Labour Briefing no. 50

INSIDE:

@ Livingstone seizes the moment

@The Tory agenda

@ Reagan in the Gulf

@ Trade Union Solidarity Conference

@Pit Closures

CAPITALISM IN CRISIS:

DON’T

BE PART OF IT!

Concrete moves by Reagan to “resolve” the 2.37 trillion dollar US budget deficit which has triggered the stock exchange collapse around the world over the past weeks have failed to make any impression.

Whatever happens now, millions of large and small shareholders are facing ruin in what the media now call a financial ‘meltdown’ or “holocaust”. One shareholder in the USA has already shot his stockbroker — followed by himself.

Yet faced with the disintegration of th structures, representatives of capital are

By ALAN THORNETT

financial

to explain what has happened let alone halt the slide. ‘Some hopelessly point to the “big bang” and the computor systems, whilst Reagan has set up a “court of inquiry” to try to find out what is going on.

The fact is that it is no longer possible to explain these historic developments by conjunctural factors — a hiccup in the system or a rash statement by a minister. It is clear that something fundamental is at work in the system itself.

Marxists rightly point to the protracted general crisis of capitalism, particularly the huge unresolved debt problems it has piled up in recent years.

The buck, however, has stopped with Reagan, and governments around the world are looking to the US ion for a solution to the problem — a major of the debt which is fuelled by the massive US arms budget, and a reduction in current interest rate levels.

‘Such a solution, however, is extremely difficult. The Reagan administration is weak and crisis-ridden and unable to stem the wholesale collapse of confidence which has taken place and the financial markets are like mad-houses as individuals and institutions refuse to believe the only advice on offer — ‘‘don't panic”, you believe everything will be all right it will be all right.”

Reagan has a big problem, sit it is to have a lasting effect, is reversal of his entire economic pol a huge deflationary package, the unemployment and a head-on confrontation with the American working class — not so easy for a government which makes a lame duck look like an Olympic runner.

Such measures are, however, necessary. When it comes to the bottom line — in the USA or anywhere else — the only way that capit can hope to stabilise itself is raising the productivity of labour — the rate of exploitation of the workers at the point of production.

what is required, if

ing less than a it would involve ‘of mass,

(Continued on page 2!

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EIURBY OF YOU WANT Bé PART OF ITT 7

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Labour Briefing No. 50 Oct 27th-Now 10th 1987 page 2

i Chesterfield-Conference Briefing Women Socialism reasserted Over 2,000 socialists workers" control and the radical turned up in Chesterfield ‘<mocratisation of British ‘on October 24th and 25th “it # all levels. for the first ever Socialist Conference. By Mark Seaton “The range of individ snd organisations, from Pe aS both within and without the ;ecogrition of tne no for Labour Party, attracted by — mediate struggle on many (hie sublcons event iss rons an Ge nod 10" Eak ’ measure of its historic those struggles through prac ee tS ae ee tionism preached by Labour widespread and urgent con ‘and trade union leaders, the 5", 2nd, Spposition 0a as

bie turnout was itself a timeJy. reaseertion of socialist principles, Perhaps the most important 7 message ofthe Contec was mpi we are st hee, and we areunrepentane ‘win so many different tendencies present ection was Inevitable, This was exacerbated by the conduct of some ltt troupe, who clearly had ite in {eres "in building anything lasting ou of the Conference The SW? in pariclar made no frends by Hs, unenlightening, but nonetheless snsisent Interventions IG the cad of the, it day, lowing 2 acries of rv tnd often aciimoniout ‘workshops 2 mood of frustra Ton wae evident among many participants, who had arrived Ghee with hath hopes. ‘On the second day, 9 higher level of debate (and tolerance) Drevalled and spits rose Despite the good intentions of the organisers, women’s interests were stil largely left off the Conference agenda. An attempt to rectify this at Sunday innchtime mesting for women only appears 10 have been

Tf the proposed “Women for Socialism” ‘organisation

merges from it, then the Conference as a whole will be more than justified.

i ‘In the speech that concluded the Conference, Jeremy Corbyn summed up the points of com:

a Sensus. Our determination 10 build @ mass movement for a

in. with an

‘anti-imperialist

foreign policy, will go hand in

hand with a\ bold new pro. gramme of nationalisation, and

im Council jobs and services was

solidly endorsed by the balk of participants

‘Ken Livingstone’s speech received the expecied media at tention and is a welcome indica tion of a new type of “realign tment” — only this time towards the left! Livingstone argued th the Stock Market crash is the harbinger of a major recession which will undermine the base of Thatcherism and open up ‘new opportunities for the lef.

He also argued the necessity of challenging the corres Labour leadership. Needless to say, Briefing would support any Such challenge and has indeed long recognised its necessity

Briefing supporters. attended the Conference in force. Our special 4-page supplement was Sidely “distributed and. sell feceived, as was our leaflet on the second day. Many sussex tions contained in. it were adopted by the Conference Organisers.

‘The ad hoc organising group will now help co-ordinate local Socialist Conferences, establish Socialist Policy Groups and ‘develop a Socialist Directory — ‘of “network” — in which all ‘campaigns, organisations and ep inva ae ted

organisers to reconvene the Conference — possibly om a delegate basis — ext year, at which time” we hope “a more permancat, democratic "and accountable Structure willbe established.

The whole enterprise can play 1a vital part in building a clase Struggle rank and file in both the Labour Party and trade tunions — an essential step towards building a mass move ment to challenge the Tories ané the capitalist system

The Chesterfield Conference

‘One of the most exciting things that came out of Chesterfield was 2 meeting organised on ‘Sunday lunchtime under the name ““Women for

By Barbara Green Labour Briefing Women ‘was right (0 launch and

build 2 broad women’s “organisation called Women

Socialism”. for Socialism. The speakers ‘Over 300 women explained the frustration of attended, and the meeting women trying to fight back was sporsored by many agaiust the Tories and also individual women in thelr now against the ant personal capacities from abortion Bill introduced by ‘ifferent campaigns and Liberal MP David Alton.

Ht was felt that an organisation like “Women for Socialism’” would be able to build a network of ‘socialist women, black women, lesbians and women both in and out of

Primarolo MP. the Labour Party and the ‘Labour Briefing Women unions. The mecling was had also discussed and only a first step. A further

sponsored the meeting will be held 10

meeting felt that the time

(Continued from

ly — is not engineered soon il be failures of

: banks ‘and institutions, a

f cutback in production and a drive towards protectionism.

M But itis not just the Tories i whose plans are in ruins. The drift of the Labour Par-

ty Conference towards share

‘ownership and away from

; IV is shown for what itis — ‘ bankrupt Toryism. Brian Gould's ideas lasted 3 months.

‘The basis of the new realism is undermined as well. The idea that the government is so strong, that tis impossible 0 confront

DON’T BE PART OF

front page)

‘AL the same time the crisis puts not only class struggle but focialism back on the agenda. ‘Capitalism cam hold the i can create the impression that it ‘controls the economy, but the feassertion of the realities of the ‘casing economy. which has exploded in their faces will create & new “anicapitaltfeting ‘amongst ‘of people on ‘which socialists ca build. It will polarise society with capitalism and the right moving to defend themselves and the doors opening for the socialist movement

Under the pressure of these ‘events all the political reference points are rapidly changing — From’ Kinnock and the new realists right across fo the hard let

is fact was very clear at the ‘Chesterfield’ Conference at the tnd of October — and expressed ‘most clearly by Arthur Scargill ‘and Ken Livingstone.

IT!

other countries across the world ‘tho “"want to change the inter ational order."

He also explicitly rejected briefing papers for the Con: ference which urged delegates ‘ot be (09 critical of our leader ship, saying quite rigily that at ‘Grucial points. of srugale the Teadership factor is crucial “How can a struggle be won iit is led by a Ramsay Mac Donald?" be asked.

All this may contrast sharply swith his own track record over recent years, but it did more than any offer platform speck to address the ‘realities ot the

‘Whatever the exact course of the momemows events. se. are fw living through — for which the only possible reference point fs 1929, whatever technical factors mmay have changed — these are the kind of ideas which need 10 be discussed inthe tnited. democratic left wing movement which is a possibilits Out of Chesterfield.

Livingstone made 2 strong land remarkable speech which could be seen as a bid [or the leadership of 2 revitalsed

He rightly stressed that there hhad been mo change in the real class nature of society. He told the Conference that the problem in the 1930s was that the labour movement failed to take control

the cycle again.”

‘He said thar Thatcherism,

Step forward to replace them.” He said we have to fight

seriously inthis c

power and link up

Over 20% was wiped off share values in the main financial centres during the first week of the

PHOTO: Graeme Cookson

Fighting Powell on the streets: now we'll take on Alton!

all over the country. Recent

FAB Groups are being set u groups have been formed in Wirral and Lambeth. Many of being set up.

"AB was launched at a press cor with a token picket of the anti-abortionists’ mass lobby of Parliament on October 27th. FAB has already been sponsored by NAC, Women’s Reproductive Rights ‘Campaiga (WRRC), and the Co-ordinating Committee in defence of the 1967 Abortion Act.

‘A-mass lobby of Parliament is planned for the Second Reading of the Bill which o be called on 21st or 28th January. A demonstration is planned for March. A jon should be available by the time you read

‘national pet this,

London FAB meets every Monday at 6.30pm at Wesley House, 4 Wild Court, London WC2B SAU.

What you can do

wend details to FAB, c/o ial FAB can also help you iu make contact with local

NAC set up supporting groups like NAC. @ Pass a resolution

Council, Women’s Section againsi the Alton Bill and supporting the January lobby.

‘@ Get your union, Labour Party, Trades Council, Women’s Section, etc., to sponsor FAB and make a financial contribution — FAB desperately needs funds in order to get out publicity and finance a temporary worker.

‘@ Contact FAB for their regular bulletin which has ideas for organising, model resolutions, latest news, etc.

‘@ Write to your MP now, and get others to do so. Send, copies of your letters and replies.

Contact FAB, c/o NAC, Wesley House, 4 Court, London WC2B SAU, tel. 01 405

4801.

National Abortion Campaign

12th Annual Conference

Wesley House Sat/Sun 4 Wild Court 31st October London ‘1st November 20 YEARS OF THE ABORTION ACT Speakers:

Jo Richardson MP, Diane Munday (8PAS), Madeleince Simms, Jo Chambers (CO-ORD), Alison Frater (Brook Advisory Centres), Angela Phillips Disabled Acces Creche

Es Deapernicy Selig Oo Outwrite Women’s Newspaper

is looking for women to join the collective and work towards its relaunch.

For five years, Outwrite brought you news and analysis of feminist politics internationally. Now we need you to help us. come back. We've lost our funds but are determined that Thatcher won't silence us. If you have time, energy, ideas, ‘commitment to feminism and internationalism then write to us, Design, writing and administrative skills particularly useful. Please write (with your telephone number} telling us about what help you could offer, your areas ofinterest and what direction you think a feminist publication like Outwrite should be moving towards.

Outwrite Women’s Newspaper, Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London E2GHG.

Labour Briefing No. 50 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 pase 3

Editorial

BRIEFING

TASOUR — TAKE THE POWERT

Who are the realists now!

“We must base ourselves on reality!’ So our “new realist’’ leaders in the trade unions and ‘the Labour Party have been telling us for the past ten years.

We'll give them “‘reality’’! The Stock Exchange “meltdown"’ has tom away the veils and illusion: and revealed that reality for all to see. As Ken Livingstone so powerfully put it in his speech to the Socialist Conference in Chesterfield:

“This crisis is a devastating setback for those who have told us that Thatcherism, Reaganism and monetarism is some new way of life that we have to adapt to.

"Those who say ‘accommodate to the centre’ have hed their entire platform fall away from under them.

"it's not just a slump that has happened on the Stock Market: it will be the worst recession that has happened since the Second World War and it will change ali political relationships and all economic and military relationships.”

The truth is that US imperialism’s bluff has been call- ‘ed, and the mightiest economic power on earth has been shown to be in effect bankrupt.

tig not just Mexico whose debts will have to be writ: ten off, It is now clear to all — and this was the realisation which sparked off the crash — that the massive debt owed by the United States to the rest of the world will never be paid.

The fast money which has been sloshing about in ‘Thatcher's “Big Bang" City, and which has been finan. cing all those yuppie voters So beloved of Gould — was pure fantasy. It was make-believe money. credit piled high upon credit, an immense house of cards resting ultimately on a completely unfounded confidence in the financial viability of the world's dominant capitalist power.

That confidence was a product of history — of two world wars and of the period of post-war reconstruc: tion, and was closely linked with United States’ im, perialism’s military predominance over the globe. Now that confidence has collapsed, it cannot be artificially recreated, The simple fact is that there is no way the United States can pay back what it owes whilst retain ing its arms-programme, its standard of living or its dominance over the globe. With the collapse of US economic predominance, the entire post-war global system of alliances, treaties, banking, markets and in, stitutions has come unstuck.

‘Though the immediate trigger for the price collapse was catastrophic US trade figures (showing a deficit of 815 billion for August alone), the problem is not just economic but political

‘The Reagan government has been spending money as if it were going out of fashion — handing out massive tax cuts, while increasing military spending to record peacetime levels.

in adopting this line, Reagan has more than followed the traditions of previous hawkish administrations. He has been seeking to oll back revolutionary

developments that rocked US imperialism in the 1970s — the Vietnam defeat; guerrilla victories in Angola and Mozambique; the Iranian Revolution; and the Sandinista victory in Nicaragua.

‘On the political level Reagan's aggressive line and ‘escalation of the nuclear arms race won eager support from other imperialist governments — Thatcher (of course), Kohli in West Germany, and Nakasone in ‘Japan. But this has not prevented the economic con: ‘radictions steadily sharpening.

For while Japanese and German economies, modernised after World War 2 (and prevented from wasting resources on armies, warships or missiles) have been investing in highly competitive industrial development, US administrations have continued to funnel billions of dollars into their burgeoning war machine.

‘Meanwhile complacent US manufacturers grew ‘smug on profits from their relatively protected home ‘markets — only to find themselves overtaken by a tide of Japanese, European and “third world’ imports.

The eclipse of US economic dominance has been rapid. In the last two years the US share of international bank assets has fallen from 26% to only 18%, while Japanese banks have risen from 23% to 33%. More ‘and more US firms are owned or in hock to Japanese or European enterprises. By 1991, foreign loans and investment in the USA will exceed American loans and investments abroad by $1 sillion.

‘<__ But still the tide of imports pours into the USA.

Cumulative trade deficits, and the burden of profits and interest on foreign loans mean that by the early 1990s the USA will need not only to stem the trading loss, but generate a huge $60 billion surplus on trade simply to Stand stil

Ronald Reagan's reluctance to admit the scale of the problem is paralleled by Thatcher and Lawson insisting that the British economy is “'sound’’. They know of ‘course that the profits bonanza in the City has been produced by flogging off lucrative privatised industries at giveaway prices, by squandering North Sea Oil revenues in tax handouts, and by a runaway credit boom prompting punters to buy largely imported goods in High Street shops.

It could never last. It requires a constant stream of subsidy from irreplaceable assets — declining oil ‘monies, and once-only privatisation offers.

But one reason the world’s bankers have connived at ‘the myth of an endless expansion here and in the USA is. because nobody can contemplate the consequences of, trying to rectify the imbalances of the world economy.

"The world’s biggest debtor nation is also the global policeman of imperialism, its leading military power and Political leadership. Nobody is strong enough to call in the cash from US imperialism. The sheer scale of the upheavals required to restore US trade to a balance would send shockwaves throughout the capitalist world:

‘@Reagen’s policies would need to be scrapped and reversed, with a massive austerity programme to put a clamp on US domestic consumption, while producing, more goods for export.

©To achieve this, US manufacturing would need to expand by 30% in just

© Even if this were pos: recession in Europe and Japan: US firms would have to recapture markets at home and abroad worth $220 billion — 2 tenth of world trade.

‘@Even partial success would mean disaster for weaker capitalist economies and infant manufacturing enterprises in the “third world” which would have to be crushed at birth by a US trade juggernaut.

‘@ This in turn could trigger working class resistance and government crises almost anywhere in the world.

‘@ The whole impasse exposes the myth of a common interest’ between European, Japanese and US. capitalists: though the lines are blurred by multinationals, they remain deadly rivals, at loggerheads in the fight for world markets.

‘A look at the problem shows the huge dangers for the working class. Every possible escape for capital involves striking new blows at working conditions and living standards.

‘While Reagan continues to fuel the war machine and each capitalist class attempts to urge or bully its “own'* workforce into fresh sacrifices for the sake of the economy, a new danger that economic conflicts might escalate into another war or wars for markets and profits cannot be forgotten.

The crisis shows that huge reserves of productive capacity have been developed by a capitalist system that is incapable of planning to use it for socially respon: sible objectives.

It shows that only in the hands of the working class can the latest technology and resources be developed in the interests of fulfilling social need.

It shatters the timid reformist dream of tinkering with and “planning” the capitalist system through piecemeal parliamentary legislation atone. In this way it puts the necessity for socialist policies of expropriation and international solidarity firmly at the centre of the ‘agenda.

‘We were right all along! In short, we have entered, quite suddenly, an entirely new stage. Leon Trotsky wrote in 1938 that the crisis of humanity boiled down. to the crisis of leadership in the working class. These words have intense relevance now.

For socialists in the labour movement in Britain today, the tasks are immediate. In the Briefing alliance, we have already gained leadership positions on a local level, in many parts of the Labour Party. With a new network emerging from the Chesterfield Conference, more possibilities should be opened up.

More importantly, though, the time is fast arriving when we will be forced to nominate a challenger to Neil Kinnock himself.

‘The catastrophic economic crisis will be a powerful boost to us in such a campaign. Our leaders must be told, in no uncertain terms:

“Resist this capitalist lunacy! Mobilise and unify our movement! Campaign to take over the banks, the in: ‘surance companies and the monopolies! — Gr make way for those who will!

Briefing Women

Our struggle

is a bitter irony that the policies of Britain’s first woman Prime Minister have hit women especially hard.

Women fought in the 1970s and won many gains, They, ware not easily won, and will not be easily given up

Thatcher, since “79, has been opposed by women in the labour movement and community. In particular women have fought to retain their right to choose whan, how and where to have children, the right to abortion and the right to paid employment on an equal basis with men which are often hidden. Fist, women don’t always Beat on the much revised statistics. They don't ap Because when they lose a job and their companion work they cannot claim benefit. Women have to show they have childcare srrangements permanently arrang ed — oF they are not classed as available for work It's hard enaugh to arrange childcare once you hev job; making arangemants in advance is virtually possible, The Catch 22 situation keeps women ou the figures:

‘after fedundaney women often take low-paid or par time jobs, losing any state benefits in the process. They are also expected to deal with the other side of Unemployment — depression and loss of self Confidence iWehile neuminaing: to” mainrgnn*these families.

The role women are expected to play in the family

takes a new step forwards

1e rest_— has been n and the Tor

emotional supporter and exploited by Thate

iderly and sick without

By Barbara Green and Jane Kelly Labour Briefing Women The Women Against Pi

‘of women organising, b iculatly trom the lead gen by women taking direct action against. Cruise olles at Greenham Common: and the example of Women Against Pit Closures. inspired women organise 25 women in further industria! disputes. Women in the Labour Party. under continual attack from the right wing leadership of the Party, were one of

the only groups visibly to object at this year’s Labour Party Conference. Black snd trish womers contimse to ight-the-raciem and -sexies- of government legislation

But many women have fought without the’support of the whole labour movement. The leaderships of the Labour Party and trade unions cantinue to pay lip ser vice to demands of women: For the Labour Party during election campaign "targetting'' women’ voters

meant going to white. professional, home owning

‘In their attempts to tumn-the Labour Party into the al equivaient of the Midland Bank, our “listening

has quite definitely closed its ears to black

men, unemployed and lesbisn worer

Bul these voices are getting stronger and more united in struggle. Socialist feminists across the labour move ment and community need and want to work together This is particularly urgent, given the attack on women’s abortion rights being spearheaded by Liberal’ David Alton. His Bill te reduce the time limit for abortion to 18 weeks is an explicit attack on abortion rights as laid down by the 1967 Act; and a strong attack on women’s hard-won gains.

Asa, out of the recent Chesterfield Conference ha come an idea to help this unity. Under the name of

women for socialism’’, women want to come together from inside and out of the Labour Party to discuss cam. paigning and to provide a forum for women to meet discuss issues and pol we as women want 10 develop and win withie

This idea is ambitious what women have been crying ou For all of thése reasons we sha}

Labour Briefing No. $0 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 page ¢

Labour Party

KEN SEIZES THE

After three difficult years of relative isolation, the balance of power, I's whe

ly irelevan.

KEN LIVINGSTONE has returned to form. But it would be extremely

dangerous if people around

Through his interventions at Labour Party Gould were ead the Party off

{ Conference and at the Chesterfield Conference init gine ot a } he has shown that he is firmly realigning himself ——aeee t with the left and establishing his credentials as pene tac ms tr oes of | our most articulate spokesperson. With ie gers pe have eae + capitalism world-wide plunging into crisis, he has ee | chosen his moment well! are es ee | Briefing is pleased to be able to publish the “a al genera following interview with him, conducted by sh red that geson Si

.JENNY FISHER and CHRIS KNIGHT. The

PHOTO: Leesa Heibert

interview took place in the House of Commons ope aa on Friday October 16th — the day of the Sa A Comer ie “hurricane”’ which devastated the landscape alee nase wee:

across the South East. seid that control over lnduty

This was also the day on which — unknown to __ teaaisaios"““futtis"P won. Kon Livingstone on an LCI pletion at Labour Party Confrence Ken or to the interviewers — the Walll Street cca ITAA IIS IIT a om nine crash, harbinger of a far greater hurricane, was Ken: Vos vot sepaed Tatia’s OT ccc give ws aso Etta act NR

Position won, It's wholly in chance. Yes, is a ch

nee for have gone and got some cor

just getting underway. Labour ‘covets anak the right to drop our non responding further reduction i Eapment - should nuclear policy and say we the arms stocks from the Soviet

eateries oh pounds Sos bow eater Cages ne 8 Ph Fees Sold oi achanen orice ti depends on whaiher you Sree Mould Beatotalwaste of "place uailateraiam at last actually “go “locking for’ i eT etce bay Ainc, Mee tomer Oa. hummel Le mais Ghats wheat stenincance 40 you Clearly, major fudes are be- wil the vacuum tet by the | Werichooked ononeof thon: “lM, gramevork of, 8 berayalor no. Lae Joa aso, attach to your election to the ing prepared on nuclear _colllapse of the Alliance ee it stoma 19°8 which docea'caarolye at bing & years not putting any personal NEC! weapons and that will be the ‘But it wus particularly reveal- CaN _costrol what you don't Goormar for America. ambition forward, plugging ‘Ken: Not much. Of course, main debate over the next year. ing, and 1 think it’s an indica: 9 C¥".”” Like a tot of such ‘There's an intellectual away at an issue, not following ‘there were incredible scenes in Given all we've been told tiom of the hidden strength of *l0gans, it’s total nonsense. coherence to what we're saying; any careerist route, Since comthe press room when the result about the left having lost us the the left, that virtually nobody Nou don't bay back all thove S155 imtetlectual cohicrence t0) ing into Parliament, she’s been jas announced, with the man General Election, there was ac- on the right honestly stated their shares: you take control over S008 the right are saying. 1 playing an active role in the from The Sun screaming ’Bug- tually a lot of strength in the _ position. the goveraiig Baty omerned. tse gee dass bali oleic rank ‘Campaign Group and taking the er me, we're going to have to lef’sslate for the NEC this year —- and file of the movement will orrect positions on a whole 4 bananas on this?” and soon. within the overall results, It’s probably impossible even to win an election refer our coherence to theirs. range of issues instead of mov. surged ND! MNS PSA uti ce Se Without having convinced people how we're going cn teccie.nin ion

Td have got pretty much the sway in beticr heart than hen to pay for the reconstruction of Britait eeeny te gras ar : -

same vote last year (but I wasn’t we went in. But there's a long year by year, And some Chris: Before the general elec-

tion, you could have made at least a plausible case, on rounds of tactics,

publicly criticising. N

Prepared to be used by people period of struggle ahead on vir ‘who just wanted (0 knock Erie tually every aspect of policy Hetfer off)

~All of us associated with the

Point, you break through All the otber recipes will be rejected lection by election by election, and even it you get another right

Chris: Bat surely Conference i You impose change at that level, the last place you'd expect them csuring there ate. Labour be honest about their nominees controlling the boards

local_goverment ett have Conference came aut “qui Positions? oh ie nee corporations. Nn ee a's lenders the Par Teles Ee ne et ne WANE ADS, — fog to cee a sees of mayor ST Caries Wille vice on pepe ga hang nege

refusing to defend our record, with contradictory resolutions” ebates, Weve sort Soke ee stake “coherence™, what do you

somewhere, saying Si really justify sueh restr

while Tebbutt pur the boot in— But apart from thar, you can't yee ahs. Someamake Sure think of Joan Roddock’s state: Reh orcomttarcriets CAME Pant OG ans Gobete and aes place Soho the oy pur someone ke ment saporied "Rinna, Set Te sate) whch omer Is or ace seas ii Sours SORTER ee pong ad: movements pot wahin soon Loraturtoirincer a uit tate soul hep Tent an — G2lrOm Pec Hans Iter tos of se seats nthe South vances made Gy ibe ft "in Slick of fans mening em Lat Marry in ther. no; Bait on nestle ee East. eons Seats were led Back. the shadow cabinet around a GE PORT ene “Chr Knight Aen thm oan was ofering ‘unite the lf o bulla Bock,

aire “London effect was 10 There was asmall shift tothe ouija board asking for OC,aNd, 98 Chris Knight ort tna ieget ig oe that extent their doing. But sight" on women’s and Black guidance poeple ee hem There sas a major push by the Melt as. | ahink. ght since-the election the focus has eopie's- “Sight tor eit the ight toy and dich But I had obviously fled by

been 0, say “t's all Liv- Srganisasion, “but_this didn’ Jenny: You think the review *i) Civic: t dou would be _stilatealis, She was jus say cast mnacke inthe peenieoiy fEBEESEMt a movement in the hve ws an opportunity to shirt CA: I doubt there, would bee bier to hin Te ee UR eee Ss

sonal atacks in the peess fed by constituencies at all: That was.a policy to the left? pock’s going {0 Gorbachev and leaks from’ some quite per- Sa Crs Knight sting around on nork' gone 19 Gorbachev a> angved on to another question:

Suliman fh eg Saas some board! ‘ala all these’ Dome how 98, MAL und can hee be Sr caee te prec ey question we have to face, which ev bout you throwing something ualty_on. the lefty accepting that *Ken Livingstone ts finish ppt Saat ian Gec fave” Kem But i wouldn’s be, sou RPOUT POU TNOWing SOMeRINE Saatbe that the leadership isn’t dy that a bet marginalised Labour government will fail on until we have Se Once sou'vedefeated Thar. 10,25 NOH That's going to get involved in that? ‘They bebeved it; you bebeved answered it, is:_ How does a Labour government ‘her and cieced ‘a Latour Wee made much mere ro; ix; even neatly believed it pee A inaliclal incetutions? government every aspect Of le Chri And you call thay S705 im that dieecion tha Conference’ thinking tIght There will bea degrer of con. tmMatealom? Keeping Trident Ten peleve we'll ee the just squeeze on in seventh place! | few people shihing in @ Wade ~ Ken: 1 ink we can shift cd fidence amongst workers. Toe wml the Russian tof seting the agenda while we But the rank and fle of the union block delegation, Ue left The problem with the state will be worried. MOTE GOmeEions? | Sesores mont of our time. 10 arty refused to be part of all. All the furore was around °F} lewion programme wax Industria: wil tat to ve Kot Lm sbing sou do allthis Terns Song outs this they just howe “sod i, what individuals said — what that it was drafed not by the concerned. Finance capital fw. 40%4¥OU ge into office. TSEC anonen ot ate, and voted the way they would Nail Kinnock did or didh’t say le but by John Golding ‘won't kaow what fo expect of Opa O8 enc OrPacheY” ait qulty oft, myself included, have done a year ago. in television interviews outside He got hold of the NEC that that government ther concessions, we'd be get The 1S-point plan we put forbey don't believe we fost the Conference, or what “Brian yer. sat down withtwocor vee The shifts to the left in the TREC concessions, wed be ge The Spain plan ae pt (- election because Labur councils, Gould said on the way to others and produced a fatal Labour Party start during se, {of Trident, was por peter nly te Support lesbian and gay tights. Conference mishmash of compromises and Labour government, as con. “ClidHBeanissic. | Be eet eat ‘They know we lost i primatily fudges — totally unconvincing fidence Builds up. The track give ye's posite tomoue drive towaree coalition with because we had no coherent Chris: What's sour opinion on 10. any elector, ier alone the fecord of success for indusnal 06,04 Positive reponse, — dive towards coalition il economic policy, and secondly the policy review? ress or media who were going action is best under a Labour (ruch more postive than what O60 CSTs PaO te able tase Because we fudged on defence hack over government. As confidence aunuck got from his vist to Gotta full sc¢of positions take Xen: Ym completely in favour "None of us supported the Stars 10. build” op, there's Reagan. We are, dealing now Choe A ar (ics; And our assessment of of the policy review: high the ideas around borrowing of that presure Team low andes Bem ‘vas sil weak, hadn't done is Labour Party Conference more policy "we've bec lumbered clection, or the mishmash of Paty can start to move nate ground, work,” hadn't sobbled generally? With over the last two general tation changes this Year direction the trade union block vores. Ken: Much beter, | think, than Gestons. has “That's not how you achieve a Jenny: Bat the wording of the ‘We haven't heard the end of the left could have hoped for. ticularly socal socialised economy. The issues The problem in the past, as resattion Joan was supporting. coalitions and tert & lone

iF strugele abead, but our tasks on

‘This was the Conference, don’t It was fatally flawed on all the the control of capital. Anything you know, has been that implied that becuse 2 : Fea

forget, at which it was said that key areas. It was a joke of an which takes the focus away nobody leading the labour government weet sever

the left was going to be soundly economic policy, for example. from that actually helps to bist movement had the slightest fruse'Taidenlc we could aese Irom now on

thrashed. Noweciearly, a lot of right the issues. degree of determination or a5 bargaining counter, sole- don't 6 along with the ‘There were some small moves wingers want {0 use the review My objection to Brian Gould courage (0 scze that movement (wally satin A of Huei fone, wiechioutice ee eel te

to blur the edges of policy, But to water down our policies. is’t that he says we can buy and post change. What we've ther’ Soncescions had. "been that ihe Party con jowt Se wong

‘when given the chance to vote They want to accept as rreversi-. shares. People can buy shares, 50 0.40 is build a leadership in, ned. shed to the right, because the

gna clear issue, Conference ble many of the changes That. all days faraslamconcerned.' the. movement, in the trade Kem’As Tundersiand in? Joana eit Rtas ihe ute: often came out. with a -< cher has-made'in-soriety,-and-~ -But-Mt-somebody working for’ unions and-the Labour Party, siviap =vandceraivivicanae, eels aveniey war the ood policy ura us into something which Ford decides to buy sbares in which can do it this time. ing — not that we're Keeping policies. ‘

Labour Briefing No. 50 Oct 27ih-Nov 10th 1987 page 3

Labour Party

MOMENT!

Chris: Aernativels, you could Say they're being drawn towards fan extremely coherent set of policies, put forward by Tha ther. She's setting the agenda very. profound way, hil “Gould, Nell Kinnock and those around them are basically “look, Hf you want votes, ‘iccetion to move in Ken: Well, there's no doubt that ‘many people in the Labour Par {are making the mistake of fssuming that what Thatcher has done is @ mirror-image of ‘what Labour did im 1943, and that we have to live in the world that she has created. (think that this Brossly. overestimates the Strength of monetarism. Unlike 1945, when the Labour sdership and the. capitalist, Mate tepresented a massivch powerful consensus about post fwar regeneration, Thatcher 1. polarising society. In opposition {0 her policies, there is in the ‘country’ at the moment a.m jority in favour of full employ ment, 2 majority in favour of the welfare state and so on: the tragedy is that the Labour Pais has filed 10: mobilise that. ma: jority and realise its potential.

Chriss Non ically Aeaidership? Ken: Its. ‘We kept our mouths shut oa too ‘many issues. For example, how ‘many people on the left kept their mouths shut about NATO ‘over the last couple of years? Not just the LCC but the whole of the let.

failure intrinism ofthe

Chriss Briefing did Ken: OK, Briefing did’ Sonderful "old Briefing. Bui Apart from thar, it was histori Compromise between the left fand the tight, wasn't i And Tike all ‘compromises, i's disaster. Your have to take one ‘lear path oF the other

Jenny: Mi we're not going to compromise on policies, why ‘compromise on. using the clec- {oral machinery? Wouldn't i be good idea if someone #ho Supported the coherent set of policies you've oullined actually Stood ins teadership ele

Ken: IP this two Year period devises a policies opposed by Of the

they so

What {strongly suspect is that by the time this review is ‘completed, there will bea broad ‘Gnanimity between the view of the leadership and the new policy consensus. We've got to fake sure that the policy con onsus i a5 sirong in the die tion we want as We cam make i

(Chis: Now teat he soft left has so. emphatically gone over Seainst amy radical dicection hatsocver, the question our Supporters ‘are asking how omg do you see yourself being ‘able to straddle the fence 2s the fap between the fea camps Res ‘nider?

ioe slay were 0 are

fo. greater

fap which existed around the between. say

Gtc Tod

hand and Harvey Hinds and 1 inglon on the other.

‘OF course. i's 2 lot case do this when the lefts mosing forward.

Chrise Yes, aad when the lft's

‘moving backwards, the roles are

the exact opposite. There's an ‘Sistinction, ba

alloming the right lo split ws 25 iy set the ageads and pall urls of oor ranks ever to their Ken: Well, a year ago, | was 2 Completely slated vole inside the LOC saying there's got 10 be left unity, They were saying ‘tne mans mad."

Now you've got Ruidock Galloway, Haine coming ote Caney. tire Go hout the other speakers. Otherwise Shy incr discussion between they were ging 10 throw me off SS In'that posrsiesion LC Goulderama Thing, Haine was Shute clearly. speling “out the

stead of eting

Perfect opportunity o have a ge 3 Brian for his endorsement of Popular capitalism and wider share-ownership?

Ken: Because | had given a ‘uaranter that I wouldn't use ther platform to aftack them or

| experienced a wonderful bit of realpolitik, of the kind you Just don’t normally ran into ia

The problem in the past, as you know, has been that nobody leading the labour movement had test degree of determination or courage to seize the movement and pose change. What we've got to do is build a leadership in the movement the trade unions and the Labour Party, which can do it this time.

the LCC. Peter Hain had stuck me as a signatory on his left tunity statement, 3s you'd ex pect, When the statement was Published, people began saving Rivas all Livingstone plot! The ‘driving force behind it was Hsin; 17d just said that iT ‘vas given aleft-unity statement, Ta sgn it; eft it completely up <o him and the other signatories. There was then 2 vote to

ing he was not going 10 go down that road, and getting barracked fori.

‘Now there's this drive from the right ing of the LCC 10 Keep ame off the Executive That's going to be interesting

Tm not doing any work 10 stay on it. If the LCC now ecide 10 dump me, thar will define their polities, As long as ‘2 majority think they ean work

‘with me, Ul welcome that. remove me from the panel of Don't forget, the LCC has Speakers! So I pointed out that now come cui in favour of Joan Ruddock, who was. on

‘withdrawal from Ireland within there, had signed it, Diane Ab-

‘There's an intellectual coherence to what we're saying; and an intellectual coherence to what the right are saying. I believe the vast bulk of the rank and file of the movement will prefer our coherence to theirs.

the Wfetime of a_ parliament ‘That's really important.

For the ‘rt time, all the strands of opinion on now. favour withdrawal. It ‘means you can now put cam paigning for withdrawal at the Forefront of 2 lef-unity agenda. ‘You could never have done that in the last twenty years.

‘There are sectarians im the LOC who are the mirror image ‘of the secarians on the left who never want to. work with anybody. However, the vast majority ia the LCC are com:

(ed Unilateralst, committed

ott was 2 supporief of it — ‘why just go for me? Perhaps because of the illogicality of their position, they lost by seven,

‘But even thea, it would have teen childish 10 accept somebody elses platform pure: iyo attack them. There are large areas where I agree with the LCC and spoke on those

also Knew they'd spent 50 long eciting guarantees Out of ime that they'd overlook Diane [Abbott sho would do it much more effectively?

T therefore sat with some conTo some form of workers’ con- siderable pleasure as I saw trol in industry, and are com- Robin Cook and Diane Abbott mitted tothe democratisation of cing much ruder about Brisn society. ‘Gould than I, with my respec

‘OF course there'll be internal table working class upbringing. conflics; but my whole ap- would have dared to be about roach over twenty ‘years has Somebody who is so clearly Been not torun away from these more intelligent than 1 am. bat to seek to build the biggest possible coalition around: the agenda of the left.

‘’m not going 10 change at this stage, So it can bring the LCC nthe right direction, that’s ine, If they want to The man's. been advocating

throw me over, that's up to

Labour's Future, the alternative ‘document to the NEC one being pat forward by people like Gould

Tiwent to Conference committed to the left unity statement ‘and the Labour's Future documeat, which were 2 complete, wide-ranging rejection oft prevailing views and ideology round people ike Gould

Yer I don't necessarily want to attack Gould. Brian & 2 ge huine socialist; had he been on the GLC, we'd have had no problems giving him a role 10 play in chairing 2 major commitice. He would have done that job swith vigour and intelligence.

‘We still might have some disagreements about the Best ay of winning the next elec fon. That can be done on 2 ‘comradely bass

If sou actually devise a set of policies that work, ssho.SUpPorts them or mot is largely tr Felevant. The policies themselves will “carry "people

Ken: If you have any doubts on that, sou've mad. Jesus Chit! I'mean, how easy it would be for me to sell out! Think how much would be of offer? Think fof my value 10 our opponents!

Given my age, the standing | have i the ‘constituencies — ‘which T have Kept despite being battered by the right and by a Jot ofthe left in recent years. if | wanted (0 sell out, | would have one it long before now. There are much easier routes.

plementing “caring cut ‘Ken: There afen't such things 25 caring cuts. The only boroughs | Know anything about are Brent and Camden; the cuts there hhave gone straight to. the weakest sections of the com:

‘My own appalling involvement in the total disaster of the GLC’s response to rate-capping (...) doesn’t leave me in 2 position to cast the first stone.

with them, rowing togettothenext Labour munity. They have by-passed ‘Robin Cook said atthe end of government. the Council's own bureaucracy. the LCC rally, the current "If you don't get that Labour "It's a vicious attack on the

within the Part’ which finds a ‘convincing answer 10 the ues tion: “how to win?” will sweep all else before it. He's right

government, you have a choice: Jou either ‘break the law by Tefusing 10 make cuts, or you make cuts on such a scale as wil ‘most probably put you on @ other side ofthe clase divide Tor fever, and I think that's the prebien! these people face However, I'm not going to be in the forefront of the campaign to vilify them, for two reasons. First, because of my own ap-

homeless, on children, on the School meals seviee, and so on.

People in the community see it this way; but also for years they have seen appalling inefficiencies, they see Very poor sian ards of service, and they are fot going to be mobilised in a Campaign in defence of a Coun: ‘Si which doesn’t seem to have the will to tackle sich problems,

“To be effective, an incoming

tris: You're no longer directly involved im local government Bat how do you view the com flict bewteen those mow in the forefront of the struggle against ‘cuts — led im London by Briefing — and those, notably former supporters of Briefing. who as members of Council Keaderships are in fact leading the struggle to impose cuts? Ken: You mean yesterday's heroes of rate-capping? 1 take some small pleasure from all this, I must say!

Tve made clear to my own Labour Party that 1 don't sopport the cuts that Brent is carryIng out. They are absolutely <isastrows in their impact, and 1 ‘wouldn't have voted for them.

You're talking about 24 of the Budget. I'm sorry, but that is. an. accountancy "problem. There's no way you have to put up school meal prices and cul ‘discretionary grants.

Ts the standard officers’ technique of hitting them while they're demoralised and getting them committed down a road of ‘degeneration. If those comrades ‘are act careful the officers wil be running Brent Council totaly by the end of the year. So we've gt. major fight on now.

ia elation t0 somewhere ke ‘Camden, where clearly. the ‘crunch has come with 20% cuts ‘across the board, come back 10 the position { put when we were ‘drawing up this strategy, of bor-

My objection to Brian Gould isn’t that he says we can buy shares. (...) But if somebody working for Ford decides to buy shares in their company, it won't change the balance of power. It’s wholly irrelevant.

palling involvement in the total Gisaster of the GLC's response {o ratecapping, which doesn't leave me ina position to east the first stone,

Second, I'm no longer burdened with running a Counil, nor am I out of money, nor ‘am I faced with the risk of being Surcharged. Instead, I'm sitting bere with this vast bloody great salary, in total security, with law which says 1 can't even be arrested unless 1 leave the

‘of the House of

socialist adi have 0 Dureaucracy and retrain its workforce completely.

“This kind of thing T've been saying for’ years. Now, Margaret Hodge has been leader of left Council for years and thas had time to do some of this. It's a bit late now te come out and say “Oh, it’s all gone ‘wrong. “And then she talks about "caring cuts”.

But equally, I'm not surprisced. I remember her tesponse as ‘Soon as Islington beyan to get ‘ome flack over lesbian and gay ‘ights. She began to back off. ‘She made it quite lear that she was prepared 0 sacrifice les bans and gays to get a few more

So it's not really on for me cither to start telling Councillors fn the frontline. what they should do, or to vilify them for ‘not doing it. Yes, I'l fight 10 reverse the position in Brent, Dat | think there are some things you just cannot do.

Jenny: Do you, sxject the “Margaret Hodge” Hae of im

‘A person who is prepared to. do that will be prepared 10 sacrifice almost anything.

Saturday 14 November, 10.00am-5.30pm Sunday 15 November, 9.30am-5.00pm + Future of Feminism * Cora Kaplan, Munira Thobani (Women in Biack Sections, invited), Liz Wilson (invited) + Future for Britain's Left: Ken Livingstone MP, Tariq Ali, Jane Kelly (Socialist Outlook), Hilary Wainwright {author of A Tale of Two Parties) For reasons of insurance, the creche can only be used if booked before 3ist October Tickets for entire weekend: £10 waged, £8 student, £5 UB40 or OAP. Tickets for Friday only: £1.50 waged, concessions 75p

Saturday 14, 6.30pm: A socialist policy for the media: « Ken Loach (director of Kes), John Pilger (journalist), Stuart Hood (author on the ‘media), Mark Wadsworth (black broadcastes), Valerie Mason-John (black journalist)

Saturday 14, 8.30pm: NOVEMBER REVOLUTION SOCIAL {food provided)

Labour Briefing No. 50 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 page 6

The Tory agenda

THATCHER’S FIVE YEAR PLAN:

““Catch 22’’ for

Kinnock RE

‘What plans does the new Thatcher government have in store for the working class? On these pages, we examine some of the details of the Tory plans for their third term. Here, PHIL HEARSE (stington North Labour Party) explains that the proposed measures represent a major escalation in the attacks upon us.

In this third term of That- sition from the old NHS to cherism, the Tories in- an “American” system — tend to complete the job private medicine for those they initiated eight years who.can afford it, and a run

ag0- down skeleton “public” "This amounts to nothing [Stem for the poor less:than the destruction of | By Phil Hearse

the post-war settlement in British polities, which under the Attlee ” government reordered British society around the welfare state, 2 strong nationalised sector of the economy, and govern- rents. Zooming property ment intervention to iron prices will drive working out the worst effects of the class people out of the market, newly-fashionable inner-city

This ‘broad consensus is areas threatening Labour's now being swept away. With political base.

Islington North CLP

‘@Hlousing policy aims to destroy public housing, and to create a private renting ‘market with unrestricted

Thatcher warned us she was entering its third — and fin!

esolute: now the revolution is "phase.

what should the socialist parliamentary system — response be? fascism or anything like ‘Thatcher's aim, which she that. The logical end to

work out how the Labour Party can deal with Thatcher by being ‘‘moderate”. The answer, of course, is that you can't

The irony of Thatcherism him, effectively,

it the whole panoply of institutions and practices designed to integrate the labour movement, and especially the trade union bureaucracy, into the joint planning and running of the economy is also doomed.

‘Changes

‘The changes at a political level will have a profound impact on the lives of ordinary people, and on the structure of our society.

In other words, That-

is that the changes being undertaken are so vast. A Labour government would have to embark on amassive programme of nationalisa tion and restoration of the welfare state — of the same scope as the Tory changes have been — just to return to the situation before 1979, Tet alone go forwards to socialism. — Such

‘@ Education will be totally restructured and centralised, ‘with the reintroduction of grammar schools and other forms of elitism, and the end Of free schooling.

‘@ Local government will be progressively dismembered ‘and put into.private hands, again attacking an area of Labour influence.

has pursued more con- which she aspires is a free sistently than her critics like market economy, an John Biffen, is significantly authoritarian but not fascist to alter the relationship of state, and the locking of the class forces in Britain, by in- working class and the optroducing social” and pressed into @ permanently economic policies which subordinate and powerless would weaken the organisa- "position.

tions of the working class, If the working class and divide the working class and oppressed can be broken, if ereate a new social and they can be rendered

‘@Denationalisation will political “‘settlement’” with defenceless on the factory action continue with the privatisa- thescopeand permanence of floor and in social and would lead inevitably to tion of electricity and the in- that of 1945. political life in general, sharp conflict with the big troduction of water meters capitalism can weather the business interests which

private homes. Settlement current crisis, and survive. back Thatcher.

‘@ The powers of the police, This is the reality behind the

Fear

PHOTO: Grseme Cookson

This is the ‘Catch 22” that Thatcher has got Kinrock into. She has said 10

“if you

want to be a moderate in polities, then you have to accept the basic changes of my counter-revolution,”” Bryan Gould eloquently ‘announeced the surrender of the Kin-

nock leadership to thi “Catch 22”

when he made

his speech on wider share ownership at the Labour

Party Conference,

Only really radical action both in fighting Thatcher's plans every inch of the way,

and at government level

the future (with rank and file labour movement support), can undo the handiwork ef”

cher’s political “revolution” the courts and the judges

is going to lead to an will. be progressively economic and social strengthened. “revolution” as well. |New anticunion laws will

be introduced.

‘These are just a few examples. Thatcher has set her face against the policy of the “consolidation"” urged by

A few examples suffice to give us a whiff of what the next five years have in store:

@The — social security system will be ended. Payments to claimants will former Leader of the House be replaced with loans from John Biffen. No, she wants the “social fund”. io push her’ counter-

@ The health service is in- revolution to its logical end. tended to complete the tran- ‘But what is that end? And

‘The post-war settlement lasted for 30 years. Thatccher's settlement is meant to

cunning rhetoric demanding “leaner, fitter, more comPettve British industry

last for the foreseeable The Boldness and scope of future, well into the next this scheme, breath-taking century, to enable British and far-sighted by com-

capitalism to restore its profitability and overcome its historic crisis. Essential she is the executive of Britis capitalism's make or break survival plan

‘Thatcher is not aiming at the destruction of the

parison with anything the Labour “leadership even dreams of, has thrown the labour movement into_its worst crisis since the second world war

The Kinnock leadership is thrashing about trying to

Thus the fear of challenging big business which usually holds Labour back from making real strides out of post-war consensus towards a socialist transformation of society will now act to deter even a challenge to the Thatcher post-'79 changes. A Labour government which accepted the Thatcherite restructuring of society would be colluding in the

new “five year plan” plemented in full

‘Thatcher's

and fight now. The more tradition of resistance

years to come,

Tory attacks on local government An erosion of democracy

‘Thatcher's election night pledge to “‘turn attention to the inner cities’’ this term was no idle threat. It was a warning that the plan to drive socialism from the political map in Britain was to move into its final phase.

‘Now, just 4 months later, the Tories have unveiled a battery of legislation designed to smash Labour's base in the inner cities and bring to an end the era of progressive local Labour Authorities

The proposals include:

‘The privatisation of at least six key areas of local services, with the Secretary of State having the power toadd more at will. Services will become determined by profit, not need — and jobs will be lest by the thousand.

@The outlawing of effective contract compliance measures by Local Authorities, thereby undermining the Sex Discrimination and Race Relations Acts, health and safety. and good employer practices.

‘@ Drastic curbs on the rights of Local Authorities to publicise or campaign for their own policies or against the government's proposals on local government.

‘@ The break up of Council housing, already undermin. ed by Right to Buy, by encouraging tenants to opt out of Council estates for private landlords — a move prepared for-by central government restrictions in Council spen:

ding, increasing dissatisfaction with the standards of Council House provision.

‘®The forcing up of Council rents by, a massive amount by ending the right of Councils to subsidise their focal rent levels out of the general rate funds.

By Davy Jones Islington South CLP

© The increase in local poverty by reducing housing benefit vie the Social Fund,

'® The undermining of democratic control over educa: tion by allowing schools to opt out of Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and encouraging the break up of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).

‘© The undermining of local democratic accountebility of services and more massive, scantily hidden subsidies to big business by establishing further unelected Urban Development Corporations (UDCs).

©The redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich through the community charge or “‘poll tax’” — the final removal of any real power of councils to act as the “thin red line of defence” of working class ‘communities.

These attacks are intended to lead to huge job losses

in local government — literally hundreds of thousands of jobs could go. They are intended to lead to widespread cuts in th dy inadequate services of local Councils, especially those services to the most deprived and oppressed sections of the community.

Poverty

They will ead to huge rent rises and a major increase in inner city poverty. They will undermine the gains made by equal opportunites policies introduced by local

They will deepen divisions within the working class on the grounds of race, gender, disability and sexuality, and between white coliar and manual workers; and fur ther undermine the confidence of the class in their abil ty to fight, as Labour leaders capitulate and turn round 10 argue their own version of Tory ideology.

They will lead to a dramatic erosion of democratic accountability of local services, as big business, government quangos and unelected groups take control of whole areas of local services.

Unless: these plans are stopped, there is a serious question mark over whether there would be any role for See Beeemny of Lesa Action, Petra a 50 troduse any progressive policies, :

fected by Thatcher if the

There is, then, no alter native, but for the minority who are prepared 10 resist

onslaught and Kinnock’s treachery to stand

created now, the easier will be that transformation in the

Labour Bria No 50 Oct 7h Nor 10h 1987 pate?

PHOTO: Workers’ Press

the consensus

KEN JONES looks at the Tory plans for education. This article is based on the Socialist Teachers’ Alliance paper for the

Socialist Conference in Chesterfield. The Tories’ new Educa-

tion Bill aims to bring the work of demolishing the social democratic consensus in education to

Inner London Teachers lead last year's march against Boker

By Ken Jones Socialist Teachers Alliance

(personal capacity)

near-completion.

Kenneth Baker hopes to reduce the influence of local Councils and reverse the remaining progressive trends in’ education ‘through:

@a combination of

greater control at the

centre;

‘@local__ arrangement that fise parental “choice’ ‘and school autonomy to break up the power of elected educational ‘authorities

Power

In the new system central power will be infsted, while the local units of educational management wil be multihod

Tories try to demolish

‘but reduced in size.

‘To substitute for the LEAs, Baker wil strengthen the power of govemors and — especislly — school heads. Headteachers, \ who "have ‘emerged from the pay dispute fas a much tougher managerial force, gain greater conto! of budgets, staffing levels and biting and firing. Their author ty over teachers, Baker in tends, wil be strengthened by parenis,

Choice

Baker is offering greater parental “involvement” — but ‘on his terms. Parents won't ‘actually have much sayin ‘what is taught in schools, nor well they be able collectively to Getermine the level of educa. Donel resources. Their role is more to act as the consumers in an educational market lace:

By competing popular schools to expand to their (physical limits, the Tories in fend 2 greater role for _inGrdual exercise of parental choice. The aggregate of il parental choices will deter mine the tate of schools: those least popular will close.

Market

While cal educational pian ning is determined by’ the market, Baker will be enCoursging the setting up of Schools that are controlled either by private trusts or by Sentral government. The in. fewvention of these well funded institutions, with their subsidies. from industry. will further fragment the system.

Everything that is known about "the “relationship bet

ween class and “choice” in education should tell us that the new hierarchy of schools from. the centrally-funded showpiece to” the least, popular” of the LEA schools, wil'reflect inequalities of clase and race.

‘On. top of this, there is Baker's. national curricalum. His nationally directed pro- ‘grammes of study, linked t0 9 Systom of testing at 7, 11, 14 ‘and 16, will rely on the kind of, Curriculum which most pri (gressive teachers, in their ef

forts to develop 3 relevant and 2 critical education, rejected yoars ago,

Pressure

Tory pressure groups have been " vocal in ~ proclaiming ‘ehat this curriculum should Contain. Baker's own Speeches indicate that he is Sad “vocationalist” themes of theic pamphlets. Antiracism, Certainly, finds no place in his

Plans

‘All this leaves the question: what should be done?

The Tories’ plans are neither democratic, ‘nor genuinely popular — nor even modernis ing. They will do nothing to cotrect the under-qualificstion of students that virtually every

Tory attacks on the welfare state

The political hurricane blowing

against our gains

A political hurricane has been unleashed on Britain’s welfare state since the June election votes were counted.

‘Thatcher's strategy is to step up the pace, aiming to leave a trail of wreckage so tensive by the next Elec-

Labour leaders will

not even contemplate has been

Exen before June the storm signals Were clearly isible in Norman Fowler's package of policies demolishing the social security system up to and in.

the earnings-related

Muted

Voters may well not have noticed Labour's pathetically muted campaign on this issue before or during the election: ‘but next April will See new misery for claimants with the Scrapping of all special needs single payments.

From then on those in desperate need will have (0 com pete against millions of others for a loan from a cash-limited “Social Fund” — with repayments stopped out of future benetit payments

‘Already Fowler’s penny: pinching attacks on board and fodging payments have condemned thousands of lunemployed youth to a near vagrant existence

By Harry Sloan

Much worse is 10 come: the scrapping of child benefit, and the Poll Tax, forcing all claimants to stump up 20% of the local charge, are ust two of the most obvious threats.

For the homeless, too, there is ‘a barrage of Tors altacks. centr ing on a new White Paper hich aims quite openly to being all Duillding of councit houses to. 2 halt

Speculators

Not only will new government rewritions seck to cut off all sources of cash to the few hossing departments sill hoping. 10 build more houses, but alters tions 10 the proposed “right 10 buy” legislation are designed to censure that any homes bu ‘ould be sold for a fraction of theit cont to Build — almost guaranteeing a massive cash lows Tor the councils concerned Property speculators are already sharpening their knives Tor a slice of council housing to be offered through the “pick a landlord” scheme, which Tories

hope will ake even more houses ‘out of the public sector — and further lengthen the queues of omeless.

ethaps the strongest wind of change is blowing through the Crumbling corridors of NHS hospitals. Tory ministers know before June — even as they lied ‘through their teeth, claiming a Digger and improving NHS — tha their policies had set in motion a massive cash crisis for this

Crisis

The crisis is now upon us, with health authorities all over the country closing beds, wards and whole hospitals. in this ‘Doomsday Scenario, the Tories’ hidden agenda of massively ex panded private inroads at all fevels of health services is begin ning to be unveiled.

Health Secretary John Moore at the Tory Conference gave onIy 2 glimpse of his “brave new world” Of privatised services ‘and ever_ more operations car ‘ied out in peivate hospitals.

Trailing

By triggering 2 financial crisis, the Tories have pressedganged NHS general managers {nto studies of “new ways” of financing the health service

The whole agenda has. ben

ich chafged in als

PHOTO: John

report on education has com- ‘mented upon.

If the teaching unions are capable of responding with a broad, aggressive, activist, campaign, they will tap the reserves of support that exist for wellresourced, genuinely non-selective education.

Campaign

The battle is how to get such a campaign going. Every local “branch “of the” union should "be taking some in ilative. Labour Parties, in stead of conceding vast areas of ideological ground to. the Tories” critique of the system, should themselves be getting involved.

“The TUC is now committed to a broad-based campaign on this iseue — but there must be the most intense pressure and activity to make this effort 3 dynamic one.

Action

Of course, there are other fronts to fight on too. The fact that teaching unions and the Labour Party have so little to ‘ay about educational content ‘and popular control has made the Tones" task much easier

one in the context of action

‘So much for the NHS being safe with the Tories: they and the judges backed up 8TR in sacking ‘while patients suffered. The NHS was fst the rest of

the welfare state w= next on the agenda

workers to maxunese thew profits

foe month: the snthiskabe ‘qocstioning the very survival of the NHS as a comprehensive tavfunded” Sctice free 0 charge to alla the point tse

has Revemc. commonplace

sey aime are 46 estab his sew “Tait accompli” before the est dlection, and then defy Kinnock's timid "mew meals torundo ft

Meansbile. Labour's feeble ‘and uninterested Tom bench

have been left. gobe-smacked, trailing far behind the pace wf events in the NHS. So 100 fats hncalth union leaders. Having shamefully failed to make ove of the NHS a real focal point of the Flection. these Same people are now missing & chance to make it a rally point for a broad fightback eainw the Thatcher “govern “The worst error possible for

the eft would be 10 lunderestimate the scope oF tenacity of the Tories" will 10 reshape the whole of capitalist Society for their own ends.

‘The biggest problem is that while the Tories have emerged a today's radicals, Labour's leaders have Become ever more

idly conservative, frantically (0. resist any challenge to, the ever- rote

“status quo”

Labour Briefing No. 30 Uct 1/im-1vov smn 198/ page 5

Trade Union Solidarity Conference

As crash knocks stuffing out of ‘(new realism”:

Socialist solidarity is the answer!

‘The mid-October crash on the world’s stock markets, whatever temporary recoveries there may be, has demonstrated both the depth of the crisis of the capitalist economy world-wide and the weakness and vulnerability of the Tory Party in Britain after their election victory last June.

None of the financial 5 Thomete

Trade Union Briefing The development of the ‘new realism””

‘The hard right is still making

mentators explain what happened. What they do know, however, is that

is now not so easy confidently to advocate the

“share ‘owning the running in the trade democracy” line and to unions. The single union targe the yuppies to go out eal just negotiated by the San tecyeuares im the | APL in the new Ford plant Sears wan cose & olay the

sharpest current. manifestation of it,

Tt is the first single union deal negotiated by the AEU after their deal with Nissan land is now the spearhead of Bill Jordan's race after the coattails of Eric Hammond’s business unionism.

‘The agreement is in the direct interest of | the employers and violates the Ford Combine recognition

tionalised industries.

The crash also shows the depth of the policy crisis of the Labour Party leadership ‘and the bankruptcy of the Ideas of the “‘new realism’, based as itis on the idea that concessions have to be made because of the strength of the Tory government. Everything which the “new realists" have said

over the past four years is agreements, creating how shown to have been serious situation for the wrong. In the same way other unions in the Brian Gould's crass notion Corporation.

It was negotiated directly by long time Communist Party member Jimmy Airlie — the only “left wing” member of the AEU

that the real way for workers to have control of their industries is to own shares in the Company is exposed as the joke it always was.

they take place.

‘A good example of this is in the engineering industry, where conditions have been pushed back 25 years, shop floor organisation seriously damaged and far-reaching new agreements forced through.

‘The agreement currently being pushed through, covering the whole workforce of 600,000, plus 1.4 million other_workers, provides for the annualisa tion of working hours, the fight of the employers to determine shift arfangements and total flex- ‘bility between all grades of ‘workers in an establishment. It is being supported by the key union, the AEU, and pushed by Bill Jordan.

‘A similar deal has- just been accepted by a 2 to 1 majority by one million Local Authority workers. This involves changes in the pay structure, flexible work time and flexibility between grades in return for a 10.6% wage increase over 14 months.

“The deal was recommend ed for acceptance by all three unions involved, the T&G, NUPE and the G&M, as a “means” of fighting off the competitive tendering provisions of the Local Government Bill. Jack

Where now, Noman? taking. The theme of the ‘mainstream new realists who ‘controlled this year’s TUC ‘Congress was the creation of a “new” type of trade

executive.

This type of business unionism is not the only form the slide to the right is

unionism — the promotion of things which have nothing to do with trade unionism at all, like providing credit ‘cards and holiday brochures for the members rather than defending their jobs.

‘Their model for this is the US trade union movement —amodel which ignores the obvious failure of such ideas there, as shown in the decline of the American

Dromey, the T&G negotiator, said it was a decisive ‘step towards the abolition of low pay.

The left in the trade unions has a responsibility to challenge this process, but up to now there has been tle success in this. Even the pace of this process has not been tackled seriously by the left. A discussion is urgently needed on these issues.

‘@How can the domination of the trade union leaders be challenged, particularly in the new situation Of the economic crisis?

@ How can @ current be developed in the unions which bases itself on the

‘Alongside these ideas go projects such as the T&G and the G&M are running at the present time, They have launched slick "advertising ‘campaigns, with videos and paid ads, aimed at the mass Of low-paid and part-time class struggle and secks to workers which has been give leadership on a day to created by Thatcherite day basis. policies. But the purpose of __ @ How can such a current this is not to begin a cam- be reflected throughout the paign to defend these labour movement as a workers, but is a cynical at- whole? tempt to maintain membership figures,

in fact the sime unions have stood back and done nothing whilst full-time jobs were destroyed and the low paid part-time and MSC ‘Sponsored jobs were created. Having done nothing for women in the trade unions for years they now stress the fact that many of these workers are women with special problems in order to recruit them.

These gimmicks cover ‘over both the slide to the

ight in the unions which is still proceeding apace, and the success that the govern:

Solidarity An important aspect of such fa discussion is how to promote strike solidarity. This thas been at the centre of the problems faced by the move. ment since the frontal assault by the Tories and the employers began four years ‘ago. It is one of the issues which will be addressed by the Conference in Leeds. ‘The need for solidarity is obsious. The abandonment of the NGA at Warrington; the isolation of the NUM by, the TUC in 1984/5; the isolation of the printers at Wapping; and the abandon.

ment and the employers are ment of the Silentnight having. These successes have workers, the Hangers happened not because the workers and many others are Tory Party or British the clearest examples.

capitalism is strong — this is _ If direct solidarity action self-evidently not the case — in support of these workers but because of the problem was not possible, other of leadership in the trade unions could have joined tunion movement itself, tak- battle alongside them,

ing the form of the repeated selling-out of struggles when

fighting their own battles ‘and breaking the isolation

that way, To force trade tunion leaders into such action, however, is a major political problem.

One important aspect of solidarity in the trade union movement is the growth of strike support groups over recent years. The support groups developed during the Miners’ Strike are the most important example.

Tn fact both the Women’s Support Groups and. the ‘general support groups were an historic development for the trade union movement in Britain, They reflected the mass feeling of support for the strike which was felt throughout the country.

‘They continued, to. a lesser degree, through the Wapping dispute and beyond, and many of them continue today. Their full potential, however, was not maintained.

"As a result of this development it is almost inconceivable today that a major strike could take place ‘without the development of support groups.

One of the problems in maintaining this movement, however, has been the attitude of much of the left — which abandoned the support groups soon after the Miners? Strike was over — some of them before it was over.

‘The exception to this has been. Women Against Pit Closures goups. Most. of those have continued doggedly on, despite the attitudes of the left. In some forums they have continued fo represent the strengths and traditions of the strike more clearly than even the miners themselves. This has been the case in the Justice for Mineworkers cam

for example.

It is a problem that the support movement has been allowed to run down at a time when the shop floor: movement, particularly manufacturing, had come under the hammer, wheo anti-union laws had made it more difficult to organise, and when victimisations had isolaed many of the militants fromthe workplaces and where the right wing bureaucracy had tightened its grip. It-is obvious that such groups have a role to play.

They have been needed] not just {0 organise support for the new strikes. which] have been breaking out —| involving a range of unio from print to teaching — bat to support workers who hi been victimised first in 1 Miners’ Strike and 1 Wapping, Silentnigi Hangers and elsewhere.

Ir those workers, who hs fought huge battles stood in the forefront of i defence of the working asa whole and been victi ed as a result, could not supported then there is chance of winning the struggles.

‘Nor was it, nor isi, juss matter of the principle defending’ _vietimised dividuals. They need support of the mov. but the movement them as well. They

Labour Briefing No, 50 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 page 9

Trade Union Solidarity Conference

We are to hat the damaging fa of defeats of the Pas

We cannot abandon the vious of recent struggles, ignore tet experiences, and whe same ‘ime prepare cquately Tor” the. new sttegles of today. We nced to'Wing the experiences of ther sugges ito the new Strats of today.

Scargill and the NUM The situation for the left in the trade unions is difficult — but there are very important gains which can be built fon. The most important of these is Scargill and the rank and file of the NUM.

Although Scargill faces a right wing majority on the NUM Executive, a campaign to remove him both by the Kinnockites and the Communist_ Party, and opposition from Scotland and South Wales over six day working, his role at both the TUC Congress and the Labour Party Conference was excellent

His stand at TUC Con ‘gress was strengthened by the remarkable 77% vote of the miners for action against British Coal’s new disciplinary code, That in turn was partly a result of his “‘stand and fight” speech at the NUM Conference a Tew weeks before.

As a result of Scargill’s fight at TUC Congress alongside McCreadie. from the CPSA, the right wing advance was slowed down to some extent (the General Council's record on Wapping was referred back) and a clear lead given on class struggle lines

In the pits the right wing hhave been able to hold the line, The overtime ban was reduced to a farce and now the Yorkshire move to ballot their membership on a proer overtime ban has been dropped on. the argument that it would open the door to South Wales to act on an area basis over Margam. Yet Yorkshire were only proposing to fight for the implementation of national policy of the union.

A New Structure Since their election victory, the Tories have moved

sping:

rapidly to put the boot in as deep as possible. Everyone is all too a familiar with the hhuge attacks on local government, education, more anti-tnion laws, the poll tax and rapid moves towards further privatisa-

om BP to water, and the coal

industry

If the Tory project is allowed. to run its course there will be no NHS by the time of the next election. ‘The principle is now being ‘openly stated that just to be ill, of even dying, does not entitle you to treatment — there are other considerations!

Since the election the ‘Tories have acted like a conquering army marching ‘across the country... But it hhas been a “strength” based ‘on a massive electoral “‘majority”” based on 42% of the vote, and a media which has created the illusion that the economy is strong and unemployment going down.

‘Crash

‘The importance of the stock exchange crash is that it explodes that myth of the strength of the government and will create conditions for renewed mass struggle.

The point about the stock exchange events is not that big business loses millions of pounds (the top US. Stockholder lost $1.4 million in two days), or that small investors tempted into share ownership by the Tory Party or Brian Gould have lost

out, but that it. translates quickly into recession. and even hi levels of ‘unemploy

In this way it can radically

change the polit fas we have experienced it in recent years. It vindicates Marxism, calis capitalism into question among many people who have not thought about it before, and creates. an anti-capitalist mood,

‘AIL this means that the discussions on the way forward for socialists, .on the work of the left in the unions and. the development of solidarity work takes on a new urgency at this time. Developments made now could become the. Framework for a much big-

SOLIDARITY eee oe

1S =

co

NFEREI

Leeds Trades Council Club (Saville Mount,

Leeds)

November 7th, 11.0u-6.00 November 8th, 9.30-4.30 Conference fee: £3.00 waged, £2.00 unwaged Creche available

Two days of organising support and discussion on: the current situation in the trade unions; the implications of the defeat of the miners, Wapping, Silentnight, Hangers and others; current struggles and confrontation of the teachers, civil servants, mining industry, docks, engineering, local government, etc.

The Conference is open both to delegates from Labour Movement bodies and visitors.

WORKSHOPS:

Unking up support groups (international fink-ups) Strike solidarity and spreading action Black workers In the unions Anti-racist campaigns (Anti-deportations, Broadwater Farm, anti-fascist action)

Women in the unions Victimised and jailed workers victimised miners Privatisation Labour Party Support What to do now in the unions ‘Democracy in the unions The law, the state and the unions Buliding support amongst the unemployed How to respond to sackings (closures, occupations, etc.) International solidarity Fighting Local Government cuts Anti-Apartheld work in the unions Fignting low pay and worsening working conditions

PHOTO: Andrea Campbed

pplication for credentials

| Please send credentials for

Hf have enclosed € .. :

liwe will require accommodation

y and creche places for ...

| Preference for workshops

Credentials and correspondence to: Janet Seymour, 3 Hill St. “Barnoldswick, \coin, Lancs. Tel. 0282 812864.

I Reasonable accommodation at private houses will be found for those y making application in advance.

get movement in the near, J

Future.

Labour Briefing No. $0 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 page 10

Features: Child Abuse debate

— Aclass issue? Yes and no!

| Child abuse is a difficult idcolozies which are central to police release crime figures by Ethan the contiaued existence of 2 facial origin. The aim is clearly and contradictory Ppro- Sscs-baced capitalist society are to make this or that problem &

blem: it both is and is mot aiso a central cause of abuse. problem of race of class origin a class issue at the same "9 The avy ofthe tate and (rather han of the socal order time. It can therefore be the social services themselves in general). s ‘make child abuse a class issue." Obviously, if the police understood in two dif- Tye ‘sctions of individual devoted as much time to un } ferent ways. social workers are irrelevant to covering middle class tax fraud,

Child abuse canbe viewed ymcice often aimed towards curscnes inthe mst of 8 ‘as a class issue in the follow- those in society who are assum- massive upsurge in white middle ing ways: tito be “deviant” or = “socal lass crime i (@Only'a government rung in problem” ‘ the Soteret ofthe working css Finance

4 and the oppresed would beable By Preston Labour

Its therefore wrong to argue,

‘everyday occurrence. eee ee ‘as did Sue Arnall in Briefing 0. is disappearance would be an ‘46, that economic deprivation historically lengthy process, ‘It. should not _ surprise increases the possibilty of child because any meaningful attack socialists that the vast majority abuse, since that reinforces the ‘on the problem would have 10 of the “deviants” are usually idea that it is a working cass include ‘measures to eradicate working class and/or specially problem patriarchal ideology and the oppressed. Thus the habit isnot" If the number of children befhuclear family, both of which to think of child abuse as part of ing taken into care follows an . fare central to the way that the life in the leafy lanes of subur- increase in economic distress, it ruling class rules. bia, Dut to see it as a feature of doesn't follow that this in- Fighting to defend the provision of facilities for children: we need to go further and look at what ‘©The family is central for the life in working class areas and dicates an increase in. the _kind of services we're providing. reproduction’ of labour for estates. Physical or sexual abuse of in periods of economic distress What. attitude should the turn the victims of the nuclear capital. This reproduction, plus ~~ Within this overall pespective Children but only that such conditions labour movement take towards family into the problem. the lower value attached 10 itis therefore easier to see child "The fact that child abuse may may lead to its discovery. child abuse? Here are a few in- _@We need x system of care female labour by capital, fs sus. abuse as a working class pro- be uncovered in such cie- "In this sense the real problem tial ideas ‘which ‘need to Be tained and justified by the very lem, despite evidence to the cumstances G.e. family clasees are the middle and upper discussed further patriarchal ideology which, in contrary Breakdown for any one of 2 classes, where such acollapsc of @ Socialists need to develop art, i the root of child abuse. “A similar process can be seen number of reasons) docs not in- family life is less likely and system of demands for the ment there are but two options ‘Thus, institutions "and at work when the metropolitan dicate that itis likely to increase abuse can remain completely labour movement to take up, fostering or children's homes Undiscovered which will defend children as Neither is ideal or relevant Tn all these senses then, child qual human beings im capitalist mast cases. abuse is clearly a class issue. In Society mow, and inclade the A system of safe homes is Bo way, however, does thisimp- Kind of postive steps necessary needed, where children are not ly itis. problem of the working for fall Nberation. branded “as abnormal in. any class alone or more likely iobea “There are obvious difficulties way, and can enjoy a g00d problem of the working class here, as organising children a3 quality of life. Such a system ‘because of economic distress. an oppressed layer of society isa would require independent very’ complex. problem which social workers responsible only Youth Deeds a lot of discussion. There for meeting. the children’s

are, however, four areas where needs.

It is precisely because child the’ labour ‘movement could "eA comprehensive _educe abuse is not related in origin to have an immediate impact, if tional programme. needs to: Be theeconomy that tisnot aselfa only in a. propaganda sense launched in schools around the

Ly emg poe ae : See eee Seletnemntcae Se 2 ee i Sass oe oe soe Foes ao oes SiS eye -_ < g Sop reg age Ration : Sn Sul puiliae ches med cn ben's datesoessocd ts or feghe er eas e i ee a ee : power of iedogy is rkied abou replacing sch t gute) iron the boar mov See ee ee ate ee ee eee ° <i ia Se g Seen en ae ie al sages Bang ees, 3 ee Te ee mee I

‘capitalist society people are in children’s Romes end children’s dependence on se sa cross class through no fault of their own, their family and any authority Phenomenon. in these senses, yet they are often “eriminalis: figures who have power Over then, child abuse is clearly nota ¢d” by the bureaucratic struc them, whatever class they come

Do we need more crop-in centres for chidken and young people? ig es tures of eo toctnaons Shick om Letters e 5 Tacialy_ opportunistic rein- tele, which i always ane a WRITEBACK PR: a tactical tea gl leaves depen sac | coc ty ae laser tara | Add in the T Lik “yes” cravorsivon thecvetcenoral for sovalet abendonacat . Mammen saa SET "E00 ee aPhees cengater ina PR wit! material context! 5 ion of PR by the “sreaghest "the coalitions We welcome your letters! Dear Briefing, left would be an ideological forces inside the labour move | Dear Brie/ine. Write to Labour Briefing, PO Box 457, Ghat Hah Uatour ri Sept dey the pms) ment" Ya he mn dee | KM Schoning Cun London SW2 5UZ support for or rejection of PR With only 42% of the sone hung parliament; and in’such | Abuse: “the family” is the proESimorbereiscsdioamanerot ros under scpsem Of PR the ciciastanens hwould not be | t'. 1'as'atappoitel ts eas Tan | Se Bimonke about “Geen govecmet of rian comes fore Kinort had | nA ce Why COHSE workers heady have special | dinate yo Cass tres Srovld “some “of its more new merged party ton he the incadome Ot chi i thetime they Feqire weekends, | iss. Yet Ubchve that Chis as ofthe ater bourscois pares.” ever ave beens majonty | Scum of politeal comet public transport bank olay, The eonc | come othe wrong concasion. “eHonever mock wes Marx: Labor goverment but acan | Whit ere ha the who drive these vehicles are ot rit'sogic eceaialy at iste ignore aburac features of hot be ght ¥0 cing to the pre. | Wes Dear Comrade, ‘cabs, they are good tadeunion | PR wil prevent eves again the democracy in favour of a cass cedure ofthe archaic Brush | have ited somal networks imembers and (© describe them | cletion Of majorky Labor craeaton, it cannot be dened! Sate ln he hope tha a ofthe | {s'ao true thar physical sae

as such iy a gross insult government. Instead, Britain that the abstract principle of vote plus a split bourgeois op- | and neglect ate’ closely cor- ‘The issue of health workers | would be administered by coali- democracy has support amongst position will provide us. with | related with material stresses —

citing to work isnot just acase | tion governments, where the working class. It is foolish, government but’ no power. | poverty, poor housing,

of people being “incomveniene- | ourgois partic coui! prevent therefore for the Kf 19 cam” ‘What emuch more important | homelesnes) etc. The. sane

fed” as Mr Bassett says. People ane which threatened pignapnns PR and in favour 10 build soit oppntion | does not appear to be tie of

She if health workers can’t care | the power of capital 6f an electoral system which is through the Labour Party and | sexual abuse, which Is,

for them. Whatcrer the reactionary manifealy undemocratic Gn the challenge "the archaic’ Betisn | tmatoly with the abuse of male ‘COHSE fully support Lon. | nature of past Labour govern- abstract) and thus leave the state. Practical strength based | power under patriarchy

don tranport workers fight and | ments — and indeed any clecied “democratisation” iste for the on ciass politics is much more | "Chris Knight's, article ap-

‘any action which they take. Our | in the immediate future — the Alliance. important than possible ‘elec: | peared to have lost sight of the members rely on public | scizureof governmental officeis @PR would play a role in (oral over-representation, ‘ways in. which material and 2 transport and Londoners lives | a precondition for socialist weakening Labourism. Labour To talk about past Labour | economic circumstances. affect rely on our members. transformation. ‘would have to reach out tothose governments in this context — | the ways in which we relate to Tam afraid that Mr Bassett's | ‘Several points should be set radical constituencies im areas each one dominated by the right | one another. The functioning of ‘misinformed and | aside this analysis. where Labour at present stands — is to relish in “what might | families or kinship networks can Pathetic in its stupidity. ‘@ The bourgeois parties have litle chance of electoral success. have been"” had there been a | only be more or less construc ‘Back in the Liquorice allsorts | never been faced in an election Equally, Labour would have 10 tive within the contest of the box Bassett Sha Souls oppostion, et win incresed"sopport by ‘economic and material world, ‘Yours sfocerely, alone one which looks like win- meeting the needs of ‘Maureen White Pete Marshall, mag WihPRnpecesttyas youme cos comeakes Hackney North &

Regional Ofer, COHSE | Allsnceand wittime backing “afe"™ Labour seas thes Stoke Newington CLP tarthe Comervsive Pury, i sndcrmining ight sine Labour

BODooooOOGOTO| soul Kan cacy er 2 been: PRevekd sun meee jE

frustrate the left. Thus theleft's ground im the marginal comsti-

oogocoo0e00000

Labour Briefing No. 50 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 page 11

Features

East German Gays remember the homosexual victims of Nazism

PETER TATCHELL met leaders of the lesbian te wanting Soe ; and gay movement in East Berlin late last year. breceaed: or ner dapae This article is based on that meeting and eon ae subsequent correspondence, plus interviews with iocrdiecty eeveatpd exiled GDR gay activists now living in the West. Ss a a of cone of those "who. was arrested:

“They were only held for For nearly 20 years, the GDR. Our belief is that we _@ short period of time and West European "gay must” work within the then, following the confiscasiotement hee struggted Socialist system for change.”’ tion af their wreath, allowed movement hae jrugzied “Beginning in 1982, the 0 so ahead with their visit sect the, particalar Working Groups based in to the camp. After comaiton! of pence Berlin ee ae ee os visit, members of ersec government departments to the delegation wrote ‘com uals under the Nazis. aise the issue of official ments in the visitors’ book Tess well known is that acknowiedgement of the 0 the effect that there wat lesbians and gay men in the tens of thousands of of enough information in

German Democratic homosexuals who died inthe the official records about the

Republic (GDR) have been death camps. Nazi extermination of gay

campaigning for the same The government reaction people. Subsequently, they

end. was that the gay victims of discovered, all these com. Organised in the Working fascism should not be singl- ments were erased from the

Groups for Homosexual ed out for special attention visitors” book.”

Self-Help which are scat- (a response which I also en-

tered throughout the coun- countered 14 years ago in ‘The following year, on

try’s major cities, the GDR 1973 when, as a delegate to International Women's Day

gay and lesbian movement the World Youth Festival in in 1984, a lesbian delegation Shelters under the protection East Berlin, I attempted to from Berlin went to the site of the Protestant evangelical lay a pink triangle wreath at of Ravensbruck concentra-

tion gamp and succeeded in

“ta contrast to the westera view that our YiaS, wreath Inscribed

government is totally repressive and unresponsive, “Jn memory of all women : ‘we have shown that change is possible. Our murdered in this concenira- Undeterred, the Working of the Ravensbruck Working Group, | for ernment its willingness to ‘tion camp. Signed: Working Group members sent a pro- Memorial which resulted in Homosexual Self-Help

frome cs beat ie ee ofa nomena ee 70 the its members being given a the site ofthe

listen and adapt. We are optimistic for the future $79u? for Homasexual tPA Othe Sided tour of theezenp ate Sachsenbausen concent of lesbian and gay rights in the GDR.”” eee cays, Ravensbruck Chmmitiee and official sanction forthe ‘on camp. Statement by a member of the lesbian and gay however, the wreath disap. advised the group toredirect_ laying of a wreath bearing The decision _was_ a movement in the German Democratic Republic. eared. All inquiries about its protest tothe Ministry of the message: milestone for the East Ger Shy it had been removed Culture. According €0 ©2° wm memory of all she mam sx movement, Not on- = ke tere ignored by the curator Of the lesbians involved: 4g 2”, memors, of all the iy"wyas ‘ir tantamount 0 an ich provide it the site ofthe of the camp memorial and | “'Much to our surprise, a amen, especially homosex. Serta acknowledgement Of ‘places “and Sachsenhausen concent the government authorities delegation was. invited to Malmamen, who MS the Nazis" particular Priming tacttes for “sion camp). ane ess che alee Mera Pts Tah se degion Peoton Ronee ie, in April 1985, the police at the Ministry and soon but — perhaps even more ‘The political orientation _In response to this official folied "x" second. "wh y and S00" was refused permission 10

of these groups is staunchly indifference, sesh — ee eee ee Specify that the wreath had importantly — it was an im-

the Working faying ‘atten pipes PRECIO bad prosocilis: Groups decided. 40. take one prea s ae ot neem he Say

plicit official recognition of the self-organised lesbian

In the words of one group direct action in May 1983 to sary of it ic i Fy of the liberation of the denied access. 10 i : member: coincide with the 38th an- Samp. An eye-witness to Aemnshruck Simultaneous. This hint of a change in “™ MY movement.

‘e want 10 work with niversary of the final over- these events recalls: fra second apology — this government policy was rein- In a country where the our government — not throw of the Nazi regime. A "“"Teiye lesbians were ar- time for police maltreatment forced last_October when, government has traditionally ‘against it — in order to ad- delegation of 13 lesbians and rested as they got Off the arrived from the Ministry for the first time, the Suppressed all social vance the cause of gay gay men went t0 rain. After @ harsh inter- of Home Affairs.” Ministry of Home Affairs movements independent of people. Sachsenhausen with the ob- rogation, which included confirmed that it would the State and ‘the Com-

‘Another member stressed: jective of laying a wreath in Some physical matiratment, | Later that same month, a allow a delegation of les- munis Party, ths is quite & are not dissidents. memory cecal pe LU OS etka akgein tad) bac slaapmmas bys cute ee We are loyai citizens of the vitims of fascism. Bernt {@ Gocussions wih the cursior wreath in the name of the “uns Senevement: Reviews

Much to agree with — but an overall difference

Labour, A Tale of Two ways: of organising. indepen- the ight... The right can never organised through the union.” social unionism encourag. union links, making an explicit Parties, by Hilary ert of the Labour parang realy expel theft if heeft "Ts approacn rune the 90..Tany sess anewkind content (0 the make Suspicious of selfdefined Stands firm the right willeave. danger of sccepting the per. of, orking class politics. repping unilateralism." But Wainwright, Hogarth mosses —erinienaes ieee ieemn Oe re ee temas saa ee eee ee oe Hiary's commitment 10 already packed thei begs tc Unione are nately right wing. doesnot address the problems Lebourism to the left {as} In her new book, Hilary iow social movements to catch the next tain. ions ere onately (OM woe: Gmunicipal socialism that we Unrealistic es. an. effective Wainwright argues that speck forthemselveshasbeen ~The lft should not even be gift to the night in the tage 270.8 so familar with. elactoral proposal. ur con- # oreet edventage in writing considering handing the Unions is not to reduce ther Hilary's suspicion of “self. Instead she argues for a p10 Dates facies much of this book. In survey. Labour Party and fs structures voting power, but to challenge defined vanguards”” makes it gramme of democratic reform pai ete tabs ett ae tok toaergh whe. wat pommsietso cheese tori to cites te opine oe aoe oe f One is the traditional {sa pictre of sdiverse move. To be amr Hilaty admits that We! should, Gewsiop Brood ststegies of others on the parently based on the confus Labourist ry of ment active in all aspects of her “attractive option” is not Lefts in every union to em- “left”, But a citcal appraisal ed ‘conception of an “em Gauaghan and Witton: the Ta Brtt'sed'tade snore, | onthe spends. Sve says the powerthemenbertip andi. of Pow ferent curtenta pet. pawering stata” Whist Hilary Seat the tagwnmoccts "As Wiery “develope “her fortwo ressons. One tha Ing! democratic eto the | formin struggle is essential # ute rightly, criticises other is the beginnings Of ame of party wating”, we have a song bese inthe unfons’ vote at Conference.” We afe 10 begin the task of Labourist attitudes 10 the ex radical socialist porty Des- (fhecomes leat” that she ClPs, and the other is the “Paradomicaly. despite utra- ‘ebulding the let. isting state, she. appears. to fd upon the local govern- cio this perty tobe able Party's instutonel bone left eaninge her avtmude to Het attitude towards the believe they can be reformed many CLPs, rieave Labour and express withworkers oganisations.” the Labour Party os « whole, about Party leads her to fo "Wlst mony of the fisted Sections and itself in its own right Wary sdopte 2 somewhat un downplay the importance of demands deserve support as a iy presoning the Soowiet By Brom Griffiths tral eppeach te the iw the mural Sugai, for moacure hat wil waakan the written Society case for proportional Sou ical forces end currents power. Whist she is right {0 state and exploit contradic fiom te poem tm eck) seperate ete nape Seen wen Foint to the inword looking Sone with fe we should not sider. Brought up @ radical thet a splitin the Labour Party Unfortunately Wary under" @She suggests that the left ature of much of the eft, tis labour under the iusion that fiberal, she'later joined the would be an "attractive op- mines the watertight case she in Scotland has “regrouped 8 feal mistake to divide the we can reform it. Poet eee ret eines et tion”. This "point ‘wes well makes for joining the Labour under the banner of the Seat- esssity. of a struggle for Labour, A Tole of Two Par Gteratone ted Meme; oreweied by Tory Benn ina Pay. She describes the ish Labour” Cooraneting leadership from the need to tes is & more intresting sroup = atttacted by their ical Socialist Society nature of “our “inetiutionel Committee” — despite thet tun to the struggles outside thought-provoking book then Pap A publication Bond with the Unions, the organieation’s witchhunting the Party many ofits type. Labour Bie said of the Labour Party ican understand the argu- Block vote, as an". inbuilt activites, The Bok ends by sketching ing supporters wil find much “Let it Bleed!" ment, but im notin favour of source of conservatism and 8 She describes the NUPE 2M electoral strategy for the in it that they agree with: but She left the IMG and'éo- the Party spiting, Every ive police! coxruplion "She grey leadership en. leadership that, Lebour Party: She rejects “..nolmany sunnoriers wil hays,

guthored the book Beyond tho | years the Labour Party loses poses ’a block vote based.on> “provides an akemative to * * lean from Laboursm to the her, overall attitude tewaids: Fragments thal sovabt. “new. — anotheWJalswalits leade’s ita _iodiudual- -Bavty.- soembers ._ pusioewsoinssrbasetunos ~- ish. Jyeaking. formal. Meds «.theLahouc Barty.

Labour Briefing No. 50 Oct 27th-Now 10th 1987 page 12

Building Briefing

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE RETROSPECTIVE

Book your holidays for next year!

Part of Briefing’s presence at 1987 Annual Conference was handing out our daily bulletin. Here, Kate Adams distributes the bulletin to

delegates on their way into Conference.

What they say about us

“On the train (to the Socialist Conference in Chesterfield), 2 man sold me a copy of a newspaper, London Labour Briefing. Betore ‘opening it, | read the official instroduction to the conference. it says that the “theory of. personal betrayal will not

the theory of persona betrayal. On page three, it carries a picture of a Labour MP who made her name as a campaigner for nuclear disaramament

‘The caption reads: “JOAN RUDDOCK stands waiting to confuse and compromise the tunilateralist vote at

Even the working class’ self-declared loyalists deployed humour to good cffect at their dwindling and divided (Labour Party Conference) fringe

wickedly at Margaret Hodge, newly pragmatist leader of Islington council, for her injunction to Labour councils not to promise what they can't ‘meetings. Unlike most of deliver. This meant Labour the “*hard” left’s speakers, _canvassers telling council Labour Briefing’s Keith tenants: “Yes, your roof is ‘Veness was intentionally leaking We can’t do

funy. He is Jeremy anything about it, but have

80°" to explain "the loss Labour Party ortea MP's Of socialist influence Conference.” ae ae London Labour Briefing, The Independent and an undiscovered stand- New Statesman

however, stil has time for up comic. He poked fun

rome ke ‘ieee ns nreMnry srocor ‘Ostera Sone ‘Sood pee BEE: aan team: WHS Limited? eerie Pies cone op cath wae they Ghoughe was a hoe Caught with his political = Se eee Spams towe wags maeior ont culemaking Send snippets and info to Soy teed weet Fy eal eee ties cememson tire Esbour” Oounetor Bea

alee Se —— Sau =o a ee ee Sean Se :

hase the greatest crash Agant announces coco Brivale funding. and. 0

‘ever as tho perfect mo- the possibility of opening ‘“tle"ccmacs sah Gsene. «the. establishment of = ment to get a share of the a Soviet Stock Exchange. xales dropped by 10%. fa nn ne Bg lucrative financial adver- But there might be a delay. All this imdicates that managers had maginen the preeet She. tiommg that has “been "We are not against ihe MGneSoeste Terr "t Private ang at Uniearaty eating around the City) iden im principle" he ox Ey UST eo A, | Gollngs “Bompital Bags Tae current losue promotes ‘plained "bat we cannci SEH SEe footed: | One's NEB il Bos bit SaFenona! Pinanoe Sup Goeweryihingarence” igh Se EC! ined ater al

Contact Briefin

“The Briefing Editorial Board, and the following Commissions an be contacted c/o PO Box 457, London SW2 SUZ, 01 733 7016:

Trade Union Briefing: Youth Briefing: Student Briefing: Lesbien & Gay Briefing: Briefing Women and International Briefing. Briefing Editorial Board:

Next meeting: Friday Oct 31st

Briefing Steering Committee: next meeting Sunday December

Deadline for articles for issue no. 51: notify EB as soon as possible; all artices in by Tuesday November 3rd. Desdline for Issue no. 52: notify EB as soon at possible: all articles In by Tuesday November 17th.

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Labour Briefing No, 50 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 page 13,

Trade Union Briefing

Support Ken

managed to persuode the NUT Nationa! Executive to Ken Jones, Briefing

Support thern. The outcome ‘was successful ~ Barking

Educetion Authority withdrew supporter and NUT ores Qvesee Executive member for Ken wrote about these ‘Outer London, is a experiences in his first book

candidate in the NUT vice president elections.

Ken has been on the NUT National Executive since 1982; before that he was secretary of Barking and Dagenham

Beyand Progressive Education, which also deals with responses of socialist teachers to the falures of State education provision. More recently, Ken's |

contributions heve included Acting as advocate for ILTA

Association at NUT disciplinary hearings Unusually for an NUT Ken convinced the hearing Executive member, Ken has that ILTA should not be

led # successful al-ou This was in 1989 when Barking education authority

‘3 massive teacher

frie’ punished for orgarssing strike ction agaist the Bacer Bil ie was his skil 9s an National Executive into at kinds of devious manoeuvres to suspend and expel the

The aiganisation of the strike wae 2 model of ‘campaigning. All decisions were taken by mase meetings Of striking teachrs, and the mass involvement of parents ‘on the teachers’ side was ar important feature

BLOC takes | step closer

350 people attended a By Fred Leplat London BLOC Camden Labour Briefing

Conference on

se ce ee and privatisation. ye caters aieanh Sees Sato Be eed et BeeRSLOE has cathe one

Sociahet Teachers Allanc

Tony Mulhearne, surcharged Liverpool councillor, opened the Conference by explaining

that Liverpool Council had taken and which had resulted in increased support at the ‘elections.

John MacCreadie talked about building a leadership in the CPSA and in the TUC that was prepared to fight back.

‘An appeal for Liverpool and Lambeth surcharged Councillors was made by @ Hackney councillor.

The Conference voted to support and affiliate to London Fight Back and

Deason victimisation highlights BT’s political surveillance policy

John Deason, a member of the City NCU branch, has won an Industrial Tribunal decision ordering his reinstatement by British Telecom.

‘The Tribunal found that Deason was unfairly dismissed because of his trade union activities.

BT decided to offer no defence when it became clear that they would have to produce documentation which would reveal the extent of surveillance of BT employees’ trade union and political activities.

‘They have offered Deason £41,000 compensation to deter any threat of industrial action in his support

Unfortunately the prospects for any such action are slight. The union's City branch has been weakened by management's compulsory transfer of branch officials and activists out of the branch ares.

Branch chair Fred Clark has been transferred to

Bromley and refused access to BT buildings in the City, including the Branch office.

Resistance to management's offensive was weakened by the failure of the branch officers to take a stand in the crucial aftermath of the strike, against the sackings of Deason and John Treadaway.

NCU Annual Conference voted to support the two victimised workers; but the support, even from the Broad Left, has been nothing more than routine.

A more vigorous national campaign is required to back up the City branch. Resources should be given to this key branch to help rebuild itself for the confrontations to come.

Pete Coopér, NCU Landon West

on?

Labour Briefing is pleased to share with our readers a letter from Brendan Barber, Secretary of the TUC Local Government Committee, to Edmund Hall, from the London-wide local government stewards organisation London Bridge, which expresses current TUC thinking on the local government situation.

The TUC’s Local Government Committee is, of resolutions set out the TUC position on these

Birmingham Housing Clerks

|Who says resolutions aren’t worth the paper they’re written

indeed with the strategy adopted by the Association of London Authorities. The Committee feared that calls for industrial action could be counter-productive at a time when it is important to win support from service users in the campaign against the Government's proposals.

For these reasons, the Committee did not feel that -a lobby of the TUC or a meeting would serve any useful purpose. The other point ! would make is that it would not be appropriate for the Committee to enter into discussions with local union representatives. The TUC has contacts with the local authority associations, but we cannot be expected to be in a position to comment on the problems of some 450 individual councils.

| hope this answers the points raised in your letter 2

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Barber,

Secretary, TUC Local Government Committee

We want solidarity — not

filofaxes!

Two hundred low paid NALGO members employed by Birmingham City Council have been taking strike action since August 24th.

The history of the dispute

JC bureaucrats say cannot be Linionived or need Hlofaxes and private health care deals 10 get them invoived in unions,

io lessons we hae fe dispute are: ‘@ Right wing Labour Councils {an behave in the most vicioss

manner to their own employees. ‘can be traced back to August’ “ecGatly low paid emploness

1986, when management in SP<s'th% Tight for beter pas the "Housing Department Birninghscr* Council spon promised to review the ding tillons on read) acer Grading wf Scale T and 2 convention cones sid luxury Berks.’ the lowest paid hotel while attempting tosiane ‘workers ia the Department. out fow paid strikers.

“The review was never ca.

@ Young people and women 7,000 membership, in @ one: ate prepared. 10 Tight ay. stoppage, Support action Sderagcously and give a leadto has already. been’ taken by ther groups of workers. The Sorkers in Housing, Chief Ew answer 10 the union's recruit. ccutive's and ‘Treasucer’s ‘ment problems are not personal Departments

Services and glossy videos Tra serious fight 10 be made Fighting for and with workers to Tory. legislation and ight over the problems that really sing Labour cuts i i essential Soncern them, that the fudiest possible support

The of the dispute iss given to this dispute.

unclesr. The Birmingham Donations and sof Branch of NALGO is sitemp- support to: Birmingham Branch fing #0 escalate the dispute bx of NALGO, 3rd Floor, Herbert involsing other eroups of House, 71 Comuall Street, Bit> imembers. and indeed the whole dingham B} 2FE

ried out and in February 1987 NALGO submitted 2 claim. The response to this

Youth Briefing

eventually arrived in June —

and was derisory.

By Nick Hay Secretary, Birmingham Branch of NALGO |

One of the more positive things to come out of the TUC this year was it decision to ini

(Over July and August no progress was forthcoming, and in a ballot the workers concerned voted overwhelmingly #0 take industrial action.

"The action planned was two day action for fou weeks followed by all-out strike from September ist. This programme was followed 38 no i provement as made to. the

(personal capacity)

But is the TUC serious about tackling: the problem ‘of unionising youth? Or is this just an opportunity for more jobs for bureaucrats?

The first test will be how much resources they give

ress has been blocked on ‘orders of the leaders 0f Birmingham's Labour CounSllors — Councillors Knowles Sand Gray. The strike has been a bitter one with beasy intimida- ‘ion from management and con-

the

the low paid strikers. OIE:

of the strikers has been maer Finance . hss. au finance the massive job of Te this would involve? Wilf they be Conference prepared to allow the youth to mines | ee Sea te | ee ee == See

nse

TUC has identity crisis

‘And allthis takes place with the TUC fined up with the bosses in the MSC!

"The argument that the unions can influence the MSC. and make it fair employer no Jonger holds any credibility. But this still the TUC position

‘Thus, for many of the people that would have 10 be drawa in to TUC youth section, the TUC appear as their bosses. A. Furthless boss as well — £38.50 for 40 hours on YTS, and 13 weeks without dole if you tell them what they can do with i!

Election

1f his wasn’t bad enough, the lection ofthe Tories for a third {erm means an even worse prospect for youth from the MSC: (YTS (6-18) is going 10 become compulsory in that if you refuse to. take a YTS Scheme, your dole will be cut

Action

Stee ee ee eee eae ee Intiedediod® “elewee arene Piped al ee foi ctecorces eee eet te ts hemes mente anc Regiswaton (eS) qfislataes’aeart—,aal,30 Se Sn Sedsieageneh Pembroke Rd, Londo pepe rene et 1

‘im of educating us into acomOovodeeceasooo

ooo0s8cq0o0c800a

Conference November 7th Dr Johnson House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham ba

Bliant,“unbnionised "act low paid ‘labour’ force _ will’ "be Eoimpteter ts 20"

: |

| |

itis Withee

Labour Briefing No, 50 Oct 27:h-Nov 10th 1967 page 14

International Briefing

= Appeal to the 28th Soviet Don’t let Klebanov die! Trade Union Congress for the

November 25th marks © form a tede inion they State Procinato’s reoy. 8 Soviet Embesy i London for release of Viadimir Klebanov

wore Delow. ‘ten years since Viadimir atancene ome ey ees ai fis release. Supporters of the Viadimir Klebanov, the miner from the Donbas, and Pacey <a vicemesd Tn heen arte ee cen mero verse Fasee Comiton “onparteer of tia (Asmseretonl Free alee ei g:

Ukrainian miner, anda porsacution.” ‘The. auhorives congas include ume Spent several years in 2 special peychatrc “hospital in Qroup of Soviet workers suppledevery poice stationn “Tiber” Soviet leadership Soidamose. members, Czech Tashkent. He is being detained absolutely illegally: he has announced their inten- Moscow with the names of prepared to keep Klebanov im- and Soviet Oppositionists. But not been indicted and no proceedings have been instituted

Mosiors “who "were thon prisoned, even if it results in 2s! Coed pe ecpoare against him.

tion to form an indepen- his death. emphasis at sec for trade pio estan eataned Sag tay poonie in By must Be emphasised that any persecutions or tad ae woe Hack scariest posable. union setivty are illegal, as the right to establish a trade ntiay, dctaed, regered for Riebonoy, the svg 0 oo Mee nickel Union is contained in the Universal Declaration of Human ts working lass Fo forming & trade union he Nikitin, another Ukrainian mecorrrereeraael Rights, and is guaranteed by international treaties on. there fs no organ which (21,7 re miner who led workers” oro. We to you to human rights which have been ratified by the USSR

. undo be. “sutlering Es appeal to you io objectively defends. the "2% (04,0, %ypaci''ard fests Ged inimoneorment publi” the “ptghe ot I call on the {Savit) Trades Union Congrass to secure workers’ Interests. Soviet for'nowily ton years he has 1984 FSS, our Segenise- the release of Viedimir Klebanov. Social and human justice erarkers, interests. Scand (eaatiy ton yoors he has "She Ukrainian Peace Com tons, and. t0"ask them to deem this to be imperative fur rights and do not have hospital afer snothe ritce is determined not to sponaor” our demonstration, Nikola Kruchkov

See ranScary authority.” Klebanovhas been forced to alow Valdimie Klebanov to and send @ delegation with Fee ay ae oms4y suffer solitary confinoment Become another martyr to the banners and a letter of protest

enh Naginardertoremedy "tne forced injection of couse of workers’ srungies ro Gorbechey oberendedn Rely to Nikolai Kruchkov’s

AAscociation of the Soviet = ee ee rc) a ee ato DEMONSTRATE! eet Soe appeal from the Soviet State Pa cers taal, vs Wed 25th November eons Procurator “win the official and legal Soviet Embassy, This article is taken from Your appeal concerning Vladimir Klebanov has been tight to defend our interests ‘an appeal issued by the ne sMiigme pumenteed’ by the 18 Kensington Palace Gardens nono rene noted and has been found to be unjustified Soviet constitution,”" den Peace: it has been established that from 1968 Kiebanov se ? 1.30-3.00 Committee systematically distributed in oral and written form aceeisalieaiiaaiiedl deliberately false information discrediting the Soviet ee ee tage ee mies weer fore SOLIDARITY — | order of the law, he was declared not to be answerable fod 9 the hands of mane, Pirie Smaaton woud COSATU.We therefore appes! | with workers in the []-for his actions because be wos futon from a Working conditions and cor- also have improved. This has to those members of | the Eastern Bloc = psychiatric illness, the court lawfully committed him to a frost occasions the official" Nikolai Kruchkov, a worker movement who have backed @ || be freed from this on the basis of medical evidence ROE orate, ct opnentionst hes tppasied wo COSATU and Soldemosc to jy CONWAY Hall; Rediten “There is no basis for disputing the decisions of the management. the "Sovet Trade Union Con- help free Kiebanov. F Square, London WC1 & court regarding this case

fleased, This appeal, and the called a demon:

Soviet workers had avery right

Women in Chile

Against the dictatorship!

ANGELA BERRIOS, from

to organise “themselves. That meant going out into the Graham: How does CODEM

Tor not amas, Tiemeoseoraectses Sane diet ‘the Defence of Women's about a year ‘and widening our world. la: AS 8 feminist oe a) 1980 we became the voice of without women’s nghts and

12 women politic thout an improvement of hardship of women in priso ranstormation of our by sesing them twice a week

Broader perspectives develo ed. We organised workshops

Graham: You reler to your Toots in the shanty towns. Are

ss: CODEM Organising health cara in Chile

you a working class based political prisone's legitimise, the rule of the i Srgenisation? peuple who have been tetorshv an election in which r « en tortured or disappeared Pinochet isthe only candidat

ew Also, ‘women have suffered ha struggle of the left to

a: the honds of the macho overthyow “not anly. the 240 potce force who hove picked — Fegme, the government. but os also he hunger, misery, that sustains it First, we Must now, the voice of unemployment, lack of health fight the plebiscite, and ss women is being service and housing n through this develop the Groham: What is the cunent heat more indifferent think and 2c struggle strength of CODEM genisstions, not only Angola: it's difficult to assess mM. Graham: What are the pro- Graham: What can the British ss percentage of as 3 colt of years of specs ahead in the struggle labour movement do to assist umber of The pain nas gone against the dictatorship? your struggle? plein our @ the pemorel, no's Angela: It is difficult to Angela: Fst, expose the siee organisation oF Communal pan Wehevebeen speculate. Our struggle re. toral fraud of the. plebiscite, SSined ato orgensing mans what is was on 11th secondly, denounce | the tote! thatwe ae September 1973. to over. miltary help that the Batish wether to gue cach other thvow the dictatorship, to government gives tothe strength. Dopular democtacy. Chilean dictatorship. Toe development bas.been Today, the situauon is com- 1, We euler sapression fom increased "because many — plicated by the plebiscite call. weapons. sold by the British women ate members of | edbythegovernment —anat goverment. Make the British

poltes! parties, Some were tempt 10 "egalise”. 10 people aware of this!

Labour Briefing No, $0 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 pase I:

International Briefing

Reagan’s

adventures in the Gulf

‘The attack by the United of course the Thatcher Only two weeks ago an Stace on two Iranian off government has tamely gone Ata hp was atic fy platforms in the Gulf is “one = a —s a the outcome of a wildly The formal reason forthe (5% Sats a

venturist. policy by foge Western naval presence 155.04 “over the past tres Reagan whichis drawing "i" Cullis to defend ship~ year ine rai have ached the US closer and closer facks. But of course the US ranimer’ “MHP MVS ME to. open intervention in concerned exclusively with

the Gulf war. defending rcflagged. shipp

Such a policy facks any ra- ing against Jranian attacks. 5 Pa Hearse

tonality even from the view- Iraqi attacks on tankers 20Doint of the interests of US ing to Iranian ports continue Islington North CLP

Capitalism itself; it is based unabated — and unchalleng-

‘on quite grotesque and cd by the US and other pe yore ridiculous arguments, which Western navies. Bee 2S forces “ guerding’

event which really provoked the diplomatic vacuum and shift sheikdoms, especially Kuwait pipeline and depend on oil large-scale US intervention in its politcal “uit” in favour of and Saudi Arabia, which are tankers. If the Iranians have the Gulf was the air attack on Iran lose allies of the Us. joined in the shipping war,

the US Stark, which killed more ‘There is now talk of an oil "But now the US seems to be has only been, primarily to

than 30°sailors, carried out by pipeline from iran to the Soviet charging headlong towards an retaliate for Iraqi attacks fin Iraqi fighter plane. Natoral- Union being constructed, and of all-out confrontation with tran, "Both tran and. Iraq are ' iy, the Iranians were blamed by a new railink between the (wo and by default taking lraq's “reactionary ant-working clas

‘the United States. ‘countries. side, dictatorships. In Iran there is { «Not muck more than a year The pew _ thaw | between the bloody dictatorship of the

‘ago, the United. Siaics were Moscow and Tehran should not Backlash syacolah and mul i tra

Secretly opening wp. politcal be taken as implying that the ‘itary athist

talks with Iran, selling them USSR is abandoning its Satorhip "ot" Saddam

‘arms, and even sending bizarre diplomatic investment with If this whole business started Hussein. Sifts of cakes and revolvers 10 Iraq. The USSR remains. like asa backlash to Irangate, it now

the ayatollahs. Now they are on France, a substantial supplier of appears to be generating a log Soci a

the er Of war withthe sae ar ad oer logistical sop- afin own. The experience of

on port ir the leet toouty Joma teoeld. sortie (and de how “The key to this turnaround is ""But the Soviet Union is quite Show ur that imperialism docs mocealathaad, pi, Jahaer

of course the public exposure of prepared to make opportunistic not always act rationally, even ing sides or inventing weird and the secret arms sais, and the Siplomatic” “manocowes al initsown intrest Theconfi imide o inventing weird and a a Tekan hae siete coe oe corm meae Oe e ear

‘ministration ‘on the defensive. other side in the war. ational political control. On- fend the national self they appeared fo have gone sft the-spot decisions by gung-ho determination ofthese countries — Strategists eval commanders could detet~ from atack by US imperialism.

| | {

Inthe aftermath of the Irangate scandal, the tentative ‘opening of relations between the Reagan administration and the Iranian regime were quickly ter- ‘minated. Very quickly the win the Gulf war: a clear victors Soviet Union, whose relations of either side would create 2 with Tehran have been very bad Strong Gulf power, which could inrecent years, has moved (0 fill challenge the reactionary Arab

flice between Iran and the US takes place. "The shipping war in the Gulf a f was started by the Iraqis as a raise the demand for the US 10 esperate tactic counter Ira- “get out of the Gulf; for the sian successes on the battlefield. British and French navies to get While the fraqis have an out as well; and for the detence werland pipeline to export their of tram in the event of future US a il, the Iranians have no attacks.

Anti-war poster in Teheran

Thatcher turns a deeper shade of range

At times it seems that the NonhforSinn Fig — vous of dicourage Thacher, th ney tobe goverment mens. int sumed _by Ott now i the ine for Thacher

British regime is ‘between 80,000 and 100,000 in ruler mould actually be illegal. Developing Unioniss two years ago, and and King to appeal 10 what ; ee cores ee me epee ey A Btectna ied “OMe ames teae teben prresteee coat te (eae j eters : hhave decided thatthe best way Government Act states: ‘date in a forthcoming councii_ ying 10 involve some signifi. “realstic” Orange facsion, I viously hypocritical, 0 15'wop people voting for nh vit shall be unlawful for an by-lection fm Belfast, said that “Thatcher's continued oppost } downright silly that it is Republicanism is to erase it authority or body ... to require he would be prepared to sign the sion in helping to shape govern- tion to even mild reform of the li difficult to understand ‘rom the ballot pape. ‘ny penton 0 take ‘an oath, proposed delaration. nent policy fone judge/no-jury court system | Hues pac sursived so. This is not the frst British make-an undertaking in leu of "He explained he would have im ihe North, despite threats j government attempt to chang: aM oath of make a declaration, “ess ifficulty iw signing ‘an {rom the lsh government, is am ft

tong. the electoral rules in a bid to 25 2 condition of his being 2p° anti-violence declaration than At first glance, the That- oust’ Sina Fein. Proportional pointed to or serving as a either the Northern Ireland cher government's mew pro- representation was introduced member of that authority or Secretary Tom King or his local

attempt further (0. Teas: ure Unionism “that Maggie has always been on thei sie.

posals to change the elec- several years ago in the hope body.” government minister Richard It is now nearly two years: ' foral goal posts in the North hat a, large middle ground Nesdham who ave in charge of deci the Angie inh Sirocco fora goal pars in the North ould deprive the “eximis” By Geoff Bal N00 poze and soldiers" Angloirsh Agremen never wes spned These wht athe fe of enough votes to win cia BY C Sowbyarcthe Tories propos- as what" you sald i war. Une pgened t wore sar of point. tons. It didn't. National Council, ing these measures? It could be Sehave yourselves and you will a political process which would _ These centre on introduc- In 1982, after Bobby Sands Labour Committce om that they are a way of preparing sct_more or less what you end up. with the death of ing a new law which would had een eced as MP for Fer’ the growed for somcthing erat want” Bosse’ the dvisons Union have increasingly ne local” goverment ‘sueangh aol South ‘Tyrone, Weland pad corey ‘within Unionism are increasing, tle to sustain such a view andiiates to Teather amended tn Tey ced mec 8

Sk ploce thease of siolence Representation of the People So the Tories could face the couple of wecks that ss Sion and to “declare and under: ‘et of potial offcees inom Sich could mean sume cuba” any nw cgiaation- he oy OF-

dt “de der. Sted of pbtical offences rom nee enter asym the op. i take tha iteletad hey wil estas erties tr it Gsyneniciann ices — Ireland: the cause of Neither suppor nor assotthe JeFaeart i acvides: "MRS" “Patents Semple = : activites of any organisation Salon hws wee aodaced makes ihr ais an. Acady thee ar thon al- 2 proscri in Northern to allow greater “security” to democratic restrictions of the ing for the government to do Lab freland.”> be lecccted en ‘ow who Gogiconetnahs "te im _commete, our: : ‘The proposals are aimed at voted. “More worrying forthe Tories, “the trond argoments fr the FER one party Sinn Fein—asin- Neither of these measures the early indications are that 2 declaration are also arguments CONFERENCE y ed Thnchers mints inthe pekedthe eto] poslarty fu change wil have ie for prosebing Sian” om 28th November ‘ Nowth of lecland, Tos: King, oC Sina Fein, especialy among ees ‘SMogetner ‘The’ governments f hav admitted, As such they ares working class Catholics, hence “"We will not allow the British decision document does not rule Camden Centre US taraibiclorveniocine thenewnwve-—incecitoban goverment" to" icnfianchae is out

the North's electoral process by Sinn Fein altogether. the large section of the na- Whether or not this is the Bidborough St, London WC1 & a Sn _ihete ate 4 number of pro; sonal commaniy which ote pla. the new mews 40 8. Contact: Labour Committee on Ireland, BM Box

the Tories are worried about changes. lackt/Republicon News, "the towards the Orange camp by 5355, London WC1N 3XX the ‘continued support in the Although ‘it is unlikely to voice of Sinm Fein, in response Thatcher. The proposals were

ee

-Labour Briefing No. 50 Oct 27th-Nov 10th 1987 poge 16

Trade Union Briefing

Hurricane blots out Stand Up

news of pit closures “si:

Mid October brought hurricanes sweeping through the North/South divide with — countless thousands of homes being damaged and cut off, and people dying across the breadth of Wales and the South East.

Flash flooding further ex-

erated the emergency serNices” attempts to restore electrical supplies to almost a quarter of 2 million people, It appeared as though tno one escaped the effects of the weather.

The media was dominated for days by the “British disease” — an overdose of bad weather. “It’s enough to make you emigrate.” one of my neighbours said, mentioning the “Nuclear Winter", in passing — and he'd only seen the Northern version of the TV News.

‘As a direct result of The Weather (and I blame the miners for that, as they seem fo. get the blame for everything else) many other important issues were not Focused upon or even received a mention in passing being deemed un newsworthy by the media.

z - 3 | : 2 g 5

a b & S 7 3 Fs mi z mi 0 2 m x

The latest round of pit closures slipped in by British Coal escaped any coverage for comment. The timing was perfect — one wonders if Sir Robert Haslam, BC's chair, is in cahoost with the Met Office?

‘Six mines closed in the week commencing October 12th, Nottinghamshire, the UDM stronghold, saw the closure of two mines, Hucknell and Lindby, whilst in Yorkshire BC closed four: Wheldale, Nostell, Woolley and Redbrook.

Wolley colliery near Barn: sley was the launching pad for Scargill's career within the NUM.

Only Woolley and Redbrook of the six closing collieries have voiced any kind ‘of opposition to BC’s plans and intend to refer the closures to the Independent Review Body. No one has any illusions in the review body and we know all too well that BC would ignore a favourable report and close the mines anyway, but it is widely felt that to delay inv plementing the closures is a partial victory

Hollow as it is the miners feel they will be able to hold

ing class man who’s been

Because I won't let them over me stride, Im hounded and persecuted time and

their heads up and say “at around Scott and the rest of : least we tried” ? Thetotal job the sacked and victimised again, losses announced that week s. the gesticulations Because I've had the courage to break free

“Stine twothousand,| from the Yorks NUM : most two thousand. = | ership are. becoming _ from my restrain,

familia and repetive. " T won't conform and let them me shackle The message tothe sacked +m prepared to stand up and with them

miners from the Yorkshire mremesans 2 b cy is crude and —_ do battle By William Head banal: “Go away. youre They don’t give a damn, the distress they Yorks rank and file message was hammered _inflict, home on the same day that ia Pani miner home on the same cay thal To a man and his family on whom they commmmmemnamanss Yorkshire Council of NUM _have picked

delegates, unilaterally voting = Th y js hey u ee eae ae meme are Pay JOU tenon tober 2ist. The ballot wasto _ take may spirit, ‘: | have called for astepping up Because I will persevere and work to the Briefing readers will recall of the ban into a more effec- limit =

Toes en a brs Mr zt tive stance than the “joke"” Tae ly thing T il f bei scott, the Stillingfleet sack- of aban set by the right wing ey only thing I’m guilty of — my being Sas offered Whesc = NUMC here is the proof — concliaton | getue 0} The call paved in hushed I'm standing up for my rights and Wielsie ‘only two weeks catguavter cous stifeast, — SPeddng the truth. scythe “ogee” wat behead in Haslem’ of : that the guesture made tO "The price levied for tns © Barbara Smith Sega nasthebig "W"-” ” “pnapied'sacewouldbe North Yorkshire Women Against Pit Teme ce Gcoukaseac: Cloaures only go back to Sulingfieet) Sacked and. victimised opiigcncey auc: Taeeater Gas ae lips. But instead of building the only ‘cost to. the mass support and a broad bureaucracy was a bit of Gampaige for reisutenent fare

Printed by Press Link Intemstional (TU), London SE17 Published by Labour Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2 SUZ