Scamp concedes 50s—but wants Tory laws soon

Tory fight broadens THE ADOPTION of the tion (see below) by the B committee executive sigr for the working class in The six-point resolution, by linking Measured-Day Work, sackings, wages and equal pay with the struggle against the Tory anti-union laws and for nationalization, and, furthermore by tying all these demands to a struggle within the unions to force the leaders to fight now provides motor car workers with an unequalled opportunity to halt the Tory offensive with a united movement.

The big weakness of the anti-Tory struggle so far has been the dellberately conceivea, one-sided emphasis of the Stalinists and Labour 'lefts' on protest actions against the anti-union laws and the rejection of any discussion on comprehensive policy action to meet the Tory. counter-revolution. Statute Book!

This apology for a policy stands in stark contrast to the thousands of dustmen, miners and other sections of the working class who are beginning to see their struggle on economic issues as an integral part of the political battle against the Tories and for the defence of their rights. They see not only Carr's shackles, but also Barber's axe and Davies' bludgeon, menacingly poised over the head of the working class, and they demand weapons which are just as lethal and possibly more So.

Proved As the dustmen's struggle has proved, tht working class is not the least frightened by the Tories' threats.

Its courage and capacity for sacrifice has never been in doubt. But many workers know that courage alone is not enough to prevent another 1926 and 1931.

Having been betrayed by six years of Labour government, the working class looks to its trade unions for protection against the Tories' attacks. in April of last year.

Precisely at this stage the Stalinists and their syndicalist supporters try to divert the attention of workers away Go-between from the real political struggle in the unions to a protest campagin which, taken by itself, is doomed to defeat.

SIR ROY WELENSKY, the This policy of diversion is guaranteed to leave the power former premier of the Federaof the TUC right wing intact. tion of Rhodesia and NyasaWithout this right wing, land, arrived in London on an the Tory government could unoficial visit yesterday. It is not rule Britain for 24 thought he could be acting as La go - between for Anglohours, leave alone pass any Rhodesian talks.

reactionary legislation.

Decisive Hence a struggle in the union to make the leaders fight and to drive the right PRESSURE is rapidly buildwing out of the TUC is a ing up from the ranks of decisive and inseparable part the trade union movement of the struggle to defeat the for all-out official action Tories and to force them to against the proposed Tory resign. Industrial Relations Bill.

People who ignore or be- While the Engineering little this aspect of the fight- Employers' Federation was like the Stalinists did in 1969 pressing Employment Miniswith the hoary old argument ter Robert Carr to allow "We cannot fight on two for disputes procedures befronts' — are consciously be- ing made legally enforceable traying the anti-Tory struggle on their say-so, engineering and must be fought and ex- stewards in Oxford were posed. calling on the whole labour Behind all their verbal radi- movement to unite against the government's plans.

A resolution was unanimsix-point policy resoluritish-Leyland combine ifies a big step forward the anti-Tory struggle.

fighting policy CIVIL RIGHTS supporters pressed yesterday for an open debate about the Royal Ulster Constabulary's admission that some of its Londonderry members beat up Samuel Devenney and his family The stewards' Fight Measured-Day Work! No intensification of working conditions! Full support for any group of workers engaged in the wages struggle ! Fight sackings! Any firm which cannot give security to its workers should be nationalized under workers' control in line with the national policy of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions !

Full support for equal pay for women Complete rejection of any proposals for anti-union legislation !

Demand that the executive councils of unions call an immediate special conference of the Trades Union Congress before the laws go on the Row over Devenney inquiry Foyle MP John Hume demanded that N Ireland Prime Minister Maj. James Chichester Clark made a statement to the Stormont parliament on the finding of Metropolitan Police Det. Chiet-supt.

Kenneth Drury's six-month inquiry into the case.

Gerry Fitt, leader of Ulster's recently-formed Social-Democratic and Labour Party, pledged that he would not let mise' in TU Mously carried-at a meeting called by the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions' district committee — to mount the maximum pressure on union executives for a one-day general strike and to support token action on December 8.

It was agreed that a subcommittee be set up in conjunction with the Oxford Trades Council to organize the fight against the legislation in the area, CSEU district secretary Cliff Small told Workers Press.

THERE HAD been no n minds on basic issues al with Tory Prime Minister Foreign Secretary Hon premier Mrs Golda Me London yesterday.

She was speaking to a press conference in the Dorchaster Hotel on the ave of. the termination of the 90-day .. cease-fire between Egypt and israel.

Elaborate security precautions were taken by Israell Embassy officlals at the conference, held in a windowless basement room.

Journalists' briefcases were examined before they were allowed in and credentials rigorously inspected.

Meir sald that agreements on borders between Israel and the Arab states could only be negotlated between the parties concerned.

'Our position has been, and is, that secure and agreed borders have to be negotlated between parties and can't be suggested or decided upon, or positions taken by governments before the parties negotiate or before they come to an agreement.' WITHDRAWN Tory government to ther This Is Home's Harrogate speech last weekend, where he suggested Israel should withdraw to the pre-1967 borders, possibly with minor adjustments to the frontler.

'Between not withdrawIng from all the territorles [conquered in 1967] and Eggs up 9d doz EGG PRICES are likely to rise by at least 9d a dozen before Christmas, Mr Geoffrey Kidner, chairman of the British Egg Marketing Board said yesterday.

A 3d-a-dozen increase in shop prices for eggs was announced last week.

In most multiple shops large eggs are now selling at between 4s 6d and 4s 8d a dozen.

Trial fixed

THE Old Bailey trial of Northern Economic Planning Council chairman Mr T. Dan Smith of Newcastle upon Tyne, and four other men, on charges under the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act of 1889 was fixed yesterday for February 8.

laws fight Support for the December 8 token strike, which has won official backing from the: 180,000-strong Society of Graphical and Allied Trades' Division 'A' - has also been voted by the Birkenhead branch of the Constructional Engineering Union 'on the basis that it is not used as a means to compromise with the Tories'.

The strike must be 6a first step by workers to bring down the Conservative government', says the branch. neeting ol t her talks Heath anc ne, Israel Ir sald ir MI Meir 1 Londo secure bı in be quite a ditterence,' she added. ..She attacked the recent United Nations resolution calling for Israell withdrawal and said that Israel had 'never recognized' that Britain, France, the US and the USSR had any right 'to sit round a table and discuss the fate of small nations'.

The Soviet Union, she sald, was supporting Egypt, France had, to her regret. changed Its policy, and Britain had grown less. friendly.

There might even be disagreements between Israel and the United States when the question of settling secure borders came up round the conference table.

AMBITIONS

In other words, the Israeli government retains It territorial ambitions on a large part of the land conquered since 1967, despite the British government's more reconciliatory attitude to the Arab states.

But Meir herself is not above making overtures to the reactionary Arab rulers.

Her remark that Israel would not negotiate with CBI pressing for WHOOPING it up for the IOOPING it up for the big monopolists, employers' monopolists, employers' spokesman Campbell okesman Campbell Adamson yesterday called on the Tory government to apply its anti-working-class measures with 'even greater determination' in the nationalized industries.

Speaking at a Newcastle Confederation of British Industries lunch, Adamson, the CBI's director said:

'We have pledged our support to the government to stand firm on exaggerated wage claims, and we welcome certain steps the government itself is taking, but unless the government shows signs of even greater determination to resist in the sector for which it is responsible, there seems little chance that the rate of inflation will be turned back.' Full backing Giving full backing to the Tories' policies of holding down wages, slashing the social services and cutting Corporation Tax, he added:

"The measures the government has taken are in the right direction. Provided it continues its policy of reducing public expenditure and MaDash-wnom sne matized as 'more trouble to the countries they oper. ate from than to israel'Is clearly. aimed at the rulers of Jordan and Lebanon, and even at the Syrians.

Meir would even be prepared to accept the establishment of a truncated Arab statelet on the West bank.

CYNICAL

'The Arabs could even call It Palestine,' she added cynically. "They can do what they like there. There's only one thing we won't havethat Israel should be called Palestine?

Clearly Meir wants to keep up the maximum milltary and diplomatic pressure for a predatory setflement with Arab states at the expense of the Palestinian people.

Backed with new shipments of American arms, and wlth the results of recent 'maintainence work' (belleved to include fortlfications and strategic roads) In the Sinal ceasefire zone, she feels strong enough to defy the pressure to accept something less. wage cuts BY PETER intervention industry will give its supfairs On social service charges he claimed:

By extending the system of charging, one is better able to find out which governmentprovided services are really valued and which should be contracted or expanded.' Experiments on this basis with the welfare of the sick and poor represent a retreat well back into the previous But Adamson continued: "Too much emotion and sentiment is generated when services that have been free to those able to pay for them are charged for, even to a modest extent!' Not satisfied The employets are evidently not satisfied with the Tory government's resistance to the miners and council workers and want wages driven down immediately.

Not that the government is flicted with any hesitations on this front.

Chancellor of the Exchequer FIRST inquiry were un Pits-it the Welsh coalfield in strike action. They are likely to be ioined by the 60,000 Yorkfelds have yer to a biare f0.

strike _action.. ith * 37,000 miners and Durham with 3,000 men failed to reach agreement on strike action yesterday and decided to await the decision of the Scottish and Yorkshire execuSupport call After meeting in Cardiff yesterday the S Wales area executive of the National Union of Mineworkers called on all other coalfields to support them in strike action on Monday.

They also plan to contact S Wales officials of the Transport and General Workers' Union and the National Union of Railwaymen and ask them to black coal supplies from Monday.

They will discuss with the Transport Workers the action their members in the coalfields' open-cast mines will take next week.

Glyn Williams, president of the S Wales miners, told the executive hoped that support would come from other areas.

"All supplies of coal to industry and the private consumer will be stopped by the strike.

'Only hospitals and old people's homes will receive Mr Anthony Barber said in parliament on Wednesday:

'In the public sector the government has special responsibility and we shall use all our influence against settlements which we consider interest, "gainst the national Following up Barber was Trade and Industry Minister John Davies:

'Policies have to be geared to the majority of the people who are not lame ducks, who do not need a hand, and who are capable of looking after their own interests. looks like a total walk-out YESTERDAY'S decision by Scottish miners to strike means that almost half of Britain's 292,000 miners will have stopped work by Monday. Then the 27,000 Saottish miners will join the 40,000 on BY STEPHEN JOHNS 20,000.

Kent delegates representing tives.

Indefinite LEEDS busmen have warned they will strike indefinitely from December 13 if their demand for higher basic rates is not met. The 1,400 busmen have called off their unofficial stoppages Од Fridays and Saturdays until that date to enter into REACTIONS from council recommendation of a new derstandably mixed. fuel, but schools will be included in the ban,' he said.

Tomorrow the S Wales area executive will meet again to review the progress of their campaign to get other coalfields out in support and to consider proposals for a national conference involving all the miners and a possible lobby at National Union of Mineworkers' headquarters or the Coal Board's Hobart House.

Safety men, who keep mines ipe of flood water 'and main. tain ventilation underground, will not be called out by the union.

If the pumps are not kept going many pits would be flooded within days and. if air build up increasing the danger does not circulate could of explosion.

'If the safety men do not stay in work almost every mine would be ruined within days,' said Mr Williams.

In S Wales yesterday morning miners at 32 pits reported for work.

The 22 that have been idle since Monday remained strikebound.

The unofficial strike in S Wales has lost the Coal Board 66,000 tons; with all the pits out the loss will escalate to 240,000.

In Yorkshire the Barnsley panel has decided to ask its 22 pits employing 19,000 mer to come out with Wales.

The Doncaster panel has already called its men out and last night the N and S Yorkshire panels were deciding whether to recommend strike action.

Thirty-three Yorkshire pits are already idle, five are partially hit and a further three are operating overtime bans.

A total of 33,000 miners are on unofficial strike there costing the Coal Board 370,000 tons, worth £1,850,000.

The decision by . Welsh leaders not to give strike pay to their members will undoubtedly anger many men on the coalfield.

At Wednesday's conference in. Porthcawl many delegates felt strike pay should be offered and increased from the pre-war level of 10s a As yet the strikes are unofficial, but under rule 41 areas can make strike official with permission of the national leadership providing the dispute is a local one.

Lawrence Daly, as Meanmade it clear secretary, that this rule eral already would be liberally interpreted to allow possible official backing.

Miners on strike will be allowed to vote in the national ballot on the Coal Board's latest offer. There were fears that if only non-strikers voted there would be a majority in favour of acceptance.

After yesterday's meeting Mr Williams said that the Wales executive was still recommending their members to reject the last offer by the Board.

• See 'Miners Will Fight', page four.

bus strike warning local negotiations. The 1 men nationally are dems ing a new £20 basic wl will mean increases of to £4 2s. 's to yesterday's Scamp to 50s-a-week pay offer The inquiry report makes great play with 'the case of lower-paid workers for special Face anatonary mature of consideration nature 14.5-15 per cent recommended.

Several rank-and-file strike details of the offer however, the Tory mini-Budget, increases. membe poin ward committe 'It's no concess "A lot taken away even, before NOT BACK • 'The unions may accept, but we're not anticipating going back in Croydon until we've got a local agreement. theres to me are d ittance.

Besides their 'compromise 50s offer, GEC director Tack Scamp and his coinquirers-CBI lations chief Norman Sloan QC and Professor Hugh Clegg answer the other aspécts of the unions' claim as follows: receive • 85 per chet oh the the asked-for full rise. adult-male instead of day from next year for all workers with nextile years setrather than after payment' claimed for Press or hea Workers to come up with surizing they've cuts and higher rents!' clearly relying no cal Productivity deals.

and roperty Gion on pay stin mes low pas evaluation. on study and tot It admits that its refusal of incentive ers to accept Moreover, commi tee legislation and treeze plans.

Tremo their potions th it nots does • See late news.

'STRATEGY FOR REVOLUTION' PAGE Friday, November 6, 1970

up until those guilty of the assault on Devenney - a coronary heart case, who died three months later-had been 'rooted out and dismissed from the force'.

The British government was not uninvolved and he would be having discussions with the Home Office, he said.

If the N Ireland Civil Rights Association wish to raise the matter in any way at Westminster we will give them all the backing we can,' National Council for Civil Liberties secretary Tony Smythe said in London.

'Of course one knew what had happened,' he added. 'It's a pity it's taken them so long to admit it.' Strong criticism was voiced by Smythe of the RUC's refusal to publish the 236page report.

Findings

'You can't attack the findings or decide if they're accurate - because you just don't know what they are, he told Workers Press.

As far as the law is concerned, Samuel Devenney did not , die of the beating administered - according to statement from RUC Chief Constable Sir Arthur Young on the Drury report-by 'no more than eight' police during last year's Bogside troubles.

But as one source who was close to the Devenney family at the time told Workers Press yesterday: 'Morally, it was murder.

Young is probably right that if a charge were to be brought it could only be grievous bodily harm, but what you can say is that a man with both a coronary history and arterial atheroma is not the best subject for a beating.

'He's also right that there's a very effective conspiracy of Silence to cover who was involved-though everyone has his own ideas on that score.' 'National decadence is the consequence of treating the country as though people were lame ducks.

'The majority,' he said, 'live and thrive in a bracing climate and not in a sodden morass of subsidized incompetence.' Burned ears It is to be hoped that the windows of the House of Lords were tight enough shut to prevent Davies' remarks being heard in that chamber and possibly burning the ears of one of its occupants-BritishLeyland chief Lord Stokes.

His company has, of course, received multi-million pound state assistance in recent yeays.

Referring to unofficial strikes Stokes pleaded that industry was rapidly bleeding to death from a self-inflicted wound.

Barber's strike - provoking declarations certainly won't add any balm to this particular wound.

CONFERENCES Support Pilkington glassworkers and right to strike!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER'8 COVENTRY: Keith's Club, Cox Street, 3.30 p.m. NEWCASTLE: Royal Turk's Head' Hotel, Grey Street, SHEFFIELD: Crooksmoor Vestry Hall, Crooksmoor 2.30 p.m GLASGOW: Partick Burgh Lesser Hall, near Merkland Street underground, 7.30 p.m. LONDON: Woodlands Hall, Crown Street; Acton, 7.00 p.m.

be from the Pilkington Rank and File Committee SCAMP REPORT COMMENT (See page one)

Swindon and Highworth NUPE branch secretary Les Horne told Workers Press he thought this was a victory in Swindon insomuch as council were only offering 40s.

'With increases in bonus, I would estimate that our men would be better off by about £3 6s,' he said.

I think it's certainly a defeat for the government, who have been trying to hold out against us low-paid workers, but I'm disappointed by the inquiry's refusal to meet our claim on and the other points, holidays He thought few council workers would be interested in increasing productivity on the Scamp basis. calism and protest mania is a cynical belief that nothing can be done to stop the Tories until their term of office has expired.

Believed

This is what the French Stalinists passionately believed about de Gaulle until the students and workers taught them otherwise.

It is not that the ruling class are wolves, but that the Stalinists are reforming sheep!

The resolution of Leyland's combine executive has gone a long way towards ending the confusion and equivocation on the anti-Tory fight.

By raising the question of policy - not protest - before car workers, it has opened the door to a real struggle against the Tory government.

Reality

Those who fought for this policy must now go ahead and make this historic motion into a reality and not allow official acceptance to induce any complacency within their ranks.

Nor must they shut their eyes to the possibility that the Stalinists and the right wing will try to bury this motion in the same way as they evaded the issue of Pilkington glass.

There must be an untiring fight within the Leyland combine executive to propagate this policy not only throughout the industry, but throughout the whole trade union movement.

Oriented

The December 8 strike and the November 14 conference of the Liaison Committee must be consciously oriented in the direction of a struggle for this policy.

Leyland workers have already blazed a trail in the fight against Measured-Day Work.

We are equally confident that along the lines of the six-point policy they will blaze an unforgettable trail in the struggle to destroy Tory. ism and preserve working class leaders to fight!

Tories to resign!