Pits showdown is near

homes. THE NATIONAL Coal Board said yesterday it would not improve its latest £2 offer to avert a national miners' strike due to start on Sunday week.

Speaking on the 25th anniversary of the nationalization of the mines, an official said the Board was ready to face a strike.

ou have to be determined when vo ave made the best possible offer in th circumstances,' he said. 'We have gone as far as it is possible to haven't been any approaches from the miners executive or any move from us.' The Board's firm stand means that talks can only take place if miners' leaders break with their policy of 'no more discussion without a better offer'.

Lawrence Daly, National Union of Mineworkers' general secretary, confirmed yesterday that in the absence of an improved offer, the executive will also hold firm at its final pre-strike meeting next Wednesday.

On the executive, president and leading right-winger Joe Gormley can usually count on a 13 to eight vote for possible moves towards compromise.

But with the Board standing rock har hehind Turv policy to drive down real wage the right block has little room to manoeuvre itself out of a confrontation. One NUM official expressed the 'crisis this way yesterday:

'The strike will be on and I don't think there will be approaches from anybody. I think the government is determined and I think the Coal Board is doing what the government is telling it to do. I think the government wants a confrontation.' Plans laid by miners' leaders, however, appear to fall short of the kind of mass mobilization needed to meet what will be the bitterest strike since the war.

Organizer Kevin McCorry, said yesterday that the demonstration was not aimed at provoking any wide section or grouping in Ulster.

And, as the Rev Ian Paisley had gone on record as opposing internment, McCorry invited him to join the demonstrators.

Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party has 'utterly condemned' the march and stated that it is prepared to take 'necessary action' if Stormont allows it to go on. 'We demand that the lawbreakers same ment as Mr Faulkner seemed onty too delighted to mete towards his brother Orangemen at Dungiven.' political crisis heightens both N and S of the border, the three Irish Labour parties-the Irish Labour Party, the Social Democratic Labour Party and the N Ireland Labour Party-have agreed to set up an overall organization to co-ordinate their political work.

The proposal was agreed at a private meeting between ILP leader Brendan Corish, SDLP delégate Gerry Fitt and NILP TOU! leader Erskine Holmes.

This amalgamation is directly in line with the secret plans to hold a tripartite- summit in London later this month involving representatives of the Tory parties from Dublin, Belfast and Westminster. the Labourites, & Tory deal is co-operation.

Reactionary Westminster opposition leader Harold Wilson already offered full support for scheme which will defeat the Irish working class and maintain the ruling class.

Transport unions have all The reactionary role which promised 'full co-operation'. will be played by the ILP was But specific pledges are less revealed in a letter in than the miners would like to see-a complete ban on Browne, a Labour deputy in the movement of coal stocks, the Dail. save those to hospitals, old- Likening the Republic to a aged pensioners, old people's corpse and the IRA as -maghomes and similar institutions. gots', Browne said:

The Transport and General «There is simply no Workers' Union, which rotted flesh left for them to organizes most dock labour, devour and the maggots must has yet to send any specific finally instructions to members over another in order to live out coal imports and the National their short life. Union of Railwaymen has Browne's vicious statement merely issued the general has to be taken in conjunction dispute instruction — telling with outbursts from another members not to do any extra ILP spokesman Conor work that would injure the Cruise O'Brien. He record as saying IRA men in Plans by other unions are Dublin should be arrested as being kept secret because they accessories to 'crimes' in the may constitute an unfair indus- North.

• SEE BRIEFLY Page 4 KeeP LeFT Forward to a weekly 'Keep Left' In ANNUAL GENERAL Saturday January 8, 2.30 p.m. East India Hall, East India Dock Young Socialists National Speaking Contest PRESENTING THE NEW YOUNG SOCIALISTS 1972 special eventagi Almachon 7.30 p.m.-10.45 p.m.

PETE BANKSISOUND and THIRD WORLD MARI Tickets 40p (Including Meeting and Dance)

Avallable from 186a Clapham High St, London 8WA.

ratify six International Labour Agreements recently adopted in the Spanish Cortes (parliament). These include laws relating to hours worked in coalmines and the medical examination of young workers.

Spain has now ratified 89 of the agreements of the International Labour Office, more than any other memberstate.

Presumably the International Labour • Office now considers that workers have more fréedom under Franco's fascism than anywhere else on the planet!

ALL TRADES UNIONS ALLIANCE the Tory government CROYDON: Thursday Return a Labour govern- campaign. ment bledzed to restore full OXFORD. (Inint mostina employment and repeal all laws against the unions!

READING: Monday January 3, 8 p.m. Trades and Labour Hall, Minster St. Discuss ATUA Manifesto.

BIRKENHEAD: Tuesday January 4, p.m. Music Hall Hotel. Right-to-Work' campaign.

SW LONDON: Tuesday January 4, 8 p.m. Small Hall, Clapham Manor Baths, Clapham Manor St, .SW4. Tory government conspiracy. W LONDON: Tuesday January 4, 8pm. "Prince Albert, Wharfedale Rd. Make the Tories resign.

trial_practice under clauses of the Industrial Relations Act.

Militants on the coalfields are also criticizing the internal strike organization established by the executive.

Liaison committees of 50 to 100 should be elected at every pit to run the strike and keep day-by-day contact with all trade unionists in the area.

The big transport unions should stand together and make their specific intention regarding co-operation with the strike clear.

The miners, and all unions, should recognize that the strike is a political issue involving the survival of the Tory government.

Special Course of lectures Natlonal Conference decision to prepar bullding of the Party SUNDAY JANUARY 2 Historical Materialism today BEAVER HALL, GARLICK HILL (Nr Mansion House tube) 7 p.m.

given by G. HEALY (SLL national secretary)

MEETINGS with Young Socialists): Sun Pain Real o woo cam paign.

WILLESDEN: Monday January 10, 8pm. Trades and Labour Hall, High Ra.

Support the miners.

BRACKNELL : Tuesday January I1, 7.30 p.m. 'Red Lion', High St. Discuss ATUA Manifesto.

BEXLEYHEATH: Tuesday Upton', Crook Log. unions and basic rights.

DAGENHAM: Wednesday anuary 12, 8 p.m. Roon l1, East Ham Town Hall The struggle for socialism in Bangla Desh.