Socialist Challenge No. 97, 24 May 1979
The scan: sc-n97-may-24-1979.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive)
Uncorrected machine reading of the whole issue. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from the scan and has not been corrected or cut into articles. Each page gives the headlines first, then the columns in order, so one article runs on into the next. Expect misread words. Use it to find things; quote from the scan.
Page 1 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge NO RECOGNITION OF SMITH-MUZOREWA NOT NOW,
NOT EVER
what they will he endorsing:
Racism because the black population has never been consulted about an 'internal settlement' which gives the small white minoricy an effective blocking vote in the new parliament.
- Munder seven times as many unarmed black civilians have been killed as the number of civilians said to have been killed by cucrulas - and those are official figures.
• Autocrucy all parties opposed to the internal settlement forbidden, ZAPU and ZANU, the two parties which now lead the guerilla war, were banned as long ago as the carly 1960.
Censorship nearly million blacks aren't even allowed a newspaper which is critical of the regime.
• Military rule — the country has been under a State of Emergency for 14 years and most areas are under martial law. Constitutional rights are suspended and the security
can detain implement forced labour, impose curfews, and destroy property.
• Klectoral frand constituency there was a 108 per cent turnout for the 'internal settlement" election — not surprising since there is no record of voters.
This is the reality of Rhodesia after the 'internal seltlement. This is the Rbodesia that Thatcher and Carrington want to recognise.
Already British suppliers pay little attcation to sanctions, but recognition the how of arms and ald would become a flood.
The Hrilish labour moveinent has a large responsibility in making sure that this does not happen.
We should not he deceived if the Tories do not try to implement their
white
are
seven with
Secretary of Stare Vance this week
Smith.
We say there is compromise about.
plan immediately. Thetalks with US
Smith regime. were aired at working out a way of gradually compromising with lan
nothing Nothing satisfy the people of Zimbabwe HELY
short of the total destruction of the
The demonstration in London on
30 June is a first chance to show united labour movement opposition
to the Tories' African policy. Let us
clearly that British
lowernment has any rest to dictate to the people of Zimbabwe.
• Demonstrate, 2.34pm, 30 June, Smithfield Market, London. Robert Mugabe and Joshua leaders of the Patriotic Front, have been invited to speak.
EUROPE
Vote Bernadette And in Ireland we'll be backing Bernadette McAliskey. She tells es why she's standing and recaus the spirit of 1918... page 3
Austerity
working cluss solutions.
Health
Housing Rumbles from the Department for the Destruction of the Environment... page5
Abortion
Unions
What the union bosse are saying.. and why they should say nothing to the Tories. NUIPE decides to give the government the cold shoulder... pagess.7 and 16
Basic rights looks at the bistory of that struggle... pages 8 and 9
No 97 24 May 1979 15p
THIS WEEK
Only one candidate ln the Euroelection in Britain stands for withdrawal from the Common Market. He also happensto be the editorol ihis paper. Tarig Ali writes on the virtues of the Faurosausage... page 2 The Italian Communist Party (page 11) thinks that wusterity is an 'agent of social chunge Ernest Mandel (page 13) says it's an agent of social misery and argues for international
TORIES ATTACK...
While we queue for treatment, private medicine is looking forward to a boom... page 4 The Right to Life campaigners are the sense ones who would bring buck hanging-.. page 5
forles
Our democrutic rights were won outside Parliament and that's how they can be defended. The centrespread by Johe Ross
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OUR POLICIES 2
EDITORIAL
saltorial: 01-3998180/9. Distribution/Aevertsing: 01-3598371
Denationalisation
and jobs
satlonalised industry.
Be sold off.
Tame-duck', Austin-Morris section.
suge that denationalisation is belleved by the fories to be Imposible, would be left untouched.
remationalised under the 1904-70 Laboor covernment, lack of
lace siee workers.
for inbs, Seven millon beopie are unemoloved in the orieate
han doubled in the last ten years.
providing johs. The only source of increasing employment in the best ten years has been in the public sector.
Already the prospects for emplosment are disastrous
«harp rises in unemployment in Britsin in the 1980s.
The Cambrue Economic ronce
Industry means a return to the 1930s with a vengance.
requires a huge expansion and emergency programme of pablic spending. But public ownership is the precondition for uny serious programme of expansion. Without it the unemployment of today will appear as nothing compared to the dole queves of the Tory future.
There are two parts to that struggle. The first, and most argent, is indastrial action agrinst denationalisation. admit that they cannot denationalise even the profitable pits hecause the miners would bring the entire industry to a halt if they tried. Post Office, electricity, gas, British Airways, Ferranti and other workers cun only protect their jobs if they make it clear that denationalisation threats by the Tories would be met with strike action. This should be openly supported by the Tabour Party.
If you agree with these principles and want to be involvad in activities by Socialist Challenge supporlers in your area, fill in the form below and send it to us
• 1 am interested in more intormation about activities in my ares. • I would like additional literature and enclose 50p lo cover costs. [Delete It not applicable] NAME
ADDRESS
Sand to Socialist Challange, 328/9 Upper St. London N1.
rocialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 2
. 328/9 Upper Street, London N1 2XQ TORY ASSET-STRIPPING is to be extended from private industry into the public secior. That is the meaning of the widely Iraked government proposals to start selling off sections of
The general shape of the plans is aiready clear. Shares would be sold in profitable nationalised industries such as electricity, gas, and British Airways. The profitable shipbuilding and aircraft sanufacturing industries would be treated in the same way. The Post Cffice would be split into an unprofitable postal section and a highly locrative telecommunications section — which could later
The same would be done to firms taken over by the National Enterprise Board. Profitable parts, for example Ferranti's, would be sold to private industry. British Leyland would be scheduled Tor splitting up between a profitable specialised cars division and a
All that would be left in the nationalised sector would be a totally unprofitable rump. Apart from that only those industries, for example the mines, where working class resistance would be so
What would happen to denationalised firms is shown by cample of the steel Industry, That was denationalised by the Tories in 1951. Even then it was in a bad way. Hy the time it was Investment had made the steel industry a disaster area. Today, without a total rebuilding of the industry, endless redundancies
But the denationalisation plans don't only affect abstract things sach as investment figures, Denationalisation will be a catastrophe esterprise dominated Common Market. Unemplosment in Britain
These facts show that private industry is totally incapable of tonalist
The reports of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and British sausage as we know it Development and the last government'» White Paper predict
2.700.000 unemployed by 1985, sad 3,700000 by 1090. Private Hou British sorereientumente Greep
Of course nationatisation in itself does not guarantee jobs. That
Tory denationalisation pluns must be fought tooth and nail.
The Tories openly
WHY should revolutionary
socialists oppose the Common
Market? What
campaign should we conduct
and why? These questions are raised once again because of the ciections to the Europcan Parlament',
We are opposed to the EEC
designed to create an imperialist super-stale which can both crush the workers movement in Western Europe and organise a more orderiy exploitation of the "Third World"
In short the EBC aims to strengthen pro-capitalist forces
institutions throughout Western Europe. The concluding paragraphs of Labour's
elections put it quite pithily:
helps maintain capitalist system which rewards the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor and weak.
It makes more difficult the realisation of traditional socialINE MOHIS - jobs for all, an end
help to the needy rising living standards and the abolition of privilege."
But in that case surely the Inmediate newt sien showd be withdrawal from the EEC? Yet the Labour manifesto shies
from this obvious conclusion
problem ATENERTE that the left wing of the British tabour movement has utterly failed to conduct an interna-
opposition to the Conmon Market
Arguments apainst the EEC over: The last decade have ranged from the fact that the
would disappeir case for supporting the EEC?) to the
about British sovercienty,
These latter have been fasthfully echoed by the Conmunist Party of Great Britain. On 14 May, the party announced that it would not be
utting up candidates, statins
The CP will conduct its ow
TERC attempis to interick Sito Tany Fosstance u with the British economy and push up prices, and against all EEC moves to limit the rights of the British Parlament.
In otber words, what both the Labour left and the CP counterpose to the EEC is the
cuss.
revolutinnury socialises ore:
To bulle brund-based cas streege tendencio in
such an arganication should be hased on the understanding that:
1 The druggle for socialism setlo tu
P meant the power of the cappestis sluce
The case of the
sovereign sausage
political, economic and social status quo in Britain today, Socialist arguments must b very clear. The onl way to arguc for withdrawal from the EEC is to counterpose a set of socialist measures that would transform the British economy.
We refuse to accept cither the devil of the EEC or the deep blue sea of British capitalism Cupitalism is in crisis, The leaders of the Labour Parte and the trades unions offer solutions that ane in the intensis, not of the workers, but of the capitalist
Socialin Challent believe that ibe twu viet tasks confronting
apposition lo cuss callaborationism in the lahoor movement. These shuule be nun esclusive in characier grouping cogether militans hilding a wide conge of pulirical views.
Tu hegin to fight fur the crestion of a enified and democratic revuletionar; socialist organbation which can, througli an application nf uniled font racties Tegin fur he seen as an alternative by thowszeds of workers enguged in strogdes,
Unite she fight of the workers acainst the bases wish that of nilir oppressed baser of wacrt women hlack men case _ srurales Inr their lheratina, Chicsuciallam man unly be achieved hy creniing new argans of power and defeating with all
The nationality of the bosses does not upser us too much. is their class we need to fightt.
Secondly, we cun only wage an cffective campaign against the BEC on a Europe-wide basis. Against the ruling class of Europe we must strive to unite the workers.
The only effective antidote to the poison of chauvinism and a Them and will offer full pport in all thos fighling fur sorialise detonac.
3
nperialist regimes in the trest and the brutal dictatorshipo shoy wastain in talis Ameries, Aleica and Asia
In Bricen it implies demanding the ammediale wilhdrawal uf British trongo from heland and berting the trish penple determine thel onn future.
sinh he bmill hy rojeesing sectarianism and sreing indrmal democri nol as u lusury bal ar o sttal necessics. This meons the right lo arganise factins am!
co-ordinated ruling class is proletarian internationalism
The campaign being conducted by the Fourth Interna tonal and other revolutionary CUELLIES (such Lutte Ouvrière in France) is the only internationalist campaign in this election fight agaitist the institutions of capitalise Europc but fight continental basis. We fight for: a) A. European Congress of Labour. A conference of the Europein trade anons to man out a counter-strategy to fight unemployment and inflation.
Such a conference would find it somewhat difficult to favour import controls. Co-ordination on the level of shop stewards in the multinationals would also be considerably aided
sphere women inmigrant workers. The latter have no rights whatsoever in most of capitalist Europe.
and maside estromie aid o
massive economic aid to those countries in the Third World' prepared to break loose from the worid market.
Military for the liberacion struggle in southero Alrica
Pd) A free association of Buropean socialist republies in a United Socialist States of burope.
Be) Turning the continued occupation of Ireland into_a European issue and bringing to bear for Emmediare Britisit withdrawal.
D A co-ordinated fight against the growing attacks on democratic rights throughout Western Europe 8) Socialist democracy to replace the burenucratic regimes in Eastern Europe Our campargn lor withdrawal is therefore a Europe-wide campaign. . This is not an empty utopia. Il is the most practical way of defeating the plans of the European ruling classes •Tariq All is the candidate of the International Marxist Group, British section of the Fourth International, in West London. If you would like to help or contribute the campuigo write te: A. Lilley, 10 Hamliton Road, Southall, Middk.
Our socialem will be insisiel more democratic thun what exht in
Sociali-m'in the 1.SSR and Faslern Farope base diveredited socialis
sale Capitalism has mot oal tresmet a world markel. it has created mirld pulitics. Thes we fight for working class omity on an international sale. This units will in the lodg run be deeisive in defcating hath the
The Cumulsa Purnes In Eurupe are in crish. veiber the •Tero-communis mer the pro-Museos wings bate ans maningtul rega tura raraw me copias siseen retratonar, socinlisi parties are mone novar iban ever before Conditions todas
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Anti-Repression stand in Europe elections
EUROPE
winning.
By Steve Potter
Bernadette was a leader of the mass upsurge in Derry against the British occupation. On the strength of this she was previously clected to the British House of Commons, where she зрокс ou Ecarcasis TOC LaC interests of the Irish people.
Now she wants to take the same message to the European Parliament. Not that she has any illusions about it.
'I's a talking shop" she says. 'But If I'm elected T will calking about Ireland' intends to make sure that the message is heard throughout the length and breadth Europe:
Her campaign is making sure that clected or not, the call for Britain to get out is broadcast loud and clear before the 7 June polland afterwards.
Her candidature was launched in Coalisland on 10 May. In this tiny lown, 250 people came from all over the counties to discuss mogramme and cumpaign.
BENT relatives
prisoners; activists in Relatives Action Committees Dangiven, Armagh and Derry: there were members of political parises, Frank Maguire from Fermanagh and members of the Irish Independence Party and militants from Peoples Democracy and the Socialist Party, of which Bernadette is a member.
First on the agenda was wbether to stand at all.
An Phoblacht/Republicen News, paper of the Provisional Sinn Fein, does't think so.
It argued against Berna-
Bernadette :
The spirit of 1918'
BERNADETTE Devlin-McAliskey is standing as an Anti-Repression candidate in the elections for the European Parliament. She has a good chance of
dette's candidacy, raying that 'sending politicians to the so-called parbament in Brus sels will not change the fact that unemployment, the sellout of our national resources, poor nousing and the many
capitalist system will continue unabated.
Bernadette says in reply to the Provisional boycott position:
Boycotting the ciection will
She merely be registered as apathy
about With Thatcher government
of clecied it's important that there
is a candidate saying loud and clear that Britain should get out.'
At the campaign meeting. Mary Nellis, a member of the Derry Relatives Action Committee, said that the decision was a difficult one for her.
Referring to her three sons
Six on the blanket in H Block, she
the said: "I wish I could pet into H
Block to discuss with them of about ir."
Republicans, they would be in was sure from
tavour of the boycott.
But the decision has 1o be MP made in the interests of all those
sceking political status and for all the people of Ireland who sought freedom.
Irish Having agreed to scand, the
mecting went on to discuss what policies and Bernadette should stand on.
Her Asti-Repression gramme iacludes demands for an cod to emergency legislation, political status for H Block Prisoners,
of the
the Just
withdrawal of British and self-determination for thr Irish people as a whole.
Importantly. also adopted a wider poiley of opposition to the EECitself
The objectives campaigo resistance. Public that. street meetings, and demon-
strations will be held all over the six counties. The campaien aims to CSLICLIHLIEL where they exist and help to build them where they don't There is also ine matter of
she will get more votes than the Social and Democratie Labour platform Parly.
These people will pro- claiming to nationalist population, Berna BELLE says. campaien will take away that im mediate false claim.
the meeting
they are expecting.
of the gain a seat in the north. to build the Northern
meetings,
six counties.
Bernadette hopes thar oul:
be represent the mandate
my
spiril.?
Common anythingBut the
35-hour week.
Syndicats, every
work.
example
TUC. 35-hoar week.
We don't have their election machine — and we dont want itt — butit is possible for us to get near the 50,000 votes which
If that happens then it i probable that Bernadette will
Ireland is multi-seal constituency, Candidates are clected on proportional representation, It also gives n golden apportunity to project their campaigo throughout the
And it's not just in the six | counties. As Bernadette points
*I's been 60 sears since the Irish people voted in the sume election. Then Sinn Fein Ron 83 per cent of the vote in
for Ireland independent of Britain. Thai's why the British partitioned our country. I want to rekindle dat
European TUC -
happy prisoners
of the EEC
UNEMPLOYMENT in the
Market countries could rise to a saggering 15 million by 1985 according to the EEC Commission.
And lust week saw a meeting which actually bad the power lo that de something about that threat
- right now.
We're talking about the third congress of the European TUC held In Munich from | 14-18 May. Never heard of it? That could be because it's never done
Yet this body represents 40 million trade unionists, in the nine EEC countries, organised in 31 federations.
Just think of that potential.
If 40 million workers came out together for the 35-hour week to cot unemployment, who on eurth could stand in their way?
people who sanding in their way are the very leaders of the Furopean TUC - even though they're committed on paper lo the
How do they propose to wir this demand? The Europeur TUC's Freech language paper,
commented in its Issue of 12 May: "The time has come for the heads of government to make at least a declaration -of principle favour of a reduction in working hours.'
Great! A declaration of principle, no less. That's a real thousands of workers who are being thrown on the scrap heap
day because this "democratic" system can't even
But such declarations are the stock-in-trade of the trade union bureaucrats. Take the
Velter. president of the European
Vetter is also president of the West German DGB union federation committed by its last conference to the 35-hour week. And he's a candidate on the SPD list for the European Parliument elections - whose platform agrin includes the
But that hasn't stopped Yeller and the rother DGB leaders from burying any
RALLY AGAINST THE EEC
FRIDAY 1 JUNE
Down with the bosses' Market!
For a United Socialist States of Europe!
Speakers; Ernest Mandel (FL candidale in Belgium)
revolutionary slate in France)
7.30pm, Porchester Hall, Porchester Road, Paddingtoo
•MAKE IRELAND AN ISSUE
Hear Bernadette McAliskey (Anti-Repression candi-
date, N. Ireland)
Tariq All (IMG candidate, West London) Pat Arrowsmith (United Troops Out Movement) Wednesday 30 May, 7.30pm, Ealing Town Hall
strugale soch as that of the steelworkers last winter - for the 35-hour week.
Their latest triumph la a deal In the book and paper sector. After the uscal declaration of principle, this goes on to say
there can't be segoliations on the 35-hour week for another foar or five years:
Il this reminds you of the wuy the TUC Jet the post office engineers demand 35-hoar week be sold out lest summer, you'd be dead right.
A leading light European TUC meeting was our very owe Lea Murray. He had a dramatic proposal for fighling unemployment - the establishment of a European TUC economic committee te press for changes in EEC economic policies.
A particular bee in his bonnet was the aneven distribution of Industrial and employment subsidies between one sector and another and one country and another. En other words what we need is equality of sacrifice (for the workers, that is). Forwand EEC Concordal?
But If the Europeas TUC leaders are happy to embrace the capitalist Common Market, muny of their members aren't
One step to start organising a Europe-wide fighthuck for workers alternative to the BEC b being taken on 2-3 June when the Fourth International Is organising a conference of tricle union militants in Antwerp to discuss what this demands (such as the 35-hour week) and coordinated action tin steel or the motor industry, for example).
That certainly won't confine Itself to a declaration of principle!
Lutte Ouvrière representative (from joint Turiq All (IMG candidate, West London) Sociulist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 3
Page 4 scan of this page
Future of the NEB The revealing case of the titanium granules
The treatment for pay
HOME NEWS
WHAT'S LEFT
urther details from CUL 11, 15 King Street, London WG2
defence against attacks on black communities.
1 June lessons from the past 15 June British imperialism experience of the last 30 years 20 June Fight controls showing
yam, Par Pose Trad Hall Me Manchair. Entrance sop
Sum to Epe
WOMEN Against Faciam and Fascism
atioris
againat raciam and fascism.
ialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 4
REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNIST TENDENCY RACIAL OPPRESSION - HOW TO FIGHT IT
Series of three forums on how to build working class
The struggle against racism and fascim Frank Richards and racism the Kevin Green SES and smash all immigration
North Library, Manor Gardens, N7 (tubes: Archway,
Holloway Road), 7.30pm 1278 015.
Board.
By Rich Palser
Sir Keith Joseph, director of Drayton Premier Investment Secretary of State for Industry. stands by the Tory election pledge to sell off the NEB's hetter assets
Leslie Murphy. chairperson of the NEB and former deputy chairperson of merchant bank, takes a slightly different view.
While he accepts that there should be 'greater involvement of the private sector in the NEB's ventures into profitable industry, he wants the NEB 1o continue to play the role ot a *bridge between state ownership and private neurial activity.
The Tory Bow Group, whose members have an personal interest in private industry and finance, come up with an even grander proposal of fusing the NEB and By Geoffrey Sheridan
IMAGINE that the contracts of four out of five school teachers allowed them to take classrooms during the day to Pee-paying stedents, or to bunk off to teach in private schools.
That is the basis on which 80 per cent of the surgeons in NHS hospitals are employed. Over half the consultants in the other main clinical specialties are also
on That-since tract.
the Torie want to extend. Queen's Speech promised a Bill 10 "facilitate private medical care
For NHS patients, it's the freedom to wait even longer in the queues for health cure -possibly to die waiting while those with cash jump to the Front.
Earlier this National L'alea Emplovees' annual conference, health workers declured war on medicine's private secter.
With just two votes against. and against the executive's call for remission, the 750 delegates supported a resolution campaign to halt any further
expansion of private hospital.
facilities and for a speeding up
of the phasing-out of pay beds
from NHS hospitals.
The TOBILEN
overamen an
Inless by 1 January mext year i
has set a
removal of all NHS pay beds.
NUPE members are instructed
to begin a total boycott of
private patients from that date.
SWP member Bill
from Hammersmith Hospitul.
who moved the resolution, fold
delegates: "The private sector
THE announcement in the Queen's Speech that the Tories intend to introduce a new industry Bill in this session of Parliament has provoked debate among the bosses about the future of the National Enterprise
former the British Corporation Trust and now
private industry,
Schroders
worthwhile.
entrepre- sources, NOT LACED
equally to show, have
plant in Teeside. olT.
over its
lessons the membership
policy that
Labour government.
pany, revealed in freedom the The
wider use of week, at the of Public for a
gave the ultimatum.
deadline for the more than six months.
Geddes
private industry, the risk of investing.
National OIl
The new body would reocive both government and private finance, and provide a short term, term cash generator for British
argues
What all these Tory bosses able have in common is that they want to see profitable industry in private hands preferably their own. But neither they hor Sir Keith other capitalists are prepared to invest unless the profits make it
the NEB
That's where the argument for a modified NEB contes in.
If the capital for ventures major essential to the British coonomy cannot be raised from privare
nil the picces. ground with public money and encourage private capital to take them over as returns begin
the neod
Thus the NEB's proposal to spending, which build a f10m titanium granule
SIESTLET
beds- amputation
has its band around the neck of the NHS. It is our duty to cut it
While the executive didn't malised formally oppose amputation,
proposal for action dent waiting to see what the Tories weakening planned and then mobilising legislation
TELLECTI to the same "leave it to us
allowed private medicine to Nourish under the
As BUPA, the largest British become private health insurance com-
report issued Just before the election:
The 1976 Health Services health industry. Act (which provides for the
PRIVATE medicine in focus. A medical secretary to a hospital
ere unit told the Parlamentary Expenditore Committee on
NHS facilities for Private Practice that some patients were kept
waiting for three or four years when there was no need to wait
When questioned, the consoltant replied: "If we keep them
waiting long enough they get fed up with being unable to see us
and agree to become private palients."
Sixteen consultants from Moorfields Eye Hospital paid for
the optical equipment at the private Wellingion Hospital. The
Wellington made a trading profit of £1.6m in 1976, and just
applied for a bendred more beds.
granules are vital to sections of
industry is not prepared to take bosses
Kearney, Trecker and Mar-
example successful sale back to private hands. To make sure the NEB carries out such exercises, the firm had to show itself able to make a profit over the long
The Bow Group therefore
given the considerreluctance UK companiesto invest in high-risk industries, this facet of NEB activities was a major success."
Joseph. on the other, hand will be able to poin to the overall performance of
the fact that the board is a long way from showing a profit, and one of its
British LeyLand, Is far from ready to returit to private hands - cven in
with
Joseph also is looking at the reduction of the role of the
LISAN NEB from another viewpoint control.
public tbe Tones have argued is the key to conutic expansion through phasing out of pay beds as und Solihull when the private sector can
provide altemalives) his for-
the existence and has raison d'eire of the indepen-
sector. and far from its position the has proved instru
mental in bringing about the
much needed stability whereby:
*Consultants use indepen-
dent hospital facilities, oceu
pancy levels increase, hospitals
economically viahle, futore markets are assured, and
financial institutions are more
willing to invest in the private
Opus
The NUPE delegute from
itens sheet
lowering interest rates
Whatever the outcome of the
debate, what altitude should the labour movement take to these changes?
The labour left, and Bennin particular, have argued that the NEB should be strengthened with more public spending and planning agreements".
Unfortunacly, this doesn't tackle the real problem — those with capital will not invest if the profits are too low or the risks too high.
The only way that planned investrent brought about is by breaking with the sacred laws of private property - denyine the right of those with capital to dispose of it as they wish. And once you start doine that you have to go tho whole hog by expropriating their wealth
That means fighting for the nationalisation of the banks and unance noses. together
the com af Hritish industry,
and ander workers
If private capital cannot provide jobs and develop indusiry, then it must be taken out of their hands.
General Hospital explained just what this meant in the context of the are sAl
been taken NHS expenditure.
While the campaign to save his hospital from closure has raised f2,000 over the past three years, a consortium of Birmingham business people raised Elm in 12 months to open a privute clinic next to the Solibell General.
It means that the direct action by hospital workers to throw out the remuining 2,819
beds has to hand-in-hand with action against the private hospitals and the health cuts.
IMG member Ray Varnes secretary of NUPE's ILEA
committee, was ap plauded at the conference when he called for the private sector to be nationalised by taking it into the NHS. and a fight aguinst the cash limits imposed on health expenditure.
The Tories will do all they can to aid the financiers stake in health cure, and if the
workers' mosement b not to
witness the dismantling of the health service
create, then it's up to all of us to bient the axe on our hospitals
and ensore that the bosses can't
desciop theirs.
These will be among the
on the agenda for the
Health — not cuts conference
to be beid by fightback on
Saturday, 30 June. It is to b held at Conway Hall, Red Lien Square, London WCI.
Details and the latest action
from: Fightback, Camden Rd. London WI. Tel 01-560 3431 ext 679
Page 5 scan of this page
When did you last see
HOME NEWS
the Tories now want to tighten.
policy entry to Britain.
By an Immigration Officer
MANY people were shocked by the Misclosures about the "virginity tests carried out by immieration olicials at Healhrow airport.
But medical tests, pregnancy checks. X-rays to supposedly determine a child's age, and ma Cros cuesonus are all a normal part of the degrading and distressing abuse of black people who want to come to Britain
Immigration control at Britain's ports begins with Increw Dy an immereton officer, If he or she is satisfied
officer has a wide discretion in the type of stamp put in the 00S03 0ashaull months* slay to a few days.
But if the officer's suspscions are aroused, the passenger 15 interviewed in depth. Baggage 11 likely to be searched; any letters are read, as are diaries and address books.
Intimate details of family life are Bixed o. women and children; information about friends" and acquainiances" Inumigration status; questions about income and housing. cating and sleeping are all 'relevant' for an immigration officer at the port of entry or to in entry certificate officer interviewing dependent relatives in Dacca or islamabad, Jamaica or Hong Kong. By Piers Corbyn FROM the beginning of this week, local authorities were permitted to sell council houses and flats for as little as half the mirkel price, thanks to new regulations introduced by the Tory government
Even the chairperson of the Tory-controlled Association of Metropolitan Authoritics was moved to say these sales might create an imbalance in bousing revenue accounts'.
Translated, this means that the loss of rents from houses that are sold will have to be made up by big rent increases on remaining houses in order to meet the debts to the financiers.
Meanwhile, Ibose on waiting lists will have to carry on waiting because new council house construction will be axed.
To implement their plans. the Tories are relying on the traditional unwillingess of the trade unions to take up 'social' questions such as housing and and to the takes t and on the weakness community organisation.
Il is by militants developing practical methods of struggle on these issues, both nationully and in the communities, that they can be effectively raised in
Immigration controls at work
IMMIGRATION officials do not patrol electrified fences around Britain's shores — they have other brutal ways of enforcing the immigration controls that
There is only one kind of "humane' immigration - and that is the ending of all restrictions on
The came checks are made or those picked up by the police in Britain as suspected Immerants, They bave norich! of trial or appeal. In 1977, 485 "Tillegal"
GIVE THEM
AND THEY'LL
-an
HANG US
punishment is a chiss issue.
Tory MP's have already promised to
Private Members" Bill to further restrict abertion rights can also be expected.
both these issues. They will vote accordine to their "conscience But the
liked the 'conscience of individuat candidates.
to choose are both class issues. So there
the Labour Party's policy on these issues.
Details of the National Abortion Campaign's conference in Manchester on 9-10 June from: NAC, 374 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Housing-it's a sell-out
the labour movement.
The present organisation of tenants, squatters, and communily groaps is low, but the Tories victory is revitalising activity in many areas.
Tenants" organisation was at its strikes against the government's Housing Finance Act.
Squatting groups declined in activity since the Tory Greater London Council and other councils extensive
A new political turn came during general. when Housing Action - an LUC organisation of squatters and
EcheDts — occupied Mats on the GIC's new Ferry Lane estate in Tottenham.
The council bas been trying to sell them. Housing Action is demanding an end to all council house sales, and that the flats be allocated to those on the waiting list.
At present, the governent simply "trusts" and "hopes councils will co-operate in the sale of the century. sion is due to come with a Housing Bit in the autumn.
In the Commons debate last |
ported, and 13,000 passengers refused entry at the ports in the
"illegal" If there is any mention at the port a couy oratop, marnage or study, or of a friend or de- family that has not already
ENOUGH ROPE
THIS photograph, of a "legal' execution in the United States at the turn of the century, says more cloquently than words that capital
introduce a Bill to bring back hanging, and a
Labour MPs will be allowed a free vote on
working class did not vote Labour because it
Capital punishment and a woman's right
should he no free vote for Labour MPs; no let out cluse for those woo resuse to accepl
Thursday, state of Housing Minister Peter Shore M'BS quick to government: "It will be for local clection authorities like other organisa-
law.
Never mind that we wouldn't with rent have Heath workers"
Shore's touching deference bad been observed by those who fought to form the unions and have the Labour Party,
The fight for decent housing made means Labour councils refusconces- ing to participate in the sale of the century, and resisting the financial sanctions that can be election, expecied to follow such action.
Instead of the sale of council we more democratic control by tenants over their hones and their CINCOOC reversal of the housing curs.
An opportunity these issues conference on Housing in the next five years, to be beld on 30 Tory June. Sponsors include Hous "urges" ing Action and Shelter. that Among the items on the Compul- agenda . council house sales; the defence and extension of direct labour;
gration officer
refused admittance.
Work permit iS Labour's former
assure the
organised movement today if
should demand
and be discus will be rents.
in the Botany University
from Joan Halbert, opposition to Conference, c/o Shelter,
rights, and council ext 5027.
your father?'
been admitted, a chief immi-
is called and after clearance by an inspector British the passenger is likely to be
holders may be refused if the immigration officer is not satistied the
PIERS
INNOCENT
K.
Association
into
postponed because
on Corbyn,
Street.
PIERS COREYN — "political" report.
The conference is to be held sume level as
Department, NUCLER College, Gower Sireet, London WCI. Details regimes.
Housin
Waterloo Road, London Sh1.
Tel 01-633 9377 or 01-607 2789
references are genuine while
those with visas issued by the
embassies high
commissions abroad may
if the immigration officer believes the visas were
gained by concealing 'relevant'
Tacks or by 'deception'.
sold:
'Squatter's conviction
is political, says
probation officer
By Geoffrey Sheridan
THE POLICY of the National
of Probation Officers nol to be involved in political cases that come up in the courts has for the first time browuhi one or its member.
confrontation with the
The sentencing of London squatter Plers Corbyn had to be
last Thursday probation officer Patrick O'Sullivan refused to prepure a sociul inquiry report
convicled of resisting the mass eviction of squatiers in Huntley
O'Sullivun told the maeistrates at Marylebone court: "1 decided that I could not do a picket
'It seems to me that if 1 did I would he putting myself on the
both social and psychiatrisis in other countries under other
who abuse their betters protessional skills by colluding with the labelling and treatment ol political offenders.
NAPO is opposed to the NW1. Criminal Trespass Lan. and
Refused passengers are taken
into detention centres staffed
by Securicor and those without
visas are then renoved on the
next available fight. They may appeal from abroad against the
refusal of entry, which is a lot
of consolation to someone who has spent perhaps E500 on a return ticket.
Ал immigration appeals
adjudicator, Malcolm Hurwitt,
recently resigned because of the injustice in deciding such
cases, when it is the absent
passenger's word against the
interviewing officer's written account of the intervies
Injustice runs right through
the immigration control sys lei. Someone who wants to
relative has to prove that the relationship 2s genuine The
mmunigration. officers don't have to prove it isn't genuine.
The waiting lists for an initial interview with entry certificate
vary from thres months to two years in Dacca and Islamabad. An appeal abuse a tornal may Lake further year or two to come for
hearing 14-year-old applying in Dacca may be 16 ar interview, 18 at appeal, and then too old to reapply as a dependent if the sponsor's appeal tails.
These lengthy procedures are defended as being necessary to prevent abuse of the num gration laws. The abuse of the wives, children. and liances waiting years in the queues goes unremarked. The Heathrow Tests are only the lip of an iceberg in a system which takes as its starting point the racists determination to keep blacks out of Britain
* For details of the immigratien laws, their effects, and how to oppose them, make sure
copy Newsletter of the Campaign Against the Immigration Laws.
thousand copies
From: CAIL. Box 133 Rising Free Bookshop, 182 Upper Street, London NI. Price 5p plus pap. has announced that its mon cooperation polley will also be applied to ans cases arising from the Wiree hundred arrests at Southall, which last week brought an apopleclic response
Police Federation conference.
Marylehone magistrate Rod crick Romain reacted similarly. saying: "I insist, indeed I order, that a social inquiry report be prepared, and if that order is not obeyed I shull take the requisile steps to ensure that it Is obeyed.
The senteneing of Piers Carbys, who faces possible Imprisonment. has now been postponed until 13 June, for which the Hantley Street Delence Campaign hus called a
Uaf the Marylebone High Street, beginniag at 10am.
Some 50 support meetings have now been held. For speaker, video film of the eviction. pamphlet, and news-
contact the Huntles Street Defence Campaign, c/o Camden Lun Centre, 146 Kentish Town Road, London
Tel 01-301 569100 01-267-1456.
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 5
Page 6 scan of this page
What the Tories hope to gain
Which way will the union leaders jump?
HOME NEWS
Tory Employment Minister probably won't have to. industrial relations', he says. By Rich Palser
The trade union leaders were.
ist as keen to talk with the Fores when Heath became Prime Minister. But then the Tores weren 1 so keen to talk 10
Joe Gormley would complain that, I've never met John Davies once, and he is the minister in chief of the whole question of the coal industry'.
Heath paid no attention to
uch whining until July 1972, AT the start of this year twelve trade union leaders pur their names to a document called "The Better Way'.
Thid be accepted policy
should be accepted permanent feature of industrial relations, and that it should be policed by a new Prices and Incomes Board and the TUC
Some of these leaders were:
FRANK CHAPPLE, Elec. trical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union. He accused the public sector workers last winter of practising "terrorism' not trade unionism.
He attacked the strike at Leyland's Longbridge plant because 'there was no strike ballot, It is high time the TUC said they were going to make things work.'
TOM JACKSON, Union of Post Office Workers and TUC Chairperson. "The one thing certain to breed extremists within the union is extremists in government", was his response.
He has warned that laws
ASIMS By Janet Maguire Secretary, SE Loadon Medical Branch ASTMS
THIS year's conference of the
LSIMS white collar union ha seen the nutrona execute swing to the right.
La year conterence mistructed the leadership to take the initiative to co-ordinate action againsi the wore controls and to defend basic union rights.
Instead general Clive Jenkins ignored resolution and signed the TUC LORCHEL! which directly opposed ASTMS's policy. dispensed with left talk. Their This executive CURBILIC even refer to free SCENTE bargaining or union righis.
The executive has also urged talks with the Tories and will be negotiating with Thatcher's Ministers. Jenkins wunts to talk to the government in a
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 6
TUC-Government talks -
JOE GORMLEY can't wait to get round the table with
Jim Prior. And he
Len Murray has already been for an informal chat, and will be reporting to the General Council of the TUC on 23 May. "Given the right climate, we have always been willing to co-operate with the employers and government to achieve further improvements in
when the imprisonment of the Pentonville S nearly led to a general strike.
Thatcher will learn from that mistake • and try to talk as many concessions out of the on to legal means of curbing the
Heath's talks with the unions broke down because he could not give the union leaders cnough concessions to sell to their members. Vic Feather. then TOC general secretary, dealing with 'untypical' union actions could distract attention from
maintaining industrial finding solutions to difficult problems".
Not one member of the General Council opposed the Concordat, introduced to try to patch up relations with the abour government after the TUC in September 1978 had kicked out the incomes policy.
The Concordat's main architects were:
DAVID BASNETT, General nd Municipal Workers Union He said of the Concordat: The fact that such could be made in a period of
At the union conferences
non-combative manner This conference was the first chance that ASTMS members
the union's rules. Control of the executive, officials, more power to local branch and district commiltees had BeET ruised
The leadership attempted to exclude amy discussion of these from the Three times Saturday they tried to get their agenda accepted, and each time this the delegates rejecied attempt to stop motions being raised.
Sunday started without an ageada, and the executive finally won its didn't position through a card vote.
Who decides union policy or conference delgates - is now a major issue.
Red Collar, a rank and file paper, had a successful meeting of over 60 delegates from every
what be calls
WHAT THE CONCORDAT their SAID:
Picketing *which is confined to premises of the
peace, parties to the dispute.
*Union provide for strike hallots. • The closed shop need not be a rigid arrangement. • Strike action should only be taken as a lass resort, WHAT THE TORT NIFF STO SAID:
*to those in dispute picketing ar their own place of work" • Wider use of secret ballors for decision-making throughout the trade union movement an agreement should
left organisation and local area They discussed the fight agains the executive's right-wing tum.
This was the biggest far left meeting ever held at an ASTMS national conference.
Red Collar will be sponsoring a national conference in
through October lo fight for socialist
policies throughout the unson.
conference
CPSA
By Slewart Mclennan япу DHSS branch CPSA
conference LAST week's conference of the
main civil servants' union, the CPSA, declared that it was appalled secretary, Ken Thomas, had signed the document Better Say By 115,095 votes to 90,1N06 we made rejected his position, and that should
should
should COLL
adequately
tion."
• Picketing should be limited TESUES Оле
and their families. air share of the supporting every
membership's
"The left won The ballot-rigeing.
senior
Glasgow North
Individual votin
against
civil general won.
We were only The defented
withdrawal
444 against. the MICHELIE
commented down of talks: 'We
these controls increases) voluntary
wasn't right.
BUCIUEALA
• Because of the closed shop. of which people arbitrarily excluded oi expelled from any union must be given the right of appeal to a
Existing employees and tbose with Dersonal conviction mist
they lose their job as a result of shall the closed shop they must be CELERATE MUEL BALL COIROLI MOSS
• 'Strikes are far too often a weapon of first rather tian last
calise the financial treatment of strikers
we shall ensure that anions bear thei
Cost of picketing LOLIE members who are on strike. dispute
views on the
TUC General Cooncil and not
the anion executive elections overwhel-
ningly, with 20 out of 26 seats
Peter Coltman was returned tr the post of Vice-President from which he had been removed last seur after a witch-bant about
We also won sorge major
victories on policy. The NEX
officials were censured for falling to give a lead during our pay fight.
al work
lace meetings was also won (a
either the - present
runch block voles or posta
balloting). And support for th
service gRy group was
narrowly in calling for from the "pAy research (comparability) sys-
tem, rilth 440 delegates for and
after the break-
tried all 1o pared, provided the rest of the were package was right, to agree that
(limiting wage ally: should be purely
But the rest of the package
It's unlikely that Thatcher will be prepared to give wide concessions either. Len Mur-
*Doctrinaire policies for the relations would be worse than irrelevant. They would impede our efforts to find sensible ways of making practical progress towards these ends.
the SCEY ninimum Thatcher wants eventually to outlaw flying pickets. But in the
talks have their laws. industrial disagreements, many resolved, shows how a Labour government and trade unson movement can and must work together. No such agreement could have been made with s Tory goverriment.'
We still doubt whether we
see David Busnett opposing talks with the Tories
EVANS, Transport and General Workers Union.
He showed his support for tbe Concordat during the lorry: drivers" strike when he put out a guide to picketing which made it cicar there was to be
of firms DOE immediately involved in the
their
He bas not commented on
Socialist Challenge
TRADE UNION DAY CONFERENCE
UNITE TO FIGHT THE TORIES-
DEFEND BASIC RIGHTS
Matt to Tan bi
FIGHT SOCIALIST POLICIES-
WORKERS PLANS AND WORKERS CONTROL
cynically that.
COULECTE public agreement. demonstrating the reasonableness of the government, makes sense politically and practic
And ritual could usefully be drawn out to carry the Tories over a nasty winter in the public sector.
Not only does Thatcher gain time through talking - the trade union leaders, having committed themselves to trade
will ELVE difficulty explaining why those reforms should not be embodied in law
What is more, the right-wing LOUD CRUCES BEHOL STEELE ened in the process. Their line will be: if we don't want the Tories introducing laws we had better 'act responsibly" and show that there is no need for whether there should be lalks with the Tories!
Of the letts" on the TUC General Council, who oppose the talks?
RAY BUCKTON, Amalgamated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, has WEETEL Thaicher that she 'faces trouble" if she goes ahead with her declared plans on the unions.
"The Concordat will now be over — we made it clear it was with a Labour government. 1! would be absolutely impossible to reach one with the Tories. 1 believe leopards don't change
spots.
Will he oppose the talks?
Page 7 scan of this page
Defend basic union rights
A new alliance in the student movement?
HOME NEWS
"trade union reforms'.
HICKEY.
Picketing
The prevention of "secondary picketing' means the prevention of effective picketing control by union officials over picketing, as in the Concordar.
Tories" proposed legal restrictions.
Secondary picketing is no more than a way of preventing the employer from evading the consequences of a strike by continuing to distribute products and receive supples.
Sending out flying pickets allows you to draw on Inc solidarity of workers in other places to prevent the distribution of the employers" and the despatch of supplies in the first place.
In the lorry drivers" strike, the only way to prevent firms from using their own drivers or scab fems to move their goods
want step bakery toke
bakery workers' strike, ineffective picketing of
the bakery employers) was one reason why the strike Tailed. By Mick Archer
THE PAST DECADE has seen dramatic changes in the student
The strategy mass action in ulliance with the NOCKIN CIRSS WREER OTONG HE grip of the right wing ten years ago has now been abandoned by the National Union Students Brond Left leader. ship in lavour of 'democratising higher education.
Theorised by the Communist Party In 1977, this strategy captunco mat getsuons such as grants being caf would now be tackled in the context of the ideological. and democratic Issues raised about the future of
The previous combativity of the student movement hammered fat as proposals for national and local mass action
mel met response from the national EUCHAND
Far from raising consciousness of the student movement and seeking ways to combat the betrayals of
leaders, promoting socialist policies alongside building campaigns. NUS became increasingly absorbed into the right-wing project the government.
LEIS against sombre buckground that un open letter
the of the CONCTEOR NUS. Signed by teading members of the Broad Left, the Union of Liberal Students, und Independents it argued for:
"A political force embracing all those on the left active in the student movement whe arguing und fighting fundamental and radical change in society.
Coming at the time of the election of Thatcher and Co. it provides. un opportunity
Prepare the unions to-
THE TORIES will be using the concession made in the Labour government/TUC Concordat to justify their
To defend basic union rights means rejecting the assumptions made in the Concordat, argues
Strike ballots
Strike ballots are a way of workers responding rapidly to manageTELL A BUSES. not have a ballot before they speed ap machines, lay workers, sack
Even ballots molass designed to break down the
collective discussion where all the arguments about what to do be weighed
Workers are left instead with 100d5 only the press and media to
influence their decision
It's no accident that strike ballots were part of Heath's Industrial Relations Act.
the coseu shop Once you agree that not every worker need be in the union, the employer can induce or intimidate other into not joining a union. They discuss • basis for opposition to the Tories.
But many of the signatories of the open letter are architects
of of the strategy outlined above.
The decision not to ask far left members to lester implies that some sections of the Broad Left are aiming of for an alliance with ELS to
occupy the centre political spectrum in NES and isolate those other sections of the left, including some those in their own ranks.
Clearly the Conference organised around the letter this weekend decides on such an alllance it will be an endorsement of the strutegy of last twO years WAS declaration that
lendership intends fo this strategy Into the 1980s. If the weakness of NUS has escuped the attention of those In its leadership, it certainly has not escaped Thateher, the Carlisle and Rhodes Boyson.
There are parullels with the way the Concordat weakened the the trade unions.
Economist, advocating
COULOUS BUMUCH union reform, succested: 'Hoisting the unions hy the petard of their owa concordat, undertakings of good viour would be the neatest anc mOsE conciliatory trade union reform. last The concessions made by the
NUS leadership to Calfaghun government provide similar the OIL SCHICLE If any new alliance is to be formed SINE are movement it must reject the for current strategy of the NUS It it
112111 DUDE defending student interests. The unity of the left within the NUS is now more crucial than ever, as is a clear policy of
and postal
from
Emplovers do
off shop
are
by the
can turn into the most willing
It was the "conscientious objectors who scabbed in the recent provincial journalists' strike and under-
Concordat and Tory proposals workers effectively
united sapport for the strugeles of the
working class whether they have the approval of the trade anion leaders or not.
Within this framework the maintenance of the indepenRUSSIAN dence and autonomy of the
state is the decisive question.
This means particular prior- the ity in strengthening the unions in the Puriber Education sector and the small colleges in of general.
This
Open
and
pursuc
Mark
The
bella-
Into
3 other tracks. will openings for You When Youre Unemployed. student
student Sisters Road, Landon N4 20E.
editors and
your demands.
decisive. mean no closed campaigns
line of the Tory attack.
movement from the
defence organisation, and the social services.
ment must be extended Palestine,
MURDER OF BLAIR PEACH
his song, writen and perrormed by Ma
arver is available on an EP record wit
The SPG Song. Urban Decay. Nobody Loves
All proceeds will go to the Blair Peach Memorial Fund so send at least E1.10 inc. p&pito: SW Recordings, 265 Seven
Strike action as a last resort?
No worker wants to strike.
But strike action is often not a last resort — it is the only resort The when an employer say "No' to
sid very of loine in
you allow more likely. employer to prepare for a strike by wasting time drawing out
through an emphasis on mass
around grants, overseas students and the other only main issues that are in the front
Imperialism.
The mecessity of alliances The with the labour movement has partientratene in
trade union living standards immediate
Solidarity with the struggle of the anti-imperialist more
southern Africa, Iran and Latin
Record of Song for Blair Now Available
Murder of Blair Peach I can't believe they'd do that But they did, I saw t Walking peacefully away to the pub To the pub, he bought it DED HELLO BAERS-SENS Blocked it off with vans both ends
Ran wid with tialig truncheons To terrorise our friends
They nit him once, he fell down dazed Get up you cunt, they criec He coulon't so they smashed his sku! And later on he died Vomiting in hospital His blond ran on the floor The worst head wound Ive ever seen And then he was no more
Who needs the nazis When we've got the SPG Who needs the fascists In this democracy Racist nigs protecting fascist rats In the name of liberty Who needs the nazis When weve got the SPG
negotiations, you will be forced into a much longer strike when it does take place.
Tories talk about making the unions bear the cost of strike action - by cutting social security for strikers or
by delaying tax rebates till the strike is over, since this affects more workers.
America will be vital to a student movemest which can
Again through a fight against the common enemy of
scandalous lack of activity by the NUS to fight for the right of the Irish people to self-determination and the
withdrawal of troops mast be the first in the NUS's anti-imperialist tasks.
In order to engage the student movement in mass action around the cracial issues
Nineteen seventy-nine
Or drink on shoot a ine
Or love or laugh or smile Urban Freedom Fighter
It's easier to crush air acom
Of Hitler's memory Who needs the nazis when Who needs th In this democracy Hochigans in un form Alacking you and me Who needs the nazs When weie got the SPG, Smash the nazis Disband the SPG
Proceeds to Blair Peach Memorial Fund
First of all, we pay our taxes and social security or tax rebates are our right when we
But the purpose is to make strike action dependent WHEN HELDE WEARE strike pay
The Ford strike of last year
then got official backing s do most strikes. The Torie want to prevent the membershp want to prevent the member ship from deciding to take action and then forcing the union to back them up.
Trade union reform mean rendering trade unions ineffes tive. Trade unionists have to organise against threat, and demand an end to the talks.
Trades council could take the lead in holding local union conferences the Tor proposals, and setting up srade ution defence committee based on stewards committee and union bodies. Preparatior must begin now - don't bi Tulled by the talks. mass participatory democrac • the NUS remains a gain to b defended.
If an alliance with sach programme of actios was lo emerge from this weekend' conference, then the future o the NUS as a fighting union would remain assured. Those participating have a heavy responsibility (Mick Archer is a member o tbe NU'S Executive.)
Conference on the new alliance, 26-27 May, Polytech nic of Central London From Monday April twenty third
Bair Peach won't stammer any more
Can't be mugged again by nazi thugs Or lead the unvons rank and fle Or teach his kids or hurt his friends
Left Wing Activist they sneered The TV News. the Daily Mail They stood around and jeered
han to chop down a large ook tree He went to stop recurrence here
le fascists
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 7
Page 8 scan of this page
HOW OUR RIGHTS
MANIFESTO TRIKE COMMITTEE, ELASGOW JALL TO BRITISH, LABOUR.
ARDLY ATTEMPT TO SMASH
FELLOW-WORKERS! Miners, sad all Workers e Balsynes
sally to tha ocialist Challenge 14 May 1979
OUR HISTORY
The Battle of Simple Bug
The outcome Parliament is already Tories have a 43 scat overall majority. They will win every major vote.
Parliament may be termed the Act of God Strategy'. It relies on 44 Tory MPs and then being struck Without that the Tories will win every time.
A strategy of opposition based on Parliament leaves oppressed people to be savaged by the most reactionary government since the war.
It also ignores the fact that neither the capitalist class, nor the working class, nor any section of the oppressed, has ever pope ionin Parliament.
capitalist recognises this, It has never hesitated to use means outside Parliament to gain its ends.
The biggest weapon in this has been the courts and direct
developed in the 1890s, changed the law by the infamous Taff Vale decision to fine unions for strike action.
Under the last Tory government the courts resurrected the ancient frame-up charge of conspiracy to attack Des Warren and the right to picket in the Shrewsbury case.
Under the last Labour government procedures on union recognition and
The gates of Temple Bar having bezo chut agatet them, a 7000t infamous riet took place thin
Wilkes supportess of the infener set brica up a calcade of loyal City merchants on 2a
The right to resist
known. The combination
policy based on opposition in law by judges.
by lightning.
working and had its real strength for
class certainiy
means of
When mass trade unions LEIL courts steel industry. ened.
March ITing
WERE WON
of ultra-right wing employers such as George Ward, and totally arbitrary 'interpretation? of the
When the courts have not been sufficient to oppose a government the capitalist class has always turned to more fundamental weapons. In 1914, when Home Rule was to be granted 1o Ireland, the Tory Party openly called
armed resistanoe. The army refused, in the Curragh mutiny, to implement the Act of Parliament.
disobedience elected governments is still carried on by the armed forces. w nen in 1974, for exampic, the Protestant bigots went on strike in the North of Ireland, the Labour goverament ordered the army to break the strike. The army officers sabotaged the orders and allowed the Loyalist strike to win.
Even before it comes to such drastic steps the capitalist class has its own
economic sabotage and resistance. In 1950-l for example, Labour government nationalised the
The employers were determined it would not happen. They succeeded in effectively blocking the nationalisation by refusing to hand over production plans and preventing trained personnel cooperating with the government.
absurd believe that the capitalist class will obey the law where its fundamental interests are threat-
No group in society ever has
NOT BE
IF WERE LAME
DUCKS
THE TORIES ARE
DEAD
DUCKS
surrendered where it has the means to resist.
The way that every single basic right has been gained has been through action and opposition Parliament. Take for example the ver issue of the rights of Parliament itself How were these achieved?
It was certainly not through a debare in the House of Commons. It was settled through a Civil War between the armies of Parliament and those of the King. The rights of Parliament were gained tbrough the armed defeat and execurion of Charles I.
When another King, threatened these rights the supporters of Parliament rightly had no time for the 'rule of law either. They called on the troops to disobey the King and any officers loyal to him. They armed resistance. army of the Dutch king to invade and aid them. James I was overthrown by the threat of another Civil War in the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688.
The rights established by force and the threat of Torce. Acts of THOLE BIG
It has been the same with every single right gained since then.
Take for example even the restricted right to choose who you want as your MP. That might seem elementary, But in fact it was achieved by enormous struggle.
John Wilkes was King George 111 and his supporters. In
120000
1 THE
WE SHALL
WEST OF SCOTLA outside
election result opponent as MP
organised.
James Il, LILL MP.
prepared They called in the create it.
Parhament were
Parliament merely
an opponent of
By John Ross
newspaper called The Nort Belton. the carly 1760s Wilkes was imprisoned in 1763 for "seditious libel" in attacking the King He was then elected MP for Middlesex
The King, and his supporters Parliament, used their majority in th House of Commons to overturn th
and install Wilke
This move of the King wus greete with vast riots in London. Hug nationwide petitions and meetings wer
AL subsequent Wilkes was four fimes re-clected, an each time barred from taking his seat e
Pinally. faced with mas opposition outside, Parliament forced to back down and admit Wilkes
In this case Parliament ratified th right to be clected as MP - - but it didn
The right of women to vote appear so obviously fair and just that now n party would dare to openly challenge i
You would think it was a right s obvious that Parliament arrived al through reasoned debare - and that i certainly the message of the Tory Party
The rcality is totally differen Parliament steadfastly refused to gran VONGLTOSWOMEA The first majo attempt to raise the issuc in Parliamen was in 1866. Filly years later it was sti not granted. It never would have bee gained by a policy based on oppositio in the House of Commons.
Votes for women were pained by th tremendous militant campaign outsid
Page 9 scan of this page
WHEN TONY BENN announced his decision not to run for the Shadow Cabinet he declared his aim was to examine: *First, how to mount a principled and effective Opposition in parliament to the policies and philosophy of the new overnment in so far as these policies harm the interests of the people whom Labour represents; and to do so in etween the Labour government, the parliamentary party, the National Executive and the annual conference, so that But where the statement goes dead wrong is the first priority it gives to how to mount a principled and effective
SUDATE
UCS
Opposition in Parliament'
Parliament waged by the gete movement. Huge demonstrations, riots, attacks on property, Imprisonment, mass breaking of the law.
These were the means by which the basic right of women to vote was achieved,
The 'welfare state' set up after 1945 is 2136 SEC CICE "Parliamentary socialism'. again the reality is totally different.
The Labour victory of 1945 was achieved through tremendous agitation and preparation.
The working class was disgusted before the war by the mass unemployment and pro-fascist policies of politicians like Chamberlain. During the war huge votes were received by independent and socialist candidates opposing the official Labour policy of electoral truce with the Tories,
A strike wave began to Huge sales of socialist pamphlets, and creation ol political organisation, took place among workers, troops, young people and every section of the population.
The real reason the welfare state was accepled was expressed by Quintin Hogs, now Tory Lord Chancellor, in 1943.
'If you do not give the people social reform they are going to give you social revolution' was his correct view.
It was fear of uncontrollable social struggles if there was any attempt to return to the conditions of the 1930s that forced the ruling class to accept the
1000 /0/ onjunction with the Labour party and the trade unions. *Second, how to study and analyse the experience of the last five
e can apply the lessons learned to the future work of the party."
To study and analyse the experience of the last five years is a very
Suffra- welfare state.
longer in a position to resist.
government.
Flows. It passed them solemnity triumph of But once them.
it came to
already Relations Act
unofficial strikes.
came out on strike again develop.
the
La protest demonstration out Scotland.
outside Parliament,
Keep some of the yards open.
even bigger
-OBS DOLE TELL CAPT HEATH
MERES A FORCE JO
COMING FROM THE
CLYDE
Parliament granted what it was no
It was the same with the Heach
This came to office. pledged to vicious anti-trade.
with all due through the House of Commons. The 'principled opposition in Parliament' could do nothing to stop
But it was a very different thing when
the oppostol Parliament. As soon as the Industrial
was introduced into Parliament it was met with two huge
In December 1970 and January 1971 half a million workers struck against the Act. On 1 March 1971, supported by the AUEW, two million workers
Meanwhile Heath was continuing with other anti-working class measures. In June 1973 his government decided to let Upper Clyde Shipbuilders close with the loss of thousands of jobs. This was met by the occupation of the shipyards,
of 100.000 people, and solidarity strikes through-
Defeated by this huge opposition
The government was forced to partially back down and
In January and February 1972 an
apposition struck the government. The miners came out on strike. An immense wave of 'secondary
Sorel
good aim.
pickets' closed down the stations, 40,000 Birmingham engineering workers struck in solidarity, 11,000 Siley he picked bot to doll down Saltley depot. In all this innumerable acts against the law and the sovereignty of Parliament took рівос.
But as always it wasn't who had Parliament on their side but who had the power to win that decided things.
MP William Deedes openly admitted it when he said:
The crux at places like Saltley was not how the law was interpreted but how it could be enforced, It was not doubtful law but numbers which held he police back.
low things really are decided wa shown ever more clearly later in that sumuner of 1972. The due process of Parliament gave the government the right to put a stop to pickets and trade union actions. The National Industrial Relations Courts set Industrial Relations Act duly decided to put the law into effect,
It ordered the imprisonment in Pentonville jail of five dockers engaged in secondary picketing.
The result was a gigantic explosion. From the morning of the workers began to move out on strike in dozens of industries. Fleet Street, car factories, the docks and construction sites were closing down. being overwhelmed by the tide the TUC ordered a 24 hour general strike.
Amid this opposition the sovereignty now.
years, especially the relationship which existed
power
called the Official Solicitor
the reicase of the dockers.
actions to
ment never could
Act had been broken.
He still had
policy Jeadership overcame Parliamentary
rule or not.
second miners openly feared a bigger under the
break the strike.
suffered crushing
arrests
been gained. Not Scared of Parliament but by
outside it.
2Clstet's
Solemn
Being conviaced ta our
peritous to the waite of the Empire. we. whose names are unbe
Elvit and raligious freedom. ritten, man of Clater, legal subjects of His Gracious
King Geerge I. bumble retzing on the Gob whom our fathers
threatenad calamity to stand by can another in befending
ourselves in solemn
found necesary to befeat the Home Sule Parhamest in Treland.
4 3» subscribe eur names.
The of Parliament and the law collapsed like a pricked balloon. Likea rabbit out of a hat a totally unknown flunkey
492S produced by the government to order
Open defiance of the law, huge mass
defend those doing it, achieved what opposition in Parlia-
From then on the backbone of the Industrial Relations
By mid-1972 Heath was on the rocks.
This Parliamentary
accepted. easily opposition But his government was shaken and it was not clear whether it could really
In winter 1973-74 the opposition outside Parliament decided the issue. A
strike started. Heath working class struggle even than 1972 if he tried to
Unable to impose his policy he was bat forced to call a general clection and
defeat, Action Sion outside Parliament had achieved what Or opposition inside it could never have.
it destroyed a government with a comfortable Parliamentary majority.
The rights of the unions had been defended in the only way any right has
by opposition in struggle That is the only type of opposition bat will defeat Thatcher
League and Covenant. i or well an of the abele of reland, subveraise of our souls be bisastrous to lie watertel well-being of tuber I CORACENCES that Home • Pale
destructive of our chenai dage of stress and triak confidentie trusted. do berets pled
Covenant throughout thia our tude Durselves and our chilbren our cherishes position of equal cul ship in the Inflad Kingdom and ta using olf aches wilch wo such a Parliameat being forced upea as me factber solem mutualle plebe corseives to refuse to recognise its au suce confidence that ched will safend the raht wi 9 And farther ar indivibually present 4 And in the en conspicacy to st
already signed this Corenant. - 1912.
STRIKE 1
Taff Vale Railwa as Kendana sur Can 3Deв, Guards, Brakesmen, an i-legging the mean on sirike len The Mantrement are untg e bean a surike on the Tor Vale Rall meo bare who day maplay for ILMEN, are all out.
Blackleg ? heyamaat on the Tast Vale, thee le wha hers you les On arring of Carditt, cait at sa - mIstormaties and
NOTIC IMPORTANT SUNDAY NE)
WORKING - DAY BEMONSTRATISN CENTRAL EIGHT HOUR LEGAL COMMITTE Tee sk all taking pars in slat Denneman L. Absolute to atsereto assembling and start punctuality he directions Complete obedience of the
bankment; ment by the Bast Strand It the occupses leaves the Legal Day Pide the of he Marble Arch: 'oes along Oxford hore Eastern of Platforms
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 9
Page 10 scan of this page
Army tries to cover up
IRELAND
A SMOKE-SCREEN has been blown
secret
intelligeace report which came into
the hands of An Phoblacht/Republi-
can News.
The Army is desperately trying to
rove that the document accident-
lly came into the hands of an
ordinary thief. Naturally
newspapers have preferred to dwell
on this topic rather than what the
document actually said.
Their reticence is understandable.
The press projects the official view ol
he IRA as criminals with no popula
extracts
document this public position is very
different from the private assessment
of British military intelligence.
In examining the membership of
the IRA the report says about the men
they choose to
"Godfathers':
"LEADERSHIP.
tially a working class organisation
based in the gheito areas of the cities
and in the poorer rural areas. Thas it
members of the middle class and
become more
Involved they have to forfeit their life
Nevertheless there is a strata
rorists ento provide die backbond
terrorists who provide the
of the organisation.?
Similarly the document goes on to
blow up ideas of IRA militants a
CRANK AND FILE
*RANK
Our evidence of
calibre of rank and file terrorists does
not support the view that they are
mindless booligans drawn from the
unemployed and unemployable.
By Steve Potter FROST was on a loser before he sturted
The beginnin of Yorkshire Television"
Global Village debate he announced that hi own station had found that 56 per cent of people they
nterviewed wanted the troops out.
That wasn'T the end of the Boy David's problems.
Puzzled viewers saw Frost suddenly appear to explain that it live stall ramme was not live at and that they comedy cereal remarks Ruairi O'Bradsich, a leader of the Sinn Fein.
The blatant censorship came after fred MPs whe
Kevin Stan Orme.
William Von Straubensee and John Riggs-Davison
Browdcusting horit about O'Bralaigh's appearance.
Alterwards they tried to pretend to the press that hey had immediately
alked out when they BLET O'Bradaigh was appearing-
ut according to Berna dette McAliskey, who was in the studio audience, it wasn't like that at al.
They sat right through O'Brudsigh's remarks. was only when they found
The Official Unionist MPs had walked out before the programme started that they began to look Finally Big-Davison shuffled and followed behied hims."
Socialet Challenge 24 May 1979 page 10
British
ArmI most from
portray
PIRA is essen-
deeply TERthe
position.
Frosts global censorship
Stan Orme - ran out
Of course they didn't Censor Alan Pirie the military leader of the
intelligence report
1-
Britinh
PIRA now trains and uses its members with some care. The Active Service Units (ASUs) are for the most part manned by terrorists tempered by up to tea years of operational
AS AP/RN points out: In not one single sentence does the whole report suggest that the IRA is "criminal' In fact the report goes out of its way to say that it has no evidence that Republicans line their own pockets.
Among the chief conclusions of the
The Provisionals' campaien of violence is likely to continue while the British remuin in Northern Ireland. We see little prospect of a political development of the kind which would seriously undermine the Provisionals"
O' Bradaigh gagged Ulster Defence Association who was in the audience, nor Glen Barr of
chain pop ter core are to mainta
We belterothere in little chance
publical areas.
nid tron overseas. sources of incore and t
The purchase
One aspect of the report is the Army's preference for what policy the British government sbould pursue in the six counties. AP/RN comments:
options for the future:
(i) continued direct rule where 'government polle would be principally one of containment and the underlying problems would remain unsolved.
(il) direct rule elected upper tier of local government". Stormont, "although this seems unlikely".
(iv) six county independence but the two communities interpret the objective differently".
the same d Nor did they bolber t cut out the comments of Conor Cruise O'Brien who was able to rant on about "the Godfather'. despite Frost's desperate attempts could not muttle Bernsdette, a determined moiner ram ine Action Committee or young ex-soldier. came out with the same sense b the problem Pre message: Britain's
censorship the countles is told British Media and Ireland, i formation rod re lund.
The pamphler explains how events like thut on the Global Village ramme come about. 'When it comes Northern Irelund pressure consists of not just constant.
standard letters ol from opposition to the Inde pendent Broudeusting An thority and the offending contracting company, but personal meetings between
Rothere nd the sect.
tary of State and the Chief Constable of the RDC.* (Peser Taylor-Thames Television reporter.)
COsI There is a third discount on orders of 10 or more copiesGet It From Information on Ireland, 1 North End Road, London WI
they toy
TORY POLICY-THE ARMY OPTION
The report outlines a number of broad politica
"modified by Introducing another "devolved government" that is a return to
The
Relatives in The
London NI 2XP.
propto th DAVE Baliol College Ontard, is tire of the SIMPSON,
the latest victims of political harassment under the Prevention of Terrorism and Act Dav secured his release.
Questioned
mysterious off-duty was not a member of the local police force, An Phoblacht/Republican News in Cornmarket, Oxiard Police cold him he was suspected of belonging to a proscribed organisation. Dave announced to a growing crowd that the arrest was political, aimed suppress Hritain's imperialist occupation of Ireland.
In St Aldates police station a Special Brunch man whether he supported the IRA or the United Troops Out Movement, Dave
DGOS.
FIRS
assortertal Comeste Me Tus posh (They certainly do. The Loyalists — correctly as a way of retaining the Ascendancy,
towards a United Ireland.)
the Brit presence.)
d'etre.
ICE TOLU
DROP « CHARGES
A demonstration demanding, Defend Free Speech marched through Cardiff last weekend to defend Pat Arrowsmith.
Pat was arrested twice during her campaign in the general election.
Banners from the local trades council, UTOM, Hands Off Ireland and the South Wales Irish Solidarity Campaign figured prominently.
Put is one of the growing number of frish solidarity activists who have been recentiy harassed by police all over the country.
A petition demanding the dropping of all charges aguinst Pat is being circulated as part of the defence activities.
Coples and further information can be obtalned by writing c/e PO Bos 50,
Quick action beats PTA
student the IRA.
During was lucky. Quick action station originally by police man who , Dave was arrested while selling liccnse.tosell
Skinner.
opposition to
asked of organised
acos!
- 110 19-
Ma-sun 43
- Koc.
- see it the few nationalists who support it incorrectly see it as a step
(v) described in an unnecessarily complicated fashion. the fifth option is a united socialist Republic which i apparcotly not on the cards because of sectarian and nationalistic sentiment" (rather than the real reason -
The report chooses option (l) as the only one which "offers any real prospect of political calm'. Even then it admits to no prospect in the mext five years of any political change which would remove PiRA's raison
Drop the Charges' denied thai he had any contact with
the interview picket assembled ourside the police station, Journalists started started to ring thi and the police stacied Dave was released with the police lamely trying to say that he had no papers.
Dave's case follows that of another Oxtord troops out campaigner, Johir against conviction John was accused by his judge of selling soditious literature in the shape of a UTOM bulletin.
As Dave says arrest was an attempt to intimidate me and the increasine effective anti-imperialist campaign i be area. It failed because of the lev swiftly mobilised postion that was
Page 11 scan of this page
Italy - the 'sensible Mr Berlinguer
right-wing government.
the clections to silence internal opposition.
Communist Party (PCI) ended account in Rone on t And gs it nade begun in distlusionment and depression.
However, the extended preparatory debate had indicaled a promising congress. In
dISCUSSiOn Torums l'Unita and Rinascita, but also largely in the bourgeois press in therers, he deep dissand form articles and faction of many rank and file militante and cadres found free expression.
There is a crisis of identity for worker milants cauchi sn the dilemma between demands of the austerity policy which the party defends and the obstinate refusal of the Italian workers to meel The coss Bl cap talist waste.
And there is a strategic crisis for the Eurocommunists" who By Martin Meteyard
BARELY a whiff of dissent disturbed the 23rd congress of the French Communist Party [PCF], which took place from 9 to 13 May.
After one of the stormiest years in the party's history following the
INTERNATIONAL
Eurocommunists in congress
WHEN Italy goes to the polls on 3 June it will be | happen is putting it mildly. It concerned above all with the record of the Italian Communist Party. The party is likely to lose votes as a result of its policy of historic compromise with the
HENRI WEBER looks back at the Communist Party's recent congress to see how its leaders are using
compromise. but are still waiting for the pay-off in terms workers" production and investments.
This growing rank and file disillusionment, the of setbacks, South, reflected in tions, pressure certain sectors of the trade union movement finally made the PCI leadership decide to go ahead and leave the governmental majority in January.
Is this a long-term retreat into opposition or the interlude before re entering the corridors of power in force? In theory it was up to the isth congress to decide after a lang political halance sheet of two Andreotti government.
France - democracy
only skin deep
defeat of the left, has the PCF now emerged strong united, as general secretary Marchals claimed?
Was It all a lot of fuss about
What the 23rd congress in fact confirmed was that the PCF's commitment to democracy is only skin-deep. The
was opportune that the decision to leave the governmental
months before the congress opened.
This under forthcoming election, a decisive test for the party in which it risks losing the ground won in 1975-76. This was the time not for sell-criticism everyone to do their bit.
The three hour introductory tenort tell no doubt on this control over score. To the delegates who anxiously asked who out of the Christian Democracy and the PCI was running circies round whom, by clec- secretary replied from bably:
*1 we had to do it all again
we would. The party was right 10 enter majority in 1975-76. It was right to leave in January 1979
can certainly a mere inadequacies and errors.
*The temporary impasse in the policy of national unity is the faull of
Democrats who have sacriticed
overriding national interests lIse for the preservation of their
own private interests.
The PCI shows patience and taminess bi the
dissidents had been bureaucratically coumnlicated round of section and federal conferences leading up to the election of delegates.
Furthermore, party's membership has now topped 700,040 on paper, man! are voling with thesr feel by refusing to take part in its internal life.
Some cells haven't met for intentine see a le pre-congress section confer-
supposedly elected by the cells.
only 102 delegates out of 180 turned •up: in Essommes, only 70 mut of 110.
But none of this was reflected
Only the leudership elections at the end of the congress gave some indication of the internal problems
Former rising star Jacques Chambaz whe
failed in his appointed task of keeping the party's intellectuals in line, wasn't re-elected to the political bureau.
And among those dropped from the central committee was Francols Hincker — editor of
he party's theoretical journal Nouvelle Critique,
given a limited volce to some
PCF dissidents.
Hincker is also one of thi
thors of a recent book, Thi USSR and US. which some
Soviet bureaucrucy.
The PC's attitude to the USSR
became in fact
controversial point in the weeks
just three ment.
placed the congress the shadow of the
parties in figures: but for
of votes cast.
cent].
1,915,000 general cent]impertur-
VOVCTHNELEIN the Christian proceedings all the
weeded out in the
cell.
while the of
made up of delegates
Nanterre, for Instance,
Corbeil-
congress discussiens.
live in or near London.
clearly
response
positive balance-sheet
real issue
for the dissident which hac
slovak CP, ESTION Stalinist. made sharp crificisms of the
tires.
and Fastern Europe
the most
an exemplary statesmanlike attitude. It therefore demands full participation in govern-
this -not forthcoming, the Communists intervention in opposition will exercise a
Communist
the THE three 'Eurocommunist Gramsci
*France, 700,000 members; 5,787,436 volers (20.6 per cent
*Haly, 1,800.000 members; 12,620,309 voters [34.4 per oppose
*Spain, 300,000 members;
voters [10.9 per authority place
feminist movement has faced since international Womens Day on & March.
'Not tbe Mosque, not the state
delegation of British women to visit Iran,
The delegation & beins
Thursday at 6,00pm R13 Regent Street Poly.
Womens Centre, 45 North St, London SW4 for speakers.
leading up to the congress, in
official in resolution's talk of a 'globally particular
Disidents turned this into a
circulating resolution calling for support the platform.
struggles in Eastern Europe, the breaking of relations with the Czecho
and the rebabili- the of all the victims of Three of them 1977. visited Crechoslovakia to meet
with Charter 77 representa-
Expelled by the authorities.
they brought back a message al it
addressed to the PCE congress
which called on delegates to
1 sustained and sensible attitude towards the sochel base of Christian Democracy:
The one false note was the Umberto Terracini, a member of the leadership and president of the senate, cute of the lounders of PCI along with rassed
Terracini enjoys a privileged
His non-conformist past — was one of the few Italian Communists of the 1930g to first the theory of 'social-fascism' and then the German-Soviet pact - his age (84), his prestige, and his moral him beyond attack and able to criticise with
Senacor Terracini was al400 people demonstrated on Saturday in solidarity with Iranian women. The marchers were protesting about the discrimination gainst women in Iran and the harassment that the emerging Thé Baxargan-Khomeini government is attempting to exclude women from some johs altogether particularly television announcers, lawyers and judges which Islam considers as male provinces Some women are still being forced to wear the veil or a headscarf if they go out to work. In the villages women out in public have been attacked by men even when they are wearing the veil!
seen must decide their fate.' was the message of the marchers A petition was handed in to the Trunion Embassy and a collection made towards funding a
organised by the Iranian Women's Solidarity Groop which meets every Much work has to be done to find the delegation. Get your womens group to send u rep ulong if you Organise s meeting on Women in Iran if you live outside London. Write to IRWG, S. London
speak out aguinst the repreision Czechoslovakin, and in the jailing of Jaroslav Sabata. Not suprising' ly, the party leadership refased to allow it to be read out from
At the heart of the PCF'S problems is the secturian line it has pursued since it broke with Sociulist Party and LIBE Lalon of the Left in September
Party leaders now cynically admit that they broke the Union because the SP rather than the PCF was recruiting out rither starling aimission of the bankruptes of tbeir own policies.
lowed a virulent denunciation of the strategy of historic compromise, opposing to i a line of unity of the worker parties and organisations.
The "weakness" of collaboration with the Christian Democrats, he explained to respectful but rather embar
delegates was nOt because of the bad faith or narrow mindedness of their leaders but because of the party's class character:
*The Christian Democracy is the political organisation of the Italian big bourgeoisie. It is no than the PC, the party of ty more an "inter-class" working class. It fiercely defends the social interests o Italian big capital. An prolonged collaboration with it as a way to socialism is a trap
This also shows how the
Interests of maintaining the
party apparatus have come to
dictate policy; the working
class is seen not as the agent of
sociul change but merely as
voting fodder.
weren't
raised at the 23rd congress
the party leadership made sure
of that. But they continue to be
heatedly discussed in countless
PCP cells.
And through those discus-
sions. and through united
aclan on Questions sucn as
Eastern Europe, revolutionary
Marxists will be fighting for the
creation of a party which can
genuinely call itself conununist.
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 11
Page 12 scan of this page
Thatcher-Smith concordat
By Richard Carver
THE Tory government faces its
first political crisis
because anything
Westminster but as a result of a
vote several thousand miles
away. The US Senate's decision
to recommend lifting Rhode-
propels southern
African conflict quicker than
they wanted.
The vote is not binding on the
President, who continues with
his policy of all-party talks in
Zimbabwe, but particularly
given the Enormous 13-19
administration's margin for
manoeuvre.
The motion was the work of
two right-wing senators, Re-
publican Sam Hayakawa and
Democrat Jesse Helms. Hayakawa had previously enlisted the support of liberal Democrat George McGovern to press for
official US team observers for the April internal settlement' elections. this was not fortbcoming they organised their own observers
predictably discovered that the elections were 'free and fair'.
Helms and Hayakawa have long been the leaders of the Washington pro-Rhodesia lobby. It was Hayakawa who organised lan Smith's visit to the United States last October.
For the moment administration will avoid LASHEL INCHECHE Senate decision by claiming to operate within the terms of the Case-Javits amendment to the 1978 Security Assistance Act. This says that sanctions will be dropped when the Smith regime agrees to ali-party talks (that is, including the Patriotic Front nationalist organisations) and when a new government has beca freely elected with participation of political sroups.
The two liberal Republicans who proposed the amendment woeded it in such a way as to allow the administration great
for effectively allows Carter choose when and how recognises a new government in Zimbabwe — at the same time
appearing lasting political principles.
This is important for the US President because his policy is determined not by the need for
government Zimbabwe but by what is the best way to establish a stable, pro-imperialist regime sufficient miss support stand a chance of survival.
How to achieve this has exercised the minds of Capitol Hill policy makers throughout their term. There has been a running disagreement inside
administration between "Africanists" such Ambassador Andrew Young. who argue for broad-based political solutions, and global strategists' like National Security Adviser Zbigniew BrzerinSki who present a harder line on the need to resist the Soviet threat in Africa
For the most part Carter and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance have tended towards the former position. But the debate is a serious one because, for once,
RenUine *Soviet threat, Southern Africa is the obe area of the globe where the Soviet Union does
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 12
INTERNATIONAL
Will we see a
qualitative tilt in the balance of forces in its favour.
volve the er on
Involve the overturn capitalism in the region. As in Angola and Western investment will be safe. Hut h would strengmen the band of regimes identify SUITS the leadership, thus imperialism's strategic position
Equally importantly "Soviet threat" shorthand for a process which has nothing to
the ary upsurge of the black masses
of southern Africa. From the US point of view this has to be dealt with repression or integration the better way?
Repression has been
used the military method in Angola, just as it used it against the Soweto students. In neither did it work.
When
using - against population of Zimbabwe with equally disastrous results.
Washington hopes that there is a better way. Andrew Young was dead right when he commented *President Carter understands it a lot better than does the Senate!
The Senate defeat neverthethe
less puts a fairly short time limit Canter EnLI attempts he
to
in UN
-Patriotis Front t similar restrictions on the Tory KOTORECL Thatcher and her Foreign
Minister Lord Mozambique,
Throughout campaign even the liberal wing which or me ones soch as Franc Soviet Pym. breathed brimstone government's Rhodesia policy, which was identical to that of the the Americans, The demands is a useful of office, however. require
them do with the somethina more bracical.
We predicted last week that the Tories would not immedi
Is SOONER or later, in one form
tried recognise the Smith regime. South Africa Fen before that happens we
must be there to stop them.
Fren H imperialism's The strutegy it would still conter un impartum
the black ahing the retrace a
allowing military aid
desperately
reengnition national demonstrution on 30 June, assembling at that Smithfield and demanding sell-out in Zimbahwe
by the Timbabwe Emergenes Campuign Young's by
RHODESIA
placer ately
when
Carrington
the clection
fire and wealth leaders, Labour
prediction.
with company
imperialism's
March on 30June
or another, the Torieswill try to brasdes
recognition is not long-term чарт їх зіт
political respect- 82-580 5311.
freer access Маснінь the rento chance to rel
will
2.30 at London, THELES Ter troup- in Adherence
The demonstration is called
of opposing that Committee.
HELIE Sational Oven us Foreign Secretar Committee of the Anti-Apart- proposed sending troops.
move to recognise the first.
Smith Mazorewa government
The absolute carliest they could
do that would be after the
Commonwealth conference in
August and then only if there
had been substantial political
changes in Zimbabwe and in
the attitude of black Common- policy to
Nothing that has happened in the past week alters that
Carrington
probably the most able member al the wovernment and himsel providing
director with
substantial southern African interests, can be relied on to put
best interests
heid Movement to allow the
regime. solidarity against the Tories. The Committee Is meeting in Condon on 6 June to discuss it» plans. All organisations which
are invited.
Detail from AAM, telephone
Although the broadest unity
Tory plans necessars, the compuign should
credibility ta the Anglo-American plans endor. set to the Labour covernment.
One al the most serious threats
of Britisit wuthern Africa.
Anglo-American terms offers no wa
indeed if was under that plan that David
'to
solidarity
the Africa..
Thatcher berself has little
pretence to foreign policy
formulation and already seems
prepared to defer to Carring-
ton's judgement.
The problem they now have
however, is tosell their cautiou:
the more bovine
sections of the backbenches for
whom extreme racism is an
article of faith. The Senate decision makes things more
difficult for Thatcher
backbenchers
with ammunition.
So does the report of the
Tory team of observers of the
April elections, released this week. The report says that the clections were free and fair and
the government to recognise the Smith-Muzorewa
the Tory leadership decides to ignore thar advice it still faces the problem of howto reach an acceptable compro-
Reverse the
Soweto verdicts
THE South African state scored a victory when it found the real weight of the mass 11 black students guilty on sedition charges, but the weight of the back movement is such that the count could only Impose relatively light sen-
The 'Sowero 11' Irial was an attempt to pin responsibilly for the massive uprising of 1976 on a small group of "agitators'. The 11 were aceused of trying
create political, socia and/or cultural awareness and
amongst black schoolgoing students with the ultimate object of contributing toward the liberation of blacks complacency, Four comrades
Repubik of South
Hut the openly political nature of the trial undermined
attempt present the uprising as a conspiracy. And
mise with Smith. The prospec
of all-party talks is dim as long
as the white regime is trying to
bomb the Patriotic Front into
oblivion. Instead both Wash-
ingion and London will step up
its strategy of trying to split the
Patniotic Front.
It is noticeable that the
British press has become softer
towards ZANU leader Rober
Mugabe, who has less firm
international alignments than
ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo
and would therefore, so the
rcasoning goes, be more ready
to seek new allie
Saith himself sees the value
of this strategy, referring to
Mugabe as a 'very realistic and
sensible person who is playing
with Marxism as a matter of
convenience
Zbigniew Brzezinski even
tried to get the Chinese leaders
to use their influence with
Mugabe to get him to join th
internal settlement. Mugab
his never indicated the slightest
willngness to go along with this
plan, if for no other reason
than the cynical one that people
leave to join the losers.
Mugahe's announcernent
last week of the growing unity
between the two Patriotic Front
parties is a welcome indication
that the split strategy has little
hope in the foresceable future when it came to the sentences
movement outside war felt.
Seven of the 11 were only given suspended sentences and of the four who have gome to jail all have part of their
suspended. heaviest penalty is for Sechaba Dan Montsist, president of the Someto Students Representafive Council at the tone of his arrest, who has an eight yeur sentence, four them suspended
If the moderate penalties surprised most observers they
still CORESE for
are still in the apartheid juil and efforts to releuse them must not let up now.
• Free the four!
• Reverse all guilly vendicts!
Page 13 scan of this page
European workers break out of
Austerity offensive
By Ernest Mandel
THROUGHOUT capitalist Europe the bourgeoisic reacted generalised recession of 1974-75 by unleashing an anti-working class "austerity" offensive. Its basic aim was to make Ine workers ocar ine cost or
tion. The main lines of attack were:
• An ettenor to stop anviocrense to real wages, and even to reduce them, on the pretext of fighting inflation.
The high rate of increase in productivity maintained in most of the imperialist countries meant that this would lead to a considerable increase in the rate of surplus value and therefore - all things being equal — to a significant boost in the rate of profit. That was effectively the chief aim of austerity.
* A no less brutal attack on the zains of the workers sphere of social security and welfare spending.
Cent of wages in the
sectors hardest hit by the crisis, right up to the dismantlins of whole shipbuilding industries are typical examples.
The consequent sharpening regional differences partly explains the reappearance
gional agitation, even the redisc very of certain "national identities" in various European countries
• An attempt to crode trade union rights and the ability of the labour movement and working mount a vigorous response to this generalised anti-working class offenSIVE
This includes measures such as the extension wage (Denmark). attacks on secondary
right (France), and attempts to cut down on shop stewards rights, especially their ability to go beyond the results of national negotiations (Italy, Spain,
This generalised anti-working class offensive has obviously taken specific forms in each country. The incomes policies of the Wilson and Callaghan governments in Britain, the austerity plans of the Andretti government in Italy and of successive governments in Portugal, the Harre plan in France -these are the most striking examples
Surprised and disconcerted by the crisis and its consequences, bogged down in their general strategy of class collaboration, refusing to admit the possibility of any global anti-capitalst solution (by breaking with the logic of profit), the leaderships have generally capitulated before the schemes of big capital.
In a series of countries they have even been the main initiators austerity — above all in Britain, West Germany, to some extent in
in Portugal.
They have 'managed the crisis of apitalisen
In other countries, their involve ment in "social contracts" used as amokescreens for the policies of bourgeois allowed their initial implementation.
This is notably true of the policy followed by the Italian CP (and also SP) under the Andreotti government; In relation to the Moncloa Pact in Spain; and also in Finland, where the CP covered up completely for the austerity policy of a government led by social-democratic and bourgeois ELTELES.
SURPLUS VALUE
straitjacket
to the they were very
LUPE
ICKET
movement in the ONDON represents an AVISION class
contracts
demonstrate reformist
of austerity parties has the same category.
"social contracts
SUCCeSTIn
• Partial but highly
Nevertheless, after marking time struggles against sackings and factory for a period, the working class has begun to mount a response in 1978| French steelworkers' struggle. and carly 1979 (again, the timing and scale have varied from country to the three years since the start of the country). This has generally taken a
wage increases. These have achieved major success in West Germany and Britain, less so in Spain (aithough
militant and
SE HURLES
LORRAINE
EMPLO
NORD
from top left: public sector, Ford, German steel, French steel.
videspread). The current explosion c
vorkers" strugzles in Ireland falls E
• Considerable pressure inside the trade union movement to break the
used to justify austerity policies. This was largely
Spain, where the Moncloa Pact was not renewed. Its effects are beginning to be felt in Italy. In Denmark there was even a general strike to this end in 1978.
explosive
closures. A typical example is the
In drawing up a balance-sheet of austerity offensive, one can state that, with the exception of Portugal, the
bourgeoisie
With the bourgeoisie unable to impose its solutions, and the working
CUTE LAL I leadership to impose its own, the crisis Social democrats Schmidt and Callaghan look uneasily on European workers' struggles, Clockwise
will therefore belong and marked by a
number of sharp turns.
While one can note a clear change
in the temperature of the
struggie, with the working
beginning to respond
generalised austerity offensive, it is as
well to be aware of its limits.
It is only the level of the
economy as a whole that effective
solutions can sconomy a a Whole Teally means And the
questions of "government".
and "political power', The search for overall anti-capitalist solutions to the crisis must involve political solutions. The response Marxists to the austerity offensive combines five necessary which are merely the application of the general strategy of transitional demands to the concrete conjuncture:
1. The projection demands as immediate objectives of struggle:
ANST THE 5I, FUKO MUKKERS
ARE FIGHTING FOR EVERONE
• against unemployment, a 35hour week with no loss of pay, with. workers hired in proportion and
class workers control over the work-rate:
class against
the
marionseon tion and under workers control; * against sackings. power of veto, provision employment at the same rates and in 'state", the same area;
• agalast
of revolutionary
clements
of precise for very
World' peoples.
workers" austerity;
example) democratic sell-organisation unitary solutions:
workers government.
SEEUCEUTiNg and Connunist
vital factory closares, without compensa
the only a workers'
no redundancies
of alternative programme (ithried internationally.
attacks purchasing power, a stiding scale of wages and social benefits on the basis of' a cost of living index drawn up by the trade
against the continuing crisis, a plan of economic development based on the complete nationalisation of credit, key industries and all major firms, without compensation except
small shareholders, democratically elaborated plan whose priorities are in line with the needs of the working masses and the Third
• for International coordination of
action throughout every multinational and in the industries hardest hit by the crisis (steel!).
2. Unitary mobilisations to obtain these objectives, essentially though extra-purbamentary action:
WUSIC BREL aptation and propaganda for a general strike to end
propaganda fincluding. by for the setting up of structures for the of the masses (democratically elected strike commit-
central strike committees, conferences of strike committees. "C. Systematic defence of overall political solutions, including at the governmental level, which can only be
• systematic propaganda and,
iccasion, agitation for a worker government, for governments of the
organisations (Labour CP/SP governments, CP/SP/trade union governments,
according to the country and the PHOR: LAURENCE SPARHAD
concrete circumstances), demanding that they satisfy the chiet demands o the working masses;
• systematic propaganda for the unity of the working class and allies, for a united front of all the organisations claiming lo be part o
workers movement, and WENCE front through unitary committees from the base to the summit in order to contro the activity of such a government
• no illusions about the ability of the reformist leaderships to break effectively with capitalism
4. Systematic action to advance the emergence of alternative icaderships inside the mass organivations;
• a struggle for trade union unity
democracy, for militant unionism, for the emergence of class struggle lendencies aiming LUSHEE control of the unions from the bureaucratie apparatuses, above all duringand following major struggles
•for comradely discussion and unity in action with the left tendencies developing little by little inside the
and social-democratic
5. A systematic policy of building and strengthening the nucicus of the revolutionary party, whose growth is
both to stimulating the appearance of alternative leadership: in the plants and unions and in orienting the mass struggle in a clearly unitary and anti-capitalist direction.
With the present relationship of forces, there is nothing which says that the semi-spontancous response of the masses cannot be transformed into a generalised assault against the capitalist system. NoT is there anytbing whuch guarantees it.
To achieve this transformation —
possibility of a positive outcome to the crisis requires a struggle for the whole of the action
which has just been both nationally aNd
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 puge-13
Page 14 scan of this page
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE EVENTS
LETTERS
Need for
an SC
conference
Al a joint meeting of the Coventry
nd Leamington Socialist Challenge
apporters groups at the beginning of
about Socialist Challenge We felt
that Socialist Challenge remained the
best paper on the left, nevertheless a
number of substantial criticisms were
raised,
Broadly speaking, these criticisms
revolve around the fact that the
ariginal project of Socialist Challenge
- revolutionary regroupment — has
lost its urgency and immediacy (not
through any fault of SC, but because
of the negative response of other
organisations) Therefore the paper
has over the past few months (barring
some excellent coverage of Iran, the
public sector dispute, and Southall)
lacked direction and accessibility.
It was felt that this might be
amended in part by the creation of a
theoretical journal to expand upon
and clarify aspects of revolutionary
practice, but the paper still lacked
accessibility in the workplace. To this
end it was felt that the whole notion of
revolutionary regroupment needed to
be reassessed in light of the response
to Socialist Challenge in general, and
the New Year call in particular.
in addition, the coverage in the
paper tends to be London-centric and
acked appeal in the provinces. Much
of the coverage appears abstract and
distant. Finally, it was felt that the
paper has lacked
thorough analysis of the Labour
Party's performance over the last five
this is essential for the
successful completion of the tasks to
which Socialist Challenge supporters
should be BOOTESSNE
under the new Tory government.
In light of the above, we would like
to make a call for the convening of a
Socialist Challenge
soon as possible
conference to be held outside London
(we would be prepared to arrange it in
Coventry), Such a conference would
address itself to the way forward for
the Socialist Challenge project, the
future form and nature of the call to regroupment, the
ature of the paper, and a thoroug
inalysis of th character and record, its defeat, and future direction under government, Chillenge supporters groups Coventry and Leamington Socialist
THE DEADLINE for
Saturday
NORTH WEST MOSS apportera sell the paper ar Mass one SIDE Sociall
GREATER MANCHESTER Socialist
School students apport the pacer and would like to ce mebived in anti-fascist activity, please
contacied
те сто 14 Ріссаону, Маполова with a view to fomting a Saltord S WARRING But Challenge NORTH EAST MIDDLESBROUGH Socialist Chalпои анио, зациину lunchlime nan
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 14
BAD
TASTE
CORONAS the
to the form it should take.
such an organisation
Brivate y
Fourth International?
SWP fit in
in with the sufficiently
tures: in families.
justification youth organisation themselves
conference as as a principle. Surely,
BECACHIC
parties on the left.
London-centric The type
Labour Party, its youth is
democratic centralist Lines Tory
"What we stand for'. artes Grou
Pilington, Durham. so available from Nowstare in inthorpe Roa
conire.
Thur 3t May Upm. AUEW Hall, Batough Hood.
SCOTLAND Forinformation. about the paper or its Scotland please contact Socialist
Shallenge suery battal Becile shopping centre, 1-5pm. Fo 0, 553 Fiot Crubeen Conlast J EDINBURGH Socialist
Saturdsy Tam-2om
WHERE DID THE LABOUR PARTY GO WRONG?
Youth and
the party
THE IMG leadership at present view
setting up of a revolutionary youth organisation as a necessary tactic" in building the revolutionary party. As such, they say that there should be no 'timeless principles' as
If this is so, why stress publicly that
be independent of all adult parties, and
that should encouraged to have links with the
Presumably it does bave plenty 1o do with the "tacties" of party-building Afterall, if Rebel groups linked to the
with independent Revolution groups fil
IMG's tactics. The oppression of youth is a group through authoritarian, adult struc-
schools and government seems to be of secondary
TOE independent
I'm sure the IMG leadership would say thai they support 'autonomous' youth organisation where it exists in SKAN, RAR and NUSS, and perhaps
then, an revolutionary youth organisation could only come from and be a part of an autonomous'
SEIL should someihing which primarily fits into the IMG's plan for reuniting political
of "independent organisation the IMG has in mind for
SINSEE "exible' -whatever that may mean. Full rights within the organisation are also dependent
agreeing with a pre-determined A more positive and hobest step I tion
Aner dom Wear stop.
NOTTINGHAM readera
LEAMINGTON Socialiet
YORKSHIRE
thoughout
DEWSBURY Socialist Challenge saied Tar Sup LEEDS Socialisi Challenge swes every when Leeos wie are playing at heme!
HUDDERSFIELD Socialist Challenge sales rogularly Saturdaya 11am-1pm in INo Fazza
lisaraits, Vanbrugh Codest Sal iN 111.30-2 30) at Coney Siree
WE CRINGED WHEN THE T.M.F THUNDERED DIDN'T WEE
consider what it is about its own
forms of organisation, traditions and
ype of appeal which might put youn
cople off joining if you're really
thinking about party-buiiding.
SALLY BELL (Harlesden]
Is Deer
Hunter' OK?
ARE we the only radical people in the
country who think that the film The
Deer Hunter is OK?
Most of the reviews in the left press,
including Soclalist Challenge,
Flame, Socialist Review, and Spare
Rib, have missed the point. The film is not essentially about the high-level polities of the Vietnam war, and so criticism on this score alone is totally inadequate.
Nor do we think the film is a glorification of "macho' lifestyles. True, it is about men, violence and killing. But we think the perspective on this level is very positive.
Are we reaily the odd ones out? Perhaps something readers think sir? Merseyside What do SUE BRAIN, ANNE CUNNINGHAM, BOR DENT, KRAJKA, BOB GAFFEY, MO (MILNER (Liverpool) ..or a total
distortion?
TWISH to thank you for the excellent review given to The Deer Hunter (15 Winchi. As a veteran of particular imperialist debacle, wholeheartedly agree with Gardner's analysis.
Exposing the film for what it is, a
SOUTH WEST Treat Tues 12
wry other sundas. 2nd Eland Pant
SOUTH EAST
DIDN'T WE STAND UP TO THE STRIKERS?
something that all Americans need to learn BOB STANDING SOLDIER
(Vietnam veteran, Tokyo)
Spanish
elections
YOUR report on the local elections in the Spinish state (12 April) asks: 'How could the left win majorities in the major towns, when only a month ago it lost to the right wing in the Beneral- election?': draws attention to the matter of unity. But it is worth recalling that even without unity the two major workers" partics, PSOE (Socialists) and PCE (Communists), together polled about as many votes overall in the general clection as the two major bourgeois parties, cloctoral system (approved in its day by the PSOE) which working class pay such a high price for the disonity of the leaderships The base from advanced, then, wasn't so small. other Nor was the distance it travelled so
great. If it really had been the case thar "the two largest working class DANIEL parties (had been left) with 70-80 per
cent of the vote in the towns of more than 50,000 people?, the impact might well have been as dramatic as in 1931 Unfortunately, such percentages were confined in the main Harcelona and Madrid and the mining valleys of Asturias.
However it is the case that in about 70 per cent of the major towns and cities.
BLOTS
accounting together for some 70 per cent of the population, the Carl (including radical' nationalists and
regionalists) has won a majorily -
sometimes large, other times small -
councuots. important, but CIA 2HPH BE
000a
TOWER d, London NWE
ISN'T DUR LEP TWING CRAVEN, PATHETIC
8, SPINELESS?
The inset and correctly
party's predominantly
working UCD and CD. It was the
Bilbao. made the The
which the Unity)
to be appreciated.
if understandably,
the industrial belts
villages
'left'
HAMLETS
BENE
adors c
SO WHY DID SO MANY WORKERS DESERT US? (Far left gains") the article requires some comment too if it is not to give a False impression of bow the Trotskyis ECK/LKI fared. Three of the Five councillors in Catalonia and the three in Castile (Madrid) were elected as members of the PSOE in that party's lists. They are not members of th LCR, though they are expected to
I don't mean to minimise the importance of this, but the exact importance can only be evaluated in light of these facts.
In the Basque Country five of the LI's councillors were elected on the
ticket, in the Basque-speaking zone. Despite a considerable presence in the factories and unions the party made little headway in the major
class towns of Greater
• TESt of the councillors participated in joint slates, most commonly with the radical nationalist coalitions of Herri Batasuna (Popular
and Euskadiko Ezkerra (Basque Left). Again, this is to set the record straight so the real possibilitie and problems of the party can begin FRED FAIRBAIRN (Bilbao)
THE LENGTH of letters prialed will usually be kept down to 400 words in order to encourage us wide a range of contributions us possible. All letten may be cut at the Editor's discretion. Unsigned letters will not normally be published, although we will withold real names from publication on
Page 15 scan of this page
Has a community
RADIO
for choosing half its board of directors.
rest of Britain's so-called independent radio?
writes on the possibilities and pitfalls. kand commercial Ter and Both the public radio are controlled patrolled in which reinforce the status quo.
By and large it is the establishment, the orthodox, the 'moderate, the spokespersons, the police and army
andouts that these media weigh in the 'balance' and
The Report broadcasting and the subsequent White Paper drawn up by the Labour government included tentative sugeestions lor new ways of running the media.
They paciuded, for cxample, the nroposal that the fourth TV channel should run by an open broadcasting authority proposal which the Tories have just clobbered in favour of their commercial friends.
Fur Jocal radio. suggestion was that noo-profit making tres reflecting the community could run new stations instead of the usual business outfits.
journalists community activists in Cardiff picked up this meisuge at the end of last year and bepan to organise a bid for the Carditi franchise, which five groupsof business people, media stars, and public figures were already. competing for.
Cardiff Broadcasting really
stage was mainly leftish and radical.
The problem was to raise the cash. There were no charitable foundations 10 provide
Elsaugh Gilbendian reeded
nuch of the preparatory work
Ne bad to have financia investors, and that meant some form of compromise.
At this point a few socialists opted oul, hut to get into any sort of shape acceptahle to the Independent Broadcasting Authority - which awards the
Cardiff Broadcasting
captured the
airwaves?
THE FRANCHISE of Cardiff's new commercial | 50 percent block vote. radio station has just been awarded to a company based on community groups, with an electoral process
Will this measure of community control prevail over the business interests which dictate the output of the
BOB DUMBLETON, a member of the Socialist Workers Party, Cardiff and South Wales Housing Action, and now a director of Cardiff Broadcasting
prizes a compromise was always what it had to be.
The presence of financial stakeholders and "discipline" was a crucial sign to the IBA that we weren't all that different.
on the
and The the tution works like this: the radio company has a board of 12 directors, hall of whom are selected by the shareholders as other six elected democratically elected trust.
Since the finance holders are limited maximum holding of 10 per cent, and there are loes of them, There is real power in the trust's
Nearly 400 people came to the public meeting which elected the present board, Including a phalanx of church people and SPUCites.
conformist clery, two women s activists, a Labour councillor, and an SWP member.
The whole enterprise has been a series of compromises. first with the financiers.
The present directors are not obviously in it for the moncy — most local radio is not a gold mine, and business people have cultural and communily aims in such matters as the arts and charities.
But profits will have to be made in order to survive.
The socond compromise will be with the advertisers, which means secking the biggest audience, Our stressed news and information, by as opposed to the usual pop. there share- pressures here.
Thirdly, the IBA supervises the political impartialicy of programmes and has a veto
over the key appointments.
rclation to other tion was put together.
people and
public mectings. shops are planned
anvining from Carditt
radical
The non-
SuE Da product:
radio
drivel. A competitor
news services in the area.
and demystifying
as bosses
fodder,
rich and living.
SHITES
and controls the media.
Libe -basis individual votes, group votes, and 10 per federated group votes application Moreover,
evidently a set Whether
ofsociery.
What may be the biggest problem is that 'community" and democracy in this context reflect the status quo, and in
station in a single pioneering
What is needed is for the elected trust to rceresre che spirit and real democracy of the hectic days when the applica-
The trust ans to involve
out education on the uses of the medium. A regular newsletter,
and work
Only if there is continued pressure from activists will
emerge Broadcasling. otherwise all the good and
intentions be reshaped by the system into the
What could be achieved? A
station with content instead of perpetual "pop
much needed Thomson press and the BBC and HTV
A stimulus to democratising
the media.
Ine protessional broadcasters will have community activists 10.30pm
and teamworkers, and so won't be the usual copy
Our aim has to be to harness the mass of free talent and Radio imagination to make the output
Cityl,
Above all, the sucpess and
will illuminate central question of who owns of fascists.
In Cardiff people will soon be voting regularly to exercise a
local radio station. The nexi
the station. clection of the trust will be on
stations
who
mass
Many of 50 peT cenl 40 per Cent with
Cardiff people will have the opportunity to help in making programmes.
Cardiff Broad- at the moment. casting proves to be a sop or a landmark depends in the end on the people who are struggling Party for democracy in every sphere (PDEP).
Why 100,000
marched in
support of a
radio station
Members of the Housewives' Collective injured after fascist attack - from Granada's Chain Reaction
NEXT Tuesday, 29 May, at these
Granade TV is Chain Reaction, which examines how the far lelt in Italy sees the present political situation there.
Featured in the programme is
Citta Futura (Future an independent radio station of the fur left in Rome, was which was physically attacked in January by an arised group
Sandro Slivestri of Radio Citta Futura told Chris Walker of the Peoples News Service about the attack and the role of
For the first time in lesly. and for that matter in Europe
except for certain radio during the War people cun broadcast without any prior control or censorship. and really say what they like.
There are a lot of people
Phase never had the opportunity to explain to other people their position und ideas. That's RCF's role.
HE's not only for the left, but for anyone who is involved in u
movement and has something to say - oppressed people such us students, the unemployed... KASS lett.
"Due to the way we operate, it is not possible for RCE, or
other democratic radie station in Haly, to broadcast an account of events which is misleading or simply not true.
'Once someihing happens which involves workers.
PEE HE USCE OPTE state radio and then to what we
Anyone who disagree phone in and express their opinion on the air.
*In this way RCP can give a very clear version of events. This is very important in Home
RCF was set up in 1976 b Workers Vanguard TAO] anc
Proletarian Unity but shortly alterwunds became Independest of
aligning ibel The Housewives" Collective Is an example of this involvement.
*The collective is Impossible to Imagine because the housewives have te stay at borne.
"The Housewives' Collective
launched following an appeal by some of the women of Radio Donna, a feminist radio operating indepcadentis within REF.
"Step by step, these women
mhost THISPI middle-aged - came out, and now this is one of the strongest elements of the feminist mosement in Htais...
We are a voice which the state, the establishment, and even the Communist Party find really disturbing. Several times. acting en the instigation of the CP. the police huve tried te stop our broadcasts.
*The atrack by the fascists is part of a new strategy. After having attacking, injured and killed ordinary people trains. in bunks, and on the SINCIS the fascists attacking the rerolutionary
The attuck on the rudio station 00 9 Jaunary CAme when five women from the Housewives' Collective were making broadcast about abortion and contraception. The fascists set fire to thestudio and shot at the women as they escaped.
afternoon, 10,000 marched from the neighbour hood to the hospital to see the ROBISCHI
The Following day 41,000 women demonstrated in Rame against thie altack, and some 50,000 marched a lew duys luter in support of RCF. In 15 days, the station collected E10,OH0 in
and construction workers helped to rebuild the studio.
Socialist Challenge 24 May 1979 page 15
Page 16 scan of this page
Socialist Challenge
Regstered with the Post Office as a newspuper. Published by Reigocrest Tad. for Socialist Challenge, 328/9 Upper St, Loedon NI. Printed by Feb Edge Litho Lad (TE),
THREE WEEKS the Tories nave been in office.
weeks - and already we've had thousands of jobs destroyed:
among young people Civil Service, and for public sector workers who get a pay rise:
And they still have four years and 49 weeks to go — unless we do something about it.
Miners' leader Joe Gormles wantsus to accept that they will be there for five years and so we should talk to them to get the best deal we can. *THE people have made their choice of government. I am going to talk to Ministers to get the best deal I can.?
Joc Gormles, president
Like Jim Callaghan, he has declared that he will not engage in "factional opposition'
Is it factional' to defend working people's interests against their exploiters?
We know that the Tories are preparing for the attack — an attack on basic union rights, on
public services, nationalised industries, on the rights of black people.
BOOTHOL TULS.
Yer instead of preparing a plan of action to ward off those attacks, instead of alerting the labour movement - Gormley and Callaghan would rather talk with the government about their trade union reforms and be "non-factional' in opposi
'CONSULTATIONS beiween trade union leaders and the CoveranCE must cease that the Tories have mude it dear they are hell-bent on shifting the balance of power swas from the workers and
Dennis Skinner MP
It's time to break off the calks, time to prepare a plan of action. And that's what the National Union of Public Employees conference proposed last weekend.
They passed a resolution moved by Camden Cieneral Branch, which we print here, offering a way of resisting the Tories,
We must take our lead from this, and see that we fight the right-wing Labour and trade union leaders to get a plan of action adopted to light the Tories.
• Keports on the trade union conference pages 6-7.
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NUM now JOHN SUDDABY, secretury of NUPE's Camden general brunch Cheques, POs and Money Orders should be made payable to
Now NUPE says it.
TALKS
WITH
THE
TORIES
THE NUPE conference notes that the newly-elected government plan:
attacking trade union rights;
scale offensive against the public sector involving the imposition of rigid eush limits, cuts in services, and attacks on pullic sector workers jobs and living standards. 1. Conference against any limitations on the collective freedom of trade unions to organise effectively in
THE MESSAGE the paper's been bringing you since the clection is loud and clear, It's not just coming from us, but from everything the government does and everything that's begun to happen inside the labour Party.
A Tory government doesn't mean car were back lo the nice simple economic struggle in the workplace. Labour in opposition doesn't mean that Sunny Jim and axeman Healey going to go red-blooded socialist alterna live. A socialist challenge is as essential as ever.
Something else hasn't changed either Lots of people think that Socialist Challenge is a good
to introduce legislation
- intends to launch a full
rights to decide decision
will fight
2. Conference
OUR FUND DRIVE
someone else's copy.
DeR
how;
the new quarter -
€1,500 in
last week
The Camden Resolution
pursuit of their interests.
particular conference opposes restrictions on effective picketing, the imposition of restrictive collective bargaining and disputes procedures.
unions their own making processes. the Accordingly conference:
(a) Instructs NUPE's representative on the FUC to oppose any talks with the Conservative goverament on the above issue.
states Its
thing. They subscribe to the paper, buy it from one of ou sellers, or just (shame) read A. Platt
That's A. Tortorella
You women be happy it
Anon Thursday there was no S. Rose Socialist Challenge. But some- R. Haggie
just like before the clection, that support doesn't Anon seem to get translated into cash.
We're now seven weeks into
Anar half way - and only 4958 has - more than H. de Ley
J. Parkinson come in so far for our fund B. Biderman drive. That mcans we need ove
the remaining six S. Bodini weeks: E257 a week, to be exact
That's why we need you to G. Walls double your money. We said it
and aren't Week's total ashamed of saying it again.
opposition to any system of cush limits and any attempt to the Interfere with the comparubility payments on this basis.
Conference will engage In a compaign against the Conser vative government's attacks on
public sector involving meetings. demonstrations and Industrial action.
In particular conference will
fa against increased mili-
Meanwhile our thanks to this week's contributors:
E 1.00 5.00 G. & M. Gardner 6.00
1.00
2.00 Lambeth IMG 10.00
40.00 P. Holbourne/J. Lemair 10.00 D. & B. Passingliam 15.00
10.00 2.00 1.75 1.00 HullSCsupporters Walsall teacher
2.00 Swindon reader
£121.11 Cumulative total
tary defence spending and for
re-allocation of defence funding to the pubble services;
(b) for the creation of a public sector alliance uniting all public sector unions under allack;
(ch among the private sector trade unions calling for solidarity of all trude unionists in defence of public services and against the government's astempts lo divide the trade union BEUTLUILIE PRUTALE sector against public sector.
LOTTERY WINNER
The winning ticket in the
Surally Chalene better o
sumber 2611. held by
Johnston, 7N Fort Street, Leith, Edinburgh,
I'm a
Socialist Challenge
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3-4 The Oval, London E2
← Socialist Challenge No. 96, 17 May 1979Socialist Challenge No. 98, 31 May 1979 →