Workers Press no. 316

Either MDW deal to Dec. B What we think Evasion of General Strike call highly the wa Dinning writing tarian vernment viarsaen ..• But clear Mr Mardens spaces that leads the Tory government INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1970 • NUMBER 316 PRICE 6d

RGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

Over the top are y vertime in a political confidenc ° Press makes Workers determined De able to ar very here. sell the paper

BY A WORKERS PRESS REPORTER

THE ONE-DAY strike against the Tory anti-union proposals has, in Ine move wi spite of the limitations placed on it by its organizers, received a tremendous response from large sections of the working class.

POST OFFICE

Some of the latest estimates predicted have over million

ENGINEERS

workers to strike on the day.

DECEMBER

This to indud 2700 worked at r

CHANT

EIGHTH

Workers? British-Leyland plante being urged to stop work

'TORIES OUT

10,000 dockers at. Liverpool

ALL KADCU

UNIONS ALLIANCE

1 throughout by the *bic has been or sad t Meeting SHOP STEWARDS at British-Leyland's Cowley car-assembly plant believe the company's call for The postmen shown urgent talks about manpower changes to be a defeat thi ploy in its campaign for Measured-Day Work Make the trade : union fight the speed-up. Tories! Force the gov- capitalist papers. Disturbed by cumment to resioni s Daily Make crime i There appear to be

TUESDAY

nofficial, sed the whole of our dema good grounds for Dich threatened DECEMBER 8,5 p.m. this belief. The Lecture Hall claule systell meet Soless thick Central Halli

PAPER TERRIFIED

Speakers G. HEALY (National Sec carworke: strike as another symp- retary or socialist Labou *But it knows who its allies are and whom LeaGue nion officials' fears tha (Deputy it can rely on might be ea TUM Victor Morris Senio Steward heather de m Motors. Oxford

BY PETER READ

BYAWORKERS PRESS CORRESPONDENE

G. CAUGHEY

called was in 1966 Bill. So the TELEPHONE, radio and tele- A SMALL executive committee comprising dock redundant were ge File Committee at London' employers, major port users and a trade union were rOSu Umce Lowe. official to preside over a thoroughgoing IS brought to a standstill yester wonworkers three rationalization of the Mersey Docks and day when 3,000 engineers and Liaison Committee PRESIDENT Nixon's economic advisors are preparing Harbour Board. Chairman couch be she hist cecamicians walked out • altel WILKINS (ATUA Sec interlaced to issue a second warning on inflation this week amid Speed-up lunch mounting crisis for the US Administration's efforts to be retary, Dockers CoTher marched to Hyde Park ictatorshi workers are Trow weip for every overcome the problem. for Admission 2 confirmed in the

PAGE FOUR COL. 6

month" won't lift The real possibility of a US parti White overal article Hull black Something for everyone at the YOUNG SOCIALISTS respon Death warrants

GIANT XMASBAZAAR

5 before on glass o1 ine main use: of the port, with whom I hat lected undo on pal to litt Midging finance, Peyton told recent ove Saturday December 12 He announced that a to ever srodd is the s Corn Exchange price secured Post are i seeds a in and Leeds forth effect had cargo & showed a hefty 0.6 pe DOORS OPEN AT 11 a.m. cent rise. vith MDW the sout The new report will launch time, minion is stomate ments rection campalen been trype without success Hands off speak a and he cass Rad the sun me has led gates from all over the a hoiptua sot appr o the Posts once and Hand.

i the the Visit Aladdin friends thor great Park West ing the Tory government to resign.

at Cowley. and his canal cie to work. Monday Club raises use compen Only port interest rates, communist bogey 'Hull oa to colossal be- a how being - Can-Can Toys - Bingo - Books — Raffles - Plants theil Rights movement Records • Xmas Gifts Candy Floss _ Portraits - - Food Bargains — Lucky communismeans to an YS Boutique - Botte Draw -Olous division and mil White Elephant — Instant Photo — Babies Straws and i this par Clothes — Punch 'N' Judy - Home-made Food - Fruit the hopes Machines — Childrens' Clothes — Alligator's Head - Xmas tempt 1 CraS remove injustice Decorations — Father Christmas - All the best jumble Catholiss, they say Scarves, Hats & Gloves - Hot taken Teas & Refreshments and will be pushed tegundone vice Club mer other rights. Orange extremists.

• PAGE FOUR COL. 3

Ersion of Either MDW deal to Dec. B What we think Strike call and ther revealed by

HAL

trying.) naive to under 9000000 tim "Stars! Angrily riting so away INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1970 • NUMBER 316

RGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

POST OFFICE

ENGINEERS

CHANT

'TORIES OUT

BY DAVID MAUDE

SHOP STEWARDS at British-Leyland's Cowley car-assembly plant believe the company's call for urgent talks about manpower changes to be a ploy in its campaign for Measured-Day Work speed-up. There appear to be for grounds 2000 this belief. Sobless which ach figures uddenly bea ylanesterday work. Union officials tears tha man be ar • and that

BY PETER READ

BY A WORKERS PRESS CORRESPONDENT

imilar meet- TELEPHONE, radio and tele- A SMALL executive committee comprising dock services at London's omicial is ma or side ours and a trade going Tower were interst in a thoroughgoing preside brought to a standstill yester- runor thre rationalization Docks of the Mersey and day when 3,000 engineers anc PRESIDENT Nixon's economic advisors ar Harbour Board. technicians walked out to issue a second warning on inflation this lunch. Reason mounting crisis for the US Administration Dockers They marched to Hyde Park overcome une probiem won't lift Post Office White So discussion after thi parvale enterprise. Hull black article Nixonny Death warrants users. (See photo 4) port monetary squeeze. Government on glass departments are now 1 парора! week's report is ex éth doors 3 от поло ried oually he a state in dus- rises told out by glass com- products which hac latively fast wholesalester model assembly line circular to all dock Unior Index howed a nety of po * hat 1a3t computer and data trans- failure to agree

MDW

med meeit thột nors and that Pile The new report will launc General Motor construction wage settle- • Te part of a full scale Whitehal nationalized Election campaign but the selective denationalization at it per coot tonig ng it steward ing without success Yorkes a few appointing a Hands off black will go receiver. 1972 presidential election.

Reduction in the bank during the summer has 5 But instead of

DOCV

land data sate to ley. couragement. esistance to their speed-u growing to strike and the right Frighten Monday Club raises The cassic Keynesian Presumably Only port to than ha had no he Instead happened. FEARS that not even mil against Believed to be on th the freland robbing bast Brie lose of confidence is the Toress oy Monday Club. Oxtord steward MotorS o divisions and mill stead ye orard. contai General Motors Leyland n MDW is implement crisis, hich gave wage increases of will be pushed back.

• PAGE FOUR COL. 3

The daily paper that leads the fight against the Tory government PRICE Bd. Over the top sands ar made ss Tha atad WELL, we money lerwil meditin We overwhelmed support you give magniicent us each month. The political confidence which you place Workers Press makes us determined im- roving the paper. We hope tr e able to announce some ner proposals within the next few Now help us sell the paper extra cverywicre

BY A WORKERS PRESS REPORTER

coples to take into work, sell a copy to your neighbour, let THE ONE-DAY strike against the us expand and keep expanding into new areas. Tory anti-union proposals has, in We are on the move with of hundreds spite of the limitations placed on Thone nar trade unionists to force this Toyo end ent to reread it by its organizers, received a readers, tremendous response from large have a decisive role to play.

Please accept sections of the working class.

this wonderful effort. Some of the latest estimates predicted over million have a workers to strike on the day.

DECEMBER

This will include 47,000 workers at Ford plants throughout Britain, decided to back the strike over the weekend.

EIGHTH

Workers British-Leyland plants are also at belng urgea to stop work.

More than 10,000 dockers at Liverpool,

ALL TRADES

together doits tso decided to ioin the strike with tugmen watermen from

UNIONS ALLIANCE

London opposed throughout by the Wilchnas Deen TUC and the Labour Party.

Meeting At Saturday's Liverpool mass of meeting dockers, ( Workers and General urans Dor Union port steward Dennis Kelly was The Sould have postmen plauded" when he said that the Tories shown the way to be left in office for five years and must defeat the anti-union be brought down. laws! As already reported in yesterday's Workers Make the trade union Press, the expected magnitude of action and immense display of force on December 8, has leaders fight the prompted witch-hunt in almost all the Tories! Force the gov- cocac dader. ernment to resign! Disturbed by the fact that the strike is unofficial, yesterday's 'Daily Mail' comment

TUESDAY

this as "sinister trend' DECEMBER 8, 5 p.m. COlUas

MCDOMCO

which 'threatened the whole of our demo- cratie system'. The Lecture Hall Contral Halls

PAPER TERRIFIED

Westininster ing pad of the prospect of December 8 Speakers : being trend towards DaLL anrerot G. HEALY (National Sec- points out the noltı0a] Ctr-kec," the Post Office workers" strike as another symp- retary of Socialist Labour tom of this develooment. League) But it knows who its allies are and whom THORNETT (Deputy it can rely on. Senior Steward Morris 'Mr Victor Feather and the Motors, Oxford) are within their demo- inflation rights G. CAUGHEY (Chairman speaking out cratic Bill. Pilkington's Rank and Tse The opposition File Committee) This right does not seem to T. SWEENEY (Chairman exíst àố àn àd vorerd on shop floor are concerned London Councilworkers' Their action, continues the Liaison Committee) editorial, 'is to be condemned ic advisors are preparing Chairman: coud be she hirst s ter terms. It strongest A. WILKINS (ATUA Sec- inflation this week amid on the retary) slippéry slope to a shop-floor Administration's efforts to dictatorship • . . workers are Admission 2s

PAGE FOUR COL. 6

Something for everyone at the YOUNG SOCIALISTS

GIAN YMAS BAZAAR

Saturday December 12 Corn Exchange Leeds DOORS OPEN AT 11 a.m. Visit Aladdin and his - Plants - Can-Can Toys — Bingo - Books - Raffles Xmas Gifts - Candy Floss - - Portraits - Records YS Boutique — Bottle Draw — Food Bargains - Lucky Photo — Bables' White Elephant - Instant Straws - - Punch 'N' Judy - Home-made Food — Fruit Clothes Machines — Childrens' Clothes — Alligator's Head - Xmas Decorations — Father Christmas - All the best jumble - Teas & Refreshments — Scarves, Hats & Gloves — Hot

WORKERS PRESS

PAGE IWO

buk

MERSEYSIDE

DATELINE:

Part Two: Part One appeared yesterday THE GOVERNMENT list the unemployed as cold

(UNEMPLOYMENT

statistics. But for each worker without a job, life on tick ble is ra universe rise te simles seconds tick by to a whole existence. Slowly, without work, he becomes a changed and depressed man.

Unemployment for a young worker is a new and gloomy 'And the government that made me and those millions of workers experience. When they fight opposi- tor more wares the unemployed in the 30s is the government that is in power today.

tion is readily identifiable- boss Who reSISTS and clings to his profit. The faces change but they are the same in their hearts-enemies of enemy oh the unemo ye the the working people? that sara tin A St Helens worker remembers the Great Depression.

of the lained law of cap

STEPHEN JOHNS

money and without hope builds rrustrauon blames himself for his hours of thrrells awas idl perhaps he dav with ni We just scrape by at home bring excur evening cut economize solace. No more night down on things like meat the club SIons Worse than this is the one accusing cinema of being out of work gets on your television while has with your wite waits for steep. without a job older ГОГ workers the labour stie dark mem babes oe a bitter exchange Now pastike a ache recollec down there; tions of awful rkenhead exchange they ha flood He perhaps begar hack. or usea to nananng Di after improved Have ployed industrial their svstem he The setti on at. Une porse and he will die on the dole.

Lully palliu ment is Tory policy after all.

GEORGE BIBBY of St Helens ent or and RAY IBBETT is a boilermaker Pat Riley, one of an army of unemployed construction workers on Merseyside, with his family.

by trade. immediately into / institution Once he was in the money, the National gestab Tres hi then, and hit their lished by working Camme Laird, where ther Birkenhead, shipyard, ment to keeD armies pockets. unemployed youth 'out of mis.

coasun: arouna lical A high percentage streets of the town in his own _or ver. sacked months Pilkington 600 sevside's unemplove are con val. April structor workers. changed young were ot a felow worker in suspute glass workers in or ker. ush-bike to the exchange and from He has been without a job ever since. no work I withdrew my labour from Pilkingtons because I am, and where.

PAT

RILEY,

remain, trade unionist. site laboure have always fought for the free without a job fo to the over two months Ignt lo organize ana 1 wi same une aon t want any this right I'm finally thinking es no forets this t -that will mean he ceases she hiren. class to which he belongs 'Therefore this right is more

BEN

10 to dramatic, 1e 1 o for this right because this system and know don't so I'm Trying To Boat to 10. For a 66 there is nothing. was months Labour Ray Ibbett, once a boilermaker, now unemployed or you any more and I must in the hara, but m turned away. for shown me unemployed in what Tories really are. kind of jobs I unions foday.e the for pared to do ring. 'm ong) the "Ymen to make eate fac workers confi- are the ers servile like they were this enemies of the afraid mobilizing strength.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Tories, 'Being unemployed was demoralizing.

TOU

were bre the means test. pared to do steal thine. tell had in st money necessary uº days. They Helens week igher wages and better Con- off they and its ou had. had a day cutions. froyed remember it went. If you want to take Workers Press twice a week the rates are: * be to the boss becaus the 1ysu. save were havana o ness that ine lories are tying ill in the form below NOW and send to to bring in today. reulation Dept., Workoon don, sw 186a Clapham High st L would like information about

THE SOCIALIST

I would like To tako out a suberpion to Workers Pross.

who

LABOUR LEAGUE!

THURSDAY

MONDAY

and well organized. Days required (Please tick)

TUESDAY

FRIDAY

Only way to stop it is "the

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

of this and send to NATIONAL fill in the form below Full subscription (six days) for months. need

SECRETARY,

SOCIALIST

LABOUR

LEAGUE,

Name 186A CLAPHAM hah sI, LUNDON, sw4.

I ne trades councis one-day Address Name General this is the only kind Address Strike of language the employers and Amount anclosed i une 1ories understana Unemployment is a ey universe where the less seconds tick by— ¡eorge Bibby, a sacked ilkingtons glassworker, remembers the 1930s en he was on the dole for four years. the past. Their biggest allies have unemployed be- to be in this are the trade fore they realize, but then it union leaders who are afraid of fight- will be too late. ing. 'But I truly think that this *Its a fifty-fifty thing whether government is not as all pow- they will get away with it.

might think. erful as people So many people are asleep We this General Strike have aff 8. to what the government wants December Maybe they will all to do. What needs to be done is to

BBC 1

9.15 a.m.-12.25 Schools. 1.00-1.25. •O lein lein.1.30 Watch 1.45-1.53 News weather. 2.05-2.25 Schools. 4.20 with mother. and Play school. 4.40 Jackanory. 4.55 Animal magic. 5.20 The perils of Pitstop. 5.44 The roundabout. 5.50 News and Penelope magic weather. 6.00 NATIONWIDE. London. 6.45

QUIZ BALL.

Over'. Part two. 7.05

Z CARS.

•Stop

LAUGH PARADE.

'The Square Peg'. With Norman Wisdom.

7.30 is accidentally drafted into the army.

road-mender 8.55

POINTS OF VIEW.

9.00 THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS and weather.

9.20

'MAN

CALLED

WILLY

BRANDT'.

Tuesday's documentary. 10.10

MONTY

PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS.

10.40

24 HOURS.

11.15

POSTSCRIPT.

11.20 Weather. Tonight BBc 1 9:20 Tuesday's documentary

A MAN CALLED

WILLY BRANDT

BBC 2

PLAY SCHOOL.

•11.00-11.20 a. 6.30

TEST

CRICKET FROM AUSTRALIA. The First Test p.m. Match: Australia v England.

PROSPECTUS. 'General, Liberal, and Complementary?'

7.05 7.30 NEWSROOM and weather. FLOODLIT RUGBY LEAGUE. BBC 2 Trophy first semi-final: 8.00 Leeds v Hull KR.

WHEELBASE.

8.50 Constance Cummings, 9.20

MENACE.

'Nine Bean Rows'. With Peter Blythe and Fanny Rowe.

Charles Gray, 10.35 NEWS ON 2 and weather.

THE CODEBREAKERS. 'Pearl Harbour'.

10.40

ITV

Schools. 3.50 The Lone Ranger. 4.17 Hatty 11.00 a.m.-3.00 p.m. 4.55 Junior showtime. 5.20 Magpie. 5.50 4.30 Crossroads. town. News. 6.02

TODAY.

6.25

THE GHOST AND MRS MUIR.

TUESDAY FILM. 'Please Turn Over'. With Julia Lockwood, 6.55 teenage girl writes Ted Ray, Jean Kent and Lionel Jeffries. A a novel to impress her father and it becomes a bestseller.

THE LOVERS

8.30 •Pieces On A Board'. 9.00

GRADY.

NEWS AT TEN.

10.00

'IT'S A

SORT OF DISEASE'. Documentary about the obses- 10.30 of fishin PEOPLE TO PEOPLE. 'What's A Belgian?'

Sion 11.15

11.45 PARTICULAR CHURCHES.

REGIONAL IT

11.25 Farm CHANNEL: 11.00-3.00 London.

News V1.59 Weather. Action progress 4.00 Puffin's birthday greetings. 4.10 Enchanted house. 4.25 Sur- HAR Eomen today. 4.40 don.

4.55 London. ( 6.00 News, vival. Women weather. 6.10 Police file. 6.15 toda. 6.01 4.55 London. Report Lookaround. 6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 Movie: 'The "I Don't Care" Wales. West. 6.18 Report 6.35 8.00 Gaynor. Crossroads. 7.00 Girl'. With Mitzi 8.30 Bonanza. 11.55 Mr and Mrs. 8.30 London. 11.45 London. 11.15 Aquarius. Gazette. 12 News, Weather. midnight

HTV

(West) colour channel 61 above except: 4.16-4.18, 6.01-

WESTWARD.

Channel as 3.58 News. 4.00 Gus .6.35 Report West. except: Honeybun.

HTV

(Wales) colour channel 41 6.00 Diary. 12 mid- 6.01-6.18 12.05 above night Faith for life. dydd. Weather. HTV (Cymru/Wales) black and SOUTHERN: 11.00-3.00 London.

4.00 Houseparty. 4.15 Enchanted white above except: 4.55 Hymn 6.01-6.18 dydd. 10.30-11.15 4.30 London. house for children. 5.20 London. 6.00 Dan sylw. Day by day. 6.40 Screwball squir- 6.50 Film: 'Mystery Street'. 10.58-3.00

ANGLIA:

London. With Ricardo Montalban, Sally 4.30 News. 4.40 Enchanted Bruce London. 6.00 About Forrest and Bennett. house. 4.55 6.35 7.00 skeleton lonely Anglia. Crossroads. l 1s tound beach with no identification. 8.25 "The Battle of the Sexes'. With Robert Morley and better place (6, 11, 27 only). Peter Sellers, 8.25 and Hardy (10 Constance Cummings. Laurel and An Ameri- 66 8.30 11.15 can company send their only). London. female Tuesday, December 1, 1970 extend this indefinitely, even- tually it will have to come to this. "To fight for this is the only way to show the workers what kind of . stuff their own so- called leaders are made of.

'If we don't do this it will be the 1930s again.' efficiency, expert to Scotland. 8.30 London. 11.15 Conceptions of murder. 11.45 Reflection.

ATV MIDLANDS: 11.00-2.35

London. 3.49 Horoscope. 3.52 Peyton Women today. 4.10 Place. 4.40 Origami. 4.50 Flaxton 5.15 London. 6.00 ATV boys. today. 6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 Movie: 'Thunder in the Sun'. With Susan Hayward and Jeff Hayward. A of wagon train French Basques head towards California to start a wine indus- try. 8.30 London. 11.15 Better driving, weather.

ULSTER: 11.00-2.35

London. 4.30 Romper room. 4.50 News. 4.55 London. 6.00 UTV reports.

6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 Movie: "These Dangerous Years'. With Frankie Vaughan and George Baker. A liverpool gang leader gets into trouble as a National Serviceman. 8.30 London. 11.15 White line.

YORKSHIRE: 11.00-3.00

Lon- don. 4.15 Wind in the willows.

4.30 Matinee. 4.55 London. 6.00 Calendar, weather, 6.30 Nanny and the professor. 7.00 Film: "The Quick Gun'. With Audie Murphy and Merry Anders. A young cowhand becomes a gun- fighter. 8.30 London. 11.15 All our yesterdays. 11.45 Weather.

GRANADA: 11.00-2.35 London.

41.0 News. Peyton Place. 4.40 Origami. 4.55 London. 6.01 Six- 6.45 Film: -one. 6.15 Julia. "These Wilder Years'. With James Cagney, Barbara Stanwyck and Walter Pidgeon. Steve Brad- ford discovers some things can- not be bought. 8.30 London. 11.30 Four just men. TYNE TEES: 11.00-2.35 London.

4.10 News. 4.15 Mad movies. 4.40 Enchanted house. 4.55 Lon- don. 6.00 Today at six. 6.25 Where the jobs are. 6.30 Film: 'Calamity Jane'. With Doris Day and Howard Keel. Story of the fighting heroine of the wild west.

8.25 Mr Magoo. 8.30 London.

11.15 News. 11.30 Epilogue.

BORDER: 1.38-3.00 London. 4.10 News. 4.12 Telephone game. 4.40 Origami. 4.55 London. 6.00 News. Lookaround. 6.35 Cross- roads. 7.00 'The Honeymoon Machine'. With Steve McQueen, Brigid Bazlen, Jim Hutton and Paula Prentiss. Sailors on a spree Venice, in Italy. 8.30 London. 11.15 Better driving. 11.40 News, weather. SCOTTISH: 11.00-3.00 London.

3.40 Dateline. 3.50 Horoscope. 3.52 Women today. 4.15 Enchanted house. 4.30 London. 6.00 Dateline. 6.30 University challenge. 7.00 Hogan's heroes.

7.30 Marcus Welby MD. 8.30 London. 11.15 Late call. GRAMPIAN: 10.58-2.35 London.

3.49 News. 3.52 Women today. 4.15 Enchanted house. 4.25 Wally Whyton style. 4.55 Lon- don. 6.00 News. 6.10 Ron Thompson reports. 6.35 Cross- roads. 6.55 Western: 'Son of a 7.00 Gunfighter'. With Russ Tamblyn and Kieron Moore. Members of ley and the Ketchum gang escape from jail. 8.30 London. 10.30 Gram- female pian special. 11.15 Better driving.

Tuesday, December 1, 1970 IN THE performances and presentations of Agitprop you sense the potential power of theatrical political propaganda rather than its realization at this stage.

They are a group of exceptionally dedicated young men who all have full-time jobs during the day and and women, give over their evenings to the rehearsal and preparation of short plays, which they take about the country and perform to trade unionists. mit; they through experi- Their style of exposition is learn direct, drawing the hollowness of the call on Cartoot ence They use mime, demand range of images. to arms. They more. music, placards. Their aim is to The employer responds by trying events in to sack the militants and trouble present clear, revolu- tionary class terms. causers. Profit sags. I went down to Southampton Hence the need to introduce a performance at the to watch productivity deals and Measured- Extra-Mural Department of Day Work. -The employer offers Studies. lecture It was a small increases large at the orange carpet on the floor room, expense of increased productivity, 30, and an audience of about speed-up, the loss of the tea of whom were local shop many break, of piece work. stewards and convenors. To ensure that such produc- There that institutional tivity can continue, Wilson tries such hush that places engender to introduce, at the insistence of while we waited for the play to the employer, legislation which The smokers begin. among us will bind workers to these agree- searched for non-existent ash ments (the infamous Castle anti- Then trays. and trade union legislation) corridor From the outside silent opposition from the shop the thud of booming came floor. drum, followed by the blast of his Removing be brief case from and the into room a trumpet, his head, an ostrich from like a cross marched the actors, the sand, the trade union official, between band a brass and who has been all the party to strolling players' group. deals mouths 'Hands Off earlier moment of It clever the Unions' Was the groves of aca- uncertainty, There follows a tug of war harsh deme affronted the between worker and employer uneven music, and I wondered Strike for the we were in for another one if action defeats the Bill. of embarrassing, if well But Wilson has failed in his intentioned, theatrical experi- task to strap the unions to the ences. state and a new must be But The abrasive not so. brought in to carry on the work.

quality of the entrance met any Heath is brought into the light potential embarrassment head on of day, the and direct new and the players asserted a mood spokesman for the ruling class.

out of the uncertainty and com- He pushes through anti-trade manded the attention. crowned in her. union legislation. worker, Britannia wag agreed who has to productivity long purple robe, her shield the deals, now sees that all his rights her hand holding Union Jack, face have been removed by the Bill. golden and her trident, What faces him now is the direct like a whore, and painted marriage of convenience followed struggle for power. In condensed form this is between her and British capital, the essence of the play. It is in in bowler hat and dark suit.

itself simplified, but it does con- his black umbrella On were tain the real germs of struggle.

the golden words 'PROFIT', and Clearly there are weaknesses. the umbrella swell What made There and bloom like a flower with its tendency over parody the class and ruling lettering erect was the labour of TA gloss over the real extent of its the two workers in overalls and and inter- crisis both in Britain red shirts, whose movements of nationally. arms and legs and muscle worked the the machine and were Without a grasp of the inter- machine at the same time.

national crisis of capitalism, it is The relentless noise of the line the impossible to understand was cleverly created by the depth of the national crisis and of rattles rhythmic percussion its relationships to foreign mar- and drum, and the and scraper kets. spinning its In fact the decline in profit of umbrella went out profit as the final product of the the capitalist class is not merely machine itself. explained in terms of increased It was graphic and inventive wage demands. and drew together connections The overall question of value, were direct and immediately that liquidity, high investment rate grasped. sat forward my with short-term capital returns, now and attentive for reduction of and seat, eager the markets what would follow. profitable for capital, is outlet the impetus for the assault on working class tha internation. ally. The plate sketched out the bit, The tendency for the rate of torv Wilson government, fall, together profit to with Wilson puppet head, manipu- the pressure behind inflation, lated by Britannia. the need for an intensification of relationships between the The exploitation, increased Prodati employer. the boss, the the vity, extraction greater its spokesman and government, surplus value. and the need to the manipulative dealings of the make binding such i agreements trade hureaucrat involved nian by law. collective bargaining, which . It contradiction that ic thic form of horse was merely highlights the seriousness of the trading, the in which worker current workers attacks on merely sold down the line.

WAC

way to solve the the only crisis literally speaking, were presented of the ruling class, and it is this with a great deal of clarity and that raises tha auestion irony. workers' power so urgently. Perched their respective The weakness of this play, hierarchial ladder, rungs ofa promising though it is, seems to they commanded, connived, me to he of this order, though dealed to keep wheeled and the that it did cannot be denied forces and productive turning considerable impact have. the workers labouring. its audience, and the discussion On the floor, their voicing that followed was marked by grievances in tea breaks, sitting of the contribu- the seriousness astride a lavatory, one aggressive tions from the floor. and militant, the other com- And again it was here that the pliant, anything for an easy time, decisive factor that was absent the two workers literally are from the play, and is part of the driven, independent of their wills. Agitprop During one tea break they have a balletic fantasy of making Theatre: the boss work for them. Awake 37 Gordon begin ask for they to more Mansions, money. Torrington In a sense the play is a true, if simplified Place, version, classes struggle between for • London. WC1. then shinerofehe profit demand increased wage from the shop floor reduces the return, which though employers then laid off in increased prices, diminishes at the same time the competitiveness the product internationally. Hence devalua- tion. Devaluation is part and parcel of 'We must tighten our belts' speech of Wilson, the •I'm backing Britain' campaign, the Dunkeraue spirit- call to the which is beautifully exposed in Britain- parody of war-time calls to the nation under duress. militarism, Vera Lynn and We'll Meet Again', the whistling of Colonel Bogey. It's an excellent exposé of the whole weight of nationalism manipulated by the ruling class, while the reality, the graft on the as before. shop floor. carries on Yet the workers will not sub-

BRIAN MOORE VISITS

AN AGITPROP PRODUCTION

limitation that this company must feel hampered by. For what is crucial more than ever today, and this was Cere tainly confirmed by the meeting itself, is the role Marxist of leadership the struggle for 1n revolution. The play only expressed a sophisticated and important form of militancy. raised political there questions, yet no transmission mechanism to their realization. It was this fact that faced the audience and this that limits the work of Agitprop. The battle in the trade union movesten this reactioner strutore against reactionary is the battle for government leadership. Without Marxist a historical and theoretical under- standing of the role of the 'lefts' and social democrats, and more particularly Stalinism, then there will be the set backs and worse historical defeats on the agenda.

Again the latter, Trotsk vists are in an implacable battle.

The Stalinists, who betrayed the miners' strike, are the same people who are imprisoning Grigorenko. We must never forget that or blur that understanding. We are dealing here with the syphilis of the workers' movement.

•That sharpness, that fight for leadership above all, for and, Marxist theory, is the crucial task for the Trotskyist movement.

Without that perspective Agit- isolated prop must remain alal group, must circumscribe and limit their potential. And poten- tial they in considerable proportions. The fight for the English revo- lution that fight for leader- ship. To remain isolated from it outside of history to remain itself. BLACK PAPER THREE, published last week, would be the last said the editor Professor Brian Cox. Cox, who is Professor of they of supporting 'an accuse extremist group of progressive English at Manchester Uni- 'flooded the educationists' who versity said: 'We feel we are and television with newspapers propaganda'. in a period of moderate Cox The moderate reforms reform and we see no reason refers to of those are, to bring out another'. of the Tory policies government which have halted the activities Professor Cox the man of the 'educational extremists' behind the anti-student rights primarily by undermining the petition signed by 150 academics the crucial comprehensives and and leaked delegates the principles which they to selection

NUS

embody. conference just over week ago. "Wild' The Black Papers began as a reaction to the education policies describe Labour's of the Labour government and in The editors the latest issue the editors- -the policies 'wild and ill con- as A. sidered'. They say: other is E. Dyson- welcome of the political demise the 'Experienced teachers Labour Party and of Mr Edward were astonished to read articles and Short, State Secretary of for speeches that examin- Education and Science, whom proposing ations should be abolished, that be traditional subjects should "progressive" abandoned for Paratall sections should be banished from secondary educa- that should be no tion, there more streaming at any stage and that universities instead of being centres of excellence should turn comprehensive' But to describe of these any 'wild and ill policies as

CON"

sidered' is, as Edward Short told Thatcher, Margaret the to ny in of all education thinking face since the war. The real concern of the editors is revealed when they say: "The results of education permissive be seen all round us in the growth of anarchy. The sole justification for the Black criticisms made in the Papers determination safeguard the system of educa- privilege tional on which the more important, the nower and. survival of the capitalist class. rests. It is only necessary to look at the right-wing line up of con- the truth of to see tributors this. The team is led by Sir Cyril Burt followed by Professor Rich- ard Lynn, Mr R. Pedley,

WORKERS PRESS

A scene from the play

'PRODUCTIVITY

shown last week in Southampton University. Below: Measured-Day Work: I'm just measuring you up for vour coffin', Kingsley Amis, Robert Conquest and Rhodes Boyson. "The imme- The editors diate task now is to look ahead to secondary organization under a government that is not bound by dogma in education and to examine the great opportunities 'We can now build the best world and Mrs Britain Thatcher's first policy statements ive every hope that this wil se done.' Their anxiety for the state of the nation and for the survival of capitalism is apparent in almost every line. Comprehensives were a grass roots threat. They say: 'The Direct Grant schools and the remaining Grammar Schools are crucial not only for the children whom they educate but for the entire health of state education.' Levelling-up 'There can be no possible doubt as to the motives of the writers of the Black Paper. The editors say that given equality of opportunity the élitist schools will continue to set academic cultural and moral standards and that there is every chance of levelling up taking place.

Why the emphasis on moral and cultural standards? Why the emphasis on levelling up? Why not levelling down to the cultural and morals of the working class?

The reason is that the capital- ist class feels itself to be under attack and these are the first steps in its defence. The editors say: "The state will now continue to support schools which up- hold the finest academic and cul- tural values and which compli- achievement of the ment the great public schools' In their condemnation of com- prehensives as 'untried' and their eulogizing of the élitist schools, their concept of the future pat- tern of education is clear.

Opening the floodgates of edu- cational opportunity to the work- ing class with all the questioning of social norms this implies is something the Black Paper men will fight to the last. The student unrest, with which the papers coincided, has brought home to them the threat, how- ever minimal in reality, that educational egalitarianism pro- poses for the capitalists.

That it is the survival of this class which is uppermost in the editors' minds is clear from their confusing statements about com- prehensives to which, it turns out, they have no objection.

So long as they do not lead to the abolition of the élitist schools. They say: We are moving

PAGE THREE

PUBLIC LECTURES

Elements of Marxism The importance of Marxist philosophy in the building of the revolutionary party.

Lectures by C. Slaughter (Central_ Committee member of the Socialist Labour League) SWINDON 2, 9 and Botel, Manchester Rd, 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

Lectures by G. Healy (national secretary of the Socialist Labour League) SOUTHAMPTON: Polygon Hotel, the Polygon, 7.30 p.m.

Sundays. December 6, 13 and 20.

BEXLEYHEATH: Roberts Hall, Christchurch, Broadway, 8 p.m.

Tuesday. December 1, 15, and 22.

ACTON: Oddfellows Hall, Fletcher Rd, W3. 8 p.m. Thursdays.

December 10 and 17. Lectures by P. O'Regan (SLL) BALHAM: Co-op Hall, 47-51 Balham High St, SW12. 8 p.m Mondays. December 7 and 14 for a "better tomorrow". Above Itowards a time (say) 5 to when all we shall have reasserted the Cram F of children will of That selection. Direct Grant and importance selection should be more humane Schools and other comprehensive, and less rigid is matter schools, mainly but without will become the normal mode of general agreemenl, with selection there can be no educa- education, no stigma tion worth the name.' attached. Less lucky' 'no stig md attached The addition the words points to the consciousness that writers OWsl Almost as a footnote they add these schools will, effect, be in that there is a neud to help 'the the of the woking preserve less lucky and successful" and class. children in underprivileged areas.

For the sake of appearances their The editors conclude they try to share as much com- the utterly regressive statement with mon ground with progres- the notable words: they condemn as possible. saved For example they agree with the 'During the next few years we abolition of the 1l-plus but, of the moderate, sensible hope add that it should course, ther Sir reforms proposed by Cyril be by selection at 13 replaced Burt will accepted become instead. policy. Certainly at the Conserva- tive Party Conference this year 'Exclusive élite' Mrs have Thatcher appeared to her priorities right.' deny They are at pains to

IMPORTANT

that their system will produce an élite' they "exclusive yet return

READING

again and again to the benefits large' which will to "society at the continuance of result from the Direct Grant and Grammar Schools. Strategy and Tactics in the Imperialist Epoch by

JEON TROTSKY

Thatcher They will, say the editors: •Uphold the normal and cul- tural values of European civiliza- intellect tion and ensure that does not, by becoming divorced from such qualities, form a meritocratic world apart.

"It rannot be too strongly stressed that the main dangers to comprehensives comes, at this moment in history, from extreme "progressive" theorists who Available from would like to see our traditional New Park Publications 186A Clapham High St.. SW4.

cultural values overthrown.

Price 3s post inc. 'We do not doubt that the new system will set the pattern

PAGE FOUR

Burroughs launch work force control system Production one come equires that horker, on into computer terminal. Read off intreas can be read off outlet ter- ment on to monitor eras written in he b to control ta and claim then pre- extract tht of moder -Hoods as Provide the equipment he uses Developing and their puters Working operations type of 'Unity' talks denied stockholm achieve wing' unity.

ORDER YOUR

POSTERS

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UNION LAWS!

2s per poster 30s for 20 s or Sociast a our is toi Street 186a Contam, S4

LATE NEWS

JUKES 'GLIMMERS'

si Datin there aer econ of light' NationEmp been left to have been ms they had

BOAC PROFITS DIP

BOAC

mancia year. first

MOAKERS PAESS

IT'S VERY

good, ex- nor hindi its en CONTRIBUTING to the discussion on the All Trades productivity Unions Alliance's draft Charter of Basic Rights today ice the is the convenor of N London's British Oxygen plant.

Arthur Lennon workers re- few Arthur Lennon has been convenor of Queen's St I can see is to change the BOC for the last two years.

systee. presented for discussion, ste vardre holai nest seep The Charter will be me incenter amendment and voting at the second annual con- ference of the ATUA on December 19, and each day until then Workers Press will be carrying contributions LIBERATION forces again harassed government t the along Cambodia's main rice carrying road, Highway | to a continuing pre-conference discussion.

• what mates Readers are invited not only to let us have their from Phnom Penh to Battambang.

This is tion the Tories views about the Charter, but about points raised by The Lon Nol them chop and change;

BY ROBERT BLACK

others in this discussion.

because Com- system that regime High But a lost of the iness Phnom Penh, which mand also admitted strike set the hi agree mices a wages and higher and higher is already besieged that Liberation leads on all sides by guer- forces because the more money we, it end, Haynave l rillas. filtrated the capital, said ration ally leanels spokes in Phnom Penh for several months now. FOR THE guerna day Fee positions was kille! NLF hen 35 mhe: 3v of Da Nans

SURPRISE

here was also a success Saigon. TORY GOVERNMENT farm policy and restriction on production could egg US - 05 Thunderchr out prices to at least the 7s-a-dozen mark after Christmas, accoraing to some sources J. B. Eastwood, the world's zone near the Laos frontier.

WEATHER

has led to speculation ice president CrEAto though showers Wear Mersey Docks and Harbour the oring the Nw. Board omicials were in Lon the end of the wet season.

don Treatso Ministeralks Interviewed on Washing- case entains as sinter or at considerably Joan reylon over the Nw production port's future. see story page on intensive if some The trend over recent years has towards latest Outlosome raW at times times and

BY A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT

DEMOCRACY

cers at the eate 20,000

FROM PAGE ONE

bhe s. FOR THE second day running, E German border Sas on cateptie. guards yesterday slowed down traffic on the s year. in 1963 ropped from three main routes leading from W Germany into W Berlin. munists: The egg production industry The Ulbricht regim Berlir atta mantr

ALL TRADES

mas on sunday have a severe problem of er 'We have to prevent them ectly maintains tha actendorsed the call for production.

UNIONS ALLIANCE

Betray, warned and Sovie yesterday ent arned W Berin against w

MEETINGS

activities in worse de No stomach Discuss the proposed draft of all the factory's Britain by hold ups for Tory the Charter of Basic Rights betw ween 5 and • of Chris- being crippled by surpluses Many other Sheffield factor- SWOrD Pries Head Fallen an Democrats policy significant Visit 'risky' It 1s over tear Brea after At Stalinist general secretary er the of fowl pesi

SOVIET

writer an over been Mr Nies prospecte West The Smal HaD Black.

REVERSE DECISION

aahle that his situation was excuse for raising to risky, The Christmas p eriodces over

PACT MEETING

three weeK producers could not accept the He fears e prices barred country Sweden. again. joined port December 8. offcingsway Coad- porting Trades I missions Already Soviet Decem quarters

BY A WORKERS PRESS CORRESPONDENT

i Ship bu ding and Engine Public Meeting

SALINIST

lack Dash evidently found that mas- • in he alis in the are Meanwhile,

THURSDAY,

uni- querading around the between Urbricht an Londelights in

DECEMBER 3

tension here versities as a now-retired Thash dockers' 'leader' does not 7.30 p.m. fill up his time. trip The fight for workers' friend alreadake a party round rights Inflation soverent to TeEn Party Congress'. - the

• FROM PAGE ONE

• FROM PAGE ONE

(Napnak Secretary spirits of footsore tourists.

about 15s an hour, cost-of- difere oes with Mos other E European countries.

ension OPs titude to th tringe Tory Growing lobby

BANACKING GLAND

VISIT POSTPONED

Patin Shee the Americar ommon Market inders ba campaign drastic disciped- uP lobby for Luch nderlining the E German go from bem are, attack a its Warsaw I as the scheme begins workers' wages offensive the December meeting. Heath's urgency of the

BREAD OUEUES II

if the American super Steps ay. sack

DOZEN

fected. There loyers of Unilever suedes pries are to be down taff will be ears Strike entered wa the sackinlines due na within first come of itoeven then e. , the operations room Tuesday, December 1, 1970 More demos expected as Basque trial opens

COLONEL

Manuel Ordovas, commanding officer of the 11th Armoured Regiment, is over the to preside court- martial of 16 Basque Nation- alists which opens in Burgos, N Spain, on Thursday. The prosecution is demand.

ing death sentences for six of the accused men, all of whom are said to be members of the Euzkadi ta Azkatazuna vernment troops yesterday (Basque Nation and Liberty) movement. i, Highway Five, which runs The opening of the much- postponed trial is expected to widespread spark strikes against the Franco regime.

from making trouble In Madrid, the university If they are not communists has been closed temporarily I think all political groups following a number of auda- have now a freedom and a cious demonstrations against right to act the way they the trial. think More than 100 professors at This is the repressive the university have voted to police who military regime propped up strike against the by Nixon, have been brought the Agnew and com- onto pany in the USA. campus in an attempt to dis- courage demonstrations. Liberals like Senator Full- bright are becoming number of prominent uneasy about the alliance, which is opposition leaders, including liberals a growing strain on the ail- and social-democrats, been economy and the have rounded by ing. Franco's police as part of their dollar. campaign to ensure the neces.

Appearing on television, for the trial to Senator sary 'calm' the attacked take place. Nixon's 'Vietnamization' has which in Weekend 'widened it [the war] fact up into Cambodia and now demonstrations revived it in its intensity in N Vietnam and Laos'. There was a demonstration A new guerrilla offensive against the arrests outside the in Vietnam would undoubt- Madrid Justice Ministry at the up the edly step US ruling weekend. weekend also saw class crisis, and deepen the The splits already visible in its of demonstrations number ranks. against the regime in Bilbao This would and Barcelona. create even more favourable conditions There persistent are for the US working class in that rumours one or more its struggle against the students were killed by police Nixon rightward during a series of demonstra- moving Administration. tions last week. Second Annual Conference Discuss

THE CHARTER OF

BASIC RIGHTS

The right to a job, to strike and organize, to retain gains made, to fair prices, to welfare benefits and to decent housing. Defend and maintain these rights in a fight to force the Tories to resign.

BIRMINGHAM

Sat. December 19 Digbeth Civic Hall, Digbeth 10.30. am For delegates' or visitors' credentials send 5s to Alan Wilkins, ATUA secretary, 53 The Hiron, Styvechale, Coventry.

WORKERS PRESS DAMPULAT

by BERNARD FRANKS Measure and for every Trade Unionist Packed with information on all types of deals 160 pages Illus. 3s 6d Available from Workers Press, 186a, Clapham High St, London, SW4.