Labour Briefing no. 63

“We're not going to get any further in this dispute without solidarity,” JASON GROOMBRIDGE of the P&O rank and file Strike Committee told

ity means help from other ind under this

NUS General Secretary Sam McCluskie’s retreat in the face of legal and financial threats has left the Dover strikers back

ing Britain’s

By MARK SEATON

Meanwhile, TGWU dockworkers continue to handle scab ships at Dover, and TEWU drivers cross the channel on them. But Ron Todd does nothing.

“TGWU members in transport ought to realise that they're in unsafe hands when they're on board those scab ships. 50% of the scabs have never worked on a ship in their life.”

Dover strikers have been criss-crossing the country, hammering home the facts about the cruel and callous P&O management its indifference to public safety and appealing for moral, financial, and physical support.

“As a rank and file NUS member I want wich support as possible on our in Dover,” Jason explained. ‘For to see ‘the TUC keep the promises it made to miners and printworkers and do what it’s supposed to do. They've got to step in and stop the government.”

Over and over again the New Realism has failed to deliver the goods to grassroots trade union members. Over and over again the New Realist leaders have undermined solidarity action and left groups of workers to face the employers, the government, the media, and the courts alone.

@Fascism on the rise?

@P&O: the Sealink sellout

@FAB: victory for women!

@ Poland

® Councils: defy Clause 28!

FIGHT

Eric Hammond has been confident enough to make another pitch for “no strike” business unionism to be accepted by the

The best answer is for trade unionists and Labour Party members to take action to make sure the Dover strikers get the support they need. We need to build local support groups, raise desperately-needed cash, boycott P&O, and get down to Dover to join the picket line.

‘And we need to dump the leaders who have left us in the lurch time and again. That task starts with a vote for Tony Benn

and Eric Heffer and against Kinnock and Hattersley.

Like the other Dover strikers, Jason Groombridge remains determined.

“We all knew that the courts were in the Tories’ pockets. We all knew that we would have to fight not just management but the media, the government, and the courts. It's been an uphill battle from the start, and we never expected anything different.”

For details on how you can show with the strikers and play your is battle with the Tory government

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page 2

Campaign Round-up

Middlesex Poly occupation

Cops move in — students ™

get angry

At three in the morning on Friday May 13th, police in riot gear cleared occupying students out of three Middlesex Polytechnic si London. The student which iad been maintained for over two weeks, wus a test against plans to clove ‘of the Poly's sites in on for the future porate status" which the government has decreed for pols techni Reactionary Polytechnic Director Ray. Rickett had ulreaaly: brought the student tunion to court and had injungtions served against stu deat union officers,

By MARK SEATON

In the days following the enforced end of the occupa tion some 5,000 students were locked our of the All Saints, Trent Park and En

As students at Middlesex Poly are booted out of accupstion, ‘students at North London Poly went into occupstion. Amongst

Other demands, they were protesting at the loss of student Sccommodation, as Hackney Counc prefers to Keep Mats ike

Tied sites, Private sovurity .ecommodeton, as Hackney Couns wards are now patrolling ™ = iis

he Polstcchnic and a 7pm — mobilise support and stand placed _the question of curfew has been imposed’on by the occupation polytechnic cuts firmly on all ites Re-occupation of some the agenda.

‘On Wednesday, May 18th sites is Being debated and Two coachloads of Mid1" 600-sirong student Selective, limited action is on dlesex Poly students travel demonstration marched the cards ed down 10 the mass picket

The action has mobilised at Dover and P&O strikers hundreds of previously have addressed student apathetic students and meetings.

severely embarrassed Direc- The end of term promises tor Rickett, a Tory no respite to the beleaguered don officers. were booed favourite, It received exten- _ Rickett.

because of their failure to sive publicity in London and

Left On The Shelf

Football fans mobilise

through Haringey. The mood of the students was militant and defiant,

Student union President Ross Walton and NUS Lor

supporters. = A grass roots campaign This 1s @ chance for | st ageinst Tottenham socilists to. align Z Nees plone tn themselves with popular redevelop the White tage over @ naked at tempt to put profit before Hart Lane ground has foonie Gin teig blossomed in North Brieving London. For mare information on were seoking LOTS. contact Clie Brewin, permission to Civic Centre, High Rood x feplace ‘the historic London N22 Craig Browin

“Shelf terrace with a of ‘executive-style boxes, thus reducing standing capacity by 12,000 and increasing average cost of admission.

The “Shelf” was designed in 1936 by Ar chibald Leitch, who’ also built famous‘ stands at Goodison, Ibrox, Hamp. den, Roker and Fratton Parks.

By MARK SEATON

I currently offers an ex cellent view of the match

Fighting Deportations

Marion must stay!

Marion Gaima came to her

this country as a student ‘But her time is running out in 1973. Her application _—_‘The threat of deportation stil for further leave to stay looms over her. is a threat was refused by the Home overshadows

Gtice in Apr 1378 — stole community to which but Marion was never py

| "we are eppeating 0 you to given notice of this, express your concem now refusal

before itis too late. Please

Having heard about political write a letter to the Home harassment of het family in Secretary asking him to use Sierra Leone. Marion applied his discretion, show

at_a relatively modest | for asylum in 1984, Her Compassion and stop this, price. Enraged football | application, which she had to deportation, supporters organised _| prepare in Holloway prison Every letter will count

Please write today Taken from NALGO broadsheet Write to the Home

themselves in a campaign ing body dubbed Left On The Shelf (LOTS) and turn ed up to lobby Haringey Council in large numbers. A leading LOTS sup porter is anti cuts Coun

{without legal advice. oF help from her fronds). was rolused in October 1386

‘As the Home Office din’ tell Marion about thei 1978 decision, they have now been ‘ble to discount many factors which count in her favour

‘SW? 9AT. urging him to let Marion Gaima (ret. 192512)

cillor and Briefing sup- | under immigration law for to remain porter Craig Brewin, who | not raising them at the Please send a copy of your Frounced ‘Spurs manager | correct time! letter to NALGO. 1’ Mabledon Terry Venables and Club |. Marion's contribution to Place. London WC1H 9A.

the community is deep-rooted ‘and invaluable. It is recognised by all who know hher or work or worship with

‘from whom copies of a ‘rotile of Marion can Stained

Chair Irving Scholar at 3 public meeting attended by several hundred

Fighting Section 28

Trade Union campaign formed

Trades Unionists Against Section 28 is a 1 group campaigning to

fight for lesbians and gay men by linking up with the trade union movement.

Unity is strength.

We seek unity with ather workers to defend our interests. We share a com. mon interest in opposing discrimination and we link up with other sections of workers fighting the Tories.

We support the socialist aspirations of the trade union movement. The struggle for a better sociely represents the only means to _ tackling discrimination and Quaranteeing an end to the nightmare of mass unemployment, poor hous: ing and the arms race.

Section 28 forms part of the Tory attack on local jobs and services on which all working class people depend — Council hous ing, state education, Council recreation facilities, etc. Lesbians and gays are being used as scapegoat to justify this attack

Oppressed Oppressed sections. of society, because they are Genied access to jobs and housing, are the ones who rely most on local services. Fighting for lesbian and gay. units cannot be

‘Stop the Clause demo, April 30th, Kennington Park Already one gay teacher 24th, the day the Section has been sacked by the became law, not only to Local Education Authority demonstrate’ our total opin Bradford — and this was position to this qu before the Clause became bashing charter but also to law! He was reinstated on- link up with other trade ly after his local colleagues unionists in struggle and in the NUT threatened an offer'a way forward. The all-out strike. Lesbians and Stop the Clause demongays need union rights 10 stration of April 30th defend their interests, just represented a tremendous Separated from the as the seafarers need the indication of opposition to defence of local services NUS in order to tackle Section 28 which now generally PRO. needs to be turned into Promoting lesbisn and It is vital to use the _ action, gay rights without defen- power of organised labour ‘Trades Unionists ding local services is not to make this law un. Against Section 28 meets sufficient. Gay books on workable. Non-compliance every Friday at 7pm at the library shelves are useless and —_non-implementation _ University of London Uni if the library is closed, Les- are the only answer to this Malet St, London WC1 bian and gay units need to Tory attack. This meansin- For leaflets, badge: be properly staffed and dustrial action from the posters, donations and resourced. We make com workers affected by the speakers, contact mon cause with other Section Counc) TUAS28, 7 __ Pickwick disputes and struggles and workers, teachers and Court, London SE9 4SA. call for unity in the face of _ librarians. Taken trom TUAS28 the Tory attacks. We held a rally on May leaflet

Women’s Peace Weekend

Peace, justice, our

lives, our direction \IZ-

these areas, in particular in the women’s peace movement.

By providing @ forum for discussion, constructive links between women can be made, developed, and improved.

The organising group includes women from

Women will gather in Manchester on the weekend of June 18th/19th to discuss issues of war and violence.

The meeting will be at Ducie High School, Daisy Bank Road, Victoria Park, Manchester 15, and will offer an opportunity to examine the different ways in which women are involved in war and violence and how it affects us.

Four main themes run through the weekend:

@ Women in war

Greenham Support Groups, CND, Quakers, CODIR, and anti-

deportation campaigns.

and registration details, please contact Mary at 17 Alexandra Road South,

tel. 061 226 3947.

International Solidarity

AUCKLAND: A strike by i protest a'SN78 million

situations Ne insta | Goto Goltrs worth of anets beh

Pblnds British container ship has xpd from thei union In ales uate delaxed its sailing for the Paxland for

vioience US with NZ" giant Richie sid the stikes

America’s Cup chall could cause problems If t goes yacht on board. Tor any length of time. But the

The yacht and 150 tonnes of lenge has contingencies for accompansing equipment are this kind of holdup and in any | fon Discovers Bas. bound fer big evereise there will a

Power. politics, hierarchy and oppression. The meeting will attempt to counterract the fragmentation and lack of direction felt by a lot of women working in

‘os Angeles, bal crew be iceups. members have refuved t0 sail Reported in INT, 16.5.88

} g 2 £ 5 Es

Labour Briefing No, 63 May 25th-June 71h 1988 page 3

Editorial

Heading for Chesterfield — again! The first Chesterfield Conference last autumn emerged from a widespread feeling of isolation, fragmentation, and frustration on the left. Yes, we all got fed up with the fractiousness, the sectarian pomposity, the sheer chaos of it all. But is was nonetheless plain evidence of a genuine, shared hunger for unity and for a bold, Rew, socialist initiative.

Events since then have only confirmed the necessity of some kind of body to draw together the disparate struggles in which working class and oppressed people are engaged — and to unite them under the banner of socialism,

The second Chesterfield Conference (June 11/12th) will be even more important than the first. We need to find ways of giving form and substance to our many good intentions. We need to find ways to link practical solidarity with the development of socialist policies. We need to find ways to work together while respecting political differences.

The Benn-Heffer challenge has posed the alternatives facing the labour movement in stark terms — necessarily so.

It is a response to the same desire for a unifying platform which gave birth to Chesterfield, It is a necessary complement to Chesterfield — not a distraction from it.

Chesterfield is a challenge to all socialists. Everyone will have reservations on some aspect or other of its profile or policies. But no one has

BRIEFING

TASOUR — TAKE THE POWE.

been able to argue that this kind of initiative is not necessary.

Briefing supporters will be working hard to make the Chesterfield dream of a united, open democratic socialist movement a reality.

Join us on June 11th and 12tht

Rie SR

P&0O; and the struggle for Leadership

For a brief time it looked as if the NUS was prepared to fight. But Sam McCluskie's bold declarations about defying the law and

spreading the strike eame to nothing.

Despite hostile reaction from many delegates at the NUS Conference in Hull, the union ordered an end to secondary action and began to purge its contempt.

The new strategy? Why, it’s our old friend from Wapping days, @ consumer boycott of the offending employer! We can sail on Sealink with a clear conscience...

‘Once again workers in struggle have been left to fight alone, abandoned by their own union Leadership and by the TUC — in its official capacity.

‘Once again, the judges have implemented the Tories’ trade union laws for them, to strip a powerful workers’ organisation of its single effective weapon: co-ordinated national strike action.

Briefing has always argued that the Tory anti

union laws only are there to prevent working people from defending their organisations, their jobs and their standards of living. In that sense they are class laws — and we must organise @ class response of mass defiance of those laws.

What we glimpsed for a moment in the P&O dispute was the chance to do just that. Secondary action was there, taking place, well supported. f McCluskie had stood firm, as he had promised NUS rank and file members he would; if the Courts had been told to go to hell... the whole employers’ offensive would have been knocked on its heels.

These ifs are not mere wishful thinking. They are about the vital role of Leadership — and the necessity of campaigning for and capturing that Leadership.

McCluskie, Willis, Kinnock... they can carry out their very real acts of treason because they have the power, the authority and the sanction of Leadership. The isolation in which the Dover strikers now find themselves, like so many before them, can only be fully broken when that Leadership is scrapped and a new one takes its place. If these Leaders won’t stand firm they should stand aside and make way for those of us who will,

The Benn-Heffer challenge is therefore not merely symbolic, not merely a showcase for socialist ideas — necessary as that is. It raises in concrete form the question at the heart of the labour movement's crisis — the question of Leadership.

Where next on Section 28?

For a united

campaign to make

Councils stand

As of May 25th what has become known as The ‘Clause will become law as Section 28 of the Local Government (No. 2) Act 1987.

‘The Stop the Clause Campaign bas been defeated — but this does not signal the end of the fight.

It iy necessary 10 be clear fon the success of the Stop ‘the Clause campaign, amply shown by the scale of mobilisations.

By April 30th Stop the Clause had achieved a mobilisation of 50,000 in 31 “march on London" — the biggest demonstration for lesbian and gay rights ever in

support; and COHSE and NALGO sent speakers,

It must be stressed that this mobilisation was acheiv ed by a campaign led ‘autonomously by lesbians and gay men. This principle ‘of autonomy, which led not to the separatist isolation of the struggle (as our comfades on the ultra-lefi predicted) but to broad bas fed mass support, is a princi ple which must be defended.

By Tom Loucas

LCLGR

igton North CLP How the support so. far

gathered can be maintained and utilised to take the cam.

Europe. paign forward depends on What we see as the likely out Witnessed comes of the legislation.

There is the possibility of legal challenge, which could take two forms:

‘@the auditor deciding that a Local Authority is spending money illegally;

‘@an individual private action.

‘The latter is likely to face us soon: in Haringey, already, the right wing

We also witnessed the increasing involvement of the labour’ movement and in particular the trade unions. On April 30th there was an impressive show of trade union banners. The TUC, NUM, NUPE, NUT, NAT. FHE and Women against Pit Closures sent messages of

taking

It will mean working in local govenment with people whom we, as Briefing sup. porters, are bitterly opposed to. Working together will ex pose their contradictions,

organisation The Parents Rights Group has re emerged from its sewer, with money from the scab UDM, to attack the Councils les bian and gay equality work.

We are likely to see a growing incidence of self ‘censorship. Councils fearing legal challenge may water down or even drop policies and stop funding events, projects, ete

[At present the position of the labour bureaucracy is being determined by the ALA. whose position is. roughly that current equality: work with self-identified lesbians and gay men is likely to be

Successful

These tactics have already proven successful in Haringey, where a united front stretching from the RCP to cuts Councillors (and even the SLD) defeated a motion from the far right of the Tory group. The Lesbian and Gay Unit was saved Trom closure.

safe. The implication is that Within the united cam ‘work in youth and education paign against the Section services is not there are a number of

ms demands we can raise whose Strategy logic involves confrontation = with the. legislation, but without posing it in such a way that would scare off possible allies:

‘ea repeal campaign must be started;

‘eworkers victimised as a result of Section 28 must be

This must be our strategy to maintain and strengi

the broadest possible united front against this legislation; to hold Local Authorities to the ALA position; and to draw them towards an un.

compromising reaffirmation defended; of all aspects of lesbian and @Local’ Authorities must gay equality work make public stalements

Stop the Clouse Demo, April 30th, Kennington Park

stand.

This is particularly impor. tant on the issue of positive images — one of the main targets of the legistation and

which reaffirm, strengthen and develop lesbian and gay equality work

@policies on lesbian and gay equality must be defend:

the courts, one on which the ‘Our call is for Labour — bureaucrats are fudging Councils 10 stand firm and Ultimatley, only mass

pressure will defend these policies, We have shown we can deliver this; if we keep up these tactics in this campaign, we can win!

not fall into the pit of sel: censorship. This call must be backed with our ability to mobilise in defence of Councils that take a principled

Labolir Blieftng No63 May 25i-June 7th 1988 pose 4

Trade Union Briefing

Trade Union Periscope

News that hang-glider enthusiast Judy Leden had recently asvended to 5,000 ft — suspended under a hot, air balloon — has sent shivers down the spine of P&O Chair detfrey Sterling.

‘Why? Sterling is aware that Judy intends to be hoisted to 18,000%t later this year in an attempt to ross the channel by hang-gitder

‘Sterling is reported to have eaid: “This ts the sort of competition we ferry operators are up against. Its ‘lea? that we will have to reduce our wages bill by ‘another 50% if we aze to compete

Reporte that NUS General Secretary, Sam MoCluskie, ‘was considering emulating Judy's aerobatic feat in sn ‘ttempt to spinit the NUS's assets across the channel hhave been shot down in flames by informed sources

‘Greg Basset

BOOK REVIEW

Redundancy: not as easy as it seems!

THINKING OF TAKING REDUNDANCY?

4th Edition, April 1988

Spo ans maura cg

‘Available from CAITS, Polytechnic of North London, Holloway Road, London N7 8D8

‘Send cheques, efc., payable to CAITS. 95p per single copy; 80 ‘each for 10 or more: 70p each for 50 oF more

The massive redundancies of the early 1980s may Seem a thing of the past, but the lowest figure for hotified redundancies in qd Problems that this decade was still Sete eas ee 110,000 in 1986. Se compound by he 1686 Tivoughout the test of the rd 1986 Sucil Sseamy Che. le best nerten SEG. Aces Tims ms cores Mos owe of a walker 7 tes octal bometis ayrees year tire tougher ries on oity ir fect, rodurdanck {or Unempioyment Senet Fis Apert wo expires ira new booklet Deloees et we cao troduced by CAITS. the Sectors, such sa retoling and Cente for Aternatve Stexatuton, yitdng Indust end Technological Tedundancy fates ly st Systems atin tome Thnkipg of Redundancy?

By MARK SEATON

of the population: The problems that people

‘manufacturing and mining. — Beware!. now in its fourth

‘And with the squeeze in updated, edition, explains all” | local government inot to the key financial facts for mention the City!) those contemplating or facing edundancy and its Fedundancy”It includes Complications will become s examples, and useful Ready realty for ever wider sections Reckoners

Yorks miners

Rushed vote pre-empts debate on Benn-Heffer challenge

The dismal prospect of Neil Kinnock’s re-election as Party Leader moved a step nearer reality with increasing certainty of backing from the National Union of Mineworkers. This backing ‘of Arthur Scargill to galvanise support from his rank and Tile for Tony Benn. Yorkshire Area NUM, the biggest remaining area, holds a third of the union's votes. It is now mandated to cast its card votes for Kinnock. At the last area couneil meeting, the delegates cast their own card yote as follows:

Kinnock 412, Benn 269

Prescott 329, Hattersley 201, efter 71

starting to take on solid form despite the efforts |

NUT From ‘dented shield” to the protection of... a

glossy logo!

NUT members, represe ting over 70 union bra

smashing the left and centralising the bureaucracy b)

ches throughout the _ @abandoning annual concountry, met at Coventry ference in favour of a bienon May 7th nial one:

We were there to develop @cnding local branch cona webieg uacteat treme, Olof local membership

subscriptions;

ending the existence of the national post of Women’s Officer and merging the national Equal Opportunities Department with other departments;

tional Executive's plans to attack the left and curt tunion democracy. By Ronnie Held STA Women’s Convenor

‘The gathering represented the largest meeting of the left and its periphery in the union for a long ti

At this year’s Easter Conference, the NUT Executive suffered a defeat when they tried to steamroller the passage of proposals to deal with what they claim is the uunion’s “financial crisis’

They argue that a fall in ‘membership is the cause and that, therefore, the prime ‘objective must be to “recruit members”. What they fail to point out is that at two

The new NUT jogo. What are they 600g? Waving “good bye”"to defence of our ‘education?

‘ecnding the independent existence of the union's International Relations Department, i.e. end solidarity with the interna tional teacher trade unions. Rule 8 prevents solidarit with anyone but teachers, hhence the recent statement deploring Israeli occupying forces’ action against West Bank Palestinians — in their schools!)

If the left overcomes sec tarian differences, it should be able to defeat this right

When national action was its peak, the membership increased! On the other hand, since the union caved in and

‘PHOTO: Mactine Steed

sold out over Baker, membership has falien.

‘The Executive document, which will be put to a full recall national conference on June 18th (demanded and fought for by the STA) ait reorganise the unior recruitment purposes’ — a smokescreen for

The NUT membership grew at peaks in its struggle against Baker's GERBil. Opponents of Baker marched in London on March 8th Iabove).

wing manoeuvre. If we fail

fo bury our differences at

the recall Conference we will pay a heavy price Democracy is an impor tant issue to the rank and file. A principled and con:

ccerted attack on the right’s proposals will impress union members, and convince them that the left has the correct arguments, and is the real defender of union democracy.

Right wing saddled with left policies

any objective _ Time and time agein dur- the bottom up. excess winter rainfall the Tensioner Me out: og tmoune ofdaets | Te ues oe ee come of this year's delegates polarised around shown clearly in the cur- get to grips with power

those who said there can be no compromise with Tory plans for the Civil Ser vice and those who said that we should get the

rent Hither Green dispute where DHSS members have been on strike for two months against ‘employment of 3

CPSA Conference does not look good

The Broad Left was wiped entirely from the NEC: its majority on the

They were continually wrongtosted and out. manoeuvred by the union's full-time machinery. It is their ability to. assimilate

the

ction Executive P@8t deal going. leading fascist. this lesson which will Cotes melee oe. Following pressure from determine whether the the Conference the new Broad Left” returns to

tumed after 14 years in power; the 1988 pay cam paign is effectively at an end (some would say it never began): and, worse. it is likely that the new

By Alastair Wallace CPSA Broad Left

Executive have been fore: to back a one-day strike

all CPSA_ members across London in support of Hither Green,

power quickly.

The forthcoming year will be pivotal in the future of the Civil Service. The government are planning a

ot

or

almost every occa

long-ecre ay Get WEN Srod taht poston. The thar she Cuueng atte tori ates pay ae teaderstip members of ite downtal Wwe don’t have the Leader:

ty] it all means anything

The answer has got to be that it does, but that the left is going to have to fight for every policy from

say, as the SWP have done, that the Broad Left is responsible for everything from the defeat of the 1987 pay campaign to the

come from the rank and file; and it will do the Broad Left no harm to get back to its roots and start organis: ing the fightback

fight and their Ki alies did nots

policy

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 2Sth-June 71h 1988 page 5

Trade Union Briefing

eae

Regier

ars

rally and demonstration in Dover on May 21st.

It had been organised by the P&O Seafarers Support Groups.

‘The rally was addressed by Dennis Skinner and Jeremy Corbyn from the Campaign Group of Labour MPs; Betty Heathfield of Women Against Pit Closures: John McCreadie of CPSA; and Marek Gaistecki, on behalf of Polish Solidarnosc.

By Ken Stratford Thames Poly NALGO

‘Seafarers speakers inchided a representative of NUS members from Aberdeen who service the North Sea ol figs, sacked for taking Secondary action in support of the P&O strike; anda Fepresentative from Harwich

Notably absent from the platform were Sam MeCluskie or any Fepresentative of the Port Committee who, the ray ‘was told, felt unable 10 speak Test they fell foul of fccusations of engaging in Secondary action

‘The march to Dover Westen Doexs was headed by large continge Paulas oat oe ation They were followed by several hundred people from the mining communities, Including large groups form Durham and Yorkshire, and & Contingent of sacked Notts

At workplace and sommunity level there ‘emaing 2 crying need tor naterial support for the featarers in dispute. Ad hoc liections and ane off fonations are good, but these hnould be tured into 2 Ustained and regular flow. hat requites you taking an ritstive in your workalace or

inion, Do it today!

=e

The P&O strikers at Dover have been betrayed by the right wing Leadership of the National Union of Seamen (NUS).

On Thursday May 12th the NUS National Executive ‘Committee ordered an end {o all solidarity action and a return to normal work.

The Dover strikers, who have voted (0 continue their strike, are now dangerously isolated in their major struggle with Britain's biggest shipping employer.

In the preceding weeks, the situation had looked ‘more promising.

‘On May 3rd Sealink, whose entire fleet was at @ standstill through suppor ting action, obtained an i junction in the High Court fequiring an immediate return to work.

To the profound surprise of union militants, Sam McCluskie publicly announced the union's intention to defy the law, accept the conse- ‘quences’ (sequestration) and extend the action.

“The NUS is not bricks ‘and mortar, typewriters and desks,”" McCluskie declared. “lt is the men and women who go to sea and stand together to defend their right to work and (0 fight for justice. If forced’ to chase ‘between protecting the property of the union or stan. ding by my members I will ‘always choose the latter.

‘The High Court fined the NUS £150,000 and ordered

Seafarers’ strike

ve bibesy satans =. geomet Vi Reali Eien

the sequestration of all its assets, involving the seizure of £2,800,000 in union funds, ‘the closure of national and local affices, the freezing of staff wages, the suspension of its pension fund, the impounding of union cars, and the cutting off of telephones.

The labour movement responded with a massive fund-raising drive. Even the Labour Shadow Cabinet and the NEC called for financial support

By Alan Thornett Trade Union Briefing

McCluskie went to the TUC (which offered nothing in the way of supportive ac: tion) and from there to James Sherwood, Sealink Chairman,

After several days of harried negotiations, a deal was stitched up whereby the NUS would exempt Sealink from sitike action and in return Sealink would put ex tra ships on P&O's strike bound routes — to be crew. ced by 450 of the sacked PAO. striker

The jobs would be temporary, ceasing (0 exist when the strike came {0 an end

‘Norman. Willis. was so keen on this rotten deal thi he even said the TUC would pay the wages of the rest the strikers, for a period, they would accept it!

‘McCluskie fought hard to make the deal stick but it

SEN

was rejected at a meeting of representatives from all the ports, who demanded an additional 300 jobs from Sealink

Lorry drivers became involved when a backlog built up on each side of the channel. Drivers blocked the ports in an attempt to force the two sides to a settlement.

‘Although some of the drivers directed their criticism at P&O_ intransigence, they were almost all non-union, and many of them were anti-union owner/drivers who simply wanted the strike ended on any basis.

‘On May Lith, after a week of NUS defiance, the High Court made its next move. The union was fined another £150,000 and warned that bigger fines would follow if, contempt” of court continued. The same. day Sealink threatened to sack all crew members who re- ‘mained on strike

This was the final straw for the NUS Leadership. The following day, May 13th, it ordered all those tak. ing supporting action back

‘McCluskie argued that the ‘odds were now too great and that the strike was crumb

In fact, the strike was ding remarkably well, given that it was being of-

fered no direction by the union Leadership other than deals with a rival employer.

The Dover strikers met after the rest had returned

Where do we go after the NUS climbdown?

and voted — with only one against — to continue their strike.

‘The return to work decision is nonetheless a disaster both for the NUS and the Dover strikers, who are now back in isolation. MeCluskie's new strategy for the strike is to join Sealink in

“commercial war” against PaO!

The NUS, he said, would urge the public to use Sealink ferries instead of P&O, on the basis of P&O’s safety standards. It is a rerun of the print unions’ disastrous ‘consumer boycott" tactic at Wapping.

The TUC had clearly put pressure on McCluskie. telling the NUS that it would gel n support of any kind ‘whilst the strike was legal ‘As soon as the return to work had taken place the TUC announced a new £1m fund appeal to help the NUS!

The Dover strikers are continuing their struggle and deserve the full and unstinting support of the labour movement, The central task for them is still 0 break out Of their isolation,

NUS policy must be reversed, even though the NUS Conference, meeting just after the return to work, endorsed McCluskie’s action (not without acrimony and bitter accusations).

‘Other unions have a responsibility as well, P&O seab- ships are’ still. being handled by TGWU dockers

in Dover, Hull dockers have called for @ national port shop. stewards committee meeting to tackle this problem,

In the past few days CGT dockers in Calais have work fed on the first scab ship to berth in a French port, It is hard to demand. international solidarity. whilst the TGWU scabs.

‘The support group movement has been growing in re- ‘cent weeks and needs 10 be extended and_ strengthened to generate financial support, support and the Dover picket line, and political backing.

‘A week after their betrayal, the NUS leadership haas still not been allowed 10 purge its contempt and Tecover its funds. The court is now saying that the picket at Dover is illegal since it is ‘more than six-strong and is {intimidating to those who want (0 go to work

‘The more we comply with the courts, the more they interpret the law to the employers’ advantage

The anti-union legislation has been strengthened by the betrayal by the NUS Leadership. It is a serious blow to the Dover strikers and a disaster for trade unionism in the shipping industry.

Even more important, It was another lost opportuniy — "an opportunity 10 challenge the laws which are the. biggest single problem facing the trade union moxe- ‘ment in Britain today.

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 2Sth-Jume 71h 1988 page 6

Labour Party

MODEL RESOLUTIONS

Annual Conference time is coming! Resolutions need to be through June GCs.

We print below a selection of Campaigns’ model resolutions. Remember to change the wording slightly when you use them, so that they count as a seperate resolution.

This is a full set of the model resolutions received by Briefing. If we receive any more resolutions, we will print them in the next issue {due out June 8th). Unfortunately, space will prohibit our reprinting these resolutions, so keep this page.

If you lose the page. send a stamped addressed envelope (AS size) to Labour Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2 5UZ, and 0p in stamps to cover photocopying costs, and we'll send you a copy of this age together with any other model resolutions received in this office to da

If your campaign has @ model resolution which isn’t printed here, send it in as quickly as possible to the above address.

Please also let us know details if Briefing supporters or readers have been elected Conference delegates in your CLP. and which resolution you have passed. Write in or phone 01 733 7016. I any campaign wishes to track the success of their resolution, phone that number and we will ell you of progress made known to us so far.

Labour Movement Campaign for Palestine

Recognising:

Ic the right to self-determination af the Palestinian people and the justice bf their revolt against the conditions of squalor and fepression

2'that Between December Sth and May 1988 more than 200 Palestinians were killed, hundreds more maimed, thowands detained and 24 hour curfews imposed by the Iseacli-miltary sulhori

3. thal these territories were ilewally occupied by tsract 21 years 4 that the Palestinian people are protesting against the Israeli occpation and demanding the right to-decide their own future: ‘that the UN and non-aligned movement have both called for iceaell withdrawal fo its pre'67 borders;

‘Conference condemns the violence used by the State of Israel in its auempe 1 suppress the Palestinian uprising in the occupied ter Titories and elsewhere; it particularl¥ condemns the Stance af the Israeli Labour Party whose leaders are diestly responsible for this brutality and resolves to break Hinks ‘sith the Israeli Labour Party

‘Conference calls for the immediate, unconditional withdrawal ‘of Israel from the Occupied Terricories,

Further, Conference supports the strugele of the Palestinian people for a democratic secular sate

‘Conference recognises the PLO asthe chosen representatives of the Palestinian people and calls on the NEC to give public effect 10 its views by inviting the Chair of the Executive of the PLO to address the 1989 Labour Party Conference

Anti-union laws

Conference notes the continued use of the Tory anti-trade tunion laws to rob working people of the basic means of defending, and improving, their pay and conditions at work and, as in the case of the P&O seafarers, defending the safety of the services they provide. These laws are being systematically applied, extended and refined by the courts to the advantage of the employers; removing the rights working people have fought for decades to win

With this in mind, Conference takes the view that the only effective approach to the Tory anti-union offensive is to defy the courts, extend the action and call on the movement for support

Conference pledges full support to any union taking such action in defence of our basic, hard-won democratic rights.

CLPD-promoted resolutions Women on the Shortlist Enabling Motion

This Conference recopnises that positive action in favour of women and other disadvantaged groups within socicty in general 43s well as within the party can make an important contribution towards ensuring socal equality

Ta 1985 Conference gave overwhelming support to the principle that at least one woman should be included on every parllamentary shortlist (where a woman has been nominated). 1 Instructed the NEC to bring the appropriate constitutional changes to the 1987 Conference

‘Conference notes that the NEC Failed 10 comply with this

‘Conference therefore reaffirms the principle that there should be at least one woman nominee on every parliamentary shortlist, and believes that the issue is of immediate importance,

Parliamentary Selection

Conference notes that the new parliamentary selection procedure makes no provision for the accountability of Cabour MPs. Conference believes that the practice of giving thase responsible for their reselection the opportunity to hear from and debate with their MPs should continue, Conference therefore calls on CLPs in Labour-held seats to hold monthly, bimonthly or quarterly meetings of the local electoral college so that MPs can report and be questioned on their work and that of the Parlamentary Labour Party, written reports to be

‘This Conference believes that constiwency parties should havea

proportion of the total vote at Annual Conference, com ‘mensurate with their political, organisational and financial con Iribution to the party

i notes that in 1984/5 and 1985/6 the NEC undertook consulta tion exercises on this isue which led to a range of soggestions being submitted by affiliated organisations.

Conference therefore instructs the NEC to present to the 1989 Annual Conference a aumber of options fin the form of constitu. tional amendments) based on these suggestions but subject to the unions retaining at least 6O% of the total vote in the majorly of the options. Conference will then be able to have a wide and inFormed debate and finally choose the option which can command he widest su

Public Ownership This conference believes that 2 major extension of pubic ‘ownership is essential for our overriding priorities of full employment ond 2 planned modernisation of the British

‘economy.

To boost employment, restructure British industry on a large scale and help promote’ working class unity the next Labour ‘government will have to:

prevent intemational market pressures from blowing the ‘economic expansion programme off course

Labour CND Unilateraism/Party policy la} Conference believes that ridding the world of all nuclear ‘weapons is of overriding importance to the survival of the human race and that Labour's pledge to remove unconditional ly all suclear weapons and nuciear bases fram British sol and \Waters inthe frst parliament of the next Labour government is ‘one of the Party's most important policy gains and a vital step Towards nuclear disarmament worldwide

‘We therefore reeffirm our deterrnination to publicly cam paign to get this message widely understood and accepted and to win a clear majority for ridding Britain ofall nuclear sveapons ‘and nuclear bases Jobs Not Bombs 1) Conference nates that Labour's policy of abandoning al nuclear weapons will release much-needed resources. for welfare Services and job creation, Conference therefore resolves that al the money spent on nuclear weapons wl be fedrrécted to this end and that the national party will include this commitment as part of its public campaigning to win sup. port for nuciear disarmame

Labour CND NATO and bases Ic) Conference notes that NATO hes bees used in 1988 to hamper and reverse progress towards disarmament and re mains committed to the use of ruciear weapons. Conference Iso notes that Labour's existing policy of removing sf nuciesr bases from this country does nat prevent the United States from launching @ canventional attack from bases in Britain. nor does it prevent the United States from pursung its nuclear policies through the use of facikties in thas courery Conference therefore resolves that the next Labour govern ment will remove all United States bases, including conven. tional and communications bases form Bitish soil ang British waters and will leave the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Labour Common Market Safeguards Committee Conference motes that the huge deterioration im the balance of fade with the EEC, amounting 10 £16 billion im the years 1970-1987, has resulted in the loss of one million jobs in manufac turing industry. Furthermore, noting that the Treaty of Rome prohibits any form of government intervention which would directly or indirectly help British industry compete at home of abroad,

Conference instructs the next Labour government to repeal Sec: tion 2 of the European Communities Act 1972, thus restoring poser 10 the Parament of the United Kingdom aod aabling

Conference, recognising that the next Labour government will be snable to implement its programme within the framework of the ‘Treaty of Rome, resolves that upon taking power, such a govern- ‘ment stall free the United Kingdom from those restraints,

‘repealing Section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 or Formal withdrawal, whichever may be the more expedient at

Conference, affirming that no future Labour government will achieve success in its economic policy untessit can remove the huge burden which the Common Agricultural Policy has laid on the UK balance of payments, on manufactured industry and on living Standards, call forthe termination of the CAP and the determina sm national agricultural programme, on the lines of

the successful deficiency payments policy followed from 1948 10 uaraniced UK farmers’ incomes but allowed con

sumer to buy freely from the mow efficient food producers

uhere in the work

Conference, recognising that the EEC's programme for the har

‘monisation of economic policies will inevitably lead to a complete

Iy free market Stuation, concludes that Common Market member

ship is incompatible with the programme which a future Labour

government must undertake, in order to alleviate the major social roblems

Conference, observing the increasing extent to which legislation and Count Decisions of the Common Market are supplanting the Fights and liberies of the British people and Parliament 10 dete

‘mine our own legislation and taxation: calls upon Labour Govern ment t0 safeguard those democratic rights by giving due notice that it intends to amend the European Communities Act 1972 50 a5, to achieve these objectives, which it regards as fundamenial 10 the Practice of parliamentary democracy as practised is the United. Kingdom,

Labour Committee on Ireland 1. Withdrawal

‘The Labour Party is committed to support peace, reconciliation and justice in Ireland. This Conference believes that the next Labour government should be committed to withdrawal of British

tule in Northern Ireland within the lifetime of that goverament,.

2. Discrimination

Conferonce expresses its concer at the level of religious discrimination in employment in Northern Ireland. Government Statistics acknowledge that, as a result, the rate of male Catholic unemployment is two and a half that of mole Protestants; the rate of female Catholic unemployment is one and a half times that of female Protestants.

Whilst the government has, under pressure, agreed to bring

forward legislative proposals on Fair Employment, we nate that al Recommendations made by the Northern ireland Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights {SACHR) for. the ‘government co adopt # performance indicator against which to ‘measure achieversents have hot deen incorporated bl The government does not intond to incorporate guidelines to ‘employers on affitmative action programmes designed t0 give underrepresented groups better access to employment and ‘raining programmes within ils primary legislation. {) in its proposed legislation, the Government has not yet ac cepted that the tribunals which will hear individual complaints of discrimination should be part of the industrial tribunal system,

‘Conference opposes all forms of employment discrimination whether on grounds of age, race, gender, sexuality, disablity OF rligron.

Conference believes:

1) That a just approach towerds providing equality of oppor tunity must be based on the twin objectives of increasing employment and reducing inequality of opportunity,

2) The incorporation of clear goals and timetables is an in: <Gispensable component of adequate legislation,

Black Sections

Conference welcomes the increased representation of Black people in the Labour Party. This progress has Deen greatest in those constituencies which have active Black Sections. Con ference recognises that the Labour Party must take the lead In the fight to etadieate the instituionalized racism inherent in Bntish society. ft notes however that Black people sre stil Lunder-represented in Key positions in the Party. Conference ‘grees that:

{positive action must make sure thet Black members become ‘active and take positions at every level ofthe Party:

4) Black members must have the support of the labour move. ‘ment in organising together autonomously in. Constituency Labour Parties and trade unions for effective participation and representation

Furthermore, Confetence recognises tat i vt! hat Back ‘people are in the forefront of the struggle against racism and the formulation of anti-racist policies t notes that the Trades Union Congress in’ 1984 supported the setting up of Black members groups in alte affiliated trade unions,

‘Conference gives ts support for the tight of Black membors of the Labour Party to organise in Black Sections. ft therefore ‘calls upon the National Executive Committee, to act upon Tecommendations of its working party in favour of Black ‘Sections.

Labour Against the Witch-hunt '86

}. Conference notes that there isa widespread and growing witch Ibunt against socialists in the Labour Party and their tight to hold views contrary {0 those ofthe Leadership and to organise around 2. Conference condemns the suspension of CLPs, the disciplinary ‘action against Mandy Mudd, Sharon Atkin, and numerous other Individuals within the Party

3. Conference cals for the immediate dropping of all suspensions and charges and for the Labour Party to get on with the job of Fighting the Tories instead of witch-hunting its own members,

Lesbian and Gay Rights

1. Conference notes

|. the clear commitment made by the Annual Conference in 1985 and 1986 to full equality for lesbians and gay men, in- <luding support for the work of Labour Local Autho

‘moting this equality

i. section 28 of the Local Government Act 1987 which intends: to outlaw the work of Local Authorities in. combetting, discrimination, bigotry and popular prejudice:

fil the commitment made by the Party front bench spokesperson to repeal of this legislation by a Labour government. | ‘make it absolutely clear that a future Labour governmont would ‘ot allow the implications and provisions of the clause to re main on the Statute Book", 9.3.88),

2" Conference believes that the ending of discrimination ‘agsinst lesbians and gay men requires

ithe recognition that lesbian and gay relationships are not “pretended relationships, and in particular, that lesbians must have the right to bting up their children equally in law:

i. that the totally negative images of lesbians and gay men which are prevalent throughout society are responsible for the Derpetuation of the discrimination, oppression lincluding inter halised self-hatred}, violence, and the belief that lesbians ard gay men are inferior to heterosexuale:

fi that the only way to counter such mages is by the presents tion of lesbians and gay men and lesbian and gay relationships Ina positive way, incliding and particularly in education,

3. Conterence resolves therefore

‘to reattirm the commitment of existing party policy on lesbian, ‘nd gay rights;

i"to-affirm that Section 28 will be repeated, and that the Party. will Support and encourage any attempt to do this at the earliest opportunity, incuing by private members’ ills

lit to support any person victimised as a result of Section 28; Ww. to encourage and assist Labour Local Authorities ta strengthen and reaffirm their commitment to party policy in: cluding where necessary defending this policy in the courts,

¥. 10 encourage and assist Labour Local Authorities which have hot yet implemented party policy to do so.

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page 7

Labour Party

New campaign wins wide support

A. Fight the Witch-hunt suspension for this purpose ‘Campaign has been laun- Bs! they are nor having ial ehed in Cardiff Central {0% °Mfempica to. hold ‘is CLP. AGM “without | Plasnemsdd

TU a response to an ia- delegate On. each occsion, struction given in February sttong opposition from other 1988 by. the Labour Party deleeates prevented the CLP

Wales Regional Organiser, 0", completing ts AGM or

snd supporied by Const“ The'whole matter has been ueney right wingers, f0 sus- referred to the Labour Party's pend one ward party — ational headquarters. In. the Plasnewydd. meantime the Consticuency is it

‘An inquiry is to be held in- effect suspended, to the activities of the Ward

following an allegation that pacuchet

they invited an expelled The Fight the Witch-huat member of the Party to their Campaign has been launched by AGM. group of local socialists op-

This “offence” is not denied posed to these anti-democratic by the Ward, but their offers manoeuvres. It_is arguing have a strong defence, including vigorously for the reinseaement the fact that they were never ol- of the Ward and for the right of ficially informed by the Party of all Socialists to participate ia the

the expulsion. part na few shoet weeks the cam. Suspension paign has aleady gained the

Support of the Campaign for

‘What ies behind the suspen- Labour Party Democracy, Tony sion isan attempt to.exclude an Benn, and a number of CLPs ‘active, campaigning Ward from Wards, and (rade union bran the Constituency AGM in order ches. A fringe meetig is plano fogive theright wingaclearma- ed for the Labour Party Wales jority. The Ward has consistent- Annual Conference. Wy opposed a number of policies "Contact the Campaign ‘ofthe Labour Country Council, through Marin Barclay, fotably the proposal to close the Secretary, 22 Norwood Court, focal comprehensive school. Elm Street, Roath, Cardiff CF Howardian High IRG, tel 0322 462582

‘The vight wing wantthe Ward Taken from FWHCC press silenced and are using the release

Mode! Resolution This ‘opposes the suspension of Plasnenydd Ward by Cardiff Ceniral CLP ta conjunction with Labour Party Wales. We believe that Plasnewydd comrades have not been treated faley, consistently nor ia accordance with natural justice and the Labour Party Rule Book. We believe this represents 2 Turther stepping up of the witch-hunt against socialists in the Labour Party.

"This vr calls upon Cardiff Central CLP and Labour Party Wales to reinstate Plasnewsdd Ward and allow their delegates 10 take part fully In the Constitwency AGM.

Send copies to: K. Palmer, Secretary Cardiff Central CLP, 7 Westminster

A. Gale, Regional Organiser Labour Party Wales, Transpor: House, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff

Labour Pasty NEC: L Whitty, General Secretary, 150 Walworth Road, London SEI7 UT.

M, Barclay, Secretary, Fight the Witch-hunt in Cardiff Cental 22 Norwood Court, Elm Street. Roath, Cardiff.

Youth in Black Sections

By Black Section Youth, Birmingham

The autonomous organisation of Black people is absolutely necessary in the struggle against racism. Black youth have a major role to play in this, by working within the Black community and mobilising at grassroots level.

‘We must expose the increasing level of police barberi ty shown in the cases of Cherry Groce, Cynthia Jarrett, Muhammed Parkitt, Trevor Monnerville, and Clinton McCurbin

But the victimisation does not end there. For years Black youth have been exploited on programmes like the Youth Training Scheme. Basic rights to decent jobs ‘and housing and education have been denied us Brothers and sisters have been separated from their families and deported from Britain without \ustification,

We are now experiencing a new onslaught. The Immigration Bill will result in more racism. The Educa tion Reform Bill will result in greater divisions within the education system. The changes in social security and the Poll Tax will push Black people further and further into the poverty trap.

Now is the time for the grassroots mobilisation of Black youth. Now is the time for a strong united front so that we can take our rightful place in the struggle to defeat the capitalist exploitation and the racist oppres. sion of the people

Public Meeting Sunday 29th May, 2pm At TURC, 7 Frederick St, Hockley,

irmingham 1 Open to all Black Youth For more details contact Steve Jomoa on 01 577 5057

Interview: Jon Lansman

BENN-HEFFER Campaign:

A catalyst for

the left

JON LANSMAN has been appointed national organiser for the BennHeffer campaign. Briefing supporter MIKE MARQUSEE interviewed Jon cramped campaign headquarters in the shadows of Westminster.

Can you tell us about your new job?

We've had 2 flood of requests for speakers at all kinds of meetings and it's a mammoth task just co-ordinating. those. ‘We've already organised fringe ‘meetings at_ many union con ferences, and a series of regional rallies (See back page.

‘Getting activists together (0 work aut how to raise the isves Iocally is our most important job, We've established a. net ‘work of regional contacts (see ack “paged to assist that process

‘We're producing a main elec tion leaflet which we hope #0 distribute throughout the Party land # leaflet for women written bby women members of the Cam paign Group in consultation ‘ith groups of women outside Parliament

There are plans for a fringe meeting at Chesterfield in June and_an eve of poll rally in Blackpool in October

We'll ako be producing leaflets for particular unions,

where there art

his

In which unions do you expect 2 big push for Bean and Hetter? There'll be a big push for Benn ‘Heffer im every union! We're not ig the game of sit. ting down with pocket calculators and predicting the ‘eventual score. We'll leave that fo journalists who have not Deiter to do. For us the Leadership election

debate on the direction of the Party. Opposition to the Policy Review and the Aims and Values statement is widespread, especially in the trade unions. ‘According to Neil Kinnock, there seems to be no role for the ‘anions at all — except when it ‘comes to cash contributions and ‘Votes in the Leadership electo ‘On economic policy, there's a Jot of talk in the Review about

‘working wich business and with

Leeds Leadership Down but

not out

A Campaign Group ticket for the Leadership of the Leeds Labour Group was defeated at 2 Group meeting held shortly after the recent local elections.

‘Clie Garth "Frankland, 2 Briefing supporter, received just eight votes to incumbent Geor Mudie’s $6

‘The rest of the ticket — Cllr Pat Winn (11 votes), Clie Ray Mitchell (15), and. Clie ‘Keith Nathan (7) — fared litle better

The District Party had. also rejected the ticket, The meeting ‘efused to listen 10 the nominations, and delegates therefore voted without receiving the many grassroots. nominations from branches and anions sup porting the Campaign slate

Chambers of Commerce, but ‘bot a word about working with

What would sou say to activists in ‘alfiated union sho. are ‘ailing in theie branches to heat Something from above about hhow thes are to be consulted oa the Leadership election? What Should they be doing?

Ifyou support Benn and Heffer you should never wait to hear “anything from above

Ensure you have a discussion ‘at Your branch or whtever struc {ure exists in your unions. Make sure the decision is not left (0 the union Leadership. esting behind closed doors.

‘Each union will have to find the Dest way 10 involve is membership, but what's impor tant is that the rank and fje bas ‘2 mechanism to influeace the way the union is going 10 vote.

How do you sce the role of the” “Organisers?

They're not taking decisions or

power away’ from local cam.

they're actually taking

power away from me! They are

mainly a means of communica

jon. between the centre and I groups.

‘What do you want local BennHeffer campaigns to do? The most important thing is 10 make sure there are dicussions at every Keel of the labour movement. We have 10 take the hate to people who may not bbe convinced, who may not de fon dur side ai the moment. Ac vists have #0 get together and ‘work out the best way (0 raise the issues im every conssituers Nationally we see the cam paign as a catalyst for all sorts Of debates. At focal level, it wil bea catalyst for getting debate oing about all sorts of local

concerned that support for Benn and Heffer is as broad a possible. Obviously that means there will be some fen: sions among those who support the campaign, but it should enable ust bring people

together

What abost involving people in struggle who are not currents in

By Leeds Labour Briefing supporters

The slate fad Been decided after (wo large meetings of the Campaign Group and after 100, Campaign Group members and Supporting organisations ad been circulated

Supported

The Mudie slate, supported by some self designated lefts, was pull together without any Semocratie Gisussion of is politcal aims or composition The widespread support among the prassroots for the lett sate gives some hope for 3 farure socialist transformation Of the political scene in Leeds

Jon Langman, National Organiser far the Benn Heffer campaxyn

bbe used by as many people: on the left as possible to build all sorts of thiggs. One of the things we hope it will do is draw people into. the Labour Party and into political activity in general

You were very involved in the 1951 campaign. How would you compare 1 to 19882 es much more difficlt this time around. There aren't millions of people nishing around. with wiopia expects tions. There's not the exhilars tiom that there was then, when a to af people thought that sversthing could be achieved in 4 short space of time

This time it’s much more alistic. People are aware of the difficult struggle se face. Nevertheless, people also realise that this contest is necessary and ‘sll push the Party ia the right Sirection

Wilt there be some counter proposals to the Policy Review fn the form of x manifesto or policy statement? We plan io respond 10 the Policy Review and the Aims and Values statement in serious and constructive fashion, We're hamstrung Bs the fact that 3t the moment hardly anvone's a tually got copies of the Policy Review papers

will have to be some priorities — peace and disarm. public ownership, defence oF Frade union rights, and. some

‘Of social polis. For example. Tony Be moved it the NEC that thete Should be a commitment 10 write off deboe tothe. social fund. a dear way oF redistributing wealth in Ta\our ff the poorest in society. That wae rejected amidst tumbling. about imipracticaliy. In fact would be cast £0 organise.

What do you say to those who eride. Bean and. Helfer” as “yesterday's men" and claim that the “new ideas” belong. 60 thers?

‘The ideas in the Policy Review

are the same ones that David ‘Owen's b g up with for the last so they’

hardly new

The inference that we're all men could not be more wront We would hase preferred to candidates but inthe end it ‘sasn't possible — because of the wider problems ofthe shor tage of women not only in the (Campaign Group but in Parla ment a: a whole

WAC demand, pil, and oo mans the aetwal records of Tony and Erie speak tor themselves and are fat superior fo thee of Ihe. presen! leadership,

We've had sonte bad publicity about some women feng I Campaige Group oker the Leadership contest Now them have said ie way a raetical Uitference and hat they cad Tike to reture

Tim afraid that one of the others ‘did use the event to fmanufactufe as much bad publicity for us as poss Sich ve regret. BUC to say thal the Tribune Group has a beter fecord. on women's. issues it Auite outrageous

The insinwation that the Cam: paign Group pushed throush the devision on the Leadership contest in macho Nay Is also fot tenable, In Fact, the Cam: paigh Group conducted lengths nd innumerable dis

rans months bel ecision was made, tn coma fhe Tribune Group had a one hour dicsussion alter wich thes simply decked there should be ne contest at al

But on fon the Alor

Another major constituency for the Campaign is the black community. What plans do sou have to campaign there? Were working closely with Black Sections. We'se agreed 19 organise a series of public Insetings with them, the frst of Which is the one thats taking place in New ham om Tuly Sth Ben and Helfer hase” sip ported the rights of Black See ons within the Party and given priority 10 drasing black people he Party and making the ris" articulate black people's fs and demands.

Should one of the main thrusts A the campaign be (o champion ‘workers in struggle? That is absolutes essential. One of the Fist achievements of the Sampaign isthe greater extent 10 ‘shih she Party has supported the seafarers in comparison ith he printers at Wapping or the The left declared it was poine to make a stand 08 this andi has dragged the Leadership with At the NEC thers was a serious debate about the previse form of words the Pariy ould issue and the draft thar_came fut in the end was substantially different from the one initials proposed BY Kinnock. This is 3 Undoubtedly the list victory for the Benn-Heffer campaip

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page 8

Fascism in Europe...

Jean-Marie Le Pen talies fascist sentiment in France

The rise and rise of

Jean-Marie Le Pen

In the first round of France recent presidential _ elections,

4.4 million French people voted for Jean-Marie Le Pen of the Front National.

To some commentators, this suggested an unprecedented advance for fascism in France, with 14% of the electorate ‘about to don jackboots and

swastika: Le Pen’s big vote doesn’t mean that, but it does represent 3

dangerous development in French politics for both left and right

‘The high vote for Le Pen was clear a positive vote by those traditional supporters of fescist movements, small shopkeepers. and. the selfemployed, but ft was also 8 Protest vote. by "the shop Workers. and the unemployed {Gren five of whom vated for tepen, sccordng to Le Monde!

Following the virus! brook up of tha Communist Party (CPi widespread. disiusion tment with Niterrand’'s reac flonary” poles, and "the onabitanon”™ of the right wing Pree. Minister Chirac and. the socialist” pres: dent’. this section of the working class tured to Le Pen Inthe frst round

Followers of Le Pen include au sorte of people trom among {he isenchented and the cone {sed those who want an end to CEC farming, quotes. and {Rose for whom North African Scapegoat for the county's problems, With his netionaist Sratory, Le Pen poses as their iterative on offer

Fao election result showed that the right cannot gain 2 Majority without La Pen. His pies. for helping Chiac's autiats “wn, power she forthcoming Assembly elec: ‘tions. eauld wel be a cabine place in 9 future rightwing Eoaltion government

The. Socialist Party's na tionaism and the open reciare Of sections of the Communist Party (remember the Com: frunist mayor who buldozed an_wmmigrent hostel afew Years age") have alowed Le Pon, and to a lesser extent Chee. to make racism respectable

Fhe {allure of the Socialist party to confront Le Pen and his.” ‘antiimmigrart, ant!

semitc ideas opened the gates for the Front National, and the voters streamed in

The switch by sections of the working class from the CP to Le Pen was not as unex: pected tators felt. The Communists’ Fistory of opposition to. im. migration and their attempts to divide and disperse migrant communities had helped to legitimate racism in

the

followers. With the split and collapse of the CP, Le Pen ‘Seemed to offer these people a logical and radical stternativ ‘The Front Na

teal has

Marseilles that were formerly served for the Communist

i989 Ewo Elections as a chance to demonstrate their Strength. and. increase their number of MEPs from the ten lected at the then-presumed height of FN popularity. in 1984,

In the European parliament, Le Pon's fascist grouping ithe European Right! has made 3 act with Italian and. Greek MEPs, and has now besh join- ‘ed by an Ulster Unionist MEP.

‘instead of | ignoring the fescists, anti-racist im the Porligment, often spesrheaded by. the British LaBour Group (ether than French Socialists), have exposed the dangers of allowing Le Pen to become ‘respectable with a series of debates and Gemonstrations ~ condemning

recently

‘already the colonies

eyes of many of their

‘cent Europesn.

Fascist Action

ral enjoys ‘strength on the ground. It filed football stadia in

Party the European Fights poiies. The French elecuon resis

vindicated the decision Pointed out By DAN CARTER growing European ant-fescist

‘scapegoat for economic. pFolems, umbers of French workers

forced both Chirac’s Gualists

and

{oral pacts at local levels.

in for

foceived fugh votes. in rural Sees ond sh areas of low migrant populetion. 2nd. low Gnemployinent. Not & ration wide force. to be reckoned With, the FN wat se

MOBILISATION, ,UNi

fetwork 10 hold # Euopean Day of Action ageinst Racism nd Fasciem on Apri 23rd. 30. revenled the. mstaken Seotegy of the French SOS Racisme, who have avoided Grect confrontation with the Front National and who refuse to see Le Pen as 9 fascist at a

But Le Pon's true colours are beginning 10 show through his Bonner of ample patriotism”. Hs comment that the ges chambers were "8 data! ofthe history of the So ond World War hs arrestin the USA fof legal possession

the

search fora

ft has. turned. large

‘There. are

immigrants. “It has

‘Barre's Liberals into elec to solve the Presidential election,

the frst time, Le Pen

and plays the too ready

ie

LES EXCLUSIONS

‘of a .75 Magnum, and the in ‘creasing number of violent st tacks following. FN meetings have begun to raise doubts.

‘One FN MEP has already deserted the Party and up to ten Assembly

‘considering

future. His party is volatile and only electoral success appears 10 be keeping it together

‘Opposition in France ang in

MPs were their

is growing.

FAST, the French immigrant workers group,

Toined the re Day of Action

march organised by Ant

‘in London, In

‘Guadaloupe and. Martinique,

Le Pen was unable

bark from his plane because of

public protests at the airports. Mitterrand has yet to res-

pond or to join the wave of

Drotest. AS the Afican Times

to digem:

editorial, Mitterrand’s failure fo set 8 socialist agenda has given Le Pen plenty of room for manoeuvre ievencas to exploit lessons to be learnt for @ future Labour ‘government (and for present: ay Labour Councils) that falls tunemployment refuses to confront prejudice,

and many

patriotic card

‘The rise of Le Pen is not 8 matter that can be safely con: Signed to the vagaries of French politics.

movement in Britain should st Up and take notice

‘The. lsbour

COLLECTIF POUR UN ‘ex MAI UNITAIRE

Marching against Le Pen in France

THE HI

ASCI BECO OFFICI

The spectre of Jean-Marie Le Pen is hai the march once again? Who let loose the tracks? In Britain, official William

Labour Councils, have been seized on by} clear is that the fascists are becoming m| left must develop strategies for a ma trespread focusses on some aspects of th by the left to meet it head on.

Loyalists cel

Chesterfiele Orange Dru

‘The Orange Order are try: ing to hiiack the official celebrations,"" wars AFA, “and use them as part of the Loyalist campaign against the Anglo-irish Agreement — 2

in that has the open

‘of Britain's fascist

This year’s 300th anniversary William of Orange celebrations are providing opportunities aplenty for extreme right wing groups to

promote their obnoxious

politics. For years, British fascist Briefing. has already ours, have been, bulging Pred the’ disgracetas Wks with loyalist paramitary

‘groups, such ae the UVF and

actions of Exeter Labour [pA Recently, fascist music

Council in giving a platform to both Loyalists and fascists.

Now it appears Chesterfield will host the first Loyalist. public _parade, organised by the Sheffield Orange Lodge, and once again funded by a Labour Council

By MARK SEATON (with information from AFA press release)

‘Anti-Fascist Action is calling ov all anti faseists to support 8 protest march in Chesterfield fon June’ 18th, organised by the Trades Counel and Chesterfielé LCI. The Orange parade will undoubtedly st tract fascists from all over Bi

May 27-30

@ June 18

tain, as well as hosts of Loyalist bigots

in November 1986, loyalists and fescets joned forces in | SIUM Bridgwater to protest against the. Angl-ish Agreement. | @July 20

‘That march led to violent at tacks and largascale intimida fon ins small, usually quiet, Somerset town.

Jane. 18th. in Chesterfield thiestens to be a repeat per formance. The difference this lume is that itis taking place ‘against the backdrop of the William and Mary tercentonary celebrations, supported | by Cabour-controlied Chesterfield Counc

@ September 17 © September 19-23

© September

November 5

i A RO

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page §

..-a new lease of life?

ting the European left. Is fascism on monster — and can it be stopped in its

Orange celebrations, sponsored by fascists and bigots of all kinds. What is bre sophisticated in their alliances. The jor counter-offensive. Briefing’s cene right’s resurgence and reports efforts

ebrate 1688 bangs the

‘events have been held In Britain to raise money for UDA prisoners,

The use and sbuse of these colebrations was predicted by Exeter Anti-Fascist Action land reported in Briefing) over 1B months ago. ina recent let ter to the Guardian ten Labour MPs" re-emphasised the dangers posed by thes

bration: "The Orange Order, Nor thern Ireland's oldest sec {arian organisation (for whom William of Orange is the most powerful symbol and rallying point), has already joined forces with the National Front ‘in order to turn the ""celebre: tone’ in Exeter and Chester field 10 political advantage

This. i-conceived tourst project will became the focus fot ony for a mass. protest against the Anglo-Irish Agreefrent but a ready-made publicity platform for vicious

anti-Catholic Fecist bigotry.”

“The letter was signed by Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn, Allee Mahon, Bernie Grant, Ken Livingstone, Harry Cohen, John Hughes, Bob Clay, Pat Well and Audiey Wise

Our worst fears. aro-now coming to pass. Using the of: ficial tercentenary calender, the Loyalists and fascists are resting their own dary of vents (see list. Chesterfield ‘wil be the first of these public Celebrations of bigotry and Violence. Briefing urges all ts feaders to join Ant-Fascist [Retin in opposing these

prejudice and

alist/Fascist Diary

oyalist/nationalist camp’ in Devon (venue known), organised by the National Front jesterfield Orange Parade, organised by Sheffield ange Lodge

‘tra-large Orange parades in Liverpool and Glasgow,

ised by local Orange Lodges

btional Front intend to join the official re-enactment William's landing at Brixham, Devon

eter Orange Parade, organised by Orange Lodges eter Conference of the Imperial Orange Council of je World

conference of the Grand Orange Lodge of England at

'y's Crossmead Centre ham, Devon, for

POth anniversary of William’s landing.

SE OEE SES

‘Memorial demo marches past the spot where Blair Peach, antifascist activist, was killed

Anti-Fascist Action

Co-ordinating action

on all fronts

(neither capitalism nor communism but nationalist revolution"), modelled on certain Italian fascists. ‘Along with this “radical” fascist ideology they have promoted the cult of the “political soldier”” and forged direct links with terrorist

Founded in 1985, Ant Fascist Action is a united front made up of local AFA groups and affiliated organisations.

Fascist and racist activity has changed since the heyday of the National Front the late 1970s.

Racism fas assumed an “ements abroad. important role in the 7 7 ideology and practice of the By Richard Kirkwood orthodox right, as. Anti-Fascist Action demonstrated by Thatcher's notorious “‘swamping””

All the divided groups that make up the extreme right have now developed

speech and more recently by Tebbit's outburst on South Africa

‘Against a-background of significant links with the continuing state racism, most extreme trends in most visible in the areas of Ulster Loyalism — at both immigration control and political and paramilitary police harassment, black levels.

‘An additional priority for the fascist grouplets has been their attempts, in line with their populist orienta tion, to gain influence in Hocal grass roots organisa tions, such as trade unions,

Communities face the daily experience of racist violence.

‘Often. this is simply the worst of mindless thugs. But sometimes it is directly link- ‘ed to the organised extreme right.

‘The general climate .of tenants and —_ residents racism, in the context of associations, and, most economic crisis and mass recently, animal’ rights tuneraployment, continues to groups.

provide a fertile field for Meanwhile they have also

fascist activity and the cultivated their ties with the recruitment of small more extreme elements of numbers of violent activists. the orthodox Tory right ‘With the Tories seducing through a variety of most. of their potential organisations, such as WISE Voters, the fascists have (Welsh, Irish, Scottish, found’ it impossible to English) and some of the rebuild the sort of mass base more obscure _pseudo-

they had in the 1970s. As a result, they have turned in ‘other directions.

tual symposia. scists are working a base on which

The “offidai™ National they can build when an opFront has adopted the so: portunity for mass activity falled “Third Position’ arses. For antifascist — « ReTuRg mae Pascie OF e Sa =

Jean-Marie Le Pen and the Return of European Fascism

Broadsheet, including detailed profile of Le Pen, available from AFA, PO Box 273, Forest Gate, London| E7; 10p each, plus postage.

poims to several pressing tasks

We have to mobilise support for black communities fighting back against harass ment, We have to take direct action against major fascist mobilisations and in defence of any communities under threat

it needs to be backed up by activity, The joint work by AFA ‘and CPSA activists over fascist Malcolm Skeges in Hither Green DHSS is an inspiration for all of us. AFA has placed a high priority on its work in the trade union movement. We have won the support of the

We have to organise to South East Region TUC prevent the fascists gaining a (SERTUC) and affiliations foothold in working class from many trade union communities, particularly branches and Trades among young people. ‘Councils.

Two Key areas for activity are football, where antifascists in’ Leeds. and Newcastle have begun to score real successes, and music, where Cable St Beat are beginning 10 create an Organisation which can counter fascist music groups Such as White Noise and Blood and Honour. Gathering information is an important part of halting fascist infiltration of work ing. class organisations, but

Different types of antifascist work will take priori ty in different areas. AFA doesn't seek to lay down a party line. We hope to co: ‘ordinate local initiatives and publicise examples of local

We have also organised national demonstrations — most recently {0 mark the Euoprean Day of Action — which aim to publicise the continuing racist and fascist threat

Join Ant Fascist Action

I would like to join AFA. Pl details of membership, affiliation and more information on AFA's work.

I would like to make a donation to AFA’s fighting fund. | enclose £........../Please send me a bankers’ order form.

Name

Address ....

Send to: AFA. PO Box 273, Forest Gate, London &7

STOP PRESS The Labour Committee on Ireland, Troops Out Movement, and Anti-Fascist Action have now established a Campaign Against Loyalist and Fascist Parades which can be contacted at PO

Box 353, London NW5 4NH, tel. 01 609 1743

Coaches will be leaving London for the Chesterfield demo at Zam, from Kings Cross station. Book seats now from the above telephone number.

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 2Sth-June 7th 1988 page 10

Features: Red and Green Conference

Green & Socialist Conference

Benn calls for red-

green alliance

“Greens and socialists have got to get together

Speaking at the final Paul Staes MEP, confessed

By PETER TATCHELL pyenary session, Ann Darn- that he was a “watermelon

with others who share the “xan omimiaicandapi, vorouth, a memiber_and — green on the outside ond i Same objectives to forma as an optimistic and wel omer co-chair he Green _red‘on the inside : wide progressive alliance new: ideas and energy. proud fo call herself’ a _ In the closing session, 1 H to change the agenda of There was a widespread CS catict green” and urged afBued that a commitment 3 British politics,” argued feeling that theleft, byopen- her Green Movement col- © gfeen politics could 8 Tony Benn at the histor ing up to the greens. could jeaues to give a higher “Yeinspire and reinvigorate 5 ference held in London — Fenew its base of popular “political power, the class’ sreater contemporary 4 on May 14-15th, Support, and once again bid ysrem, and social justice.”” Televance and popular apMaa for power within the Labour peal, and lead’ 10. the count deel fat Party ‘and throughout THe ase soca vahes me Merge Of a larger and ed by the human race if the SENS terwoven ah new green broader-bsed et-ing Present despailation of the According to Steve policies and ideas.” aa Planet and its resources goes Rooney, 2 member of the Frieder Otto. Wolf, a The Conference conclud- Contact the Socialist ‘on unchecked," Benn said. Association _of Socialist’ leading thapretician from ed with a general consensus Environment and Attended by over 400 peo- Greens, the Conference was the West German Green that the immediate priority ResciifchsAbsgoiation ple— twice the expected tur. “more @ meeting of minds Party, (interviewed in Brief. was 10 “green the left” by ‘ nout — the Green and than a rattling of swords.”” ing no. 62) suggested that it giving écology a higher pro | S| RA (SERA): Socialis Conference saw A spokesperson from the was necessary to distinguish file at the forthcoming 26 Underwood some of the most construc- Socialist Environment and between “destructive and Chesterfield Socialist. Con- Strectt caGon tive, challenging, and com- Resources ‘Association productive growth"’ and that ference and to develop eet, London N1 radely discussion for many described it as ““Deginning this implied a necessary re- stronger links and joint acyears the process of realigning jection of the “capitalist tion by socialists, green, and Tel.: 01 436 0988/9 Remarkably free from Britith politics in a green ethos of accumulation”. _trade unionists to defend the e dogma and sectarianism, it and socialist direction." His Belgian colleague, environment dobogonaqeodooo08

A vital issue for reds and greens to toke on: the issue of peace. The impetus of the greens 10 Share the world's resources equitably could ink ‘up with socialist invalvement in antrimperialist and nationalist struggles. CND demo, April 25th 1987 ~ a photographic impression by Ann Flowers

Speculum: a midwife’s musings

Breast is best — and why

Cie on adeita. By Tem Kewley bresctiondng eos orutmce, « Breastioosing Mcteomcore air. sbcut ering Got" and Taw wea or morte Buti a fy depending on soos! class: based in London, sithough ei mixing feeds correctly. Babies anyone reading this has found and mother, not tomen- SRN. SCM POTS?) Gisike the three have counsellors have. died because rik that bottle feeding was bet tion a breastfeeding jrand. even if the last feed sociological grouping of cag | the country. powder was: ipo en ‘ter option se Tepe not women who breastfeed four-hour doctrine, and taling and indeed to persevere and laugh if it was suggested that _—‘@Thereis strongevidence to __ never had any strange looks

75% of women who ants to nurse more frequent are more likely to bottle-feed. ingly feed babies on cow's den Infant Death Syndrome tion to help mothers in hospital start breastfeeding have jie ‘0 This situation is not helped mm! {cot death with their feeding problems = completley abandoned it "2 "a new mother, this is by papers like the Sun, which Actually, a lot of women _ @Breastfeeding helps you and to offer advice to my col foeee Se toniantenit ane Educating noun ieee Trore” antbodies i toddler ped’ chidren they can't af cen Ayn attentive sentarsd men. Reasons breastmilk than in the milk you ford childminding fees!

ably a fot more than one}

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 71h 1988 page 11

Features

ALTON’S DEFEAT:

It’s a victory for women!

Friday May 13th turned appear to be strong feeling more success than others in

out to bea good day for BYJUDITA in arliament focs2imcck ieramay

women. ARKWRIGHT amendment othe 1967 Act, The TUC donated the ‘We finally saw off David backed by representatives of grand sum of £100 (0 a

Aton’ anaborton bil, a 8 g1a del of apathy the medial eras demonsraion which it was

despite is last ditch attempi 4 some of the old Worse yet, Labour MPs only too happy to put its

ome acts cae. SPEUMeRKS = ad been ~ have boen diectly Involved: ame to. Tie caccese of the

forgotten in creating this consensus. campaign, despite these Nonetheless, by theendof Joan Ruddock, MP for failures, should go some way

the campaign, there were 66 Deptford, was reported in towards showing just how

local FAB groups, 23 unions the Guardian as calling for apathetic new realism is.

legislation.

The previous week had seen celebrations by FAB groups up and down. the

. were affiliated, and the select committee to look into" Surprisingly, some peopl country, jubilant that | and mi urprisingly, ple months of campaigning had Labour Party and TUC had time limits! on the campaign steering pad off. been forced to back a na- She apparently warned committee, notably the SWP

‘Alton had rashly promis- tional demonstration of that unless there was a com- representative, seemed reluc ed that if his Bill failed he Se. promise on 24 weeks the tant 10 celebrate and keen to

suggest that the Bill had no in’ fact been defeated through mass action but because of the wrong tactics adopted by Alton's supporters and the technicalities of Parliamentary procedure.

would retire to a monastery He was presumably 100 exasperated ro reply when MP Dave Nellist, at the end of the debate on May 6th, asked if “the Church’s loss was indeed (o become our gain.”

Eight months ago we hardly expected victory over Alton. It is vital that we now recognise our victory and proclaim it as such.

Mass campaigning tactics can win, even in the current political climate. Fainthearts inthe labour movement should remember that!

‘Alton's campaign was the

Compromise

Alton certainly shot himself in the foot by rejec ting a 24-week compromise. Moreover, as with Corrie and the James White amendment, many of the anti abortionists® tactics were exposed in the course of the

most determined yet to Sp ceys - destroy the 1967 Act. He ee ee of

deliberately chose a one-line Bill, avoiding his, predecessors’ mistake of making amendments 100 ‘complicated.

He was aided and abetted by @ massive media campaign and an initially sympathetic response from Bovernment. The issue of time limits was a more dif-

foetus, supposedly lying snug in its mother’s wamb, was shown — in the Daily Mail of January 25th — to be the product of a miscarriage rearranged in a glass bowl “by a Swedish photographer.

@The “Carlisle” baby whom Alton claimed was

me fi se, aborted for a ‘‘minor skin ficult one for the pro-che disorder”” tuned out to have

movement to tackle, because Of debates around viability, "Twcmyyears one ornlionwerct emer tomenmanted | EtetsDanlos syndrome, — new technology, and 0 on. prpngntts and backsnactsbordore ton orosses we aoe, a, ,cxemely, debilitating Within the pro-choice _fimeelf with emotive SUC propaganda Gonaition which can esl i movement things did not "There were stil many pro--” Commons faced an annual, &formity of the limbs, roplook hopeful. The National blems in the campaign and time-wasting battle with {wed aorta, and bruising Abortion Campaign ws still the victory was" not_un- “prolife” MPs. On the eve at splits in the skin active and in fact helped to qualified. Alton failed to of our victory over Alton, All this caused the govern: gsiablish FAB as a single unite MPs around his we had the spectacle of a MEN! t0 Become more an Jssue campaign, ‘but there crusade, but there now does Labour MP" hastily con- ™OFé reluctant to give Alton ceding defeat in the next {ime for his Bill, In the end. Stage of the battle. tie prostaice MPS siewly ts in FAB and = 2A parsing vont amendments to. keep. the

NAC are taking a different 2 2 debate going for four hours approach. They are holding $ePete Soin

If the time limit for abor- won in parliament alone.

Campaign

7 tions is to be moved at the Opinion polls showed a huge Affiliate to NAC! whim of MPs and doctors majority’ fora woman's Subscribe to NAC News! then the whole principle of right to choose. In One car

women’s right t0 choose is ried out for Marplan on under threat — never mind April 22nd-26¢h, four out of how much Parliamentary five were in favour of abortime is wasted! tion on request. This is the ‘A. massive campaign result. of years of should be launched within Campaigning. the Labour Party and the FAB's activities put trade unions to reaffirm pressure on pro-choice MPS policy in defence of the who. as we have seen, show.

Join the National Abortion Campaign and get NAC News and our internal bulletin regularly. (Separate subscriptions to NAC News also available).

Affiliation rates:

Under 18, £1; Unwaged, £3; Low-waged, €5; Other waged. a

Youth Groups, £5; NAC, Women’s Groups, Trades Councils, FE Colleges, £10; Trade Unions, Student Unions, political and other local groups, £15; National

ee re sue tor Toor beeck Labour MPs have nothing to Sompromise. Without this

£3.50; multi-user rates, ER: overseas races on request (state With Such compromiscs- pressure, Allon would not

Please make cheque payable to National Abortion iti cites should Becrpamee «< Fal: Sculd_peohalirienoe

Campaign and send to NAC, Wesley House. 4 Wild Court, 4 imtmediately for Labour have been defeated

Vwe wish (0 affiliate 10 NAC subseribe to NAC News pei eae ROR Cte enn

eet need to be more accountable 10 choose. We should do this

Roe sie in future to the grassroots _ by stepping up affiliations to

< Ore: the clout for their pro- — paign and continuing the ac-

Ava Paper, trade union support A 24-week Bill is now a House of Lords, sision, and build up a head

the base. (NALGO had with plenty of exceptions, is on family planning facilities, “67 Act

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 71h 1988 page 12

Letters

WRITEBACK!

eae

We welcome your letters! Write to Labour Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2 5UZ

‘our name right says a lot about hisher™ Knowledge’ of the subject

2. While ic is true tha the 1LP wwskomed the formation of the LCC in the lare 1970s (uhich was then linked with Tos Benn), that has to be set within 8 political context. For years we had been arguing the need to 50 beyond the parliamentary Politics of the Tribune Group

ILP replies to Periscope

Dear Briefing

Congratulations to the anonymous writer of the brief comment on the [LP (Briefing no. s8). Seldom have t seen snvone get so much wrong in so short a Space and with sush ob:

‘ous senom and fo rally the grass roots lef The statement surely tell us against the Wilson/Callaghan

moce about the writer — and Leadership.

the polities of those who publish The LCC of the

such rubbish — than It does represented a partial

about the IEP. ‘Tribune's limited and inef 'AP the risk of spoiling a tall tual politics. providing a mucl

story “with some facts may I. geeded, broader-based Forum

point nat the Following for the let. Ie was quite 2 dif 1 The ILP changed from be- ferent politcal animal then to

Independent Labour Pars’ to Independent Labour Publications im 1975. The fac that even get

what it fs todas, as any" coe parison of its national ex fculives Over the years will Show

this: kind of attack does not amount to serious politics.

‘6. As for the [LP's “habit of ‘nol so much sitting on the fence as jumping frenetically from Side to. side like @ demented Irurdier™, this. claim is ina curate and unsubstantiated. We can appreciate that the ILP's perspectives may be too com plex for “Periscope”, but really Briefing would be wiser n01 10 ‘encourage such a display of ig orance in ts columns,

t's not that we object to the

3. eis unteie to. la ILP was rapidly. disen with the LCC. We wer enchanted! From its inception, wwe disagreed with its views (i Speak from direct expcrience, faving sat on its executive for several years), But while it was a relatively broad-based group we participated. We disengaged as fhe. political character of the LCC began to narrow and shift to the right. There was nothing frantic about our actions

“4. Your writer is alo wrong

to claim that there is an ILP use of humour when cricising Group in. parliament As an the political views of individ MP, Harry isan and groups in the movement

No one is above criticism. But ‘when accusations are devoid of substance they are no more than cheap jibes. The Periscope pi ‘does disservice to the truth land wo your readers. Is it really necessary to descend s0 low 10 false a smile?

Should anyone wish 10 find ‘out about the [LP's polities, we will be happy to supply further ‘deaails. Whether sou agree with ‘ar perspectives or not, we are Sonfident sou will see that it

who is suffering {com optical illusions ‘Barry Winter, ie

‘sactiale member of the ILP. The ILP pats is emphasis on building an exira parliamentary socialist rank-and-file, rather than on parliament or the Cour. sil chamber

S.Your writer also mentions ‘our support for one member, expin our pol (oor even the fact ‘conditional on = Sing at leas imectings in the Presumably

(of support for one member, ane ‘ote fs sufficient reason to con demn us out of hand. so, then

Bumper badges offer!

After a temporary gap in supplies, you will be pleased to hear that Briefing’s Benn-Heffer ‘That's the ticket’’ badges are once more in stock.

The badges really are selling well. Of the second batch we had made, one thousand were sent out on the first day to meet orders which had built up in the gap of just one week!

‘As you might expect, Haringey Labour Briefing group is on its third order already!

Some Briefing groups are ordering badges by the hundred, and taking advantage of our bulk discount rates to make money for their Briefing groups. Other Benn-Heffer campaigners, in areas where the left is smaller, are ordering smaller numbers — but are still putting the funds to good use to support their Benn-Heffer campaigns locally.

Also, we are pleased to say, Labour Briefing is raising money from sale of the badges — much needed money to help keep our paper, and our presence at labour movement events, going.

Elsewhere in this issue of the paper you can read about how the BennHeffer campaign is going. and how it’s galvanising support in wide circles. Briefing has been arguing for a Leadership challenge for some time, and there's no doubt that where activists are combining to spread the word, the fight for socialism is being strengthened. With Briefing’s Benn-Heffer badges to give an added sense of unity, we can really strengthen the battle for socialism.

So send your order off toda

Send your name, address and order to B. Griffiths, 11 Fremont St, London E9. Please include a cheque or postal order made payable to Labour Briefing.

CONE, Sh a NR eR

We regret that to keep administration costs down, no orders will be accepted without payment in advance. Stamps will be accepted in payment for a single badge.

Some comrades have been ringing the Briefing office to order badges. Please note that all orders are dealt with at the above address, and we have no stocks of badges in the office.

ssod can &e

Sage ie eae, 1393 |B HEFFER

\2CKES” —e

Briefing AGM

This will be held on July 2nd, 10.30am-5.30 in London.

Start planning now: make a list of all Briefing supporters who can come, and plan transport arrangements. We've planned a special AGM day, with plenary discussions on the way forward for Briefing as well as workshop discussions to collect real feedback from Briefing supporters everywhere and to share the lessons from Briefing groups

everywhere. Supporters cards will be sent out soon to all those in the 500 Club. If you aren't, take out a standing order now! Supporters cards are also available for those not in the 500 Club: send £10 (waged) or £3 (unwaged) to Labour Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2 5UZ, with cheques payable to Labour Briefing. Workshops include: Local Groups, The Paper, Trade Unions, International {including South Africa and Palestine. ‘Commission meetings include: Women, Youth and Student, Lesbian and Gay, Black people. More details follow — see you there!

SUBSCRIBE TO BRIEFING

Make sure of your copy of the fortnightly Labour Briefing. Annual subscriptions are £12 (individuals), £24 (institutions). Write to Labour Briefing, POBox 457, London SW2 5UZ (cheques, etc., payable to Labour Briefing).

Name

Address ....

SELL LABOUR BRIEFING If you're @ regular reader, you obviously feel the

need to read each issue of Briefing. But why keep the good news to yourself? Bulk orders are available on sale or return for you to. sell to your friends; or join with the many ather Briefing readers who take this easily saleable paper to their Labour Party, trade union and campaign meetings. Join the resistance! Just send the farm to PO Box 457, London SW2 SUZ.

Name

Address

Please send me (min. order 5) copies of Labour Briefing on saie or return, starting with issue no.

CONTACT BRIEFING

The Briefing Editorial Board, and the following ‘Commissions, can be contacted at PO Box 457, London SW2 5UZ, 01 733 7018:

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

Briefing Steering Committes

Next meeting: Sunday, June Sth, London, Briefing Editorial Board:

Next meetings: Friday May 27th, Thursday June 2nd.

Deadline for articte Issue no. 64 (out June 8th, EB planning May 19th): notify EB as soon as possible, all articles in by Tuesday May 31st

Issue no. 65 (out June 22nd, EB planning June 2nd): notify EB as soon as possible, all articles in by Tuesday June 14th,

BRIEFING 500 CLUB

It is very expensive to produce a socialist newspaper despite our high sales up and down the country, we still need a subsidy to keep the paper fortnightly and keep up with all the activities we want to be part of. We have no rich backers, no hidden sources ‘of income. ‘The Briefing 500 Club exists to offer our supporters, the opportunity of making a small regular donation and enter a fortnightly draw for a £25 prize — this for just £1 per week, or £4 per month. Will you spare the cost of 2 pint of beer of less than a packet Of cigarettes each week? We can’t guarantee you'll win the prize — but we will guarantee that unless you enter, you won't! 500 Club supporters also receive a Briefing supporters card automatically. Just fill in the standing order form below, and return it to PO Box 457, London SW2 5UZ.

Bankers order form for Labour Briefing 500 Club

Bankers Order

To: {eank name, sort code} av (address! From: {your name! ae

your address) My account number is

Please debit fram my account each month the sum of €4, in favour of Labour Briefing No. 2 account, Co-operative Bank, Stretford E15, Code 08-90-76, Account no. 50349957

Starting on (date) Thereafter on (date) of each month Signature

Dated

“Nevill's" nostalgia kick continues, The winner af our very first draw, with no. 42, has struck lucky again Congratulations to LP Black Sections Chair, Clir Narendra Makar! of Haringey

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page 13

Reviews

BOOK REVIEW

1968: whose version? _—

The Fire Last Time, by By David Shepherd Icaderships, both Stalinist and

social democratic, he provides 2 Chris Harman, Bookmarks, Hackney North & Stoke Te sis Sccount of why these

oe Neen forces acted as they did to derail and demobiise serugges, This is the best of the re- ELAS 20 ‘ltimately channelling them into

‘He, points tothe immense forms compatible withthe concent crop of books about changes in social structure in tinuation of the capitalist order. 1968, both Northern and Southern

Tt Sets out to examine the Europe during, those years, in Criticism

articular the huge srowih of underlying ‘causes of that [hc'‘working. class relative 10 Nor do the various currents

year's momentous events, {0 those who worked on the land. of the revolutionary left excape analyse the political "The" transformation of the criticism. Hatman’s discussion character of the forces character of higher education is of the politcal limitations and volved, and to draw conelu- also discussed. The key (0 the failings of the anarchists and the fons.” which will arm student radicalization was that various Maoist and spontancist

Jo the trite commentaries Fey Class or a force that could into. rather less rigorous with which the media have replace the working class as the methods — those of caricature bombarded us in recent central agency of social change. and amalgam — when dealing

his subject: the ending of the sion of the role of “cold war Social peace of the long boom ideology in maintaining the years in Europe and North relative’ social and political ‘America, the development of Stability (both East and West) in hhuge clas battesin many Euro- the boom years. pean countries, the role of the ft was the rising level of class traditional parties and organisa- struggle, the war in Vietnam, Hons of the working class, and the emergence of the civil rights move in the revolutionary direc. the growth of the revolutionary movement in the US, and the tion expected by those, whose left" and. other social Praguespring which enabled the ideas. come from Lenin and ‘movements fnew generation to begin 1 Trotsky" he takes up Fernando break from the assumptions of | Claudin, Ralph Miliband, and

Experience In a section criticising those who conclude from tbe Poe

fuguese experience that workers inthe West will never

Impressively the dominant ideologies in both Perry Anderson (fair enough), pressively nese ee SARs of. 206 cid stnten cece tatoo vi US Cone

impressively. from country 10 May-June general strike “in country and continent to conti France, the strike movements in hhent,. combining broad lily, the fll of the colonels in generalisations with detailed Greece, the struggle against

‘my knowledge, has argued that really are, rather than Hayman makes some formal- wacky) ideas associated with Ihe the existence of bourgeois dishonestly lumping them ly correct criticisms of | SWP ate reflected in this book. democracy in the West means together with Eurocommunists ‘“™movementism”, but in particular the idea that the that Leninism= should be and centcists? demonstrates no’ understanding USSR is a capitalist county analysis Franco. and the Portuguese abandoned, Thebook isalsomarred byits of the importance of self But The Fire Last Time Is

Harman argues that it’ was revolution in 1974 are especially "This sort of thing leaves a superficial cxnaination of the organisation in the struggles of nonetheless essclia reading for sontradietions. Inherent in the useful nasty taste in the mouth. Why emergence of the modern particularly oppressed layers of socialists, expecially those sul fapitalism of the boom years Rather than simply rail can't Harman take on the posi- women's liberation movement the working class fering. trom. an. overdose’ 01 which led 0 the explosions of against the treachery of the tions of Ernest Mandel and the “surely one of the most impor- "As one would expect, many Dany Coha-Bendit

Race and Class

Symbols of |= Tebbit vs. Heseltine

In the wake"of That- point of recent Tory success

her's difficulties with "se “rmdsle ground class the Poll Tax and social “scical "Socety’ nas set Spoculstpn tee Grown \t cide woud” by marine Race and Class Spring "82° vise, or orange is, | Overt the identity of her TS, "Sosinat the Mecmilane issue), available from shove ‘sil the ‘symbol of | 2UCC8SSOr wwrots. Hoseltine, in contrast. ts stitute of Race Relations, loyalist extremism and ant- | | John Major. Douglas keen on the role of = socially 276 Lecke St, London fovatet extremism and ert | ward, Kenneth Baker, resposaBie’ “orstocrocy in pie Lae Lens fiend, APA\'sketches the | Michael Heseltine and Nor: preventing revolution in ars historical, religious, and | man Tebbit have all been 2*sin. Ina hostile climate it is Grangeism, loysism, and the | eee ct two BY_KEITH WHITE

tempting for socialists Northern ireland state, and | toed’ te face on

fh how this collusion” has in the months and years to snd progressives tocast ordered violence and | BBC1’s This Week, Next come, the left should mab

us glances at the Week Careful study of the Tory Par” right’s hoard of national ssue of Race and Class | “Caring capitalism” versus ty. Despite this programme's and patriotic symbols, alsocarrics on article by Oawnd | the “new Tory radicalism” failure to. estabisn 8 lsat

as the theme, But in theend, distinction

Some ae even searing 10 Eager on” Fastals of the Op: | was the theme. But in the end

ask whether we should bother pressed”. Ths piece ten

shen itis sane quiet 190 Seong partcipetory lel | Tone and again the two Tory eee tet By Shahid Ti fion of nationalist rhetonc or | vice versa. It would have been

Haringey Labour Renaiv-at eos as ofinkly «|| corkee oy wenke pete

Briefing lesson to Labour Councillors | like the NHS, but White made prison

Wiliam of Orange Colebrations extended review of. Pau! We should also seek to

by AFA highlights the fact thot modern “socotogical analysis | Spencer Somes nto "berg

Usurped by. Loyalists and tonshyp uetweon culture tort

Councilors “Tor not only movements unfettered. ree ‘As Hesetine noted in the

betraying their own "Both the review and the | Tebot's approsch is more closing seconds of the. pro

Understanding of whst a bod' touch upon an important | populst. aiming to buld a sold gramme, this party has ruled

Socialist cultural “festival debate which hos developed | constituency smong the Single country longer than any

Should be, but also displaying. onthe iti which’ Briommy | wouldbewch. The impact of other in the wort. They cet- Norman Tebbit...'m psyching myself up quite @ fot here realy fan unpardonable ignorance of" hopes to address ond explore | Counci house sales was ves: . taniy won't give it up without soon Tm going to differentiate myself sighly ror

the embittered “history of inthe future 66 by both 2s the real st

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 28th-June 7th 1988 page 14

International Briefing

FOCUS ON THE New Caledonia

PACIFIC: West Papua

The menace of Civil War

As President Mitterrand settles into. his second term, he will face an immediate and serious challenge in New Caledonia.

This territory forms the largest Pacific part of what is sometimes called the “confetti of the Empire".

The FLNKS (Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste), which represents the majority of the indigenous Melanesian population, conducted an ‘active boycott" of the re cent elections

Demanding independence FUNKS militants setzed hostages on the Friday before the polls. Six people died in the htion. most during an_aftaek fom the police Readquarters. in Noumea, the eolony"s capital The right wing RCPR (Reassemblement pour Ia Caledonie dans la Republique) hhas called for the banning of the FLNKS. Their ally Jacques Chirac denounced "the anti colonialists a “Terrorists

The. Front. Caledanien (the local National Front) wants 19 rake up the methods of the OAS isthe French colonialist hillerVigilantes of the Algerian civil tear, With the arrival of crack Troops, more deaths ‘Seem Inevieab

“The Melanesian people make up 42. $68 of total New Caledonian residents, Europeans conStituee 37-12%; and. the rest ome from other Pacific islands ad the far East

Years of government en coutagement have Ted 10 the Fesetting of French colonists from Algeria and Indonesia 08

‘sland. They now dominate

the town of Noumea

Farmers of European origin also dominate agriculture, 1,500 white farmers (who include. umber of relatively poor “broussards”) possess more hectares than $5,000. Kanak peasants

By Andrew Coates Ipswich CLP

TAIL other aspects oF Mle im New Caledonia reflect this ine quality — revenues, education Sovess to basic services.

Prisoners from the Paris Commune were deported “10 New. Caledoaia in 1872. A Kanak revolt in 1878 was ferociously repressed. It was only after the Second World War that the Kanaks received Tull politcal, rights and “tribal Feserves™ were abolished

The FLNKS, an alliance formed in 1984, has drawn upon this background, demanding land reforms and’ cultural pro ‘motion: is most radical Factions have also” demanded ant capitalist measures

Nonetheless, the issue of in dependence and constitutional change dominates helt fight Flections in November 1984 saws armed confrontations. A Kanak Teader, Eloi Machoro, was “neutralised” by gendarmes in 193s,

Mitterrand dependence

offered in with association ‘vith France” His delegate, Eidgard Pisani, faced the im placable hostility of the Euroeans when he reformed. the focal election system

in September 1985, Pisani's changes gave a majority of comfmunes to pro-indepeadent can- {idates, and showed the conceatration’ of "loyalists" in Noumea and its surroundings. When Chirac proposed a feferendum on independence last year, his sim was 10 climinate the FLNKS

“The Kanaks largely boycotted the manoeuste, The current tions of the FLNKS are as much timed against the new electoral ‘map, designed 10 weaken theit lundoubted lreographical Strength, as against the French state as such,

‘New Caledonia has been described as a Bind of “aircraft carrier” inv the Pacific. To the French military this eeopolitical role is more important than its — limited — natural

Kanaks paint the tricolour red. The political point of this graphic ‘cartoon (printed in Rouge. the paper of the French LCR) was ‘clearer in the colour onginal ~ but the challenge to French rule

remains the same! resourees (nickle, agriculture).

‘The protests of New Zealand and Australia at the Brutality. oF ‘the French police are mainly ‘designed to assert their own role in the Pacific.

The FLNKS represents a real ‘antiimperialist force in. the

region. Its goal of “a Kanak people constituting 2 plurality (of ethnic groups in a national ‘Sommunity” deserves our backing. Socialists may not agree with many aspects of their programme, but’ solidarity comes first

25 years after Indonesian colonisation:

Melanesians fights on

It is now 25 years since the United Nations began the process of handing over what was

By PETER TATCHELL

to. win independence trom

known as the colony of 16" emote mountain Dutch New Guinea toin- pideouts, the leaders of ue dependent indonesia. OPM ‘command

$0,000-strong” vilage based imilitia. Though poarly armed, the OPM’s hit and run ambush

In one of the most shameful episodes in its

history, the UN col igctics have inflicted heavy laboratod “with the [Ssceg on tne indonesia amy recolonisation of the of occupation, western half of New the Indonesians have Guinea — st the responded with savage and in wishes of the indigenous discriminate reprisals such a5 nesian the notorious massacre at r= oye Merauke whe 122

Despite this betrayal, one of the world’s longest and most ignored national liberation struggles continues unabated.

In the jungles of what the Indonesians now call. Irian Jaya, the Organisas! Papua Merdeka (Free Papua Move:

suspected OPM sympathisers

re tied in weighted copra Sacks and dumped in the sea 10 drown

‘Over the last quarter of & ggrtury, 10% of the entie West Papuan population — 120,000 people ~ have been killed and tons of thousands

ment) hes. procisimed the have fled to neighbouring Republic of West Papua andis Papua New Guiness fighting a fieree guerrla war refugees,

TAPOL

is an organisation campaigning for human rights in West Papua, East Timor, and Indonesia Contact TAPOL at 111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR4 BHW 01771 2904

REAPING THE whee

‘Workers demanded the pursing of Tacists from positions of

The colonial wars of independence began with an attack on Luanda jail by the Movimento Popular de Angola (MPLA) in 1961.

urdens hegan to tell. By 1968 defence and security comprised 44% of public expenditure, ConScription and emigration reduced the mainland workforce, leading 10 demands for higher wages. Caetano tried to release some of he pressure hy Introducing liberal’ labour after the resultant ‘tri he reforms were resin Taxes were increayed, and the standard of living tell further

Bre bane of payments “Abroad, massaeres of

Angalan cisilians arqused inter rational disapprobation, {0 1990 the Vatican withdrew is support.

Ta excalate the industrial ac tion, the Purtide. Comunista Poriugues (PCP) revived. the General Confederation of Por Iuguese Workers, oF laters dical, Bul, ever ater the Hiberals resigned “fromthe Nafional Sssembly in 1973, the I eal was in no position to co ‘ordinate a national uprising

the engine of revolution Bay bbuill-on working-class oppres son. But its drising force. at

By Jim Thain Hackney North & Stoke Newington CLP

First, was to be ncith political noe purely Nor was ita stdden i

tore likely t0 be radicalised bs the prospect of postgraduate

Conscription than By the idea of Solidarity with the work

foiled for their parents. F Sympathised "ith

digenous populations of Angola, Mozambique, of

Guinea Bissau Instead, once the movem towar Atticans determination became militar fd, the voniradietions inheren in’ the Portuguese model of Semi-fascist subcolonialism (see part one) expressed themsieves in straim. on the fives. of ‘bourgeois army officers.

The people forming the arm of the State which actually pro Secuted Portugal's imperialist policies (and who were thus in xtricably. bound up with the Condition ofthe” maialand working’ class) began’ 10. Find Their own working conditions unacceptable

"The state had weakened the army's” profesional i cpendence. ‘Constant preter ment of mediocre personnel for Political reasons. angered Suihentic career officers. and

the government's revision of the career siructure in 1973, famed capeerpts apccrecadae soldiers. Moreover, the army ‘was enmeshed in, and frustrated by. a war it had long Known it could not sin, ‘The military thus experienced threats 10 their social status as duals and to their prestige fay. Unt ‘who had

‘das mada (MFA),

eral Spanola When Spinola published call for» political solution 10 he colonial wars, Caetano

Forcas Are headed by

fered. is

groups which constituted Portuguese left awaited

In March 1974, 3. planned coup was called” off Nonetheless, an infantry regi pts failed,

‘shead, hoping 10 at The

‘sn all-out attack on the ‘would be

port. Anything: less would be Fantamount complacency. As Cactano hestitated, the MFA launched a Tull coup.

‘Whien Caciano was besieged. the civilian populace responded by joining ‘the army on the

Motivated by its own

Portuguese peasants, c. 1954

Sectional jaterests, the military had become poteatial agents of evolution. Working class Solidarity opened up the possibilty of a transitional Sual-power Sate leading, subjet t favourable Usrclopments, to a properly Socialist one, In an atlempt 10 derail the revolutionary enine

the ‘comersatise Spinola Gistanced himself from the MFA

‘A elerogencous provisional overnment attempted 10. con-

J and financial. power. ‘occupied factories and land, demanding better pay and conditions and agrarian reform. Lisbon sas brou ‘stand still by. a peasants’ tractor ‘march and urban stikes ‘Workers and militia were not identical or homogeneous groups. Northern peasants, for example, remained reactionary. But increasingly, soldiers peasants, and workers pursued Common socialist goals ‘When the tnter-Empresas, 2 confederation of Workers Commissions (Medgling sovies) demonstrate against a. visit of NATO troops, they were joined hy radical anilley ‘When the tetormist newspaper Republica was taken Cover By its stall, the. workers were defended by COPCON (Mainland "Operational Com rand) troops. Agricultural warkersin dispute with obsiruc tive landowners sought COP. CON's help regularly, further radivalising the troops, sho began to develop democratic When Spinola, dismissed in September 1974 for criticising MEA'S “excessive radicalign”,allerpted ounterreyolutionary. coup. 3m March (975, he was routed by

sain the situation but workers! mobilisation pushed progressive ments in the army fetwards, The rank and file, espec conscripts. increasingly themselves as uniform’ and. participated in nationwide demonstrations with

“workers in the

their civilian counterparts: direct experience of the sfugele workers and. soldiers while fiving them a deeper understan- peasants’ tractors blocked the ding of its class nature than that Toads.

“The engine of social revolu sion appeated unstoppable, So ‘what went &ro0g?

joved by those inceruational theoreticians who extivised the

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page 15

International Briefing

East German Lesbians & Gays

Still a long way to go

One of the most popular state-run clubs in the East German city of Dresden now hosts regular meetings for lesbians and gay men. This surprising development was revealed in the lastest issue of the East German —_government publication GDR Review.

Written in a positive and matter-of-fact style, the atticle about Dresden’s Gerede Club is further idence af growing of ficial support for homosexuals by the East German state, that the situation for lesThe GDR Review —_bians and gays in East Ger describes the meetings as. many is. still far from places where lesbians and perfect, the author conGay men can “‘chat, get to. fides: “There is still a long Know. each other, and way to.go before all taboos perhaps find a partner.” It and prejudices completely Says this is “very impor- disappear.”” tant’’ to enable homosex- However, the _ writer uals to “cope much earlier notes with satisfaction: ‘and better with coming “Young people are more out.”” ‘open, not 80 rigid in their The meatings also have views."” As a result, pre: @ gay cultural dimension judice is being “broken

By PETER TATCHELL

Tusical programme called “Sing if You're Glad to be Gay”.

Referting to the place of homosexuals in East German society, the GDR Review reports: “For over two decades now in our country homosexual reletions have no longer been considered 2 punishable offence and. the media, too, especially in recent years, have made obvious progress in their treatment Of this subject.”

In a candid admission

and attract heterosexuals down — generation by ‘as well. On the night the generation”. article's author visited the Perhaps most

Gerede Club,the quest speaker was the eminent Berlin writer, Jurgen Lemke, who talked about

remarkably of all for an official state publication, the GDR Review implies that heterosexual attitudes are hhis forthcoming book on the problem and that the homosexuality, Quite Nor- burden of |__ ensuring ‘mally Different, which is homosexual “‘integration being published with of- instead of isolation” falls ficial approval early next on heterosexuals as much as homosexuals. Gay people will only fing

Future events include 2 lecture entitled “‘Eroticism true acceptance. the artiand Sexuality in the Visual cle says, “when the Arts", 8 discussion on heterosexual world meets "Sex at School?", and a them halfway.””

Angelino Garzon, General Secretary of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT — United Workers Congress) called for a boycott of Colombian imports ‘to Great Britain on a recent visit to Britain.

He also called for trade union support for the International Week of Solidarity with the Struggle

smocracy in Colombia

Colombia Solidarity Secnltee ate tease Roi Kingsgate Place, London NWE Tel: 01 372 6662 DEMONSTRATE Against the in/iraq War Saturday, May 28th, 12 noon Assemble Marble Arch, Speakers’ Corner Demonstration called by Iranian & Iraqi refugee, women’s and socialist groups Supported by Labour Briefing

Martial law in Poland, 1981. Recent events have been the most miltant resistance to oceur in Pe movement wes stopped in its tracks by the regime's mibtary crackdown,

Crisis without end

‘The strikes and occupations which have

ed the Polish authorities since the end of April appear to have fizzled out — for the time

Inman official journal. in February, Geremek asserted that the “economic collapse” and the “hopelessness. even Feustration"” of the Polish people made "an anti-crisis pact between the authorities” and

Warsaw correspondent put it

By Colin Meade Surbiton CLP

The jesificaiton of this change of dizection is the ex istence of the reformist Gor Dachev leadership in the Soviet

“The Polish workine people realise. that. attempls. 10 cause chaos and disrupt the economs ltbove all ht the vital nverests of the entire. people, undermine Confidence in Poland as a part

being. Union. According to Bronisiaw pie new sha age ner on the foreign market and Gepunecd Gemaad forte MGabacker’s pole ie ¢ Sspponiy’“rcioratse’ pars Desole pees por

bets of the authorities, Solidar ove adherents would have to

for social change in’ Poland

ted. ‘Lizochey and other oppotent make it dificult for them effec:

ASSinc the occupation of — {Mal OU Se, the resul is ana

chs, no production, it can't "face facts". Trade union tively 10. counter this line. of the Nowa Huta steelworks Work. Amarcht in Polond could pluralism was one demand argument and moun! ressiance near Krakow was ended by be the ‘coup de grace for which “cannot be fulfilled and lo austerity

Gorbacker ‘Walesa himself was ai pains to explain that he had’ not Started the srike in Gdansk. His bigh spirits when the occupation ‘was abandoned sugsct his Meanwhile, the Soviet daily Satisfaction at being able to Fzvesiiva. described the Polish Gemonstratc his ability to events. as the work — of fesoke. peacefully ‘what the “hooligans, posing as srikers

police assault, the absence of Certainly will not be." a predicted wave of support

from wider sections of the Polish working class led the ‘workers occupying the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk to end the action of their own accord, without winning any

Western weialists Should not he ee conteiution 10 iis of deadershin in

f Poland

‘Even todas leading Nieures on the left such as Arthur Scargill find Tony Benn often respond to the mifitant expression ofthe needs of peuple in the so-called

lavesti

concessions from. the authori might hase rewkved while Prove pointed the linge? authorities. By force 21 official cicles nthe West ‘ostalst conntries af they

imperialism, Oser the years such attitudes have helped to convince many Polish workers that the phrase “workers of the srorld unite” is mot meant (0 ap Ply to them,

relly belive thal theit pro posals for a dialogue’ with’ the Euthorities will be accepted — taless they are prepared for a massive climbdown on mallers (OF democratic principle

“The basi theme in the Polish media was thal the sitikes hindered prospects for economic recovery and political Telorm. As Moscow Radio's

there has been 2 growing (of industrial protest. Ths fist ‘captured international attention ‘when transport workers in Bydgoszcr went om strike on Apel 25th to demand. pacity wages with workers io Warsan TAs rise of 100%.

Although there is no evidence

UKRAINIAN PEACE NEWS

of Support ftom the offical | INFORMATION AND COMMENT ON UNOFFICIAL PEACE AND LABOUR aap pee ope ACTIVITY IN THE SOVIET UNION AND EASTERN EUROPE,

Bydpowe?. Kerssriat W

Ecology and the environment in samizdat and the official press Chomobyl nuclear disaster Unofficial peace and human rights movements Conscientious objection in the USSR Opposition to the occupation of Afghanistan in the USSR Workers Opposition in the USSR Soviet foreign policy and international peace ‘The World Peace Council Interviews, documents and analysis

SUBSCRIBE NOW! NO serious political or peace activist, and student of Soviet and East European affairs can afford to be without UKRAINIAN PEACE NEWS

the state union,

Nowa Huta

In the case of Nowa Huta, on the other hand, there was direct confit between the offical tions and the elected siike

‘Although the demand for recognition of Solidarnos: as faied, these srthes were not Taunched on the initiate of authoritatice bodies of the ban fned movement

‘Leading opposition fights such as Jacek Kuron have been arguing in recent months that dicect confrontation with sale over economic quest should be replaced by an at tempt 10 vse all available of ficial channels 10 create a democractic space

would lke wo sappon the UKRAINIAN PEACE COMMITTEE by becoming member: £5. a concessionary member: £3. (unwaged/student/pensioner)

nationwide!

Report compiled by Jenny Fisher Bow & Poplar CLP

The Leadership campaign has started!

Tony Benn and Eric Hef fer have begun touring the country, speaking at ‘meetings. putting the case for socialism, and winning support.

Benn-Hetfer__ campaign ‘groups are getting into swing, and planning their own activities to. argue for ‘socialism and for the BennHeffer ticket to back up

speaking about staff shor

the Campaign being _ strike in the sense that the

directed from the House of | governmentis now “trying

‘Commons. to destroy trade unionism This is a round-up of ac- _altogether.”"

tivities reported to Briefing The NUS strike, he said.

in the last weeks. @ LEEDS At one of the first meetings of the Campaign, Tony Benn spelt out his ‘manifesto for the Labour Leadership election, when he addressed a meeting at the Civic Centre on Saturday May 7th, reports

In a brief speech Coun- _ @He lashed out against cillor Garth Frankland link- “American - dominated ed Tony Benn’s challenge nuclear NATO that has of “the current right-wing taken away our freedom. consensus with its ideas, action," saying we must

institutions and values,’ with his own challenge to the Leadership of Leeds Ci ty Counci Other speakers were Bill Wright of the National Union of Seamen, Norma Hutchinson, health worker ‘Meanwood Hospital

society. “The TUC and the Labour Party.” he said. frozen in a time warp

London Area Contacts

Brent Mick Woods 624 1931

Camden Gill Entwhistle 387 8557

Ealing Oliver New 571 5019

Greenwich Alan Freeman 858 5865

Hackney Jim Thain 809 1384

Haringey Mike Marqusee 341 9203

Hounslow Cath Larrissey

Islington Nik Barstow 226 1234 x7470 (days)

Lewisham Nick Doran 318 6018

Leyton Joe Ukemenham 558 7012

Newham John Lang 74 Kingsland Rd, £13

North North London Ken Livingstone 440 3668

South East London Andrew Yunge-Gordon 854 9521

South West London Pete Cooper 228 7000

Westminster/Kensington Paula Watson 638 5308 oooocooeg9005

Tony Benn in South East London

June 21st, 7.30pm, Woolwich Town Hall, SE18, Public meeting with Tony Benn, Diane Abbott. Audrey Wise. and NUS speaker.

South East London Benn Heffer campaign: contact Andrew Yunge-Gordon, 204 Elmley St, Plumstead, SE18 7NL, 854 9521 tevenings)

NNo access details provided — we'll ty to print them in the next issue {which will be made easier for us i someone Sends them inl!)

Published by Labour Briefing, PO Box 457, London SW2 SUZ Printed by East West Graphic (TU), London

of 1918."

He lashed out at existing policies on everything from Chile te Nicaragua. to “‘the abuse of the planet”, to “narrow

Benn. A rally with Tony Benn on Friday June 10 will start at 7.30pm in the Town Hall. Audrey Wise and Dianne Abbott have been invited to speak.

In @Southampton, the Benn-Heffer Campaign has been started and led by the local Briefing group, who initiated publicity and ‘meetings in support of the ‘Campaign,

The meetings have been advertised widely. and it has been made piain that they would be open to anyone who supported the Campaign.

‘This has led to increased interest recently. and support from other groups and lnvididuals in the local labour movement. As a result, a broad based BennHeffer Committee _was launched on May 24th, with representatives from Militant, Fareham Cam. paign Group, and_ Bas.

Hackney for Benn and Heffer can be contacted via Jim Thain, 4 Heathland Road, London N16 SNL.

Let us know what you're doing in your area! Through the pages of Briefing you can reach extra contacts in your immediate area and the surrounding areas who may be interested in your campaign. Also, news of events can encourage other Campaigns. and give them ideas of what to plan.

‘And don't forget to order your supply of Briefing's Benn-Heffer "That's the ticket” badges — see inside, p. 12, for details.

Labour Briefing No. 63 May 25th-June 7th 1988 page 16

Regional Contacts

‘Scotland Alex Falconer 23 Church St, Inverkeithing, Fife KY11 1LH 0383 419330, 0383 418617

‘Ann Henderson

8 Annette St, Govan Hill, Glasgow G42 041 424 3727

North West

John Nicholson

‘33 Birchall Lane, Longsight, Manchester M13 061 225 5356

Northem

Bill Dodds

12 Norwood Avenue, Heaton, Newcastle NE6 SEA 091 265 6971

Yorkshire (South)

Annette Taberner

‘St Ronan’s Road, Sheffield S7 10X 0742 583502

Yorkshire (West, North & Humberside)

im Wilson

8 Heathfield Place, Halifax, HX3 0BX 0422 66898

West Midlands (Birmingham & West)

Phil Paxton

26 Antrobus Road, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 9NZ 021 551 4969, 021 507 0850 West Midlands (Coventry & East)

Pete McNally

51 Ashby Close, Coventry CV3 2LN 0203 28884, 0203 454338

East Midlands

Tom Vallins

c/o Labour Club, Saltergate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire 0246 39077

Wales

Gareth Howells

15 Garnwen Terrace, Nantyffylian, Maesteg, Mid Glam CF34 OET 0656 730457

‘South West

Meg Crack

43 Paulton Road, Windmill Hill, Bristol 3.0272 661672

London

Joan Twelves

3 Blades House, Kennington Oval, London SE11 01 582 2955

Southern

Geoff Cutting

6 St George's Cres, Cippenham, Slough SL1 SPA 06286 62926

Eastern

Jon Lansman

clo Jeremy Corbyn MP, House of Commons, London SWiA OAA 219 6173

Campaign Diary

Tony Benn and/or Eric Heffer will be speaking at the following rallies or fringe meetings in coming months. Some of the dates are subject to confirmation. Additional rallies are to be arranged in Leicester. Derby, Walsall, Stok Croydon, and South West London, as well as fringe meetings at certain additional trade union and other conferences. May 27. Edinburgh, Livingstone 28 Leith 31 Doncaster June 5 Preston 5 NCU & Bakes, Blackpool 6 GMB, Bournemouth 7 West London Manchester 11. Socialist Conference MSF, Bournemouth NALGO, Brighton UCATT & ASLEF, Blackpool 21 South East London Teeside Newcastle NUM, Gt Yarmouth NUR, Swansea CSEU, Llandudno

29 July 5. East London 8 Nottingham 10. North London 15 Southampton 15 Bradford

22 Oxford

29 Coventry August

24° Dundee

26 Glasgow

30 South Wales 31 Bristol Septembs 1 Exeter & Plymouth 2. Birmingham

5 TUC, Bournemouth 9 Wirral

14 St Helens

15 Rochdale October 7

Blackpool (Eve of Conference)