The Newsletter, vol. 6 no. 242

EVERYONE must admire the courage and self-sacrifice of the youthful demonstrators who were carried unresisting from last Saturday's sit-down in Parliament Square. ‹asperated by the complacent respectability of CND's established leaders, they seek more vigorous means of arousing public opinion against the threat of nuclear war. it what might appear to be a challenge to the H-bomb danger becomes a harmless stunt, a means of letting off steam. le 1,172 arrests will be followed by as many fines and some jail sentences. The traffic near Parliament Square has been delayed for two hours. 3,000 policemen have done an afternoon's lucrative overtime in the shadow of New Scotland Yard. le State will, on balance, have lost a few thousand pounds, a tiny percentage to be added to the cost of preparing for nuclear destruction. le Newsletter and the Socialist Labour League have taken part in every major demonstration for unilateral nuclear disarmament since the first Aldermaston march in 1957. We have, however, never hidden our opinion that such demonstrations are not enough. espite the protests of pacifists and others, we have insisted on the political implications of CND. Seeing the H-bomb as part of the drive of imperialism towards war against the USSR and the colonial revolution, we have tried to turn the anti-H-bomb movement to face the organized working class. or the fight against the bomb, being one aspect of the fight to rid the world of an outmoded, violent and repressive social system, can only win if it brings into action the industrial and political power of Labour. is task is both difficult and urgent. People like the Committee of 100 are trying to find short cuts which will avoid if. But there is no other way. le passive resistance and nonviolent methods of individual protest cannot possibly succeed against the power of the imperialist war machine. The danger is that they divert attention from the most vital job. lis remains the organisation of the fight in the Labour Party and the unions to break them from their NATO leaders. CEU banner on the February one-day strike in a Liverpool demonstration.

'go the fares. Down go the wages. This is Toryism in action. On the eve of the Budget, Mr. Marples, Minister of Transport, fully supports the increase of 10 per cent in fares. Freight charges are not affected, so big business remains happy.

Those in opposition consist entirely of the working and middle classes. Here once more is an indictment of those unions which have accepted the Tory hand-out of 3 per cent.

The attack continues. So far as the government is concerned, the purchasing power of wages must be reduced Workers must eat less and pay more.

There is only one immediate answer to this problem: a strike organized by all those workers who are in conflict with the government over wages.

The dockers are absolutely right in giving the Minister four weeks' notice to make up his mind. They are right when they refuse to be diverted into discussions with arbitration boards and the Ministry. So far as the conditions of the working class are concerned, this government has had its say.

There was nothing in the Tory election platform in 1959 which said that by 1962 the cost of living would have risen by leaps and bounds.

There was nothing in that election manifesto which said that wages must be frozen. On the contrary, the Tory go vernment took power by bein 3 all things to all men - at least while the election was on.

If somebody obtains money or property by false pretences, the capitalist courts are quick to apprehend him. If the Tories come to power by false pretences, the only solution is to bring their government down.

A co-ordinated strike of the dockers and engineers can do this.

Pay no heed to right-wing Labour leaders such as Gaitskell and Brown. The only people who can stop the present government are the electorateand a substantial body of them (Cont. 2, col. 1)

By ALAN HE Executive Council of the Constructional Engineering Union has recommended its members to vote in support of strike action in the ballot being conducted by the unions affiliated to the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, which has already staged two national one-day stoppages to press their claims for a wage increase and a shorter working week.

In a circular to all members contained in the current issue of the CEU Journal, General Secretary Ernest Patterson gives his executive's reasons for recommending strike action.

'The one-day token stoppages,' the General Secretary writes, 'clearly demonstrated the mass support that exists amongst engineering workers for the Confederation wages and hours claim. It is now necessary to ensure that the personal individual support for the ballot vote is on the same scale?

"The second feature that needs to be understood is that there is more involved than wages and hours. The employers at any time would resist such claims but in this instance they are reinforced in their attitude by the so-called 'pay pause' which, apparently, is to herald the introduction of a wages policy, concerning which, neither our industry nor the workers generally have been consulted.

Strike Action 'It is with these thoughts in mind that the ballot vote on strike action must be considered. ... If we fail in this effort then our Unions will suffer a defeat.

" Under these circumstances your Executive Council recommends that you vote for strike action?

Mr. Patterson goes on to say that responsibility for the present economic and industrial position lies entirely at the door of the government and the employers.

'We are told that increased wages can only come from increased production whilst at the same time people like stock exchange gamblers and landlords reap a rich harvest without lifting a finger towards production.

'A glaring absurdity in this required condition is that workers are called upon to increase production without any control of the apparatus or the means of production. Such control remains in the hands of the very people who impose the restrictions, i.e., the Government and the employers.

"If we are to fulfil the requirement it would seem indispensable in the first place to get these people off our backs, and it would be well to give some thought to that point.' No Abstainers 'Every engineering worker knows full well that our claims are more than justified and must, therefore, vote for strike action as the only means left to emphasize our determination to secure them. Not to send in the ballot paper means, in effect, to vote for the employers insofar as each lost vote is a failure to declare in support of the claims. You must vote.

'Your Executive Council recommends that you do so in support of Strike Action?

The CEU is the third major Confederation union to recommend strike action, following the TGWU and the Boilermakers.

In spite of the delaying tactics of the right-wing, there is now a strong possibility of a real showdown with the government in this important industry.

CLEAR TORIES Cont. from now victims ment's attack.

government as much a AN angry crowd of unilateralegal act apprehend somelists chased Labour leaders one who obtains something for Gaitskell and Brown from gain through false pretences. Square on Wednesday.

Why aren't the left the than a hundred people Labour Party the trade co-operatio army, police gather outside Transport speaking up nore sharply Gaulle to use army against the There are many who House mid-day to take part this? The Communist methods against the OAS neutralising ele- dearly like get to grips the NEC, is opposed to bringing the Tory government Algeria and Oran shows favour able it, is signifi- working the main enemy - the protest organi: • at the zed by refusal of the "Tribune', to they believe that this it has become for Pflimlin France. executi ive and the Parliamengovernment can be persuaded to government k from Everything has been tary P 'arty to oppose the negotiate with the Soviet using force uprising keep that working class under sumpti government of the Union. a farce! employers of the government remains a employers, perate hatred whites, embittered vhich arises from the rage of the dominated by race the Fourth Republic. which led to the of the Eu In January 1960, at infall of Algiers, in Algeria' and 'down with the the Fifth Republic, with whose control. The slogans of 'peace OAS' have tied the workers to ishly o tingent Americ It to the derisive cheers supported the lobby. members trooped sheepdespite the politicians. A strike leering of its fear of meagre privileges, cannot be losing their often the insurrection institutions their leaders have long ago agreed live. Unwillingness Brown of the crowd. When George trotted out, scowling, workers allowed to stand in the way. of the big business struggle against the regime calling upon him to stand by a strike. V Communist against the ery well then: if Party calls for such government. The interests the European on the FLN mini- extremists. They further use for barricades, no was necessary to actual shooting bring the more its prisoners. mobilise has made working class was tests by any country. Conference about CC what he said at the ndemning Blackpool want to against 'independence, to supporters of Ortiz Lagail- ille has now He angrily shoved his way government protect their investments and larde to heel. the FLN and through, senaing one demonstrator its place? property, including priority in In April the course of settling flying. The crowd ran after him -and this Either you means the prepare election of for power the development of the Saharan awaited show rebel generals fashion. with the OAS in towards the corner of the and surrounded him again.

Labour government pledged petroleum resources. At the same time French they gave their. ittempt to In circumstances crowd, but a shout of 'Gaitskell!' Police attempted to break up the socialist policy - imperialism has been able Republic workers cannot fail to look was more effective. tail and run at preserve its essential stake an alternative leadership. The 'Leader' was walking critical momer Algeria — with the nationalist In the period following the quickly, head down, towards the leaders bound to it hand-and- ACUTE referendum. which will clearly opposite corner of the square, Open violence appeared give de Gaulle's policy obviously hoping that his decoy foot by sheer economic when OAS began its long sive endorsement, it duck, Brown, would This is a time decision. sity—it needs to end the series plastic bomb attacks, assumed that an tion away from him.

Socialist Labour League order to strengthen But the game was up! Quick shootings and lynchings. Until working zations unite to in Europe. march went Gaitskell, thin-lipped government down then the army and police showed living standards be high and red-faced down the street, and replace it with a Labour a marked distaste for opening the agenda. businessmen and bank employees nationalization of all the government pledged produced within the The cleavages which fire on other Frenchmen. The fact that the forces LEADERSHIP whole crowd had taken up goggling from windows. industries and the introdi geoisie, the tying up of military extreme right, with whom It will still be necessary chase and the large body of socialist planning. Mr. Gaitskell is our left critics forces and the financial all made it increasingly tive to make impera- burden common, could not be dealt with without fighting. regime has much in revoluti French prevent on. The domestication workers and the colonial link-up between the from shouting, cat-calling running round him. police could not prevent Harrassed "Hugh socialis We know that. But indicates the acuteness of of the trade unions must be bumped into George Brown, Labour Party is to act At last divisions in French society carried still further, as French had nipped round the other now in unionists represents, the interests of the trade this: now to Europe power against Western Ger- assert French turn back: the acceptance of ultimate arbiter. Undoubtedly res of industry prepares to intensive competition Common Market. they walked to Gaitskell's car to lend a hand. solemn, pin-striped dignity, then it can only do so by replacing not only the Tory govern- ment but by replacing Tory the Common Market. many and Britain in NATO Backed by the major part in sorrow than have fought arose they woul impotence and betrayal in every part of the socialist and labour In the meantime, the signs and drove off towards West- booing and thumping minster, the crowd chanting, employers.

Labour must take French monopoly capital, on left with much movement underline the need CUBA industries, eliminat- has the task of facing up vigour and ferocity. for new policies and leadership. Cont. from page ing the profit motive and intro- pressing problems home On both sides the uggle is Vigilance and preparation are wood AEU and t ducing a system of workers well as abroad. one and than than ever before (Labourers) AUBTW. control which alone present The ability abound Socialist Society have Battersea College of organized a Technology balance sheet to the meeting and pledged themselves to nation, and enable it to under- work in support of the Cuban take the neavy responsibilities revolution. which now face it. A similar meeting also been The fight to remove the anti- held by students London socialist leaders like Gaitskell HE Labour Party If they were to jet about sentences they University. This campaign in the and Brown is inseparable from Conference, which met at their image in the Tory press and their own motion the agenda, University will be stepped up as this struggle. St. Pancras Town Hall last lead the people they are supposed instead of trying wriggle out soon as the Easter recess is over.

to represent to take over the of support for emergency At a meeting in Birmingham week-end, properly gave much many empty houses in the area motion. University on Friday last, a of its time to debating the they would be doing something Mr. Mellish angrily asked if the 'Food for Cuba' Campaign questions of homeless families, definite to alleviate the appalling conference doubted the integrity launched. As soon as the next housing and the government's conditions of the 3,438 families of the EC. 'I want peace so much term commences it will start wih plan to re-organize the London in London who have been thrown that I could cry for it,' he said. a documentary film of Cuba. The boroughs to ensure Tory poli- to the streets. But the EC could not support a Communist Society is participating tical control. The answer to these problems, round an emergency motion The one lively centred movement that was not recognised motion that support to a and the Africa, India and Iraqui Societies are to be invited.

of course, ment, but Labour govern- is a 'national' from St. Pancras North which called upon the conference to by the Labour Party. moved the emergency motion The Young Socialist who conference last week-end a petition was circulated which said: 'We, At the London Labour Party matter, and ch matters are send a message of support and goodwill to the Committee of pointed out that the immediate the undersigned, completely connot allowed be discussed 100 demonstrating in London task was to recruit the thou- demn the actions of the United the conference. sands of young people who States government in blockading that Saturday.

The conference fighting the bomb into Cuba and pledge our support calling for the repeal The motion was Labour Party. to the efforts of the Cuban Act and for approaches order by the Sta The amendment working class and peasants to free government for power Committee. This referred some 200 votes. themselves from imperialism. We requisition property and an ex- back and carried by an Another emergency motion pledge ourselves to campaign tension of compulsory purchase to whelming show of hands. from St. Pancras raised £40 for within the British Labour Movecombat evictions. chairman, Bob Mellish, the families of miners ment to gain support to prevent Such appeals will a card vote, and the reference were killed in week's the success of this blockade.' cause great anxiety to back was again carried, but only disaster. This petition was signed by 13 ciers and landlords who pr by two votes. The greater part of Sunday members of the AEU delegation, well out of the misery of The EC then tabled an amend- afternoon was given over to a as well as many individual Labour sands of homeless families. ment which, in fact, deleted every- debate on an EC motion thanking councillors active in the London The executive of the Party thing in the original motion and Herbert (Lord) Morrison for his seemed to have an over-riding merely condemned the jail sen- services to the Labour movement. A further picket the United fear of losing its respectability. tences passed on the six members Amidst tears and emotion, States Embassy Grosvenor Appeals to the government and of the Committee. Morrison was presented with a Square is being organized tears from Bob Mellish ('I have This was received with consider- copy of the motion printed on Saturday, March 31, starting seen some of the homeless families able anger by many dele! vellum from the secretary, Peter 10.0 a.m. All su porters of and I could for them') will pointed out that if Robshaw, looking for all the Cuban revolution not respectability so strongly about world like Mr. Eamonn attend.

To bring down Tory just as to in HE The® What engil would be a strike Most you count the after what you you Lurn most for The calls upon bring this to the basic uction But, might reply, not a peace. if the to who over the basic of real is this tions Rent the cry that Smith More the the minipart of stratio OAS, would lobby with in May he carry bas the ot in dow Iood, NEC the time of of the to when to them :ven De Gau made peace with is in 1961, with his never such up the Fifth to in masthe can be of attack the The bour- the to of severe sud done the 'forr order' the OAS nore in If need the at Sutr has at for: put was sent at resc luof the ruled out Ending Orders to to was overThe put it to the who last pit no. the area.

in on at gates and the EC are the jail

31, 1962 Th

Sit-downs and the SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1962 SUE Vol. 6, No. 242 ALTHOUGH the Food for Cuba' campaign is only a tew days old, reports are already coming in of support from all sections of the Labour movement.

In Liverpool, six prominent left-wingers, Alderman Dalton, Councillors Heffer, Hart, Kirton, Stan Thorne, secretary of the Toxteth Labour Party and John Disley, a leading member of the AUBTW, have formed a provisional committee which is holding a meeting on Sunday, April 1, in the Stork Hotel at 3.0 p.m. It is hoped that this meeting will set up a 'Food for Cuba' Committee.

Active socialists in the NorthEast coast have already gone into action and are busy circularizing •The Croydon North West Constituency Labour Party condemns the United States' brutal economic blockade against the people of Cuba, following their unsuccessful attempt to overthrow, by force of arms, the popular government.

•We urge all sections of the the Labour, Trade Union and Co-operative Movement to aid the Cuban people in their fight to maintain independence, in call upon the British Government to make available credits to Cuba for the purchase of basic necessities; to protest 10 the American Embassy and to express their solidarity to the Cuban Embassy?

the local Labour movement with a view to organizing a similar committee.

The executive committee of the Glasgow Federation of Young Socialists, at an emergency meeting last Thursday, decided to circulate all Young Socialist branches, Labour Parties and union branches in the city to set up a Glasgow 'Food for Cuba' Committee, and asking for delegates The Federation also decided to hold a demonstration against the American economic blockade of Cuba. The demonstration, on Friday, March 30, will start at 7.30 p.m. at Community House, Clyde Street and march to the American consulate in Glasgow.

In London, resolutions of support for the campaign have been sent to the Cuban Embassy front the City and Central General branch of the Clerical Workers' Union, Stratford ETU, West Nor(Cont. p. 2, col. 5)

"Solihull Labour Party supports the right of all nations to self - determination. We consider that this applies also to Cuba, though its present Government does not meet with the approval of the USA.

We therefore view with horror the attempt of the US government to starve the people of Cuba into submission by economic blockade. We would remind the people of the US that their own nation was founded as the result of a revolution, which reactiomary elements in this country tried to suppress. To us it is deplorable to see the successors of Washington and Jefferson behaving in this tyrannical way?

THE Revolutionary Com HE Revolutionary Com (the party formed by merger of the Revolutionary Communist Party and the Trotskyist Revolutionary Workers' Party in 1959) won two seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and retained its single seat in the Assam Assembly.

The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSPI), which had an electoral alliance with the Communist Party of India in Bengal and Kerala, won two seats in the House of People (the Lok Sabha or Parliament) and seven seats in the West Bengal Assembly.

The RCPI put up 16 candidates and one for Parliament in Assam. The CPI failed to get any representation in this state. There was no united front of the left in Assam. In Bengal the RCPI was a part of the leftist front with the CPI, RSP and the Forward Bloc.

In states like Bengal, Andhra and Kerala, where the CPI had a programme of limited class struggle, the left scored well.

In Bengal and Andhra the CPI emerged as the main opposition party in the State Legislature. In Bengal the party is dominated by its left-wing (anti-Khrushchev) tendency. But in Bombay State there were big set-backs. The CPI has got only six seats in the present Assembly, against 18 in the old. It returned four members to Parliament in 1957, but none this time.

S. A. Dange, leader of the CPI group in the old Parliament was among those defeated in Bombay City.

A significant feature of the third general election is the emergence of communal and reactionary parties like the Jan Sangh and Swatantra Party in some of the big states, where the left has been traditionally weak because of the class collaborationist line pursued by the CPI and the major left parties.

In Uttar Pradesh (home province of Prime Minister Nehru) the Jan Sangh, a Hindu communalist party, has emerged as the main opposition and the Swatantra Party has got 15 seats.

The Jan Sangh has become the main opposition party in VOTES POI PARTIES 1952 CONGRESS (45%)

CPI PSP (16%)

SWATANTR Other Parties 101 0/1 The votes polled by regional and other parties in the Lok Sabha in the 1962 elections are as follows: Socialist Party: 27,35,499 (seats won 5); DMK: 23,15,610 (7); Republican 10,59,886 3); Akali Dal: 8,29129 (3); Rama Rajya Parishad: 6,29,823 (2); Jharkand Party 4,99,950 (3); Hindu Mahasabha 4,69,640 (one); Forward Bloc 4,31,007 (2); Muslim League: 4,19,761 (2); Revolutionary Socialist Party: 1,19,377 (2) and Independents and other parties: 1,22,59,681 (25).

(Millions) 1957 (11%)

(10% (31 %) (22%) (26%) Madhya Pradesh. This is the only state where the Congress has failed to secure an absolute majority in the State Legislature. It has formed the government with the support of independents.

The class collaborationist role of the CPI leadership was illustrated in the line taken by it in By An Indiar the contest for a parliamentary seat in Bombay City between Defence Minister Krishna Menon and Acharya Kripalani, sponsored by the reactionary combination of the Jan Sangh, Swatantra Party and the PSP.

No left candidate was put up and Dange forced his own party and the Samiti front to support Menon.

The pseudo-left Menon was elected and all the CPI and other leftish candidates, with one exception, were defeated in the traditional strongholds of the working class parties in Bombay City.

In three other states, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Bihar, the Swatantra Party is now the main opposition party, with the support of the most reactionary bourgeois and semi-feudal elements.

The emergence of the extreme reactionary forces and the rout of the left in some states has provoked a big discussion in the ranks of the CPI.

The right-wing Dangeite (Khrushchevite) line of supporting the 'progressive bourgeoisie' represented by Nehru is being openly questioned.

The results have seriously undermined the position of Dange, and the left-wing is taking advantage of the situation to make a new bid to capture the leadership.

The left wing identifies itself with Peking in the present Sino-Soviet ideological controversies.

A debate on the 22nd Congress of the CPSU is now taking place. The Trotskyists in the RCPI and other revolutionary Marxists are participating in this debate inside and outside the CPI.

Their task is made easier because of the readiness in a section of the CPI leadership to consider sympathetically the Trotskyist criticism of the Stalinist distortion of the communist movement.

There is also a wing realisation in this sect ion 1 if the 3D 1962 (45%)

(11%) /AA O/ | CPI that the growth of the reactionary forces can be fought only on the basis of independent mass action of the proletariat, and not behind the pseudo-socialism of Nehru or by supporting the 'progres ive bourgeois' regime of the ( ongress.

In the new Lok Sabha Correspondent Congress has won an overwhelming majority of 359 seats and all the oppositic parties (both right and left) have improved their position from 127 in the old house to 1 31 in the new.

The CPI, which has emel ged as the second largest group, has secured 29 seats, but with six independents elected with the party's support, its strength will be raised to 35.

The composition of the new Lok Sabha reflects to a large extent the new relationship of forces in the country.

The bourgeois Congress will be subjected to a great deal of pressure from the extreme reactionary groups and Nehru may be forced to slow down his moderate reforms.

The CPI has been responsible for weakening the revolutionary forces and indirectly encouraging the emergence of the far right.

The post-election period will see a resurgence of the class struggle.

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'HE General Management Committee of Glasgow City Labour Party last week rejected a report on rents from its Executive Committee. le EC report was based on its claim that council house rents were an administrative and not a policy matter and should therefore be decided by the Town Council Labour Group and not by the City party. This supported by a letter from Sarah Barker, Chief Assistant National Agent of the Labour Party. le City Factor's office had already informed tenants that their rents will be increased and the decision of the GMC will not change the position. he EC delayed calling a special meeting on rents for months, despite requests to do so by nine affiliated bodies.

In the discussion, delegates pointed out that it is not the job of the Labour Party to carry out the dirty work of the Secretary of State for Scotland and that the Labour movement should organize a massive campaign against Tory housing policy and high interest charges. the vote, the EC report was rejected by 70 votes to 59. Had the meeting taken place earlier, council tenants in Glasgow would not now be facing rent increases which many of them can ill afford.

Evidence of intent The guns of big business are being raised into position. The Chairman of the Stock Exchange states that the City's 'loyalty and willingness to co-operate have almost reached breaking point.

The Financial Times, writing of the possibility of taxing capital gains at similar rates of tax now applicable to income, states. that such a measure 'would be violently and justifiably opposed' Selwyn Lloyd and the Tory government will no doubt take the hint and a capital gains tax will not attempt to make any inroads on capital.

It will be remembered that the tax was first mooted in the July • Little Budget'. All the other proposals, the pay pause, the credit squeeze, higher purchase taxes, etc., were aimed at the living standards of the masses of the people and were put into effect immediately.

The capital gains tax was promised in order to make these measures palatable, following as they did on the sur-tax concessions and increased health charges.

The latest outbursts from the City have been made to ensure that this tax must have no teeth and that there should be some compensation for having to submit to its introduction.

Mr. Paul Chambers, chairman of ICI, calls, for example, for a sur-tax exemption limit for unearned income as well as for earned income. For the year 1962-63, directors paid £5,000 per annum will only have to pay surtax on their additional income from investments. Mr. Chambers would like to see the investment income free of sur-tax also.

Both the Chairman of the Stock Exchange, Lord Ritchie, and Mr. Chambers were speaking at the Wider Share Ownership Conference in London last week. This organisation, whose aim is to attract the "small investor, has just carried out a survey into share ownership in Britain.

75 per cent of shareholders interviewed, says the report, were attracted by the possibility of either 'capital gain, tax free profits, making money, or for the gamble?

Yet Mr. Selwyn Lloyd in his Budget speech last year rejected the idea of a comprehensive capital gains tax on the grounds that those who make a business out of seeking capital gains were already liable to tax on their profit.

In fact the present tax code would allow the revenue authorities to tax capital profits arising out of the sale of shares if it could be proved that the intention to make a profit existed at the time the shares were bought.

Since intention cannot be proved easily, the tax has never been levied in the vast majority of cases.

A watered-down capital gains tax may be the price for union leaders' co-operation on NEDC. But no one should be deluded into thinking that the fabric of the profit system will be damaged.

Industrial Four 31,1962

By Our Birmingham Industrial Correspondent return to work, after a week-old strike involving 6,000 workers. This decision, which was not unanimous and was greeted by some workers with booing, came as the climax of intensive pressure by union officials.

The strike was in protest against the new pay agreement drawn up by the National Joint Industrial Council for the rubber industry.

This had been described by Arthur Quigley (secretary of the union side of the Dunlop Joint Works Council) as an insult which would leave Dunlop workers worse off than they were in 1960.

On the previous Tuesday, the confidence of the strikers was n Thursday a special meeting alled by the union officials (ir strike committee leaders as an mass meeting.

The strike committee boycotted it and placed pickets outside the hall to dissuade workers from attending. In fact only 250 of the The strike committee said, 'It must now be obvious to the unions that the strikers have more confidence in us than in their union officers.' At the meeting L. Walsh, general secretary of the United Rubber Workers' Union, sternly declared, 'This matter will not be together changed. It was obvious that the union officials were straining every nerve to get the workers back.

They had pressed into service not only Wesley Perrins (District Secretary, NUGMW) but also Stan Pemberton and a second speaker from the tyre factory at SIXTEEN miners were burned to death on Thurs day, March 22 in the Hapton Valley mine disaster. Two more have died since in hospital from the severe burns they received.

It appears that the explosion occurred in the tunnel leading to the coal face, where 20 men were working at the seam, a mile and a half underground.

All the men who have died lived in Burnley. Ten of them were under 30, two of them were under 16.

Eleven of the dead were buried on Tuesday. 2,000 miners and other workers lined the route to ended on March 23 with a decision tr Speke, Liverpool, to lend their weight to the plea for a return to work.

No doubt the strikers would have been able to withstand all this eloquence if their own leaders had not performed an about-turn and advised them also to go back. What happened between Thursday's meeting and Friday morning to alter their tune so decisively?

Great play was made by Wesley Perrins with the fact that Fort Dunlop was the only rubber works showing any dissatisfaction with the agreement. This was greeted with derisive shouts.

When Arthur Quigley asked, ' What have we gained?' there were jeers and shouts of 'Nothing!' Chief target of the strikers' hostility was Harold Smith, district organiser of the NUGMW. He was shouted down when he asserted, ' Our quarrel is not with the Fort management.?

When he tried to introduce a jocular note by offering to give a demonstration of the "Twist' while waiting for the arrival of Bro. Perrins there was a roar of derisive laughter and shouts of 'You can do that all right, mate!' When the vote was taken for the return to work, union officials announced 'Unanimous' • Instantly there was a shout of 'Take the vote against!' The vote was taken. They were in the minority, however, and smiles of relief showed on the faces of the union officials.

Here was magnificent solidarity of workers against the pay pause, which was rendered ineffective by the lack of will to fight of union officials and the 'blow hot, blow cold' leadership of their representative on the Works Council and Shop Stewards' Committee.

The workers had been marched up to the top of the hill and marched down again, with nothing to show for it. pay their last dead comrades.

All the men I talked to were asking, 'Will it happen again? What caused the explosion? ' Millions of pounds have been spent by the NCB in modernising the mines and making them safer. But tragedies still occur.

With the continual speed-up in mechanisation, more and more lives are in danger.

Already this year more than 400 miners have been killed in Europe.

All the miners in Britain will echo the thoughts of the Hapton workers when they ask: 'Did it have to happen? ' The Lord Mayor of Burnley has launched an appeal for the relatives of the victims.

NATIONAL dock strike may and hours claims for 70,000 within the next month. This was the decision delegates on Tuesday.

The unions' claims are for a "substantial' pay rise and a cut in the working week from 44 hours to 40. The claims have twice been rejected by the employers.

The delegate conference, with only two abstentions, decided to give 28 days' notice to end their national agreement with the employers.

The conference agreed that unless a settlement is rea ched before the 28 days are up they would 'take such action as GANG of Liverpool dockers who walked off a ship last week after refusing to work with non-unionists sparked off a strike which spread rapidly through the city's docks.

By Monday of this week the strike had been officially supported by the Transport and General Workers' Union and union members were promised strike pay.

TGWU officials have never moved so smartly in support of their members before. The reason is not hard to find and it was quickly pointed out by members of the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers .. Blue Union'--on Merseyside.

The officials are trying to use the strike as a final offensive in their seven years' war against the NASD, whose members they describe as 'non-unionists'.

JOINT CAMPAIGN

However, despite thair suspicion of the motives of officials of the TGWU, NASD members in Liverpool have walked off the docks with 'White' union men and are actively supporting the strike.

• Your officials declare as nons, Blue union speakers have told dockers' meetings, 'but we cannot scab on IGWU members. Our members are out even though they are not getting strike pay, while members of the "White" union are.' Many of the Transport and General Union members now on strike supported the 'Blue' union in its strike for recognition in 1955.

The Merseyside area committee of the 'Blue' union supports a policy of 100 per cent trade unionism on the docks. During the past few years they have written to the TGWU several times asking for a joint campaign against non-unionism. Their letters have been ignored.

' Blue' union militants earnestly desire to build a strong organization on the docks in unity with the rank and file of the TGWU. They propose to turn the present ¡truggle into a real fight for be called unless dock workers are by by a meeting Gladstone dock began.

Immediately a at Number 5 co called by the I official of the Marr, attempted men.

He was given .. La-- 1. - -11-REDUNDANCY Mr. Sidney Ford, president of the National Union of Mineworkers, speaking at a meeting at Glenrothes, Fife, last Sunday, was attacked for his policy on pit closures.

He said that he did not see the coal industry as a declining force, despite its setbacks. Productivity had now reached the target set for 1965 and in the first 10 weeks of 1962 they had produced two million tons more than im the corresponding period of last year.

In Scotland productivity had been increasing at a rate better than the national average.

This week over 200 miners at Rothes colliery, the £20 million show-piece pit in Fife, received two weeks notice.

The NUM official in the area stated that there were 112 underground jobs available in the East Fife area. There are 800 men at the colliery which is to close in a matter of weeks.

port deemed necessary'.

The union leaders have made it quite clear that they will not accept arbitration or invite the Minister of Labour to intervene as he would be bound to uphold the government's 'pay pause' policy.

Tim O'Leary, chief negotiator for the unions, said that the notice to the employers meant that there would be an immediate joint meeting.

A strike would depend results of the talks. 100 per cent trade unionism, with dockers given freedom to join either organization.

Last Monday, a meeting of 1,000 dockers on strike from Number 5 control and members of both unions, unanimously passed a resolution moved by a TGWU member and seconded by a member of the NASD. . The resolution supported a policy of 100 per cent trade unionism and declared that the 'principled rights of members of both organizations should be fully recognized.

A similar resolution was passed nannal of dockers at where the strike After the meeting ntrol, which was JASD, the local TGWU, Harold to speak to the , rough passage arter ne deciarea, were not going back until everybody is a member of the "White"' He was finally forced to close his meeting, declaring that his audience were 'a lot of rabble'.

'AT 8.15 am, on Thursday, March 22, 900 workers at Dlivetti Ltd. came out in a 100 per cent strike, said Peter Murray, a convenor and spokesman for the shop stewards' committee at the Glasgow factory, in an interview with The Newsletter.

'The dispute arose because he management had announced heir intention of cutting costs ›y reducing the number of abourers employed. The mehods they intended to use to do his were by new time-study nethods and the double-banking › certain machines in the workshops.

"When the management were hallenged over their intentions ›y the shop stewards their reply vas that the reduction in the lumber of labourers meant that he smaller number would "just lave to work a bit harder"

'The management broke off ¡egotiations. The shop stewards eplied by calling on the workers n the factory to black all fetching und carrying unless done by a abourer. This policy was put nto effect on March 16.

'On Monday, March 19, chaos eigned in the factory. The abourers could not keep pace vith the demand, bottlenecks were ›uilding up and the assembly vorkers were hit by waiting time. It this point the management ried to make a deal, one which vould have meant a speed-up in i disguised form.

'A further factory meeting on March 21 agreed that there should re an immediate withdrawal of abour should there be a move to end anyone home as an act of liscipline as the management had low threatened. 'That same day two operators vere sent home for refusing to landle blacked work. The workers herefore immediately withdrew heir labour 100 per cent.' As Peter Murray explained to mass meeting of the factory vorkers on the second day of the trike, redundancy was obviously mpending at the factory.

It was better to fight it out now han to wait until the management ould put its policy into full ffect. This was the preparation or entry into the Common Market by a monopoly firm.

The mass meeting endorsed a lemand that the AEU District Committee and the national eadership of the union support he dispute and help to fight the ompletely provocative action of de management.

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One-Day School Saturday, March 31 Langley Labour Club, Middleton, nr. Manchester School opens 10.30 a.m.

Admission free

Speaker: FRANK GIRLING Morning session:

Trade Unions Today-A Crisis of Leadership Afternoon session:

Racialism and the Working Class Sponsoring the school are: NUM (Bradford); NUR (Ardwick No. 1); AUBTW (Middleton) Registered at the G.P.O. as a newspaper Published by The Newsletter. 18 Cisian Piah Sire, London 3.54 186A Clapham High Street,