Labour Briefing no. 52

INSIDE:

@USA & Brit the special

relationship @UCW strike

vote @ Women in the Russian Revolution @ Sinn Fein on employment discrimination

not a media candidate!

ly Etherington General Secretary, Durham Colliery Mechanics Association a2] j

No one could have done more for the miners during the last five years than our National President Arthur Scargill.

Since Mr Scargill took office in 1982 there has been an unprecedented attack upon. the - - — Coal Industry and NUM members by -the Despite what you see in the papers and on television, Board and the government. South Wales miners sypport our national president,

In my view, if we had had the type of leader who ac- and support the national line on 6-day coaling, the cepted worsening conditions in the pretext of overtime ban, the reinstatement of sacked and jailed

TYRONE O’SULLIVAN Tower NUM, South Wales {personal capacity)

“negotiating” we would have been in a far worse posi- miners, and many other issues.

tion today than we actually are. It is only the Area Leadership and some lodge officials ‘Arthur Scargill has carried out everything he said he who are constantly attacking Arthur Scargill and national

would when he was seeking election policies.

tional President, and certainly no one can fault him on Rank and file members in South Wales have stil! not

either his integrity or his endeavour. Fe been given a ballot on 6-day coaling, even after being proThere has been a campaign now of aver ten years mised that ne decision would be taken without a ballot.

duration against Arthur Scargill by the press and q But when the Coal Board went to the media and stated

media, and | would ask miners to consider what type of that South Wales had accepted 6-day coaling our Area

leader they require. ; Leaders never denied this, and went on to write articles in If they want someone who is not going to campaign support of the policy, knowing that if a ballot were taken

for better conditions and wages; if they want someone ‘the whole concept would be rejected.

who will accept a catastrophic rundown of the coal Of course the Coal Board has achieved its purpo: dustry; if they want someone who will stand idley aside persuaded other Areas like Leicestershire that because and allow unemployment in mining areas to rise, then é South Wales was ‘negotiating on 6-day working, they irse they certainly should not vote for Arthur

If, on the other hand, they want someone whose ee sisted that only the national union should negotiate on whole life, since a teenager, has been based on his sup- . 6-day coaling.

rt of the industry, and loyalty to the NUM, then they Most South Wales miners support the re-election of Arwill most certainly vote for Arthur Scargill. thur Scargill and want Labour MPs who could not support

‘As a member of the NUM’s National Executive bet- us during the Strike to keep their noses out of NUM policy ween 1985 and 1987 | was very impressed by Arthur and not to try now to tell us who our president should be. Scargill’s sincerity. Since the formation of the UDM The Coal industry still has a rosy future, with big bucks

Scargill has been the main person holding our national © = still to be made, as those who want to privatise know full

union together at a time when no union this century a well,

has suffered the sort of attacks the NUM has had to We as miners can benefit most by supporting the line

confront. the our national president and rejecting the road of “‘new urge all our members in the North East to note what realism” put forward by Kinnock and other union leaders.

the famous Keir Hardie stated over 80 years ago: if We don’t want a society of Democrats and Republicans.

several candidates put up for a position to represent We want a society where we still care for the old, the

working people and you're not sure who to vote for, needy, the unemployed and the sick.

then look to see who the press and media tell you not Support Arthur Scargill! Support the national union!

to vote for, and make sure you vote for that person. ee We can change society.

LABOUR— TAKE THE POWER!

PHOTO: Wayne Ed

Labour Briefing No. 52 Now 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 2

Campaign Round-up

Interview: Sharon Raghip

Campaigning for the Tottenham

Fs

Three

three adults. Somebody had to pay for Blakelock's murder.

Enghin Raghip is one of three Tottenham men

unjustly convicted of the murder of PC Blakelock,

Briefing: That was in the ry’

‘mind as well? which took place during Sharon: I think it must have been, definitely Briefing: Did you attend most the other members of the of the trial? ‘Teteriiam Thres, his Sharon: Isat through about six

wooks of i twas nine weeks altogether. | missed the first three wosks ‘because | was down to be a witness

partner Sharon Raghip has been touring the country, speaking on his behalf, and waging a determined ‘campaign for the release of the Three — all victims of a grotesque police frame-up. Briefing spoke to Sharon about her activities and hopes for the future,

Briefing: You yourself don't live on Broadwater Farm. ‘Sharon: No, | come trom the ‘Wood Green area

PHOTO: Leesa Herbert

Briefing: But since the twiels, you've developed friends and ‘Supportars there?

Sharon: We've been cam

Briefing: Why have you been paigning as family (my campaigning so hard for the sister's also married to jase’ ofthe Tottenham — Enghin’s brother! and we

decided we would go to the Farm and see what they were planning to do. Now we work

‘Sharon: | know that all three

were convicted on no evidence whatsoever, and jointly with the Defence they shouldn't have been sont Campaign

‘down. Everything presented in court points to the fact that they did not commit. this

Briefing: Do you see Enghin's case as part of the whole ‘general Broadwater Farm case Oras something separate? ‘Sharon: | do see it as separate because eventhough Enghin went to the Farm that night — he left before 9.30 ‘and says that during the time he did spend on the Farm he id nothing and I believe that. ‘So | can't go around saying Enghin was. defending any community. ‘becouse “he peal, they go. before three wasn't. So though it’s said the Judges and put their cases. police attacked thet commun. ‘The three judges then decide. fy, | don’t really. believe it whether to quash their convie. should have resulted in that tions or their sentences or man's death. | don't celebrate whatever. the fact that a policeman died

Briefing: What's happening with thelr appeals?

Sharon: The appeais are on hold at present. ‘They should 0 before a judge any time Row, and he’ wil make his ecision whether to give them leave to appeal

‘Briating: Then what? Sharon: If they get leave to ap:

Bristing: You've been taking Your petition around the ‘Streets n Haringey. What kind ‘of response have you got? Sharon: in Haringey the fesponse has been excellent, ‘but a lot of people — especial Briefing: Why do you think the |v young black people — have judge. inthe original tral, been frightened of putting didn't dismiss the charges as their_name and addiess on he. did with the thee that kind of petition juveniles? Do you think he was You can't blame them. A lot afraid of a public outery i he of people do know what's goismissed all the defendants in ing on and they sign straight this kind of case? away. ‘Sharon: Yes. in my opinion i's Because of the media, which

‘will be granted? Sharon: Yes, because of the size and importance of the cease and tho public interest in

ites

ainly hope £0.

‘cleated this whole’ public Briefing: Where else have you hhysteria about the death of gone, outside Haringey? this policeman. After thejudge ‘Sharon: All. over: Durham

Derby: Brighton: Manchester Liverpool. Mainly to big demonstrations, conferences,

let off the three juvenies there was na way he — or anybody above him — could acquit the

‘Sharon Raghip public meetings. Cambridge University; Northern Ireland.

Briefing: Do people in these places already know about the

holding on

Enghin’s fine. He's got his head held high. He's just hop: ing that they will reverse the decision. After that, 1 don't

know. Shaton: Yes. A lot of people

have heard of the case, Briefing: What do you want especially in mining areas, ike people to do?

Barnsley and Kent. They never Sharon: Lobby your MPs:

hesitate to sign the petition. We get 2 good teception in most places.

Briefing: Have you ever run i to hostiity?

Sharon: Twice. Once in Tot tenham High Road, near the ‘Spurs ground, when one man

Defence Campaign — there's plenty of work to do; end sign the petition.

If Sny organisations or trade unions want to know more or ‘eta speaker, just get in touch ‘with the Defence Cempaign and I be happy to come and

told us the thres men should Speak.

bbe hanged. My sister got really

mad, but # bit my tongue. Briefing: Before all this hep: ‘Another time was in Bare- pened, had you ever done ony

sley. when two young leds wrote "Thomas "the Tank Engine” on the petition — Tht ‘them over the head with the in the streets! papers for mucking about. No.

‘one's ever tuined round and Briefing: Which individuals hitme— yett ‘and organisations have been

Briefing: What did you think of Sharon: Mainly left wing the Civil Rights March? ‘groups. Cambridge and Ox ‘Sharon: It could have beers ford students have given us 8 fot bigger than it was, and lot of support. People from ‘more organised. In the time Labour Briefing have been ‘we had to build for it, we did very involved from the ‘well, geting people from Man- beginning.

chester and Oxford. Gn the MPs" side, Jeremy

Corbyn is one of the best. Ber iefing: What's next in your rio Grants starting 10. get Sharon: in the next few men-

‘more involved, We have to wait for the

{ths there should be @ meeting House of Commons meeting

Jin the House of Commons; and ses how many are willing

also 9 picket either of the

Prisons or the Home Office:

to stand behind us. ‘and 3 public meeting in Tot- Briefing: How has ail this

Paltical “sctvity or public

Tenham Town Hall” on changed the way you look at December 1st things?

‘Sharon: Now I question things Briefing: How are the im- more than I did in the past. tf prisoned men doing? someone gets sent down of if Sharon: I don't hear 2 lot from. there's any media hysteria, | Mark "Braithwaite, but question i. But | don't tke Winston's fine. He's. just polities, that’s the truth.

come to the Brosdwater Farm

‘Sharon: No. Only in arguments

Fight the Alton Bill!

LOCAL FAB GROUPS

This fists as up-to-date as possible; but check with FAB for the latest details. Names needed” indicates FAB has had ‘contact from that area, but as yet has no public contact

Special Interest Contact FAB for details of: Black Women Against ‘Aiton: Christians for Choice, Disability Group: Jews pipes

London

Contact FAB for contact names in: Barnet, Brant, Brockley. Camden, Depttors, Ealing, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kansington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Lowisham, Muswell Hill, Newham, Tower Famiets, Westminster, LSE.

Contacts needed for: Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Bromiey Croydon, Enfield. Havering, Kingston, Merton, Redbridge, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth

England

Contact FAB for names in Bedford, Berkhampstead. Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge: Canterbury, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Cleveland, Coventry Croydon, Derby, Exetor, Gateshead, Grays, Guildford Harrow, Hemel Hempstead, Hull, Leamington Spa, Leeds,

Leicester. Lewes, Liverpool, Mansfield, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham. Oxtard, Plymouth, Poole, Reading, Rochdale, Sheffield, Southampton, Southsea, Stockport, Sunderland, Swansea. Uxbridge, Watford, Widnes, Wigan, Winchester Wirral, York

Names neaced for: Barnsley. Bath, Beckenham, Billericay, Bishop Stortford, Sorenam, Bracknell, Bradfield, Camberiey, Ghotiey, Chester. Colchester, Cramlington, Crawly, Crowthorne. Dewsbury, Eastboume, Fleet. Frome, Gainford, Grantham, Gravesend, Hampton Field, Harrowgate, High Wycombe, Hungerford, ford, Ipswich, Lancaster, Leyland, Lincoln, Littleborough, Lele, London Colney. Loughborough, Luton, Maidstone, Malvern, Manchester, Matlock. Middlesborough, New Lanark, Nevrark, Northwich, Portsmouth. Preston, Ruislip, Shipley, Slough, Stendloke, Stoke on Trent, Stourbridge, Swanmere, Telford, Tunbridge, Wallington, Wallsend, Welkngborough, Weybridge. Wickford, \Wimtzoume,. Wokingham, Weodtord Green,

Scotland

Contact FAB for names in: Ayr, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow.

Names needed for: Aberdeen, Aultmore, Inverness Wales

Contact FAB for names in Cardiff, Deeside, Newport, South Glamorgan

Contact FAB: c/o NAC, Wesley House, 4 Wild Court, London WC2B 5AU; 01-490 0042/405 4801.

Lesbian & Gay rights Synod

synthesis

‘The resolution which was finally carried ‘comments ambiguously ‘on both homosexuality, and the family. Curiously, there was no discussion of lesbianism, an omission carried forward from the days of Queen Victoria.

Both the agreed position — and the rejected liberal amendment — reasserted that only those relationships conducted within the framework of ‘marriage and the family have the Church's blessing

In the context of the Alton Bill and new attacks ‘on education and social security, the Church's Position can ony reinforce Thatcher's retrenchment

As non-believers, we take hho position on current ‘controversies within the Church of England.

However, the Church's debate on gay vicars and homosexuality in general is interesting.

By MARK SEATON The resolution passed by the Synod represents @

compromise, demonstrating once again the tightrope which the ‘Church must walk in modern British politics. The viciously homophobic resolution proposed by the right 1g was rejected by a big majority — an indication that the

fundamentalist, moralist of the family — fight remains stronger in ideologically and ‘America than Britain. materially.

Economic Debate

Who is calling the tune?

Mark Cole raises a deficit cuts in the current fiscal amber - of interesting 77S, Congress comet word of points on the Stock Siotn wor oi tax isreases, Market crash in the last tnd 0 S80 01 dts cate issue of Briefing. in public Thatcher an Perhaps the most intra. {A¥ion defend the fea) of ing is whether or mot the in- economic and fiscal policy, but ternationalism of present behind the rhetoric their actions dry capitalism will prevent

an outbreak of” interstate

tell a different story: (@Lawson is manipulating interest rates 1 preserve liquidity; ‘the Bank of England is buy ing dollars (at considerable loss 0 the public) to prevent too rapid a devaluation!

@Briain is supporting attempts by the Central Banks (begun last” Spring with the Louvre accord) to establish a By Pauls Walon New system of stable exchange By Paula Watson pete areata Hs Westminster South CLP It will be fascinating to se

whether any of this will work,

particularly) whether “Germany and Japan will continue 0 Feflate as the upward pressure fon the Mark and the Yen makes their own goods increasingly suncompettve

‘But what is clear is that the dictates of international capital have forced Reagan to abandon his neo-Keynesian expansionism, and. Thatcher her Unfertered market

"There's no need to ask “eho are the masters now?” The managers of the giant transnationals are calling the rune and nation states dance to i.

rivalry.

Cole thinks it will; while Alan Thornett in an earlier issue believes such rivalry inevitable, with a consequent growth in protectionism and militarism,

1k is probably t00 soon for anyone to predict aceurately the Sutcome of the present crisis, There may well be world feces sion: bat its lengthy depth,

Severity and political conse: ‘quences cannot yet be foretold

Bur the extent to which the needs. of international Capitalism are taking precedence over the political and electoral priorities of individual govern: picats is becoming clear

@With an election ap. proaching, "Reagan wanted either: 10 aise taxes n0¢ cut government, spending — parteularly military spending:

‘@ Thatcher and Lawson ‘need to defend their market Philosophy;

(@ Germany and Japan are anxius to protect themselves from

Intelligence

Whatever the outcome, recession or slump, for socialists iis all gain — provided we use some inveigence

the effects of increasing Out most powerful enemies, American export" com: faced. with possible disaster, petiiveness as the dollar falls. have abandoned competition,

International ‘capitalism the market and individualism,

needs. @ controlled deflation in the US, controlled devaluation

and are calling for control, Planning and international co:

of the dollar and = controlled operation. ion in Germany and So, with 10 of our main Japan. rivals," Keynesianism | “and After considerable inital _monetarism, utterly discredited

reluctance, Reagan has -been forced 0 accept the need for measures to cut the US trade ‘and budget deficits. He is 000 talking of probably $30 billion

and our methodology accepted as right even by our deadliest foes, all we now need are the Socialis polices and the will to fight for them

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 240h-Dec 8th 1987 page 3

Editorial

TABOUR — TAKE THE POWER:

OUR TASK IS NOT TO RESCUE CAPITALISM BUT TO BURY IT!

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

After decades of blinkered efforts at making the capitalist system work better, Labour's leadership is clearly incapable of approaching things any other way

While the anarchy of the international money markets reached its new crescendo in the October 19th crash, for the Kinnock team it has been virtually “‘business as usual”.

The recipes to meet the crisis trotted out by John Smith and Brian Gould were little different to the traditional tinkering proposals which have always led Labour governments in the past into economic disaster. They concerned themselves solely with attempting to put the capitalist economies back into working order:

© The huge US budget deficit should be rectified, said Messrs Smith & Gould — but not too fast, or European exports would be hit, and recession would follow.

interest rates should be cut in Britain and the USA, and the dollar should be allowed to slide downward in value, argued Gould & Smith, to ‘open the way for economic expansion and make US exports more competitive.

Britain, West Germany and Japan should all expand their economies to create new markets for goods, said the daring duo, breaking little new ground,

It is a dismal fact that these trite proposals almost exactly echoed the answers in words and deeds from the lips of Nigel Lawson, Margeret Thatcher and the Reagan administration.

‘© Token measures are being taken to trim the US deficit, though the core problem remains intact.

@ Interest rates have been cut several times, and ‘the dollar continues downwards.

@ Thatcher herself has joined with Smith & Gould in calling on the Germans and Japanese to ‘expand their economies (of course, not least because this would allow in some of the British ex ports which will now be pressed out of the US market).

It should come as no surprise that Labour's leaders have once again been cauaht with their

political trousers down. Even their’Bank Holiday speeches now exclude any reference to socialism, while Gould is leading the charge to expunge Clause IV from the Party's very vocabulary

Three years ago Kinnock and Hattersley stag gered and appalled many Labour supporters by warmly congratulating Ronald Reagan on his economic policies

Reagan had begun to create numbers of lowpaid jobs in the service sector of the economy as.a result of his policies of tax cuts for the rich alongside runaway military spending. These policies are of course precisely the roots of the present US budget deficit — and also of the import boom that has pushed the USA deep into a balance of payments crisis.

During 1984 Hattersley in particular urged Thatcher to adopt similar policies in Britain. Yet even the most superficial observer could see that (like Thatcherism at home) Reaganomics has had a brutal impact on vast sections of unémployed and impoverished US workers, while lining the Pockets of the well to do, and of some better-paid workers

Hattersley praised to the skies the fact that in pursuing this lop-sided expansion of the US economy, Reagan was “not afraid to borrow’ ‘Small wonder that Labour leaders and the TUC now want to soft-pedal any call for a correction of the US budget deficit

Indeed, Clive Jenkins and TUC economic pun dits have taken the same line further, arguing that “Reaganomics is now Keynesian"; the US budget deficit, they claim, is creating and sustaining jobs,

‘Small wonder too, that Thatcher's gang were able to make mincemest of Kinnock’s team on economic issues in the last election. With policies as cranky as this, no serious worker could believe a Labour government would not help plunge the economy into a new crisis like those of the 1960s and 1970s.

We know Thatcher's own largely-balanced budget in Britain is a fiction. It conceals a £19 billion trade deficit on manufactured goods, and rests upon a consumer credit explosion, North Sea oil revenues and the asset-stripping sales of nationalised industries. The answer to Thatcher and

Reagan is not the global Keynesianism proposed by Gould and the TUC, but the fight for a socialist, alternative.

The system’s huge capacity to create wealth and create useful commodities must be set free from the stifling grip of private ownership and the drive for profit, and from the shackles of national frontiers. A starting point in popularising this now rather unfashionable socialist approach must be to fight to expose the workings of the system and the wheelings and dealings that have such brutal impact.on the lives of millions world-wide

Workers will soon be confronted by a new wave of management attacks as they seek to survive the looming recession and carve out th “foreign” competitors by forcing down real wages and driving up the rate of exploitation.

The demand must be raised for the opening of the books of each employer and each industry, of the banks and the finance houses to reveal the real mechanisms that push forward such attacks.

Instead of pleading with capitalist governments in the USA, Germany and Japan to open their doors to more British imports, labour and trade union bodies should be appealing to fellow workers to join in a common struggle against the employers.

The contradiction between the colossal US deficits and the trade surpluses of Japan and Europe cannot be resolved by capitalism, short of a traumatic recession which will hit not only the. imperialist nations but hundreds of millions in the debt-ridden “Third World”

As socialists we come not to rescue capitalism but to bury it. The crisis unites the interests of workers the world over against their own’? employers and the multinationals.

Open the Books! Print out the Discs! Let's explain and campaign around the need for class action to put an end to this crazy system of exploitation, oppression and mass poverty

Let's put the expropriation of industry and the banks back at the top of the socialist agenda. Let's put the fight for a planned socialist economy, and a Socialist United States of Europe, back into the debates and discussions of the labour movement!

Briefing on Ireland

NOW, MORE THAN EVER:

BRITAIN OUT OF IRELAND!

Neeiaemiieei, bce isa wees, ther no sympathiser ‘with seemed to be politically Republicanism, did not ae eet. a feel inet OT ane Leben lasers at

compelled 10 join in this

The deaths were contrary risiy carnival. The dea to what the IRA Intended S50 ,ctmal, The dead and to the long fon- Neil Kinnock and. Party sectarian tradition of spokesperson on Ireland

Republicanism.

‘As An Phoblacht/Republican ‘News, the newspaper of the. Republican. movement, made clear in its issue of November 12th:

"We do not try to defend the action which caused the deaths and injuries inflicted by the IRA bomb,”*

For those of us who have worked in this country for

Kevin McNamara rushed to Dublin to take part in Tharcher’s: puppet show to demand that the Irish govern ‘ment introduce extradition,

By Geoff Bell Hackney North CLP

They then sped to the

sentiment, Our new anger is

‘one fuelled by the hypocrisy, gry sit Fein Nas nothing to

offer the people of Ireland.”

play-acting, .and. crocodile. TLCS RSPR Oe teats of those enemies of gays way powerful nish Republicanism who favs 4.8 4, Powerit have sought to exploie the [mn Ot cn ne

dead of Enniskillen.

The media coverage and the reaction of Tory politicians reached such macabre

perialist arrogance for $0” Tong manifest in Ireland Those who think Kin nock’s) and) McNamara’s

that form of extradition as

well The antics of Kinnock, the Tories, and the media’ are meant to shame into silence of British

visit to Ireland should. be treated. with anything but contempt should remember the framing of the Birmingham Six, Guildford Four, and the Maguires, and ask: is this the justice the Labour leadership wants the Irish to trust? When has Kinnock ever raised the issues of the Birmingham and Guildford prisoners?

the supporters

Injustices

And when has be ever spoken out against the daily injustices perpetrated against the Trish people with the energy and enthusiasm hhe showed when acting as Thatcher's. ambassador’ in Ireland?

If Neil Kinnock really wishes to contribute something to the well-being of the Irish he should have stayed in London and taken his “soft left” friends in

Camden to task for pinning Irish need apply’ ‘Sign’ On Council houses, and

hiring boats and trains to ship them back to Ireland. Perhaps Kinnock supports

withdrawal from Ireland. But the vulgar ferocity of it all is producing a different response.

Ken Livingstone and Tony Benn have, with a digni

and a courage their critics lack, repeated their calls for British withdrawal and dialogue with Sinn Fein will continue to speak oun in favour of Irish unity until it

creasing volume and deter- ‘mination. Initially, many Irish activists in Britain have been hesitant about speaking, out. That hesitation must now come to an end,

The cheap exploitation of the Enniskillen dead by the imperialists and. their supporters in the labour move- ‘ment should only strengthen our resolve. We should advocate increased dialogue with Sinn Fein and proclaim loudly that, now more than ever, a political solution is the only solution,

‘The demand “Britain out of Ireland” will now be taken up with a new determination. Enniskillen will not silence us. British impperialism has sought to suck the last drop of blood from the Enniskillen dead to feed its own parasitical presence in Ireland. For those not dazzled by the media blitz, this apalling spectacle has only further exposed the i humanity of the British pos tion, The enduring truth is that Britain has nothing 10 offer Ireland — but the leaving of it

is achieved or until I die," said Ken Livingstone at a public meeting after Enniskillen.

We should all say “hear, hear! and say it with in

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page +

Trade Union Briefing

rNUM Election _| Vote Scargill!

With his political op- Walsh, who would hope to ponents ‘keen to. spit the. Yorkshire vote, = Iranoguvie and snipe Gow shy news eto” chace behind the scenes, but _ #s the "rian to stop Sarg

scared to challenge him on "18 S0uld not have been en

couraged by the Yorkshire gaqual terms. Arthur Area's 52-2 vote to nominate

Scargil's biggest problem Arthur Scargil, though he has in running for re-election Since picked up some prosie may be to find @ table ght wing support, challenger ‘The big question = whether “Though walkover would he has the bottle to resign his stil represent 9. major blow “life” position as ares agent Jgainst the “new. Tealigm’: 10 challenge Scargill on equal land the present right wing ma- terms. He knows that it he | jonty onthe NUM executive, does so, his present post will feal fight endo. Convincing cease 0 exist — ensuring that Ballot "victory ‘for ‘Scargit the battle wil be "winner would be much better ‘kes al ‘A campaign would also of- Though Walsh has run for fer militant mines and Women many posts since Decoming Against Pit Closures an oppor’ North Yorks ‘agent, he has funky to organise n'a more fever eked Tas own job systematic way throughout However, his right wing femme ee policies ‘threaten thousands Once again, Scargit’s stand more NUM jobs has given a lead to the labour movement. putting his job on By HARRY SLOAN the line by resigning his seat ‘nd seeking a fvesh mandate In the last 3 months Walsh ftom the membership Butis's hasbeen helping the also. almost the only means Clandestine’ recrutiment for ‘open to him for attempting te outside. Iprivatel ‘contractors break "the fight’ wing employing hundreds of Stranglehold on the Executive workers at the Selby superpit that has bogged down the Complex. Yet he has made no overtime ban, ignored the effort to defend NUM. jobs, ‘miners sti victimised after the Voicing no opposition tothe pit 1864 strike, and generally on- closures. in Nort, Yorkshire couraged British Coal to con” since the strike. tinue its attacks, But his hesitation to dectare ‘Scargil's courage has not his candidacy indicates that he been matched by his cowardly is no more convinced than the cries who prefer fowhinge to news. editors, that he could the mass media or Marxism necessarily deleat Scorgi Todey rether than confront Hence the blests and him epeniy whimpers of the right wing ‘Scots 'back-stabber Eric that for Scorgil to go to the Clarke claimed after the Stike membership is Somehow was over that hehad favoured “undemocratic” holding a ballot: but now he ‘South Wales NUM leaders says he will not run in'a ballot are mow even prepared to go forthe national presidency. to the Courts in an attempt fo Scots President George stop Scargll standing for slecBolton has refused to put his tion. These are the same job “on” the “ine despite courts which sequestrated 5 Bressure from Pete Carter. Wales NUM funds in advance Communist Party industiol of those of the national union organiser, to do so. Bolton Many miners see these legal was in the forefront of the moves as an attempt to delay gampsign for periodic elec- the January 22 ballot. to en. tions — but ‘is now not sure that ft tokes place after Prepared to sk his own job. Scargi's S0th bithday, thus Welsh defector Des Dutt preventing him, under the won his own position as the ules. from running again in pro-Seargil candidate; yet he five years becouse he would ‘romptiy tured tail to|block then be over 55. ‘with the right wing and Com- "Briefing has voiced unist Party elements on the critiems of aspects. of Executive, He is equally reluc- Scargil's politics. We wil con. font (0 put his views 10 the tinue to debate these out. But test of a ballot or his salary at his candidacy for the NUM {sk by resigning to challenge leadership is vit! and timely arg challenge to the right wing of This is why the media's can thelabuer’nevemane, didate ‘has emerged as old- "When nominations close on style right winger John Walsh, December "18th, the battle the North Yorkshire Area ince "will be. drawn. Vote

‘Agent from the notorious ring Scargill — and organise the wing stables of NUM left for the struggles to Glasshoughton colliery. Come!

Engineers

New deal defeated

In a remarkable 17 to 13 vote the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering (CSEU) Executive has

ally rejected the notorious deal which Bill Jordan has, been trying to push through for two years.

1,000 engineering workers demonstrated outside the ‘the decision was taken.

! involved unprecedented concessions on working hours and working practices in return for a 37% hour week: and would have eventually affected over 1 million workers.

‘The vote was a heavy blow to Jordan. who had intended to put the deal to AEU members by postal ballot in the near future.

‘The CSEU will now open fresh negotiations with the ‘employers on a claim for shorter hours without strings.

Join the Communication Workers Broad Left! Send £4 (minimum supporters fee} to:

Cheryl Pugh, 131, Whitham Road, Broomhill, Sheffield S10 2SN

‘Miners picketed power stations in the Miners’ Stnke

Action needed to upset Tories big gamble

Labour describes the Tory privatisation programme as selling off the scatter

1s this supposed to arouse feelings amongst their supporters that Thatcher is doing someting immoral?

‘As 2 member of thé Labour Party from a

less” family and a miner, I don’t accept the idea that selling off a supposedly surplus asset is inherently immoral.

thas been estimated that every man, woman and child in the UK has the equivalent of £700 invested in the state-owned electricity soppy industry (ESD, What the Tories are coming For is ot the “family stver™ but the clothes off our backs.

Privatisation of the EST should be scen as the "Steal of the Century” instead of The Sale of the Century”

To keep the Tories in office Chancellor Nigel Lawson has been given the task of raising approximately £3 billion per ant ‘num. This vast amount isto be tied to pay for tax redvctions and other cosmetic ‘measures Specifically designed 10 ensure the Tories 2 fourth term in of fice. The ESE values its asses at £55 billion. Thatcher is only looking to raise berwcen £18 billion and £57 bilion from the ‘ale

Crash

Since the Crash Lawson has already had to reconsider the ‘ming and prodence of his plan to reduce the basic cale of in ‘come tax 10 25%. The Tories hrave Deen. shaken by their favourite “market forces” — the same forces which they have previously tied to ram down the throats of so called ine Gent “miners. ‘To. justify pit closures, McGregor used. ex amples of American mining [practices and manning levels, Now, the ESI has come under the same microscope.

‘Alex Henney, an cagineer and former member of the London Electricity Board, argues strongly for the de-manning of the ESI ina cecent report for the ‘Tory Centre for Policy Studies. Henny ‘highlights che dubious fact that the Japanese electricity industry is ice as efficient in

labour productivity terms as the UK indusiry and thus by im Dlication half of he existing 730.000 jobs in the ESI in the UK" could be’ shed. The joo losses would be mainly manual workers, but with the inevitable Closures of the older and less ef ficient power stations, Station Managers and the “elitist” ‘engineers would also have to go.

By Daniel Parkes Yorkshire miner

1 pevatiation of the ESE

Shead as envisaged, wil

See company controling the a ‘onal grid and separate regional companies controling "local ‘generation, “then the grid perator ill contract for supp iy only “from. che cheapest generation sources. In Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire fe could ‘well be that regional Operators would. buy” into British Coal, thus, securing supply of coal for themselves at the expense of Southern eenerating bodies. Of course, this could only Rappen if BC is ako privatised

Further Job tosses would result in coal rail, sea and the power enginccring sector — {ovalling upwards of 200,000: fa ‘coal, for example, the mining indusry, would be reduced (0 30,000" jobs, with the elimina tion of mining in the N. Eas, S. Wales, N. Wales, N. Derbyshire, Kent and massive ‘ebactions in‘ Nothaghamshire and Yorkshire.

Tt has been predicted that by the year 2000 the coal industry. ‘whether state-owned or private; wrill centre exclusively on the Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and S. Midlands areas, with an Snnual deep-mined production (of Between 60 million tonnes 304.75 million tonnes.

“The lower Output figure i the more likely if one comers the sur of power station quality foal ‘available onthe ‘world ‘markets. China and Colombia are two major new sources of extremely cheap fossil fuck, with “Colombia offering 10 eliver 10 customers anvshere in the world at a price lower than the extraction cost

Tf imported coal replaces domestic’ coal, then domestic transport of UK coal will also be hit hard. 70% of olf ral freight i coo! and British Rail have already established. a Sepazate ‘management structure dealing

with coal freight only. The “collier fleet” ‘moves. coal by sea from the N. East coalfields fo the Thames Valley power

Coalfield

Al the jobs at sea will be lost, if the N. East coalfield is closed land domestic coal is replaced by long-haul "imported coal delivered direct to Southern and coastal power Stations,

‘British Coal expect the Selby, complex in Yorkshire to. prouve between 10 million tonnes and 15 million tonnes of coal pet annum. This coal was to have been transported by BR 16 the. Aire Valley. stations in Yorkshire, thus ensuring long. term employment on the railways. The latest plan from BC, in consultation with the CEGB, isto drive a tunnel with @ conveyor system from the Selby complex direct 10 Drax power station. Jobs on. the failways go, but coal supplies would be protected from disruption by railway workers,

The’ ES! has maintained a Buy British policy, last year buying everything from. toilet rolls to turbines in Britain, The total expenditure of the ESI in the power supply industries was staggering £9 billion. Any Private regional operator would follow "the marker" and ditch the Buy British policy

NEL Parsons” turbine smanufactucerse based in the N. East presently employs 15,000. Ir the new owners buy abroad, there will be thousands of jobs Jost in engineering

The multiplier effect on job losses would appear. to. be limitless. With the development ‘of new “super conductors” (Nicrogen cooled high voltage cables) electricity can be supPlied over vast distances with no Significant loss in voltage. It is conceivable that by 1995, with the completion of the Channel Tunnel, “super conductors" willbe used’ to connect. the “private” British grid into the already highly integrated Euroean grid, which By that year will also be interlinked with the Scandinavian grid. The UK grid operator would then be able to cutoff the UK regional generating companies and import the finished product, 16 France's cheap surphus nuclear capacity, or Scandinavian hhydro-generated electricity

What would happen to. the regional generators then? What ‘would happen to’ the jobs in ‘mining, transport, ete, dependeat on thent?

‘This horrific scenario can only be played. out if privatisarion of the ESI goes ahead,

Can it be stopped? Six months ago the answer would have been ‘no, but with the recent CCrash in share prices, the run on the US dollar (Forcing interest rate cuts), the Third World debt aed Middle East cris the maybe.

‘What is required now, whilst the Tories and UK capitalists are floundering, is for the trade lunion and labour movement to co-ordinate a fightback Strategy. We need an “alliance for feneray. The Hahtbask ‘must invalve a commitment from the ESI unions but must ‘ot be left in the hands of the ESI multé-union structure, It Is and must be presented as a class issue — nov just an issue for those who happen to work in the ESI.

‘This "Alliance for Energy should be built around rank and file solidarity at the grass roots Jevel. It should start_with the ‘ovinning of trade union branches, wath miners winding th ESt branches, ral and sea brat ches holding joint meetings, etc Conferences of the rank and file oof sea, rail, ESI, mining. and engineering workers. should be convened to explain the issues and agree a common policy of

Personality clashes. between’ Scargill and Hammond must ‘hot be allowed to sidetrack the campaign. The TUC “new realists” must not be allowed 10 {urn the campaign into a mere “publ opinion appeal” leafletting exercise! Only industrial ocfiom can stop privatisation going through,

Joint regional committees should decide what action 0 {ake to. maximise involvement of all constituent parts af the ‘movement. One-day walkouts by the ESI unions, supported by miners, rail, sea and the power workers, rotated on a regional basis, Building toward ana: HHonal blackout would shake the Tories — and might ultimately shift them for good, Without the money from the "'Steal of the Century" to appease her lackeys Thatcher might find let fourth term an” increasingly remote prospect

Labour Briefing No, 32 Nov 24th-Dec fth 1987 page 5

Trade Union Briefing

UCW vote for action

— Tuffin does what comes naturally

Union of Communica- is not known what _ grades have been excluded tion, Workers (UCW) strategy the Executive from virtually all reporting Tembers have returned fevours — but they cer- of the dispute and, by the seiree’ wots ina ballot ‘21y aren‘tin any hurry. sound of things. from

oe Risstiiel ection By Pete Cooper Mech even foao, many | Avew of te Covey er Bien! jut the margin in favour “Treasurer London Broad © UCW members have been Treasure tothe week union Left Gee gig rleg ms Cowley workers strike

Sampaign and the national (personal capacity) i tebe oe tine ene feadership's widely known Now, instesd of dem

fing the three hour reduc- - id half-heertodness. General Socrotary Tutfin ~ nw the thee. hows rede, N66,688. ballot papers said an interview on tor, te UCW is soveig were viasued. "73.049 Radio’ 4 (17/11) thet the ‘what 2 union communica,

a eT Cee oo oey eonaaie = emieneee vate Poet

58,917 voted against. better offer. Does this = Eeenone. inthe. inion overpaid burauciat These, dacussions re | EMG ers I accopis thet the only way honestly believe that the about “improving pro

our demand can be won is two weeks up to. spects’’ for the business.

the Post OF cee most te UCW Conference in some form of productivity | Cowley was halted for {ne union eventusly held s The decision nat to cl 2 Gal a campaign Ot ose eee ter aed Geno cost to Prosd..Left. agreed on | sulle of 3.500 workers |, Dave Se oy oe Recep Pa the! “Cowley Bee eee cee ieemambership The Post November 14th that an all- | in the Assembly Plant. Socating Committee (INC) meeting of 3,500. TGWU Ruuing “the ‘Union to financed by an efficiency weak to offer an. alter- | the employees’ pension = _______. INC, jo decision

were alone in taking action

NCU Broad Left Conference Recon nee wich “peyente amen initar®ttns

Murdoch and Maxwell ~ thes own individual majorly | Management, decided, recent Ts for swike action — despite the unusually, ta close down the all legalised by recent Tory f2cr'"that_ the unions had plant and ly off those not in

legislation, balloted collectively on the Yolved in the strike. issue. Management normally soe Management have already The key factor in the JNC such a stance as'@ display of

begun a twee year "ponsions decision was the role played weakness and open the gates wNGunistersirelusal by the Communist Partyied as a matter of principle. It to pay their contribution fo the delegation Irom Longbridge. seems, however, that they ension fund. This will save ‘They not only opposed stke were anxious to avoid 8 picket fhem £80m during the three action, but stated in advance and prefered the day to pass year period snd teduce the of the vote thet they would quietly. hoping’ that now the Dension fund “surplus” by not carry out any majority protest is over the pension fait <Gecision which called for strike fund issue will be dead and the Having allowed manage- action. Nonetheless, they management move accepted ment to implement this plan were stil allowed to take part without further action,

AEU undermines

Ford workers

Resentment is running deep withdraw from the deal and join jobs in other Ford plants in Bri-

NCU demonstration, February 1987

oft left prepare for aretreat

The National Com- facing heunion, whichisledby Labour Party NEC against a | amongst workersin Ford car {¢ othe! unions in insisting on tain, Mt, is ay deeiful hhunications. Union knifecdge 12-11 BL majority challenge from the vealigning | plants over the single-anion '™ sting arrangements eration. : INCU) Brond Left reach, outheEnenering Executive,” Dave Wood.” 2 2° September iNet does the deal sly Cdanew low at iis AGM Even this ajority has bern. 4, "te monbeued debatcofthe | 26th between Ford manage- BY Alan Thorseit Soncessions to Ford, manageca eaeton oa November undermined by the right grabb- Ozu" Dear Soeme. SS | ment and the AEU leader Trade Union Briefing ment on a range of Ney condiue Ine ky commie shar, andSopsuppring andnnres who | ship for the projected new tions of employment, thas pos thing their casting votes against SOP {MEPOTTOS considarss "PO | plant in Dundee, designed (0 This deal was not simply’a Me & major threat (0 all Ford ‘A chaotic meeting of 200 the eft — before reteating im This way clay aimed at son | Mamufacture high-tech car product ofthe AEU vight wing *epkes in Bri Inthe overcrowded Holborn ''e.fase of BT managemen's ice Tony Young. and cihen_| entertainment systems, Inthe shape of Gavin Laid. it Under the agreement the new Library witnessed a eynical FTE On KG) sues. whose action has ceduced the deal isthe clearest in- ban deen promoted and defend- plant will not be Led to Ford's left, Clerical Executive men’s offensive against. “Tye AGM represented a | the AU leadership towards aa ee A ne labour force of, 32,000. shopmembers and backed by the engineers’ ‘wages and cond: b nism bs floor workers 7,000 of them n siqnficam setback forthetett as | business unionism as practis- "3" \esging member of the Communist Party. tons, Shor ermand xed com Sehoi and nor ist Mian | ed by the EETPU under Eric Commons Paty ABU, ut wil be ted to what irinould appear chat 80 conrac fave been sxeted, yea af puyng the ct of | Hammond. ammumist Fay a single Ferd management significantly new members weresigned up FTO GS"Spatroncd Sethe Seine Glare: tated che: | ke Hieranondi gt Wapp-> snioe Mest tal so Ue oe ab ee eee to join the BL in the (wo POR omnes Tmormal, Bt as anything other than an | ing, it demonstrates a will- because Ford management were T3405 wit ake the Dundee

insisting on it!

weeks leading up to the Tn fact, Ford managemer

slectoral machine in true Com- | AGM on a ‘bash the Mili

Procyon ingness on the part of union

ly performed by BT staff We feaper novisthat the BL | Feaders to act as a direct tool

labour force outside the Ford hational union structure. It will

tant ticket. Many of these ° a o have insisted on such : y of these BT Billy Carron become a transmission beki | of the employers. frery time. they have built exclude the new plant from the converts duly showed ther By Billy ee eee a new Ga eatin cusdt Slewd. shop srangenens’ commitment and loyalty to Tereat before BY Post Office | mNOMuyech ES ABU teadey Dagenham — bur thisisthe fest ‘ting in other Ford plants. the Broad Left by failing to some branches have even ac- and. Girobank management, | following a mecting with TUC time they have been successful, _1¢_will_have_new working reappear after the lunch cepted “double jobbing”” — ef- rather than an organiser against | General. Secretary Nortsan The deal predictably caused a cimes, discipline procedures and break. fectively overtime paid at nor- them. Walk: Under pressure from the serious split amongst the Ford working practices and it wil in- ‘The day sas dominated by mal rates of pay ‘One positive part ofthe day's | ther Ford. unions they have unions and directly violated the roduc complete flexibifity of pale day was dominated ty HET ease discission on proceedings was the Union's | Syresd\to drop the deal pro: Ford smuli-union agreement. jobs and grades — which has Ue and Labour Panty Con: the “defence of ‘City branch Women’s Action Committee | Viding the orher unions can per- Even the sight wing national not yet been conceded In other FUC cand Labour Par sCthc inembers “foha Desjon “and high profile campaigning | luade Ford management to do automotive officer of the Ford plants Brosd Lett National Commitsee John Treadaway, victimised by against the Alton Bil — aa soi eT Mtarphy, war Tele not sorprising, therefore, Poet ee eee Gaattieh Br'afterlast January'sstike,” Clerkal” Executive member | "“TheAEU meanwhile willon- forced into a strong condemna- that there is deep resentment Coc Aran Gal BL National Not evergthing went the soft Bram Kenny being attacked for | tinue to back the deal if Ford ion of the dea amongst the Ford workforce Secretary's position) lef's way, however: Phil Holt, querying the NCU's affiliation | janagement inst on X. The "it isa violation of standing They know. the ew, deal is SereTaEY's POHO™). cussion Milian! supporter, retained t0 the National Abortion | only real pressure on. Ford agreements with Ford which will pointed at theit heads Tike @ whatsoever on the key isucs the SL's nomination for the Campaign Souldbe Tor the AEU to have senous implications for loaded gun.

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 6

Local government debate

Labour Party

You stand - we’ll knock you down!

perspectives of bureaucracy. Nevertheless, behaviour fails to clarify in any socialist way the method by which we operate,

Heroic individualism will never in itself be sufficient to win power. Socialists need a

This article is written as a way of provoking some thought on this very difficult issue. It is written from the angle of someone who totally ‘opposes the current retreat into the discredited “‘new realism’ but who rejects the idea that everyone elected to office automatically “sells out"’.

Support for those we nominate is a two way process and many on the left frankly have a totally dilettante attitude to selection and election.

Briefing itself arose out of an awakening on = revolutionary left to the notion that capturi power is the key to change; and that ms)

government is a vital area for the far left to intervene in. Our successes have cer- have sadly crossed the line tainly been impressive. between compromise and ‘The GLC was won for the collaboration left within 18 months of our However, this docs noe launch. mean we do not recognise at "A. year later the ‘Target least part of why this defec *82"* campaign united new tion has occurred; and what

left wing Labour Parties ina needs to be done in the successful bid to gain office future £0 learn the lessons in most of the Councils in Surely this is necessary if we Toner London are not to be doomed to ‘Alter that we consistently fepeat them! dined suecesses in Selection fneetings for MPs, Council By Keith Veness by-elections and key postsin NUpE. CLPs and Regional and Na- NUPE, Hackney tional Executives Yet in many cases it did It is my submission that not fake long for success 10 we ate still hooked on a vi20 sour. sion of “heroic leaders" @Many comrades who whom we put forward. in adhered 10 our various Order to subject them to 2 Statements soon wavered in Series of tests: failure on any the face of what they saw as one of which leads to demothe “realities of office”. tion and denunication @The GLC and ILEA Obviously, some comleaderships soon incurred rades do not waver. Their the displeasure of Briefing basic understanding and over their handling of in-class commitment enables

dustrial disputes and a varie- them to stand by principles ty of compromises they and not get bogged down in made. the problems and false

@Successive Council leaderships who formerly identified with us were subjected to viteiolie attacks in the pages of this paper. This

Keep sloughing off various | Mr Kinnock ueloeshea

asked to hold any office or take responsibility for | By our Parliamentary

anything! Correspondent What Labour Party

members in our traditional | _ Responding to a planted

areas of support have to face | question from Barry

‘up to is that if our beliefs in | Sherman MP

accountability and solidarity | (Huddersfield), Kinnock

mean anything, we have to | stated that Loyalist

face the terrible problems of | consent was an essential being the largest landlord, | prerequisite for @ united largest employer and | Ireland. He also stated sreatest providers of services | that he would never ever

in the locality! talk to Sinn Fein or the This means we decide who | IRA. gets what little there is, that | _ The spontaneity of this

hard choices have to be | outburst can be judged by made and that new problems | the fact that his speech arise for which we do not | was released to the press have slogans. before it was made. Its None of this justifies the | real importance, however, ‘current backstiding being | was to move sharply undertaken by those former- | away from the ly left wing Council leader. | formulation on consent ships under the guise of | previously set out by “new realism" and “‘staying | front-bench spokesman in office”. These people | Peter Archer and Clive

issues; and we need to create structures that will support and control those comrades wwe select and back. The idea that we elect a left wing Council and then off and devote our energies to other things is Just plain daft. ‘@For every Councillor we < we should ensure that ‘en Party members actively work with them,

Labour Councillors need to organise together outside the official Council machinery

tly what needs

@ We need 10 establish in each CLP formal machinery

answer 10 — and to lend support for decisions made. Until we establish 2 viable framework 10 back up and organise our representation, ‘we will constantly find we have a Sisyphean task of Teaders and destcoying them. If we can learn anything from the rise of things like

AGM saw ingstone lose his place on the LCC Executive Committee, slipping from 9th to 23rd place in the secret

fg ia eget ‘commenter mciom

‘When bemused reporters ‘enquired how a “left wing” organisation could remove Ken only weeks after hi popularity had been confirmed in the elections to the Labour Party's National E> ecutive Committee, pointed the finger at group called Clause TV.

Clause TV are an inap-

y named grouping which has manouevred itself into the leadership of the rotting shell of the LCC. In the process it has alienated

and support,

demonstrated our abil

Parliament

such papers Leader) and tarnished the

Bennite organisation.

By Bryn Grit Hackney South CLP

This formula v accept that, although consent was required.

Ken gave us a clue about

tionable sect when he sug. ed that their sole raison décre is obsessive opposition to Troiskyists. Readers Michael Crick’s witchhunting guide to will know that Clause 1V started out as an alliance of people opposed to the grow. influence of Militant Labour students.

the peoples of tr

Mr Kinnock’ stating that he

the Republican movement, is also totally

policy of the Conservative goverment {who talk to anybody if it suits their purpose), and is also highly embarrassin people such as Peter Accher and Stu

who were members of the official Labour Party delegation to Belfast in 1985, which met Sinn Fein representatives.

This new statement of Leader's policy takes us back to the 1940s in its endorsement of the Unionist veto. And Kinnock’s recent actions ‘on the NEC have also ‘committed the Party as @ whole to support for a bi artisan Irish policy and in particular, 100% support for the Anglo-Irish

tervention under the grotes- , cold-blooded title of “Operation lee Pick”

characterised the Clause IV

grouping when he referred

to the phenomenon of “St — the combing

‘organisational methods and Fabian political timidity. John Mann, now a councilior and cutter in Lambeth, pioneered the Stabian ap: proach when he served as

Organisation Students (NOLS).

A pamphlet by Social ‘Students in NOLS, A Stich the decline- of Labour Students, outls

Livingstone stands firm on treland: while the LCC draws back

LCC AGM: Operation Icepick claims new victims:

The saga of “Clause IV’’

This year’s Labour Co- ‘Committee

the undemocratic practices of John Mann and his Clause IV allies. Their antics included:

@Left wing delegations from colleges such as Sussex ‘and Manchester were ruled out of order. In the ease of Manchester University a NOLS officer admitted foreing membership cards and sat out the remainder of the 1983 Conference in disgrace.

@in 1984 the Conference was closed down amid accusations of ballot rigging when the Conference's left majority suddenly —disappeared in che ballot for the National Committee.

Window

eBy 1986, what little subtlety there ever was in Clause IV was thrown out the window, An amazing 50 delegates were ruled out of order, allowing the Clause 1V-dominated “Democratic Left” (a sense of irony is clearly demonstrated in the selection of names) to win an casy victory

To be fair to John Mann, be had by then outgrown student politics and was applying his “‘democratic’ skills to the Party’s youth movement. Along with Phil Woolas (an ex-NUS_president) he penned a Fabian pamphlet that inspired Sawyer’s wrecking proposals for the Labour Party Young

Socialists, “Trotskyism” has become a misapplied

byword among the Clause IV crowd for any politics to the left of their own hypercautious, self-serving Stabianism,

Attacked

This was in evidence at the recent LCC Conference, when they bitterly attacked any idea of taking heed of Livingstone’s proposal to co-operate with those sections of the left that participate in Labour Left Liaison,

Clause IV claim to have found a “Third Road” to socialism that is neither revolution nor reform. They justify this by a somewhat

where now, Ken?

of Gramsci,

These debates are important and a legitimate topic of discussion on the left, but in the case of Clause IV they are little more than window dressing for virulent witchhunting anti-Trotskyism, and a left fig-leaf to cover increasingly naked opportunism.

The lesson to learn from Clause TV is that if you define yourself solely in opposition to other currents on the left you can only evolve further and further to the

right. Witch-hunting becomes your staple political diet,

Clause 1V_ (Operation eepick) started out as an anti-Militant bloc, Today they have ended up masterminding the removal. of Labour radical Ken Livingstone and giving full support to the campaigns over Tecent years against former NEC-member Eric Heffer. For Ken there are alo some important lessons 10 be learnt. At the LCC AGM Ken saw himself removed from the LCC Executive and fon the receiving end of the Clause TV icepick, More importantly, he saw the policy of British withdrawal trom Ireland, with which be is closely associated, unceremoniously dumped.

Demarcation

If Ken’s strength is the building of alliances, his weakness is a failure to draw lines of demarcation. Ken needs to ask “how did I end up in the same room with these characters in the first place?”

‘The only way to build a united democratic left is on the basis of policies and campaigns — ‘not_on the shifting sands of blocs and personalities.

In his speech at Chesterfield, Ken clearly aligned himself with the hard left After Enniskillen, Ken maintained his principled stand on the Irish question,

‘After the LCC AGM he now has to decide whom he will make his alliances with; ‘on what political basis; and around what practical ac-

PHOTO: Leesa Herbert

Labour Briefing No, 52 Nov 24th-Dee 8th 1987 page 7

Labour Party 7 pee = a ay 2 National Labour Women’s Conference: x NEC wins out again and CLP women to thelr atidement oF $80, CLPS Blackpool for a weekend, sent 427 delegates out of a possi. =e ae stion' tees saat achieve virtually nothing? ‘as last year; but only half as Grpanisation in the Labour Brag ge Scant '

The NEC has spent the past year attempting to push through its consultation document on the reorganisa tion of the Party structures for women.

“Traditionaily Labour Womicn’s Conference has been the most radical sce

e Labour Party. This year — election year

or women to campaien tively and projest a high profile Inthe Party and its policis, but to storm and occupy the stage, and finally symbolically ‘occupy the MPs” seats on the last day of Conference “One hundred and fifty: mo.

Instead, we hang Been sirusdl

ing. with "a byréaucratic con ive document designed {0

Keep us quiet

“The NEC's whecling and

dealing ted 10 the 1986 National

Conference aa

7 Fights to reorganise the women’s

Women’s reorganisation, the

msley "by-election, _ the Ministry of Women. the Seat tish Assembly, racism inthe Pany, the Welfare State, child care provision, NHS, women’s reproductive rights, housing, education, employment, ma tionalistion, inner cities, Police

SSractures ay Uy sas Tit though afler "gonsulal ‘This year we've seen what 8 0p consultation ss, with the youth consultation Tasco.

By Leesa Herbert Delegate, Hornsey & ‘Wood Green Women’s

Ireland, the internation

crisis, defence, lesbian af — Tights and the economy

(personal capacity) Many were, by now. out of

lates Dut they were not tO be

‘Annual Conference in discussed for other reasons. The

Brighton this year again usual structure of a_mocions presented 10 the world the full conference had been abandoned Aiscegard the Party leadership no one is clear who decided hhas for women. The NEC had this; but it is standard practice ‘ipnoced the 1986 (wo thieds ma- to use an eleetion year as an ex jority in favour of "at least one use to. top policy making at ‘woman on every shortlist" —a Women’s Conference! Positive action measure so The original intention had Fadical it has been been to change the usual struc adopted by the SDP! ture to one of a series of ‘When women delegates pro- workshop topics. and'dtscussing tested at this policy being ig- — but not voting on — those of nored, first the Chai, then the the submitted motions that fel lunder those topics. We could talk; but not set policy. Other ‘motions simply fell — including block ou intervention. those on Lesbian and gay rights This give women no option and Ireland (how surprising!)

Who shouted loudest at Chesterfield?

Tt was a pity that the discussions on the economy at the Chesterfield Conference were marred by the dearth of women speakers, particularly on the Sunday morning.

Tt is true that women were outnumbered, but the situ: ‘was not improved by the chair, herself a woman, Dawn Primarolo. Having announced that she would give ~~ preference to women, she proceeded to call up speakers in batches of five, invariably four men and one woman, although plenty of women had indicated a desire to speak

‘When a number of sisters challenged this system, the chair replied that she was trying to achieve a balance between the various groups, although she did not vouchsafe how she could do this, since people did not come labelled ‘with their affiliation, unless, of course, she possessed second sight. On the other hand, I should have thought the differences between men and women were fairly easy to spot.

[Ai the very end of the meeting, and after considerable protest, the last male speakers were asked to stand down for three women. This they did with a very ill grace, particularly a charmer from the SWP, whose supporters yelled their shrill disapproval. So much for their commitment to equality’

‘Arrangements Committee, and finally the NEC isedtheir full weight (0

on

well as men. ‘@ Always remember that most men are possessed of

boundless vanity and self-esteem, loving nothing on earth so

well as the sound of their own voices.

Women are usually shyer and less self confident,

needing mort encouragement to speak at large meetings, and easily discouraged.

'@Offen the men who shout the loudest in support of ‘equality and positive discrimination are the first to elbow aside their sisters to strut and posture centre stage

Paula Watson, Westminster South CLP

Fedress the imbalance of trade Union and CLP women attending. Conference It's sad CLP ‘women should stay away, and hot more trade union wormen be encouraged 10. attend. Most ‘CLP women failed 10 aitend as they knew that this Conference, more than most, would have li Ue or no input to the Party

I was interesting (0 see how ‘only two MPs attended the Con. ference — Jo Richardson and Audrey Wise. Why should they

and the many motions on low kind of activity és vital; bt we'll attend a Conference with no Pay. ‘peed more than that 10 fight how the Akon Bill would affect power and no media hype? One

This format was upgraded to Alton and his supporters. Irish’ women and. informed “would hope to at Teast support having workshops reporting The height Of exciicinent women” of other private the Women’s organisation that

back fo a short plenary on came shen the Stirling day morning, with their 00 Women's Council delegate fail ‘mendations, after which mo od to appeat to mose a resol Hons ‘would be debated and tion on strip searching that had voted on — all before Con- been slotted in under “women's ference closed at nchiime! safety"; andthe Chair ruled ‘As the Conference opened, that the resolution would not be virtually all women supported 3 challenge to the Conference Ar Fangements Committee report fon the weekend's agenda. After Some confusion we were allow:

“The next National Labour Lee Bil, would enforce doctors Malvern in June 1988. We rst Performing an abortion ona build. ‘now to ensure Ue

foreign” woman 10 notiy the revitalisation of the women's ‘woman's local GP. This would organisation and show dhe Party Turnher “prevent many "irish how sve want not jus he return ‘women from having abortions of our Conference to full aus in tis country but for the Conference to have

Daisy fron Sinn Fein spoke the right to select its five NEC on employenent discrimination (places, pt policy on the na Sd to run workshops on Satur. fof the Catholic migorty in the ional Conference Agenda and {ay morning only: andthe Six Counties and the role of be allowed to debate all policy Plenary was extended to include firs card vote in utter ade unions in challenging fully and pass motions H0t Jost Saturday afternoon in addition Confusion. discrimination both here and in on. what the. NEC”and_ party to Sunday morning E Ireland Ieadership ‘deem as our agenda

he workshop iopics_were Toilet ‘At the 1986 National Labour "women's issues"

was put to rights when the

poll tax, child abuse. privatina ing delegate appeared, after

on, women’s. health, safety ‘and’ international Hinks. Most being dragsed from her fefupe in the women’s toilet. The

‘women were concerned by the farrowness of the topics and the resolution was passed! Throughout the Conference

Timitations within them, hich

narrowed further the mumber of

Policy motions which were the Chair referred to delegates

taken up, as““ladies”, despite requests t0 ‘all us women. Ladies isa term originally used to de«ribe omen by ‘a. class. stat

“she's a Tady"". ete. — with few peculiarities ike dinner lady ‘and fea lady.

‘Women can be called ladies i Glading am emergency motion they choose. The point is the fon jhe Aton Bill; were passed. term "woman" includes all Howtver, by Sunday morning women, denoting our sender fighting women were attack- and. puis all women on equal jag Miliznt-supporied motions terms from the star

‘members Bill likely 10 be taken reat year The most worrying Bill, the

Dull

With a few exceptions, 1 ‘workshops and motions proved So uncontroversial that debate ‘as dull. All the motions,

foot ghrough debate, but by There was fitle time for fr ‘sitefghunting” women Militant inge mectings. Om Saturday Supporters. cvening the Labour Women's

‘Sadly. during the Alton Bill Action Commitice (WAC) held debate we did not heag reports 2 well-attended meeting. Is

front trade union ‘women on plaform of Jo. Richardson, ‘what they were doing about Audrey Wise and a FAB Fighting the Alton Bill Instead, speaker concentrated om the

Alton Bil Later, at the Labour Wamen Ireland (LW1) mectipe, speaker from the Irish Women's

somen were asked 10 raise thet hhands if they hadtaken the time to write to their MPs about the Bill? As Jo Richardson said, this

Scottish Labour Women’s Conferetce Women chose the.safe: way

forward f .

The 64th Scottish ee os der tlies ‘not appear to regard non- ea ariel = Kt lad Ferenc was. On ty of providing a lead in the _vacillate between principled Much-was said about how

‘Wo Richardson addressing Labour Womé in Blackpool

November 7-8th in Cornpsign agent the PON Tax, opposition and actualy paving good slogans ean be useful i Danaea heed! ave wes fudged. the Poll Tex. albeit in’ 29 Campaigning. work: perhaps coat Sewing a tr ecou be "the personel A great deal of Con- oe aces, damnis Goes e ference: eeowiveenasent group alin itsel the Pon tax ‘Oana ed on many worthy but Union is gaining signatures for ‘2 ons

politically uncontentious Issues. Resolutions on Scottish

Once ‘again an important section of the organised labour movement in Scotland is spur hing # golden opportunity to

a mass petition pledging non Payment, and membership of this organisation is claimed to be growing steadily

Hoses, = Chakore,_ Low mobilise support for what Is Pay and the like were Rescheduled Cn ate ee eet mostly passed The debate. itself was unpopular Tory legislation, in ‘overwhelmingly. rescheduled to Allow Maria favour of “legat"” opposition.

Fyfe, the only Scottish Labour worisn MP, to sum up the debate. Although Maria gave a Personal pledge of principled bies that go nowhere, and ‘Spposition to payment of the another circus of parlamenPoll Tax, she was reluctant to tarist mar

call upon others in the move. querading as "

‘This will simply mean more empty thetoric from the Scot tish Shadow team, more lob-

One slogan suggested for the campaign against the ‘Alton Bill was “As eatly as possible, "as late as necessary”

“The main controversy con- ‘ed around opposition to the

‘Morog Morel. a Grampian Regional Councilor, ridiculed

a4?

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 pase 8

USA and Britai

: the Special Relationship reassessed

way

USA and Britain: Locked in a deadly embrace

The Special Relationship — an almost mystical bond between Britain and the United

been the cornerstone of Thatcher's foreign policy for eight years.

Now, in the wake of the Crash and Gorbachev's international and domestic iniWiatives, strains are beginn ing to show.

Tin the immediate aftermath of the Crash Thatcher made a rare public attack on Reagan's economic policy and issued a most undiplomatic call for the US to slash its enormous budget deficit. — a deficit caused largely by a military spending spree predicated on the ‘aggressive right wing foreign policy championed by Thatcher.

Until the Crash, Thatcher had manoeuvre and closely tied her wn. political programme and fortunes 10. his. On South Africa, Central “America, the Middle East, NATO, the Philip proved itself the US's most loyal {and in some instances is only) supporter

At this was accompanied by

By Mike Marqusee

TRilanie™ jacology which boasted of the two. countries Tong (and largely mythologised) hisforie is, and came near 10 an openly racist affirmation of the. superiority of "English speaking peoples.

Nearly seventy years azo, John Maciean, Scottish revolu tionary socialist, warned British ‘workers of the growing dangers posed by American imperalism He eited the increasing power of US ‘capital and its hunger for ‘world markets, and predicted = new war for’ world capitalist Sipremacy — between the US and Brita,

‘That war never transpired rut the US did yeplace Britain as the world’s leading capitalist power. ‘The Beitsh | Empire Feceded and in its place the US imposed a new form. of economic | and political Somination

‘The dollar replaced sterling as the seorld’s avoured reserve currency. After the second srorld war, the US emerged with its industrial power multiplied and its miliary sway un- ‘hatlengeable, Britain's ruling flass had no choice but to ac- ‘Quiesce — and the religion of ‘Ailanticism was born, ith some of is most ardent worShippers found in the ranks of the Labour Party and the trade tunion leaderships

im 1981, US support for Bri tain in the Malvinas provided 2

ALEXANDER COCKBURN is America’s leading left-wing journalist

and author of the newly published and

highly-recommended Corruptions of Empire (published by Verso) — a colle. cn of writings detailing the insanitizs of the rule of Reagan and

the depravities of American liberalism.

In this second part of a special Briefing interview with Cockburn,

conducted by MIKE MARQUSEE and

DAVE PALMER, he discusses the current state and future prospects of

the American left.

Briefing: What possibilities does the Stock Market crash open up forthe left in America? ‘Cockburn: In somesways the left in America i invisible. But itis ‘also. present in ways people sfficiently appreciate obvious focus is Nicaragua, For five years

Reagan, Congress, the whole US media has blasted the San-

pists, refused 10. give them credit for anything. For the last five years Reagan's been calling for military aid for the Contras and basically for invasion

Yet there has been no time, except maybe the seek after

sharp contrast with its disapproval of the 1956 Suee adven. ure. This stance put paid to Baitish dreams of maintaining an imperial role in the giddle ast, and confirmed in the eyes Of the world that Briain was mos definitely the junior partfer inthe new Atlantic allan

‘Along with US political and ‘economic dominance went a ‘culteral influence which elped Shape popular consciousness throughout Europe and elsewhere. This bred some Fesentment in ruling crcles and ‘amongst the masses, 2 fesent- ‘ment usually tempered bY rag. ing envy of US prosperity and ‘tality. This iaMloence also had 2 progressive aspect. The US Gint Righes and Anii-Viewam War movements captured the imaginations of mullions and made crucial contributions 10 revere the Ude of world politcal" “development "and Tembling the US from its perch of imperial invulnerability

Amongst the British ruling class, there remained some ditional discomfort with US supeemacy, and occasional attempts (by both Macmillan and Wilson) to re-establish an independent’ British “world

role Bai the hard-headed Thatcher jettisoned all that, along. with ‘ke, and “turned “the

e hand American capital into a. proi ruptial feast. ‘The

Specal Relationship acquired orgustic dimensi ‘Gorbachev's disarmament

Oliver North testified, that opposition 10. inervention has Stopped below 60%. Why?

First, there is the after effect ‘of Vietnam, No one wants that Kind of involvement azain Secoadly, the sofidarity move ment with Nicaragua, 1 would faguc, is the most far-reaching land sophisticated in American history

Tf you go to a small town in America, say in the mid-Wes ‘and you ask how many people have been to” Nicaragua remember you are not talking 16 2 committed “left” audience, you're talking to church people, teachers, mainstream labour 26 Xivists~" and 60 wil put up their hands

Briefing: Wh is i this solidari- {ty movement? What future does hase? Cockburn: 1's mainstream America, Now you can ask what Staying power has it g0e. For ex ample, the Freeze ‘Movement Sehich' was enormous is nom nothing. It's dead. ‘Has the solidarity movement got left pecential? 1 think it has se. anyone who has been active in solidarity, going 10 Nicaraaia, tc, has been forced

Whether “resolute” at Tory Conference, or rejoicing over cuts to come; Reagan and Thatcher share the Same vindictive pleasure in hammering the working class for their own class's gain,

itiatives, and his image as a reformer at-home as. ‘sell as ‘abroad, undermined Reagan's Jeadership, and put the US on the diplomatic defensive for the firse time since the Afghanistan The Libyan bombing. the lran-Conira scandal, and the subsequent disinearation of the Great Cammunicater’s domestic support all con. Iributed co making the Special Relationship something of 2 political incubus for the Tories, Gespite Thatcher's unswerving loyalty Labour's inability to challenge the basis of this rela fionship, its avowals of lovalty to NATO, and Kinnock's and” unrewarded vo Washington

Coral Tabi inter an asset

Now the Stock Market Crash has transformed the conditions in which the Special Relation. ship. Tlourished. Labour must

cp this reality if it Tully to it the new climate. Before, gan may. have been a political drag on Thatcher, but now he — and American capital 38a whole have also become an economic drag. The US budget deficit. in con fo Britain's -sorinking Public ‘Sector Borrowing Re quirement, has_grown to the ‘cquivalent of 6M of the grows ational product. It i the product of Reagan's miltary fanism, a short-term ricgy which created le and sloctive boom,

to thunk about fundamental Socialist concepts — not inthe iberal and ultimately unproduc: tive {eames of mind of the Freeze Movement with its despaicing apocalyptic

The solidarity movement has not only. stepped Reagan invading Nicaragua, its basically Jed to bis present downfall, It was the pressure of this const uency which made i impossible for Reagan 10 attack the Sandinistas head on, and. which forced him to do everything bY stealth, and thus gave us the Iran-Contra scandal.

Briefing: The US left remains disparate, decentralised. local e4. 'Are’ there any. Signs. of greater cohesion or political development

Cockburn: There is areal failure of eational leadership. Yer the stirrings of & national movement are there. There a, for example, a lot of reforming cotrents tn the unions and ‘churches have proved r0 be the fast bastion’. of criticality a mainstream culture. The ‘academics — no! But there area Jot of students doing “good things on South Africa and ‘specially Central America

swept Reagan into a second term, and. despatched the Tuckless "Mondale to well: merited political obscurity.

‘Alarmed al the unmanageable size of-the US deficit, and well aware that the US has now ac Cumolated debts which it can never cepay, Thatcher and the German and Japanese gover ments cry "Cut the deficit and win headlines America

“The US replies: we'll cut the defiit but as a quid peo quo we Fequire the expansion. of the German and Japanese economies to take up the slack in world demand. Thatcher Ia ches on 19 the theme and bitterly attacks the German and ‘Fapanese trade surpluses,

it's easy at the moment for “Thatcher 10 score cheap points in bath directions, but ber role as US-spokesperson in Fuirope willinereasine}y tie her in knots

"The current US deficit, based fon’ military spending, stems from the contradiction between the US's role as imperialsm’s world policeman — a role con Sistemtiy defended by Thatcher

‘and. its own evonomic

weakness

Nothing more clearly it lustrates that weakness than the US trade deficit (much larger fren. than Britain's), which

etation ofthe vast US home Ot profabiity. for US Capital and the bass for theit

The Sandinistas have single-handedly su

‘The Sandinistas have single: pandedly sustained. the American left. They give it a focus and. dynanism. People always think of the right in the Shurch — the evangelists, and So.on. But if you look where the real action im the church has been, i's on the left — for ex ample, the sanctuary

"And the churches have been the Botiom line i alot of urban Strugales against Reaganism They are moving, curiously, towards a coherent progressive movement, though national leadership has not yet emerged. The next five years will-show whether labour reforming activities ate going 10 throw up ‘any really good leadership peo: Ble, which wall be essential

i we look at Canada, there are “signs that the” New Democratic Party (NDP) may do extremely well at the next lection. Their leader is now the most popular politcal figure in Canada. There i an enormous chance that we will see a social democratic. “movement make Some headway on the North American land mass, which is bound 9 have sions in the U

expansion, into the rest of the lobe — by Germans, Japanese, And other.

1 also "reflects the ludicrous covervaluing of the dolat,& cot Sequence, once again, of the Us'c role as capitalism's official ‘world leader.

The US. now, depends. on foreign capital, large chunk of it Britsh, to fund the day-t0day operations of government. Half ts budget deficit is Financ ed. by. foreign purchases. of Treasury securities, In addition, ‘Overall US indebtedness 10 the fest of the world, including cor porate debt, dowbled in the five

Briefing: Manning Macs argues that the Rainbow Coal tion provides the only current ‘option for building a muss movement, The revolutionary {ett has a ‘somewhat sterile at- {itude to. the problem of the Democratic Party. Ist possible (o intervene into the Rainbow

‘out uncritical supporting Jackson?

Cockbuen: The 1984 Jackson Campaign showed you “coud fencrate mass suppor around a andidate who was areulaing antvimperalis"poltes, whe ras arguing fora national eat programme, and this in itself was an achivement Jackson's own ideology that are fvful. The question is how tuck of the Rainbow is just a rallying. point around Jackson and how much of itis a teal movement, There so question that in certain aveas in 784 the Jackson campaign produced Sicha movement, (0 activated Toca” miltaney: brought together coalitions, bd How strong really ig. that Rainbow? Hurd to say. (1's very Tegional, Ifthe local cbapters of the Rainbow are rea focuses ar

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dee 8th 1987 page 9

USA and Britain: the Special Relationship reassessed

‘years since 1982 and is now well ‘ver 2 tilion dollars.

In the same period, Brivish capital, increasingly channelled

Fepatriated, and the close embrace of transatlantic investors is one from which British part ners will only disentangle themselves at great cos.

"The Crash has alzeady led to increased questioning of US foreign and ecosomic policy. Tensions. between the great capitalist powers are clearly on the increase. But no one — not Germany, not Japan, and cer tainly not Britain can o wil step ‘into the US's shoes and take “over. the leadership of ‘world imperialisn

Recent events clearly spell the long-awaited end of Atlanticism. ts component parts — membership of NATO, Obeisance to US interests in the

Gola atr'Souctam, and, of | ONe of the main issues

course, an arsenal of nuclear | over which the thieves ‘weapons on British soil — are | have fallen out is, of now’ all” open to. political | course, the dollar. which is

By JAMIE GOUGH

It is nice to see your ‘enemies falling out, and the verbal warfare of recent weeks between leaders of major imperialist countries has understandably delighted socialists.

Soe he fens bs oar e gato ee cron | NE eo, a: oer. seuure once dollar has declined by 50% and for all, along with their 9 Compared to the

wats Hie etal Raton, | Deutachmark and the Yen fig tobe convened ot Uh And te ws th epee of the egret Beate ni etn! eet, OA Redd eegiectocion coco a ing clas Tniched Is cckety 4 Yigg in” gat attempt to vases” greater capitate ©, Stabilise the US currency.

world’s greatest capitalist ‘ power The Stock Market Crash not

ae ou oH ch gowmeraree but hee

ERWAPS Youle SEEM He,

ES THIS TALL, BAC

ANOLOOKS LiKE ‘ORD

ever for anyone to do anything to stop its fal.

‘The dollar's current _difficulties mark’ en. important stage in the break-up of the Sconomic. and military order which oversaw the great captialist boom of the 1950s and 80s. This order was founded ‘on the economic and miltary ‘ominance of the US, with Br tain acting as loyal side-kick.

‘Once that order began to crumble, anarchy reigns, 35 seen in. current battles ‘bet ween the major capitalist Sovernments.

The financial arrangements which sustained the postwar oom were set up at the Bret: fon Woods conference in 144. These were designed £0 uy to avoid a repeat of the Crash of 1929-32. That Crash od been worsened by the way in whuch capitalist curren: ies worked at the time.

A currency is simply @ piece cf paper and needs to be backed'up with real commodities if people are to retain confidence: In it. Before Bretton Woods, this backing was the gold held by Central Banks.

"The problem here was that if the Central Bank had to sell ts ols, for example to cover a Seficit onthe country’s foreign trade, then the amount of currency had eutomatically to ‘be reduced, thus also reducing effective buying power.” and resulting im 3 Stume.

‘At Bretton Woods it_ was agreed that Central Banks

could hold as their reserves ‘hot only gold but also dollars ‘2nd pounds sterling, thus Known as. “ceserve ‘curren: Glee” The dollar was fixed in value against gold, could be freely converted into gold, and was thus “as good as gold”

The Intemational Monetary Fund was set up to lend to Cantral Banks who got into <iffcutties. In this way, conties could deal with balance of payments deficits without immediately deflating their

This was to everyone's benefit. since it allowed the boom "to. proceed without Serious interruptions by Sowntums in the business cy. ‘le, and allowed massive new Investments to be planned ‘with reasonable confidence The new era lasted for twenty

The dollar and stering were chosen as reserve currencies because-the USA and Britan were the two strongest i penialst Countries. The finan. ial arrangement went hand in hend with the miltery one: the USA allowed Britain 10 keep its colonies and. its massive overseas military presence.

‘A reserve currency status was of benefit to the USA and Brtsin, ‘since it meant they 0U10, for considerable times. unbalance of _ payments Geficits something they ‘were liable to do because of their large export of capital and. their overseas. mil spending.

Soha a tn patios : Da n Cc i n g a fte r th e ea | diving dollar

These deficits meant a net flow of dollars or. storing ‘abroad. Other countries were prepared to accept this since these currencies could be used ay reserves — they were the ‘eatest you could get to 8 sort Of internationat money.

Thus although the reserve system — benefited all Capitalists, it was also 2 ‘means by which the USA and Enitain sought to steal amarch ‘on their rivals.

‘But this ‘wonderfully co.

rative international order Was slowly undermined from within, by the different rates Of growth of productivity in the major capitalist countries. in the greatest military. imperial powers, the USA and Britain, productivity increases throughout the boom yore other modest. since US’ and Ux capital had more profitable investment opportunities abroad, and were also weigh: fed down by the burdens of mittary spending.

indigenous West German and Japanese industry made Better use of the boom, and succeeded in closing the pro Guctivity gap with the US. As 3 result, the trade balance of both the US and Britain worsened in the 1960s,

The flood of dollars abrosd now far exceeded US gold holaings ~ supposed to be their ultimate guarantee. Con: fidence in the dollar slumped

The devaluaton of the pound in 1967 spelled the end Bf storing as a reserve curren. ty. Andin 1971 Nixon, forced

to end the free convertibility of the dollar inte gold, effectively Sevalued the dollar — thus severely weakening, but not yer finishing, its tole as a feserve surrency’

‘This has been @ major factor in the long period of interna onal capitalist stagnation which followed.

Since 1971, the US trade deficit has grown massively. The dallar ie now worth only 38% of the value in Yen for which it could be exchanged in 1970. And an increasing con tradiction has opened up bet ween the dollar's use in togulating. the US. economy ‘and its use in maintaining the ‘world capitalist economy.

This is expressed in the nas ty. choice now. fecing US Capitalists. A lower dolar is necessary to correct the Bolance of trade defiest — that is, to reflect the decreased Felative productivity of US inustry. But they et the dollar fall ay further, not only wil many worldwide financial in Stitutions holding the currency Sutfer (there are several tillon ollars held outside the US), but the world economy, dependent onthe dollar 3s reserve currency and. major means of payments, will be Setiated

To steady the dollar they must now tase US inerest fates and cu the government bbudget deficit. These moves in tun may well plunge the US. economy into tecession. For Some years, Reagan managed fo square this circle by interna tional Borrowing. Now the crunch is at hand.

‘The imperialists’ attempt in 1944 to float a pseudo world currency (the dollar is now Completely on the rocks, wrecked on the ineaualty af World capitalist development, which has moved at different aces in different counties

This wreck is bad news tor everyone inthe capital world even in "flourishing Britain. Tho immediate reac tion of each imporialist power is to take stops to protect its ‘own capital. This happened in 1929 and itonly made matters worse. Sixty years of Capitalist ingenuity has not fesolved the propensity of capitalist money. to turn Capitalist crisis into world economic disaster

tained the American left

focal activists then tha is where Times. There are still éuormous things are Wrelly isthe inhibitions and difficulties ends just 4 shop-lront for There are signs that things are Saekson, in which basically changing, but there is 2 Jong Jackson’ can say anything he». way (0 £0, frame aeany poin. andin which yo look ac the Democratic there is no throughput from the Socialis of America (DSA), 2 fetivisin then you are let with lot of younger people in DSA tery iti are open-minded. T went 10 ad dress a group of students. at Ariefng: Zlonlsm as a per- Bucknell University in Penn cout iwence “oe tie nana: Back Monday, Tey ‘American lefty there any sige described. vis by ‘Michael ‘ofthat logjam breaking? Harrington (a long-time prom Cockburn Vex, things have im. nent seltstled socialist) who proved since I first weat to the came on beta of BSA Slates in 76, Then, anywhere His ist words wre "Tam not ouside the far left, you had a communist”? “This. the systematic terrorising of anyone mind-set we are dealing wth Sho raked ani-zioni ‘The older generation ae sil postions smentaly fighting the wars of the "The Begin government and "Sie. Harvingion and. Irving ine invasion of Cebanon chang- Home, who eds Dissent, haa td. things fo. some “degree. recorded conversation ie 1984 Zionists's profoundly divisive about American politics in Gn the" American Te Icons which they sidn't even mention Stantly point aut to Amterican Jesse. Jackson. These. People ists What the Israeli press hate Jackson. They alvays will ise’ fe Saying about exploia- hate Jackson. And Zionism is tion of West Bank labour, the point ef focus fr th denial of elementary democrat fights, te, and ask; why can't 0 can ansthing come “Tere ignored ot only by the mainiream American press, plait 1 ise on the DSA in

busin left papers like fn These Anarticle and | got an angry lt

ter from one of their younger ‘organisers saying you're wrong. we've conducted struggle, and even if Irving How said he'd resign from the DSA if we exer ‘mentioned Jackson, that's not the truth any more for the rest ff us. There are slow stirrings, ‘One shouldn't underestimate or

Briefing: The demonstration in April in Washington in solidari ty with South Africa and Cem ital America appears to have been a success. Cockburn: The organisers call ced it a success insofar as they ‘did get people from the labour movement. 1 always think that the effort 10 put ow these mational demonstrations is just foo suc

‘Activists can-spend four or five months in. their region buildige for a demonstration, sshich can be very constructive, then they watch ion television fand. the numbers are under Feported, and the whole thin marginalised and seems ‘wasted effort.

Cockburn: No question. South

Africa has the extra dimension

black labour and the crushing

black unions, You've sill ot

the AFL-CIO financing dubious ies in South Africa,

BU at the. las convention there was some protest about what "you might call "AFL-CIA™ activities — and that's an imporiant sign. For the frat time lat year, from the floor, one of the union leaders made 4 major denunciation of

between the AFL-CIO

‘Situation here? ‘Cockburn: As cegards the main pillars of the Beitsh press, and (king into account the extra ulgarties of the British press, it’s prety much the same

For every monstrosity, distor. tion and betrayal of the truth verpetrated by the American ‘media and recorded there (in his book Corruptions of Empire)

TwOT waces ARE UnAvenican AND inEourrasie

US flight attendant (APA member) pickets shareholders meeting: masked in case of tictimisation. you can fel an equivalent here.

‘What about prosressive aller natives?” Again, in America there are encouraging Sign. Nicaragua has thrown up new possbabitis.

It's more sophisticated than it was in the 60s. People have learned a lo. You've got to get their eyes from the top eft hand

comer to the bottom eight Sihout going ro sleep!

Theie’s Rock & Roll Con Jidential, hich discusses Politics and culture in an in feresting way. Small” publica Hions like Dollars Sense, Labor Notes, Against the Cure rent are all doing good work.

The mainstream American press has. virtually given Up ‘ering abou! labour. It used 10 bea big deal (0 be a labour correspondent. Now, it's nothing

Briefing: You talked about the interchange” between the ine felleciual cohorts around Reagan. and. Thatcher,” Wh

‘about the possibility of develop ing. similar interchange. bet ‘ween the British and American fete?

Cockburn: Yes, there's a real need for that. The usual eonneetions are made at the level of organisations. In the @s there ‘were connections between stu emt activists but there's 0 ziore of that.

“There's some union contact bat it doesn't add up to much fon the progressive side.

‘There's no magic wand, It neds constant exchanges, mak: ing contacts

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 10

Features: Soviet Revolution 70th Anniversary

‘The following is a ‘speech given by CATHY PORTER to the November 14-15th Outlook for Socialism event in London.

‘The early heady days of the October Revolution produced a mew generaion of women activists. ‘Thousands, most in their teens or early twenties, and most without children, left home to fight with’ the Bolsheviks, and set about creating anew life for themselves, no longer bound bby family and marriage. These w Soviet women’, strong, proud,

liberated, and ‘idealistic represented for many all the newness and heroism of the Revolution.

Tong-awaited rehabilitation

‘These women believed that only by working and fighting for the Revolution as qual partners with men could women make a new place for themsclve ‘within. Ii. For many. wester feminists now, this sel determination a% women may

‘often seem in conflict with their ‘own personal needs, their sense fof identity and theit sexuality

lated

Because they tended 10, ‘operate mainly in the world oF men, they were ofien

from the strong consti

demands on the Revolution

‘Western feminists may find it ‘easier 10 identify with women like Alexandra Kollonial and ‘other members of the fist generation of | women olsheviks who came to revolu tionary politics amid the swe:

les of European revolutionary movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. A new. women's

culture of resistance — the Soman question” — was born

‘After the 1905 revolution was smashed, rev

‘driven underground. Often thes found themselves in opposition to the new, creative Marxism, influenced by Freud and 2 new enlightened sexual psychology. ‘hich combined ‘with the ‘ew lechnology of contraception 10 challenge all previo tions. about” the ‘question Kollontai articulated dilemmas facing women in moxement. The choice was tween working 10 liberate themselves or sacrifice their own

interests” in” the common struggle.

Own demands Kollontai strugeted

throughout her life for sy thesis, campaigning with Rus ‘San socialism for "women's rights, and appealing directly 10 women to make their onn ‘demands on the Revolution,

"As the Revolution again gain ced momentum, vast numbers of ‘Somen were ‘drawn into. the Bolshevik. Party and became some of its bravest and most rilitant members. Women in iiated the overtbrow of the 1sir in February 1917

Kollontai and other women Bolsheviks became some of the ‘most popular politcal speakers in Petrograd. And women soon represented such 2. powerful force im the Party that she and others "urged formation of ‘Separate women’s bureaux

“The Party rejected the dea — as did most women, including long-standing” Bolsheviks like Konkordia Samoilova, as well as the younger women wo took for granted much of what they had struggled or, and Teared the separatist implications of such a move.

In October 1917, the Bolsheviks overthrew: the old order and. pledged 10 put something. better nits place Some of the first laws’ they enacted concerned women.

October 1917 and the ‘‘New Soviet

Ne labour laws gave women talks 10 solders on the bat (married or not) 16 weeks paid lefield and worked atthe (ont tmaterity leave, witha grant for forthe Paris Poltical Depart Siriend otaketime off work to ment co-ordinated m Moscow help wits the birt ty a woman, Varya Kesparova ‘Working mothers were to Women ike” Kollomal and work no more'than four days 2 Samoilosa "were among the treck. Creches and warm rooms Paris's mow popular fron-tine in facaories where working apiators mothers babies couldbe breast “LinikeKollonsi, most, fed were established. Moers women did nor address the in tere given regular Lime off to qualities they continucd to sal te them {Gr after the Boslhesiks, took power. Nor (unlike: Kellonai) - frould. they have had" the Marriage law [prestige or experience in the Then the tsarst marriage law PaPt to do so had they wished weas abolished and replaced by ‘oe sehich allowed "any m Over 18 and any woman over 16

‘Most men sho fought at the front talked more of he

eS and any oman Over 6 crifices entailed than Of their to ina dowe and choose Oma teeth and The hich sumame thes save ther supreme sacrifies demanded of Child thus helping to remove the, revolutionary movement, the stigma of illegitimacy from 21d. the special urge to self ere atime of ezicimacy from Scrifice invilled in women,

‘made women doubly reticent 10 discuss the details oF thei pet sonal life at the front and the

Some 88% of women were i SE,mBh want of the personal ‘widowed by war or abandoned eration in Revolution

by husbands or forced to leave "We can laugh now at those babies in dereliet orphanages WOMeR who rejected love, from which they escaped as Teckoning it would ect im the

tates abet A Dredhocea: ear kh Drain and exhausted, amy Ret tex year old son 10 0 10 ae pe

ie ge A mene srengih (com the three yabetiecably difficult dass was

: because we were able to tram ion struck into the heart of the Pesate we were able to tram

Acta eee neeeeass

‘ed 1o the front to fight and dic oF lovers at the front, and for feethe.Bokbesty in men's thse without children the fegiments or special Communist Revolution replaced. the” emoWomen's" dcachments in tional and domestic burdems of Tromtline towns. they earned to mariage with a looser. more shoot. bandage. Tih impermance! kind of tie. Often “On the home front they were they idealised a new Kind of ses cocywhere, fending “Ceaning al-comradeship, transcending ‘snd building forifications traditional family dramas and "AI_"women's meetings ey Jealousics. called on thei sistersto fight for" *— “Happiness then wasn't a the Revolution. They. were pretty dress a Successful mar~ ‘ecruited Tor propaganda. cx ~ fage anda cosy flat with 3 pionage. and police work: gave gramaphone. —Hanpines was

‘Moscow 1920. Meeting of Women of the East, organised by Alexandra Kollontal

“Alexandra Kollonta:

caring tor the wounded. Sticken and the di Alexandra Bulysin the Urals front “These women came of age at 2 time when i Finally seemed possible to overstep the conven Sonal female ethic of submis Son and. domesticity thousands of women working in

ils and. tests from

ied 10. follow ‘any orders. et alone those given by a woman. They had to learn 10 win men's trust, prove and defend themselves, and sive as {00d as they pot, if need be with

children had their eneres sapped by the double burden of work hd housework ‘Those sho left home for the from facad an uncer future, wsthout home, security, or the Ghance to have children, let Slone a room of their ows: Sle heir nem Confidence was Sbaructed by mc ‘Seperate wo cling onto power Solgiers “and” sailors no were Bolevik supporters Sere “ansious to. work with ‘Nomen as equals. But mow of them: reared inthe tart army and exhausted by years of work explowed women's sulnerabiits by demanding sexual favours oF insisting on endless discussions of the “marriage question”

Contraception

fh no real contraception lable, and VD rife, many omen ‘must have ‘opted. (or Hundreds of semen id resort t0 abortions, {rom which an estimated 48% died, and over ball suffered serious complications. ‘With the flih, the inadequate and the scarcity of doc: for 5,000), abortion was not 2 popular option then. But ‘many "Bolsheviks Lenin) recognised its: necesst ‘an clementary health

By the end of 1918, many women who had been suspicious fa separate women's orsanica-

ion began to change their ‘minds

That winter thousands of ‘women streamed into. Moscow Tor the fist All-Russian Women’s Congress, organised by Kollonial, Samoilova, and. others. Women in bullet-iddled oats with stern, worn. faces Spoke of fighting in Petrograd, Siberia, and the Don.»

Rou

The organisers delivered rous. ing speeches on women’s work and the family. Lenin spoke of the need to abolish household drudgery. and the Congress fended with a resolution 10 set up ‘national ‘Women’s Commissions.

Local” Women’s Commis sions, composed of three elected delegates from the factories and lages, were elected to. serve Tor three months with every Pany organisation, to recruit women to fight’ with the Bolsheviks, to present women’s demand to local parties and report back, and to set up can: teens and orphanages.

By the end of 1919, with vic~ tory on the horizon and the Whites ‘and interventionists beaten back, the. Party. had received 4 flood of complaints from women that the Commis: sions’ work was being under mined. ‘Their status was. then Upsraded “to a new Party Women’s Deparment, “the Zhenotdel, satfed enirely by

*tcomen and responsible for

everything that" conceried women’s lives

‘Women workers in regional partes ensured that every group, Of factory inspectors included a Teast one woman, 10 ensure that labour laws were being obser cod, and that women were pro: {ected from ‘night. work and allowed time off to breast-feed.

Conferences

Women’s conferences were held up and down the country, at which women were elected 16 ‘work in local government. Soon there were Zhenotdels in ever) fegion of Russia, and 2. vast ‘educational programme was lunderway amongst the women ‘of Central Asia

By the end. of 1920, the Interventionists had withdrawn, leaving the economy smashed and. some 14" million dead. Those who survived were shungry and exhausted

were torn apart by war Women strugsled on their ‘own f0 support their child Hundreds of orphans and ab doned wails roamed the £04 ty, hungry. homeless, and Sesperate. As men returned from the front. women were usually the fist to lose their jobs,

Revolutionary hopes suppressed by war came to the sur Face in meetings and. debates, Women who had fought at the front or slaved away in the fac tories now had the opportunity to discuss their own problems The Zhenotdel organised polit. cal education meetings at which ‘women discussed their problems at Work, tackled subjects such a8 VD. and prostitution, and tied out for legalised abortion.

Abortion

Finally, in November 1920, Soviet Russia became the first country in Europe to legalise abortion, This was not Drecented asa conscious. atfempt to change family policy The birth rate had already been Slashed by" epidemic, famine, and war, and the Bolsheviks! aim “was always to. make Shildbirth and. motherhood Safer

Though not primarily corganisers of women, the "new Soviet women’ of the Civil War years. were an. inspiration 10 ‘somen of the time and I

‘Many Soviet women then and now feel they served the cause ‘Of their own liberation best where they were, on the front Tine of the Revolution, strugeljing "against the traditional patriarchal values which under pinned. the old order and Tingered on into the new

Labour Briefing No, $2 Nov 2éth-Dec 8th 1987 page 11

Features: Soviet Union Today

After Yeltsin’s fall: Gorbachev at the crossroads

Where does Mikhail the course of goveroment Seereries Gore PA the bas me effec eee stand? spelt out by Gorbachev himself.

On the left or on the Its pedigree is the Apt 1968 right? Action "Programme "of che

‘Coechosiovak Communist Party luring the Prague Spring

The reform movement that has grown within the USSR since Gorbachev came to power & in many ways strikingly similar in ideology and social ‘composition to the movement of the Prague Spring.

This question puzzles the British Left

However much we may be able (0 predict how our com Tades. will interpret other ‘henomena in world politics we Gannot be sure what they ‘make of Gorbachev. Some of us ‘may even bein two minds about

the man and’ the questions be BS OLIVER For some people the answer is ~MACDONALD

simple, Find out what our domestic enemy thinks of Gorbachev and then think the opposite. The problem is that the omestic enemy is confused as wel

‘Others look at what’ Gor bachew says and does and ask Whether itis letist oF rightist In eneral, in abstract ideological ferms. This too will only confuse the issue,

“The only way to understand it fs to situate the Gorbachev sroup within the concrete con: fest of the Soviet system as. ‘whole, and indeed of the world situation, and assess the meaning of Gorbachev's activity in the ght of ils likely” practical vonseauences for the future

"The Gorbachev group has spelt out its programme pretty clearly, although some of the terminology is open to misinte pretation. It isa programme of

The altitude of the working class is also strikingly similar pinion surveys in recent monUs show industrial workers very suspicious of the effects of marketisaton (erosion of social Fights, rise of social inequalities) while’ very sympathetic to greater openness and ‘ruthfulness in the media.

‘And the anti-reform current within the Party elite i, ike the Czech Novotnyites, secking to use working class suspicion of ‘Perestroika to destroy the move ‘meat for political reform.

‘When Novotny war replaced bby Dubcek he rushed to the big Steel town of Kladno and made 2 direct appeal 10 the factory workers there. They and their arty organisations hesitated, ‘and the new party leadership responded by” declaring the abolition of censorship.

Fiberation, in” economics, "Novotny then tried to stage a politics, culture and ideology.” military coup but it miserably Since one can’t proclaim failed. (The organiser, General oneself 4 “liberal” "in the Sena, led to the wes!)

CPSU, the terminology is dit: ferent? openness, democratisa tion, restructuring. But it all amounts to liberabiam:

‘ea degree of marketisation of the economy, a strong assertion of the rule of laws

‘the development of a certain degree of separation of powers:

‘defence of individual liber ties against the state:

greater freedom expression;

(far more cultural pluralism;

some degree of recognised ‘ideological pluralism:

‘@a very considerable opening up of the USSR to influences at all levels from the West

This liberalism Is, of course not capitalist iberalism. Despite Some scope for privaie (nod. apitalist), production and service | sectors (especially in agriculture), the overwhelming bulk ofthe economy will remain rationalise.

Unemployment will not be allowed and prices will not be dilemma are on offer. One is a siven complete “freedom” ‘enunciation of both the sup-

Policy and decision-making porters of Gorbacher and. the will be firmly monopolised by Supporters of Ligacher. (Gor theCPSU and thereisnosign of — bachev’s hard line opponent any intention of allowing the the Politburo) in the name o Tight of alternative platforms both freedom and. workers And tendencies within the Party. social rights and democracy

There will be an element of "This is correct as final goal, negative freedom from arbitrary but only sectarian believe yoxt state action, But there will not solve a current practical ask by be positive freedom for the col- proclaiming a final goa! lective producers to determine "The other phoney solution is through open democratic means 0 convince oneself thatthe pr

If the USSR. was today a socialist democracy, Gorbachev’s programme would. of course be objectively" reaconary. But in reality, the soviet state has beea in the grip of a Stallaism far moce powerful ‘and deepy rooted than ‘Czech Novotayism.

Party of that Stalinist reality is great economic and social security for industrial workers, 2 security they will find eroded To some extent if the more ‘managerialclist elements ‘within the reform movement have their way

of

Dilemma

This seems then to peesent the left svith a insoluble dilemma: cither support. workers’ social Fights plus Stalinism, or support liberal refoemis atthe expense of the soctal interests of the work ing clas

Two phoney solutions to this

Gorbachev

bullying.

How thes to resolve the dilemma? How to choose bet- ‘ween two. different program: tes, each inits own way posing dangers for the working class? ‘Thesanewer Bes in the eat, prac. teal movement for tiberal ‘reform

For what the Western media calls Gorbachevism isnot only 2 Programme, but a real, fiving, social movement for greater freedoms. Within “that “move ‘ment there ae forces, expressed most clearly in the Socialist Clubs in Moscow, demanding 3 freedom beyond liberalisation, 2 positive freedom 10 exercise [pole 10 intervene in and shape Soviet ie

These forces seek freedom for the workers. 10 express. theit

sent situation in the USSR is ccquivalent io August Ist 1980 in Poland. We are, according 10 this seeaario, on the eve of the tie of a Soviet Sobidarnose against bureaucratic. rule, ‘ass movement led by the ‘Strongly egalitarian, erstwhile Stalinist Communist "Factory militants against the corrupt Uberalism of the Soviet equivalent of Gierekism.

Paradoxical

Bur the paradoxical fact is that Solidarnose would aot have bbeen possible — or, in a certain sense, necessary — without the ten preceding years of Gierekite Hiberalism. This liberalism not ‘only. destroyed the Ligachevs Within the Polish “Communist

Party (Moczar and his aims and aspirations, but they followers) i also made possible also. want to preserve. the the relatively free circulation of egalitarian gains and. social ideas. and. informacion ‘within se njoyed_ by working Poland. It also gradually under- people in the USSR.

mined what the workers belies This movement has been sum.

edtobe the basis of socialism — moned onto the political arena Socal security and by the Gorbachev group and un cgalicarianism il the fall of Yellsin it was ge ‘None of this has happened im nuinely a movement under the the Soviet Union as yer. The leadership of Gorbachey. No Soviet Moczars-Novotnyites are doubt man of the people in this immensely strong and they of movement had had some ill industrial workers a. far t the scope of Gor painful and. risky aims and com: ‘mitments. And we on the left

Know that illusions of this sort ‘can be dangerous. But they are also useful because they sive

ess Gestroyingmarketisation than

Solidarnose-syle insurgence: ‘afance on the Stalinist wing of the bureaucracy, on cond

‘oF course, that the worker people the confidence to exter tinue to swallow old-style the struggle! repressive ‘authoritarian In recent months we have

seen the base of the reform movement develop and begin to ‘change a programme for quantitative liberalisation into a demand for qualitative political change, Independent organisations of thousands — at the last ‘count there were 48 Clubs in ‘Moscow alone — taking. grass roots initiatives in support of leaders committed "10 "the leading role of the Party". A Tiving dialectic!

‘The Gorbachev group re quires a mass social movement 1 defeat the Soviet Novatnyites and Moczarites. Yet the spectre Of such a movement drives the

this crisis was the politcal destruction of Yeltsi

“Much of the bourgeois media has “failed "10 grasp. the significance of the fall of Yelisin. “The” Moscow - party leader was not simply dismissed, He sas poliically. destroyed, forced 0 make a ‘sickening, Stalinist repudiation of his own politcal programme,

In other words, if the Sualinists have their way, there isto be a police atitude towards radical “reforming currents within the CPSU. Pravda's twopage account of the unanimans lynching of Yeltsin turns

Gatiaces reformers who. wil Be pool Hegemony Gan be used: agains Hs own

massive viewory. for ‘Stalinism: Unless the Gorbachev wing of the leadership fs ready and el ing to mount 3 couarer-attack against the Stalinist Old Guard, itspels the beginning of the end

sion through his real hegemony, ‘over the reform movement and his refusal to identity a political enemy. of reform within the Soviet Party elite. In this way he hoped to both build the reform

movement and reassure the par- for the movement tor genuine iy te political reform within. the Bur the tactic failed. The ten-_ USSR

sion grew. explosive. The Ifthe Gorbachee wing fails to Novotnyite-Moczarites launch- grasp this they will find ed an all-out attack on the themselves on the road of the

Moscow Party organisation, the Dubcekites alter the Moscow

motorforse of the reform — Protocols of August 19682 kept movement in office to destroy the popular Gorbachev faced a choice: movement, by. crushing its either break the dynamism of hopes, only to be tossed aside the reform movement {rom (as Dubeek was in April 1969) below, or wagean open politcal without a whimper af protest struggie against’ the Stalinist from a_biterly” disappointed

old-guard. The first result of mass movement,

CND

Activists must follow Conference

gains through

New realism reared its corporate image at the Annual CND Conference on November 20-22nd.

The CND leadership see the signing of the INF disarmament treaty on December 7th between Gorbachev and Reagan as a victory for the peace movement.

They claim this success — paradoxically — as responsible for the shrinking membership and declining activist base of CND.

However, new opportunities for campaigning are ‘opened up by the INF treaty and Gorbachev's glasnost policies according to these geniuses. In fact, of course, it’s the same old popular front stuff in a

different form — downplaying direct action, refusing to criticise established politicians, failing to make the solidarity links with industrial and international struggles.

Despite 2 smaller Conference, the leadership still did not win the day. Activists won the vote on adding to the priorities for next year continuing campaigns against US bases and NATO, and the link between higher defence spending with cuts in the social wage.

The key question, of course, is making the new leadership carry out these policies.

Dave Spencer, Coventry END

Dorothy Hayball on her sponsored bike ride from Blackheath to Tunbridge Wells in aid of CND on September 27th. “Many thanks to all my sponsors,” ‘says Dorothy, “‘the £169.80 raised will help us carry on

(Report

Horo:

3 y

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 12

Letters Building Briefing ahs ao AAM CONTACT BRIEFING suspected that he was going iI back to Africa to avoid the com- T silence Dave Srut‘davaasc'n | WIRITEBACK The ing Edo] Boar and the folowing Kitson? Ts aati ‘Commissions, can be contacted at PO Box 457, Dear Editor, terested ia eas be was, sboxe_ | "We welcome your letters! London SW2'5U2Z, 01 733 7016:

‘Wher a branch of the AntiApartheid Movement was set up in Falkirk a few months ago, T ‘was elected to the local commit. College Fetlowship Reunion. tee. Being engaged inthe \ask of Then when I saw Dave in Ox completing a book on Africa ford, he told me something and the British Left from 1883 shout his political disputes with fonwards, 1 felt 1 ought to da. the leadership of the Ant Something in Falkirk and Apartheid Movement in. ton district to contribute toagreater don. But I confess that I did not awareness of the “toraliarian”” — "and do not — understand Situation in South Africa ‘where and at what precise points ‘By July of this year, when 4 his analysis of the situation in decision had been taken to in- South Africa and the role of the vite Dave Kitson to address Anti-Apartheid Movement i public meetings in Falkirk and Beitain differed from that of the Stiting, 1 became aware of 8 bfficial leadership. ‘whispering campaign designed “Ou Monday “October 27th {o prevent him from speaking at 1967 John Nelson an offiiat ‘Natl-Aparthetd meerings Of the Scottish committe of the ‘As an independent socialist — . Anti-Apartheid Movement, and a socialist wha belonged 10 came to Falkirk to advise” us the “Movement” for Colonial not to invite Dave Kitson 10 a Freedom" in Edigburgh and public meeting in Falkirk London in the 1950s — Iwas "en the fits place, Kitson was appalled at the sleekit attempts omy “interested in’ promoting being made behind the scenes to himself at the expense of the

all, am activist 1 did not see ies ‘again until April of this year when Fweat dowa to the Ruskin,

prevent Dave Kitson from South African liberation speaking at Anti-Apartheid movement.

Movement” meetings in "Secondly, only "the seas Scotland were interested in Kitson’s dif

‘After “unofficial whispering advice from officals of the ‘Anti-Apartheid Movement in Glasgow, the Falkirk vommitice decided to invite someone from the Scottish committee to come theough to Falkirk wo explain ‘why’ Dave Kitson seemed to Be

‘Unacceptable as 4 speaker. ‘When was a student at Ruskin College, Oxford, in the early 19505, Tsaw a lot of Dave Kitson, What I remember most ‘was not Kitson the member of the Communist: Party, but Sympathetic, warm-hearted Africans. By préviding Kitson iconoclast" whose irreverent with a platform in Falkirk, we Sense of humour marked him would " be” taking action ‘out from the Party hacks. detrimental to the activites OF Yet Aftica was never far from the ANC in South Africa. his thoughts; and, when [met In. reply to questions, John him one night in London in, { Nelson described Dave Kitson think, the carly” 1960s," I as "a renegade, Moreover, the

cE 8 AE A RE

Telex from Des East, Administrative Secretary, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).

NUMSA has discussed the ongoing campaigns for the twlease of our General Secretary, Moses Mayekieo, and the ‘others charged with him, and for the workers dismissed by BTR Sarmeol.

NUMSA calls for the continuation and intensification of these campaigns

NUMSA notes with appreciation the campsign for the relesse of Cae Mayekiso and others by many groups including the Friends of Moses Mayekiso, the IMF and the UAW. The solidarity shown has been very gratefully received by Cée Mayekiso and the whale union. The material support thas been shared with the dependants of all those involved in both Alex vials. We call for further efforts, especially by the labour movement, on this crucial and precendent setting ‘wil

NUMSA calls for the intensification of the campaign of solidarity with the workers of BTR Sarmeol. The efforts of the labour movement and organisations in the UK and other ‘countries is vital to our efforts to obtain justice for these ‘workers, and we call for even more activity on this Campaign. The work done by the TUC and its affiiated tunions and by the IMF continues to be central to our efforts to obtain the reinstatement of the Sarmcol workers.

RRO Sea RO

ferences with the real leadership.

‘@ Furthermore, Kitson disagreed with the leaders of the AnteApartheid Movement in London; he insisted on standing for election co the national com

fee although he had been ‘adviced not to do-s0"": and he would not accept majority decisions

‘@1f Kitson came'to Falkirk, he would advocate’ (unspecified) policies at odds with the inferests ofthe black South

“Perhaps”

between: iegatity and ew-

ingeing cuts Former Black Sections sc- Delegates on both left and tivist Paul Sharma recent. right eagerly swatted Cao.

Sharma's recipe for recon: efiiation and finaneial recovery. Alss, they were isappointed

To questions from the floor demanding that Sharma

ly turned up. at Har

‘ingey's Looal Government

Committee to get himself wvaled to tha Council by-

‘lection panel.

In his epesch to delegates he denounced both wings of share his secret formuls the Party for ther con for compromise and com: duct during the long. bit plete "happiness, the er debate over cuts in would-be Labour’ Coun. Jobs and services and eaid i that he personally belie ed there was a middie way

London SW2 5UZ

Write to Labour Briefing, PO Box 457,

South Africans were “engaged

armed struggle, and_they ‘could not therelore afford” the luxury of democratic debate

‘What upset me and the other members of the Falkiek commit. {ce was Nelson's atlempts. to Sticar and discredit Dave Kitson without offering any clear oF ‘coherent account of the politcal iSsues at stake. 1 do not Know whether I would agree — or Giagree with Kitson's ‘analysis ofthe tasks of the Anti- ‘Apartheid Movement in Britain, ‘This is not really the major issue; the issue is one of free speech, free debate and open

Giscussion ‘Ako I am very disturbed by the almost “totalitarian” at lempts at censorship being im posed by members of the Scotfish committee of the Anti ‘Apartheid Movement ‘Tovalicarianism in South Africa ‘annot be fought by employing. Stalinist methods of thought ‘control in Scotland.

The black South Africans surely deserve better than that; ‘and so do the Scots who are sup porting the South Afticans’ ‘Emancipation struggle against a brutal, totalitarian diceatorship.

‘Yours sincerely,

Dr James D Young

Falkiek

Getting to grips with Chesterfield

Dear Briefing, Twas a litle disappointed in

Briefng’s coverage of the

Chesterfield Conference

[Like many others who attend ed this important meeting, 1 found that one of the problems with the way in which K was ‘organised was that as 1 could ‘only. attend one theme con ference and one workshop, 1 had bile idea of what was hapening elsewhere

Thad beea looking to Briefing {o fill the gap and ths you failed to do, so perhaps other readers will be willing to share their ex Periences and ideas as to how things could be improved at the follow-up conferences?

My first suggestion would be that ifthe same format of themes “and” workshops is followed then there should be short summaries of the work and conclusions from each sec tion at the final plenary.

Secoodly, in the economics workshops, which Fatiended, i tras very soticeable that both ‘the briefing papers prepared in advance and the introductory {alks were completely fgnored. Instead, a galaxy of speakers {rotted through’ their party pieces with very little reference fo anything that had gone before or what had been said by ‘anyone else

The only-exception was John Palmer, who did try to pull the discussion together

‘Now, all this was enormously enjoyable, revealing ye again the wealth of nichly comic characters on the left, My own personal favourite was the man ‘who, having listened for some time to the usual arguments by third worlders. versus. proEuropeans, firmly announced that there was no need to cooperate with ansbody, "since there were no socialists outside Briain?

However, since the object of the conference was presumably otto provide entertainment for hoary old theatre buffs like me, Dl to start a serious debate on socialist policies, 1 would Fecommend that next time the papers coming out of the policy discussion groups should each be introduced by 2 speaker and sed to focus the subsequent debate so that decisions can be

‘Westminster, London

Livingstone cannot be trusted

this way. In order to sell out, 1° hhave to junk lesbian and gay rights, the Trish question, and ‘much else besides."

Unfortunately, as was shown whea he failed to open a."'se- ‘cond front” against the Tories during the Miners’ Strike over abolition and rate-capping. LivIngstone cannot be rusted.

Livingstone’s hallmark i that he retains good positions on ideological Asues ond sells out ‘at crucial times. He may “"mor- {ify the Tories" (as he puts), Dut he's the type of politician they can live with, in the last analysis

‘We are suffering from a lengthy ‘absence of leadership, ‘and Livingstone is now ex: Ploiting this to great. effec. When he puts himself forward as the Left’s standard bearet, ‘we will have no option but 1026 Lively support im. But to trust him would be political suicide

{In any future leadership posi tion, “Livingstone would fail again 0 provide adequate leadership in taking “on the Tories when it came to the crunch. "We must learn from past mistakes and make preparations for the eventuality of a sell-out, We must make Sure we're in a position to be able to take over leadership of the strug.

Yours comradely,

John Turkie,

Hackiiey, London

‘Amazingly, this avowal was,

taken on faith by a me Jorlty of the delegates pre Sent, who voted the man on £9 the panel \doubtediy the most suoeinet comm on Sharma's performance belong to the anonymous delegate who inscribed his cor her ballot paper with the single word perhaps’

Income distribution: going to extremes

In the US. the gap between the ‘ch andthe res has never bees ‘wider The boteom two Hos (of famiies received only 15 4%0 ‘f coca national famdy income In 1986 — the lowest percen {ge recorded snce the fovern™ iment began gathering, asics in 1947

The top two fifths got 67.7% — the highest share ever recorded

Most ofthis boty went to the top “leh of fits who got 43 7"

‘of af income — alo a record Indeed. che wealthest Si of fines alone earned more J ‘come than the Bottom 40%

And the cenare dost not seam t be holding. che middle fifth of {he "population receved one sixth of total income — another Sime low

‘A ‘dose look at the poorest (Gries revesls forcher cause {or acm. Poversy cates tend co Sei recessions and fall in ex pansions, but poverty has fallen vey. ite in the current

pansion

‘The 13.68 of famiies in poverty in 1986 15 the highest poverey ‘Fie recorded for any year a0 Comparable point the busnest eye. The 1986 poverty rate sakes the 11-79 poverty rate 1979 look good by Companion

So can we look back on 1979 a5 the good old days? Wall not realy The share of income Fecewved by the botcom chee ‘its of che population hasbeen faling snce 1969, sthough the tumble did speed up dramatically 1980,

Bur what the 1986 figures show is ‘dat even compared to 1979. the economy is working less 2nd lens for the US matory.

Courresy, Dollars & Sense

Trade Union Briefing, Youth Briefing, Student Briefing, Lesbian & Gay Briefing, Briefing Women and International Briefing.

Briefing Editorial Board:

Next meeting: Friday 27th November.

Briefing Steering Committee:

Next meeting: Sunday December 6th: NOTE*2 1.30 am starting time.

Deadline for articles:

Issue no. 53 (out December Sth}: notify EB as soon as possible, all articles in by Tuesday December 1st. There will be a Xmas break after issue no, 83.

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Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 13

Reviews

BOOK REVIEW

Rosa Revisited

Rosa Luxemburg — A Life, by Elzbieta Ettinger, Harrap

Previous biographies of Luxemburg have emphasised the differences between Rosa's life and the lives led by most other women,

This book, written from a feminist perspective, concentrates not on the politics bout on the personal life and passions of the famous revolutionary.

Her life has all the clements of excitement and ‘tragedy one expects from a feminist heroine.

Growing up. as a Jew in Poland, suffering” disablement from polio, she struggles to get to university where she scores ‘oustanding academic success.

Here she falls love, becoming a leader of first the Polish and later the German socialist movement, where she launches a major "battle. against the betrayal of socialist principles by the leaders of German Social Democracy in the years leading up to the firs World War.

‘After several years in prison sheis triumphantly released, ou iy to meet her death atthe hands of the reactionary Frei Korps, farrying out the orders of Social Democratic leaders, a8 the Ger ‘man Revolution ends in defeat

Eitinge, editor of @ book of love letters between Luxemburg

BOOK REVIEW

and Leo Jogiches, includes new information about Rosa's fami Wy life and love affairs.

Her’ lover fogiches comes across as a man who is jealous of Luxemburg’s enormous energy and. strength of character. He is unable fully 10 return the passion that Luxem burg heaps on him and main. tains a cool distance that would drive any woman to distraction.

Rosa turas to other men to fulfil her compulsive desire 10 be loved — Paul Levi, Costa Zetkin, and Hans Diefenbach. ‘Throughout her adult life Lux. emburg is torn between her sspirations as a revolutionary leader and the needs she fel, a= a woman, to have a home, = child, and a stable love life

By Valerie Coultas Vauxhall CLP

‘The brave and often lonely choice that Luxemburg makes fone that a male revolutionary ‘Sid not and does not have 10 ‘make. This awareness gives the book its strongly feminist edge.

Ettinger does not-make the mistake of idealising Luxemburg. She includes tales of Lax emburs’s arrogance in faction fights and anecdotes and com iments that show Luxemburg's contempt and impatience with het own sex.

Rosa suggests that Clara Zetkin, one of her closest Trends, was a rather dogmatic Marxist who had few ideas of het own, and likens Sonia Liebniche to a sightlyspoited, pretty ol

Rosa Luxembourg

Enger is critical of Luxemburg's stand on the Polish and to some extent on the Jewish ‘question. Luxemburg’s ideas on the party and the masses are not detailed, but where the book touches om this subject Luxemburg. is portrayed as the defender of democracy im op Position to Lenin's elitism. Et Unger is unequivocal, however, about Luxemburg's respect fof Lenin and. general defence of the Russian Revolution,

"The love of the German labour movement for. ite ‘greatest leader comes across Strongly. 1's my guess that the ‘author had a female audience in mind — but mea would also benefit from reading Ettinger's well-researched, moving » ac count of the Luxemburg story

"68 Generation

Street Fighting Years, by Tariq Ali, Collins, £12.95

Next year, 1988, is a year of important anniversar- .

I is the SOth aniversary of very important socialist conference, hosted by one of, the leaders of the Russian Revolution, eld in the French countryside (if you don’t know what 1 mean, ask your Briefing seller for clarification),

But it is also the 20th anniversary of the Tet offensive in Vietnam; the MayJune general strike in France; and the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia,

Twenty years already! 1968, and the years of student and worker rebellion which it sy Bolises, are for younger com. rades Just as much a part-of revolutionary history as. the Spanish revolution

"Tariq Ali's new book tells his personal story of these years.

Tariq. was propelled into the leadership of the Vietnam and radical student movements tot 50 much by his journalism, but by his oratorical flair. As the most articulate spokesperson of the new wave of revolutionary

of the media coverage was hysterically Hostile land put him from time co time In personal danger, nonetheless it put him in-a unique position of being sought out by a wide range of and celebrities Much of the charm of this book ies not so. much in the story of 1968 and after, but in the tales of the people. A dinner party hosted by Marton Brando, NUM leader Lawrence Daly on f visit 10 Vietnam (Failing 10 keep. intact. his malt whiskey present for Ho Chi Minh); a Summons to meet the Redgraves; Perry “Anderson's

‘energetic dancing technique — these are just a few of the dozens of entertaining anecdotes,

‘All this will of course be ‘anathema to the po-faced secfarians in the far left whose commitment to Marxism is heavily laced ‘ith puritanism, moralism anda total lack of Bemour

‘Already the most hostile review of Tariq's book has been ‘writen by the SWP's doctor turned" Tumpea-rock-eriic David Widgery who asked in New Society “What has the British Teft done to deserve this man?” The import of Widgery’s review is, that_the British left cam well do without these foreigners coming to pve

By Phil Hearse Islington North CLP

Sireet Fighting Years is above all a defence of 1966 and the generation which rebelled in Such spectacular Fashion. While this generation had many illusions and made many mistakes, nonetheless in taking up. the Fight co change the world Ie was absolutely right

Tariq talks of the ‘fantasies and illusions” of the "68 Febellion. More precisely, ultraleftism war the dominant political tend, and many talked Of @ “decisive clash” Between the workers and the ruling class —Thappening within afew years.

‘AS the years went by and revolution id not occur the radicalsed militants were forced {to come to terms with serious long-term work in’ the labour movement.” Inevitably there ‘were casualties, as people became disillusioned and moved cowards the ight.

There have been some spectacular “renegades. Regis Debray, theorist of the Cuban revolution and collaborator of Che Guevara, became a fac totum of Mitterrand, peddling his" poisonous foreign” policy,

and befriending arch. reactionary US ambassador 10 the UN, Jean Kirkpatrick

‘Andre Gluckman, Maoist theorist. of the French ‘barricades, became a mystical and reactionary philosopher. Henri Weber, ideologue and leader of the Trotskyist Ligue Com- ‘muniste, went off towards Social democracy.

Casualties

Yes, casualties and renegades there have been. But overall, the "68 generation has remained remarkably steadfast, despite al the difficulties and setbacks

A young comrade, in his early 208, ‘recently remarked to me that all his active political life “Thatcher had been in power. He had known little but setbacks and defeats, mainly. defensive struggles. “You people from "68 ate lucky.” he sai.

Tn teuth we ace. itis difficult to convey the thrill of seeing the firse reports of the Tet offen sive, announcing that NLF units hhad taken over the US embassy {in Saigon; or that of seeing the first reports of the barricades in aris ("It's just like the revolution” was the headline in the Evening Standard), o¢ that of ‘marching with "thousands behind banners shouting for the Victory of the » Vietnamese revolution

‘What we had the privilege of seeing in 1968 was what it could be like when the masses rebellfo and when the powers that be become vulnerable. Tt is one thing to reason. intellectually that. socialism and revolution are possible — it is something ‘else ‘again to know it in your bones, to fet it, co see it unfold, in-embcyo, before you.

Read Sireet Fighting Years because i's @ good story and because it's fan. But be mary of Taria’s slightly downbeat and depressed conclusions. The key

i of 1968 was "Ce nest ‘qu'un debut — continuons te combat!"

"Yes, indeed: 1968 was just a beginning —— the srugsle

RECORD REVIEW

Spare parts and

broken hearts

Tunnel of Love, Bruce Springsteen, CBS records.

Macho individualist or working class hero?

‘Sentimentalist or social critic?

People’s poet or pretentious poseur?

Wf you haven't yet made up r your ming sbout Springsteen, BY Mike Marqusee Springsteen's fantasies of Xi'new album Tunnel oflove Haringey Labour escape, 20. ecstaticaly afi probably won't tip the Briefing ‘mative in earlier albums, have Golonce’ but’ se on intiguing eee tumed brie with age. His Eyiaie deporte for theNew Otdeteatand defiance, rooted celabrations of anarchioinSect peer uuscuce’ may in cee ooly strugpies Of rust-dvidualen have grown Bittor Wel tnd tof interest. belt America nd foriorn,

SSnueGe fee digeresd: "Teo staan instil. Gh. Mask of ine oh Ea withcEcuee!Bandivaltct enigmatic tales of romantic, qyiidh, of, 2) keeping Same "The srangemons on iovedisipetad n ard years of. (iwhat he hes been saving the new album are spare, Wage'esmng domestic 91d. Siiity" snd “being an saul citar” feanring. “ducordant "We've the seme sad sory. EONY;, Sm being an edit iements, unexpected bursts that's afactiOne step forward pseudo-maturity of puetle SFayntecieer and sound af, end two steps back. another Peeve, mm fects, and sn emphasis on battle In our dit litic wa “Thenk god, Bruce hes kept bald sometimes ‘istursingly Against a background of ar- faith wilt his primary. eons naked woes. sifetalfeipround ‘merriment tuency. while extending, Ns

‘None of his means Springs. Springsteen’ observes. "t's sppoal beyond ic, Unlite co teon has joined the ranks of eaay for two people to lose many others, nehasn't drown. pop innovators. He remains @ each other in this tunnel of od snd beligd ‘up in the gold Eollector and. renevstor of love."" In Spare Parts he tolls fish bow! of world wide tock musical ciches and Temilar the tole of an unwanted ‘n'roll celebrity. ayes Dregnaney ‘nd how s-single "On last. year's big ive

ih Tunnel of Lovene hes ex- mother’s despait tums to pro- album, Springsteen included 8 panded and atteres hs range fetarian proctcelty "at-the renivon of woody Gulhwe's eine impuing ic as always, pawn shop. ‘Ths. Land is Your Land, 8 ‘tn tis own peculiar power "The deceptive Tougher then clessic statement of American 3nd strength of footing the Rostic ang watts mcm radicalism: patriotic, populist,

The Iynes have slso chang- fal yeagnation' that taiee te compassionate. A ing sr 29. 1fthereisno single song on macho chorus, and the fear of them for Bruce Springsteen, 3 {he album with the social fury oneness fs poignant in When o0e-men popular front, for of Bom im the USA, it & Youre Alone and Valentines better or worse, in an era of Ponetheless marked Day seiinermolanchelysel, ‘reaction "and. sanctified throughoutby a varied mixture mockery of ain Gor You. Selfishness,

BOOK REVIEW A heroic page in the history of anti-apartheid

struggle Pei ge git

removals more intensive, that Sophiatown has a special Gone with the Twighilight, the wahbuieat i place in the history of the by Don Mattera, Zed of, Defiance” Struggle against apartheid. Books, £6.95 (paperback) that struggle.

Te was one of the Western Tt was as an Anglican peiest in

Jobannesbure where rele

Brent South CLP Sotapertheid sirugele aad Africans had succeeded in ‘which was the inspiration for his buying land before the pro- book Naugh! for your comfort.

Bruce Springsteen

80s, the “Years the’ symbol. of

more notorious gangs, the

hibitive 1923 Urban Areas ure notorious gangs, the 7 Aadttera gives a graphic ‘Act was passed. TeUEESa ito politcal ace account of this heroic page in

The nearby municipal refuse tvist and a poet the history of the anti-apartheid dump made Sophiatown urate easy white struaple; of the anguish and the

vibrant society embracing, ig pOveEwas the growth Of ur; (9S rane" Sophisiown 10 the {Addition to the predominant ban black proletariat. Contra! ground, and the. forcible

were also some Chinese who. by Areas Act ‘of 1930 which the This is a book which should

some quick of the apartheid Prime Minister of the time, DF be read by all who want 10 exlegion, were comidcred 0 Nats dsb an “ihe Kernel pence’ a seca han he ees ¢ Of the apartheid policy.” Sgony of being black in South _Sophiatown was a minture of pigcts ike Sophiatown, adja- Africa and the faith in ulimmate prohibition ra Chicago ard cone ro the plush white suburbs victory which is summed Up on Greenwich Vilage Gane wat-Gfehe Rand: had oe removed, heat page fare exis side with @ The mixed population had to be "I knew deep down inside of rich melee of music, poetry aod broken up inte their component me, in that place where laws and

a. parts as defined by the all-white guns cannot. reach nor Parliament — Affican, —_jackboots. trample, that. there

The author symbolises this “coloured” and Indian had been no defeat. In another mixture. He had an Italian “But this was not enough. The day, another time, we would

grandfather and a Tswana African majority had to be sub- emerge to reclaim ‘our dignity mother — “coloured” in theof- divided into “tribal” groups to and our land, It was only amatficial lexicon. In his youth he prevent their cobesion into a ter of time and Sophiatown was the leader of one of the Solid opposition force. ‘would be reborn.”

Labour Briefing No, 52 Nov 24th-Dec &th 1987 page 14

International Briefing

Our challenge to the British government!

‘Clearly, Britain was engaging in the tlusion of movement a5 3 brief chronological review of Statistics shows!

1968 Stormont rule: Civil Rights Movement campaign azainst, among other issues, job discrimination

1971 Unemplorment rate:

Discrimination in Ireland grounds of

on the

synonymous with and is a product of British colnial rule.

Privilege was the founda- Catholic/nationalis: 17.3% tion stone of British control. (male) 7.0% (Female) Inequality is the price of a Protestant/unionist: 6.6%

(naley: 3.66% (female) 1972: Direct” rule from ‘Westminster.

1973 Van Straubenzce Report 1996 Faic Employment Act and creation of Pair Employment

system of privilege.

‘When Britain partitioned Ireland in 1921, it was a secarian head-count — which decided the territory of the

Northern state. Partition led Agency toa much more structured 1981 Unemployment rate: sectarianism in che system Catholic/nationalist: 30.2% than that which liad existed (male): 17.1% (female) Protestant/unionist: 12.4%

before. The state in all its

decisions — political, social, (mal); 9.6% (female)

1985 Unemployment rate

economic, educational, “Cathotie/nationalist: 38-40% employment practices — (male) 18-19% (female) reflected that basic Proteamt/unionist. 18-20%

So it isthe British government and its predecessors which must be held responsible for’ the discrimination against Catholics,

(maley; 11-12% (female) 1987 Almost 20 years on ‘and against a background of disim: ovement, the structural ‘ature of job discrimination has ‘ot been tackled, rom 1921 until 1969, Britain Twenty years on and the only jntained the convention that areas in which there is broad “he domestic affairs of Nor- public agreement. isan (heen Ireland” were not discuss. acknowledgement that job (ed al Westminster. Since 1972, discrimination does ‘exist and thas been directly responsibie the general manner in which i For the deliberate refusal to take manifests itself the necessary steps f0 eradicate The public debate onthe issue job discrimination has forced the British govern

Fourteen years ago, over a ment to acknovledge and four-year period from 1973 10 reiterate the basic facts 1976, Britain was engaged in a" @ Discrimination and inequal seen-to-be-doing-something ex: ty" of opportunity. in employ ‘reise which successfully remov- ment on the grounds of religious fed discrimination as a live sue belief and/or political opinion from the political agenda, does exist

The Report and Recommen- elt: effects are both dations of the Working Party qualitative and quanitive os the

on Discrimination in the Private Cathohc/nationalt popula: Sector of Employment ihe van tion gf Straubenzee” Report). ware The rate of unemployment

published in 1973. The Fai Employment Act was passed in 1976, followed by the creation of the Fale” Employment ‘Agency

for. Catholics/ nationalists has varied between double and (0 land a half times that of the Pro- ‘estant/unionist population; The former” suffer more

The MacBride Principles

Conterence patron SEAN MACBRIDE remains the only person have been awarded both the NOBEL and LENIN Peace

founder of Amnesty International, and author of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights,

‘The MacBride Principles have attracted considerable support In the United States whore @ number of State legislatures are Insisting that US companies operating in Northern Ireland adhere to its anti-ciscrimination guidelines.

sIncreasing the representation of individuals from under fepresonted religious groups in the workforce inctiding ‘managerial, supervisory, administrative, clerical and technical jobs.

‘Adequate security for the protection of minority employees oth at the workplace and while travelling to and from work ‘+The banning of provocative sectarian or poltieal emblems from the workplace,

All job openings should be publicly advertised; and special Fecrultment efforts should be made to attract applicants from Uunder-represented religious groups

+ Layaft, recall, and termination procedures should not in bractice favour’ particular religious groupings.

‘The abolition of job reservation, apprenticeship restrictions 2nd differential employment criteria, which discaminate on the basis of religion or ethnic origin,

‘The devalopment of training programmes that will prepare Substantial numbers of minority employees for skilled jobs, including the expansion of existing programmes to tran, luparade, and improve the skills of all categories of minority employees

‘The establishment of procedures to assess, identify, and ‘2ctively recruit minority employees with potential for further

‘advancement ++ The appointment of senior management stat member to ‘aversee the Company's affirmative action efforts and the Setting up of timatables to carry out affirmative action principe,

long-term unemployment

(0 They are over-represeated in semi-silled and ‘unskilled oc Gupations and in industries ‘which are more susceptible to the effects of economic rece sion and" recurrent high ‘unemployment.

‘@ They have a major problem in gaining access 0 the higher ‘grades and earnings of, for ex: ample, supervisory’ and ‘managerial positions.

"© That pattern applies to both public and private sector Employment

‘eit obcains throughout the Six Counties — even in areas of relatively high employment ‘This structural inequality is shown by the disparity between the maialy Catholic rural west ‘and the mainly Protestant io- ‘dustrial east, and again by bigh rate of Catholic unemploy- ‘ment in those areas where they

rea minority and industry i located. (See table)

(0t persists despite an annual turnover of 100,000 jobs in the Sin-County ‘workforce (eepreseating some 20% of that ‘workfores) and despite a proagressive convergence of educaFloral altainment between the

‘Sinn Fein supports the MacBride Principtes for equality of opportunity” in employment Because Of their” inherent

‘We support the ethical inves ment campaign for the adoption of these modes measures by US gompanies operating in the Six

‘Our position is based on the clear understanding that equalfy of opportunity has not been realised

Investors have a responsibi ty for the provision of equality of opportunity in employment. They should” be’ obliged 16

Ta very real sense, Bride’ Principles campaign bas pat job discrimination

the political agenda and provok fd the British government's con. Suliative document Future Svrategy Options and the Guide to Effective Practice in September 1987, with legislative propasas in the pipeline

Sinn Fein suspect that the British government is involved in creating yet again another i ston of movement on. the discrimination issue, aimed at relieving the political pressure and getting the issue off the agenda. is attitude to affir~ mative action would indicate that this the case.

Tn formulating the legislation based on the van Seraubenzee ‘Report, the then British Labour government totally ignored one Of the major elements within the Key affirmative action proposal

monitoring and” establishing ‘oals and timetables.

"The consultative document Future Strategy Options docs ‘not even make reference 10 the goals and timetables concept {dealt within the Guide to EfJective Practice but only in rela {Hoa to job applications, thus ex sluding 2 vital element in affir tative action from being applied to hieing, training, transfer or promotion.

‘There is no legal obligation to implement anything contained

the guide. There i n0 indica: tion that the explicit use of goals and timetables will be codified in any future legislation

I addition, the British government hasbeen

Sinn Fein has recently issued a detailed analysis of employment discrimination and how it should be countered. Reproduced here is an edited version of that document.

trumpeting “contract com east as much importance asthe pliance” ts = major incentive "how"

forensucing that employers pro- On the basis of its proposals, tide quality of opportunity inthe rilith government must be mployment. Sine Fein agrect challenged fo answer

‘iat contact compliance can be “we When doct estimate that an effcaie comibuiorydecrimination will be ‘easure cradieated?

Howse it isthe doa of “a Wen doce i imate ht wwhat employers are required fo equality of opportunity will be Comply with which sscersing ealled?” the poceilial “ifectivencs of "Political pressure has proven that measure. im thie sane they to be the on effective measure trust be signatories to" new caine the Bash government Declaration of Practice. to move in any direction on this

Indications are that the wor isue ing of the affirmative action Poilical_ presuiemust_be Content ofthat new decoration mainiained unt that movement Sil be. very rested m= proves to be coostructive, unt heditcy dfting is potential. Evidence of ponte qualitative In ertec, the current 8000 end-quamtitive effec ss prod: Senators ofthe Decaration at of, until ciccnminatory prac. Principle and locent wil simply ices are eradicated an Until bevwansiered fo 8 register of caualty of opportunity is Seoatores of the new Desirs- False ioe of Practice tus validating To realise fair employment, tha contract compliance aia of porn aa he

‘Overall; the Bish govern- eradication ‘ol ob crimingsmc version of contrat com ton, Britain mam diomante the fiance appears wnlikely 10 be system of economic aparthetd Sn‘ effecthe measure in ether on which the sates matatained ihe Short or medium term {Gnd on which it was founded).

Farhermore, the Britsh Sian Fein does-not belive government's delterate use of thatthe eradication of thes'mert principle” as the sole discrimination can be achicved ‘erion for employment can within the confines of the Six only "be Snterpretcd. “as County siste or onder’ the Sctheratly insulting. Implicit auspices of British gove inthatcrterionsthe suggestion ment. Nevertheless, the feopon thatthe victims of dscrimina, Sbity of atempting to Tackle tion ae: this etrie'tructeral problem

feuncmployed because they lies wth the British government se incpatie of working as creators of and apologists for

‘Sunsbied because they are the Sa Councy state incapable of learning ast ‘We cepest that the ultimate

"scaclnded from higher grades criterion of any proposals nih and earnings Because they are actual effect of ther implemen intompeent {ation they must lead to an

TT implies that tis the victims end to sectarian discrimination ‘of dicimination who are the in employment within tangible

problem and aot the system of timescales Siscrimination. For those most *Esjimared figures _by Hob affected by discrimination — its Rowthomn, a Cambridge Victims — the “when” is of at economist

SINN FEIN ON 6-COUNTY EMPLOYMENT

Only the eradication of discrimination and the realisation of equality of opportunity in employment — clearly visible in a workforce which by and large reflects the denominational ratios in the community as a whole — will indicate that the definitive effective policies and practices concerning those issues have been arrived at and implemented

Until such a situation is reached, all measures — legal, institutional, _procedural and remedial — must be considered, subject to ongoing regular review on the basis of their effectiveness. There must be no blind allegiance to any legislation or agency established by law. Subject to that criterion,

Sinn Fein submits its Proposals. 1 The existence of

discrimination in employment fon the grounds of religious boliet oF political opinion ts i rofutable, as is the denial of equality. of opportunity in employment which flows from ‘that discrimination,

Clear and comprehensive legal powers are required 10 eradicate discrimination and to fensure that equality af oppor. tunity is realised

2, Current provision outlaws. ditect diserimination an the grounds of religious belief or Political opinion. Legal provi Sion must be made for the outlawing of indirect Gisermination and the prac. tices entailed therein, which have the same consequences as direct discrimination,

3. Self-regulation has proved almost totally ineffective, Statutory obligations for the eradication of discrimination and the provision of equality of opportunity are essential.

The obligation to. provide equality of opportunity. must be impased on all employers in both the public and private sectors.

That obligation must entail, ‘2s. a minimum, the eradication Of all discriminatory practices ~ both direct and indirect — and mentoring.

4." Failure to meet those obligations must be met with effective legal sanctions in the form of fines, grant

Unemployment Rates by District Coun

Catholic Protestant Catholic Protestant

(%)

District Male Aotrin 24.5 ‘Ards 202 ‘Armagh 288 Ballymena 221 Ballymoney 30.0 Banbridge 23.1 Belfast 314 Carrickfergus 205 86 Coleraine 275 Cookstown 433 Craigavon, 30.4 Bown 197 Dungannon | 36.7 Fermanagh 30.1 Lome 34.0 Umavady 36.7 Usburn 221 Derry 358 Magheratet: 318 Moyle 11 Newsy & Mourne 35:5 Newtonsbbey 181 North Down at ‘Omagh 27.2 ‘Svabane 39:0

Source: 1981 Population Census, unpublished data

Note: The true figures for Catholic unemployment may actually be higher: the 1981 Census was boycotted by many nationalists in protest at the British government's “‘criminalisation”” policy,

Area, Sex and Religion

Male Female Female 10.5 20.4 28 98 120 8.

r 15.9

i 140

1 137

1 1

1 1

BRowodS oh anDoam—- nO w Oae

PORaODADeKI-SoMaoOwaD

Labour Briefing No, 52 Nov 2éth-Vec th 1947 page 15

International Briefing

DISCRIMINATION:

Fein proposals

‘must include a @ minimum a}Outreach programmes which wil effectively attract Candidates from the underrepresented group by bringing job opportunities to. their a tention and providing them with the skils to compete:

Tl through advertisement of

withdrawal of ineligibility to tender for public contracts,

This must include not just public funding but grants from the Intemational Fund established after the signing of ‘the Hillsborough Treaty.

Legal provision must allow forthe imposition of sanctions ‘ot just against employers but job opportunities in the ap. ‘also. members of staff — par- propriate media ticularly personnel statt— i). through advertisements ‘who practise discrimination. expressly welcoming ap-

5, Monitoring is essential plicants from the under but it should not be construed represented groups: fa, nor advanced as being, aI- il by developing. sustained firmative action. contact with schools, youth

(Of itself, when’ effectively organisations, community carried out, it does no more groups, etc., in the community ‘than to inform us in detail of from. which, hitherto, the what we already know more worklores has not traditionally ‘deneraly een drawn

Effective monitoring. vi ‘by the provision of com therefore, provides the infor’ prehensive training on govern ‘mation upon which the need ment training schemes at for remedy is identified, Secure, accessible locations.

The following appropriate “b) The use of statistics for atfiemative action is proposes: purposes of establishing goals

Bnd timetables to eradicate discriminatory. practices, to fealise squalty of opportunity practices, oF both, and t

al Employers must be obliged 10 monitor the perceived religious affiliation of:

1) their currant workforce, in cluding job category ie. skilfed, unskilled, clerical, eupervi

redress the imbalance in the make-up of workforces which

have any. potential effect, must ‘encompass the. ful

‘scope of effective equality of ‘opportunity practices

e) All current signatories must have ther employment Dractices vetted im 2 specified Period of time — the length of that-period being conducive to the realisation of equal opportunity. practice: inthe short

‘S) All new dectarants must have their employment prac: tices vetted before being allowed to take the Declaration,

‘@) The ilespen of the Declaration must not be open. ‘ended. Itmust be imited, ater ‘which an employer. ‘must justify renewal of the Declaration. The life-span of the Deciaration ‘must be conducive to the realisation of equal opportunity practice in ‘the short term

1) A new Declaration of Prac tice will be as potentially inet fective and fraudulent as the current Declaration of Intent {and Principle f British govern ‘ment funding for the relevant agency is not commensurate

Sory, managerial, etc.) il all job applicants for new: starts or those judged suitable for taining, ‘transfer, promotion and those appointed,

ii) all those who resign, are dismissed, made redundant,

IRELAND: THE CAUSE OF LABOUR? Employment discrimination Conference Saturday November 28th

‘The Camden Centre, Bidborough St, WC1, opposite St Pancras station

b] Employers must be obliged to condvet such monitoring on an ongoing basis, make “c) The exercise of preferen Fegular returns to the relevant tial reatment between equally agency andbe open to assess- qualified candidates in favour mont via-s-vis the effec: of the underrepresented tiveness snd ecourecy of thir group where. there is gross ‘monitoring programme. Under representation.

} This requirement to apply “"g. ‘The current practice of to all employers with ten OF self-certtication ‘whereby. an ‘ore employees. employer simply signe the Far

1 Financial assistance must Employment Agency's be made “avaiable to Declarsuon of Principe nd employers in the public and inentin erder tobe ented to Bivate sectors to set “up an’ Equal Opportunty Cor monitoring programmes. Iiicate — and etgibity for

6. Legislation must alow for Clision in British govomment the initation of investigation connect its te st best he? into both scrimination snd factve, at worse trace! the provision of equalty of op- "She" FEAconnot retuse to portunity by he relevant a9en- iow an employer to sign the eon Declertion end. the require

5th intinve othe agency ment of 2 tong formal im ‘sot, ‘eatigation before a signator

the issuing of 2 complsint Tan ‘be. removed. from the by an individual fester of certted declarant

) the lesuing of @ complaint Gearantaes ite inatieg, by individuals orgroupe which Sverese "ta date, not tne have 3 legitimate third-party employer has beet removed interest, and. where either ot from. the register of

such abuses have resulted in

both are identified, to impose Geclarants. appropriste effective “a) The disbursement of alt remedies. Biitish government grants —

‘Such remedies must be sub. ject to ongoing review vis-2 Vis. their effectiveness and, where necessary, subject to revision without the require ment of a new investigation

training: equipments. invest- ‘ment grants and employment Subsidies — and elgibilty for inclusion in British government Contract lists must be made Conditional on all employers 7, Where discrimination er committing ~ themselves to falce 10 provide eayaly of Saual oppertunty races n ‘Opportunity are identified & new Declaration of Practice either as a result of monitoring ‘This to apply to all grants programmes, investigation by from the International Fund the relevant agency or where and. where applicable, to evidence of such akeady ex: Industrial Development Board ists inveports of nvestigations (IDB) grants and Local Enter Carried out by the Fair Employ- prise” Development Unit ont Agency, appropriate (LEDU) grants and. financial Sareed affiemative action pro- assistance Grames must be implemented. (10 and LEDU grants must The scope of such affir. also have 8 general equality mative action programmes — discipline} the explicit use of which must “b) The wording of @ new be codified in legislation — Declaration of "Practice. to

Cs ealnalieaeaeaninli emanated

Women and Ireland

International Women’s Day Delegation to Ireland: March 3-7th 1988

This will be an opportunity to talk to Republican ‘women about their lives and to learn more about the nationalist community. There will be a chance to take part in the annual Women’s Day picket of Maghaberry Women’s Prison and protest against strip searching ‘The trip will cost approximately £80; help may be available to cover travel expenses.

For further details contact International Women’s Day Delegation, PO Box 70, Liverpool L69 SBE

with its task (Le. it would take {ten years to vet the current 8,000 signatories of | the Declaration of intent and Prieciple at the rate of 18 per ‘week.

‘The British government ‘must publish immediately the financial and. personnel resourees it intends puting at the disposal of the relevant ‘agency so that its seriousness in regard to these issues can be assessed

9. The effects of discrimina. tion andlor the failure to provide equality of opportunity ‘are both qualitative and quan- ‘itive. Evidence of progress can be easily moosured and verified.

‘Annual progress reports — ‘both general to the workforce 38.3 whole and specific to in- <ividual employers — must be published on an annual basis ond made avaiable to members of the pubic on re quest. Statutory obligation to 0 so must be placed on the

Siscipline

in this context, stops must be" taken to redress the Siscrminatory effects of such matters 8 the location of ingustry.

“The British goverment rust provide the necessary i= Contes and infrastructure £0 ‘Sturact proposed new enter DPrses and sctvely encourage Co-operative enterprises n the ‘most disscvantaged areas

1. Equality of opportunity in employment is directly amp. inged upon in a workplace where ‘the working. environ iment. is provocative, offen Sve, intmidstory or perceived as such by a section of the wotklorce.

Employers must be obliged to keep the workplace free of at polticalreligous emblems, fags, gratitt, ras, marches, tte, which might be offensive ‘or itmidarory to other groups of workers.

Legal sanctions must be us ed “against employers who fetuse to comply with the

necessary Stipulated Employers, in consultation

with the relevant trade unions, must adopt effective disciplinary procedures for Sealing with transgressors.

‘Legal sanctions must be us ed “ogsinst_ employees or ‘others who intimidate

| | |

Mayekiso defence

“Stop South African Cé follow suit?

After another year of the South African state

campaign.

The strike by 375,000 black miners overshadowed all other developments in the past year. It was a positive confirmation of the leading ‘role of in: dustrial workers, but the relative downturn of wider struggles in the communi. ty pointed to the mounting toll of state repression.

Strike

Anti-Apartheid was unable to respond fully or rapidly t the miners’ strike. and never ‘mounted the kind of solidarity ‘ction. that was needed. Instead, the A-A concentrated its campaigning efforts in the last yeat on the misconceived “Manifesto for Sanctions” — a futde attempt st a. nonartisan intervention in. the ‘general election which aimed to win cross-party support for 2 pro-sanctions policy.

Following the general election A-A now lacks any central policy or clear priorities. The Commanwesith’ summit demonstrated the failure of fis lobbying approach, and ac tually saw Thatcher encoureg. ing Buitish busiooss to take a vantage of the economic Space left by the disinvest ‘ment carried out by other

the fight for sanctions is to make any future progress ¢ ew approach is needed. While ‘the demand. for the British govenment to. imple. ment sanctions must be main tained, the primary emphasis must be on winning workers to take unilateral ection to block trade with Apart

‘PHOTO: Graeme Cookson

” conference started demands for workers” sanctions: will A-AM

Some developments in this direction have already occur

What is needed at the A-A Conference is @ resounding red. In September a ““Sanc- vote in support of the tions Against Coal” con. Mayekiso campaigns and 9 ference, jointly called by the real programme of solidarity National "Union "of with workers” struggle in conMineworkers and A-A, heard. {rast to the grudging or even Arthur Scargill call for action hostile attitude adopted by the and urge delegates follow the AA leadership. example of the Liverpool Sockers and the Dunnes’ Stores workers.

‘The coal issve is likely to be central for the A-A_in the

Issues

Other important issues for

future, with the possibility of 3 the AGM are: Genstionalised and. decen. @The cultural boycott: fralised British” electricity AA's. application of | the

Cultural boycott has resulted in bans on progressive artists opposed to Apartheid

authority buying coal_on the word market. But the methods of struggle proposed

by. Scargill should ‘also be Dissatisfaction with this generally apple. policy, which in effect meant that" only ANC-organised

Action events were permitted, pro

‘mpted Oliver Tambo to make 3 Statement earlier in the year opposing "this restrictive interpretation.

Unfortunately, in tine with the "vigorous form of sec {arianism ascendant in the British Anti Apartheid Move: ment, this advice from the ANG ‘has been ignored. The ‘AGM should adopt @ new and ‘more pluralistic policy to allow progressive” artists to visit Britain

Current TUC ‘policy pro mises support for groups of ‘workers who take action to Boycott trade with Apartheia, but what is really needed is 3 campaign by the TUC and A-A to initiate such action.

Close contact with the in ‘dependent trade unions in ‘South Africa is essential for achieving an effective Doycott. But AA has failed to make progress on this front.

Anti-Apartheid AGM November 28-29th Octogon Centre, Sheffield University, Western Bank, Sheffield

ladeed, with its old ates inthe South African Congress of Trade Unions, it has actusly tried to sabotage come of the ‘most important efforts to pro mote and consolidate this,

(eNamibiar the _ Namibian Solidarity Campaign has achieved a great dealin bring ing the issue to the (Gre in the labour movement, However A.A has always teen am:

Contact. bivalent about its attitude t0 Spurious arguments have the NSC. Deen used against the Fiiends “AA” should applaud the

fof Mayokiso campaign for ex. gains which have bean made

‘ample, including claims that in building the NSC, and

Mayekiso was not in favour of welcome the development of

the campaign, and that it ac- an. independent sister cam-

tually endangered his life. paign, and abandon its

‘Organisational jealousy,

Rebuff ‘The decision to have a

: SWAPO speaker at the A-A

These ‘fabrications have demo this year was 2 received a sharp rebutt with Mayokiso’s union, the "Ne

welcome step forward. ‘@ Youth Against Apartheid is

onal Union of Métalworkers

‘ef South Africa (NUMSA\.

another new movement that ACA should fully back, After Sending 2 telex to British sup. the success af the 1986 porters commending the ef demonstration and "concert, forts of the Friends ss well'as which mobilised @ quarter of & ‘other bodies in campaigning milion youth, this _ year's, for Mayekiso’s release. Gemonsiration was disappoin- ‘Other important initiatives tingly low key.

ave been taken by AA Youth, and in particular groups around the miners’ black youth, will be. best Strike and the tour by strikers mobilised in an_orgarvsation from BTR-Sermeol performing under theit own contral which their popular play The Long ‘eflects their preoccupations March. Now A-A must put and will produce a whole new these activities st the centre generation of anti-apartheid ofits work Sctvists

wh 19

for

pos: dcial

veal It fre id th tion: inov bet Van muta

vave vive

their real

3 of Of Teal

nts ‘eir de w he

Is id of e

Labour Briefing No. 52 Nov 24th-Dec 8th 1987 page 16

Local Round-up

COVENTRY

March against NHS cuts

Despite apnaling weather, 3,000 people marched through Coventry on Thursday Novenbor 19th in protest against the Closure of Whitley Hospital — the latest in a series of severe Cutbacks in local NHS provision

‘The Whitley closure is tself equivalent to 2 loss of 15% of ai NHS. beds in Coventry, and comes on top of closure of the Paybody Hospital and speculation that the last main hospital in the city will be reduced to an emergency-only service by Christmas.

"The marchers included delegations trom hospital workers. Massey-Fergueson and Rolls Royce workers, and City Council ‘workers. The local NHS Joint Union Committee is meeting this |week to discuss future action, including possible occupation of the hospital

“Anither blow fell on the people of Coventry the night after the march, when the Labout-controlled City Council voted through big Guts in social services, including abolition of the social work System of Child Guidance, the closure of a home for people with imental handicaps, the scrapping of the entertainment and holiday budget for people with disabilities, and an increase in meals on wheels prices trom 80p to C1

‘Only Cllr George Lindfield, already suspended from the Labour Group, oppased the cuts. Other Labour Councillors. including those instructed by the Ward Labour Parties to vote against the cuts, supported thom.

Opposition to

repatriation grows

Hundreds of demonstrators outraged by Camden Council's policy of repatriating

homeless people lobbied a jomnsieseness crisis in terms November 16th. ou the ken

Councillors opposing the Ones the cuts lvagernavs and services which led to racist and equal opportunities

Calls were made for the Left Labour Councillors reversal of Labour's racist now formally joned together ‘nd indefensible moves

{8 the “Manifesto Group’ forcibly te return homeless because of their Insh people to Feland, and _deterrmnation to defend the for the resignation of the manifesto on which they Councilor arimarily tere elected ~ will continue esponsible for them. Housing to oppose the scandalous Chair Garath Smyth fepatnation policy both inside The Group refused to

fond outside the Couneit receive a deputation trom the

Edinburgh nurses have something to celebrate.

They have become the first murses north or south of the border to foree manage- ‘ment to increase staffing levels.

Their seven-weck overtime ban and work-to-rule at the Royal Edinburgh psychiatric hospital resulted in management agreeing to

health union COSE, whose ‘members joined with NUPE ‘nurses in the fong-running dispute. “Our quarrel was not so much with local ‘management as with the i adequate funding from the Health Board.

The unions had been campaigning for increased staf'- ing for over two years, com: plaining that patients were suffering because there were

others because we just didn’t

have the staff,” said Jim. NUPE and 'COHSE pro

duced a weighty dossier on

It was the threat that unions would ballot on indefinite strike action which

ment of the 923-bed hospital to 692 full time posts — was reached after I1 hours of ‘heavy negotiations” and endorsed by a ballot of all 50 union members. It was all about patient said Jim Chair of the

Lothian management

proposals that

for sugges!

School Secretaries vs. Labour Counc

‘The right wing leadership of Leeds District Council ha Smash the resolve of the School Secretaries currently 19 dispute over hours and regradig

“Open encouragement of scabbing and discipline threats have been used against them 5

‘Even nearby Bradford Council has already conceded the cegrading claim to all its School Secretaries.

‘Council Leader Mudie, an unelected NUPE fullimer, has used the handful of seefetaries in NUPE against the nearly 300 NALGO members.

‘Councillor Mudie seat a dozen education officials to confront the striking school secretaries individually in an attempt to force them fo ‘Sign his agreement, The vast majority refused to bow to pressure.

'NALGO Brnch Secretary Dave Roberts told Labour Briefing: "The ‘School Secretaries have beld out for reasonable demands under ‘unprecedented pressure. They have asked for meaningful discussions that could lead to an amicable seilement. Management chose simply

to avoid this”

looking for wa as they attempt (o trim 3% from this year’s budget. Edinburgh consultants have complained against

hey should cut back the use of laboratory tests and X-rays, and reduce orders for equipment and supplies. Consul

ons on how the Board including the use of shops in hospitals.

C4 2 SCOTLAND. | Nurses win a round

misery, the report claimed: @Wards are repeatedly.

wards and wards containing over 300 elderly patients

forced to run with less stall” were Kept locked — conthan the “emergency cover” travening mental _ health provided by unions during legislation

strike action; © Up 10 80% of patients on.

“These grim findings have subsequently been echoed by

acute admissions wards get the _government-appointed ho care during whole nurs- Mental Welfare Commis~ ing shifts sion, which has. revently

published its own criticisms of short-staffing and underfunding of —Scotland’s psychiatric hospitals. Rebelling against this, the

‘@ Patients are suffering ac cidents “which could be prevented if more nurses ‘were involved”

@To save time, immobile

patients are being taken Royal Edinburgh nurses Rbout in wheelchairs instead began an overtime ban, and of two nurses walking them: “days of action” in which “Eventually these patients large numbers of nurses

become unable to walk.”

fe Patients are left sitting all day, yet “The more they are lefi with no stimulating

‘went on strike, though providing emergency cover “to make sure the patients were

comfortable.”

finally seemed to persuade conditions arising from input, the worse their “The victory gives people Lothian Health Board to short-staffing in the dementia becomes, a bit of Hope that nurses ean ‘open talks on November hospital. Listing ~~ @Staff shortages meant stand up and fight for the 2nd devastating catalogue of that doors on day hospital rights and conditions of

‘The agreement — increas- their patients,”” said Jim ne he ae ih. AAA AMM Mel aughlin

“Now we will also be able to determine where the new staff will go, The psychogeriatric area is chronically short-staffed. “Of course the Board will try fo cat the money from other services. We will have to watch them like hawks.”

oard 9 prescriptions, on

ints were also asked ould raise money.

Orangeism in

umn) Exeter

Lebourled Exeter City Council is spending £60,000 10 promote the tercentenary of the landing in Britain of Wiliam af Orange. This is fo be next year's major civic colebration in Exeter

Devon Labour Briefing and Anti-Fascist Action have mounted 3 ‘campaign against the celebration and have warned Labour Coun Cllors of the meaning of Orengeism. But the right wing Labour Group remained unmoved even when the National Front, con gratulated Council Leader Long, and promised to, bring "'sup porters from all over the country to Devon noxt year

“The Labour Councilors have always maintained, quite ludicrously, that celebrating the tercentenary of William of Orange does not indicate any support for Orangeism. They will now have to est their words. The Orange Order has. already booked part of the University of Exeter for tg tiannual Conference

Published by Labour Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2 6UZ Printed by Bast: West Graphics (TU) Lid

Red & Green

DEFEND PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

British Coal each year about two thirds of BC's output.

‘At today’s price coal imported into Europe sells at around £25 per tonne, compared to £42 per tonne for British deep mined coal. The difference in price reflects a higher level Of state subsidy on imported coal.

Free of the commitment to buy British, the privatis: ed ESI would quickly shift to buying cheaper imports. itis estimated that within five years between 30 and ‘48 million tonnes of British ‘coat would be replaced by imports. The NUM say that this amounts to between ‘47,000 and 63,000 jobs.

If they don’t lose their nerve, and if the Stock Exchange can handle ‘the government plan to privatise the Electricity ‘Supply Industry (ESI.

This is a bold_move. even for Thatcher. The ESi ie Britain's largest single dustry and largest employer.

The asset value of the sale will be approximately four times all of the industries privatised up to 1987 — a staggering £15-18 billion,

‘The announcement of the programme for privatisation has been profnised soon. It is expected that legislation will be before Parliament in ‘August 1988 ready for 2 sale in 1991; just in time for pre-election tax cuts and 2 mini-reflation of the ‘economy.

In the short term the most dramatic effects of privatisation will be on jobs in other industries.

The CEGB curreritly has a commitment to buy 70 million tonnes of coal from

Scotland

By the mid-1990s all the deep mines in Scotland, the North East, North Der

bysire and Kent would be closed. In other areas output would fall and production at less than half of today’s levels would be con.

centrated on the super PCs.

ful monopoly industry, the CEGB has been able to dic. tate policy on energy to successive governments.

The CEGB has over. produced, has championed nuclear power, and has been ‘secretive and unresponsive to criticism. thas ensured that British energy policy has been ‘about increasing electricity production rather than about energy ‘conservation.

But privatisation is not the answer. It will certainly not get rid of nuclear power as some had hoped.

The ESI is saddled with its ageing and unsaleable Magnox reactors, its badly designed and uneconomic AGRs, and mountains of

Other industries will also be hit. At present the CEGB relies on two British power engineering companies: NEL-Parsons and GEC Babcock

‘Competition with, for example, Mitsubishi of Sapan would be likely to force one of these out of business.

if NELParsons closed 15,000 jobs in the North East would be lost directly and the effect on the regional economy would be devastating,

‘The Rail Freight industry would also be badly hit as coal makes up over 70% of all rail freight. Jobs Wwould also be lost in the Collier fleet and in the elec: tricity industry itself.

ry Wael oy _radiosctve "waste i derneimeN Nimates thet doesn't know what to do at least 100,000 jobs with.

All but one of the models proposed for privatisation to date include a separate state run nuclear power agency.

The financial, ideological and military commitment to nuclear power is so great that even the Tories

would be lost directly, with a further 70,000 jobs going as a knock-on effect it’s harder to defend the CEGB. Many anti-nuclear activists have campaigned against its policies for

years. As Britain’s most power:

won't trust it to the market. Besides, with the costly exercise of decom: missioning Magnox loom ing, no one in their right mind would buy shares, By Andy Porter

Energy, and energy policy should’ focus on energy conservation rather than expansion of electricity supply.

None of this will happen under the Tories. It certainly won't happen if the in:

SERA dustry is handed over to “entrepreneurs” The only alternative to’e The Flectricity unions state run British Nuke pave” armod the FUSE

‘Agency is to sell off the ESI as one company

creating the biggest single monopoly in western

campaign (Federation of Unions Supplying Electici ty) to fight. privatisation. What is needed is a locally

vocate setting up separate regional companies, with another company manag. ing the national grid.

Before long the price of electricity will vary from fone part of the country to another,

energy campaigners and environmentalists.

if the NUM, the FUSE unions and the anti-nuclear movement could unite to campaign against privatisation, there would be @ real chance of moun-

Weneedtotake the ES! {ing a successful into a democratic form of campaign.

public ownership, to make The FUSE unions are R''more open to public GMB, NALGO, EETPU,

scrutiny and more responsive to criticism,

The CEGB itself should be made more accountable to the Department of

EPA, T&G and AEU. Con: tact’ your local_branches now, and propose a locally based ‘campaign committee,