Workers Press no. 895

workers press

REVEALS TORY

INCORPORATING THE NEWS

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

ONE OF the most fateful meetings in the history of trade unionism will take place at Chequers today, when the Tories will try to reach agreement with the union leaders on running the capitalist economy against the interests of the working class. Top of the agenda will be and state control of wages this affects working every and in the woman man country. They must decide whether they of the want to be the pawns or workers Tory state machine, free fight for the highest to possible standard of living.

We have no doubts what the be. The Tory plan answer must must be rejected completely and contact with this discredited all anti-working-class Tory gov- and broken-off immediately. ernment Not fooled But the who lead the men Feather: Leading have already made unions UD Chequers' delegation their minds. They have accepted Party likely to prove ...

is it the principle of wage control and likely to be thought more effec- agreed subordinate the in- tive than Labour in pursuing terests of their 9 million members what increasingly emerge as to the so-called 'national economy' should be policies that properlv that Heath is so fond of talking national socialist called about. Older workers will recall that Today they will go one step haggle national socialism was the theory further and over the price of this treachery. The TUC Hitler and of the fascists like Mussolini. In the interests of the call it tactics. But no one should 'national economy, and with the be fooled by this big talk.

initial of co-operation many The horse-trading and aT01. German and Italian trade union and 'wealth ments prices over leaders, they destroyed the taxes' only give the Tories time and working-class movement prepare the ground for the to murdered its militant leaders.

working offensive against the class. which is certain to come These issues are embodied in after entry into Europe early the Chequers talks. Heath made next year. this clear when he spoke to the Tory Party conference on Satur- Let no imagine that the one The wages and prices plan Chequers is just about dav. meeting he is offer the said, an wages. employers and the unions to Yesterday Peregrine Worsthorne share fully with the government knowledgeable one of the most the benefits and obligations in- Te in ein the tatoday Telegra on.

laid it commentators national volved in running the economv He asked what the latest Tory Of course the ruling class and meant: the unions moves Guar Tory the Tories are a long way from "How persuasive is the of action in this manner.'

THE ASSOCIATION of Scienti- Managerial Terry Casey, general secretary Technical and fic. National 55.000-strong Staffs yesterday record of the went on opposed to any of Schoolmasters, being "flativ Association as agreement between the TUC and said yesterday that he had sent Victor had arbitrary telegram to government which an urgent to challenge wage and limits within Feather urging him salary todav's it'. the government Chequers Clive Ten- talke what he

ASTMS

secretary AvOr kins said after his 20-man execu- considered a 'breach of faith' by had tive had met: "We decided unani- the government, who mously that we would not feel promised that an extra allowance would be paid London bound by to ourselves any agree- ment which limited our freedom teachers from November 1.

HE NEWSLETTER • MONDAY OCTOBER 16,

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

fascism. They must smash the working class first. In fact Heath's overture to the union leaders on Saturday was a sign of weakness. Heath knows that if there were a General Election tomorrow his government would come crashing down. He knows also that the only force standing between him and the verdict of the working class are the union leaders. these Time and time agaın have come forward, held men back the working class and saved the government from destruction.

They did it over the miners' strike, over the railwaymen's strike, over the confrontation over the dockers and now they are helping out once more.

Postponed union leaders have Already imposed their own wage freeze.

The government industrial wor- kers have had their claim put binding arbitration. The to miners' leaders have postponed their battle until own pay December and the electricity workers' leaders have reduced their own claim in line with the governments own state pay plans. All this gives the Tories that crucial breathing to get space into Europe and attack the working class from a position of greater strength—it is surely no secret that bosses in every board- room are devising their European strategy which will involve big sackings and closures in Britain.

It will be from inside capitalist Europe Tories will that the launch their offensive to smash the labour movement in the in- Clive Jenkins OBER 16, 1972 • No 895 • 4p

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

Witch 'Expert' Mrs Betty Reid hunters unite on Clyde... the SLL

SEE PAGES 9 & 10

terests of the 'national economy'.

SLL Central Committee This is the plan the TUC leaders are co-operating with at Chequers member Cliff Slaughter today. answers two recent To meet this challenge workers need to take the initiative.

This articles in the 'Glasgow Trades Unions All is why the Alliance is putting forward its and Herald' written with the Charter of Basic Rights organizing its annual conference next Sunday, October 22. collaboration of the This routine meeting no Communist Stalinist Charter a pious nor is the de- aim will be to claration. The anti-Trotskyist Party's launch a new initiative, to break workers from the rotten ana 'expert, Mrs Betty Reid corrupt union leadership of the right and the so-called left.

The Tory government is weak.

RAIL JOBS

It could not stand up to the organized strength of the working

TO BE CUT

With this conviction the class. All Trades Unions Alliance goes See Alex Mitchell's forward with the fight to force the government to resign as the Special Report p. 12 basic towards defending start rights. The way trade unionists

SUNDAY OCTOBER 22

10-30 a.m Send for delegates' and observers' cre- Secretary, dentials from: Conference R. Goldstein, 103 Lewis Flats, Dalston Lane, London E8 SPECIAL TRAIN FROM RUSTON, LONDON, £1.50. COACHES FROM OTHER AREAS Union Branch Names, addresses and No of delegates/observers I enclose E as delegates fees Signature of secretary

workers press

REVEALS TORY

WE WEAKNESS

INCORPORATING THE NEWS

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRA

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

ONE OF the most fateful meetings in the history of trade unionism will take place at Chequers today, when the Tories will try to reach agreement with the union leaders on running the capitalist economy Top of the agenda will be state control of wages and this affects every working and in woman the man country. They must decide whether they of the want to be the pawns or workers Tory state machine, fight for the highest free to possible standard of living.

We have no doubts what the The Tory plan answer must be. must be rejected completely and contact with this discredited all and anti-working-class Tory gov- ernment broken-off immediately.

Not fooled But the men who lead the Feather: Leading made unions have already up Chequers' delegation their minds. They have accepted Party likely to prove. • is it the principle of wage control and likely to be thought more effec- agreed subordinate the in- TO tive than Labour in pursuing terests of their 9 million members what increasingly emerge as to the so-called 'national economy' policies that should properly be that Heath is so fond of talking called national socialist about. Older workers will recall that Today they will go one step national socialism was the theory further and haggle the and price of this treachery. The TUC of the fascists like Hitler Mussolini. In the interests of the call it tactics. But no one should "national economy, and with the be fooled by this big talk.

initial co-operation many The horse-trading and arou- German and Italian trade union and 'wealth ments prices AVOr leaders, they destroyed the taxes' only give the Tories time and working-class movement prepare the ground for the to murdered its militant leaders.

offensive against the working class, which is certain to These issues are embodied in home after Europe early Heath made the Chequers talks. entry into next year. this clear when he spoke to the Tory Party conference on Satur- that the Let no one imagine Chequers meeting is just about dav. The wages and prices plan 'is offer the he said, an to wages. employers and the unions to Yesterday Peregrine Worsthorne share fully with the government one of the most knowledgeable the benefits and obligations in- laid it Torv commentators on national volved. running the the line in the 'Sunday Telegraph'.

economy' He asked what the latest Tory Of course the ruling class and meant: the unions moves Tory the Tories are a long way from 'How persuasive is the of action in this manner?

THE ASSOCIATION of Scienti- Managerial Terry Casey. Technical and general secretary fic, 55.000-strong National Staffs yesterday record of the went on Schoolmasters, 'flatly opposed to any Association of as being agreement between the TUC and said yesterday that had sent ho Victor telegram to government which had arbitrary an urgent to challenge limits within Feather urging him wage and salary today's it' the government at Chequers talks what he

ASTMS

Clive Ten- over secreta-mare een- considered a 'breach of faith' by kins said after his had tive had met: «We decided unani- the who government. mously that we would not feel promised that an extra allowance be paid London merse which limded our treedom- hound would to ourselves agree. teachers from November I.

HE NEWSLETTER • MONDAY OCTOBER 16,

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOC

fascism. They must smash the working class first. In fact Heath's overture to the union leaders on Saturday was a sign of weakness. Heath knows that if there were a General Election tomorrow his government would come crashing down. He knows also that the only force standing between him and the verdict of the working class are the union leaders. Time and time • these again men have come forward, held back the working class and saved the government from destruction.

They did it over the miners' strike, over the railwaymen's over the confrontation strike, over the dockers and now they are helping out once more.

Postponed Already union leaders have imposed their own wage freeze.

The government industrial wor- kers have had their claim put arbitration. The to binding miners' leaders have postponed their own battle until pay December and the electricity workers' leaders have reduced their own claim in line with the governments own state pay plans. All this gives the Tories that crucial breathing space to get into Europe and attack the working class from a position of greater strength—it is surely no secret that bosses in every board- room are devising their European strategy which will involve big sackings and closures in Britain.

It will be from inside capitalist Europe that the Tories will launch their offensive to smash the labour movement in the in- Clive Jenkins BER 16, 1972 • No 895 • 4p

IE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

Witch 'Expert' Mrs Betty Reld hunters unite on Clyde... against the SLL

SEE PAGES 9 & 10

terests of the 'national economy'.

SLL Central Committee This is the plan the TUC leaders are co-operating with at Chequers member Cliff Slaughter today. answers two recent To meet this challenge workers This need to take the initiative.

Unions articles in the 'Glasgow the All Trades is why putting forward Alliance is its and Herald' written with the Charter of Basic Rights organizing its annual conference next Sunday, October 22. collaboration of the This is routine meeting no Stalinist Communist nor is the Charter a pious de- will be to claration. The aim Party's anti-Trotskyist launch a new initiative, to break workers from the rotten and 'expert, Mrs Betty Reid union leadership of the corrupt right and the so-called left.

The Tory government is weak.

RAIL JOBS

It could not stand up to organized strength of the working

TO BE CUT

With class. this conviction the All Trades Unions Alliance goes See Alex Mitchell's forward with the fight to force Special Report p. 12 the government io resign as the basic towards defending start rights. The for all trade unionists Send for delegates' and observers' cre dentials from: Conference Secretary, R. Goldstein, 103 Lewis Flats, Dalston Lane. London E8 SPECIAL TRAIN PROM RUSTON, LONDON, $1.50. COACHES FROM OTHER AREAS Union Branch Names, addresses and No of delegates/observers as delegates fees Signature of secretary I enclose €

PAGE 2 Workers Press, Monday October THE WORKING class has the strength to bring down the Tory That cannot government. doubted after the strike battles that have taken place so far this shipyard year. Miners, dockers, builders-section workers, after section of workers has gone into action against the government's plans to impose state control of drive down living wages and standards. All that saves the Tories is the cowardice of the Labour and trade union leaders and Com- munist Party treachery. To that must be added the supplementary anti-communist like International Socialism group.

Its main function is to hold back the development of political the working consciousness in To this end it sings the class.

FOREIGN NEWS

PUPPET PRESIDENT of Sout ing the return of his ambassad round of discussions on the ind wake of intensive secret talks but both sides have made it settlement. AFRICAN miners at Wankie No 3 colliery in Rhodesia are safety still strike over on standards at the pit where 400 miners were killed earlier this year. the usual Ony about half Saturday shifts turned out and management claimed about 300 1,200 the underground of 'resigned' because workers had of the dangers at the pit.

The strike began last Wednes- day when about a third of the underground workers refused to go into the colliery after hear- ing reports of evidence to a commission of inquiry into last June's deaths caused by a mas- sive underground explosion.

Expert witness Dr Leslie Wil- lett, deputy director general of mining for the British National Coal Board, had told the com- mission that he felt there was a possibility of another explosion unless the owners carried out his safety recommendations.

Owners, Anglo-American Cor- poration, subsequently claimed to have carried out the recom- mendations and Dr Willett later told a radio interviewer that the colliery was now safe. The miners remain uncon- vinced. SOVIET and US representatives have signed a shipping agree- ment hailed by the Nixon ad- ministration as a first step to- wards a new era of expanded trade. Final details of a full trade package negotiated since May äre still under discussion, but a comprehensive pact is expected to be signed later this year.

y October 16, 1872 praises of spontaneous militancy which in practice keeps workers in line behind the very leaders who are selling them out day by day. Workers can only break from their old leaders in . the course political struggle. This re- of quires conscious effort by the revolutionary party to train cadres who will expose these • leaders and go beyond the limits of spontaneity. Nowhere has this been demon- strated clearly than at more Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. In the early days of the work-in in August last year, the Is paper Worker' 'Socialist screamed 'Militancy Can Win at UCS'. In all that followed the International Socialists never once fought the On the contrary, CP Stalinists. these state capitalists-apart from lEWS of South Vietnam Nguyen Van Thie nbassadors to Paris and London be the Indo-China war. Thieu recalled et talks between the United States : ade it clear that there has been lit North Vietnamese politburo told reporters when he left Par that there are still many difficu White House press secretary Ronald Ziegler commented: 'We would not challenge Le Duc Tho's statement.' This was Washington's only com- ment on the results of the talks. Thieu's fate is widely believed to be one of the talks' stumbling blocks. The National Liberation Front has demanded a government of by national concord formed Saigon merging the present government and the Provisional Revolutionary Government with other groups in South Vietnam.

They have stipulated that Thieu must go as part of any ceasefire deal. Thieu said last week: 'We will have peace only with victory. We have to kill the communists to the • last man be- fore we have peace.' He added: 'Those in South "Vietnam who want to promote a coalition with • the communists should raise their hands. I am the population and the sure soldiers will not let them live for more than five minutes.'

Thieu's dictatorship has been badly shaken by the liberation offensive which began • in April and continues to take a toll of the puppet forces. His opposition to any deal with the NLF indicates his desperation and his tear that the Americans may sacrifice him.

POLICE attacked students at the funeral of a 26-year-old law José Antonio Ribeiro student, in Lisbon on Saturday.

Santos Santos was shot on Thursday when President Caetano's police raided the Higher Institute of Economic Sciences and broke up a students' of the national anthem by 3,ing mourners after Santos' burial changed to chants of 'Long live Liberty!' and 'Murderers!'

some minor and discreet critic- isms-slavishly covered up for the CP not only on the Clyde, but on the docks, the building sites and throughout the trade union movement. When the Stalinists со- operated with Jack Jones in getting striking dockers back to work, to accept Jones-Aldington, the 'Socialist Worker' declared that the dockers were 'not worthy of their stewards'. Now, when the UCS settle- ment' has allowed 2,500 jobs to go with many more threatened, and has accepted compulsory arbitration, penal clauses and the abandonment direct wage 'Socialist Worker' negotiations, complains that 'the "victory" is not nearly as great as it might have been' and constitutes 'another step away from the best traditions of the trade union movement' (October 14). 'Much more was undoubtedly possible' say the state capitalists.

Yes-but not without the ex- posure and removal of Stalinist stewards James Reid and James Airlie. But throughout the work- 'Socialist Worker' covered in, up for these leaders . . . and does so still. The IS paper the CP says from' boiler- 'failed to break makers' leader Danny McGarvey.

Much more was involved than that. an Thieu was yesterday await- don before beginning a new recalled his diplomats in the States and North Vietnam - been little progress towards a olitburo member Le Duc Tho left Paris for Hanoi on Friday y difficult issues to settle.

President Thieu: Recalled envoys THE SPANISH Commun- ist Party resolutions at its 8th Congress re- recent flected the extreme right- ward turn of international Stalinism. 'Mundo Obrero', the Party organ, reports that the Con- expressed opposition to gress Spain's immediate entry into the Common Market because it would be harmful to the national economy. It was thought, however, that European economic inte- gration is a reality and that TEN YUGOSLAVS have been charged defrauding with Zagreb import-export enterprise of f1.8m and of leaving it nearly £9m in debt, in the biggest finan- cial scandal in Yugoslavia since the war. The Zagreb district public said the prosecutor accused embezzled the money Reid and Airlie consistently carried out the policies Stalinism, which is an inter- counter - revolutionary national force serving the interests of the Soviet bureaucracy. That was why they allowed the yards to be split, and de- nounced workers who fought for wages as 'rat-racers' The state capitalists, who write off the gains of the Russian Revolution because they consider the Soviet bureaucracy to be more powerful than the Soviet working class, follow behind the instruments of that bureaucracy in Britain-the CP and its Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions. Basically, the revisionists are convinced that the working class is incapable of going beyond its leaders, reformist and Stalinist just as their forebears—the Men- sheviks-were convinced that the Russian workers could not go beyond capitalism. the October 14 Writing in issue of 'Socialist Worker' , Tony Cliff argues that 'many workers are prepared to accept arguments in favour of wage control and that 'millions of trade unionists are being conned by the Tory policy's appeal to "fairness".

He goes on: The struggle against the Tory incomes policy -and any Labour version to come-must not be left just at the economic level. The struggle THE TENSE situation contin as the leader of striking Quinteros, refused offers of me Salvador Allende to end the which is paralysing the countr The union of lorry-owners called the strike last Wednes- day against government plans to set up a state transport service in the far south of Chile. After a fight between strikers and police on Thursday in which one lorry driver was killed the government declared a státe of in ten emergency provinces. Two hundred lorry owner-drivers arrested, including the were president of the Transport Vilarin, and Federation, Leon four other union leaders.

In a nationwide broadcast, General Hector Bravo banned all public demonstrations, the publi- cation of any news which or extreme, could be 'alarmist and announced the setting up of street patrols by the army and police. The Christian Democratic party, which runs the Transport Federation, retaliated by closing down all shops and businesses.

The petty-bourgeoisie which has been the target of Allende's the EEC 'is problem not a divides demo- which today cratic forces. In the event of the coming to power of a popular govern- will occur not ment, which through civil war or insurrec- tion, but 'political revolution', the CP would 'support an agreement for association with the EEC which would allow co-operation with European countries as the renewal of for themselves and for their firms abroad. They carried out the fraud by making taise in- voices, inventing, business deals, evading exporting capital, customs and tax payments and usurping export premiums_in- tended for other enterprises. Two of the accused, both directors for the hearts and minds of the workers is now more important than ever before' But if struggles are to go beyond 'the economic level' they become political. And must central to a political struggle against the Tory's plan to impose state control oi wages (not just an 'incomes policy') must be a fight to force the Tory govern- ment to resign. This is the central issue which the International Socialism group consistently avoids. Last week another member of the IS Executive Committee George Kelly-gave an interview witch-hunting series of to articles in the 'Glasgow Herald'.

'What we do is service strikes,' claimed Kelly. 'If a group of workers have a grievance, then organize considerable we can help for thein-leaflets, publicity and on the picket lines.'

In other words—no political struggle, no fight against the Stalinists and the Labour leaders.

Just more militancy and a bit of 'service. This is precisely what the IS group contributed on the Clyde.

so doing, they assisted In Stalinism to prepare a sell-out and save the Tory government.

Now they are forced to inherit its legacy of betrayal. continued in Chile yesterday riking lorry owners, Adolfo is of mediation from President end their five day-old strike, country's transport system.

showing that they are in no way interested in his policies.

'national unity' programme are The more he tries to appease them by the moderation of his programme, the more they strike out against his Popular Unity government. In a radio broadcast Allende attacked those who use has political strikes against the 'imperialism when government attacks Chile by putting an em- bargo on its copper'. Yet on Tuesday he shared the platform with leading Christian Democrats at a mass rally against the copper embargo. During last week, the Chilean navy was en- gaged in naval manoeuvres with the US navy off the coast of Chile. All talk about 'anti-imperial- ism' and the Chilean 'road to socialism' in such conditions to 'left' demagogy amounts aimed at disarming the masses as civil war is openly prepared against them. That is precisely what Allende le's and the Stalinists want.

Spain's economic structure allowed it to compete. Santiago At the same time Carrillo's Party will 'unite its forces with communist and socialist parties and demo- cratic forces which are for the democratization of the ЕЕС.... With this policy, the CP professes to consider work Spanish immigrant among workers as 'extremely import- ant', yet they already bear the load of EEC super-exploitation and repression along with millions of other immigrants in France and Germany. of the enterprise — Metalium — had fled the country. The others include three senior clerks of the enterprise, a private crafts- man, a director and a senior clerk of a provincial enterprise, an acting-director of a Belgrade bank branch and a director of another Zagreb enterprise.

THE FELIXSTOWE THREAT

TO DOCKERS' JOBS

The creation of a large European pool of un- employed through ration- alization is one of the keystones of the policies of the monopolies in the Common Market. A recent report from the Commission European Brussels which deals with developments in the textile industry shows the trend well under way. The report points out that between 1966 and 1970 the number of workers employed in the textile industry in member-states of the EEC went down from 1.76 million to 1.68 million and that the extension of the EEC to include countries like Great Britain will accelerate this tendency. The pious bureaucrats in Brussels express a hope that they will be able to use money from European Social the Foundation in order to create new jobs. When Spain enters the EEC, the number of unemployed textile workers will certainly rocket. For some time the Franco government has been closing down its antiquated factories in preparation for its European coming of age. In 1961 the industry, based mainly in Catalonia, employed 118,000 workers, in 1971 the figure was 84,000. is being Rationalization carried through under the National Plan for the Restruc- turing of the Textile Industry.

This describes how in situation of permanent tech- revolution' nological structure of Spanish textiles is 'characterized by out-of-date machinery, excessive capacity and small firms'. Certainly an accurate description industry an with 476 'firms' which employ from one to five workers and only three factories with over 500 employees. But it is a bleak future for the 2,000 textile workers who in the last six months have joined thousands of European textile workers in the ranks of the unemployed. This planned unemployment in European textiles-the last- ditch effort to beat US and Japanese competition — belies the idea that the EEC is any answer to factory closures.

British capital is moving into the French food-producing in- dustry. Many French firms are still relatively small and few are as large as the British giants. "The British financier is 'Le everywhere' reports Monde', 'He comes. He sees.

He conquers.' Cadbury-Schweppes is build- ing up strength in the soft drink and fruit juice industry.

Its latest prey is the family firm of Pampryl which pro- duces fruit juices in the heart of the Burgundy wine country.

The government has not yet given permission for the take- over and would prefer to see consolidation of French a fruit-juice producers. After January I, with Britain's entry, it may no longer be possible to prevent it.

SEL

By our industrial correspondent Steadily growing out- side the embrace of the National Dock Labour Scheme is the East Anglian port of Felix- stowe. scheme - registered As dockers' fears for their jobs revived last week, despite the of Jones- promises Aldington report, IMM Port Development "Ltd was letting the first building in a new Felixstowe warehousing com- plex. The IMM consortium has let the building — a huge, 175,000 sq ft warehouse adjacent to the docks—to the US military for operation as a storage and distribution centre The case for nationalization of the docks and transport industry

SEA/FLAND

SEA J/LAND

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE POCKET LIBRARY NO $

By Stephen Johns, and tan Ygats • Price: Thirty perce All are avallable from 186a Clapham H Or The Paperback Contre, 28 Charlott CA It- for non-perishable foodstuffs.

Which is no surprise, since the £10m needed to develop the 54-acre site has come almost entirely from US sources. It is somehow appro- priate that the first beneficiary should be the very agency by which, in the last analysis, US capitalism maintains its invest- ments. •The warehouse is the first of four, the second of which is already nearing completion.

Eventually the complex will include a cold store, a 300-bed 'Lotel' for lorry drivers and 160,000 sq ft of office space.

The site, which is held on a 99-year lease from Trinity College, Cambridge, is situated soon-to-be-completed near interchange with Felixstowe's Stephen Johns' and lan Yeats' timely articles on

CONTAINERIZATION

now put together in a useful pamphlet which makes vital reading for dockers and all workers fighting for the right to work. Available as below 30p Clapham High St, London SW4 TUG.

8 Charlotte St, London W1.

Workers Press, Mo southern relief road. This will give access both to the docks and to nearby Ipswich. in Partners

IMM

are Trust International, Bankers'

IMM

British Anzani and Transportation Services. Felixstowe's attractions for such hard-bitten concerns are not the 'scenic' character of the docks, or the 'maritime air' of the storage and distribution facilities, which the about ridiculous advertisements placed by letting agents Deben- ham, Tewson and Chinnock wax poetic. Felixstowe •is considered a safe bet precisely because it is outside the Dock Labour Scheme, which gives dockers a statutory title to their jobs and joint control with the em- Press, Monday Oclober 16, 1972 PAGE 3 Above: Felixstowe port and con- tainer depot. In the background huge warehouses are being built.

ployers over discipline. The equivocation of the Transport and General Workers' Union leadership in the fight to register ports like Felixstowe is extremely dangerous here. Like the use of casual labour in the regis- tered ports, to which Jones- Aldington has given rise, it is attack on the •a backdoor Scheme itself. must not only Felixstowe be brought within the Scheme, it must be nationalized with- out compensation under workers' control in common with the rest of the port- transport industry. Moscow Trials Anthology Paperback, 62½р

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THE JAY LOVESTONE

PAGE 4 Workers Press, Morday Octobe From Stalinism... to the CIA.

EMPIRE

In January 1947, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) Ex- ecutive Board issued its list of approved organiz- ations to which state or councils could contri- bute. Numerous relief agencies were included, but those for war-stricken Poland and Yugoslavia were proscribed. The National Negro Congress was out. The right-wing American Legion was in. In 1948 the CIO, continuing its witch-hunt of the Com- munist Party, decided to reject calls for a third party and to support Truman. also adopted a right-wing foreign policy resolution, of which a supporter said: "There is no pussy-footing in this resolution. There are no . We say to the Soviets: with the co-operate peace, United States of America."

That is what we say and that is what we mean, and that is what they will finally have to do' The 1949 CIO convention decided on a constitutional amendment barring anyone who was a CP member or who 'pursues policies and activities directed towards the achieve- ment of the programme and purposes of the Communist Party' from sitting on the executive board. CIO leader Murray then on to announce the went establishment of investigating committees to examine charges against unions of supporting CP policies. More than ten unions, with a combined mem- bership of one million workers, expelled. The CIO was were made "safe' for 'democracy'— into the Cold and enrolled War, at home and abroad. Meanwhile, Jay Lovestone, having distinguished himself as an anti-communist expert while on Homer Martin's staff in the auto-workers' union in the 1930s had continued his rise in the labour bureaucracy.

His patron again was David Dubinsky, leader of the Inter- Ladies' national Garment Workers' Union, himself one of a number of right-wingers who had left the Socialist Party.

In 1938, Dubinsky had decided to lead his union out of the CIO and back into the AFL. In 1940, this leader of the traditionally radical gar- ment workers threw his sup- port behind the conservative building union's leader, George Meany, for the post of secre- tary-treasurer of the AFL.

and Matthew Wall formed sky Free Trade Union Committee.

wing veteran right- Woll, a

AFL

leader, had earlier joined Dubinsky in a body called the American Labour Conference- on International Affairs. This body publishes a paper called • The ALCIA the 'New Leader' has recieved considerable funds from the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union. It has also been revealed to have received grants from the J. M.

ay October 16, 1972 he CIA. By Charles Parkins. Part Eig Kaplan Fund—a CIA conduit.

In 1944 it was Dubinsky who Jay Lovestone as suggested secretary for the Free Trade Union Committee and also recommended him as an adviser on international affairs to George Meany. In 1950, Dubinsky himself was involved in a typical bit of AFL-CIO international affairs.

He made a trip to Israel, arranged by the US ambassador to that country, to have talks with leaders of the Histadrut (Israeli TUC). Since then, the Israeli labour bureaucracy has been an important ally of the American union bureaucrats in efforts in Afro-Asian their countries. Kenya's Tom Mboya and African union leaders other received political training at Afro-Asian the Histadrut Institute. The AFL-CIO Inter- Affairs national department has funded this Institute and provided some of the staff.

On March 13, 1951, George Meany made a review of the AFL's international work, referring to what he called its 'world network in the fight against communism' • Together with the British TUC, the AFL and CIO had managed to split the World Federation of Trade Unions and set up the Inter- national Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Meany spoke of the also Free Trade Union Committee, headed by Woll and Lovestone, and the work it was doing. He spoke of the criterion for AFL 'aid' to 'free' trade unions that the recipients should be fighting against communism. On the subject of delegations invited by the AFL to tour the USA, Meany said: : have found in 'We these delegations sources of invalu- able strength and effectiveness in our great struggle against the enemy-the common menace of communism.' Meany referred to some of the AFL representatives work- ing abroad-Henry Rutz in Germany, Richard Deverall in Japan, Serafino Ramualdi in charge Latin American activities, Irving Brown-then in Europe, although later to take responsibility for on African affairs. Brown an old Love- was stoneite, having worked to- gether with Lovestone in the United Auto Workers' Union.

The role of this network of labour agents for US imperial- ism • was described by Sigrid Schulz, a German journalist, in an article in 'Colliers' magazine in November 1947. She des- cribed how the movement for re-armament against German communism was gaining ground because opposition from Ger- man trade unionists was being weakened by the stand taken American labour by the leaders. 'Pronouncements by the vice-president of the American Federation of Labour, Matthew Woll, play an important role in the "get ready for war" campaign. Hundreds of thousands of organized workers in the Ruhr and in western Germany have been flooded with photostat copies Woll's editorials in the Inter- national Free Trade Union News. The Germans take Woll's statements to mean that "Ger- for the many must rearm coming war against com- munism"" Previously, in November M. 1946, the American unions' art Eight Top: Guatemalan paratroopers trained | has imprisoned thousands of trade u written in praise of the regime.

activities in Latin America had been brought into sharp focus by the publication in the Cuban trade union paper 'Hoy' of photostats of docu- ments which it had obtained.

One, dated June 27, 1946, was a letter from Matthew Woll to the head of the Cuban Mari- time Union, Juan Aravelo.

The letter, on AFL stationery, said: 'I was delighted to receive your letter and report of your meeting with Ramualdi and of developments in Haiti. I will be pleased to hear later from regarding the interview you with the captain of the Military Intelligence Service and like- wise your visit to Port au Prince and to British Jamaica where you intend visiting Bustamente. I will also await further word from you regard- ing the Dominican Republic'

CONFLICT

The other letter which 'Hoy' exposed was from Aravelo to Bernardo Ibanez in Chile. The subject was a plan to split the trade union movement in Chile and in other Latin American 3 trained by CIA support a regime which f trade unionists. Meany (above) has countries. In 1954, when the conflict between US imperialism and the Arbenz government in Guatemala began, Meany made it clear that the AFL bureau- cracy would stand four square with US imperialism. In an open letter to Arbenz, Meany called on him to stop attacks on US imperialism in the Guatemalan press; to purge 'communists, the unions of and so forth. In March, Meany suported Us government policy in an journal. editorial in the AFL Three months later, when the CIA-instigated coup had forci- bly • overthrown the Arbenz Ramualdi regime, Seratimo wrote in the AFL journal, the 'Federationist', about his trip to Guatemala after the coup.

He praised the intentions of 'liberator' Castillo-Armas and said the people were 'solidly' behind him. He claimed that Castillo-Armas had given definite assurances that trade union rights would be preserved. In actual fact, within a can month, Castillo-Armas had dissolved the major unions in Guatemala and some 5,000 to 8,000 people, mainly trade unionists, had been imprisoned.

So this was 'free' trade union- ism, as supported by Meany, Lovestone, Ramualdi, and the

CIA.

Meanwhile, in Britain, an organization was established in called "Common Cause' 1951 Its aims were clearly stated— fight communism to and industrial militancy. Its sources of funds were a little more obscure; but it is known that besides certain British indust- rialists who contributed some of the cash, the main source of funds from the United was States. In 1959, following an internal squabble inside 'Common Cause' some information was leaked and it was found that organization the was also supplying funds for IRIS—the 'Industrial Research and In- formation Service', ', operated by group of union retired officials to put out witch-hunt- ing and anti - communist material in the trade union movement. In an article in The Sunday Times' on August 4, 1968, Eric Jacobs wrote that, among other things, 'Common Cause was prepared 'to pay the and expenses of trade wages unionists who need time off to carry on the anti-communist struggle'. 'Common Cause' was also a source of funds in the ETU court case. Many of the functionaries employed by 'Common Cause' are retired service officers. But in 1963 they were joined by the late Jim Matthews, former National Industrial Officer of the General and Municipal Workers Union, who became a director of this business- financed organization. 'Common Cause' Was another outpost of the Love- stone Empire? Certainly it seems to have been set up with parallel aims to those of the AFL-CIO-CIA conections. And it should indicate that leaders are American union not unique in having this sort of reactionary connection.

TOMORROW: The Lovestone network in action.

FARMWORKERS

TAKE ON

FLORIDA

SUGAR EMPIRE

Reprinted from the 'Bulletin', League of America. By Bruce McKay Battle lines have been tautly drawn in Clew- Florida, in iston, what promises to be a decisive between struggle the United Farm Workers Florida and the sugar industry backed by the American ruling class as a whole. It has already been demon- strated that simple militancy or trade unionism is insufficient to win this struggle to or defend the union against the vicious attacks being openly prepared by the sugar com- panies and the government.

Nor can farmworkers de- pend the strategies of middle-class protest or on the good will of politicians and political parties which dre financed by their enemies. The only road forward is the fight for a labour party. Union leaders now are -in Florida, faced- Arizona, in in California-with the united front of the employers and their government determined and for all the to break once movement of farmworkers. United States Sugar Corpor- ation, the largest of the Florida companies, coupled its arrogant rejection of the UFW's recog- nition demand with a thinly- veiled threat which clearly ex- posed the political nature of readied the offensive being against the union.

MAO GIVES

HEARTY

'WELCOME-IN'

TO GERMANY

On October 11 West Germany became the latest capitalist power to establish diplomatic ties with Mao Tse-tung's China. All German ties with China severed 1937 were when Hitler's Third Reich allied with Japan, which was then at war with China. After the massacre of the 'Black September' terrorists and racialist campaign by Chancellor Willy Brandt's against immigrant covernment workers, Mao a hearty gave welcome to this government's representatives who have worked hard to bring back the shadow of the Third Reich.

The Bonn-Peking agreement the respective was signed by Ministers, Foreign Walter Scheel and Chi Peng-fei, in the midst of the usual Chinese the so beloved by Ceremony Stalinist bureaucracy when it is fêting imperialist politicians. After the diplomatic chit- chat, there were mutual toasts with Chinese champagne Ionowea Dy Danouer ma une Great Hall of the People: German capital is Western organ of the Workers "There may be some legal concerning the questions UFW's right to represent our because officials employees the Secretary of State's Irom office informed the have us UFW is not a registered labour of organization the state Florida,' US Sugar President John B. Boy told reporters.

This is an outright lie used farmworksose Bov Solen with the power of the employers' state. Not the

UFW

only is registered, but. its organizers have been forced to submit to the photographing and finger- printing required by the state, which only serves to make readily identifiable growers. As the UFW prepares to battle the Florida sugar industry, Cesar Chavez and the of rest the union leadership fail to draw the necessary con- clusions from the struggles in Arizona and California. In- stead, the leadership union continues to foster illusions George McGovern and the Democratic Party. The struggle to organize the sugar industry, meanwhile, has been diverted into a campaign to pressure the Nixon Admin- istration through demon- strations and through the use of the court system to keep out the Jamaicans imported by the companies at low wages to Cut case. This is a dangerous course.

As the capitalist crisis deepens, Republicans and Democrats are Above : Chairman Mao. West Germany is the second largest trader in search of much more than however. The ceremony, Europe detente with eastern which has shown the profits are to be made by making in- the degenerated into roads workers' states by kind per- mission of the bureaucracy.

Above : Florida sugar worker and his chil quickly joining hands to smash the movement of farmworkers throughout the country. Men like Ed Ball, the union- busting billionaire owner Talisman Sugar Corporation, stand behind the most reaction- ary elements who make their home in the Democratic Party —men like George Wallace.

Dr John Grady, mayor of Belle Glade and candidate for the State Senate from the sugar growing area, is a former vice-president Atlantic Sugar Association and a mem- ber of the John Birch Society.

Until deciding to run for the Senate as a Republican, Grady was a Democrat. US Sugar stands behind the Democratic Party as well as McGovern's behind George campaign. Chairman of the Board of US Sugar is Charles Stewart Mott, at 97 one of the largest shareholders in General Motors Corporation and a Bendix Corporation director.

ermany is the second largest trader After Japan, West Germany is already the second largest trader with China, with a total of £100m. annual turn-over can only rise This figure extremely rapidly with the rightward turn of Chairman Mao. Workers Press, Mo nd his children. The employers are determined t Mott's grandson Stuart R., heir to the family's immense fortune, is a US Sugar director.

He is also McGovern's biggest campaign backer, with a tidy contribution of about $350,000 —some of it perhaps from US Sugar's whopping $7m profit last year. Finally, Florida is a right-to- of work state, and liberal' Reubin Democratic Gov Askew fully supports the open provision shop of the state constitution, paralleling Mc- Govern's votes in favour of Section 14b of the Taft-Hartley Act which allows states to enact open-shop laws. Most of the farmworkers interviewed by the 'Bulletin' want no part of the so-called 'friends of liberal labour' 'None of the politicians we have right now are any good,' said a woman field worker. 'I don't even know who this Mc- Govern is. All I know is that none of them has ever done On October 11,

TUC

general secretary Victor Feather began a five-day visit to Poland at the invitation of the Central Council of Trade Unions

(CCTU).

The visit is not just a rest from the hard work of talking with about a state pay plan the Tories, but is to discuss Stalinist colleagues with his the preparations for the forth- coming European security con- ference. secretary Rysard

CCTU

Pospiesznyski is very enthu- siastic about what he calls 'positive' developments in the European trade union move- ment and wants to sound Feather out on prospects for bilateral co-operation and the staging of a European trade union conference. The security conference will attended by Stalinist bureaucracies and capitalist governments in Europe, includ- ing Spain and Greece. This anti-working class conspiracy Press, Monday October 16, 1972 PAGE 5 ermined to break the movement anything for working the people of this country? A former millworker at US Sugar said: "The President gets up there and says what's what for everybody-for all the working people. If we get a things will be labour party, different. We'll start telling these big corporations how to run things.' Another woman said: 'All I know is that I work out in the fields all day long picking tomatoes for $12 a day. Now, that isn't even enough to live on anymore. We need some- thing. I think a labour party is a good idea.' The UFW must carry for- ward the struggle begun in Florida and in California and Arizona off the path of reform- ism into a relentless fight with- in the labour movement for a labour party committed to socialist policies. A state where the closed- shop is outlawed. Above: TUC's Feather needs and is getting vital sup- port from trade union bureau- cracies. • The CCTU leadership gave its full backing to the breaking of the Irish cement workers' strike and the Asturian miners' strike by shipments of Polish cement and coal to help out the respective bourgeoisies.

Perhaps this international scabbing, under the guise of 'socialism in one country' is one of these positive develop- ments in Europe? The strike-breaking activi- ties of the TUC leadership are well known. The accept- ance of the Tory wage freeze has long ago been acknow- ledged by leading members of the CBI and Heath's cabinet.

This get-together of bureau- crats in Poland can only mean more danger for the European working class.

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Monday October 16, 1972

PHOTOGRAPHS BY P. J. ARKELL

BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

him from the rehearsal (rehearsal pay at the by freeing Nicholas Hunter is £12 a week); for ordinary hardships (how moment is actor in a long- young keep a family on £19 a two weeks' paid holiday running West End play, sickness week?) allows him. con- year; for three weeks' centrate his mind on the prob- 'A My pay at full salary; for a Voyage Round lems of the claim. And there £l-an-hour week and Hay- Father', the at overtime; and a number of are many. He's For instance the fact that market theatre. demands, including a other won't meet it. guarantee of eight weeks' em- been in the acting profes.

tne employels for They've offered a £30 mini- allowance ployment, three sion for nearly wage from touring. and a scale. of pay- mum pertormance January 1. But for rehearsal years, he's married, and ments for understudying other pay their offer is f25, and fl for which actors at parts, his wage is fl9 a week. à year till 1977 And Equity present get nothing. For this he works every has stated that £30 is a 'non- The claim lodged in was negotiable demand. day of the year so long as December last year, a full six They've offered one week's before Nicholas months the runs except play holiday a year, or a week's pay Hunter got his job at the Hay- Christmas Day and Good negotiations in lieu, whichever they shall market. They've offered decide. no Friday, when the are ber le, he wont benefit expected to continue man- reduction in hours and have agement can deduct one rejected the demand for fl an by their outcome so far as this They've offered eighth of his salary. hour overtime. job is concerned. sickness nothing on If he's sick he goes on half However if he gets another next lo pay. And so on West End job between now pay for three weeks, and atter and the end When the of 1977 he will, But this. so tar as tauty: that nothing. play leadership is concerned, is not since the agreement is to run closes in London this week he for five years. That was the con- the main problem. goes on tour for three weeks.

After that he joins the 90 dition the empioyels assocla laid down before they per cent of actors who are un- tion employed. (This figure was would agree to negotiate, and 'The Times'. that condition was accepted by After all, as they say, nego- given recently by are a matter of 'give tiations Gerald Croasdell, general Equity's negotiators. Marius of the and take' and their purpose secretary of Equity, the actors' Goring, one to produce, at the end of the negotiating team, is also in a union, said in a speech at the West End play, acceptable "package successful an Brighton TUC that the figure deal'. But Mr Goring's pay was 70 As to what 'Sleuth'. per cent. is rather better than Nicholas They put in a claim for th be done about unem- Is to They in ployment, he has said nothing.)

members.

NSCUYC

the course of several months of the Equity's present claim for gross 'give and take' the box office, which in busy of the West End theatre is for a table at what point the week could mean about : £250 minimum wage of £30 a week, No doubt this kind if wage, ployers will concede no more.

and for both playing And at that point they pack their bags and return to the nembership to present then package of concessions in the best possible light. This is realism, realism being determined by the all- important criterion of main- taining stable relations with the employers. The main problem for the leadership is the membership.

The claim is launched in a the economic period when crisis of capitalism gives rise to class battles on a scale not seen since 1926. In one con- workers flict after another have demonstrated their readiness to fight back against a government determined to take away rights won in 200 to drive of struggle, years the down wages, to reduce working class to pauperization.

and these This crisis developments must affect all sections of workers and pro- fessional people. Actors, who con- were ditioned to see themselves as the occupying a place on margin of society, now find themselves in the centre of struggle, subject to the same pressures as workers every- where. Unemployment, which they told to accept as a were peculiar hazard of their chosen profession, now, as it mounts to a level where it engulfs the entire profession, can be seen to be only a chronic reflec- tion of unemployment gener- ally. The closure of MGM studios and the threatened closure of Shepperton and cf numerous theatres are seen to be not arbitrary mishaps, but part of the crisis of the entertainment industry within the crisis of industry as a whole. Under these conditions the role of the leadership becomes apparent. The collapse of the against the Industrial fight Relations Act, symptomatized by the presence of the general Industrial in the secretary Relations Court pleading for 'approved closed Equity's shop'-on the very day when the Court was handing out prison sentences to the five dockers—is a prelude to the retreat of the TUC leadership, which recognizes now accepts the Act. The deal which the Equity Council has made with the BBC is a prelude to the wage- cutting which the government, with the active assistance of the TUC, intends for workers everywhere. Four months ago, when the agreement Equity-BBC new was introduced, the BBC began cutting actors' wages. This attack was not without warning for anyone who cared to read the signs. For some while before seminars had been held in the BBC inform- staff of the ing production necessity tighten budgets to and cut costs. It had already been an- nounced in the press that the overall budget for the drama department had risen by only 2 per cent despite an increase in costs of 12 per cent.

MARKET

Council Nevertheless the opposed resolution at a Equity's Annual General Meet- ing calling for an immediate termination of the agreement on the grounds that the full facts of the case were not yet known. For the next three months wage-cutting continued A precedent was established maior employer whereby a could cut wages without any reprisal from the union. The union's only action during this period was to issue a circular to a small section of the mem- bership informing them that a crisis was at hand. And this was shortly followed by an- which other circular an- had nounced that a solution been found. of the problem,' it "Much 'arose from the fact that says, the BBC now wish to lengthen existing 45-minute programmes to 50-52 minutes [for which there is a better international market]. Under the Category system [i.e. the old agreement], cast costs [i.e. wages], would have been double those of 45- and the minute programmes, BBC's attempt to achieve a rationalization brought inevit- able cuts in former Category B levels.' In other words the BBC is in financial crisis. In order to increase its revenue it has to compete on the international market, and to do that it has to cheapen its product by cutting wage rates. The new agreement allows it to do precisely that. It can now lengthen narrative serials, classic serials, programmes like 'Dixon of Dock Green', any 45-minute programme, and pay actors 50 per cent less than the increase they would have got under the old agreements.

The price of the new agree- ment is a productivity deal, which is imply wage-cutting in different clothes. Wage rates which stand in the way of rationalization are dismantled — by arrangement with the union leaders. So with every step that the leadership takes towards the employers and the Tory gov- ernment, it draws further objective from the away requirements of the rank and file. And at the same time it is compelled to have recourse to more and more undemocratic methods in order to main- tain its position and carry out its policies. In the case of registration the Council resorted to a referendum in order to reverse the union's policy of total opposition to the industrial relations laws. It opposed a resolution at Annual General Meeting which reaffirmed total opposi- tion to the Act and called on the Council demand that to the TUC mobilize the trade union movement in a campaign to defeat the Act in its en- tirety, on the grounds that the referendum prevented it from taking any action. Nevertheless the resolution was carried by majority. overwhelming an then the Council has Since ignored it.

SECRET

Similarly, in the case of the West End claim, the Council warned that whether or not the membership rejects the 'offer,. employers' final decide Council itself will whether to accept it. It is clear therefore, that so far as the leadership is con- of the cerned, the policies union are to be decided by secret ballot, in accordance the requirements of the with Act itself. They see the function of Annual General Meetings of the membership as merely consultative, while they deter- mine the wages and conditions Workers Press, Monday O which, in practice, facilitate employers needs productivity deals speed-up, and rationalization. What is important, how- ever, is that this retreat of the leadership towards corporate state policies is the opposite of the growing movement amongst the rank and file.

This movement does not occur evenly or predictably.

In the builders' strike it was those which sections were traditionally least organized which took the lead the development In Equity takes place in the West End, traditionally the most con- servative section of the mem- bership, overlorded and intimidated by the aristocrats of the theatre. The initiative taken by the company of 'Hair' and by many of the London deputies in lobbying the Council to demand an open meeting of the membership on the West End claim, petitioning support for the resolution carried at the AGM demanding strike action if the claim is not met in full, is of enormous im- portance in strengthening the union as a whole. What is essential is that these two issues, the West End claim and wage-cutting at the BBC, be seen as fundamentally connected and that behind these two major employers stands the government. ers Press, Monday Oclober 16, 1872 PAGE 7 Top left: Nicholas Hunter, a young actor in the West End play, 'A Voyage Round My Father'. When the play closes in London this week it will mean he'll joln the 90 per cent of actors already unemployed. Above right: Marlus (centre) Goring one negotiating team for the Actors' Equity pay claim. Actors cannot overcome any of the problems which face them without a political fight.

And the centre of that fight is the struggle to force the Tories to resign and to return a Labour government pledged to nationalize the entertainment industry and all basic indus- without tries compensation and under workers' control.

No section of the industry as it is has the resources to develop, employ, let alone more than a fraction of our skills, or to meet any of the needs of the community. Nationalization, therefore, means not simply sateguarding those sections of the industry which threatened with are destruction in order to pre- industry in the its serve present state. It means the provision of full resources to train per- formers and technicians, to build theatres and studios, in order to end unemployment and cultural deprivation.

Only a socialist state can provide these resources.

PAGE 8 Workers Press, Monday OctobeI 'Parliamentary reform' and the worl During the 1820s some of the diehards in the Tory government left office. An improvement in trade (the gold stan- dard was restored in 1823) led to the tentative repeal of the Combina- tions Act in 1824, though the activities of workers' organizations were still extremely restricted. The lull in 'revolution- ary' activity among the work- ing class enabled the middle- class radicals to get a more sympathetic hearing from a parliament representing the landed aristocracy and gentry than at any time since the 1780s. The similarity of Whig and Tory attitudes towards the question of reform is very marked. Members of both par- ties were beginning to see that the existing system was so anachronistic as to be un- workable and that limited re- form to admit new classes of property - owners into the House of Commons would be . way of the most effective isolating the working class rebellion from its articulate middle-class leaders. Both parties had a very real fear of popular revolution. The one-timer 'Friend of People, the Whig leader Grey, said of 'The Mob': Is there one among them with whom you would trust yourself in the dark? ... A cause so supported cannot be a good cause. The strongest resistance to reform came from the Tory right wing under the Duke of becoming Wellington. After Prime Minister in 1828 he re- luctantly passed an Act allow- ing Catholics to vote-but de- liberately raised the property qualification for a vote to £10, in order to exclude the mass of 40s Irish Catholic free- holders. He sealed the fate of his government with a speech on November 2, 1830, in which he declared: I have never read or heard of any measure which can in any degree satisfy my mind that the state of representa- tion can be improved. I will go further and say that the legislature and the system of representation possess the full and entire confidence of the ... I will go still fur- country ther and say that, if at the present moment I had imposed upon me the duty of forming a legislature for any country, my great endeavour would be form some description of to legislature which would pro- duce the same results ...

Such a eulogy on the exist- ing state of affairs can only be understood in terms the Duke's consciousness that he was defending the interests of the whole landed class ultimately of in general. He did not share y October 16, 1972 the working class by Jane Brown Whig illusions that one Re- form Act would put an end to the reform movement. It was now linked inextricably with the pressure of workers for better conditions. In the debate on the 1832 Act, Macaulay stated the Whig case for reform. Once again defence of 'property' the overrides all else: We know what effect distress produces, even . on people more intelligent than the great body of the labour- ing classes can possibly be ...

I am opposed to universal suffrage, because I think that it would produce a destructive revolution. I support this plan, because I am sure that it is best security against a our revolution ... If this Bill should be rejected, 1 pray to God that none of those who concur in rejecting it may ever remember their votes with un- availing remorse, amidst the wreck of laws, the confusion of ranks, the spoliation of property, and the dissolution of social order? Amid renewed working-class demonstration, petitions, violent outbursts (such as the storming of the Duke of Wel- lington's London mansion), and a flood of propaganda from middle-class radicals in Reform Unions up and down country, the 1832 Act the finally became law. Bourgeois historians never tire of pointing out that the Duke of Wellington was 'right in the long run' The idea that the road to living conditions better lay through parliament had be- deeply rooted in the come working-class movement. The 1832 Act did in fact open up century of struggle for a franchise, universal 'workers' vote'. Within a few years of the 'Great Reform Act' the parlia- mentary reform issue was to be taken up again with new force and class consciousness by the Chartists, who regarded the middle-class radicals who had 'used' them before 1832 as traitorous enemies. The extent of this betrayal is shown by a brief examina- tion of the state of representa- tion before and after 1832.

Before 1832 there was a uni- 40s franchise in form the counties, but no uniformity at all in the boroughs. In most few people boroughs very could vote-often only the 'freemen' or members of the town corporation. Yet the very anachronisms of a system dating from Elizabethan times, and partly from the 13th cen- tury, did allow some of the poorer citizens to take part in elections. Certain 'ancient tenements' enfranchised their inhabitants; in some iowns payment of the 'scot and lot' tax was a voting qualification. In others, every man who could boil a pot on own hearth had a vote; his while in the most extreme Preston, every. single case, adult who had spent the pre- vious night in the town could go to the polls on election day! These oddities made it possible to argue that every section of society took some part in voting, and was there- by 'virtually represented' Even this much could not be said after 1832. Though the scandalous 'pocket most boroughs' (where the elector- ate was very small) lost the right to send MPs to parlia- ment, the seats made available redistributed so as to were perpetuate the predominance the landed classes as far as possible. The middle class got some representation and the work- ing class none at all, in Preston or anywhere else. Only 78 seats went to new boroughs (giving Leeds, Man- chester and Sheffield their first MPs, while 67 were redistri- buted among the counties.

Overall, 371 MPs were to be elected from south of a line from the Wash to the Severn, compared to a mere 120 from manufacturing great districts north of this line.

The size of the electorate went up by less than 50 per cent. A standard borough franchise was fixed (all house- holders paying £10 rates per year were to have the vote).

As Engels concluded: 'We have seen in what manner the omnipotent House of Com- mons is recruited; the question now is — who really rules England? Property rules ...

The rule of property is ex- pressly recognized in the Re- form Bill through the estab- lishment of property qualifica- tions.'

CONTINUED TOMORROW

ent at the World Bank reports an astonishing exchange at a recent meeting of that body.

It appears that a study was carried cost efficiency. out on Giving details of the study, a chief executive said that li of the senior ranking bank officers were now getting on in years and unable to carry their pre- vious workloads. The report was very sympa- thetic to their maturing years and suggested the work be spread around. At the con- of the clusion report McNamara is alleged to have said: 'After this meeting Reginald Maudling, the ex- want those 11 names. We'll Home Secretary, was a roaring have to fire them.' reactionary. He favoured capi- tal punishment, he supported the use of torture in Ulster and he absolved from any blame the soldiers who murdered 13 innocent civilians Bloody on Sunday (January 30, 1972.)

But not right wing enough for the Monday Club. In their newspaper, 'Monday News', the club has front-page a state- ment on Maudling's rapid and embarrassing departure from office. 'We cannot in all conscience that Claim we were whole- hearted supporters of the Home Secretary the in con- duct of his policies at the Home Office. it would Indeed, not be unfair to assert that hardly a single member of the Monday Club thought him a particu- larly apt: choice as. Home Sec- Derek Ezra wants miners to Reggie Maudling engage with the National Coal retary. was not sufficiently tough on law Board in a joint campaign to he seemed to fail and order, push up productivity in the to comprehend the growing industry. menace of subversion. He also wants their co- 'Moreover showed operation in a drive to improve he no apparent inclination to tackle quality, slash costs and push the manifestations of worst up sales. Since Ezra is NCB chairman, society. We have thought that the of this is really none sur- Home What disturbing, Office, above all other is prising. needed ministries, strong however, is the platform he right-winger at the helm.'

has been given to make his "The Miner', Will the ex-director of call journal Securicor, Robert Carr, of the National Union of Mine- satisfy the jackals of the right? We'll workers. keep you informed. Under the sickeningly syco- phantic, not to mention corny, heading 'We're two of a mind' Ezra has been given 15 valu- Robert McNamara, chairman able inches of space in the of the World Bank, is a very current issue to make his call.

disagreeable character. He was, The theme of the article is that the Board and the union you will remember, one of the US chief architects are at one every major issue.

military build-up in On productivity, costs, quality Vietnam, a leading supporter of the Bay and sales he says: 'No one can doubt that we are all fighting of Pigs invasion of Cuba and the strongest advocate of US on these four vital fronts.'

imperialism in both the Ken- Any more articles like this and "Coal the NCB's nedy and Johnson administra- News', tions. wn propaganda organ, migh s well go out of busines Our undercover correspond-

LEON TROTSKY:

Germany 1931/1932 Paperback £1.25-cloth £1.871 Where Is Britain Going? Paperback 374p Revolution Betrayed Paperback 62kp—cloth £1.05 Problems of the Chinese Revolution Paperback £1.12h—cloth £1.87} Permanent Revolution : Results and Prospects Paperback 75p In Defence of Marxism Paperback 75p Lessons of October Paperback 60p Postage 10p per book, 3p per 86a Clapham High Street, _ondon ŚW4 7UG Above: Betty Rold, an old Stalinist spo Britain' now lends her talents to the Tor By Cliff Slaughter, a member of th 'We are now concerned with getting the maxi- co-operation to mum make a success of the new venture on Clyde- bank. We know it is a boom market and it is our concern to co-operate as best we can to make it successful.' These were the words of James Reid, spokesman for the Clydebank shop stewards and Communist Party member, on the day the work-in at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders ended.

Truly no employer could wish for a more unqualified of goodwill and statement class-collaboration from 'workers' representative. Hay- ing already signed what 'no amounts to a four-year strike' pledge, Reid, fellow Stalinist James Airlie, and the union leaders are now giving guarantees that they consider the interests of the employers American Marathon (the Manufacturing Company) and the workers to be identical.

in They are to collaborate exploiting a 'boom market' in oil-rigs. This kind of politics is long established in Britain. It is called opportunism: is it collaboration with the employ- th Workers Press, Mond alinist spokesman and author of the anti-Trots to the Tory Press for new witch-hunts against T ber of the Central Committee of the Sor for some supposed sec- ers, tional and temporary interest of one group of workers, at the expense of the general interests of the working class in the struggle to overthrow capital- ism. The Communist Party was founded—largely out of shop stewards' struggles on the Clyde in World War I-to break from this opportunism.

But by the time of the 1926 General Strike the young Com- munist Party had already succumbed to the influence of the growing Stalinism of the bureaucracy in the USSR. To- day the CP, through men like Reid, plays the most reaction- ary role. Right at the time when international capitalist war and depression threatens millions workers and poses the question of forcing the Tory resign and government to Labour govern- returning a ment pledged to socialist poli- cies, Reid told a TV, pro- gramme on Sunday October 8 that the deal with Marathon could well lead to a 'regener- ation of the Scottish economy'.

statement indicates This very clearly how far Stalinism has gone. A traditional industry, ship- building, is faced with shut- down. State subsidy creates the conditions for American ca8, Monday Oclober 16, 1972 PAGE 8 HE S anti-Trotskylst booklet 'Ultra-Leftism In against Trotskyism. I the Socialist Labour League.

big business to invest in the shut-down yards. The unions 'no-strike' accept a pledge and guarantee collaboration on speed-up. Thousands are left at the end of the day without work. And Reid hails the regeneration of the 'Scottish' economy! Is this then the Communist Party's vision of the future for the workers of Britain?

Industries getting rid of sur- plus labour outdated equipment, receiving subsidies from a Tory government, tying the unions to the employers with an Industrial Relations Act behind them and interna- tional finance capital invited in under special licence to exploit the workforce! This is the real meaning of the Communist Party's 'peace- nd ful coexistence and advanced democracy! Within this, the peaceful, parliamentary road to socialism operated. The Stalin- ists have become the perfect cover for the trade union and Labour leaders. In these circumstances, the interminable hymns of praise being sung to Reid by the capitalist press are perfectly understandable. Foremost in the chorus is Continued on Page 10

PAGE 10 Workers Press, Monday October 16, 1972 Herald'. 'Glasgow 'Because of this early experi- the Tory I have tended to study Already having featured Reid's ence scandalous attack the ultra-left publications and to on Govan boilermakers the how these advocate poli- 1n see yard, the 'Herald' now turns cies which, in my view, impede the building of a strong mass against the Trotskyist move- the open help of movement pledged to a change ment, with James Reid and the Commun- in the nature of our society.'

Here Mrs Reid - sets herself ist Party. On Thursday, October 5, the up as a qualified expert to help 'Herald' began of a series the capitalist press. She says in articles entitled 'The Insiders', effect: as an old Stalinist 1 am by one Ian Imrie. Imrie's pur- your best possible assistant in pose is to condemn Trotsky- witch-hunting revolutionaries. 'ultra-lefts' 'the She cynically refers to 'strong ists and as wreckers in Scottish industry' if movements' the mass as the Communist 'Glasgow Herald' was opposing and to boost of Party sky-high as a party Trotskyists because it wants a self-sacrificing idealists with a 'strong mass movement'! 'vital approach to life'.

On the Clyde, the upper Neither of these two aims Socialist Labour policy of the is surprising, in view of Reid's League was precisely to mobi- role on the upper Clyde and lize the mass of workers along the awareness by the capitalist with the UCS men in a poli- of the tical struggle to make the gov- class great struggles ahead. resign, as the only ernment What is particularly interest- answer to unemployment, Imrie has gained Rela- ing is that. crisis and the Industrial the collaboration, in his witch- tions Act. of the Stal- hunting articles, Trotsky- inist spokesman on Betty Reid, author of the ism, Communist anti-Trotskyist booklet 'Ultra- The Party's policy was violently opposed Leftism in Britain'. are so-called 'Marx- to this mass movement, delib- There broke it up and con- such as the International erately ists' fined the struggle to the UCS Marxist Group and Interna- Socialists, tell work-in, a protest to get con- tional who uS cessions from capitalism.

that it is no longer correct Reid's historical Communist Party Mrs to call the interesting 'Stalinist'. But how are we to examples The 'Popular Front' of explain the work of Mrs Betty indeed. was Stalin's policy Reid, who lends herself to the the 1930s of liquidating the independence open witch-hunting of the Tory press? of the working class and the communist parties into broad If this is not a continuation of the 1930s and 1940s, when fronts led by capitalist parties.

In periods of actual the Stalinist bureaucracy physi- revolu- cally liquidated Trotskyists and tion, as in Spain, the Stalin- served as actual collaborated capitalist ists execu- with governments to kill and impri- tioners of revolutionary work- what is it? ers on behalf of the capitalist son them, Mrs Reid is quite conscious state. So Mrs Reid is of Stalinist continuity. pertectly this She told the 'Glasgow Herald': conscious that the Stalinists I had experience of ultra-left the today continue same betrayal. arguments in the early years The 'Glasgow Herald' of my political involvement in :on- 'Mrs Reid says tinues: that relation to, for example, sanc- for Trotskyists have a very simple against Italy the tions from invasion of Abyssinia and the recipe for the period 1920 to 1945. This is that all front period whole popular of defeats of the working-class, which is the subiect great and the failure to follow up the controversy and attack. I would like information about Fill in the form below and send to NATIONAL

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Or Full subscription (six days) for months. Name Address Amount enclosed £ Above: Stalinist James Reid (second f shop stewards and Wedgwood Benn at October Revolution with fur- revolutions in Europe, ther were all due to the communist parties and the Communist International.' This is a pack of lies, deliberately fabricated by an expert in such lies. Mrs Reid's purpose here is to obscure the essential thing: the rise of a bureaucracy in the USSR which began in 1924 to corrupt the Bolshevik Party and the Communist Interna- tional. She knows very well that the Trotskyist movement, the Fourth International, has always based itself not only on Lenin's Bolshevik Party and the Russian Revolution, but also on the first four Con- of the Communist gresses International, when it was led by Lenin and Trotsky. It was after Lenin's death that the privileged Stalinist bureaucracy led one Com- after munist Party another into defeat. From the British General Strike of 1926 to the 1936 Spanish Revolution. Betty Reid thinks that by this kind of distortion she can cover up the history of the Stalinist bureaucracy and escape the responsibility of the British Communist Party's leaders, including herself, for the crimes and betrayals of Stalinism. The same 'Glasgow Herald' times used which has many Stalin's crimes to discredit communism and the USSR, uses Mrs Reid, the apologist and defender of the 1930s Moscow Trials, to witch-hunt the Socialist Labour League.

That is very understandable.

She even descends to the depths of painting the SLL as some kind of conspiracy: The SLL faithfully main- tains the atmosphere of con- spiracy, feuding, public attack individuals, and blow- upon of contro- by-blow accounts versies with rival groupings which has so frequently been a feature It is exactly this kind of picture that the Tories and the Press would like to build up in preparation for future repressions. The Socialist Lab- our League, however, fights openly for its policy in a daily paper and through its mem- bers in the All Trades Unions Alliance and the Young Social- ists. Its policies on every major question are known to tens of thousands of workers.

'expertise' Mrs Reid's is called in to give some credi- bility 'from the inside, as it were, to the conspiracy myth.

The Stalinists have now become the essential hand- maiden of the ruling class.

(second from right) who is lauded in the ca d Benn at the Labour Party conference in Bla The deeper the crisis of capi- talism, the greater the threat of workers' revolution, the greater the threat to the Stal- inist bureaucracy, and the more the communist parties will go to the right. They defend the treacherous trade union leaders in every dispute and to cover their tracks they attack the Socialist Labour League. Thus Mrs Reid: The use of the strike is advocated indis- weapon criminately by the SLL whether or not the conditions demand a strike, and every other pro- posal is branded as betrayal.

Once a strike has begun, the tactic must be to keep it going whatever the circumstances and to describe any negotia- tion and agreement as treach- ery'. Here again we have a series of lying statements strung together without a shred of evidence offered. It is all meant to add up to the picture required by the Tory Press and the government—a conspi- racy which wants strikes for the sake of pure disruption.

Mrs Reid's real concern is this: many workers, in the great strike struggles since the government came into office have learned in bitter experi- ence the role of trade union leadership. Mrs Reid chooses not to analyse a single one of these experiences, and thereby defends the implicitly leaders who retreated. Should Tom Jackson, Nor- man Stagg and Maurice Styles have ordered the postmen back to work or should they have fought on with a campaign to bring the whole labour move- ment behind them against the government? Should Jack Jones and Hugh accepted the Scanlon have penalty clauses insisted on by Ford's? Should Jones have cam- paigned to get the dockers back to work or should he have led the strike to a suc- cessful conclusion? Should the builders strike, after 12 weeks out for £30 and 35 hours, have been ended on a deal of £26 for 40 hours?

lo cover up these deals in which the Stalinists helped out the union leaders - Reid ignores each actual struggle and turns on the Trotskyists with a general accusation of wanting nothing but strikes. It is the principled struggle of the SLL and the ATUA for revolutionary leadership new that is worrying the trade in the capitalist press, with other UCS ce in Blackpool this year.

union and the Stalinist bureau- cracy. And Reid is trying to answer with a slander cam- paign through the Tory Press.

Small wonder that the 'Glas- gow Herald' viewed the Com- munist Party itself in a very favourable light. Grateful for the work of James Reid at UCS, they say: 'The CP is given most blame for industrial disruption, but researches show that while they make no secret of their militancy, it is usually an above-the-board, disciplined approach which is adopted.

that, the "Glas- Not only gow Herald' goes out of its way to emphasize the collabo- ration given them by the Stal- inists: 'During the years I have found them willing to answer telephone queries, helpfully, at almost any hour of the day or night' If any reader thought until now that this 'helpfulness' was only a matter of 'tactics', , then the witch-hunting collaboration of Mrs Reid, as well as James Reid and other leading Stal- inists who gave interviews for this series, should disabuse them. In a second article, which is nothing more or less than a massive public relations job for the Communist Party, with nauseating 'human interest' touches, the 'Herald' con- cludes: 'Mrs (James) Reid, Mrs Swan (CP national chairman), Mr Murray (CP Scottish Secretary) and Mrs Airlie are reasonable and likeable people, and in Scotland their Party shows a militant but disciplined approach to industrial affairs.

They are willing to co-operate with Conservatives, the Labour Party, or businessmen, if they think the outcome is likely to be for the good of workers.'

Nobody should be deceived by the smooth talk and the blackslapping. Stalinism is the main anti-revolutionary, anti- working class force on the world arena, just as it was in the 1930s. Mrs Reid is one of the survivors, one of the guilty, of those days. What she has done in service to the Tory Press witch-hunt is only advance notice of the preparations of the Stalinist bureaucracy to collaborate on suppressing the revolutionary working class.

To expose Mrs Reid and the Stalinists at every turn, and to construct the alternative revolutionary leadership on the foundations laid by Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky, is the central task of the Workers Press and the Socialist Labour League.

Pay-grade strike by Lucas sparks TV

BBC 1

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THE NEW MISSIONARIES.

Sit-in backlash 200 Liverpool engineering workers are Speke men fight pay occupying their factory in support of a wage claim and against a management bid to drive them off and piecework battle piecework. The men are employed by Manesty Machines Ltd, Speke, part of the Renold engineer- ing combine. SO workers

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

like Lucas Their dispute, one local employers were settling,' he said. the remaining skirmishes scheme,' this of the most disciplined I away When deal was in the ill-fated engineer- Mr McShane told me the have witnessed, reached at national level I with the national ing pay, claim, last beer The sit-in began vanesty have reckon ber Iney we when the subject to considerable in- 23, after Lune in they weak state, Tuesdav afternoon timidation. Manesty, workers added this further meeting. Shop the and therefore out the first full day of stewards for a substantial pay in- put and sit-ins bitter element ora new davanen 160 the of their respective The Stan shorter hours system.' crease, turned up for work with Mr McShane told and better holiday pay. me sections never direct a contingent of police. cune the strategic points of the the were stewards effect the re 110L and locked the the sit-in which becau "They were told they opposed ending LaLLULS maining workers last is back- work in principle. • Bat they gates. coula Joln tne occupation, engineers' lash against By but on no account would insisting p.m. management men and shipyard

WELC

Hugh Scanion's be president had vanished the allowed to work, had nothing to do with the engineers signature to the national said Mr McShane current dispute. plant. 1ney are now Clyde total with the agreement chief constable Iso anon. eering employers when the warned the workers that The dispute Manesty strike nine Manufacturing for August 1972 ending they could obstruct Manesty year officially the weeks old. the staff. Eventually a 30- was formerly the with many common ing section strong despite Diamonde „Torce DOlICI And Manesty, involved

DRO.

ceutical firm Thompson marched forward, lifted chaineers the odds, duces pill-making machin- plant - battles Ltd Liverpool. off their by - plant Capper the main gates high rate throughout Britain, the has a voly In 1964 it off the Current Sout little of return on canital. Some Speke workers won masthead when the engin- plant's electrical supply.

CAV

men in stewards put the figure as eering firm John Holroyd TrON Loe high 50 Now with per cent. ment. over. Later ithe staff

LOOK

occupants, Renolds has 11 British They management met police. Keeps •an cornes asked for a local deal Manchester-based power subsidiaries but per and continual watch on the McShane, expressing. of the sales are out- transmission and cent factory. general ody I have Renold side increase of around and the UK-3l per cent The plight of the my about the during holi- Chains Ltd. to Europe. pay Manesty workers is an in of the com inn chairman Sir Thomas dictment of the Amalga- adys. the after £3.3m lobsor warned mated Union of Engineer- Ladi WiCe was £3.8m 1970; and stepped agement «nede lor lie Workers' ing £4.8m in 1971 and £4.1m firm. recognizing the problems offensive and insisted that leadership. I think the settlement The feeling national brain-child ing out in the Cheshire vil- 'We are The e prepared among his "They played it tough all anu issue of Lvm

OSCUSS

lage plant, along, this claim has been settled was decision we of the most members' satisfac- had to take. We could not though our of de- picketing men of the battle just go out- tion. he stewares occu•auon con- salu. front, mance mittee told me: offer made stee we mao done are part of management was f2. "With the last four months. Some escalation was The Engineering saving administra- necessary was a series of deals long months- which said Mr merely tive costs the abolition plovers receramon

L0ICC

LIc Issuc, spirit, proves said they backed the Federa- piecework involves they McShane. • witne stand when won't anything Though the sit-in is one were tion's other be giving

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

Jack Lynch, of the UP TO 30 per cent of all convenor group through- works' engineers production workers through- grade be increased from fl to tions that works' engineers had out the birmingham conome. out the Birmingham group of also opposed to the new grade.

WORl considered 'Then management offered to Lucas factories have for the top two grades, some- now It would mean our members thing which they had not had institute a sixth grade, £l above been laid off following the through working. their way up the grade,' added top 230 electricians. DClUIC.

BICYIOUS

We strike by instead of five.

C1X I

grades workers skilled Mr Allan. anis was turne• cown have been fighting for years to The struck electricians accepted company's final despite a murtinur at Mopt ay, the of grades,' reduce number offer £4.25, Uctober › over pay grading and the elec- despite four-hour attempt oI have been in deadlock with he said.

EPTU

commend pet- management ever since. A meet- Skilled the Lucas between and second suade them to return. workers in combine Birmingham have

10C OI

convenors Was toe last Friday of the lay-offs. been in the in recent forefront John Allan electricians' and BAKERY workers meeting 2,000 vears to push up wages. (EPTU) shop steward plumbers' in Glasgow Saturdav Ware answer last the demand for another f5 a week.

vear Malacement rejected union at tne bw4 lamps lactory, snart attempted to drive a wedge be- moor Lane, told Workers Press: who said they the different sections by Union officials tween •Prior to negotiations earlier resignation could not make the strike official and tool- electricians this vear national organizer of the Scottish on une nauonal encin- were howled down by the meet- daos, met revered it to works eering claim, all skilled workers, Union of Bakers and Allied days, but refused works' electricians, pipe-fitters, Workers. Weet been state or by Between 70 and 80 Glasgow millwrights, have allu welC subolies paid on a five-grade system. The Glas- After four-week strike 1n the strike which began 1n nuble houses were cose• over September, electricians occupied top gow last Wednesday and has the weekend nowever. were grades.' Edinburgh. bar forced to climb down and pay three since spread to The strike by was during these negotia- Caledonian men came out In protest against ess, Monday October 16 1972, PAGE 11

REGIONAL TV

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London. 1.10 News. 1.30 London. 2.20 Yoga. 2.50 Film: Noose For A Lady'. 4.15 Puffin. 4.25 London.

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WESTWARD. As Channel except: Diary. 6.35 12.05 London. 6.00 News. Date with Danton. 11.50 11.53 Faith for life. SOUTHERN: 9.30 London. 12.00 News. 12.05 London. 2.30 House- party. 3.00 Film: 'Another Shore' 4.25 London. 6.00 Day by day.

6.45 London. 10.30 My scene the South. 11.00 News. 11.05 12.00 • Farm progress. Theatre. A 12.25 Weather. 1.00 HARLECH: 9.30 London. Helen McArthur show. 1.30 Lon- don. 2.00 Common Market cook book. 2.30 Women only. 3.00 Film: 'He Laughed Last'. 4.25 London. 5.20 Shirley's world. 6.02 Report West. 6.00 News. : 6.22 Report Wales. 6.45 London.

10.30 Film: 'Desire Under the Elms'. 12.30 Weather. HTV Cymru/Wales 41 as above except: 6.01-6.22 Y dydd.

HTV Cymru/Wales 7 as 41 plus: 8.00-8.30 Yr wythnos. HTV West as above except: 6.22-6.45 This is the West this week. ANGLIA: 9.30 London. 12.04 News. 12.05 London. 12.40 Report. 1.00 Mr and Mrs. 1.30 London. 2.00 All our yesterdays.

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3.00 News. 3.05 Film: 'The Mouse That Roared'. 4.25 London. 5.20 Emmerdale farm. 5.50 London. 6.00 News. 6.05 Julia. 6.35 Car- toon. 6.45 London. 10.30 Name of the game. 11.55 Meditation.

Thornycroft "peace' Rail job cuts-workers must PAGE 12 Workers Press, Monday Octobe DOCKS shop stewards from London, Liverpool, Hull and Manchester met in Birming- ham on Saturday Under discussion at the the blacking and picketing campaign started by the national port stewards' com- mittee earlier this_year.

The LIVERPOOL men have lifted the black on their biggest (St Heatons Transport target, Helens) Ltd, although the stutt- ing and stripping of containers by Heatons has still not been re- solved. HULL stewards say there is a basis for discussion with the firm that took them to the National Court, Industrial Relations Panalpina (Northern) Ltd. But they say the firm's present pro posals on container handling are not acceptable.

LONDON

the Vestey In family's Midland Cold Storage depot has sacked 27 of its 51 workers rather than concede the demands of dockers' pickets for jobs there. NINE councillors who tried to reverse Bedworth council's 'fair rent' non-implementation policy expelled from have been the Labour group. The executive committee of the group, which control the council near Coventry, urban endorsed the recommendation on Friday night. Until October 23, when the nine will be allowed to state their case, the will be indepen- dent members of the council.

Only recently the nine angered the majority by calling a special council meeting to try and force i of the rent the implementation THE JOBS CRISIS facing summed up by a British Rail Press: 'The question is whe be cut by a half or a third.'

Senior officials of the De- partment of the Environment a 6l-page have completed 'Blue Book' setting out their proposals to drastically carve up services. Now British Rail drawing up its Board is counter-proposals. But both plans have one thing in common-they both mean huge redundancies and lines closures. On top of the 26,000 redundancies at present being discussed with the unions, the new proposals will mean an addi- tional 25,000 jobs lost. The documents reflect the new Tory doctrine in relation to the want to smash railways-they the present rail system, leaving only the Inter-City routes and services around the commuter major industrial cities. And the the private road Tories want hauliers to take a greater share of the freight business. The 'Blue Book' is a chilling analysis of the financial decline of the rail industry. Completed year-during the in June this rail pay dispute — the report seeks to show that only massive make British Rail cuts can financially viable. major There have been two financial reorganizations in the • industry—in 1962 and 1967— on both occasions huge and debts were written off. coming to power the On Tories made clear they were not prepared to write-off such large debts nor to continue the policy of subsidies. This view found an eloquent spokesman in the v ay October 16, 1972

BY PHILIP WADE

BRITISH-LEYLAND proposals aimed at ending the nine-week occupation of the Thornycroft factory, Basingstoke, Hants, were thrown out by a mass meet- ing in the plant yesterday.

Only eight men voted in favour of accepting the offer, ixed up at York last week, which delays the hiving-off to the Eaton Corporation until January 1 and a promise that Leyland would supply enough work to keep the 750 men employed for another three years. The feeling among the men—who occupied on August 15 to stop the hive-off to Eatons-was that the deal constituted no real improvement on previous offers and was, in tact, a return to square one. Leaders of the occupation com- 'encouraged and fortified' by the support from the rest of British- standing absolutely Leyland combine. firm in their basic demand for Particularly heartening was the £5m deal be the whole to stand of the men in the bus and 'unscrambled'. truck division at Leyland, Lancs, They were also angry yester- strike on who are planning York day that details of the the Wednesday support of proposals negotiated with national and Thornycroft men against officials should have been union lay-offs taking intensive now leaked to the Press immediately, place. despite agreement that no- an thing would be said until a mass meeting at Thornycroft originally Canteen women planned Wednesday. by the statement joint committee said dis- occupation continue at cussions would now local level. Meanwhile they were British-Leyland TWO HUNDRED and fifty can- workers from the teen British-Leyland factories the area have voted unani- Oxford to continue their strike mously which is now in its third week.

members of the The workers, increases. It was only defeated Transport and General and by 13 votes to eight, with one General and Municipal Unions, Liberals abstention, when the are employed by two canteen unexpectedly voted with Labour.

They rejected the operators. Six of the nine are members offer of £2.20 made in reply to of the council's policy-making their f6-a-week claim. been management committee. The employers have un- council will answer the very Tomorrow the able to submitted by the trade remove case debate a resolution to them from these positions. unions but it is clear they have been strengthened by the 'wage- The include the former nanc and ceiling' policies of the Tory clerk to the council the council chairman. • facing railway workers was ish Rail official who told Workers is whether our rail service will

A SPECIAL REPORT BY ALEX MITCHELL

road-safety These lob- of John Peyton, the experts. person bies point out that the additional Minister of Transport and Mon- road traffic will have the follow- member of the right-wing day Club. ing effects: • An increased danger of fatal Peyton and his ministerial road accidents on the motorways.

Environment Secre- supremo, ordered the Deterioration in the condition Peter Walker, lary into the of roadways with the resultant long-term surveys

TUR-

road dustry when it became clear increase in costs for re- British that Rail was entering a pairs. of traffic unprecedented losses. • The slowing down period od understood the loss this on major roadways, thus causing will amount to £40m and by a loss in man-production hours.

year 1976 it may reach £100m. • A sharp increase in noise and 1971 British Rail in fact fume pollution. (In 'Blue Book' cynically dis- profit of The made an operating objections. Road £30.2m. This was eaten up by a misses these accidents would cripple main recommendation of this not main recommendation but stumbling block to pursuing the the department's 'Blue Book' is of suggested the Book that the present rail network strategies, 11,600 miles should be cut to says. 7,000—a cut of 40 per cent.

The To the environmental lobby 'In some situa- add that the planner says: planners an even 3,800 tions local environmental disad- smaller of miles system should not be ruled out and with vantages could be quite severe'- heavy-handed arrogance they de- but the report goes virtually mand 'belt up'. that British Rail should to tell the objectors to based The and prepare studies on this reports counter- figure. with Peyton. noW resorts are The Tory attack is calculated But there should be no con- trade to give the privately-owned road fusion in any unionists' mind about the present state of transport far greater share of whichever report is accep- freight haulage. play: 62' About million tons of ted massive cuts are on the way.

the British Rail's 196 million ton There is also most freight business will be switched dangerous illusion among some the roads huge railwaymen that BR's chairman, to creating a bonanza for the road hauliers. ex-Labourite Richard Marsh, will Tory Tories The giving these be able to forestall the duce financial attack. hand-outs to the road haulage the ad- This is rubbish. For various industry against of environmentalists and reasons of status there are a VICe

OCTOBER

FUND £326.58

NOT YET

HALF WAY

WE ARE now halfway through October, but still have £548.42 more to raise to reach half our monthly target. Clearly, it's all stops out from now on to pull our position up. The Increased attacks by the Tories is the go-ahead to employers everywhere to step up their onslaught against the work- Sackings, closures, ing class. attacks on union rights face workers everywhere. Entry into the Common Market will mean even greater measures being taken against the working class as the employers of Europe get together. There is not a moment to lose.

Our paper is needed to fight back against these attacks and to lead the fight against this Tory government. All your support is needed therefore for our Fund this month. We know with a huge effort we can turn the situation raise all you can. around. So, Post every donation immediately to: Workers Press October Appeal Fund, 186a Clapham High St, London, SW4 7UG. WEATHER: Dry weather is ex- pected in all areas. Northern England, Ireland and northern mist and fog will be fairly wide- spread at first, clearing during the morning with sunny periods Over south-east England later. East Anglia some mist or fog is likely at first, clearing quickly with sunny periods later.

South-west England and Wales periods. It will will have sunny be rather warm in Northern Ire- District and the Lake land, central Scotland, southern and with near normal temperatures elsewhere. number of BR executives • who are trying to preserve their em- pire from being too drastically pruned. But railwaymen should take a lesson from what happened at British Steel. For months the Tory press and trade union bureaucrats painted BSC chair- man Lord Melchett as a 'dove' against the Tory fighting Cabinet. But when the crunch came, it was the Tory plan which came into effect and it was Melchett who was the overseer of massive closedowns in Scotland, the Mid- lands and Wales. It is a shocking indictment of the present leaders of the rail- way unions that they are even engaged in talks with now British Rail over redundancy 26,000 payments to some workers. While these get-togethers are in Marsh himself is progress secretly proposing to Peyton that system be reduced to the rail 8,200 miles—-a cut of almost 30 per cent. Trade unionists must reject all redundancies and draw up a policy of nationalization under workers' control of the whole road and rail industry and the banks which hold the interest stranglehold on BR's profits.

The fight for the preservation of jobs in the rail industry is a political fight. It means prepar- ing the fight to force the Tory and the government to resign election of the Labour govern- ment pledged to socialist policies.

ACTON: Monday October 16, 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, High Street, W3.

ATUA conference'. Coombe 'ATUA conference'. EAST LONDON: Tuesday October 17, 8 p.m. Festival Inn, Grundy St, Chrisp St Market, E14. 'ATUA conference'. DAGENHAM: Tuesday October 17, 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Fanshawe 'Force Barking. Avenue, Tories to resign.' PRESTON: Wednesday October 18, 7.30 p.m. Oddfellows Arms, Mount Street. 'ATUA conference'.

KENT: Thursday October 19, 8 p.m. "The Legion', Burgess 'Reinstate Wil- Road. Aylesham. liam Griffiths fitters. Prepare the conference.' Speakers:

ATUA

A Griffiths' striker and leading Kent miner (both in a personal capacity). Soclalist Labour League

LECTURES

THE THEORY AND

PRACTICE OF MARXISM

Given by Cliff Slaughter (SLL Central Committee member) The nature of capitalism Monday October 16 Historical materialism today Monday October 23 Building the revolutionary party Monday October 30

PEEL HOTEL

Boar Lane, 8 p.m. Soclalist Labour League

PUBLIC MEETING

Behind the Assassination of Trotsky A reply to Joseph Losey's film Tuesday October 24, 8 p.m.

CONWAY HALL

RED LION SQUARE

LONDON WC2JJ

(Nearest tube Holborn) Speaker: G. Healy (SLL national secretary) Admission 10p Office. Published SW4hu Street, London, 186a Clapham High 180b Cap m His Sir 1, London: Clapham High Street,

SW4 7UG.