Labour Briefing no. 40

NO RETREAT ON CRUISE!

The Labour Party’s policies to get rid of Cruise and Trident have been agreed at Party Conference after Conference.

Overwhelming majority votes have confirmed the commitment of all sections of the Party to the demand that the next Labour government would remove all nuclear weapons, British and American, and close all US nuclear bases.

Yet time and again, these policies have been attacked by the leaders of the Party.

‘We expect the Tories and the Alliance to attack them. to. lie and deceive the people; but we were ready to argue for these unconditional, unilateral measures, which were wellconsidered and which showed our ability to take independent actions.

We knew that getting rid of Cruise missiles and Trident would need firm leadership in the face of US opposition. Yet we thought that our leaders would respect our views, democratically decided by the Party and voted for by the electorate. In the run up to the election we looked for clear statements from our leaders putting the policies to the people.

‘What do we find? Well, of course, we expect Callaghan te attack the Party. This time his view that we should keep Trident was well to the right of David Owen and in line with Thatcher. His timing probably had a lot to do with the publication of his memoit

‘But whereas Callaghan’s comments were not helpful Neil Kinnock’s attack on March 18th on the policy on Cruise missiles was downright disruptive. If you missed it, he now says that the next Labour government will delay jemoving Cruise while the superpowers are holding talks. Ina masterpiece of logic and consistency, he says if the talks take too long, oF if they fail, Cruise missiles will be removed anyway.

'No one person, leader or spokesperson, can overturn the

‘not a multilateral party. We h them well, but our rejection of nuclear weapons was never tied to talks. We do not grovel to either superpower. Our Speed up the negotiations, not di

By weakening Party policy. Interests of the USA before the overri country to make a radical step forward for = peaceful world

We are once again a poodle of Reagan. a client state ‘with no independent foreign policy. Was it the pressure of

sts in this country that forced Kinnock’s the right in the Party to ditch unilateralism before the election?”

‘The apparent acceptance of changes in the disarmament policy in the publicity material ““A Moder Britain in a Modern World” has made the latest attacks possible.

‘We must not let them get away with this, a fundamental attack on unilateral nuclear disarmament. We voted that Cruise will go, talks or no talks. If we rely on talks Cruise may never be sent back.

‘This time we must not be silent. Kinnock is wrong. The policies must not be fudged again — because that is why ‘we lost the last time round.

welcome the talks, and

jection of Cruise will ict from them.

INSIDE

@lesbian & gay campaigns

Scottish Briefing ©S. Africa feature

@NUM news

by Joy Hurcombe

Chair, Labour CND (personal capacity)

PHOTO: Jot Chapman

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 25ih-Apr th 1987 page 2

Home News

It is just 10 years since the first maternity rights for working women were introduced: the right to maternity pay and leave, ‘and protection against unfair dismissal on grounds of pregnancy. These rights are now under attack from the Tory government. Since 1979 hardly @ year has gone by without Some erosion in job protection and financial Support around childbirth

By Jane Prost Deptford CLP

Maternity allowance. the major maternity benefit. for Working” women has. been steadily eroded. In 1980 a 5% . cut was imposed in leu of Dolly Kiffon on Old Bailey picker during Broadwater Farm trials taxation reducing the weekly

Police take revenge

Felated supplements 10 statements — notably about

maternity allowance were Bbolished in January 1982. The community im _igvesiation of the murder of PASTS act's head ont

and chia dependency 2éditions were abolished Wt November 1984 Tottenham is outraged : ie a

: Equally" owragcous, they DOK + WETE opportuniically and disgusted at the dened ine ake or ‘te PwKed up by the media 10 Yerdict which it regards community co" demonsate erally nsruct Judge Hodgson

More extensive cuts in maternity benefits are now in ‘and the jury to convict innocent along with the sentences — outside the police station on the 3 is tvening of October 6ub 1985. YOutRS.

the pipeline. The | Socal Secunty Act 1986 cuts al Benefits for pregnancy. It wil ‘esbolish the £25 matemity passed as a despicable {smne of October p19 ‘Clearly the police and the way to treat our youth. sieat., the police deliberately syedia were out to make te women who are in work 4 SGmebody pay. This verdict can and paying Nationa insurance “They were picked up on Broadwater Farm Estate. They Somebody pay. Thi ved ino. evidence to satisfy the sought a battle which thy ony destroy any sco of fit in Shorty belore they claim:

maternity allowance to the employer and restrict payment

Emergency!

abolish tree milk and vitamins for pregnant women ‘and children in families an low wages.

One in five mothers will ose the maternity allowance — a potential loss of £530 each. Free _mik and. vitamins are already available only to families "on the — lowest incomes, but the government brapases to reduce provision

From Apel 1987 matemity benefits will be available only toa minority of mothers Many women’ will receive na holp at all to meet the costs of ‘anew baby. The women most affected on this willbe working class women on tow. incomes, who rely on maternity benefits to_holp them with the costs of having 2 baby.

These changes represent

the most substantial Feductions in mothers" rights that Britain has ever ‘witnessed.

Maternity Emergency is a ew campaign launched. by Maternity Alliance in defence of Britain's maternity nights, A mass rally has bean called at the Central Hall, Westminster, ‘on Monday April 6th, the day the maternity grant is to be abolished

You can help by putting a resolution” through your Labour Party branch, Trade Union. branch, etc., and by coming 10 the rally. on April bth

For further information contact Maternity Emergency, cio Maternity Emergency’ Alliance, 59-61 Camdon High Street, London NWT TOL,

grant and replace it by 2 Freans tested payment; police desire for revenge for comprehensively lost ne

@transter “payment of {he death of PC Blakelock, In their quest for vengeance

carn: = Soy sel. Safety suffers for profit

murder of Mrs Cynthia ¢auducting widespread faids, with that_of South Affica

breaking “down doors, At ges Roly Jarrett in her home the day threatenir wi Anyone at court after the The recent Zeebrugge impro' Before the Tottenham Enns 2g feraiet_was announced must Ferry disaster showed Stbstandaly — "bur at uprising. Tandreds of inoceat yous mi; NE sRsesiet Ue Sie ence ageln that where Some cost: to the: ferry PC Randal, who led the an atlempt to frame some of Gefendanis’ Telatives WEE Subic services are run Perators.

croton Jaren, saat Sm Tor the murder of “ROR ASTSE Farm for the profit motive, /P., t2 , onetare been suspended or tied. On the Blalock. a Ee a jemselves, however, are Se te ces any ene eee ee oe al then safety will suffer. if “Shything_ going. inthe

oe promoted police stations, and forced — suc to fight. We canaot Apart from the obvious exact opposite direction to ADORE. slice treated tne Tine Mearns "niga Sere the Couns decon. We mauoure of shunting BOW Wht the outcome of IMs

communi. immediately after false confessions. The acquittal MESTmINMLO DES 108 USS doors before leaving port. Gicaster would. demand,

the uprising "was not only of the three juveniles charged {0.t Serious questions need to Townsend. Thoressen, ieecrtng Gal extorglvestne St eityscaniee proves Om olar es on ke geked about the Ore et the atriokert ‘They Weated. wi “sideule ” They wre lnterrogated othe gricoming Events pone #3 structure of these feries, fory- have in fact ordered commutity “demands for an point” where their fantasy $79" or 808 1667 Se ee reas ocr neh eaoiees

Here to stay and fight!

On February 17th, $8 Sri Judicial Review, due on March “The Lankan Tamils seeking Sth, has been called off, and the retaliated f

overnment hare 1986, The work of the Viraj Virai's right to stay and 10 start their partial defeat Mendis campaign has inspired to pressure MPs and prospective fliamemtary candidates | 10

Patties! aaylems ia Belisig Tamils reerred to the United witha plantointroducefineso€ others, Feces acbottant: Kingdom tsimigraion advisory up to £1000 for siines and "On February 6th Rajwinder takesides and pledge themscves sed deportation. mpt to Serves 30 that fresh Geasions shipping Companies sits “Chena” a timewal to support an amnesty for all ant Sst dite attempt to Ty pe made conceeing ther transporting people seeknz Ghai” wen! sto sanctuary thowe under" threat” of ie 3 fares in the ight of relevant _soylums im Botan without visas inatempletn Bradford: Inearfy deportation, and 10 repeal the Tamils stripped’ to their facts and any representations ~ or passports. The rights of January the “Bring Back 1971 Immigration Act and the underwear. and continued that UKIAS may make ‘efugees to eck help from MPs, Victoria Willams Campaign” 1981 Nationality Ac. their protest on the plane “"UKIAS has aleady obtained advisory services and 0 appeal way lnmoched in West London, The ssue of opposition to the intl Hews Of a high court statements from most Of the to the courts are alo to be with. many” acivists lnking facism of Immigration controls Injunction cane through, Tami. which” contain yeatited together to help David Willams s-a challenge to the left which injunction, came through, {formation sbovtOrtay and “The. Tamils) fight to say. fig for he reurn of bn wife Tut be aken sriowily in the allowing them 10 say ug torture administered by the Sei acked by UKIAS and Labour Vicioria sanded Ghana with Labour Party. The NEC has Saree {Cinkan ‘miliary. Some abo Ps, ieasigaificant part of the no moncy and no familly since Yoted to support VMDC, but i ‘ Kavescarswhichihey ate were wider growing resttance in She was Geporied ia May fast crucol thet in this General ‘The Tamils’ plight made faftted by the toope. This Britain to" the injustice and Sear Eiction Year the Labour Party front page news and for a week information and an account of racism of immigration control be seen 10 do more, giving our then Paice concent ibe benmour of ymgraton nis ave ng made Petwent === const acing apd cle cportaions. and immigration itt woald kave ba sen individual. cammpaiges. “shing By Kale Adams cecare sa et oe law. were highlighted. Press Guring the Judicial Review "30 increas yo he ane eportation struggles Iti our vege ‘musrates both the he ovement. hed” vey Seporiation moresten Hackney North CLP fihircthey ar hisuig for facemtof the media and the felyoe'vo Tear enticiam! axa e«W—eOo Home Otte, The Dally Malt “The Tams have, been Campaign in Hacky Contact YM at North described the Tamilyas "human hunted between hotels and — Stepping up action By cal For the movement 10 Hotes Contes. Sack flotsam”? and urged that Getention centres and families public meeting. Marion continge to gain strength co- Crescent, Manchester MISAL legislation should be changed to split up, which has frustrated nd delegates from the Hackney OFdinated "resistance | _to For details of the Conference Ske tore wmetioc: (bate et woe woke tackney — Geportations is necessary. The ery

‘egal or undesirable House” detention centre on vigil at Manchester Aigpor. Tih and 12th whch wil take

The government, who. “February 7th to take See has Place in the church in BH serongly supported. the Home Satcments from Tamils found peer avanctaarsmmarchurchin Matchesier, the place of omroeneeereeereet Office view thatthe Tamils were that they had been bussed down Manchester since he was sadeluary and central focus of

Germany more than twice the size of the one in the disaster, and with no changes in design. The consequences of another disaster like the one at Zeebrugge can only be imagined with great

By Alan Holder

The main reason why the ferry operators have allowed safety to lapse (that's if it was ever tight) and have started building larger ferries is the impending competition from the Channel. tunnel which wil be completed in the early 1990s,

The tunnel is_a major threat to. cross-channel ferry services and without increasing the size of their ferries, the operators can't hope to compete due to economies of scale.

The tunnel _also represents a major threat to seamen’s jobs, which ironically enough would be threatened even further if the greater safety measures were introduced.

Many of the measures would mean longer loading times for freight and cars at ports which can only ead to a further loss of trade to the tunnel 30 what's the answer?

The only answer is a socialist answer. Both the cross-channel ferry services and the channel tunnel should be brought under workers’ control as part of a _ national integrated transport network, This will increase jobs, make the services accountable-and_ above, all safe!

Labour Briefing No, 40 Mar 25th-Apr 71h 1987 page 3

Editorial

BRIEFING

TASOUR — TAKE THE POWER

No Cruise! And no NATO!

‘on bere. Secondly it may be the revelations, many of his movement for disarmament the bureaucracy as a whole nuclear, pro-NATO policy is ire bomsect of 9 deal way Reagan tries to save his advisors are resigning or bothin Americaand Europe can use the spectre of therefore hamstrung. It

Uehara aaeaete ; nuclear weapons, the s0- <rinternational diplomacy that be was not adequately While not at ts most active impose dieipline and account of arms called zero option, seems 3; diversion from his briefed for the Rejkjavik at Present, huge maintain its dominance. Yet negotiations, yet it is closer than ever before. domestic troubles, so. summit. Ratherthan Reagan demonstrations on the in a planned economy more incapable of proposing an Goch a desl so woud bo Reagan may be hoping that being the eacr simtemntn, suesteprimany capralckien, Gh" arma’ menat’ ess unfimperait alternative Welcome as siep towards an-trms deal wil fovve hs demanding that Sar Wars's women's. camps ai Chewhere ft least the impels fhe remoral of weapons imag: asa ‘sttcamen”. i yoo nepotatie, Gorctor Gresham and'"ckewbee “ROMny expeadiure tant tie bene vat tcear darmament. The him'in‘paying iough with Mimscifas peacemaker This” fave had ther influence. leadea ‘lo Tespond tothe lotto tine, sa taking tmajrly of toe populations, the Sovcs™ pushes infarther the wedge Secondly, we ean argue wausral aspitons of the advantage af | Kinnoct bath East and West, would ‘a similar message i being Getween' "Ameria “aed thar thevety notion thatiwe Seve people: Quis simply, Siscontfue. Not onl the tion any each developments scpeaed on thi Sac of te Habre have something, (0 dei Gortulnor nec an ares Thats and Owens tet Yeo posively. Moreover, Alantc by ‘Thatcher and ‘Althisscemsat fist sight agaist ht lie” Every al'io allow him to push aie’ the. Calaghams’ and Pre tes tm bh peel te werk hae ee em Mo mange emer one uae Tighe ot toe Caton Pury fuclear movement fo make "Our" nucear srengin has ooking Pahaky “afer SDI, has been totined ty ""The'mobiem for Kinnock ulersandt ‘ise’ cree ut hopes too rapidly, Fist, been sayed into the bargain, Commocs, Xt may ‘te aperiaiom to bicck an, theSoier rear asd Colaghes hay hive no deal has yet been struck “But is this really what is difficult io answer those capitalist movements show that the real danger to emberrrassed the leadership | fd there femain powerful happening? ‘Looking. at it cies who. say ths offer toughout the woridand to prace\ comer 'hem’ the Saa'hst more sul righ Presumably woul. such "a timely inteeention into the of presen, Labour poly. Of oust sections of argument means to roveal policy But he ‘has, also eal" incude”™ European Allantic'“Allance, "a Butthere ban answer, "Soviet Sodey also have an METNATOMesodeteasve Peokea artimpls wath, We

Briefing Conference

Socialist Policies for a

Labour Victory

Lambeth Town Hall March 28th-29th

Saturday Economic Strategy 6. Crisis in Education; 2. Restoring local j 4-6pm STA speaker democracy; Joan i Registration 10.30am Workshops: Twelves Opening Plenary 1. Taking over the City; Evening Social 3. The Tories’ police llam-ipm Jeanette Findlay 8pm, Camden Workers state; Martha Osamoor q Eric Heffer, Mildred 2. What kind of Social Club, Athlone St, and Phil Murphy j Gordon, Narendra nationalisation? Phil NW5. Kentish Town 4. Tory attacks on the Makanji, Sinn Fein, Hearse tube unions; Liz Short and Positive Images, Stevi 3. Fighting privatisation; Tony Richardson Jackson, Jane Prust Geoff Martin, Dave ‘Sunday 5. “New morality” and Benlow Registration 10.30am, the rights of the International Affairs 4. Fighting for our Social Policy oppressed; Terry 2-4pm economic policy; Alan lam-Ipm Conway and Stevi Workshops: Thornett 1. Devolution and the dackson 1. Getting Britain out of 5. What kind of national question; 6. Combatting the Ireland; Nadine Finch, economic growth? Andy Roland Sheret media; Ken Loach, i Sinn Fein Porter Julienne Dickey | ) a ean "i Hood awanable bathidess Closing Plenary 2-4pm act and Non-alignment; - - 5 Oliver MacDosall Creche available (to be Sooked in advance) Speakers Veude: 3. Breaking links with «4 a¢_., Video showings (all weekend) é Joy Hurcombe, John ’ Apartheid; Sian Moore Limited disabled access (please ring Briefing for details) Palmer, Sharon Atkin, 4. Racism and British Registration £2.50 for weekend, £1.50 per day (half price unwaged) Graham Bash, Jeremy Imperialism; Anita Patel © From: Labour Briefing, 51 Musgrove Road, London SE14 5PP. Corbyn, Hangers speaker |

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page 4

Trade Union Briefing

Union News in Brief

Caterpillar

John Brannan, leader of the Caterpillar occupation, addresied a packed meeting of the Campaign Group at the Scottish Labour Party Conference in Perth.

Te described how Kinnock’s visit to the plant earlier that day had given a major boos! to the morale of the workers “who are prepared to continue the occupation if need be until the next flection.”

He explained the links that have been forged with the other European plants and how they had agreed that i the management tied fo evit the workers from the Uddingston plant the factories in France, Belgium and England would immediately go on strike.

‘The "Pink Panther" tractor built by the workers at the beginning of the occupation now sits in the main square in the centre of Glasgow opposite the Council Chambers. It was to have been handed over to the Scottish section of War on Want at = Ceremony in early March, attended by the Nicaraguan. ambassador, and then transfered to Nicaragua

However, the company moved in with 2 court injunction to prevent this, saying no one could move the tractor as the company rans the pats, The workers claim 80% ofthe value is their !abour Rime, and so there it sits in George Square, possibly more of an ‘Gnibarrassmment to the Caterpillar Management than had it gone 10 Nicaragua,

"The latest threatening letter sent by recorded delivery to all the workers says

"eT must inform you that unless normal working is resumed by Monday March 23rd, at the latest, the company will abandon all attempts 10 have an orderly phased closure.

ti that event, your employment would be terminated effectively (on May 1th, and you would be mailed a cheque containing pay ia Tieu of notice plus any legal redundancy pay under your contract.

fall industrial action, including the illegal occupation, is ended and normal working resumed by March 23rd at the latest, the ‘Company will resume limited production operations at the plant {or some months; guarantee no compulsory redundancies before July, Toth; and negotiate redundancy pay in excess of legal entitlemenis.”

iiust how much in excess this payent will be is not clear. but obviously poses a threat to the unity of the workers as management try to buy-out the dispute. A similar move came recently at the Golden Wonder Crisp factory in Scotland where 2 iass meeting rejected stewards’ advice to fight the plant closure in the expectation of higher redundancy pay

NUPE moves the goalposts

‘The NUPE bureaucracy is continuing its fight tothe right. This time the NEC has decided to change the method of its election rom “branch ballot’ to individual ballot, inline with the Tories: 1984 Act, sithough st the same time it protests its “principled ‘opposition to interference by government in the internal affairs ff trade unions.

‘The current practice of branch ballot is hardly democratic with the winner of @ vote at a branch meeting receiving a hhumber of votes Based on the total membership of that branch {na union which has many shift and part time workers the System makes it difficult for union activists to vote, let alone the membership st large, many of whom have domestic com mitments. The NEC's action does not change the overall posi ton, just the appearance.

Not only is the NEC's action unconstitutional — only 2 rules revision conference ar a ballot of branches can change the rule Book — but also the new procedure has been rigged to make it even less democratic than the previous system.

‘All candidates can circulate an election address of 500 words, es before, but now they are banned from circulating ny campaign materia, from speaking to election meetings and Spending any money on their candidature. Neither can any branch or member do anything.

‘At least under the old system someone was allowed to tell you who 9 candidate was — of more importantly what they Stood for!

interestingly there seems to be no mention of dissusding people from voting for a certain candidate. The bureaucracy Fray want the option of @ witch hunt as weil

‘The purpose ol this menoeuvre is clear. The NEC hope that the membership faced with anew system and one 500 word Statement will vote for the Great and the Good, those who have been on the Divisional Councils, the National Committees and above all the NEC the longest.

‘After all the bureaucracy can't afford to have the union discussing politics in an election year, ond besides what happens if one of those left wingers win? Or anybody wins! It's better to stick with the old ways!

Hangers Suspected of Planting a bugging device in J.E Hanger or the DHSS!

‘The six months anniversary of the lock-out saw a. local demonstration and an official event outside BTR's headquarters in Vincent Square. Speakers, including MPs Alf Dubs and John Fraser, the Anti-Apartheid movement, Peter Hain and union officals were recorded and photographed by management

At least 1,000 patients have complained officially. It is the DHSS"s Faull they'are not receiving immediate atcention

© local community stil supports the strikers. Purney YS have sed £1,000, including £200 from Roehampton estates inthe past five days.

"The disputes committee will be at the Regional Labour Party Conference, and atthe Briefing conference on March 28/29: come land say hello, and give vs your support!

‘Send messages of support and donations to TASS, c/o Steve lease, 520 London Road, Micham, Surrey. CR4 4VO.

‘Rathy Pick, Wandsworth councillor, Putney CLP

More sell-outs on the way in SOGAT

[A blank cheque for speed- ‘up, job-slashing and new BY Harry Sloan technology, with 2 Buin

get-out clause for employers = Feccast ation! a ay Oe) oe ee tionally-agreed increase, own members will come under fare just two of the delights Combined pressure [rom fon offer to thousands of management and’ their ‘owa SOGAT members covered officals:

‘Any SOGAT chapels

by the General Printing "Co-operation | berwece Rereement with the British managements and chapels wi Printing Industries be <0vouraged () and supported Federatio : St Regional, Sevuon = and ‘ ee National levels ofthe BPIF and is year's deal. Branch, Regional and National recommended “Tor tek orSO0aT* acceptance by | SOGAT's Executive and by Brenda Free hand

Dean, offers weekly pay increases ranging from £6.06 y<"afrermath of the Wapping for most of the union's betrayal, is the question of new women workers up 10 £6.85 aieulogy. Acain SOGAT for craft workers. negotiations have given

But the BPIF have stipulated management a free hand: B zt that “where a critical situation "Increases in efficiency and ‘qusts Gna. member firm) as a the reduction of unit costs can Sak aes rn coin se See scenes - London Cen Companies. concerned should being made al individual

SS ee ee DAILY MiRROR -

TGR, aniinc Regional office introduction of mew technology ee ee sethat dict to ke fol potcatial. (3) The HAPEL icey agers aden ©WAREHOUS probleme involved.” {improving all) aspecss of Tn ciher ‘words employers performance.” lending bankreptey, will "In other words, SOGAT and Giigtetout ef paying the new PIP officals will periodically BEGRar"scales! to ‘employer meet over drinks to Swap Yarns {Sil pay up who Gocsn't want aver the jobs axed under this © Sealand under previous clauses : ‘But there is _no_such felaing to. “efficiency, SOGAT banners on the Wapping anniversary demo ambiguity sbout the SOGAT productivity, and feubiity of

Inevitably linked 10 this, in

ikaders” commitment t0 opea- labour”. The employers have generously cquipment must be deployed Tee ipscep of production: While SOGAT has grovelled agreed however that a driver fully and _ effectively... 10 ded Speed UP Ot ed tha to every demand of the who makes an authorised improve profitability,

management Sad’ chapel employers, they have gol back overnight stop shall be __ The conflicting interests of rereecatiecs will co-operste virwally fothing in terms of reimbursed for reasonable SOGAT members, n defending Tie iatidemifying. Gxcussng their’ claim for improved lodging and meal expenses." (') their jobs, “maximising their

2nd implementing amy changes conditions and agreements, SOGAT. leaders accept Wages, and, improving Siceaniy to achieve increased © Noconcessions weremade on without question thal Conditions, don't figure in the cere had lower weit costs SOGAT demands fora national" “"Costs_ must _be recovered agreement: but then they would Seer ine sooat effecive use sick-pay scheme, paternty/mat- through increased efficiency: come as quite a shock to Brenda Seman ics maietals and ernity/bereavement leave, or and thatthe industry's Dean and her sell-out team ‘machines full aduitrate at 18 yearsof age. manpower, plant—and__the SOGAT leadership.

Austin Rover/Leyland: workers hit back

Privatisation is the key issue

The Tories are keepin; deal which would have brought sell-offs. At Unipart, the Senior been different from their

" = wholesale closures. Under 2 Steward at Cowley told a mass _ official leaders. A 5-1, vote for quiet about their real soles Slee, /0de e ccing hat he wat ims? she action by sklled workers Strategy for British $27 cor packed off: since bopng’ early £200 of share, at Cowley forced management ‘Leyland, while they set then, they have tried to interest and that they should do the {0 retreat. A mass meeting at

Teste aplemening Hie" Somes mot Some! Sic 8 ted ei ——— at the ‘same time Unipart, Swindon Body Plant banning overtime for 6 weeks

eau bat management have beeo running and SU Butee, the company has over the bonus cuts, Others ‘The company has been Gown the model range, so tha! been allowed to introduce have promised to join the action

putting aspects of the work — Spant from the ageing Metto production labour on shori--_ if their bonuses snk below £20 fn its plants out to private and the Montego, there will term contracts again, This. mlitaney comes tender’ for along’ time. Soon be only so-called “joint “Fearful of “rocking the despite a devision from a full ‘Sweepers and toiler cleaners models with Honda — boat” union leaders pushed mecting of Body Plant shop eer Pe ci ihcme the eifecvely ust modifications Of through "a. pay. deal last stewards 10 urge the overtime Wr ne’ “Stade Honda models — onthe Hist. November which gies only 5% ban be called off ‘The fact thatthe Tones Only with strings — over 2 years! contracting out the bailing gmtracting gat the Qating want ioseoff Bis confirmed Encouraged by these reese 'Y By'the admission in Parliament the company has become sO Ar Longbridge, 100, there work at the’ same plant feveal 10 Ford all their forward the main plants has dropped t© payments. 200" stopped work Meanwhile, whole sections of plans and costings. Ford were wipe out almost the whole pay Fecenly "when _ management seein cmporaion tase then ae fo se ti fc, pues Cowl. wage sched a work nu oie ge ener nines comes OMNES. Soe iy oie aenre oe xk eee GOs he eee ee Se tas ee a gee... Suet Toe, ome tae nea eae foue up for grabs, with Unipart Share of the market Swindon are down £31'This was persuaded. them to return (0 Bia owofier The sale of "What have the unions and the deal about which TGWU — Ror these ‘alone. puis. 2 question Labour Party done? Over the negotiator Mick Murphy aid he “What is needed now is forthe Stk over the viability of the DAF sale, both the unions and war “over the moon" fomene many ae company Labour leaders quibbled a5 10 ‘ frustration on the shop oor to ‘Now somes the agreement'to whether the shareholding Force eametion oa ona seb ihe eee GF the truck should be 60-40 or 50-50: this 8 Thecompany is als trying to conscious leadership. This must Seine rey Geat'mclades an unmaiatable sign that they force’ in a new shift system be linked to a. fight (or @ Glosure of the Scammel plant at renationalising the frm. with no premium payments, the motor industry Watford The trade union bank “Unity "With conditions under attack. __Instead_ ofthe company’s The Tories have also been Trust” actually offered to help there is also tremendous speed. books being opened to Ford hawking around the skeleton of finance a management buy-out up taking place. At Cowley management, they must_be the rest the Austin Rover (privatisation by another Name) Body plant management have” opened up” (0 shop floor Group. at Land Rover. tad to force skilled workers commitees, as part of the fight “They. almose ‘conchued. an "At local evel thefe has been onto production Work. for workers” control of agresment 10 setato Ford: =a only verbal opposition 1o.1he. "TRE shop. tor response has nationalised car indUsty

PHOTO: Andrew Wiard (Report)

Labour Briefing No, 40 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page $

Trade Union Briefing

Six day week? No thanks!

The appalling decision of the South Wales Executive to endorse 6-day coal production at the proposed Super pit MARGAM in the

‘of gaining 800 le _mining jobs amounts to a betrayal of the membership and National Union.

This betrayal and blinkered go-it-alone policy is even worse than the scab sabotage tactics of

the N. Nottinghamshire UDM leadership in the 1984-85 strike.

The year long strike was precisely a battle against pit closures and jobs losses,

More jobs and pits will be fost. and a speed up of the closure programme is not t00 hhard ta imagine if you consider the wider implications of 6 day 0al production. The mining industry does not have an ‘expanding market for coal

‘At best the market is static and it Is probably reducing,

dus to the increased ompetition trom Nuclear Power \tecent.Sizewell

report, imports snd expanded 9pen-cast ‘coal production in Britain

MW 6day production becomes the norm for ‘superpits, then the. Selby ‘coatfiela’s predicted

Production of up to 13 milion fonnes per anqum from less than 4,000 miners, linked to nother super pit’ such as Kelingly's 1 milion tonnes, could soon produce af achievable joint target of 17 milion tonnes per annum.

from ineressed production

D. Parkes that New Technology. would NUM Yorkshire Area —_nevitablly ‘generate RU eee Winter report was

rank and file presented to the NUM

Executive in early. 1985 and

‘Where i this addivonsl coal

oes Ss geinons| coe! was also used ae the bese for

2 Channel 4 Diverse Reports

frente?” How’ can small

Seemed mines, starved of SCcumentary. |

Potential Output per Man Shift decision, on. Thursday March la ween 3 to fo aera

OMS today is Between 3104 "Whatever decision is

market, then obviously the pst, Pe cauned St pithesd

branch mestings, where the

smallar seamed mines, less Proneh mectngs. nore y able to compete, will bef ol erg

by the membership, and 2

closed, with resultant jobs damcratic vote recorded. A losses. show of hands at branch Purge all miners who are

aware of their own pa’s meetings, after the

membership have discussed ‘out the full imptestions, is by far the most democratic way Of testing the feelings of the National membership,

Calls for 2 socret national ballot should be. dismissed, because, as was clea shown in the 84/85 disput the Coal Board wil use eve

geology to bear in mind where these pits for closure are They may be yours: one of them is cefinitely mine!

The Coal Board's 6 day week, planned for S. Wales, is tis0 linked to 8 9% hour shift pattern. What time would you Start and finish on a Saturday

ot dirty media trick in the book t0 : ty and sway the ballot

Resistance “The Nations! Union does not

These proposed changes have the resources avasable

Tesistance from” the will be pumped out by the

membership, giving support media, “or to cempaign

for National Union polcy as adequately against the biatant Gecided at annual conference. les encompassed in

itis Union policy to fight for resolutions put forward by the improved working conditions, 5. Wales Executive members. 2-day week, and Ghourshitt If itis not night for a miner in for no loss of pay. 4 long life pit to vote to clase

"A report by members of pits in Wales end put Welsh Bradford University Energy miners out of a job, how cant Group, headed by Jonathan be right for Union bureaucrats Winterton, clearly proved thet {0 decide that the miners who the Union policy can be paid pay their wages must work 2 for out of the profits reaped longer day and a longer week?

Parmele

PHOTO. vo

Mansfield miners during the Strike: will the NUM continue to fight?

What’s behind the proposals?

The Coal Board are piling ‘on the pressure. So far the Board's approach has been furtive to force in drastic

changes in working Practices colliery by colliery. Now they are showing their hand

forcefully on Margam, by demanding acceptance of continental shifts. What's at stake? @ Productivity

"A productivity target of 10% yearly increase should be within our reach

“si Robert Haslam to the Goal industry Society, March 2nd, 1987

"The Board want an overall ‘Output per Man Shitt (OMS) of 6 tonnes, up from an average of 3.26 tonnes at present! This productivity increase is to be delivered” by. forcing through The Wheeler Plan — heavy duty face equipment, G-day coaling, 8 or 8 hour

shifts, changed roles for Eraftsmen, deputies and other grades, new incentive

‘and deregulation of saith and safety

Jobe

The natural wastage on that the. "total “workforce) is ‘Something like, | would guess, 12,000 8 year, maybe more.”

Sir Robert Haslam to the ‘Commons Energy Committee, November 5th, 1966,

The effect of the Wheeler Plan on jobs would be savage. Up to. 50,000 jobs would be lost = 12,0008 year over four years. The deep mine output Of 90 milion tonnes would be produced by only "70,000 fen, Even if demand for coal picked up, the extra production would be taken From -hetech superpits ike

In Yorkshire, militants opposed to the new scheme have begun to set out a detailed explanation of the issues at stake. This leaflet published by Dearne Valley NUM spells matters out most clearly.

Selby, which require few struggle to win the 1908 Act miners ‘and another 40 years to win oPits the 5-Day Week Agreement

Increased output from hi-tech These hard-won gains provide pits and mine complexes a very. teal. protection to {would be used to close lower miners and theit armies,

tech pits and merge others. The Board have’ been ‘Working conditions and putting pressure on the Health safety ‘and Safety Executive. It came

‘We realise that to. bri about the kind of changes hit Wheeler’ is outlining, there would have to be quite radical Changes in legisiston.” Sir Robert Haslam to Energy Committee “Outmoded restraints, such 1s the 1908 Hours of Work et and the 40 year O10, tive Gay mook agreement, mist be removed

ir Robert Haslam to Cos! Industry Society

Te took ® comtury of bitter

{5 no surprise that the HSE is now tying to replace the 1954 Mines and’ Quarries legislation. The HSE has drafted @ series of vague regulations and non-statutory Codes of Practice to replace our ‘safety regulations. The NUM, NACODS and the TUC ‘are Blocking thie attempt to ‘downgrade safety in the pits ‘© The First Targets

‘The Margam Orift Mine must be sunk: But it won't be roducing for 5 years: The

first targets for 6-day coaling ‘and &-9 nour shifts ore the high investment pits in every cosifield and. pits awaiting major investment

Haslam has already told Selby miners they must work 6 days. Miners in the coastal pits of the North East have Been told to accept 9 hour shits now:

The Wheeler Plan makes it crystal clear ~ six day cosling and longer shifts must be introduced in all coleries.

The Board are desperate to get the 1908 Act amended They are demanding a commitment to 8 CONCEPT at Margam. Such 2 commitment would make it possible for The Board to ask the Tories to amend the Act. The Board are

bargaining 780 jobs at ‘Margam for 50,000 that would be lost in every coalfield, including South Wales. eNEC

The National _ Executive Committee said the South Wales Ares must organise Margem. It also agteed that the condition on hours and the working week must be subject to national negotiations. One Area. Union cannot negotiate these issues for all miners.

Faced with these ‘wemendous pressures, we ‘© Maintain our unity

©Detend the hard-won gains

National Miners’ Broad Left 2nd National Conference FIGHT MARGAM BLACKMAIL! Saturday March 28th 10.30am prompt Lecture Hall, New Library, Chesterfield One industry - one union! Open to all members of TUC affiliated mining unions For a four day week - but not on these terms!

Credentials can be obtained in advance from the Broad Left National Secretary, 41, Neath Road, Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan; cost £2.

PHOTO: Jahn Chapman

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 28th-Apr 7th 1987 page 6

Labour Party

Shadow cabinet: policies for wormen?.

London’s Left after Hewitt

Following the result of the Greenwich by-election and the deliberate leaking of Patricia Hewitt’s letter to Frank Dobson MP. regarding the “*London effect", it is time for the left as a whole to examine this dangerous attempt to divide

It would be completely wrong to abandon the equalities polices that are now the object of so much Fleet Street hate, These polices have been popular before, and if properly presented and argued for, can be popular again.

“The teal issue is what is behind the smears?

The motives of right wing journalists are simple enough: they want t0 see Mrs Thatcher in Downing Street for a third term, aad believe the best way to ensure this is to mount an offensive against Labour Councils “in London, Concentrating on matters. such a assistance (0 lesbians anc ays, where prejudice is being fanned by the growing hysteria, round AIDS.

But a second group of people has a vested interest in undermining the London left ‘They are to be found in the right wing ofthe Parliamentary Labour Party, many of whom believe that the General Election fs already lost, and. who are preparing the ground for an

By Reg Race Tottenham CLP

tempt to instal amore ‘acceptable Gaitskelite leader and policies on the back of ‘campaign to blame “Toony left” Councils for a third election defeat.

“This is why the Hewitt etter was leaked: and, if the party's Standing tn the polls continues to deteriorate, we can expect £0

Kinnock's electoral face: the bobby's frend.

hhear mote of the same

Tn response, the left needs to examine carefully its long-term {interests and objectives

take it that we want to sce ‘genuine equality in society; and, Fundamentally, the rebuilding ‘ofa left alliance to challenge the Fight inside the Party

‘This cannot take place if we allow a situation {0 develop

where most of the non-London left believe that London is "in orbit. "There canbe n0 Febuilding of the alliance on that basi. If we are to rebuild anything at all. from the evastation that Thatcher and Kinnock in their separate ways have imposed, then we must $0 back To. class politics and reassert the importance of 2 Socialist economic analysis of British capitalism in the 1980s.

"This means mot writing off

the working class as instinctively racist and reactionary on ies ‘of equalities, as Is. sometimes ‘one today"

Tt also” means persuading ‘comrades outside London that

the social and esonomic problems in London are truly of pic Proportions: some northern MPs berate the London Labour Party for its alleged. excesses

LWAC campaigns to

disenfranchise Women’s Sections

The Labour Party review of the women’s organisation will see the Labour Women’s Action Committee (LWAC) campaigning, amongst other things, for a proposal to reduce the fepresentation of constituency women at Women's Conference.

At present, each women’s section and women’s council, on

whatever basis ‘it is formed, is entitled to send two delegates to the National Conference of Labour Women. The last LWAC AGM agreed:

“that delegates from women's “sections and women’s couneils be based on two delegates for 500 women members of the CLP or part thereof and a further delegate for each additional 500 or part thereot.”

‘This proposal suggests that

By a Briefing Women correspondent

delegates should be limited to two per constituency, to be elected jointly by its women’s ‘organisations ot by women members of the constituency bse whole,

‘The proposal has been incorporsted into one of [WA's mode!" amendments for women's. conference. in May, slong with 2 suggestion thet’ if a women's council covers “more than one Constituency, it should be able to send one delegate per constituency

Unlike the rest of LWAC’s proposals for the review, this ‘ne has hardly been discussed at all and mony of those Present at the AGM wore Spperently unaware of its implications.

If this were to be accepted by the” Party it would disentranchise most of the women's sections who now

send delegates to the National Centerence of Labour Women, ‘and drastically reduce the numbers of women attending

Trig argued that this would

would stop. small Unrepresentative women's sections from sending

elegates and give every constituency equal fights of

representation ‘But is it nocesserly more democratic to

women’s orgenisations the Same right of representation as one’ with sever! hard working. campaigning

Wil this help us build 2 stronger women’s ‘Orgensation, as itis claimed, ‘or will weaken grass roots ‘Organisation? Do we want 10 reduce participation “in the Nationa! Conference of Labour Women? is this democratic oF just bureaucratic?

LWAC executi warted, there are mutinous tmurmarings in the ranks

whilst maintaining that the

“real people” they represent are far worse off

inner London local authorities have. lost nearly 200m i) Block Grant’ since 197;

‘@ Ten London Boroughs are the most deprived in the coumry, according t0 the Department of the Environment's official index:

@More than 1.3 million people in London are wholly Gependent on means-tested Supplementary benefits:

(© 500,000’ Londoners are working full-time Tor less than £100 per week;

‘@London lost 52% of its manufacturing jobs "between 1961 and 1981, compared with a 27% fall for Britain as a whole:

‘e There are more unemployed claimants ia Londoa than constitute the entire population (of Bristol, making it the largest Sonceniraiion of unemployed in Western Europe;

@The Inne London unemployment rate is now higher than that of Assisted Areas.

‘@The male unemployment rate ia Hackney is 28% and in Tower Hamlets 27% and 43% of the unemployed in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, — Islington, Newham, Lambeth and Southwark have been on the dole for at least twelve months.

(©.50,000 people 2 year are registering 5 being homeless ‘and Camden now has over 1,200, households in bed and breakfast accommodation:

@There are _ 243,000 households on Council waiting lists in London — with only 4,600" council and housing

London are unfit for human habitation: "© 280,000 people in London —

The left before Hewitt?

discussion on expulsions.

equivalent 10 the population of Leicester — “have serious drinking problems;

(© 900,000 Londoners over retirement age are poor,

London has 2 higher proportion of one parent families, and proportionately ‘more children ia care, than any ‘ther part of Britain;

@ Racism is rife: people of ‘Asian origin are $0 umes more likely, and those of Afro: Caribbean origin 36 times more likely, 10 be the victims of a racial attack than those who are white

‘These simple facts, all leaned from offical statistics, Gemonstrate beyond doubt thai London's working «class. is deeply oppressed and exploiced. Salubrious areas of Park Lane, Jermyn Serest and Regent’: Park are not representative of the city as.a whole!

‘Given the appalling scale of London’s deprivation, we cannot avoid our own Fesponsbilities, We have got to recognise that the record of some of our own local ftuthorities and GLC-successor bodies leaves a great deal to be desire:

‘@Some London authorities are not genuinely under political contral by Labour | Groups. Bureaueraies do their own thing and departmentalism is rife

Second, some left wing politicians ‘believe chat there Is between the passing of a resolution in Group of Council and the implementation of that policy on the ground, Would it were so! There is a complicated chain of events intervening, as any casual viewing of "Yes Minister" will reveal

‘@Some "of the services provided by local authorities are truly appalling. Housing repairs that don’t get done; streets

The left walk out: Eric Heffer and Joan Maynard leave NEC

choked with litter; convoluted Sand brain-deadening procedres Stl contribute to.an image of London tabourin power tat Tend

Too few Councils are making dreadful legacy of the past. But Socialists are judged by. what they do as well a by what they say: we must redouble efforts (0 femake the loca authorities ip London jn our own image. Tis rot joxt& question of resources; ie also a question of skill, organisation and. commitment

‘Gur creibitiy inthe working clase ow, On the. Dig, predominantly whi" counel Sates, and inthe tower blocks Sind maisonettes there genuine despair and alienation, We have io ahow that we have snswers to their problems —and not write Sach "people off as racist Feactionans

itis at present very easy for the sight ‘wing. press andthe SDP to exploit these structural ‘weaknesses. Labour in London an mobilise enormous physical fand financial esourees, even tow, to. these. problems. — tithout in ny way minis bur commitment ro equality.

‘The Tories. abolhed the GUC because it wan 4 politcal threat fo their” monearist ilosophy. London authorities Ere now on the fine because of fan unjusiied press eamapign it would be dsdstrous we di ‘ot lear the lessons of the past

‘PHOTO! John Chapman

and allowed the Tories) to-

Question the existence of the Boroughs" present powers

"The Left in London mist go con the offensive now against the right wing attempts to isolate i But the left as a whole must also Fecognise the attacks on us in London as an attempt to isolate, divide and discredit us,

PHOTO: John Chapman

Labour Briefing No.

40 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page 7

Labour Party

Launching the

Black Agenda

The Labour Party Black Section launched _ its election offensive at its fourth annual Conference in Nottingham on March 14th-15¢th.

The Black Agenda consists of the major issues Of jobs, immigration laws, education, policing and anti-

imperialism; all political parties will have to respond fo these issues and the minimum demands. being

made by Black socialists.

The Black _ electorate cannot be taken for granted and will refuse to write the Labour Party a blank cheque In every constituency, Labour will

hhave to win the hearts and minds — and votes — of the Black communities.

By Narendra Makanji Vice Chair, Labour Party Black Sections

The main debate of the day comverning. Parliament was pened by Mike Wongsam from Manchester Labour Party Blck Section

"The opening at a previously lntried Held of sirugale has meant ramifications for us," he Said. “Experiences teaches us that it is ot sufficient to have ood policies and a strong ‘Organisation al the base if we are to add the parliamencary Strugsle to our armoury. We heed (0 put in place structures whereby parliamentary activity is under the democratic contzol (of our collective structures.

Wongsam acknowledged the presures that PPCs and MPs Would face and called on all Black Sections supporters. fscalate political activity as a ‘whole

‘Accountability is also about Supporting Black candidates (and MPs) continuously. The debate was concluded by delegates voting to establish a Parliamentary "Black Section which would have (wo delegates

Environment Secretary Nicholas Ridley has invented a Wonderland world in which he changes the rules for local councils almost on a daily basis. Drink the potion, and grants get

bigger; drink another, and they get smaller. The latest _tea-party involved the Greenwich court case.

The issues inthe

Greenwich case were the distribution of Block Grant to London Boroughs to

“compensate” for abolition of the GLC, and the complaints ‘of

Boroughs such as Bromley, that the distribution of grant generally gave too much cash to inner London

and too little to outer London

Ridley had with Bromiey's case and proposed

anges in the distribution of grant which would have lost h for Boroughs such. as nivich This. eeision

“Black Sections banner on Justice for Black people demo

onthe LPBS National Commitee

“The debate on ““Immigration and Nationality” was opened by

Clie Sanjiv’ Vedi of Hounslow

BS. Cllr Vedi warned the Conference about “the concerted effort towards repatriation’” being made by the Supporters of the | Tory government. Black people have had their’ rights reduced, suffered degrading

dished out By imi

‘officers, subjected to virginity tests, experienced police raids at home and work, kept waiting (0 be "allowed" ia — and, then, labelled as a problem?

The Conference passed a resolution opposing the imposition of visas on visitors from six Black nations and agreed to campaign for the

complete eradication of all Immigration laws.

‘On education, the LPBS noted “the organised and orchestrated opposition "to facial equality. in. education,

This opposition has taken the form ‘at speeches from Tory Party leaders, articles in the press and publications from the Fight wing ideological organisations

‘This onslaught has conferred respectability 10 racism and Authorities such ‘as Bren Bradford and ILEA have be targetted foc attack. The el bas been the increase sttacks on Black

allocation of ‘cducational auth languages asa birthright and be taught at all levels 3 in nursery schools.

The debate on policing was ‘opened by Cllr Julian Lewis of Vauxhall LPBS who called on the government 10 make the police pur their owe house in DSrder Before expecting. greater

5m

10 each

So-operation from Black people. "Given the deeply Tooted racism, "he said, “we JO

‘ot believe the police force is a job fit for Black people.”* The Conference called for

A story of chaos and confusion

RIDLEY IN WONDERLAND

the

By Reg Race Tottenham CLP

would have meant a chao! Situation for Boroughs that (esc Rieeapregelanecgeeiacar ‘assuming the receipt of cash that now would not be arriving,

Greenwich appealed to the Divisional Court and won their case, Section One of the Rate Support Grants Act 1986 had Validated all past eterminations of RSG. by Ministers. made on of before January 27st 1986. This was introduced by Ridley to avord challenges from Boroughs ow it provided the basis for Greenwich to stop Ridley changing his mind

Boroughs will now be centtied to make rates on the decision in favour of Greenwich

Boroughs adversely affected by the Divisional Court decision who have

made ¢ rate for 1987-88 on the basis of cach that cannot now be honoured because of fhe court decision are entitled te ask the High Court to quash

the rate on the grounds that the ‘budget “was based on trroneous information,

‘The timetable for ASG announcements normally follows 2 clear pattern: & Drovisions! Snnouncemant in Suly, with a final settlement Following in December, giving ‘ample time for authorities (0 Construct their budgets

This year, however the process has been marked by more than. usual levels of ‘muddle and contusion,

rumerous changes 10 RSG Sums made by the DOE since Suly 16th

These changes have

imposed great difficulties on

members ‘and. officers of ‘of changes

* Loca ‘Bat

Newham & demo

ban on the use of plastic ms, CS gas, firearms and Tifeendangering

equipment ‘othe repeal of 1984 Police Att, the Public Order Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act

Conference also called for an inquiry toto the mysterious ‘deaths of a young soldier and of two. Black computer Programmers working on the Star Wars project. (A. third

Lords 10 fimit judgenrooting” eleme lavses 410) ana 64) f be passed, on two occasions by majrtes of any 4 and 2 ‘The Rate Support Grants Sit s about to go to the Lords purports to end "fowbock Bt cost to focal government of some £400m in 1907-68, and allows Ministers to r2i9

Block ‘Grant entitlements according to the Circumstances of individual authorities or “descriptions Of authorities. The Bil also

Validates retrospectively past legal discrimination between

inne and. outer London ‘The Local Government bil nas fed ts Second

Reading in the Commons, and nt in to. Committee on Tam its main provisions are controls on ‘assistance by local authorities using associations and

March

scientist is reported to have Sisappeared)

Birmingham BS resolution called for & campaign 10 encourage more Black people 10 vote Latour and to keep up the pressure to make anti-racism an Bove in the election. Introducing the _ resolution, Aliow Burnett of Birmingham BS explained about the three Cs of Black politics, ‘Consciousness, Confidence and Commitment. He also promised

The Court has changed sides since Lambeth. appealed!

PHOTO. Andiow WierdiReport

‘major changes in Birmingham politics in the coming months,

The National Committee's Annval “Report stated categorically “We are about power, | not sterile.

‘ppositionism. Ours isnot to sit fn the sidelines and whimper. We reject the old. godtather polities. We have 1010 get stuck Into the task of self-organising and fighting for democratic Fighis."" ‘The Black political agenda has been set

ee ee ae

‘Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 25th-Apr 71h 1987 page 8

Features: lesbian and gay rights

LESBIAN AND GAY

PRIDE CARNIVAL

PARADE SOLIDARITY CONTINGENT

27th June 1987

In view’ of the mounting hostility towards lesbians and gays this year's Pride Steering Committee has decided to Qppeal for support from predominantly heterosexual ‘organisations.

‘We hope that as many working people's organisations as possible will be represented in the solidarity contingent of the carnival parade.

‘Our slogan fs Equal Rights for All — Defend Lesbian and Gay Rights.

‘We encourage you to take up the task of raising our ‘model resolution within trades unions, trades councils and political parties.

if you would like further information concerning the work of the Pride Committee's solidarity work. please contact Mary Harper, 11 Rushton House, Albion Avenue, London SWS 2SE, tel. 01 720 7139.

This ‘ejects the attempts of the gutter press, bigots and fight wing politiciens to make use of the fear of AIDS to whip up hostiity against gay men.

"We are deeply concemed that the denial of rights to lesbians and ‘gay men, and the increasingly common cals for greater repression Bre now being justified as legitimate “*publc health’” measures.

In view of the mounting vislence, discrimination and hatred being directed against lesbians and gays we believe that it is imerative for this {0 stand up and be counted,

‘We support the inilistive of the Lesbian and Gay Pride Weeks Committee in working for the most widespresd attendance of ‘working people's organisations at the Pride Camival parade.

‘We support the organisers’ standpoint of Equatity for All — De- | fend Lesbian and Gay Rights and we resolve to send out banner ‘and as many of our members 9s possible to march in solidarity Behind the lesbian and gay organisations in London on June 27th, 1987,

Please add a clause pledging 2 donation. if the standing orders of

any amendments made to the model, and numbers of votes for. to Mary Harper, clo 11 Rushton House.

and families

If you were to believe the TV’s new “pop into (safe) sexual politics” bonanza then you might get the idea that the future for young lesbians and gays is quite bleak — that we have nowhere to go but the closet.

By Alistair Chisholm Brighton Pavillion CLP

handed out to the brazen and the naughty, it is 2 disease you may get if the HIV virus gets into your blood. You can make sure that when you have sex you don’t get infected. So ‘why are Mr Fowler and his friends trying to tum con. ‘cern about AIDS into a public relations exercise for the family?

‘As far as young lesbians and gays are concerned

“responsibility”... condoms and heterosexual ‘monogamy.

The family and the pack of 3 are back in fashion. is the message, just in time the family is the institution to save us from ourselves which tries to condition us. and the new plague! We often first become

We are told that the aware of our sexuality as more sex we have, and the something wrong which more people we have it stops us from fitting into with, the bigger the risk that pattern — the family that we'll catch AIDS. Yet ‘which society lays out AIDS is not @ punishment for us.

Ears Condoms, closets

family so that society takes on childcare and domestic labour instead of leaving it to the family (i.e. women}? And how can society take over teaching people about their sexuali ty so that we do not have the family’s all-embracing blueprint imposed on us?

It is often very difficult or impossible for young lesbians and gays to come out in or be accepted by their families. We are near: ly always seen as on the fr inges of society — outside mainstream family life.

The family of course doesn't only try to condi tion young’ lesbians and gays, but tries to develop everyone along the lines of its blue-print. The family is the private sphere of life which gets us ready for the public sphere — makes us Teady for work, ready to settle down inside society's boundaries.

We can't just say we're against the family — what can we replace it with? Itis important that the left gets to grips with questions like these and has some real answers. And just as im. portantly we have to be able to take up the fight on these questions and we can't just hope that the problem of the family will go away come socialism.

Suffocating

How does the fa fect young lesbians and gays? How can we break the suffocating grip of the

AIDS anc politics

“Young women demonstrating Jor their Tight (0 ChOOse

ons of “normal”

press women and

‘which define lesbians and gays as abnormal

‘We cannot talk about ‘safe

sex” while ignoring gender

women’s oppression, Much of

sof the discussion of safe sex” homophobia and moralism; —acumes that sex before AIDS

to promote safe sex unsafe and spontaneous, but rather than Tess sex €@ pre- pow weave to sdtlicesponent the "spread of the — tancty for salty

disease. By Stevi Jackson

T would not quarrel with South Wales Briefing

these aims, but if we are Serious about the last 0n¢ ¥C — That “spontaneity” has been

need far more discussion of T reed Tae TTS than has, go achieved by women sacrificing sexual politics than has, 5 gnie safety has been completely ne Jnorea OF a ‘Sponiancous sex, uninter= waite bas been sad about sex, rupted by. thought ab Saal scan for oar sctial ten. Ghee OC street tlanships ofthe diferent conse: iss of canes ad thrombosis quences it_might" have for from the pl oc pov nesion panes at ee and inflammation from IUDs Heterosexuality has been jet alone those ‘minor”” side

The main priorities idenfied by the left in rela-

@ to counter the dangers of,

eated as totally un gffeets like persistent thrush oF problematic. The range of wale egyy and pnt pevods Tesnal praciioss which fominiss. "SECS OO DO ae

have idemiified as oppressive to omen have been completely is hhoved. It is particularly impor fant that we rectify this now Since’ young. heterosexuals. are becoming the main target of public information camps

sterilisation is neither 100% safe nor 100% effective Heterosexual sex has never been safe for women. Not only hhave we have 10 cope with in adequate contraception, ut ‘wanted pregnancies, the

Rpseal and mental traumas of svossy seis : {bortion, bur aso with disease baal jeterasexual practice, inked to the act of heterasexual

round since the early "70s, ould form a basis for defining Safe and non oppressive sex Most of the left, however has reverted 10 a pre-feminist liber {arian stance on sexuality, as if the women's movement never existed

Yes, we need to challenge assertions that only life-long heterosexual monogamy cat Save us from AIDS. We do need to promote safer sex. But we freed 10 think about what we are

penetration — itis almost Unknown in life-long lesbians and. celibates, Other sexually transmitted diseases — pare ticularly chlamydia and gonor thoea are less easily. detected and potentially far more damag. ing in women than in men. ‘What is new about AIDS is that in heterosexual relation Shins both met and Women are faqually at risk, shat men have faow (0 think of their own safe ty, Over the last so decades the

advocating fverape heteroseXual ma has the condom — the dominant ex that he now accepts Has a

message from the left — simply will not do. We should be ques tioning the priority given to penetrative Retero-sex, raising the possibility of alternative forms of sexual activity. Above all we should confront head on

‘god given right

Ie strikes me that the “on with the condoms and away with all {ears and inhibitions” approach is'a panic-siricken attempt 10 cope with the loss of this male

“Break the suffocating grip of the family”

“What is

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page 9

Features: lesbian and gay rights

Support this

campaign!

‘The best way to fight Lesbians and gay men are Kinnock’s clampdown on regularly and lawfully refused Labour's lesbian and gay use of, social faciities and fights policy is to build” advertising in newspapers.

The rights that heterosexual ee comterenes Oo the ‘spouses have to inheritance of

Legislation for Lesbian . property or housing tenancies, and Gay Rights Campaign nc to ciirensiip 30 Mt 900'y on May 23rd-24th. fo same-sex couples, THERESA CONWAY and You are ‘legally

JAMIE GOUGH explain discriminated against just for why the law is important,

‘and the changes that Labour should be

campaigning for. formation services __ and cca aaNet been convicted for holding estricted by the laws concer- Iashuans and gay men, on the hands or kissing inthe sweet. rung” “abecenity’ and taretiat tors thouid bane Most people know that Thoughts egal foramen to “indecency” and"conspiracy Dan et, Mera seuss De the age of consent for proposition a woman for sex- ‘to corrupt public moreis” Gay mon is higher than .al'purposes m pubic. tsi "Recently: the Customs near-_@prohbit discrimination on SS legelore mor cra woman to ly succeeded in closing down grounds in any way connected Deposition "oman, or 2 Gay's the Word bookshop on withesbian and gey sexvallty What is less well known Semana women, The law on- the. grounds that anything or He-stye is thet the law affects les- jy epproves of one active form related tolesbian and gay Sex” As long as the courts ond bians as much as gay men, of sexualty! Tatty is “indecent” Paola oldie haf hg and that legal repression ig Gay man.in perticular ore ‘The law hotps to kowp us are St prevent, no chores th fot mainly concerned with systematically" prosecuted isolated from each other. the law can. simnate logal Dok mriny concermed with Gnder this law. Lesbians and Al this indicates the vital repression of lesbians and gay gomual acts. In fact. the commen who afe open ebout importance of the programme men. But changes im the law nas een wvidet aime, hae sonality puble we Shite abou Party ovlesvan long these tne woud ta Prevent routinely heras ten and gey ghts adopted bY swey mony. of the most {eins People growing up fes- up by the police. 7B% at the 1986 conference. vicious "weapons which the a0 unde on, The ellect of al this is to This judges and police ure against Brest ae s fe Keep our sexuality hidden. @todeciare that lesbianand us. And this change would RRSP owns people may be Police! and social organisa. gay relationsips end acts emake everyday prejudice and Ken “into care! i= “moral gona af esblans and guy men rot contary {0 the pUDIC velonce against us om the danger Thsisregulsy used fs repressed polcy of the law, os they sw test” of society, leas young people" Grossi organisation, Bt present mooie

who are having gay or lesbian Felationships, with adults or prerogative. 1 am not denyin 1c dominant, “phaliocen- | With other young people. thethreat AIDS poses forusall, y,igt® Gommina pPRAlOcE™. | Weis venforced by the com: merely pointing out that the frvolves around this sexpo. | 91S. lack of general legal slogan ‘safe sex" sounds pevvmascalinity aseecianon’ 1x | UOMS for young people. For somewhat ebro many women. Yo, "of course, ics sex’ to | Suample, students are expel Male sewwality poses other tepraduction and ultimately (0 ee i cas oy threats for women, ot leat the famiy'ratontipn, wih tar | 28, lesbian ot gay. wth 0 constant threat “of violence, subordination of women. ossibilty of legal redress, Rape, sexual harassment and "Of all the forms of sensval | The law iso tries to keep the widespread use of por- contact which lovers could | YOUNG people from contact ography are not abberations potentially enjoy, the act of | With openiy lesbian and gay

but extentions of “normal” feterosexsal colon sgled | men, to stop them being “cor: ‘masculine Sexual practice and out as what sex is all about, as | ‘pled. Judges regularly the macho ethic of sexual con- fhe sex at, as what sex is. iscriminate against lesbians, Guest, Sex, or rather the act of "So" only “heterosexuals can | 89d sometimes gay men, in Heterosexual cotion, fucking shave “'normall™ sex and | 2808 volving custody or 2¢ gentcal co masculinity, a means anything ‘they. do other than | 9885 to their children tyeicharanprovesNimelfa fucking either” forepay | , even where lnsbie. have aman. This is neither natural nor (leading up to the real thing) of | Been alowed to live with their symptom ‘ol the alienative pening {making do with second | children, they have usually Conditions of capitalism Best). Male orgasmic pleasures | een forced to lve apart from Within our patriarchal prioritised, since “the clitoral | their lovers, and to not see heritage this one sexual act has Stimulation required for femate | them “in’ front of the Hong teen associated with male Grgasm isan optional extra. | children” Power over women and this “Fhe'pairiachal view of sex. | _ A Molor area of discrimina association persists. (Think of yality "has always been | ton. in. employment. against

the metaphoric use of the word phallocentric, has defined sex in | lesbians and gay men is in jobs

“fuck” asin “fuck you” or be- ferms of the penis. ‘Safe sex | connected with young people. ing “fucked over"; of all the could “and should involve | _ The law therefore runs in & terms which men use to describe Challenging this. All the em. | Qpposition fo everything that 5 this act which imply possession, phasic oa condoms, however, is | Posibve images” pobcies in A appropriation, aggression and feinforsing it schools are trying 10 achieve. 2

sontempe) T am not denying that many | _@Lesbians and gay men are

women "can ‘tnd. do, enjoy | discriminated against by the :

Denetrative sex, but most find | law ia every important aspect 3

Powerless ‘ther forms of stimulation more | Of day-to-day He. 3

pleasurable. Nor ‘am T sug. | When John Seunders was g

‘Aman who is unable wo per. Besting that fucking, im itself, = | secKed from his job in 3 young 4 form this tet is impotent, which Wologically unsound, but that | People's home on being found etna powerless Hetclcs than it should not be regarded as the | 1 Be gay. the Employment Tun’ The polency/power of essential culminating at of any | Appeals Tribunal ruled. that the'act inthe male mind is setwalencounter. Gay men have | SUH sackings are perfectly redial when iis used as a Been talking about depriorts- | lawful providing | that "the

‘employer has 8 genuine pre

threat against stroppy women, ng penetrative sex since AIDS bften specifically "against les. became a threat, Feminists were | Juice against. lesbians and Blane: “Whacshe needs is..." discussing it long before anyone | $8Y men, even if that prejudice

This abso helps explain tale had heard of AIDS. It is about | N@s 0 basis. Lesbians and geys support the miners

hobias about ‘gay. men time the left as a whole took en are despised (they have not ote.

proven their manhood in rela

fion to women) and feared een

‘ual male’s anxiety that he might amount of discussion on “safe i oS Sr a | ae Gay Rights Compaign

pornography, etc., are where about it all. Shoulda’ we con-

— to campaign against legal discrimination against les- ‘Lesbian and Gay Rights has

men prove to themselves, to tribute to the information lished ils own proposals for Mromen and shove all to other avalable by publishing our own | Blan and gay people. It involves people from a wide [aterm anc law orien

nen, that they are men. To bea (hopefully anti-sexist) guides to | fange of lesbian and gay groups in different parts of the eee eee eee) Ont ee eet ae | country. The Campaign is organising a major con Slamecentswrcems Te LUGRC, Room 221, 38 Sibson male Masculmty is ourreadersarevoa wellinform. | ference on May 23rd-24th in London, Please sponsor vee, matal (or Mount Pleasant, London socially constructed and has to ed and well sussed out (0 need | and send urgently needed donations to the campaign LLGRC at £1 each WCIX 0AP _ be constantly reaffirmed. ci at: Room 221, 38 Mount Pleasant. Landon WCIX OAP; cl. p&p), or take more for 01-833 3860

13 3860 fences 3

End legal discrimination!

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 2Sth-Apr 7th 1987 page 10

Scottish Labour Briefing

For a socialist response to the housing crisis

At the end of February 1987 Glasgow District Council released the results of a housing survey which took two and a half years to complete and looked at one in nineteen of all houses in the city.

The survey was taken with the ‘collaboration of the Scottish Development Department, the Scottish Special Housing Association and Strathclyde University.

“The survey came about in part because of the government’s refusal of Fepeated requests. ta undertake a UK survey of housing — for obvious reasons. The results show even” more grounds for socialists to call for such a survey

‘According to Baillie James Mclean, chair of the council's housing’ committee, the survey revealed that the plight of Glasgow's housing was. worse than the couneil had thought, particularly inthe private rented Sector. Here, 15,000. people

lived in 6,000 properties without such basic amenities such asa wash hand basin or inside lavatory. The figures demonstrated that as much 35 {60% of privately rented housing needed ‘substantial repair, a ‘much higher proportion than Dreviously believed.

Tm the public sector the main problems’ encountered were Sondensation and damp. Many Of the newer buildings were Sesigned for warmer, drier climates than Scotland, sing porous materials which can Quickly beconie waterlogged if there are any faults in construction. "Many were designed for heating by centeal

ting systems. Apart from the many people who have been disconnected. by the uiltes ‘ver the past decade, many low

he Families are also forced fly on sources of heating such a paraffin which gives off water as itis burned

The report estimates that rectifying this situation in Glasgow alone will need £13 billion £639 million in the private sector and £639 milion Foe the public housing stock And as Baillie McLean stated “wha we are seeing in Glasgow could be repeated in every city

in Scotland.””

The effect of poor housing is not merely one of morale, though for working people this alone must be considerable. The effect on working class health ‘must be considerable. It makes

By David Fowler Asst. Secretary, COHSE 929, Larbert

personal capaci

no sease 10 discharge someone ‘sith a chest complaint home 10 2 damp house. People suffering from " diseases that affect mobility are virally marooned in flats and tenements. No one Knows the extent to which neuroses and anxiety states are ‘caused by poor housing. ‘Government policy of discharging the mentally il and handicapped into “the

community" often means they

ased in large poorly maintained estates and cffectively ghettoized, Working lass. children have “a higher

fncidence of cot deaths, ‘The tragic lists endless.

Health will be a a major issue in the general electiog. But this ing the National He:

Service — important though this is. In the nineteenth century the most important

beeakthrough came ‘with the securing of a clean water supply and the laying of public sewers ‘hich eliminated ‘cholera. and ‘yphoid. Similarly, the next step to’ be achieved #6'not ensuring that everyone eats Brown bread as claimed by Edwina Carre, but by. ensuring adequate housing for all.

The Tory response 10 this problem has been cynical, First, they argue that the Rent Acts esp propery out of the private rented sector. But how allowing a reat free-for-all would help those who. are homeless, “on benefits oF badly housed is not explained. Presumably a

free" market would lead to a rise in rents; but under the free market" system this woul fo.a glut, and rents wou! leading t0 2 move away from renting as profits dropped, Even the logic ‘of the Tors” oma system doesn’t work!

On public howsing Tory

spokespeople, ten speaking

from their second homes, point the numbers of empty council

houses, without

the fact that th

poorly maintain

authority funds that they are Virtually uninhabitable,

One of the leading Glasgow Tories, councillor Bill Aitken of Glasgow District Council, has called for the restoration of Public sector grants to. the former level of 90%. The labour movement's. resporise to. this should be tha if public money is to be made available 10 private ‘owners the work should. be ‘ndertaken by uniomised direct works depariments, not By ump" workers om piece rates, The response of the Labour

Party ‘has been inadequate District and regional councillors have argued that they have been, able 0 fend off the Tories attacks whilst complying with the law: yet this survey shows precisely the opposite trend, Jima Craigen, MP. for _ Glasgow Marytull, “has written to im Rifkind, Secretary of

for Scotiand, urging

considerable funds 10 resolve But “meantime the Kin nock’Hatterstey sdership

have already made it plain that outs will not be restored, let lone exica funds provided, and those courells such as Liverpool or Edinburgh who have used

ive accounting’ to

miligate some of” the worst effects of underfunding, will be Teftto sort out their own affairs as best they may!

Obviously, the labour moventent cannot sit back and allow this to happen.

Furthermore, itis nor a matter which should be eft co. the Unions directly involved. What Js required isa plan for housing drawn up by the Workers ia the building trades, ‘public sector Unions, local authority workers, health” workers and "tenants associations. Such a plan should become the policy of all groups and unions involved, and above all of the Labour Party and the next Labour government

1 by some mischance, Kinnock and Hattersley manage to lose the next election an our behalf, and. Scotland again turns a majonty of Labour MPs, then we have ro make sure that we" achieve a. Scottish Assembly “able to take” the lurgent steps required to remedy thus disgraceful state OF affairs. The mental and physcial he of the. Seottish ‘working demands it

Stage management avoids

discussion of crisis

In the 1983 General Election the Labour Party, with 35% of the

72 parliamentary seats in Scotland.

In the 1986 Regional Elections, Labour's share of the Scottish vote rose to 45%.

Opinion polls consistently show "the Labour vote holding at this level, which would mean an increase on the 41 seats at the next General Election,

Dominated

Such considerations dominated the 1887 Scottish Labour Party Conference in Porth. Donald Dewar, the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, set the target of ‘winning 50% of the Scottish voters. The prospective Parliamentary. candidates. for Seats not held by Labour were given prime speaking time at the Conferance, much of which was televised live in Scotland,

Unity was the theme from the platform. The agenda was well managed to. keep Controversy out. Nell Kinock rosticted himself to a Tory bashing speech and — an emphasis on Labour's plan for jabs,

However, the crisis of the Scattish economy and. the politcal scene kept showing through. One AEU delegate had. to pack his bags and Feturn home for Fort Willam after the. first day. of Conference when he receives word of 160 job losses. at

Wiggins Teape paper mill where he worked

Large’ delegations were present at Conterence from the occupation at the Caterpillars, Uddingston, plant and fromthe closure theatened. Golden Wonder Cusp. factory” at Broxburn Emergency. motions were passed pledging support for both struggles.

Political dilemma

The Scottish Assembly debate highlighted the political dilemma of Labour in Scotland

‘nat Se much from what was ssid a8 rom what was ‘hot allowed to be said. Denis Canevan MP was not taken during the debate and i was lett 0 2 fringe meeting tor Denis and others to discuss what should be done if despite Labour's overwhelming support in Scotland Labour majority at Westminster was not won at the forthcoming General Election.

Chi

The choice could be between a crisis of the Labour Party in Seatiand, or 8 Constitutional crisis over the setting up of 9 Scottish Assembly. The’ Scottish Executive however, chose to put all their cards on a Labour Victory at Westminster and no debate on this question took place on the floor of Conference

‘Women's issues were once again not given = high profile, with Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities on the agenda "st 4.35pm on Saturday

The Chait took resolution

By Margaret Stewart Delegate, Stirling Women’s Council Rowland Sheret Delegate, TGWU both in a personal capai

111 on the setting up of Equal Opportunities Committees by al Regional and Distict Councis. There is mich debate in Scotland on ths Issue because many ‘people feel that if an Equal Opportunies “Committee is set up this replaces the need for a Women's Committee

Ia. debate the point was made that Equal Opportunities Committees and Women's Committees should be set up side By side

Refused

Despite taking resolution 111. the Chair refused to take fesolution 112 on sinp. Searching — because it was nota” composite! This resolution “deatt with the humiliating and degrading practice of strip searching of women prisoners. A. human fights issue, which deserved tobe discussed, was. Challenges against this decision were overruled by Chair

Women

Composite resolutions on equality. for women ia

‘employment and supporting the establishment of 8

Ministry for Women and for 3

smnilar” of comparable Structure within @ Scottish Assembly were fully

supported — but none of the. Fesolutions taken were fully debated because of the time

‘Sunday morning at 9.358m, well "before television Coverage started, was the time scheduled for resolutions ‘on Party Organiestion and Constitutional issues. A Composite in defence of the present Young. Socialist Structure was defeated and instead Conference passed composite to establish Youth Campaigns

Defeated

A composite asking for the principle of women electing ‘women to represent them on both the National Executive and the Scottish Executive to be established, and welcoming 2 full review of the whole Labour Women's Organisation, was defeated. On 2 show of hands this resolution would have passed. but a card vote was called for ‘and. the union "block vote including “the TGWU "and GMBATU, ensured the resolution was defeated

would appear that the unions. want the question of their representation clarified first before even agreeing 10 the basic principle being

of the resolution

pity that the unions took such

Labour Briefing Day Schoo! Socialism and Nationalism

Speakers include: Denis Canavan, MP Marion Davies George Kerevan Gunter Minnerup vim Young

Saturday April 4th 10am-6pm City Halls, Albion Street, Glasgow

Workshops

Creche

£3 waged, £1 unwaged

Contact Gordon Morgan, 39 Regent Park Square, Glasgow G41

The majority of Scottish people want an Assembly. Alt Scottish parties except the Tories support an Assembly.

How can we ensure an Assembly is established after the Election?

How should the labour movement organise to lead the Assembly Campaign?

% What should be the attitude of Socialists towards the National Question?

With the approach of an Election the above questions are urgently posed. The Labour Briefing Day Schoo! will provide activists with a forum for debate.

SS

Labour Briefing No, 40 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page 11

Briefing Conference: social policy

Our response to Tory

attacks on freedom

The Tories swept to office in 1979 determined that the working class and oppressed would pay for the international economic’ portant tool onslaught has been a vicious attack on social and democratic rights.

They have tied to silence opposition by

Pressions and playing on Prejudice; and tried to weaken iarge sections of the working class by undermining the already faltering system of ws provision.

The rich and the power

The history of anti-union laws

ful are more deeply entren. ched than ever.

A socialist social policy has to be rooted in socialist internationalism and economic policy. The first is impossible without the last two

The deep roots or racism in British society cannot be challenged without tack! ing Britain’s current and historical imperialist role. Racism is daily reinforced by Britain's role in Ireland, the Malvinas and other former “‘colonies"’. Nor can equal opportunities policies ever be effective without tackling the fundamental relations of economic power under capitalism.

Nowhere is the jnter relationship - of — social,

‘economic and international policy more evident than ‘on matters of “‘defence’ ‘Only by changing our priorities, and turning funds from the misnamed “defence” budget towards spending on social need could sufficient funds be found togenerate the expansion of welfare spending necessary to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged.

Briefing supports _ all those measures which weaken the centralised power of the state and the tuling rich it defends, and all those measures which Strengthen the labour movement and the. oppressed.

That's why we support

devolution of power and the establishment of elected tiers of government in Scotland and Wales, and the _reestablishment of strategic elected authorities in London and the Metropolitan Counties.

Key sections of the state apparatus are totally unaccountable and out of con. trol. Briefing supports abolition of MIS/MI6, the election of judges, and br inging the police under local democratic contro. Contrary to popular mythology the hard left’s proposals would not lead to “’Big Brother" but to an extension of real freedom and choice.

“Freedom is something

which the _ oppressed groups in. society” rightly demand. Enormous institu. tional discrimination still remains to be tackled against women, Black people, lesbians and gays, and people with disabilities,

These are not “‘minority” issues. They are ““.aajority “issues for society as a whole, and for the labour movement. Reactionary laws remain on the statute book and are ruthlessly used by the police force and government agencies — immigration and national ty laws, laws against le. sins and gays, laws which allow rape within marriage.

The labour_movement has to commit itself not merely to repeating Tory

By Davy Jones Islington South CLP

constraints on the trade unions, but also to. this whole’ battery of reac. tionary and divisive laws which maintain and reinforce oppression. Legislation is needed positively to enshrine the rights of women, Black people, lesbians and gays to real equality; and the labour movernent needs to lead 2 campaign to turn the aims of such legislation into a living reality.

Briefing’s conference on March 28/28th will be discussing all these issues. Below we print an article examining one aspect of the Tory attack on our freedoms and the history of the labour movement's response: the question of trade union rights

Hands off our union rights!

Originality has never been a feature of Neil Kiunock’s political style,

Every one of his polices is an almost farcical re-run of past failures of previous Labour governments.

So when Kinnock commits himself to retain whole sections of the Tory anti-union laws, including compulsory —_pre-strike ballots, he is simply following historic precedent.

The Wilson government of 1964-70 nailed its colours to the mast of “reforming the unions” = popularising this misleading {erm even before it was a gincin the eye of Margaret Thatcher ot ‘Norman Tebbit

By Harry Sloan

Wilson's Minister of Labour, Barbara Castle, set out 10 curt the power of the shop stewards" niovement: in 1969 her White Paper in Place of Strife called for the establishment of a new pe of industrial court, the ‘Tndustrial Board’, with power to order strikers back to work fora 28-day “cooling off period", or force a secret strike Ballot.

Castle was against enforcing compulsory ballots. in every instance; she argued that they might offer militant members an opportunity 10 force their leaders into action! “She also took steps to. avoid ‘embarrassing instances of workers Being jailed for non: payment of fines imposed under the new laws — and suggested Fines be levied directly from the pay packets of the “guilty” ‘workers!

‘Union leaders adopted their ‘customary two-faced attitude 10 these proposals. Publicly they denounced In Place of Sit privately, they, (00, longed for Ways of ‘controlling the strong and. growing shop stewards’ movement, and actually supported the new legislation.

For this reason it was the unofficial movement, the shop Stewards" committees and other bodies, many influenced by the Communist Party and by the Trotskyisis of the Socialist Labour League, which mounted the serious. opposition to 7 Place of Surf

The TUC bureaucracy, under

‘Miners: stabbed in the back by Kinnock and the TUC leaders

presssure from both sides, eventually struck a deal with Wilson and Castle: “the government sould withdraw the legislation, in exchange for a TUC commitment to crack

and po “This was not seen as sufficient by the Tory goverament of Ted Heath, "which came in determined to impose. legal Shackles on the unions. He forced. through the Industrial Relations Act, which incorporated a whole "new National Industrial Relations ‘Court, with sweeping powers t0 order’ strikers back 10 work, forder secret ballots, impose fines and financial sanctions, and illise the Tull powers of any court 10 imprison workers held in contempt

Hosrever, the strength of the shop floor movement across the lunions meant that the jailed Pentonville dockers ‘were set free, im the midst of a massive Mrike" movement, andthe Authority of the new Court was effectively destroyed, in the Summer of 1972.” Heath's <raconian powers on paper were never fully translated into a favourable balance of forces for the employers in. the class Struggle.” This was a. lesson ‘Thatcher has never forgotten

Nothing daunted, Wilson returned to office in'the midst

fof the 1974 Miners” Strike whet had shattered the Heath government — and swiftly

embarked on a fresh crusade against, union . shop. floor

strength, Avnew deal (the ‘Social Contract) was cobbled together berween the Labour govenment’ and the TUC feaders, designed to hold down, wages, after TGWU leader Jack Jones had shown where his loyaities lay —"by ‘conniving with British” “Leyland ‘management ina national wwitch-hunt to smash ‘up the failiant shop” stewards leadership in” the ” Cowley Assembly Plant

‘Class collaboration became the order of the day, with once militant sections of stewards find the Communist Party being

drawn into. “worker: participation” schemes with ‘management,

Frustration at the failing living standards brought about by. the Social Contract finally ‘exploded into the “Winter of Discontent” involving.» Ford workers, bakers, journaliss, Torry drivers, health and local ‘government workers in 1978-79, ‘hich broke the » flagging Authority of the Callaghan government. But even then, tion leaders, following the precedent of 1969, did thear best fo-contain the militancy of their members, and signed a “Concordat” with Callaghan imposing "voluntary" restrtions on picketing and public sector disputes.

The shock of the Tory victory in 1979 did not by any means crush. the militancy of the ‘working clas: the long-dormant eel workers. steuck solidly. £9

PHOTO: Stetano Cagnoni/Meport

response to their leadership's timid call early in 1980 and stayed out for 3 months — only {0 be left cynically isolated by the other TUC_ unions, and served up the first sacrificial offering to the "New Realise”

‘There is little doubt that the TUC'S cowardly. refusal 10 rmobilee other threatened sectors = rail, transport and, ‘mineworkers — ia support of the steel strike helped stiffen the resolve of the Tories, whose first ant-union package was ‘pushed through by James Prior {in 1980, shrugging of the half: hearted TUC protests "The Prior laws had barely been used at all when Tebbit came forward with a new package of restrictions in 1982 The legislation removed trade ‘union legal immunities from damages arising from strikes: “politeal” strikes, and “Secondary” action of any sort —the most basic trade union solidarity — were outlawed. The TUC held a special Conference of union Executives ied what might appear be a fighting policy. pledging Pup 10 ani

back unions that fell foul of the new laws,

‘Thatcher was not impressed she had the measure of the TUC bureaucrats — and was in no hurry to pick a fight

‘The opportunities came soon

Brenda Dean: Wilson and Castle's kind of union leader!

enough and showed how hollow were the union leaders" Statements on solidarity. ASLEF tain drivers were knifed by. the TUC threatened with expulsion if they did not concede 10 ‘Thatcher. NGA leaders fighting {for unionisation at Eddie Shah's ‘Warrington plant and against sequestration under the af

union laws were left high and dry by the TUC — and told 10 bend the knee 10 the courts

“The miners had already begun their national strike when a new 1984 package of lexi requiring prestrike fame into forse. But TUG "leaders hat effectively defending this aspect ‘of Tory law for years: they and Kinnock seized upon it 38 the ‘basis to stab the miners in the back — leaving the NUM to fight alone against their employer, the scabs, the cops, the court, and the government, lifting not a finger as NUM assets were seized and histori Fights destroyed.

Pethaps the crowning irony was when right wing SOGAT leader Brenda Dean ~ the kind of union leader Wilson and Castle wanted to create with fn Place of Strife — showed how the system can go. wrong: she hheld ballot after ballot, but kept finding. majorities to" continue the fight against - Murdoch Finally she resorted to an old fashioned, high-handed sell-out

10 Kill the Wapping strike.

‘Thatcher has now enacted battery of anti-union laws which take the labour movement back nearly 100 years: and the Tories have already unveiled plans for even. more legislation (0 Ilegalise ‘the closed shop and sive the whip hand in the Unions ‘ver to individual scabs.

"But not for the fest time the working class is offered as an alternative a Labour ‘government that is embarrassed Father than strengthened by trade unionism, hostile 10 the shop floor’ movement, Suspicious of any aspect of clast struggle, and committed 10 ‘many of the reactionary notions ‘embodied in the Tory las.

Kinnock is not going to do vunion' members. ‘any great favours ~ especially if k means offending the Tory press and

the employers. Lers not waste time elaborating a utopian

Programme we know will nt be Carried out: Jet's face facts: if Kinnock would just not attack the working class. and allow ‘workers to defend themselves it would be a step forward!

Socialists should be fighting to commit the Labour Party to repeal the whole body of Tory tonion lass since 1979 — and then Teave wel alone, before the slogan “Scrap the Tory ani tunion laws" becomes once again replaced with "Labour hands off our unions"!

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 25th-Apr 7h 1997 page 12

Buiiding Briefing

500 Club Winner

The winner of our 500 Club lucky prize draw this week is — just to prove to us Metropolisbound Building Briefing journalists that there is life North of Watford — Sue Owen from Leeds.

Congratulations to Sue, who's been supporting Briefing since we started the 500 Club way back last June, as part of our campaign to launch a fortnightly Briefing

‘A cheque for £25 is in the post to you.

Don’t forget: most other publications have some form of funding above paper sales. We have none, except our 500 Club. So if you support Briefing, enjoy reading it and think our politics have place in the labour movement — dip into your pockets! Fill in the standing order form, and enter the draw. With an election coming, Briefing’s role is more vital than ever — and £1/a week isn't much to give!

This week, 2 word about paper sales. We have been very encouraged that although some Briefing sellers have decreased their paper ordet since we started printing twice 2 month, many have found the new Briefing easy to sell, and have kept their orders steady. Many new sellers have started taking the paper, perhaps cautiously at first, and then increased their order as they've seen how easy it is to sell the paper, and how many activists are keen to read it.

lt would not really be fair to single out any one seller of group of sellers for exceptional achievement — but the office staff feel it is about time we mentioned Stewart Richardson and the Birmingham Briefing sellers. Not content with going fortnightly, Stewart thinks we have gone weekly. He usually picks 100 papers up each week, and then, a few days later, phones us up and ‘asks for more.

The office staff, fed up with sending off additional bundles of Briefings to Birmingham, decided to double the order — against Stewart's “better judgement”

Just when we thought we'd fixed them for good, there came a phone call, from a plaintive, apologetic Stewart: in the space of a week, all 200 papers had been sold, and there were some major events coming up in the next few days, so could we possibly.

If anyone can match the record, you too can get 4 mention!

A final reminder about our Socielist Policies Conference: see page 3 for a detailed agenda, and invite everyone you sell Briefing to this week to come along. Don’t forget to let us know in advance about any children for the creche.

ee |

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Misplaced Goi ay ena

pores opi ole Bel Concern Sr dre more ie Donitgrat > jast — See bear it has been given che thumbs down

by the Lambeth committee ‘A poker-faced women's commit tee chair, Josie Byrne, told the local press that: “Mis Thatcher is 2) woman, “and other women Should ot laugh at ber.” ‘And that’s an order!

Stiff upper lips ae the order ofthe at Lambeth Town Hall. The ‘women’s committee in particular ‘appears 10 be hostile to any form (of levity, and class consciousness is frowned upon,

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when the manager needéd some company on the terraces? If balf these notables had been regula atenders at Craven Cottage tore the club was bought up by proper. ty sharks, maybe the story might have been different!

Digital sex

2 actualy comming abdtery (or besuaityl, how does the good Bishop manage to find the dune ‘don beeween innocently wanting 2 homosexual relationship nd ""snfly” having one?

Answers please, on 2 £5 note, to Perscope

Dead

thelr support for che family, are recommending the constant se of Condoms? "Safe sex" te al very wel but the "side effec” (con. traception) ‘of the condom has been ‘quiet forgotten, If we all have safe sex, how are any of us ‘g0hg to conceive!

(Of course. if we're all wearing four condom on our fingers there

Shouldn't be too much of 2 pro: teary and practice ter been fortunate Many years ago. Mito O'Shea hada blem. Perhaps that's the answer Suit exploited by che Bishop comedy programme on TV. He cM of Norwich, Re’Rev. Peter There is nothing lite adnan ty Spent one SEminie episode 263 “Tow Shale” Noe sellocberese unwanted products, arried ‘man th Eke, worried

Flogging a dead horse?

How many of us have yayned about forther conception, and y= through the TV rezuns of best- ing desperately to get hold of the forgotten films by feshly-dead pl

Holywood stars? Fiow many folk" When, at last, he acquired a

ording to the good Bishop they bought their first-ever John Len- specimen, the episode ended with “Spare the rod, spoil the child” un couneer to “normal human non LPs after be was murdered? him swallowing ie and heading up appears to be the’ philosophy of 2 ‘man, Van Gogh, Elvis, and Jim Reeves the stars a happy man. extreme right wing Tory MP ‘woman, wine and wafer), hhave all sold much better since Maybe the current television Harvey Proctor, but he scems 19 they died. producers don't remember this. be proving a considerable embar. Now this seems to be they did, perhaps chey would have _rassient to his own party. and is clearly impervious to or: getting through to football cubs, been less quick’ — and lex coy — "We keep as far away from Me nary loge. But your corespon- Latest among the bevy ofstarsand over the at month” co Harvey Proctor at possibles” Cone enc, ever eager to rase the level politicians to climb on the wendy demonstrate the “proper”, _servative Central Office told The of debate. woud venture an bandwagon ofsering Pulham FC recommended use of the'con: Guandion

Sekward question 4s none ether than bobblehatted, dom... by rolling i over their But beck in Billericay, « group Wo the very choughe of rattiewaving MP Nick fingers of loyal supporters were having #

aughciness “— coveng 2 Reyasford, “and all the soccer Pleanwfile, one question re- _ whiptround to back their MP

fanatics of Hammersmith and Fulham Council ‘Where were they lax season,

mains unanswered sil, Why i that goveroment and media ake, institutions both best known for

“He represents whacking ma jority of people around here,” atid fe local Magellan.

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page 13

Reviews The attempts by David activities of the worst sort of _@The Fulham Supporters new owners. So succesful have government to a redirection of The | attempts by David Fy our Briefing Football Sirstiptiag' captains, ‘The Club have taken up's sew these ntempistoen that Noades football beting tax money back fact that the cub owners were radical stance of Palace and Hamman of into the game. Tom Pendry, Hamman (o destroy wo of correspondent Sing on classic caps Wimtledon have both felt the hair at the Allparty bad London's football clubs eae cw seeking only to maximise _,0.AUCTusal Palace ihe Palace need to isue statements saying bench Commitee on Football fave been ‘met by mass club supporters and the ,ss*Hne only © mame aTiog Group. founded 981, thar chy are at sling ee resistance from football community eotiean, | actor = eran» hoe bee een The supporters are not representative being on his Supporters ‘which "have The left has much to lars) Goat" aypporers’ Thee groupe are sow, co- prepared to asept jxt any proposed oottall Lew howd inlted the PTA (the players’ from. this campaign. The volvement in the campaign. ordinaing their act Tiernative syndicate, Mos are which & now to be: given 1 rgaolsation), the FA and Parallels "with" otbct_~ Gver 3,000 attended the fecemt sending members 10 tthe opinion hat aay potential power to velo assct-dioposls by the Football League and has <@™psigning in which we have meeting at Hammersmith Town others’ demonstrations, and _ new owner must be prepared 10 clubs, ae nica te ination of the been involved are obvious. The fiay Attending each others’ public fight to retain their clubs in the The campaign bas also raised stymied the intentions of the cor tne “rationalisation” of HN, ig eke campaign mest, ‘This hat been co- areas where they are curently the eue ofthe role of the Club owners. Se industry bone on which we oft eg Sastteistaone? cediaated by "8 Steing playing. ‘They must make a Minister of Sport, Should the ae ni of bave fought successive bates §fSsr"“or the “auivigg and Commitee Enown’ as FLAG, commitment 10 provide pretet Minster of Sport be part ofthe ie campaign will Of — in coal, steel, shipbuilding, Organisation is based at club the Football in London Action access 10. the decision-making Department of the course continue until the ee. ““Rationalisation’’ of the jet ghrough supporters clubs Group, established by the process for supporters. They Environment? Current Minister hubs and their home Sort atempeed in Fulham isan {S"Actie Groope Football ‘Supporters fmust be prepared to safeguard Richard Tracey admttes uring Bounds are safe. Thote stack or hh a en ce ame Anouaian, ¢ soni bse! ther afte cis oy campaign ha wave fvolved in the campaigns facies” and communi i QPR, | where the Campaigning supporters" group, improving facies, ullding up 10. comment onthe merge: ‘are confident that if the st ea pein Sega ee #2 ves the future of bese with the local Cees besa ‘his ministry is. ce ota Ore a anions Tom a socialist point of view associated with the club itself, ir “clubs, supporters at and” communities, and larger’ one wiin planning momentum, is maintained ‘was exremely graying to the Ranger's Action Group is Palace, Wimbledon and QPR. ultimately turaing the stadia responsibilities. Tee ao Shon to tak, SF several thousand people, setting up 2 new independent a5 weil as Fulham, have stated into community resources, What is clear is that iffieult for those who take iyoxi wth no previows supporters cub that they pow feel that the "The campaign has had other supporters themselves have ‘over clubs only to line their experience of campaigning, @ Wimbledon Supporters Ciub _respective club owners must be victories. Roy Hattersley has organised —_ politically and vn pockets and not to run come out. im. mass._have- set-up ther own Save removed. They have themselves made’ a — public saiement effetvely and are now a force the clubs for the Benefits of demonstrations against "the Wimbledon Action Group. teen working to find potential pledging” the next Labour to be reckoned with,

Condom free-for-all masquerades as fun-for-all

‘The worst program, categorically that it was in have been those aimed men’s interests, reproductive specifically at the young. __'v, to be promiscuous in order

“First AIDS” launched ‘© spread their genes as wide the television campaign on _'Y #8 possible, while it was in Fobruoty 27th by peadling women’s interests. to. save

themselves for impregnation feactionery sexist by the best available stud. . messages and encouraging — This, based on a highly con- ‘A =

ee ires re ene, ered ons tiv oon. Never thought of Norman os a trend-setter before :

audience to boost their Sociopiology’ we stated ss 6

macho self-images. bald fact. Men, poor things, = Lf We were told thatit was stil just can't help themselves: in particular oA improving their course i thet other sexual downtowomentoensurethat Even in the face of kiler mage. Ae! write, !have fist proctices which might be risky .

The symbolism of BY Stevi Jackson = phallic power and oP i Wales Briefi 4 strength so evident in Soul Jnson 3 g the first government in- 355 wno the previ. Apparently = formation ads on TV has fen‘san’tbersxpecte to ake 2 AIDS. tn aspee’ toll ve 3

‘Sex was safe, primarily by say- disease they will iterally fuck watched the first of BSC2's sre either not discussed oF ing’"no'’more often. This, we themselves (and us) to death “Facing up to AIDS” series vague. misleading and con-

‘were assured, would make unless we women take which tutned out to be yet Wadictory information is given. '3ex more exciting and roman- responsiblity for thei actions another programme teling me Any possibilty of non. tie again by restoring the thrill as well as our own. ‘what good fun condoms can penetrative sexs still a secon. fof the chase (no prizes for The msin. television em- be. Gory message. The main con uessing who is the hunter phasis has been on condoms, Aight at the end of it we cet” of the media is stil with AIDS: The Socialist View, the ‘government and the

the condom. it has even been by Duncan Blackie and lan media and in exposing the

were told that “‘some people at they would be Taylor. 32 page pamphlet, hypocrisy of cuts in health

think there are other forms of suggested

Soxhet se enjoyabie whicn glomoursed as" sn escental 0p, published by spending and fighting for eetinvlve pene. fasign accessory ~ wat he them to be reversed Toute tnoloh ant kianes thie eeseon? (thie was Fast Pare ene GaPprsctceswere ste” "jess, rot more, emphases on Bostagel from Bookmarks,

‘One effect of the over penises. 265 Seven Sisters Road, By Jane Kelly emphasis on sexual inter. Finsbury Park, London N4 = Peckham CLP

20E.

and the women’s movement for not arganising more effectively against the general acceptance of fight wing ideas in society is however misplaced, While sections of the Lesbian and Gay movement, and also the women’s movement have moved away from radical polities, this is not uniform.

Many of us are stil fighting both in the labour movement and in society at large for our liberation and that of other oppress. ed groups. Itis unfortunate that the SWP feel it impor. tant to make such an attack in an otherwise very good pamphlet.

This is @ very useful addition to the literature on AIDS, giving a socialist account of the disease, how was discovered and how is being used to reinforce Victorian morality through people's genuine fears of the virus.

Perhaps the most interesting part in the pamphlet are the sections showing how capitalism profits from the disease and how medical research has been held back, not only by lack of resources compared, say, to spending on arms, but also by competition between different countries. and dif ferent research teams.

Wt argues that socialists Watch out: “romance'”is on the horizon. have a role to play in com:

batting the bigotry used by

Labour Briefing No. 40 Mar 2Sth-Apr 7th 1987 page 14

International Briefing

Labour Committee on Ireland AGM

Looking at the

year ahead

The Annual Meeting of the Labour Committee on land takes place in Manchester Town Hall on Saturday April 4th and Sunday April 5th

‘On Saturday there will be plenary sessions on “ireland — the General Election and the next Labour Government” in the morning, with Jeremy Corbyn and’ other invited MPs, and in the afternoon ‘on “ireland and the Unions"” with trade unior speakers from _ lreland. Workshops will also be held in the afternoon.

leadership again put principles fon one side in their desperate Bid for office at any cost?

‘Sunday will see a number of motions debeted. Among Sreanisations invited to the ‘Annual Mesting are’

eth ish in Britain Representation Group lone motion calls for an 1@RG Golegate on the LCI National Counel, to strengthen our ties ‘with the IERG),

the Connolly Association Troops Out Movement:

‘the Welsh Language Society — invited by the. National Couneit following their recent invitation to Sinn Fein to visit Wales, 2 visit sabotaged by the Leader of Plaid Cymru,

Labour Left Liaison "A major trade union con erence planned by the LCI in the Autumn is the subject of ‘another debate, and 3 motion alls for fringe meetings st all tvade union conferences with 23 view to getting the McBride principles endorsed by as fmany trade unions as possible {nthe run-up ft the autumn

conference. Following the success of the inn Pein Councilors visit, 2 representative assombly of Councilors is proposed: to Giscuss matters linking iocal ‘uthorties in Britain with parttion of Ireland and its enforce: ‘ment such as the PTA, plastic Bullets and strip searching,

Labour Committee on Ireland Annual General Meeting

Apr

4th-5th Manchester Town Hall

Contact the Labour Committee on Ireland and Labour Women for Ireland at: BM Box 5355, London WC1N 3XX

Sadly, the LCI Annual Meeting wil take place with Labour's fortunes probably at their lowest point since ‘the 41983 election. This may, well determine that much of the ‘discussion will take place not ‘only around whether we can push the Party into. 3 ‘withdrawal position after Labour forms a government, but also around what can be done to prevent a reactionary ‘deal with Ulster Unionists by Labour and the Alliance in the ‘event of 2 hung Parliament

During the last Labour Government, Callaghan and Foot, on. ‘behalf of the Parliamentary Party, did @ deal ‘with the Unionists to. Keep Labour in office for another Cotastrophie yesr, and there ‘was scarcely any protest from Constituency \abour Parties. ‘What would Party reaction be in 1987/8 Labour's

Alternative Centre (AIC) in West Jerusalem is the latest target of the Israeli state's “Iron Fist”” policy of repression. On February 16th 1987 the "AIC was raided by

police, documents confiscated, equipment seized and’ its journalists,

doth Palestinian and Israeli, arrested.

Some of the AIC collective ‘members were feleased after a few hours of interrogation. Three others, Ghadda Abu Jaber, Ronnie Heiman and Michac! Lowry were released on bal after 48 hours.

“The AIC's director, Michel Warschasiy, ‘has abo. now teen bet

This is the first time since 1967 iat the. Prevention of Ferrorsm Ordinance has been ted close a Jewish lec for news agency. frac’ Police Inspector General Kraus issued thevorde forthe AIC's clonare for 6 months unger the 1980 ‘Amendment (qicknamied the tami Law") of the Prevention “of Teor Ordinance (PTO) 1988,

‘One ofthe charges against the Ale Ss that it acted on behalf of the Popular From for the Libersion "of Palezine raat) terrorist Sreanisation.°* Clore and Stlzure Ora, Feb. 6th

Dafydd Elis Thomas, who wrote to the Home Secretary {asking him to prevent it. As a fesult, a Sinn Fein Councilor ‘was arested on arrival under the PTA and deoorted,

By Cir Richard Chessum

Press Officer, Labour ‘Committee on Ireland

"At the Labour Co-ordinating Commitee recent Con: sultstive Conference on itelend, 2 majority of those at tending voted for a document by. Peter Hain. calling for withdrawal in the lifetime of a Perliament. The Annual Meeting is asked to approach those with this position with a View to joint intlatives based On ending the Loyalist veto. ‘Another motion calls for per-

‘pation of the LCI within

Drop t

By Ros Young Islington South CLP

Michel Warschawsky faces ‘extremely serious charges under the PTO and emergency defence fegulations (a legacy’ of. the Batish mandate in Palestine), including acting on behalf of the PLO-and rendering services £0 the PFLP. Nine hundred pages of prosecution text have been Prepared against him — all in ‘Arabic, which he doesn’t read, (Qt appears that the Israeli state only recognises Arabic as an official Ianguage of the. state ‘when it suits them, Palestinian prisoners who don't understand Fiebrew are presented with prosecution evidence against them in Hebrew!)

Te wil take some time before his defence lawyer, Attorney Lea Tsemel, is able io have the full text translated and ic is ‘edicted that his For months.

AIC journalist Dublished information thar the ‘sraeli state would prefer remain hidden.

‘The AIC was founded in January 1985 to produce 2 ‘regular newslewer, News from Within, to. provide services t0 Israeli, Palestinian and foreign journalists, typesetting and translating faciiies and as an information centre “to provide accurate and up to date information ‘on human rights violations othe occupied territories and on social. and

‘and 2 motion calls for 2 cam: paign against the Angio-rsh Agreement,

‘The coming General Election will, however, loom largest. The Annual” Meeting » wil discuss sending a questionnaire to every Candidete in the election: Grawing up @ model LCi Statement. for inclusion in ‘lection addresses: producing 3 pamphlet on what Labour Should do ia. the event of ‘obtaining office: and ‘organising 2 London Rally with Sign Fein and the 1BRG.

‘Whetever the outcome of the debates, one thing is cer tain, There will be no National Executive of the LCI telling people to keep quiet about Controversial issues until after polling dayl_ Supporters: ‘welcome — come as 2 guest ‘of an LCL member if you haven't joined.

political issues related to. the Terael-Palestinian conflict” (News from Within, February 2am, 1987)

“The AIC is registered with the Ministry of Interior and all its publications were submitted 10 the censor in accordance with Israeli" censorship regulations (hence ail the Blank spaces in News from Within on many ‘ceasions).

For the Israeli authorities 10 ‘now claim that the centre and its Girector are a threat to. the ‘Security of the state is laughable ‘and a miserable excuse to silence any independent information on Israeli repression in the ‘occupied "tecritories and in

Lebanon,

‘More. recently, News from Within has been’ reporting oa the economic and military cooperation between Israel. and South Africa, the case of MordechasVanutu and the activites of Israel's internal Security police, the Shin Bet

Moshe Lador, representative fof the stale attorney, gave an cxample of bow AIC was Felping “hostile organisations” by “preparing and distributing instruction material related 10 the interrogation methods of the ‘Shin Bet which teaches potential detainees how to behave when they are arrested and thereby harms the activities of the security services.” (Hadashor, February 19th, 1987).

The closure of the centre and arrest of Michel have produced fan outcry in Israel amongst

‘The British miluary occupation of the 6 counties continues: 1969.? Troops out now!

he charges!

journalists, civil rights, Organisations and some members of the Israeli Knesset (Gecluding Mohammed Miri Gnd. Matti Peled, who have Gemanded 2 Knesset debate on the police harassment of the ceatre), Alas, many of those eho are now protesting were Conspicuous by. their silence through all the years of fepresion against the Palestinian press. Some perhaps are-now realising that they may wwell be next and that to be Tacit is no longer @ guarantee of freedom from stale repression.

‘According 10 Gideon Spiro whoever thought

‘Sha‘ab have been temporarily closed on many occasions, and Palestinian journalists “have been detained, deported and even murdered. Akram Hanniye, editor in chief of Al ‘Sha'ab was deported at the end of 1986.

“The AIC issued a statement after their closure (News from Within, February 24h 1987) declaring that “we will now be eaeged! We will nor sit idly by ‘while our civil rights "are Systematically violated. And we will, not acquiesee 10 the uthoritie’ attempts to Mmonopolise the flow of

jon. Our determination keep open alternative

Michel; to collect signatures on the petition; to send messages of support tothe AIC and to collect donations to help them over the casts of the court fees and to replace the stolen equipment.

"The AIC provides a valuable service that must continue.

‘On a more personal note, Michel is # dear fiend and comrade of many of us in Briefing. He is well-known for his work inthe antiwar movement in. Israel, for his ‘opposition to the polices of the Israeli state and his refusal to participate in the war in Pebanon, As a member of the Revolutionary Communist

Attack on press freedom in Israel

[possible ro continue forever in a Stuation of 2 military Gictatorship for Arabs and a ‘Semocracy for Jews this week _ received another blunt reminder that if woot work,” Al Hamishmar. February’ 20th, 1989). tie mo coincidence that the authorities have hit out at the ‘AIC. journalists who have campaigned against the attacks fon the Palestinian press. The ‘AIC isthe latest target in along. line of closures of publications ‘and detention of journalists. ‘Since 1981 ihe following Palestinian newspapers: have been permanently closed down: Al Shira (1981), Al Wohdeh (1983); AL Dard (1985); Al Manat press office (1986); Al Mithog (1986); and Al Ahd (1986). Al Fain, Al-Quds and Al

annels of information Ras not been deterred. News from Within will continue to appear” (unfortunately, thei subscribers Hist Ras been confiscated, so if you were subscriber, let’ them Know),

‘An international petition is circulating and has so far been Signed by many. journalists, MPs, labour movement activists and academics from Europe to North and Central America The "Committee for the Freedom of Expression of Palestinians and Israelis” (CEPI) has been setup. in London 10 help mobilise support

‘Briefing supporters are urged to submit resolutions 10 their trade unions and Labour Parties demanding the opening of the ‘AIC and the dropping of all charges against the “AIC and

Teague (Matzpen-Marcsu) he has in the past supported our struggles, distributing information on the miners! strike and on the war in Ireland, bout movement support is urgently needed for the AIC 10 beable 10 continue is excellent werk Send letters of support to: ‘Alternative Information Centre Collective, PO Box 165, West Jerusalem, Israel. Donations can be sent to: ‘News from Within, Bak Hapoalim, Acc, 3189, Agence Principale 690, Jerusalem. Petitions are available from Briefing, oF the CFEPI, BM 9885, London WCIN 3XX. 'A message of support has been received from Noam Chomsky: land the petition has beensigned by Jeremy Corbyn MP, Tariq rad Mostie Machover.

PHOTO: Derek Spiers/Repore

‘Labour Briefing No. 40 Mor 25th-Apr Tih 1987 page 15

International Briefing

COSATU’s New Year’s message

On December 1st 1985, 870 delegates from all over South Afriea met in Durban to found the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

‘Thirty-three unions with 4 paid-up membership of 449,679 were represented.

‘At the inaugural congress, COSATU adopted 2 number of ambitious resolutions directed at a wide range of issues, laying down the

ciples of workers’ 1), workers” control, anti-sexism and fnon-raciatism within the Congress, and taking up ; issues suchas

unemployment, disinvestment, migrant labour and establishing an education programme for all. members.

‘One year later COSATU now claims a paid-up membership of over {650,000 workers. In that first year, 1986, COSATU ‘was faced with 'a mixture of successes, failures and increased state repression.

Below is an edited version of a declaration from the COSATU Executive Committee, entitled A message (0 all members of COSATU: 1987 — the Year of consolidation and decisive action.

We greet you in the name of the Congress of South African Trade Unions. We ‘greet you in 1987 — the year for the consolidation and decisive action of our movement,

COSATU is just over 2 year old. Today we are ‘loser to the day when we — ‘ the workers and youth of

our land — must free ourselves from poverty, fhunger, exploitation and racism, But a long and bitier struggle still awaits us We are being attacked on all sides — the bosses, thee govern: ment and their allies are panick: lug. They are confused — and in their crisis they can see we are getting stronger, fi They want to stop us from ad. vancing. That's why they have imposed a State of emergency ‘They have detained thousands ‘of our comrades —amome them Moses Mayckiso, Lizzie Phike. Enoch Godongwana, _Noci Williams, Matthews Ofifant and Amos Masondo

The

In May there is going to be a general election the apartheid Repul of South Africa.

Botha is going to the country (sic) to get a mandate for his policy of cosmetic reforms.

Only 18% of South Africa's population will be entitled to vote in this election the | white minority. The remaining 82%, the Black majority, will" have no say, electorally, in the choice of government ofthe republic.

Even that section of the Black community classified as "Coloured" and “Asian” by apartheis's racist laws, who ‘were given their own Ingisiaive chambers in South Alnica's tui-cameral parliament, will not be voting In the May election.

‘There is 4 very good reason why Botha has not called for the’, inclusion” of. the “Coloured” and Indian voters

==

They have tried to crush workers who dare co struggle Tor what they deserve — at GM and OK Bazaars and BTR and Goldfields and. Impala. We all Know the situation is serious. We all know we need the max imum unity if we ace co defend foarselves and move forward in ur strugsle. We all know we ‘need (0 learn from our mistakes and setbacks if we are 10 con Solidate our gains. strengthen Dur organisation and move for

ward in 1987 ‘Conirades: this year we have to overcome ot problems. This year we have to Build the freatest possible mass united ac fion under the leadership of the How can we do

‘One Industry — One Union —

Now! We have to make sure all our structures — "at the local

regional and national level — are consolidated and working properly. To do

we need one union, one industry

Build and Strengthen Shop Stewards Councils

All” our structures must be Strengthened, especially our Jocal’ shop ‘steward councils. They are one of the pillars on which COSATU stands. Make ‘your views are represented by your shop stewards on the local COSATU shop stewards couneil in your area

Build Worker Solidarity Action ‘At our launching Congress we Said An injury 10 one isan i Jury to all” wil be our guiding Tight and we adopted powerful resolutions to guide us in the Sieuggle ahead. We have made Some progress — but not nearly enoveh

"Too offen we have stood back and. Watched while our comFades struggled alone agains the bosses or the government — like {at GM o¢ Crossroads or Impala ¢ OK Bazaars. Too often have Wwe stood back and) watched ‘hile our comrades were detain ed — even though we have resolved to fight every attack on ‘our organisation with united ac tion. And. whea we did take decisions for strong. action — like the July 14th action against the Emergency or the December {st action against the killings of our MAWU comrades — some problems and divisions in our foverent” weakened our protest

This. is bad comrades. We must build our structures, our Unity and our ability to mobilise more strongly and seriously — 0 that we can take action on What we decide, instead of jus having resolutions on paper.

now White

By Charlie van Gelderen Brent South CLP

inthis election. He remembers ‘only too well the farce of the Test election to the “Coloured” and “Indian” chambers, in August 1984, ‘The two mein political parties, the Progressive Independent Party PIP) and the. National Federal Party (NFP) together won only 12% of votes cast. Of the number 8f eligible voters, only 16.2% Sctualy took part in these Slections. It was 2 decisive fejection of Botha’s Constitutional reforms

‘When otha called the elections, he feared those to his right — the conservative Party ICP), Herstigte National Party (HNP) and the openly fascist Afrikaner Weerstand Beweging (AWB) — might encroach on the National Party's monopoly of Afrikaner loyalty and political power. As the. section campaign got underway, there have also been rumblings and break. aways from his “lef

‘Sarmcol demonstrations in Imbalt Township PMB, July 1985: traditional dancing 1s not unusual at trade union events.

‘We must not forget that the base of our power is in the workplaces. We must ensure that every workplace fas strong, ‘democratic structares and active members. And. we must not “low our differences to under mine our anity in action. Dif ferences se will always have They are ncorsary in every democratic organisation, 10 find the best deat for the sirongest ‘way forward. That is. whal ‘worker democracy means. But also means that once e have made a decision, we are all loyal to that decision — and we do

‘ur very best to carey it out in a <isciplined and comradely way.

Campaigns This year we will be working 10 turn our powerful resoluuoas into action. The campaign for a Tiving wage for all workers, for the organisation of the tunemployed under the banner ‘of COSATU and for national United action under the leader ship of the working class are crucial

‘Already, all over the country, workers are building these cam: palgns inaction. The heroic OK

‘Workers have been on srike For 2 living wage for weeks now. COSATU workers have blacked supplies to OK in solidarity with the workers. The youth and all

The most newsworthy of these was the dramatic arrival on the hustings of the former South African ambassador 10 London, Denis Worral. He has. inked. up with the former National Party MP, Wynand Malan and won-the support of 3 bunch” of “verigte” enlightened) academics.

‘This “left” revolt has stirred hope amongst sections of big Dosiness in South Attica who find some aspects of aparthed limit the advance of private enterprise: and the impensist powers who see in this some hope. forthe peaceful transition to @ post-apartherd Society which would not threaten their interests,

While the new. "verligtes’ talk a great deal about “power-sharing” they are careful not to commit themselves to the formula of ‘one person, one vote”. It should not be forgotten that Denis Worral was one of the chief architects of the racist {ricameral constitution

‘The ‘election manifesto of the thee candidates standing fon the "verigte” programme

progressive organisations have ereasingly been drawn in solidarity action with the workers

Build the living wage campaign (Our campaign will strike at the bear of the profit system. What wwe want is what we need to live ‘Secently. Ifthe bosses" capitalist, System can't provide us. with ‘what we need, then. we don’t ‘need the bosses" system. We ‘want the wealth we created t0 comic hack fo us, so we can all

us support and solidarity from the millions of workers, youth and progressive democratic ‘organisations outside our ranks. In this way we will build a campaign of united action under the Keadership of workers, and ‘around our demands.

This year we must make sure that our May Day and June 16th ‘campaigns are much bigger than fast year so that they truly are ‘our national holidays

‘We can expect the strongest resistance to aur struggle for na floral united action from the bosses and the government. In their desperation they wil try

calls for 2 bill of rights to protect individual and group fights and refers to Buthelex'= Natal Indaba 2s a model. This not only guarantees. the maintenance of capitalism, ‘but also retains privileged positions forthe white ‘minority on the Lancaster House model.

But of course while the black majority are “excluded from the ‘May parliamentary ‘elections, they are very much present m the wider context of ‘South African politics,

This wes. given clear ‘expression at “the. recent ‘annual conference of South ‘Airica's biggest trade union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). In_ his ‘address. to the Conference, COSATU General Secretary Jay Naidoo said thet workers ‘must create a society where there is no. poverty and unemployment. “The way 10 {do this iz to make the politics Of the working class the Dolties of the majority.”

inthe. altwhite May elections, the petty palticians ‘may believe thet the future of

‘even harder than before to st- and more suffering — and more tack our movement hhope. Now is the time. If we ate They will try to. create tole, then we must go forward vigilante gangs, especially from together against the bosses’ the unemployed, to divide and system of profit and greed. We {intimidate us, They will ry and can see how far we have come. encourage tibalism, racism, COSATU is the home for every factions and division wherever worker in South Africa — they can to undermine our uni- employed and unemployed. ty, We must aot let ther There should now be no obstacle for all democratic Women workers come first unions to come together with us In our” movement women and form one federation in one workers have a special place country because they carry the heaviest, Joad of all. It is the duty of Our Tasks every COSATU worker to make We are committed to the leader So Be at sean mar Sacer ernie caer be ticipation and struggle" of siruggle, This year we must women workers are strengthen- show what this means by conedathousand times over. If our solidating and uniting our Tiberation does not succeed in organisation, COSATU, in creating free people, equal 10 decisive united action with other cach other in every way, then we progressive organisations under

‘sould not be liberated the: leadership of organised ‘Our struggles for maternity. workers, rights; equal pay for work of "To do this we will need the equal value: childcare facilities widest possible democratic that meet workers’ needs; debate, through all our struc ‘against sexual harassment and tures, ‘on our weaknesses and harmful work must have the our strengths, so that_we can highest priority in al our strug- come fo our National Congress sles today in July with the program for the

workers! way, forward, ‘One Federation — One eee Country — Now: Taken from South African Comrades — "we arc at a Labour Bulletin, dan/Feb crossroads. We see a year of 1987

more strugele, more. hardship

South Africa isin their hands. and its allies. To think that But in the mines, factories, South Africe’s problems can schools and ‘colleges, on the be solved without the active farms and in the townships, participation of the teal there is "a growing leaders. of the people, oliticisation and awareness including those in prison and in that the destiny, not only of exile, and without the ‘the republic but the whole of participation of” the people sub-Saharan Africa, ie in the themssives in the process fet ands of the working clase live im a dream world

PHOTO: Moris ZwifRefin

Labour Briefing No, 40 Mar 25th-Apr 7th 1987 page 16

Debate

Right to choose faces further attack

‘The decision (0 authorise woman’s right (0 choose. the sterilisation of a It moves away from the seventeen year old ward judgement a twelve of telson 10, pfewen ‘of court this month is Yea" ago by Judge Rose = those whom the state regar eter Sis mons \S Heilbron which prevented SVE 8 numberof as “unfit” from having. the sterilisation of an eleven Similarities: ‘en yee the children. year old git. minors in the eyes of the “The Eugenics movement ‘She argued that such an ee both were capable of here and in the United States, operation involved the © hild bearing and both were used such arguments to stop

Es reproduce. There is a long By Fase hey. and racist history of the use Peckham CLP Of. sterilisation to. prevent

mentally handicapped ‘ “deprivation of a basic ‘ as Black women from human right — namely the The yeverssl | ob | thes reproducing. (By) sada

BPE pamely the previous judgement is partly twenty-six states in America Tight of 2 roman {2 the result of diminishing faq'the legal igh 10. the

resourees for social welfare in Thatcher's Britain, It has been made now, near to the Nor have such practices young woman's eighteenth gisaonenred. in Britain, In Birthday, Because there wil ee fot enough social Back “Satt working, clase worker avaliable to care for Eee yer er in the community, and Yertion “than” better-o

when she is eighteen she will SOOT nae es no longer remain within the sych women are pressurised jurisdiction of the courts. into accepting sterilisation At is a bad judgement aiong with _ abortion,

because it opens the way for Nor Siing ” Nery “young the cours to decide who is mcwaing | ven joae and who is not fit to authorities amneocentesis is dependent upon agreeing to

an abortion if the foetus is discovered to be deformed. Tn this present case the

legally avaliable alternatives of contraception plus abortion should have been proposed. Allowing the Courts, to decide who. is allowed to have childeen is ihe beginning of avery dangerous path t0 population control and goes Beainst the fundamental Fight of a woman's choice.

compulsory sterilisation of

the “unfit”.

PHOTO: Jahn Cheemen

Py FE. (E/§ 328,82 : ahi 2 | 3 Hogi ro a aetelers

PHOTO: Gecard LivereFrome