Our record for 1969

THE WORKERS PRESS, like its forerunner, 'The Newsletter, is a paper that fights for socialist principles and • revolutionary leadership within the workers' movement.

1969 saw many decisive struggles either begin or develop in both Britain and throughout the world.

Our record as a fighting Marxist can best be way we measured up to these struggles, in terms of both analysis and policies.

"The Newsletter' began the ended it: by warning the Works ing class of the treacherous role being played by the TUC leaders:

"TUC preparing to accept anti-strike laws' (January 7).

efence of the trade union was the issue that loomer large over all the big strike struggles of 1969.

On January I1 we warned again: "TUC will capitulate'as indeed they did.

The Stalinists, as we also pointed out time and again, , as a focus of opposition to the Labour government's attacks on the unions.

FORD STRIKE

Under the leadership of AEF president Hugh Scanlon and T&GWU general secretary Jones, there was a retreat in the national Ford strike.

They both accepted the principle of penal clauses in the new deal:

Ford deal opens door to anti-union laws (March 22).

That is why on May 10 we again warned: 'A rotten compromise on the way' and insisted on May 27 that 'Trade unions must oppose the TUC The final deal between Feather and Wilson we roundly condemned as the TUC giving a '"Solemn and NEW PARK PUBLICATIONS ANNOUNCE A SPECIAL OFFER!

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And so, right through to December when the 'Hands off trade union rights! do support for TUC "Guide.

To underline the gravity of the TUC retreat on the defence of the trade unions, and to place the fight for working-class rights and conditions in their historical and international context, 'The Newsletter' ran a series of articles on the rise of fascism in Germany, Italy and Spain, each series showing how the weaknesses and often treachery of working-class leadership enabled fascism to come to power and destroy all the working-class organizations.

AND THEORY The point cannot be made too often or too sharply that the leaders of the British trade unions-right, 'left' and centre--are following in the same footsteps as their forerunners in Germany and Italy.

Only 'The Newsletter' (now the Workers Press) struggles to take these vital, and often complex, historical and theoretical workers' movement. into. the Without such an understanding, the working class is doomed to defeat, despite its militancy and strength in terms of organization.

'The Newsletter' fought for international working - class solidarity throughout 1969.

It was the only socialist journal to demand 'Withdraw troops now' (August 16) when British imperialism intervened For seven days only The Age of Permanent Revolution A TROTSKY ANTHOLOG' Editor Isaac Deutscher

man F. Long, Labour Party member A. Pearse and members of the NUR, T&GWU, ASW and ASTMS.

Thirty - five Southampton University students—including Communist Party members John Brierley, A. Basilensky and K. Ghoshi; Young Communist League members S. Garrett-Jones, P. Walshe and G. Tudor-are also signatories.

A CAMPAIGN by Young Socialists Luton brought the support of 28 tenants and trade unionists. Among them were CEU building workers members of the AEF, NUVB and T&GWU from the Vauxhall plant.