Workers Press no. 259

workers press The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League PRICE 6d.

PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1970

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER

• With Hussein on the run Biggest step forward U.S. poised to another mans despair, and

HE DECSONI

yet deThis intervene in Trotskyist groups of im the save of socialism in Britain.

FEAR

That is masionits Jordan consternation

ROLLS-ROYCE

might ha 1o Stalinist people all the time.

LOBBY TODAY

tical materialism Were yen hast wouldn't

BY ROBERT BLACK

month

EXPOSE

and suffer Police attack OUR REVOLUTIONARIES are determined to ine struggies couldn't afford Be ause me car. throne is fight on until the great butcher's pro-Arab

MALICE

crushed. We will not stop fighting until complete Morning Star march victory? out informed IN TOULOUSE, SW France, expose re This was the defiant Press to expose errillaort or For United States Leaders and al bour Castro for guerrilla reply in Am-

• PAGE FOUR COL. 4

imperialism, the police- man yesterday to the man and hangman of US-still eral policemen were Hussein and world capitalism, is at

MYED OUT

"Get tough' this very moment mounting threats of mobilizing its armed „Silent on intervention against the might for action against work. l'alestinian guerrillas. the Arab Revolution. government Mid-East Hussein's Office girls on e ridel action on

CUBAN

Castro is to rend the A nited Nati York next month brewery picket lay-off pay Government word on TEST CASES contesting a Department of Employment and Productivity decision to withhold unemployment

WHITBREAD

And it must come benefit from 2,500 carworkers laid off at Cowley, Oxford, aid strailutely are being set up by the trade unions invoived he civil war Cover insidered bs it win is next United fight on av industrial reporter • US Lecture men British-Leylar laid deals will speed-up urgent Airb brings N Carolina held p lively line Management want to ope LOCKED OUT draughtsmen from Rolls-Royce's discussion

HOLROYD

Bristol engines division plant at Coventry-seen Minor 100 lie, that 10 picketing the factory, above-plan to lobby talks directly into Jordan for action

REPORT

on the company's national £2 5s-£2 15s pay offer followed carrier in London today. Rese Labour guse Mediterranean mine established Bonday. ries all over the country t practice in the factory. and grected with a fan- force, 50000-to Sarato a* pay ts hight. at the time, give pears thr and ris as paged Drashes min Lo Seen and age a the minds of d the most Moscow echoes settlement anti-guerrilla company which, clearey" cies bad yart of the seven days Pratin an datoriar Throw capitalin con the armed to go slanders Trotsky's main contribution and, members from all is may Sept £1000 to handie war cerate HUSSEIN S appeal to the big rour —me soviet mon mistake. Nixon will use this Appeal Fund the United States, France and Britain-to intervene ateractor as red made no deformed against the guerrillas in jordan has so tar met with no the Middle East just sections -Royce work- the *Rolls official response from the Kremlin.

stands at class took this stand in Company® siderable insiness to essen he amon

FOREIGN CONRESPONDENT

more and more urgent.

• PAGE FOUR COL. 7

£403 4S ainst the heroic bodie, aos and thailand. Pilkington

ALL TRADES UNIONS ALLIANCE

nature or me revoll agail: AFT the weekend dest Bat scond commitee

CONFERENCE

senders a mast Erday bepute, Radio, September 19) er supplies seeks cash thread through all the Stalin The Pilkington Defeat the sating sance and brand Barber warns on wages proposed Tory No difference right to strike anti-union laws CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer Mr Anthony Barber Slavishly echoed These ational generas seven- workers and w Faker St George's Hall, Lime St employers' resistance.

LIVERPOOL

In countries where domestic inflationary pressure would Saturday October 3 daman Le was deans ect on doest pite surely dad are to oops Salestinian y or tes 2.30 p.m. - 6 p.m. nes vete necessary came for a win weakened and oppressed in every Credentials and visitors' cards 5s each from Conference way code the sainisa Palestinian Secretary, W. Hunter, 58 Leighton View, Liverpool 8. fighters

• PAGE FOUR COL. 1

workers press The daily organ of the Central Committee of the Socialist Labour League INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • PUBLISHED FROM TUESDAY TO SATURDAY • NUMBER 258 •

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1970

With Hussein on the run Biggest step forward U.S. poised to One man's inspiration yet intervene in 1 enemies on and betrayal. evolutionar fight criticized. talk of socialism in Bre no • we are but tit don , Workers Pres d that i is nee son.

FEAR

whos Te ra Jordan conduct a savage and said is or

ROLLS-ROYCE

ership in the trade union.

Popie al the time. Harror to overinow can

LOBBY TODAY

dial able when tine said of the, rev

BY ROBERT BLACK

had

EXPOSE

Police attack 'OUR REVOLUTIONARIES are determined to couldn't afford fight on until the great butcher's throne people pro-Arab

MALICE

crushed. We will not stop fighting until complete alces the political malice. march victory? Sentend 1 20.

BARISE

that ber We kore 'policy of denounc- This was the defiant ort of Press is to United States

FAT!

For guerrilla reply in Am- Castro for

PAGE FOUR COL. 4

imperialism, the police- man yesterday to the and hangman of Wlan US-still Hussein terror and world capitalism, is at "Get tough' this of mounting threats 1101i1c1l mobilizing its armed «Silent on intervention against the *might for action against P'alestinian guerrillas. "the Arab Revolution. government Mid-East Hussein's army, Office girls on action on Castro is to. brewery picket York next month. lay-off pay defied national es orkin TEST CASES contesting a Department of Employment

WHITBREAD

Hussein and Productivity decision to withhold unemployment one semi-colonial DeoDies benefit from 2,500 carworkers laid off at Cowley, Oxford, are being set up by the trade unions involved. • Tor na Cover threat United fight on By Industrial reporter vention there, is Using the safety of the US Lecture ent strikers and their me- anment, however, oncocted speed-up urgent brings based at Fort Bragg 10 Carol 0,00 strong unit is two-day Nasr York. Sldy lively LOCKED-OUT draughtsmen from Rolls-Royce's holding or

HOLROYD

discussion Bristol engines division plant at Coventry-seen from picketing the factory, above-plan to lobby talks

REPORT

on the company's national £2 5s-£2 15s pay offer

LIVELY

In place of to riss criss in London today. Bernard Franks analyses the memorial lectures Bonday. Hall, London, The Couch has bike ver the country practice in the factory. fight pay inport the lob Encrease since deCorate have Bénefit pay chang for See ace 3 and as minds or E3 increase for ail the union's Rolls-Royce drive them back to Morris Motors st Sit national sec cary, trade the senile Factoryment pay for Moscow echoes song lo the hat hang st discovered the the material confice measures. attempted management breach anti-guerrilla refresen deciding the rates for the new seven days working class to over Contane at low capitansus. slanders 10 g0 Trotsky's main contributior all its was defend the gained Bust asanst these payments Sept £1000 revolution HUSSEIN'S appeal to the 'Big Four'-the Soviet Union, These to handle worke frated Soviets I use nois foake. Nixon Pered e Coventry Appeal Fund Whit- strator trade made no the United States, France and britain-to intervene one against the guerrillas in Jordan has so far met with no sections of Roll-Royce work- their icke- for a soa-wenak stands at official response from the Kremlin.

thi stanc Sore and more is bet. - 5, 500 aot t2 during

FOREIGN CORAESPONDENT

• PAGE FOUR COL. 7

£403 4s their Promen the Luton brew Pilkington

ALL TRADES UNIONS ALLIANCE

Over the end Yestery. Bate: haled all ber suplied Oil profits commitee

CONFERENCE

cas shatted Radio, Sept seeks cash • Stalin® thread through all the The Pilkington Defeat the Barber warns on wages struggle and the proposed Tory support to No difference right to strike clude the This * Presentation CHANCELLOR of the rald, he old delegates a the international tes. Thes Slavishly echoed differs Mone seven- And with tactical variati St George's Hall, Lime St strike. encourage wage demands by workers and weaken We magnicent supporte conferee enade

LIVERPOOL

а на пот Morning Star Saturday October 3 countries interventio s the • Two of the imprisone The was demand oct on domestic prices surely and 2.30 p.m. -6 p.m. released on appeal after the working counter - revolutionary Conference weakened bye the armt with Crecent als all costs the Stalinists protect 10 Greenfield Road, St Helens.

WORKERS PRESS

PAGE TO

Unions backe TV

BBC 1

Com call, 11.10 Dice lin science: us Britn Zer 2005- 1.00-1.25 Iris. 1.30 Watch with mother. 1.45 News and weather.

clothing and colleges. Science 4.20 Play school. 4.15 Liberal 2.25 Schools session 4.40 Jackanory. 4.55 Snow White. 5.15 Tom Tom. 5.44 Babar. 5.50 News ort West

TOM AND TERRY.

Weather. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. 'The condemned

SOFTLY, SOFTLY-TASK FORCE.

Coalse Door Lode in a work-study WEDNESDAY PLAY: 'Close the Coalhouse Door'. Life aRencE REPoRT 7o. Liberal rary Assemon

REGIONAL

BBC

film *ED Norin 5,00. 203 A FILM Work Study in the An example of this West, weather. 11.22 10.25-10.45 Clothing Industry' has been specially produced by the ВВС 2 based on the use of work-studs British Productivity Council 11.00-11.20 and job-evaluation methods.

the REMEMBERED weather. association wild ements te, I as clothing industry • VANT? a Television Meal.

economic

WORLD DO WE WANT?

9.00 FANNY

CRADDOCK ENVITES

Development Committee "to SHOW OF THE WEEK. Scott on Communication.

suasive' illustrate the basic simplicity In this category comes th - 550 omar 15 no London showing of work study the spe time and 10.50 LINE-UP. Interview with Mel Ferret ano time-and-motion methods. benefits which can result'.

Employers and union-leaders

ITV

Assembly. 4.10 News united in praise of the Made with the help of man- Find a out. 1151-55 People work here. 10018 world; 17.76 c, the him is anothe of Prices Tailors ind Nawson rindina out. Assembly. 140 Schools described it as 'stimulus in the use of work all levels i3 3 Chast are ployers. while I. othing industr INtronal 6.30 J.o. Voken wia. Campaign THE SAINT "simon ano bellan Union of Tailors and Garment 7.30

CORONATION STREET.

THE CHAMPIONS.

NCH. Not to be trusted: it the presen ume a ole Workers stated: ampaien 1s deln launcnea to film will rationalize make clothing

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

contribution 10.30 e. 3.50 Your valuable 11.25

PROFESSIONAL

WRESTLING. From Wryton Stadium, Bolton.

maerstanant mn the mausuy.

11.55

THE PAPERS

12.10 FROM ONE POINT OF VIEW.

Programme

REGIONAL

ITV

the from a ¡ne union is to snow 10-58-3500 film, capital-intensive industry.

for 25 colour and In particular, introduction of minutes, to senior is Honeybunon. 3.58 News. 40 anization, automation and re of its Faith eye 12 mid Pht Weather. shogramme method. immense reduction the work-study industry's labour force. principles ummm CIA-not so ridiculous

SPECIAL

in 198s. • The abortive Bay SOONER or later, the factors (peace- Greek colonels' heroes of Independent Th 1967 coup Television's popular Wed-

BRANCH

One is volovin's new wire nesday series evening Sihanouk amboci of Inman's understudy, Jordan.

March 1970. *Special Branch' just had to meet up with state within a strates like a The their Problems

THAMES TV

transatlantic professional Itplied probleme arrivat or colleagues. No rules multiplied mariaCA The result-'The Pleasure fresh from "snatch' of a Soviet defector in ates from a Langford of Your Company' (Thames, LOse of its nons except (Virginia) officials mansion valued at f16 m. Viella. September 16, 9 p.m.) —was a s A meman ho trequently pose Potter maintain cleverly-contrived and well- Dedication government departments. sniffs out staircas acted comedy which finds would-be defector - is stati have to be conter MIS and the Soviet KGB in Golovin's wife. and an anna bee on CIA an unholy alliance against particular case, busi many commentators that politi- uppity Ed Potter of the CIA.

to speculate which is set aside for bribing dedication, and not cash, cal agents The plot- would-be defectors. certainy a topice hazardous None of this came out in the trade deal about ¡ordan is detallea to chaperoi boss is 57-year-old ex- CA officer intelligence his London, girl- Special Richard Helms, branch episode-out soviet bureaucrat wnold makes tape one alone then, it never claimed to be an president Johnson exposé of US imperialism, tape recoraines CIA. yet to meet a d james rather uniortunatel

TOI

Golovin's finally the Bruce inclient boys in branch boss, Inillan in to insert the official boot.

complicated by

VISALS

£/,000-a-year helm oper- Derren Nesbitt plays Jordan The Greek colonels' coup: CIA-Inspired Washington, his career ruined.

Appearance ivesented in this wad ClA activitie appear rather ridiculous body has one job only,

ANON

PIETIANON

ization In the single-minded pursuit of this task, it may cross wires British other With Intellicence most certainly oes not trus watch on all their activities the da *Just at a of its tew more recent achievements and failures : • The overthrow ernment in Persia (19530v- nationaist Iviossade NOBODY can deny that Jon • Kimche is an extraordinary journalist. At any rate, his methods of newsgathering are highly original. Standard' As 'Evening Middle-East Kimche expert, has had plenty of work to do drawing his lately, on many in Zionist and close contacts top Israeli circles. But the inside information on which he has based many a sensational story seems to be geared to what Tel-Aviv wants people to think, not what is actually happening. So, while Nasser was being prepared in Moscow for nego- tiations with Zionism, Kimche beating the drum about was how alarmed they were in Washington at the Soviet mis- Workers Press, build-up the sile on Suez Canal. His confident predictions of an imminent US-Russian clash were far from reality, but when, this became absolutely plain, did Mr Kimche engage in self- criticism? Not at all. But he still kept up the On 4 pressure. August he 'Russia's wrote about secret arms build-up in Egypt'. Dossier 'United States intelligence Presi- sources have presented • dent Nixon with a formidable dossier, it is reported in Washington on unquestionable authority, giving details of an unprecedented sea-and-air lift of military supplies and "river- crossing" equipment from the Soviet Union into Egypt! By the time this was written, the significance of real the Soviet military presence in Egypt was clear the White House, which seemed to have been with the State Department during July. Moscow was using Nasser's dependence on Soviet missiles to him the pressurize into King Hussein Gunnar Jarring talks at the UN, and had kept Washington informed at every stage. But on August 17, Kimche tell 'Standard' can readers Why Israel agreed to talks'. It was because Gen Moshe Davan had been assured that Americans the would admit Egypt had broken the cease- fire, and would then begin pouring into Israel to meet the Soviet menace. The Israeli cabinet crisis at the end of August sends Kimche to work On again. September 1 he explains that •Mrs Meir fears Dayan take over'. His unquestionable sources told him that the Israeli THE ANXIETY shown by premier had let Nixon know of Fleet St over the fate of King the danger that Dayan would amok, attacking Egyptian Hussein is very understand.

missile sites. able. The 'Hashemite' kings, Statement of whom Hussein is the last And three days later, he has survivor, have been faithful it on the highest authority that of British imperial- servants 'US backs Dayan plan to strike'. ism for over 50 years. In fact, it was that very Greater Meather Hussein, week-end that Dayan made his Sherif Mecca, started the indicating how statement tradition. (This title belongs in clearly he understood the of the descendants the family nature of Soviet aid to Egypt.

of Hashim, Mohammed's grand- father-hence "Hashemite'.)

Not abashed, one whit decided to Kimche states on September 7 He and his sons fight for the British against 'Suez withdrawal missiles the Turks in 1915. In return, "under way" he got a letter promising that However, it was on Septem- an Arab state would be set up ber 2 that the most startling after the war, and it was news appeared in the 'Standard" Feisal, Penned fort sein, to -so firmly stated that it even King of Syria, including found a tentative echo in our what is now Lebanon, Jordan 'Late News' section. own and Israel. Another son, Abdallah, Without qualification, any would be King of Iraq. Kimche declared: 'Nasser sends (Under the Turkish Empire, troops to back Hussein'. The it must be remembered, there story ran 'Egyptian and Saudi- between were no boundaries Arabian troops today began different Arab countries; these moving into Tordan to support French and were created by King Hussein against the threat British imperialism.) of Israeli military intervention.'

Under the guidance of the Not a single other paper British agent, T. E. Lawrence. carried a word of this develop- proceeded the Hashemites to the which ment, report launch the Arab revolt. nor followed, that Yasser Arafat.

victorious, of Before it was Al Fatah leader, had agreed in the British had prom- course. advance to back the move to ised to make Palestine a Jew- attack Habash's Popular Front ish National Home. for the Liberation of Palestine But neither Arab Tew nor and its supporters. knew that in May 1916 the British and French had signed What a scoop! Sykes-Picot the agreement, under which they carved up Of course. nobody has ever whole area between them. the seen or heard of these troops to this day. Kimche's 'unques- This document only became Trotsky tionable authority must have public when Leon found it in the Tsarist archives spirited them away. Fill in the form below and send to NATIONAL

LABOUR

LEAGUE,

SECRETARY.

SOCIALIST

186A CLAPHAM HIGH ST, LONDON, SW4.

Name Address Wednesday, September 23, 1970 Dress notebook in 1917-and broadcast it to the world. So, after Feisal had claimed his share of the reward by crowning himself King of Syria, the French drove him out, marching on Damascus in July, 1920. Young Feisal did not give up the King business so easily, however. By dint of hanging around the Paris peace confer- ence he got the British to install him as King of Iraq.

Brother Abdallah was not amused at being displaced.

He decided to recapture Syria from the French. On the way, his army set up an ad- ministration in Amman, in January 1921., Churchill, then Winston Colonial Secretary, •went to meet him in Jerusalem, and persuaded him to be King of a brand new country called Transjordan. With a British trained and officered 'Arab Legion' and a grant from Whitehall, he set about defending the East bank of the Jordan for his masters.

After the 1947 partition of Palestine, Abdallah annexed the West bank too, and in 1950 his kingdom was renamed Jordan. But he did not reign over it for long. In July 1951, a Palestinian nationalist shot him dead. His son Talal was not a great success as King-largely because he was mad. In 1952, his 16-year-old Hussein son was called from Sandhurst to take his place. But times were bad, both for British imperialism and its • lackeys. The wave of struggle sweep- ing the Arab world in 1956 forced Hussein to dismiss John Glubb Pasha, head of the Arab Legion. Two years later, revolution kicked cousin Feisal II from the throne of Iraq, and it looked as if Hussein would go too. But — this time anyway— imperialism looked after its own. The US Sixth Fleet moved into action and landed marines in Lebanon, while British air- borne troops flew over Israel - with Zionist approval — to save Hussein's throne from his subjects. Since then, Hussein's army and government have been in- creasingly financed by Washing- ton rather than London. At the time of writing, it is still not clear whether this loyal retainer of imperialism will survive to oppress his people or not.

Wednesday, September 23, 1970 getting easier. The number of THE FIREMEN'S anger fires in buildings increased by and disgust at their treat- 88 per cent between 1957 and 1967. There has been a con- ment by the employers is tinuous rise in the number of likely to blaze into in- fatal and non-fatal casualties.

dustrial action again soon In 1968 the fire service in England and Wales answered if no move is made to 188,045 calls, and if present trends continue, this would improve their situation. 600,000 copis annuatty by 1977.

with mean coping Working long hours to At the same time, fires and cover under - manning and fire-fighting equipment are be- having to take part-time jobs coming increasingly more com- plex. to make up pay, the firemen The number of fires due to get nothing but kicks from fuel and ignition, energy par- the much-publicised Holroyd electricity, has risen ticularly dramatically, fireman and the Report. continuous train- undergoes a keep up to ing programme to same time At the of date with the new hazards he police to enforce a lock-out at must tackle. the Hadleigh, Essex, fire station The technical development methods shows what of industry has led to a con- Tories are prepared to use to siderable increase in the appli- wages and. attack hold down of materials and cation trade unionists. chemicals. According to the Authori- ties, under-manning must be Angry firemen pelt union leaders with flour covered by longer hours on station duty and longer hours 'stand-by'. At the same on part-time firemen time, more should be recruited. the sort of pay Meanwhile, and that conditions increase could really make the job more simply not dis- attractive are cussed. The and Incomes Prices Board report fire service May 1967 pay in was a direct intervention Labour by the in the work of government the fire services. Rather than outline compre- hensive productivity strings as the Board usually does with industry it looks at, it any simply recommended the adop- of 'more exacting work' tion and 'changed working prac- tices' and left it to the Holroyd Committee to take up produc- tivity in detail. But the fact that the PIB has looked at the fire service is a clear indication that moves to cut costs and attack the ser- have become a political vice question. No one could pretend that the need for a fire service is declining, or that the job is

JUST OUT

N: H PARK PUSICATIONS

A TROTSKYIST ANALYSIS

BY ROBERT BLACK

Available from New Park Publications 186A Clapham High Si.. SW4 Price 245 post inci = Natural gas containers are in common use along with gas cylinders which can be as lethal as a bomb if involved in a fire. time, At the same many toxic and explosive chemicals are used in factories and often stored or transported under a brand name, with no clue as to their chemical properties.

A number of processes have extended the use of pressure vessels and pipe systems and aders with flour and eggs during the 'emergencies-onl increased use is being made of liquid oxygen, hydrogen, etc.

Fire appliances also need to carry radiation detectors cause widespread use is being made of radio-active isotopes in a variety of industries. The fireman has to be equally sure of how certain substances will react with water as well as fire when he is faced with a call to industrial premises.

The Holroyd report empha- sizes that increased use should be made of sprinkler systems automatic detectors. All and very fine for protecting com- buildings; but as 70 mercial per cent of the increase in the number of fires has occurred in private dwellings (where 80 per cent of the deaths happen) this cannot be accepted as an excuse for not expanding the service. However, Holroyd proclaims that recruiting should be kept maloer of essency did toil analysis schemes must be used to keep down numbers. In fact, this report is not a publication concerned with the welfare of firemen or the safety of working people at all. It is a blueprint for a productivity deal, substantially no different from anything that employers attempt to apply to industrial production-lines. But how does the fireman increase productivity? Accord- ing to the report: 'The only means by which measurable productivity of fire- men can be increased is by their offering longer hours of availability: In particular, the report ad- vocates the day-manning sys- tem whereby a full-time fireman is required to be available for duty for up to 80 hours a week of which not less than 45 hours is performed at the 'emergencies-only' campalgn last year station on day duty basis and the remainder on stand-by duty at home. This is on the understanding that he will respond to any fire call received at any time during the standby period.

'productivity' mea- Other sures outlined in the report include: • Introduction of time-and- motion study into the control room. Firemen lobby County Hall to demand li

BRANCH.

WORKERS PRESS

Paragraph 137 of the digest of the report's findings says: 'We recommend that the Home Office Fire Department should review arrangements for the introduction of modern organization and methods tech- niques, e.g. standardized re- porting forms, greater use of dictating machines, etc.'

Organization and Methods (O&M) was devised in the British Treasury during the last war. Time-and-motion con- the sultants refer to it as 'office work-study system' and explain that it eventually leads to full use of advanced time- study methods. • The introduction of flexi- bility of labour by which all firemen receive training and are expected to carry out any duties required. The duties of some firemen, for example turntable ladder operators, require a high level of skill and specialization.

The breaking down of all de- marcation lines between trades skills is seen by and special , many employers as a way to cut back on manning by being able to instruct any worker available to undertake any task as required. • Employment of opera- tional staff for inspection duties in commercial and in- dustrial buildings. The report explains that under this system firemen go out in teams with their appli- ances and are contacted by radio if required for an alarm.

Most firemen have no ob- prevention jection the to scheme under which opera- tional firemen visit premises check equipment, hyd- and rants, etc. However, this cannot be condoned as a system for get- ting more work at no extra cost. Many feel that this must be paid for as extra work with a substantial increase. Extended use of part- time firemen. These are people in other all to demand increased accommodation allowances "T

BYX 661G

trades, often shop-keepers, who get paid for turning out on a call, and more, if their services used. The report claims are that: 'Where the number of fire calls is low, employment of whole-time in place of part-time firemen would result in an un necessary increase in costs and inefficient deployment of man- power.' It recommends that: 'All possible steps to be in o Petitions collected from the public are HE taken by publicity, persuasion and practical incentives to im- prove recruitment and prevent wastage of retained men ...

•We recommend that the new authorities should give early consideration to the prac- ticability of extending the use of retained men to provide part of the fire cover on the fringes of urban areas! This extension of the use of part-time firemen is a move towards turning the clock back hundreds of years to the times when there were no trained

ONO%

PAGE THREE

BERNARD FRANKS

CONDITIONS IN THE

LIGHT OF A RECENT

GOVERNMENT STUDY

fire-fighters and all conflagra- Catford, accused the GLC of tions tackled by cooking the books on safety.

were un- organized volunteers. The local union branch pro- duced If any publicity campaign is a special report which showed to be undertaken, it should be how closure would full- cause a slower emergency ser- for the recruitment of time firemen. vice and would increase the risk from fires to local people, The setting up of pro- particularly as a great increase housing, schools, hospitals in ductivity committees. people's homes and old had for The report calls 'con- taken the fire place since sultative committees' to be set station was built in 1928.

up in every brigade. The Home Office regulations These, it should con- require that the brigade in the says, sist of officers and Downham men who area able must be should not, however, be nom- to reach a fire in ten minutes.

the trade The made inated by union or report it clear staff association to which they that this was not possible and that the GLC's belong. special test As the report makes it clear runs to prove it was could justly be called should 'cooking the such committees 'other books'. In fact, discuss subjects than many areas have constantly improved pay and conditions of service, on Home the Office little is left to talk about be- regulations and have ensured prob- a three- sides the management minute arrival. lems. Closures, longer In fact, these committees meaning would be an extremely danger- runs for outside brigades, often in dense traffic, cut this ous imposition firemen. must On the one hand, they would schedule to ribbons. talking exist productivity Inside the stations there is as shops to try to get workers to concern about deterioration of flexibility, adopt speed-up etc. conditions. Recreational facili- On the other hand, they ties, used in the firemen's own would stand as an alternative time, are poor or non-existent.

Fire Brigades Union. to the Anything extra wanted in this They would be the beginnings line has to be paid for by the of a bosses' union. men themselves. At the same time, sweeping The calls for report also and general cleaning still has and improved increased eliminated from the 'efficiency'. It recommends on list of general duties. this: The Home Another cause of chronic Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scot- dissatisfaction is the housing Many firemen situation. have land should be given specific to travel 30 miles or more to statutory responsibility for pro- work day- efficiency of the while others on moting the fire services and for providing manning find themselves caught up in the invidious tied-house research and management ser- vicés.' system. However, this efficiency has Loans from borough coun- not the same meaning as the cils at 8 and 9 per cent offer fireman understands by the nothing except never-ending word; correct use of equip- debts to repay. ment, using proper fire-fighting made last year A survey and procedure. rescue found that most firemen pay a The fireman has long ago minimum of £6 10s to £7 10s evolved this type of efficiency rent a week. in order to stay alive. It is important to avoid any misconception that firemen are from the somehow separate the public are handed In at County Hall.

rest of the working class. They are strong trade unionists and in some areas have fought for and won a closed shop and in considerably im- consequence proved their conditions. Action by firemen in pursuit of their wage claim last year showed that there was no lack of fight. The same cannot be said of the leadership of the Fire Brigades Union. In November last year irate members threw fruit and bags of flour at executive members who had totally failed to take up their members' struggle.

In situation, the present when the firemen face a politi- cal attack on the service and their jobs and by the wages need for Tories, the a new leadership in the socialist union is vital. This would demand: • Total of the rejection Holroyd Report. • No of any acceptance "productivity deal' mea- any shape or sures in form. • Total opposition to the The word, used by as so - called consultative Holroyd, súbstitute for is a It stands for committees. productivity. • A substantial wage penny-pinching on the service in- and use of work-study meth- crease - some firemen in order to keep costs are talkie in terms ods in terms down. £48 for example of how de- more reasonable payment An scheme. terioration in services is the closure of • Either couraged provision of sub- the that stations and claim sidized housing or pay- others can cover the work was of ment substantial a given in July this year. rent allowance help to with the chronic housing S London firemen fighting situation. the closure of the against station, • Total control of the fire Downham fire near service firemen themselves to guarantee deterioration in no the attacks service or on jobs and conditions. • Action in support of the Essex firemen who have been locked out. • A fight alongside all other council workers and pub- lic defeat employees to

STREE

the Tories and their plans to skimp, cut and close

STATION

sections of public ser- vices. • Firemen consider that at a time of rising fire and

UNDERM

fatality figures any attempt to cut back on the present provisions for fire cover would be absolutely criminal. by joining Only the All Trades Unions Alliance can the firemen start to build the alternative leadership which will fight for these policies and work to throw out the Tories for good.

WORKERS PRESS

PAGE FOUR

FBU delegates meet as U.S. poised

• FROM PAGE ONE

and is beginning the fellow pied territories and forden Inside Israel, opposition wye must ensure that snoul * Bast, rages has it broken but in the Tory was the prestige use ate airline 'El-Al Courage workers and peasants The Palestinian workers and War spending Tremen's par the world revolution. which devotes is per comi com thie laxation to war expendi the West reates fight hots up Israell WITH DEFEAT and retribu- Halt the imperialist invasion action dan ees in the camps arounc in London and Essex Hospital claim Minister "pale in have bee by subsistence MILITANT ACTION over pay by 4,500 London Aratat insisted that the figure and Essex firemen forms an appropriate back- inhabitants the camps 31,000 drop to the recalled Fire Brigades Union dele- level workers gate conference starting in the capital today.

Organ- Sir Ronald Holroyd's

COUNCIL

260,000 Health

WOKEN.

Home Office report on Service ancillary workers planning strike dre the service — the other local-authority wo fiers hre action over their f2 15s wage demand.

main topic of today's ortacoming The employers' offer of

BY BERNARD FRANKS

conference — does no- thing up to zl los a week for to alleviate th making men and fl 12s for women llke chronic problems of low may require special is completely contemptible pay, long working hours of rocketing a ume and undermanning which prices and rents. fuel disputes like that reMained at uter ne level In essex. regimes artist had chased he . From this first report into e purely economic: Bernard Frank firemen s Britains 30,0000 E16 10S. Potical problem is detailed National Health now Pacifist movements work tasks essentiat ariety nospitals, Base is no certain ta the front tipe catering, resen amonged by the reps has Recommended • driving matter he Essen handful dOn the subiect of pro- FBU deleg ougare cassig as parente "more than 30 hours a Union officials failed to can i London yemen ges budge the Low A 1960 Prices dmitted emergency so on sex Board among the lam toree their empirers hand ils 8d rise the basis caden of he breakdowthe Fears cheap selling ourselves very 17L80 marcation and May commens had the and flexibility nas against this - *The Pro Tuly de. y increment application encourage Bai WAR achievement of as Biggest step re The National Union o costs.

highest flowering

• FROM PAGE ONE

Tee must understand this clearly and precisely...

STRATEGY

'The task of the haughout the roan are commie. OR you select essenis l ter and mand Claph to : Organiz, sw%. P1-720-2100) Circulatio ices as it inkers hard. of new mem- would like to subscribe to workers Press tor watries to attack rene moltin traitors be ac- and elect deletes it Adress atelv to Trades Union Summit flops

LETTER

and her policies

LATE NEWS

Airied the were opposed

• FROM PAGE ONE

while back to Damascus assi mising the first sures. apartheid tings to the

WEATHER

September Part

TABASH GETS PRIC

England, cand Beirut, Tuesdao reward Jordan sence is not neces

AUMREIECIN

Sasical pre- increase in pay a3r 350,00 England LO LIl Prices to nor ice "libyaros rise after crivat the raitors tim been sein and the other abusent leadsein crop failure mailed. 'Co-operation' PRICES of bread, beef, eggs, shado Healey and bacon i Secretary Kat the south ale Bant in rely expected to rise sharply in the touesterday near future following the up- surge of world grain prices— between Victorian left. This Failed.)

guest with a us maize crop tallure -over the last few weeks.

Wednesday, September 23, 1970 MOON ROCK samples-the first to be collected by automatic robot —are now well on their way back to earth, following the successful flight of the Soviet unmanned spacecraft Luna 16. Despite the tremendous publicity

BY MARTIN ZARROP

given to the American manned landings on the moon, the latest feat of the Soviet Union is justly admitted putting the Russians years "collaborate' Europe ahead in their planned project. Hungary- ollowin rock- programme of lunar and without cos- Conceal interplanetary exploration.

-the US government monauls- W German the Luna landed WIll viewing wIth unexplored Sea Apollo-14 hitherto an xletv Eneir Fertility on Sunday and track- pact signed manned mission. which is cue In Henriary next veat —аттет Bochum nearly a year's interval.

detected its soon? on Monday. lullai sullale Guerrilla The Soviet aescripaon the apparatus used Ine salmore-colecuon incicates i Comes advanced That it Is oł very especially for design. the samples capitalism, recent The were oviet-W German matically by are licaly with Thailand & drill and placed being Lurtner enlarged the first long-term trade agree- containers. ment to De siened berween Hungary and, W Germany. Philippines

TECHNIQUE

Initialled recently in Bonn, Soviet sources indicate that it provides tor large increases the techniques used in leaving trade between the two

COMMUNIST

last une

MOON

were guerrillas countries the five years canied Thailand. daring those employed by the Apollo from 1971. separate shots. with rocket ambush area close to the border with Karl Schiller, chief German units for descent However. economics minister Laos with the US programmé ends They killed the governor nected to sion the agreement.

there after discussion with the other Chiang Rai province. his police Common Market powers near missi of the chief mitraman and i The Brussels, showed the extrasaga de ally hinally mission head of the Thai third army, rives in Budapest on October Colonel Messangua, the course of a half-hour machine- danker or senone- men to the anast tie mOoN at ois stage the com- week Deon or the luna in fight guerrillas also emphasizes this thousand March Hungarian losses times. Trade Minister Josef Biro.

Betchabon, es in a clash The Soviet space the anolner gramme countrys nortern orovinces. worked towards the construc- regime BaneKOk. permanently orbiting US

ALL TRADES

despite massive multary space slatuls as lie necessary ad nas cery cost control ot

UNIONS ALLIANCE

areas the preteyulsile 1or interplanetary considerable north. exploradon wnle the Amer-

MEETINGS

Calls voured Into THE HUK movement in the 'getting Phillipines- -pro-Chinese uner programme for American the moon liberation first'.

REALITY

capital, The Huks have been active the hehind une since the ballyhoo is now clearly seen apanese occuration the what appears during the Second World War. cop of Presid ent under the being dictatorship publicity Marcos (whose Josh cuere were many sneet is an American colone and Trom the caoltaust oress at Talinte match this Luna Force bases technological teat. there used daily In SUD- Now une complete succecc port or amen can maoenausos of the latest Luna flight is on war on the Vietnamese revolu. l far the cards fat tion. than a manned flight). while the remainder Apollo programmes lies in ruins

SOCIALIST

the Americans plead

LABOUR

Lecture

LEAGUE

• FROM PAGE ONE

opposition to those revisionists TrotskyR who that maintained the was 'state Soviet nion capitalist country. Memorial "It is these same revisionists -who abandon the defence of Meeting Soviet Union the taining and treaucracy abandon

GLASGOW

dates et the now the trades unions Partick Burgh Hall and the of the pains Britain, by refusing to (nr Merkland St underground) Cass 10 ODDose nrincinie 7.30 p.m. aspects productivity deal- ing,' he said. Admission 2s. Comrade Healv outiined This means: 'Trotsky and coming the sis camnaion. defeat English Revolution' thaTs go Working threa Forward with the against Speaker:

(SLL

Heav underlining that national secretary) WeT 12. first Trotskyist Sunday daily newspaper- October 4

WORKERS PRESS

The collection at the meet- ng raised aised the fine cum no IN THE words of canitalist economists. the Australian labour market from lanced: of 'overfull'

BY AIR MAIL

PAR AVION

Finincial Reviene employment suckes Victoria's determination generally acuon adopt being accepted some socianst measures close did in toe baravs prosramme came although apree 10a1 10 a head ween dererused such questions innation

AUSTRALIA

alone with rederal working conditions are antane factor in te industrial scene'. schools nolicy. This, the Executive claimed.

Despite optimism that tha was losing them vote it, o the 'overfull situation (noC state, pointing er cent of the labour force i Labour Party h had only state's Federal seats other impoten the per back ther positions first six-months of the have of che dol tels, ady ine which Y,297 produced disputes, more whole of 1966 and only the less than 1969. torian branco aopears destroyed fears of a split with- vears. to overthrow So the hosses will have decision in the Party. 1953 split gave birth Victorian Eyecutive the continue their noht tor nronts the Democratic Tahour Party They war by carried hu ten votes to caver contant •course stan Federal the withdrawing Rut althauch the a right-wing, hysterically anti- Exteuy, the Victorian Sert are Executive claims communist party large men and 'easing' the thic with Roman Catholic market further support.