crowded agenda only half an hour was allotted to described Wildl was that community involvement and
social issues, and in the debate itself the emphasis emerged was on self-governing communities
EVOLVE But there were indications that Sinn Fein is attempting to evove a more celaned overal political programme.
The decision of the Ard Pheis to appoint a spokesperson on trade union allas example, as was one of the decisions COnCICHCC the contest the local
elections which will be held in the South next year. but ine most debate of the Ard Fheis was on a motion which recognising that our struggle is against British rule in Ireland, Sinn Fein aiscussions win Loyanst peopie on the principles of a British windlawd. from national self-determination for the whole people of Ireland, and DANNY MORRISON, Republican News: *If you sit down with Loyalists and say you're against their idea of an independent
KRILISO
gunsane implemen- VEER THERE IS PRESS
THERE IS RESISTANCE
that IRELAND
FREE: NO EE.C.!
general amnesty political prisoners.
There was confusion in the Ard neis as to what exactly this which motion meant. Proposing it on behalf of the executive. Daithie Conaill simply argued the need to keep 'an cpen mind and open door"
It was an argument which did not impress delegates. With a good deal of reality, Danny Morrison from Republican News pointed out: *If you sit downat a table with Loyalists and start by saying
Was
strongly LOYCTICH,
contentious
stated nie
Glasgow demo open ON 18
arciana.
of the
march are Glasgow
the afternoon
Out solidarity with
larly important in view
activity by bureaucracy in Scotland.
political SEALES prisoners.
bigstick
Sinn Fein conference
stalemate
be confident of a very real and complete victory.
for all
They
delegate,
emigration,
•Loyalism division November the Irish such intimidation. Detence League wu once azal be marching through the streets
East End of Glasgow caninetor orisoneror warstaru: for Irish political prisoners and Brendan for the immediate withdrawal touring or brunsn troops from tremanu
Among those supporting the
Sinn Fein,
and the International Marxist censored o me bo
ManChesters Willie Gallagher, will speak in pool: 16 Nov.
rally 18 Nov organised by the local United Leeds: 21 Nov
Movement Nov., the demonActon. West London
The demonstration is particu-
of the
the labour THE
Ater nearine or ramuran Trades Council's support for promises to be the 9 July London demonstranon on Irisa prisoners, and fe November. vote to organise a campaign for
such
Scottish TUC began to wield the
Party-controlled Broad Left, informed the trades Counca nearer and me leadership of the big Scottish
were not in tavour ol
P
W
SINN FE
MICHEL PABLO, a former leader of the Fourth International, addressing the Ard Fheis: *You must
you are against theiridea of a six counties independent Northern talks Ireland, how far will you get? Republican
will leave the room."
Tom Hartley, another Belfast the delegates.
argued: *Loyalism divides our people, stands for
bad housing, no education andthe gerrvmander
stands for the be very aware Republicanism stands for the
people' was the
Despite this opposition the motion on Lovalist talks was agreed, although the assurances I
223322222222
Solidarity news
Irish issues being raised. The 18 Irene
November demonstration aims National
to provide an erecuve reply to
Peoples
Gallagher tour
'Ireland
As well as speaking in Glasgow
Gallagher will the country
his son - who featured in the
Legion Hall Bombing TV play
• 210-21
other Irish political prisoners. ике
Tour dates include: 14 Nov., College LiverNewcastle; 17 & SWat 7.30pm.
Glasgow: 20 Nov Barnsley; 22 Sheffield; Nov.
London; 24 Nov.
Brennan v Farrell has recently
Socialist Society Terrorism Act.
Imperial College, London has
succeeded in organising
La mosi lively 19
DAY OFSOLIDARITY WITH IRISH POWS NOVEMBER 26 Called for by the Prisoners Aid Committee *Solidarity with Irish POWS *POW status and amnesty for all trish political prisoners *Troops out of Ireland now NATIONAL MARCH IN LONDON To Clerkenwell Green from Speakers Corner Assemble 2.30
SNIFISHY
sion. the executive gave on any suc
that no compromise of Fein ideal would be involved - did help to placate
Nevertheless the danger of "negotiating' with such rightwing gangster outfits as the Ulster Volunteer Force remains one of which Sinn Fein needs to
The motion on Loyalist talks
one significant defeat for the eft wing of Sinn rel during an Ard Fheis which in general represenica a consoll
Brennan from •ThE Executive of the will debating Michael Farrell of the
Democracy/Movement for a Socialist Republic or
- the left's position'.
Given the Communist Partys reluctance to speak our or KrITaIn the key issues in Ireland political prisoners and troops
• is oromises to be ar occasion not to be missed
The debate is open to all and
Room 213 DIACE [Maths] Imperia UTOM, Huxley Building, Queens Gate,
Terror Act
THE Merseyside branch of the
Saturday
unhea roops our vovemen
printed a new pamphlet on the Prevention of
importance of the pamphlet, a spokesperson for Merseyside
•Merseyside is at the top of the league of shame with the biggest
the
50p.
But large gaps in what exactly Sinn Fein stands for in certain
social and economic fields remain to be tilled Mos noticeable was the lack of any resolutions on women's oppres
WaS
surprising in that the South of
experiencing and significant growth of activity on such issues as rape and contraception. The recent 6,000 strone anti-rape demonstration.
in Dublin is the most grapn
SPEIRS
example.
However, al least a high proportion of those attending the Ard Fheis were women.
But the real test of Sinn Fein i
in the coming months is how effectively it can present a fully
fledged socialist alternative in the run-up to the Southern local
elections
The old suspicion that the
party is very much subservient
despite the executive's obvious
determination to present sint
real political
alternative.
revolutionaries
Ireland today accept that the relationship between the armed
struggle, the mass protests, and
ine nammerg out or delanca
socialist policies is a relation-
ship which is difficult to work out and to get right.
be solved by Canno
meaningless cliches or slogans,
and at least the latest Ard Fheis
of Sinn Fein did not pretend that
it could. total of arrests under the Terros Act, averaging nearly one a day
the delentons and quest ioning under the Act are no seriously concerned detecuion or terrorsEs LOU
(TrOm other's country in the pursuit of
ends. anu
The pamphle concentrate on how the PTA has been usec on Merseyside and costs 15p plus 7p postage. Available from
, c/o 100 Whitechapel, Liverpooll
Birmingham A MIDLANDS conference on
in held November Friends Meeting House, Bull
Three local MPs are among the host of sponsors for •the conterence SUCKER include Michael Farrell. Bart Milner of the NCCL., represen wives of the Belfas Relatives Action Committee,
Northern Ireland and thi
Unite Conference i open no
conference is open to movemas anu deerates ame there is an admission price of
For more details contact The canning Woodville Rd, Birmingham 14 [tel021-7738683]
Page 11 scan of this page
Kaunda buttered up with guns
Unions program out racism
A FEW planeloads of guns for
Lambia is all that is needed to
show commitment to black rule
sOHIRern
RICHARD CARVER.
Al least that is what the
British government hopes as.it
makes ESWaIn altempt
FUSIOTC
international image.
But there's also
sinister side to the Zambia deal.
Doctor Death at the Foreign
Office hopes that this
accusfom southern Africa to the
sight of British arms in action.
Last week's reassurance that
Britain would not send troops to
hardly
comforting either.
The effect of the statement
was blunted by the insertion of
the word 'unilaterally'. In other
words Britain would not send
Iroops on ils own.
members employed by
BLUNDELL, secretary
West Gorton, Manchester factory.
The meeting was a result of delay
opposition at all ICL's major siles to the company's decision to supply the South African polce wilh new computers to administer the notorious pass
we discovered through a report in the Sunday LInes in Amalsi that the company had taken this order, HOEN anG AUEW-LASS branches and groups passed rESCHUnOnS ranging requests for the company to cLonscer sacesono a call for joint action with other mOnsaLa ns Enceca-
REFUSAL
In line with this the ASTMS duoa onica wroc to uc company level meeting. TASS members a national
al the company's Putney headquarters have stated their refusal to work on any projects for ICL's South African subsidiary.
But the company was able to /
WHAT'S LEFT
Com salurday Dero poorcauon. rayment in Bovance
FAMILY AND THE octalist Centr organised by labour torce ori
Co omo trom Lad
Speakers:
School. women involved in alternative childcare of living. Speaker: Sheila
upstairs), 10/12 Pilgrim St THE ABORTION CAMPAIGN needs a new office worke to coordinate the campaign's work, run the office organisperieies, denisi.
experience useful commitment iberatior
Hours appro E160 p
Camden Rd, London NW1.
NEWSREEL FILM Divide and Rule -Nevolution in Scottand, 9-vi Novemer. Film available from: Other Cinema London WC2. Tei 01-734 850809 0 Ipswich. Suffolk. Tel 0473 76012. Hire
INTERNATIONAL
Solidarity still needed
involved (like the Nations)... well, that would be a different matter. writes ins means nal me souinern
African solidarity movement in DraIn snoO slinave campaign of BRn miar enenon H Zimbabwe as its top priority. mucky A good chance lo' discuss and
organise such a campaign will be the Manchester Anti-Apartheid conference, sponsored by the North-West TUC, on 11 November.
The conference is open to all sorts of organisations, but it is particularly umonisis and youtn.
very One of the things Socialist
Chalente supporters arguing for is the establishment olan intorma nework omnk militants working on southern Africa in the unions Take the ICL. case detailed on But if somebody else was this page. It would be a waste if REPRESENTATIVES of the 9,000 trade union
International Computers Limited met the company on Monday to protest about its links with the South African state, reports ANDY
of the Association Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs at ICL's
the meeting months. Without, as far as we knew, any machines being built for the police, local stewards felt unao ciotore coace
IMPRESSED Meanwhile the company, no doubt impressed by Longanes 'swap ments. was organising from delivery of two 2960 computers
built, according to the name boards dDove them Winsford тастогу, commercial OLanaHOn South Africa.
But if the company is feeling smug at this manoeuvre, it has misjudged several factors.
The first is the effect of the campaign against the order in building up network activists at rank and file level ando ane-unOn DasIs WnO certainly do not see this as the cneolinemauer Secondly, the Sancua o cabacanea
PICKET GARNERS: ever at a9 noon to 3pm and 5.30 to 1 Oxford St 243 Oxford St :40-41 Haymarket: 56 Sa Leicester Sq.). Mass
Rio Gainers Strike Fund, Ilo TaWU. Rm 84, 12-13 Henrietta St., London WC2. 01-2401056.
LEICESTER National Abortion Cam pain techne at 4 Nov, 2ams right to choose. assemble victoria Park. Leicester ALL LAMBETH anti-racist movemen slapham Ton Community Propr
BLACK SOCIALIST Alliance desperateFight somney ere to styre to To ov om, instlusol Edueation su, disco etc. Adm 750 Bedtord Way.
arrive by the Wed. of the week before publication, to. Lisunes cantor. New
United
resistance aimed at trade
wilne
Challenge to ICL-Smith African deal
anaiclc3s oi the South among ine workforce on many sites.
Some members felt we should of oppose this particular order but not ICL 's wider involvement in South Africa. has now been to ask why this COr two order was so important to the
company that it resorted to this typeofaction.
This gives us the opportunity to explain the Company s BOUTA connections and the direct way waca us qum sales. Doln to the state and private sector, the oil
depend on the exploitation and arrange- repression of
the population.
DEVELOP the From this we can go on to explain the between British capitalism and apartheid in thiscountry.
In order to do this effectively we will need to develop our own knowledge and understanding ICL's South operations.
In other words, resources of our unions campaign has Syna nene secuiens
labour and socialist movement
Days picket, 4.30pm to 6p IG Ha. FrIK Nº Cais: ay (alm ante e1) eta C trom CACTL c/o 35 Wellington St, Londo WC2 Tel: 01-2893877.
tice nours and sundays) or d I-9864045 (evenings MAKXISM
capilansil
Party of Great Britain at The Ro Tottenham Court Rd, London W1. Sun 5 Nov 7.30pm. Questions and discussion. All welcome.
ANTI-RECRUITMENT
Campaign. Fordetails tel. 2735947
company's Alrican involvement
mass of the
African
black South Africans.
Their reaction REJECTED The
right to control extent of the used.
African
the black
interests and wishes.
compuțer
broader links
technological -and indeed racism
Waged in the 1960s...
BOLSTER
African does indeed using the economic and o une Bảm, Sse Mie NORRIS "Make er Saren.5
Criminal Trespas
, Hal, London wc. Creden:
SC. 01-359 8180
Third in an serent
Public Library.
film Home @oUTsOre
the left press.
not lost.
network is
centrally
sectarian uprising. we will need to launch our own inquiry — a workers' inquiry -
into ICL's links with the South
state and other
capitalists involved in the exploitation and oppression of
campaign has raised much broader questions of our
how the technology we have developed is
Our members have rejected, in practice if not consciously, tuc loca tnat mne oroducro ou labour belongs purely to the employers, asserting a right to veto sales that are against our
It has also highlighted the need for social control of new technology. Probably very few
workers still see computers bringing about the
paradise envis-
African
But this issue brings home the fact that the technology which CLOnOmC
make rational planning practicable is just as capable of being used to bolster the most p&p, oppressive capitalist regimes.
(CPGB) Brith Ron
Highbury
Britain d Advice sions. Ali
to be led by Malcolm Caldwell, lectu at SOAS. At IRR, 2471249 Pentonvili
oldtus
CONFERENCE on Value theory and
Cleveland St. London N1 (4 and 5 No
urnal of Economics and Conferenc SHEFFIELD Big
Advance conference), 15 Greek St, London Wi
the gains and lessons of that
campaign were to be spread no
further than the readership of
Such a network would ensure
that the ICL story - and a host
of similar experiences were
A similar type of information
needed in the
solidarity movement as a whole
to overcome the situation where
the Anti-Apartheid Movement
has the whole
movement sewn up, breeding a
atutud towards
united action both inside and
OHS le Is ranKs
Above all we will be arguing for the conference to take up the
case of the 11 Soweto student leaders on trial in South Africa for their alleged part in the 1976
The threat posed by these Drosecuuons chond pe selt evident. Yet, unbelievable as it
Intercontinental Press
ConS
AN interview with black South
union leader Drake Koka and analysis of the
CESES are major features of this week's issues. Intercontinental Press/ Inprecor [Vol 16, No 41].
single copies are 30D DIL.
but why not take advantage of the favourable
PICKET the US Embassv. Grosvend Square, London W1, at 3pm, Sat 4 Nov Against the Senator Briggs proposed
Catheria. Calla boy ta ay acer r
CARIBBEAN Labour Solidarity still
leeds money to send a delegate to
at 68 Pannach Road, W6. 6 tilate. AdmE1 (includes food
Marx's Capital and Today's Crisis by Raya Dunayevskaya, £1. Both
rom News & Letters Publications, Bo
182 Upper Stree
matus for usn Priso merst Speaker
Prisoners!
Aid Committe and
Trom Prsoners Ald Commite
extension, AiDert oouare
Flame/SWP joint
Nov, 7.30pm, Station", Wicker.
may seem, nobody turned up
when Soweto leader Barne:
Mokgatle called a meeting in
London recently to set
defence activity.
The Anti-Apartheid Move-
ment has organised dramatic
and extensive events in defence
OIOMON Maniangu.
African National Congress
death SCHence is
excellent.
If the Manchester conference
lakes a lead perhans we can
persuade them to show similar
enthusiasm in defence of these
leaders of the mass movement.
For details of the conference,
contact: Manchester AAM 59
Tintern Avenue, Manchester
M20 8ND.
Venue: Abrahan Moss
Centre, Crumpsall, Man-
chester. Saturday 11 Novem-
ber, 10-6.
wih imprecor
subscription rates: £9 for one yanosues .ТОГ six months [24 issues], or £2.50 for an introductory -O er0
Write SlOW to interconti ne, L Prior NT 20. B
London 2XP. cheques/POs should be made out to Intercontinental Press.
POLITICS Can Fun! National. Communist Party Student Festival Sam. North London Poly 11 Novembe registration House, Highbury Grove Loncon N Workshops / debates /
. Late bar. Day & evening E1.50; evening only, E1 SPEAKING TOUR hv Claude Gabriel. leaderotine rourn internationa- Atric commission and a regular contributo to intercontinental Press and inprecor The meetings will be on the themeu® Africa. developments "
CASTLE, Polytechnic, 8.00pm Wednesday TER, City Union, 1.00pm. MANCHES
amber: BIRMINGHAM Union, 1.00pr Details of meetings in the London are will follow next wee
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Rally to build Fourth International
An extra
is well-known. prepared to admit as much.
world.
THE Iranian army, with its 420,000 personnel, of whom two thirds are volunteers, is the principal military power in the Middle East. Its technological. logistic and intellectual dependence on the United States makes it a direct subsidiary of the USarmy.
After the 1973 rise in world oil prices, Iran became the top military client of the US. Since that date it has received 40 per cent of total US arms exports. CLIENTS
It was with the arrival of Richard Nixon in the White House in 1968 that American milary aid saw an unprece dented development. corresponded to the new US
policy which oriented less towards intervention than towards the consolidation of local clients.
Iran was to become one of the most privileged of
clients, in a zone upset by the
Six Day War of 1967, the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. and the development of revolutionary movements around the Gulf.
particularly in Yemen and
Dhofar.
In 1968, then,
approved the supply
latest model of the Phantom
fighter-bomber, the F4D, and
in 1972 Iran was authorised to
buy conventional arms
made in the US.
The supply of ultra-sophisti-
cated equipment - some or
still at the prototype stage
and
electronic detection
Tested no ne VarIOUS SUDSIU"
aries of the CIA during the
Wal
presence in Iran of several tens
of thousands of advisers sent
by the US army or taken on
under contract from the great
arus Corporalons.
ADVISERS
Last September 43,000 US
advisers were working in this
way in Iran: 2,200 civilian US
Defence Department employ-
1,000 officers and NCOs.
8,000 contractual agents hired
by the Defence Department
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 12
INTERNATIONAL
Iranian armed forces
regiment for
the US Army
BRITISH military involvement with the Shah of Iran Indeed the Foreign Secretary Is
But, as this article from the French Trotskyist paper 'Rouge' indicates, the Iranian army is primarily an offshoot of the greatest imperialist power in
and 32,000 private emplovees OFFICIAL The 3.300 members of the Military Assistance Group- - composed of civilians and uniformed personnel — are the 'official military advisers.
The 8,000 contracted specialists are basicany veterans responsible, WITh •InE Americans, for training Iranian soldiers servicing supplies of equipment.
But it appears that for certain highly sophisticated equipment it is the advisers themselves who operate them.
This US contract personnel can be employed in the combat zones was against the Dhofar guerillas or direct on aerial missions.
BASES these This system of advisers, as well officering of the Iranian army, has the advantage of gelling round treaty clauses between Moscow and forbid Ine foreign military Nixon Iranian soil. of the One can thus Carter's desire to lend his unfailing support to the Tehran regime day after day. There is hardly a regime in the Western world which increases military expenditure by 26 per cent each year.
systems INCREASED There are not many countries where this expenditure is 25 per cent UrOSS product that is three times that of the US or USSR and six that of France
Since the rise in oil prices the Iranian military increased fivefold thousand million thousand million dollars. There is not another country in the world where SUCT proportion of its revenues go on military spending.
THE founding conference of the Fourth International was held 40 years ago in Paris. The degeneration of the Second and Third Internationals had made it necessary to build a new and revolutionary international.
In Germany in the early 1930s the leadership of the Communist Party, under the influence of the Stalin faction in Moscow, had pursued a policy which had disarmed the German workers and allowed Hitler power with relative ease.
The conclusion which Leon Trotsky and other drew tragic defeat (re-affirmed by the Spanish debacle a lew years
the
sector
Advisory
Vietnam
along
SCLIUE
the reconnaissance
Many explanations been presented for the Syrian involvement in Lebanon. What is certain is that the Syrians tight were not prepared to watch idly as the Lebanese dragged on.
The close ties between the Tehran which populations
countries Cane ensured influence of the war would spread sooner or later unders and For a regime that does not
rest on a broad base of popular support, political instability is particularly its strength, the Syrians attempted to end the war in Lebanon.
Even before intervention, the cost of the war was estimated to be over £5bn.
This is why the attempts to recreate the Lebanese including the rebuilding of the national army, are proving so difficult.
and CRUSHED
Lebanon, the budget has crushed the only social forces
on which a state could be built.
TrOM
10 Whether ther not, the Syrians have in practice annexed Lebanon and will now find it very difficult to reverse large Las SuaLOn later) was the need for a Fourth International.
the Fourth International was attended by about 30 delegates representing |1 sections, mainly
America.
considerably numerically political influence. It now has sections or nuclei of sections in
to take more than 60 countries.
On Friday: rally will be held in Camden Town Hall to commemorate 40 orthodox vears of revo utionary struggle from throughout the world.
speakers Ernest Mandel, the
in Lebanon?
MANY things are changing in Lebanon. Beirut, once the financial capital of the Arab East, lies in ruins; the Syrian army that began its intervention in Lebanon by attacking the Palestinian and leftist alliance is now razing the Christian part of Beirut.
NIGEL WARD reports.
have because
war WeTt TCCCIVIL
the a two or expertise, Beirut border Cas that the money flowed.
INTEGRATED
in the unwanted. So, Alauld and position of relative
integrated the Syrian economic system.
state,
deposits in Lebanese
When
to stabilise Syrians have instability in the region. aimed to or During
financial centre, with the
Imperialism has always had a
leader of the
The founding conference of
from the Workers Party.
and North
Today the International is
date. stronger both and in terms of Racist
for the 24 November
Ali, will include Marxist
What's going on
security
community.
particular interest in Lebanon
economic functions Beirut had in relation rightists. to the rest of the Middle East. French
At a time when the oil states
massive теvenues, but did not possess developed financial institutions Chamou
was gateway through which the oil
Ene
Today, this is no longer the
Arab Gull 3110) Liberation Egypt, are developing their own financial set-ups and being more directly
into LIne world
This fundamental change has been accelerated and completed racy". by the continuing instability in Lebanon. For example, during the civil war one third of the
banks were transferred abroad. unrealistic.
radical nationalist involved regimes were coming to power
several Arab states, IKE Nasser in Egypt, imperialism Christians, was interested in fomenting
this penod of pre-eminence of Beirut as a
Line анансо Christians was extremely important for imperialism as a guarantee of economist, author and veteran since 1968.
Fourth International, and Willie Mae Reid
American Socialist
Zimbabwe
Reid is a militant black Union, feminist and was the SWP's 1976 vice presidential candi-
She co-authored The Against Busing, Black Women's Struggle for Equality and Which Way
Women's Movement. and is director of the SWP's national women's liberation
Anotherspeakerwill be Tariq
Socialist America.
Challenge and a leader of the International Marxist Group and Asia.
Today, though, this situation is reversed; imperialism is now
prepared to drop its former allies in the Christian
For years France, as the old colonial power in the region, had bolstered the
But last week the foreign minister launched an amazing attack on the Christians. and one leader
particular, Camille
Not only did the minister explicitly support the Syrian action, but he went on to vility
Christians being responsible for the death of so many Syrian soldiers!
Unfortunately, Yasser Ara fat, leader of the Palestinian
Organisation (PLO), has given credibility to the Syrian role by claiming that their withdrawal would lead to a Palestinian bloodbath at the hands of the Christians, Israelis and the international conspi-
UNREALISTIC
This argument is, first of all,
The Israelis, still the 'peace! negotiations and unwilling to send in the army to aid the
are smash through the UN lines in southern Lebanon to wipe out the Palestinians.
Besides which, faith in the Syrians to stop any Israeli aggression ignores the lessons
of the civil war and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, when the
Speakers have been invited
from the revolutionary move-
ment in Ireland, Revolution (the
new socialist youth paper), the
African National and The Zimbabwe
African People's Union.
Make sure you arrive in good
time (between 5-7.30pm) to visit
the many literature tables set up
by national liberation and other
organisations involved
international politics.
There will be literature and
photographic displays on Latin
Ireland. Iran, the
Middle East, Eastern Europe
Syrians either slaughtered Palectinians or sood ov and watched while others did
In fact, more ratesanian. died at the hands of the Syrians than or me israens
Anyway, after being ground into the dust in East Beirut, it is unlikely that the Christians will
able succeed overcoming the Palestinian and leftist forces they were losing to during the civil war.
INSTABILITY
Finally, if there is going to be any international conspiracy it is going to involve the Syrians rather than the Christians.
Kanc than fomenting instability, the name of the game for imperialism today is
The rightward shift throughout the Middle East in the last few years now makes this project plausible.
It is possible that control of most of Lebanon will be the sugar to sweeten the pill of recognition of Israel and loss of
Heights reactionary Syrian regime.
the Syrians will not want the PLO to operate from Lebanon. This will inevitably force the PLO into conflict with the Syrians; to do otherwise would remove the whole reason for existence of the PLO.
For socialists there can therefore be no support for the Syrian action in Lebanon. . The
genocidal the
Christian population of Eas Beirut must be condemned in the strongest terms.
Willie Mae Reid
Page 13 scan of this page
The IMF rules OK
INTERNATIONAL
Politics in Sri Lanka
LAST SUMMER saw the end of the
'United government in Sri Lanka. This was a coalition of the Sri Lanka Freedom Par s (a bourgeois party), the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (an ex-Trotskyist party). and the pro-Moscow Communist Party.
Six out of the seven years of their rule were under a state of emergency, Ene massacre or several mousand youth, press censorship, abolition of the right to strike under the emergency laws and essential services HIDESOCIE WITHOU tnal. hich unemployment. discrimination ag-
and nepotism, starvation and death in the tea plantations and an economy in deep crisis → these were the main features of coalition rule.
Not surprisingly. the July election became a 'protest" election. The United National Party, which promised to fix everything, was swept to power with 139 out of 169 seats in the National State Assembly (NSA).
TAMIL STATE
The SLFP got only eight seats and the working parties everything. This was the fruit of the "parliamentary road to
A significant aspect of the election was the victory of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) inall 14 seats in the Northern province, enabling it to become the biggest group in the opposition, with three more seats in the Eastera province.
The TULF claim justification TOCOLOUR mandate for a separate
Tamils in the Northern and Eastern
The Tamils of Indian' origin in the tea plantations have obviously not been won over to the idea.
The plantation workers remain the
and being the most illiterate it is more
opportunist political leadership which acais with une governmemt over then heads.
Although opposed to separate rule, the UNP promised to look into the grievances of the Tamils. It proposed anall party conference to deal with the problem, which has yet to take place.
NATIONWIDE RIOTS
Soon after the UNP assumption of power in August, clashes between the Sinhala police and the Tamil public in the Northern province escalated into nation-wide riots. Tamils throughout Sri Lanka were persecuted.
The government did nothing while the police either stood by and watched the looting and killing or themselves took an active part in it.
It was only after several thousand families had fled north as refugees that the government decided to intervene. UNP leader JR Jayawardene (known
to all as JR) pressurised the TULF leadership 10 compromise demand for a separate Tamil state.
The TULF has a history of deals with capitalist governments and in the
July elections failed to raise the Front' demand foraseparatestate.
To date nothing has been done to alleviate the problems of the Tamils. This has led to the emergence of militant youth organisations who subscribe to armed struggle as the routero separation.
Discrimination against the Tamils takes many forms. As well as giving their language and religion an interior status successive governments have adopted TaCIsi order, resettlement. Sinhalese brought into the Tamil areas to be given preferential treatment. Tamils without land or jobs are kept out of such schemes.
HARASSMENT 1977 There is an ever increasing use of police harassment of the Tamil youth and this has provoked them to acts of desperation. Repressive police methods are not confined to the Tamil areas alone but are throughout the country,
A government-appointed commission examining the behaviour of the police and army during the August HOSI nots nas sull to puonsa us umangs but has already expressed strong crucisms or meitcachon
The government released many of its own supporters who had imprisoned for exchange frauds by the
oblised to release from the Janatha Vimukti Paramura (JVP) who had been jailed in 1971 on with an unproven charge of waging war acarns the Queen. Still, the police constantly monitor JVP and mise months after beaming prime
pulled constitutional coup president of the republic for a six year term, without election. He assumed the position of head of state and head
executive. accountableto the NSA
DIRECT CONTROL
He has the power to dissolve the NSA and even if his supporters lose
will still remain president. He is in direct control of the armed forces and has the power to declare a state of emergency. The suppression of trade unions, students and Tamil militants hasalready started.
JR even has the power to invite foreign troops to property. Finally, he can do all these things without the consent cabinet, whom he can appoint and dismiss as he pleases.
The UNP's main economic policy is
the creation of a free trade zone (FTZ) in the greater COONDO promote foreign export-oriented government claims that this accelerate industrialisation and create
employment.
li has already advertised the FTZ on Is extensively through embassies and the foreign press. i promises low
land, construction, power and other facilities.
approach people are
while being used
offer cheap
illegal in the FTZ. been the countrys cconomic His
widening technological gap caused by
prisonct
these problems.
SCCIC
first budget become have been abolished
being
the OTCICTS uneducated and hence more docile.
is trying to develop
DEVALUATION
protect private massively, leading
of his
HaTed investment of privatetraders.
militancy. Fearing
the government destruction.
COSI easy task
KEYLON
Above and below: organising the resistance to the UNP's pro-imperialist policies.
More ominously the advertisements
skilled labour, tax concessions and industrial peace.
There are no unions and strikes are
governmental
growing debts, unemployment and a
A further period of submission to international capital would worsen rather than solve
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have already moved that the Sri Lankan welfare state should be pruned. In the government's
rations, which provide the only means of subsistence for millions of people, plated in Sri Lanka.
Iney nave sel out to counter the problem of the educated unemployed by attacking the tree national systen of education and encouraging private schooling, allegedly to offer freedom more of choice. Evidently the government implement them.
unemployed to
Free medical and dental facilities are criticised as a luxury in a country which
and private NSA to doso. practice has been given the go-ahead.
The rupee has twice been devalued aseries of offences.
to price rises uncompensated by increased wages.
Despite this the import of consumer and luxury items has been liberalised.
Finally, the co-operative movement is being undermined by a turn towards organisations. private enterprise which has placed those least able to affordit at the mercy
Sri Lanka has a well organised trade union movement with a record of itself.
frighten off international investors.
nas phonusca l
JR is aware that this will not be an
and has decided against direct confrontation. Hehas opted for
acombination of legislative and police methods coupled with an anti-union campaign in the media. appea
Radio and the press are under
control and imminent introduction of TV will provide the state with another vehicle
JR is aided by betrayals of the almost working class which took place while the previous government was in power. However, joint trade union actions are beginning to take place, prompted by the publication of a the government white paper on employ
relations, which has been described as the worst piece of anti-trade union legislation ever contem-
LEGISLATION
In the face of such opposition JR has shelved the proposals, waiting for a
opportune moment oice
The JR government has taken three important legislative steps towards establishing a police statein sri Lanka using its two thirds majority in the
In May a law relating to criminal procedure was passed. This limits the discretion of courts to grant bail and decide sentences of imprisonment for
In the same month another law was passed proscribing an organisation calling itself the 'Liberation Tigers of lami telam and empowering te president to proscribe other similar
The only evidence that such an CHICHE orLansation evenexis sanewsodoc! advertisement which many suspect to have been planted by the governmen
Both laws give wide powers of arrest and detention, without the right of bail and even trial in the case or ine proscription law. The president may ban any organisation which, in his opinion, 'advocates the use of violence and is either directly or indirectly
concerned in or engaged in any unlawful activity. There is no right of
The most recent legislation proposed is a bill to repeal and redi the Sri Lankan constitution. revised version will make the open development of mass movements
impossible and gives guaranteed legal protection
The JR government has so far avoided any major confrontation with
opposition Deen systematically rearming the state apparatus and fostering links with imperialist agencies
Amid growing unemployment, rising cost of living and the restriction of democratic rights, the working class opposition is starting to re-group
words both sides are preparing to face any eventuality. A test of strength cannot be ruled out during this government's term of
The poor response of the imperialist powers to the UNP's incentives is not surprising. They feel that JR has done a lot to encourage investment but that still more has to bedone.
INTERNATIONAL
International working class organisations, trade unions and socialists, particularly in the West, should be watchful of future developments in Sri Lanka. They must respond immediately when the Sri Lankan people challenge the repressive JR govern-
*This article was written by a Sri I ankan member of the Asian Socialis Forum, a group of socialists from
Bangladesh who meet to discuss and take achion on the pourics or the sub continent. If you are interested in more
group's activities write to: ASF.
CHO. COHOOT NW8 Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 13
Page 14 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
COMMENT
Neil Williamson
IT WAS with great sadness that we heard of the premature death of Neil
We knew Neil revolutionary, journalist, member and friend.
We wish this letter to be a simple tribute of our appreciation and respect for him.
PAUL BRADI BUT INSI DAVID NEILSON, JON [Edinburgh Socialist Workers Party members). Thumbs down
for "Vicious"
cover
I'VE only been selling Challenge for a few weeks. found the "No Bail for Jim Vicious' cover (19 October) messy, comrusins and basically lacking in appeal.
he punk TOCK gauche. Maybe it's only because I'm approaching over bracket, but I'm not convinced the working class associates punk with labour, with political protest, whatever it was that was supposed to be conveyed in the cover. It wasn't even clear that the person in the photo was Jim Callaghan -people I tried to sell to
The play on Sid Vicious wasn't clear to people either Sus who hadn't heard of Sid, nor to people who didn't understand the meaning of Caliaghan as a 'vicious' person. I don't mean to imply that the working class uneducated unfamiliar with day-to-day vicious capitalism, but that it was a rather sophisticated connection to make.
My suggestion is to have bigger involved in struggle. I feel we ought to blow-ups of photos
present a more
face' to the public will be seeing Socialist Challenge for the first time. Real people, involved in real struggles, along political slogans seem to make the most sense to me Finally, the cover of the 5 October
- the one with only text on it -
was the most boring cover for a left Issue
paper I've seen in a long time. Let's
not repeat it!
LINDA THALMAN (Manchester) Offensive
WE would like to complain about the
'No Bail for Jim Vicious' cover (19
October). To make a pun on the
controversy over Sid Vicious was very
bad. It was opportunism to try to use
punk culture in this way
inappropriate anyway).
only the
through being accused of murdering
his companion! The coverage of the
bourgeois press
insensitive, and it is offensive that
DEADLINE for this columnore
publication Saturday
NORTH WEST
WARRINGTON Socialist
Chester Sociallet Challenge of Man.
GREAT OR ACHES
MANCHESTER
Challenge,
support the paper
SAL Socialist Called at Supe 20 Manchester Social or alange
Centre, c/o 14 Piccadilly, Manches socialist
Socialist Challenge group.
EIGH Socialist Challenge group wi
details ring Roy on Atherton 88
NW REGIONSOCIalIS
Group organisers meet next on Sun
12 November at Manches Piccadill
Charience Agnada includes: report back
2-6pm.
Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 14
IMG CORMAL #21
RAE (E London)
Jews and
the ANL
Socialist
But 1
WELCOMED is rather
Wage the anti-fascist struggle.
consistently
- at least not to
articles. - not to those
indicative of grapple with
and rerusal to seriously,
win them from Zionism people
serious and actual - many of whom
with clear
National Front,
Jews.
Mary Marxist group.
Truth about
(and
headlines
on this has been
YOU alc
BOLTON Socialist Ch group
iutionary or reformist?
Challenge Senio, Saluel y, i paper at Moss Sid
NORTH EAST Socialist NEWCASTLE Sociaiist
local supporters are active! If you w nem. orone role or vouc
DURAM Socialist Challenge SiD
ers Group. Fioner is oltages,
Pittington, Durham LONDON poles meet regularly deals up
WALTHAM FORES nautside the pos
fice, Hoe St, Walthamstow, Londo
HACKNEY Socialist Challenge suppor ters meet to discuss revital Groupon Thurs. 9 Nov. at / Britannia Pub, Mare Street in its future! nave d say TOWER HAMLEID lenge Group, for
Satray met 10 am, Witena.
TOWCH HAMLCIS
lenge supporters
Socialist Challenge's should be too.
MARIE MADAM (Harrow), PAT
during October) on the struggle of Jewish YOUR article ment militants against the ultra-cautious, cowardly approach of the bourgeois Board of Deputies of British Jews to
Many of us who have been working
involve Jewish organisations in the Anti Nazi League have felt both isolated and ignored by the movement in general. Part of the reason for this is the rarity of such
We have understood this to be
an unwin anes the reality of anti-semitism in Britain today and to develop a coherent strategy to fight it.
anti-semitism whether by intent OI omission, is hardly the way to attract Jewish youth to the ANL, let alone
Finally, I object to the description of the Jewish Socialists Group in the arganisationare no ga up -Zimbers
group numbers among its members both left-Zionist and anti-Zionists whose basis for unity lies in their socialism and in the fact that they are under threat by the
racism and anti semitism precisely because they are
Falsely labelling the JSG as proZionist merely creates unnecessary difficulties for those of us who are not Zionists and who support revolution-
positions within the
CLIVE GILBERT (Manchester)
the holocaust
REFERRING to your article •We accuse' [21 September), I would like to accuse you of gross misinformation
and misrepresentation of facts.
In your bid to condemn Zionism,
confusing Zionists with
be: Sundays meet 10am, Brick La omerof Buxton St SW London Socialist Challenge Grou meets fortnightly arm Challenge Zonin: Weds. 1 or The nature of
WALTHAMSTOW readers can Challenge ocialist Challenge
SW LONDON sales every Saturday (Northcote Rd), Brixton tube, Clapham Oval tube, Herne Hill Bestalls outsid Common tube, Balham tube HARINeSY Socialis Challenge arol The Fight Against the five per cer with public sector trade union speake Conten is. Trube Turnpike and West Green Thursday 9November, 7.30pm HOUNSLOW every fortnight i detalls) bring some fireworks
certain Jewish community "leaders' who did sell out the Jews to the Nazis
The main the Holocaust perpetrators of this crime assimilated Jews, who were set up as intermediaries between the Jewish communities ass rope their hose and gentile ruling class countries (Germany. Hungary, etc.).
These Jewish boards of deputies, who represented the gentile establish-
rather than community at large, were not Zionists but individuals concerned with their own survival — apolitical. If Kastner tried to help Jews escape to Palestine, because no other country would take in Jewish refugees, he was being a humanist.
you suggest the Jewist communities should have willing!
narched off to the gas chambers so a
lot to be labelled Zionists G. WEINKOVE (Basildon) Marxism as science
PAUL TICKELL's letter (5 Octo-
ber) concerning science and Marxism asserted as support for its line argumentation the "fact' that Marx intended dedicating Capital Darwin. Whilst I sympathise with the
general tenor of the letter I would like to correct this false assertion.
It is true that the Soviet magazine
Under the Banner
published in 1931 a letter which it
claimed was from Darwin to Marx in
1880 which graciously rejected the
offer of a dedication. Recent work
however has shown that this was a
letter not from Darwin to Marx, but
rather one from Darwin to Edward
Aveling - that least attractive of
Victorian socialists — in response to
a request that he be allowed to
dedicate his book The
Darwin to him.
Quite how this mistake
originally made -TOL
Certainly Edward Aveling's char-
acter was such that little was beyond
his fertile imagination, similarly the
Russians might have had ulterior
motives in 1931. The one thing that is
clear is that Marx never offered to
dedicate Capital to Darwin.
J. FORD [Ashton-under Lyne]
SOUTH WEST Socialist Challer
Next
details.
PORTSMOUTH Socialist
BRISTOL Socialist Saturday.
Caonam
BrISTOl D
on Automation a3 No
YORKSHIRE
Socialist Challeng
meeting, Mon 6 Nov
'Capital' and
were
Darwin
8T Ci
I MUST reply to Paul Tickell's letter (5 October). system can be equated to a set of Jewish eternal laws like the 'natural sciences' is erroneous, and Engels - in particular his Dialectics of Nature and Ludwig Feuerbach...
This "philosophy" materialism was question by the revisionists of the Second International, and K. Kautsky; and G. Plekhanov passed it on to Lenin The point is that if there is such a natural progression to socialism 'social Darwinism'
German Social inferred, socialism Therefore revolutionist? issues? party in the "sensible', bourgeois The result of this line of thought was the holocaust of the 1914-18 war.
From Lenin accepted into the Stalinist reaction, of and excused collectivisation and industrialisation in the '20s and '30s. So-called Marxist intellectuals in the West explained it away in terms of progress to realisation, etc., etc.'
Since the war have used unis capitulation to reformism. And the formula infects intelligentsia even today, Althusser remains at best equivocal about the May '68 Paris events and our own M it is correct (dissolves all conceptions of absolute truth', as Paul Tickell has it) to shoot workers and students in Budapest and Prague; dialectically, of course!
Student's Marxists
our system is that we show that HOTSCHSC. was known. THE LENGTH of letters printed will usually be kept down to 400 words in order to encourage as wide a of contributions as letters may be cut at the Editor's discretion. Unsigned letters will not normally be will publication on request.
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socialism can be
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RAR is
The idea that Marx's
derived
dialectical
accepted without
Bernstein
- then, as the
Democrats rightly
inevitable! 1S Why not tackle ect active
Or, in effect, COTSLTUCLIVC parliament.
notion was
butchery RAR's hundreds
'contradictions in ANL, Eurocommunists defend their
movement's CHIS SO that
Cornforth explains why diet.
must eschew all this What is scientific about
the
-range possible. All idea.
withhe published, although we
real names from
Socialis Cob: Neer Tuesday Som Socialis DEWSBURY Socialist Challenge set
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THOUGH sapitalism now, not at some indefinite created future date, and we show this by our
activity (Marx on Feuerbach], revolutionary practice!
TONY SHARP (Liverpool] autonomous.
ROCK AGAINST
RACISM
PAUL Tickell's article on rock music (12 October) wasn't bad, but it did perpetuate a factual error.
Terms like "ANL/RAR' give the impression that the Anti Nazi League and Rock Against Racism are some sort of partnership. In fact most of
work has organising Separately from the ANEMeet completely does organise events jointly with the collaboration is equal — RAR gets the like the Carnivals, the bands, PA, etc. organised, the ANL handles the broader practicalities approach to the wasn't formed purely to fight the NF, and so it can offer a more varied political
The last issue of Temporary Hoarding had articles ranging from the political situation in Africa to the return of skinheads. Local RAR groups often have an overlapping membership with ANL branches, but this doesn't make them politically
Behind Paul Tickell's article lurks
widespread assumption that because of its work for the Carnivals, RAR must be the ANL's entertainments committee. Unfortunately, the ANL hasn't done much to correct this
writing officially on I m noi RAR's behalf, but perhaps in future you could give RAR its due as ar autonomous rock-based movement! B.J. DAVEY (London SW11)
SOUTHEAST BRIGHTON Socialist Challe regularly on
every satand bookstal Waiversity of East Anglia.
COLORESTE Socialist
son vente details phone Steve
SCOTLANI For information aboutthe parergot contact Socialist 64 Queen
day, Friday an aterday a moone
range of Fourt
Challenge activities from 4 Seen St. Boots (Comer of Retor Si a sales outside
Page 15 scan of this page
Stories of some of our lives
Lesbian mothers
Word Is Out
PROTHERO.
It consists of interviews with 26 lesbians La Vi presenting experience. The interviews are wide
skilfully cut together to make a documentary which remains engrossing, moving and entertaining throughout 128 min-
Ignoring the too familiar SLCICOLVDC despair and so on, Word Is Out shows homosexuals dealing confidently and competently with the problems and difficulties of their lives.
Even those people who have experienced the most appalling persecution talk their experiences with an amazing lack of bitterness, even with numour. With only *IN THE Best Interests of the Children' is a film about lesbian mothers in America. It's very тисп а ргорадапоа пт, wrie: SUE MANSI of Lesbian Line, aimed at snowing to une ourside world that we are just like other MOLCIS.
One of the strongest points
trom lesbian mothers in the film is that having struggled to realise theirown sexuality and redefine their life-style, the strength and openness that they have had to achieve is reflected in their children
The children are given a lot of timetotalk about neir molners and the attitudes they come up against.
It becomes a bit repetitive, bull was good to listen to and l
difficult times WaS remember that one 12-vear-old girl was not an 18-year-old
What finally comes across is a superior view lesbian parenting.
The women most likely to lose custody ot their children are the most 'healthy' lesbians
- those who are not prepared to repress their sexuality or hide their relationshins and involve. ments from their children for the sake of a court decision.
Something that was new to me is that apparently a lot of fathers, having made their point
end up giving the children back to the
The drudgery parenthood was not so much what they wanted as the legal victory.
It would be useful to know
UNDER REVIEW
"WORD IS OUT', currently showing in London at the Scala Cinema, is the most positive of the films which have come out of the gay movement, writes BARRY
exception, the stories of these lives all have happy endings.
When Whitey tells of her four
institution she was placed there by her family at the age of loureen — ine image or the strong, genial, woman or the screen mineates the horror of the story she
Cheerful Rick Stokes, who the CraCKCO living the lie of his marriage, has survived the tortures prolonged electric shock therapy. (*We could castrate you,
ONC
MEMBERS of the Mariposa Film Group who made 'Word is Out'.
A positive view
now many women enelo with their children after they have been awarded to the father, and how many go against EVOLLINE TESTICLOn them by judges who
Along with In Interests of the Children, kind of information would help the to expel the idea that it is "unnatural' for lesbians to bring of
The was told, 'but let's try some treatments and see what we can do there.') He is now an openly gay San Francisco politician.
For the most part. however. the women and men in this film do not have exceptional stories to tell. But what is remarkable about mem, in terms incildl COnDosIte image
sexuality that they are *well adjusted' people. easy-going Nearly
apparently successful most conventional middle class ECT IES. For Word Is pitched at audience and of importantly, audience.
Despite its positive image of nomosexuanty, ine him makes too many compromises with the Vales OrIe bourgeois family. not many of us doing it anyway. Unfortunately, the film has quite a heavy 'family' slant, and the little is said put possibilities of living in, say, do give collectives. It does not make any
connecuon berween ine rejec the Best tion of the nuclear family and
this societal structures and oppres-
It's perhaps a film to take up children, and that there are | your mother to when you've | 8508/9.
TIRIS FILMS
5.5 *THE strength and openness of lesbian mothers is reflected in their children'
"stable"
CHCOUHIECIS
of the homo-
BE COCHIL all 'normal', MOOSS DIC
them
in the
Out is middle Class Dicasure pertlaps
There is a end of this month.
come out to her, certainly
about the have come
prejudice.
questioning Children'
Other Cinema 12-13 Little London
recurrent assumption that gav women and men are particularly validated if they live together in
couple relationships
It is disturbing, for example, to hear a man whose sexual
dI C casual night-stands asked if he thinks his behaviour is "healthy". A question like that is so loaded that a convincing reply is almost
The film makes too much of an chort to prove unar tays arc just the same asstraights. For all that, the stories of the individual women and men provide a rich
The film was made by the Mariposa Film Group, based in California. Although the group has not been able to get it shown in American schools, it will be screened across the country on public television towards unc
cent INIGO.
provides
SISCIT
women. lesbians contested.
and it's worth seeing as positive view of women who
through the arricuities or custody cases and gained a strength in the face of
In the Best Interests of the
is available from:
Distribution, Newport St.
WC2. Tel 01-734
LIST A LIST C Dave Elliott. (1.95).
LIST E
'THELAW and Sexuality'* is a much needed practical guide on 'how to cope with the law if you are not 100 per conventionally
As well as explaining what the law is and how to cope with it, it concise and well-written explanation of its underlying sexist assumptions.
It show how, within the law
"sexual minorities' derives from the fundamental oppression of
The book makes it clear that, although lesbians are prosecuted under the criminal law less often than gay men, they are just asor more oppressed in the areas marriage. adoption of children, employ ment, and censorsmip For instance, there have been
only two cases of access and one of custody of children which have successfully
It is good that the book also takes up the gross oppression of transvestitesandtranssexualsthe latter having no recognition at all within the law. It also argues simply and convincingly for paedophile relationships to De treatea in law on te same basis as any other sexual
Thereis sadly no discussion of when and how to conduct a political campaign around court case. In fact, there is very little discussion of collective
Bookmarx club
The Bookmarx Club is now an established method for socialists to get the best of new
Sembene Ousmane and The Dispossessed by Ursula Leguin
send in the form now with your subscriptior
Marim and the Party by Molyneux
Mao in
negs order farther to th 05 Flag Stays Red by Phil Piratin
LIST D The Politics of Nuclear Power ed
Crash of 79 by Paul Erdman (95p) tong est polical tinancial thriller to apper in
Britain by Amrit Wilson (2.5oien in
La ve picture of Brisi Socie Porter 1. 00d Daughters by Kathy Addres
an orates book preously only avatiable in a
THE LAW
AND
SEXUALITY
HOW TO COPE WITH THE LAW IF YOU'RE NOT 100% CONVENTIONALLY
HETEROSEXUAL heterosexual write JOHN
forms of action directed at actually changing legal or semi-s legalsexism In the chapter on employ ment, for example, no mention at all is made of the existing gay trade union groups.
As a result, the analysis of sexism remains hanging in the air: although a good prog ramme orrevson orc law I proposed, there is no indication of how this might be fought for particularly around individual cases.
A second weakness is in the discussion of the apparatus o the law. One of its most striking points is the massive area discretion possessed by the courts — nearly always used in a reactionary way. Yet the book's conclusion proposes to tackle this simply by a campaign of education This is completely utopian: as long as the legal apparatus is Cominated ovacass ual has c direct interest in the oppressior will ot women COULLS continue the kind of appallin practices documented in thi book.
The Law and Sexuality" by Steve Cohen, Stephanie Green.
Janet Slade, Maggie Walker. (Grass Roots Book, £1)
1978 Fourth you will save over
The Mandate of Heaven, Marx Modern China Dy NIc harris (c.00 trian antee Sieve Berry 751 join the Bookmarx Club an enclose £4.50 + £2.50 for each extra list
Please send list A + List(s)
Sondon BOOKMARX CLUB. 266 Seve Socialist Challenge 2 November 1978 page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Registered with the Post Office as a newspaper. Published by Relgocrest Ltd. for Socialist Challenge 328/9 Upper St, London N1. Printed by Goodhead Press Ltd., 25 Murdock Rd, Bieester.
WHY NOT try your luck in our
Xmas lottery?
For 10p per ticket or El for a
book of tickets, plus sae, you
can have a chance to win one of
following:
12-inch black and white TV: a
autographed copy of Ernest
book, neW
Second Slump; a record token;
Car S subscription
Socialist Challenge,
national and Socialist Woman.
The draw will take place on
18 December in our offices, and
the winning number will be
printed in the issue of 4 January
1979. Organised by D. Weppler
of 328 Upper Street, London
N12XQ.
CHALLENGE received big political inancial boost this week when
comrades RECE national Socialist Alliance stcching committee voted donate £100 to our fund drive.
Comrades introduced the motion at the ISA steering comce месили welcomed the improvement in the paper in recent weeks especially its coverage on the Ford dispute. Other ISA members expressed doubts about the paper and its political project, but felt that whatever weaknesses persist, Socialist Challenge is still a paper that should be mainrained.
The total income this week -
Domestic: 6 months, £5: 12 months, £10
Name
Address
I enclose a donation for the Fighting Fund of
Complete and return to:
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WORLD
EXCLUSIVE!
Owen, Shah
nominated
for 1979
Nobel Peace
Prize
OUR FUND DRIVE
DOraDIe
The
Interthanks and anonymous donor Erisp in the Other Bookshop - new notes adding up to came to £269.21, cumulative total of £597.28. Sc Videla's head rolls!
But we are now almost a third of the way through this quarter, so we are still behind. Only an enormous collective error to get funds in willensure that each and every nead ends up mr te basket by the end of December.
HOlTS OW COOCIAIISE lenge supporters have followed the lead set by the Manchester comrades they have also organised a benefit for the paper on Guy Fawkes night.
Not to be outdone in their
SUBSCRIBE NOWI
Abroad: Airmail, €16.50. Surface, £10 per annum.
Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to 'Socialist Challenge'.
Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper Street, London N1.
the
Owen.
TARIQ ALI comments.
news nas confirmed, astonisning over the years and see some of ne recipients or prize. 1972 it Kissinger. (His namese opponent Le Duc Tho contemptuously accept the prize.)
A few years later it was Betty the efforts, Manchester supporters who left also deposited a huge envelope
of used stamps on our desk over the weekend. Many thanks for making
source of income for the paper.
CalC
collective efforts guarantee we reach our target. But in addition to the parties, discos, jumble sales, and other events planned by supporters for this quarter, number of fund-raising aids in Chal- our offices -
discounts for bulk orders.
These finances for local activities and help us in getting the cash we desperately need. Many can be used for Xmas presents.
THE Nobel Peace Prize Committee has received a recommendation signed by five Western heads of state insisting that the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Shah of Iran. The British Ambassador in Washington has added the name of Dr David Death'
be but is it really so ook back Norin of Ireland
CHIS august resigned was Henry People's leadership.
North Vietare now largely acrunct refused This year
back, the only
65 designed
lenge, plus a 1979 diary
the red wedge!'
range of prizes,
(details left).
symbol or
25p p&p. this steady * Football cards. Why not
kind of which will be and meetings.
we have a Simon Mohun
all with special Anon C. Hodges will help you get in Viv Lacey Jean Mackenzic Manchester supporters Preston supporters Trevor Smelt J. McGhee B. Ebbatson
Watford supporters Glasgow supporters In
АЛОЛ ISA
TOTAL
SOCIALIST seeks a full-time
practice!
should
Williamsand Mairead Corrigan of the "Peace People' from the
•nese we charmers pocketed the £80,000
and recently He has from the Peace
The Peace People themselves
Begin and has Sadat. As we said some weeks
prize they democratic
an attractively gift subscription The receiver just sends the token into our offices complete wiln the name and address → to receive a 6-month subscription to Socialist Chal-
cards with the famous design on the cover by Lissitzky, 'Beat the whites with
* Our Xmas lottery with a full
including black and white portable telly
* Attractive hessian bags with either the women's liberation
the fight racism slogan and black clenched fist design. El each plus 25p (p&p). * Fight racism T-shirts. Good quality cotton, red on white. Sizes medium or large (order large, if in doubt) £1.50 plus
order these fund-raising aids now? They
used on campus book-stalls, and at local rallies
Our thanks this week to: memory of N Williamson'
€100
£269.21
CHALLENGE fund-raiser.
We've got lots of ideas, but we need someone competent and committed to put them into
Wages not brilliant, but great
Weppler, 328 Upper Street. London N1 2XQ (01-359 8371].
Anniversary of the Fourth International
RALLY
Speakers include:
Ernest Mandel
(United Secretariat Fourth International)
Willie Mae Reid (leading black woman militant of American SWP) Stalls, exhibitions, speakers on Zimbabwe, Ireland Iran, Latin America, international youth struggles Friday 24 November, Camden Town Hall, London
deserved was an Oscar. STal Itisonly fitting, then, that the Shah of Iran and Death receive the joint nomination for 1979. Just study their respective records The Shah has built one of the largest military and air forces in Asia. As we all know, this is to protect peace in the region.
tion? built the most frightening torture apparatus hIs oWE peace of mind and body. over Ine last six months he ordered the killing of was nunarcas orpcopie ngutg to rights. Several
students died in Tehran only a few days ago. Clearly the Shah deserves the prize
Dr Death, the British Foreign Secretary, has assiduously and carefully ensured that the Shah'sposterior remained clean
The effect on the Labour rorcien secretary stongue anc health must provide medical students with new avenues o research.
In addition Owen has done a grand job in Zimbabwe and South Africa. His book on "Human Rights' has no mention of Iran or Ireland as he believes that Chieftain tanks and CS gas are being used to preserve the Queen's and the Shah's peace.
While the Shah's efforts in
will appeal the Committee there is one major drawback. That is that he michi be in permanent exile in the Swiss Alp:
But this should not be an obstacle. He will have done his bit for the cause.
* Simple question:
Cabinet Minister was responsible for nodding through the ABC Official Secrets prosecu-
Easy. It was Merlyn Rees, the bobby's friend.
Wrong, Merin. of course was not a million miles away, but the man with this honour
other than...Dr Death.
Turn to page 2. VIDELA
500
BEGIN
1000
SHAH
OF IRAN
1500
PINOCHET
2000
SMITH
2500
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