Workers Press no. 1020

workers press

POLICE PROTECT SCABS AND REDUCE PICKET LINES

HOSPITAL WORKERS

SEEK TUC HELP

PAGEANT COMMENT AND PICTURES pages 2, 3, 6 & 7

INCORPORATING TI

DAILY ORGAN OF THE

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

THE PROMISE made by the TUC t ordinated action' to back workers fighting ment over the state pay laws will be put to the first time tomorrow. The hospital workers' leaders will be asking the TUC economic committee for help in its industrial action for a living wage. But all the signs suggest that this hard-pressed section of the working class will be betrayed and fobbed-off with more fake words and pledges from the union leaders.

The so-called moderates around Victor Feather will argue that the movement is not committed to industrial action to support unions fighting the government. This is because the special TUC Congress on March 5 passed the original policy statement which committed the TUC to nothing, as well as a later more militant amendment.

The right wing will support this treachery. Frank Chapple, electricians leader and a member of the economic committee.

has already said he will ignore the call for a one-day national strike. The Tories are extremely encouraged by the paralysis that the Yesterday grips union leaders. Employment Secretar Maurice Macmillan openly boasted that isolated stoppages did not impress the government.

'No one will gain a penny from the present industrial action,' he told businessmen at held conference by the Industrial corporatist - style Society. Both these organizations say The inactivity of the TUC the one-day strike is a good Tories* coupled with the thing. determination to smash down It is time there was some the hospital workers, gas- plain speaking about this teachers men, train drivers, "day of protest". and civil servants underline the gravity of the situation facing the working class. IS cluding the and The TUC chiefs spend charlatans, that a strike con- their time leisurely planning fined day will to be the one-day strike, making futile. It will utterly not sure its impact is as slight budge the Tories an inch.

Meanwhile possible. as actions by tens of thousands SECONDLY, the Tories wel- of workers fighting for basic They come such actions. rights and decent wages are provide useful fuel to the fire being bled to death before they are lighting among the the whole labour and trade middle class. rail leader As Ray Buckton said yesterday, movement. Yet their union the Tories want the unions battle is the battle of every to be what the Jews were working man in the land. for the Nazis. This is more than cowar- dice by the TUC—it is down- THIRDLY, workers can be. " right complicity with the demoralized by pro- come Tory drive towards dictator- tests that lead to a dead-end.

ship. This spreading feeling en- courages the right wingers, The TUC is putting off like Chapple, to come out all action until the great and and openly split the move- as yet unnamed day of pro- ment. test. The battle the against Their efforts are applauded Tories for basic democratic by the Stalinists in the Com- rights is not an abstraction— munist Party and revisionists a painless, effete, protest to and liberals who gather in Socialists. be launched on a specified the International

RATING THE NEWSLETTER • TUESDAY M

F THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF

UC to lead *co- ghting the govern- put to the test for NO

SUCKLIST

MERITAL

ENTRY

date. The battle is on now, at the hospitals, outside the gasworks and on the rail- ways. It is also on in the cor- ridors of power where Heath is conspiring with friends in the military to put down the working class by force. The Socialist Labour League critically supports the one-day strike call and will struggle to make it a success.

But we say it must be a starting point of a campaign to create the industrial and political conditions to force this government to resign.

This is the prospect facing all trade unionists today. Either they fight for this policy or walk hand in hand with the TUC towards Tory dictatorship. JESDAY MARCH 13, 1973 • No. 1020 • 4p

TEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

Police cut the picket at the Whittington Hospital north London yester.

day, enabling administrative staff to strike-break. See full story-back page. THE PRICE of materials for manufac The rise in products other than food, drink and tobacco has risen by turing Industry was 21 per cent higher per cent since November, half the in February than a year before, figures rate of increases in the index for all Department of Trade from the and manufactured products. Industry revealed yesterday.

The Department notes the 'strong upward trend' in the price of materials continuing last month with dearer FIVE Metropolitan officers, In- police food and materials, wool copper cluding the former operations chief of again accounting for the bulk of the Yard's Druas Detec- Scotland change. tive Chief Insp. Victor Kelaher, were index for The provisional price committed for trial at the Old Bailey sales of manufactured products by Guildhall magistrates yesterday home rose per cent in February, again to pervert the Accused conspiracy most being through course of justice by giving false evi. increases dence at an Old Bailey trial in 1971.

dearer manufactured foods.

workers press

POLICE PROTECT SCABS AND REDUCE PICKET LINES

HOSPITAL WORKERS

SEEK TUC HELP

PAGEANT COMMENT AND PICTURES pages 2, 3, 6 & 7

INCORPORATING TI

DAILY ORGAN OF THE

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

THE PROMISE made by the TUC t ordinated action' to back workers fighting ment over the state pay laws will be put to the first time tomorrow. The hospital workers' leaders will be asking the TUC economic committee for help in its industrial action for a living wage. But all the signs suggest that this hard-pressed section of the working class will be betrayed and fobbed-off more fake words pledges from the union leaders.

The so-called moderates around Victor Feather will argue that the movement is not committed to industrial action to support unions fighting the government. This is because the special TUC Congress on March 5 passed the original policy statement which committed the TUC to nothing, as well as a later more militant amendment.

The right wing will support this treachery. Frank Chapple, electricians leader and a member of the economic committee, has already said he will ignore the call for a one-day national strike. The Tories are extremely encouraged by the paralysis that Yesterday Secretary grips the leaders. Employment Maurice Macmillan openly boasted that isolated stoppages did not impress the government.

'No one will gain a penny from the present industrial action,' he told businessmen at conference held by the Industrial corporatist - style Society. Both these organizations say The inactivity of the TUC the one-day strike is a good Tories' coupled with the thing. determination to smash down It is time there was some the hospital workers, gas- plain speaking about this men, train drivers, teachers 'day of protest'. and civil servants underline the gravity of the situation facing the working class.

FIRST everyone cluding the and The TUC chiefs spend charlatans, that a strike con- their time leisurely planning day will be fined to one the one-day strike, making futile. It will utterly not sure its impact is as slight budge the Tories an inch.

possible. Meanwhile as actions by tens of thousands SECONDLY, the Tories wel- of workers fighting for basic such They come actions. rights and decent wages are provide useful fuel to the fire being bled to death before they are lighting among the middle the whole labour and trade class. As rail leader Yet their Ray Buckton said yesterday, union movement. the Tories want the unions battle is the battle of every to be what the Jews were working man in the land. for the Nazis. This is more than cowar- dice by the TUC-it is down- THIRDLY, workers can be. • right complicity with the demoralized by come pro- Tory drive towards dictator- tests that lead to a dead-end.

ship. This spreading feeling en- courages the right wingers, TUC is The putting off like Chapple, to come out all action until the great and and openly split the move- as yet unnamed day of pro- ment. test. The the battle against Their efforts are applauded Tories for basic democratic by the Stalinists in the Com- rights is not an abstraction— munist Party and revisionists a painless, effete, protest to and liberals who gather in Socialists. be launched on a specified the International

RATING THE NEWSLETTER • TUESDAY M

)F THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF

UC to lead "co- ghting the govern- put to the test for NO

ENTRY

date. The battle is on now, at the hospitals, outside the gasworks and on the rail- ways. It is also on in the cor- ridors of power where Heath is conspiring with friends in the military to put down the working class by force. The Socialist Labour League critically supports the one-day strike call and will struggle to make it a success.

But must be a we say it starting point of a campaign to create the industrial and political conditions to force this government to resign.

This is the prospect facing all trade unionists today. Either they fight for this policy or walk hand in hand with the TUC towards Tory dictatorship. JESDAY MARCH 13, 1973 No. 1020 • 4p rtee Of THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE Police cut the picket at the Whittington Hospital north London yester.

day, enabling administrative staff to strike-break. See full story- -back page. THE PRICE of materials for manufac- The rise in products other than food, drink and tobacco has risen by turing industry was 21 per cent higher per cent since November, half the in February than a year before, figures rate of increases in the index for all Trade from the Department and manufactured products. Industry revealed yesterday.

The Department notes the 'strong upward trend' in the price of materials continuing last month with dearer FIVE Metropolitan officers, in- police and food materials, wool copper cluding the former operations chief of again accounting for the bulk of the Gentland Vard'e Druna Sauad Jator. change. tive Chief Insp. Victor Kelaher, were The provisional price index committed for trial Old Bailey sales of manufactured products by Guildhall magistrates yesterday home rose by per cent in February, again conspiracy to pervert the nost of the being through course of justice by giving false evi- Increases dearer manufactured foods. Old Bailey trial in 1971.

Road to Workers' Power The impact of the Pageant PAGE 2 Workers Press, Tuesday March THE 10,000 workers and youth who attended Sunday's Pageant of Labour at the Empire Pool, Wembley, did more than wit- ness vital episodes from their own history. They took an important step tor wards defending the past gains of the working class in the possible today- only way through building the reyolu- tionary party. The only purpose of showing workers their own history is to teach them the lessons of that history and to convince them to take on the responsibilities that flow from it. The Pageant dramatically showed that every single step forward the working class has ever taken has been a result of bitter: struggle against the forces of capitalism. The right to join a union and to strike, the right to vote, the right to a living wage and the right to form a separate party for the working class-all were won by the self-sacrifice and • of millions of determination men and women. Today the Tory government is busy taking away every single one of these basic rights.

• The trade union movement, for which men like Will Job- ling died, is being shackled to the Tory state by Heath's cor- poratist-style measures-the Industrial Relations Act and the state pay laws. • The right to vote, for which the Chartists fought and the Peterloo martyrs died, is being undermined by the rent Act, which removes the freedom of Labour representatives to carry out the policies on which they were elected. More and more, important deci- being sions taken by are people over whom there is no democratic control whatever.

Sinister military figures, closely Tory connected •with top circles, plan to impose a Bona- 'IT's fantastic; unbelievable. It's the biggest indoor political rally we've ever been to' This was the verdict of two Northern Ireland Republican delegates on the Pageant. And one added: "The main thing is, they're working-class people.

'It's only the working-class people who can bring down the Tory government. • In Northern Ireland we have been used as guinea-pigs for the likes of Kitson for what is going to happen in Britain. "There is no doubt that what happens in Britain has a very great bearing on Northern Ire- land. We have been hoping for a strong Labour government to be returned. It would be a great step, perhaps the biggest step forward EDDIE KIMMINS (23), is a Scottish engineer working in London. Until a year ago he worked at the Govan division of the ex-Upper Clyde Ship- builders. "The was great, he Pagent told me at Empire Pool, Wem- bley. It showed how workers have fought for their rights and brought it up to the present day with the fight aginst Heath.'

Eddie earns £27 a week and out of that he has to keep a wife and two small children. He said: I came down here after I got a trade because I thought I'd have a better chance to make a living. But with this government in, anywhere you go there's no chance. 'The position is very serious and I think we have got to be prepared for a big struggle. I Heath will call in think the army if he has to. 'A one-day strike is never any proved time good. It has been and time again. What's needed now is a General Strike. •Workers need a new party of their own today. The Labour hap ay March 13, 1973 Just one section of Sunday's vast audie partist dictatorship on the working class. The right to a living wage, for which gasworkers the and Merthyr railwaymen struggled, is now removed by inflation deliberately accelerated by the government and by entry into the capitalist Common Market.

• Above all, the leaders of the Labour Party, the creation of which was an enormous step forward for the working class, refuse to fight the Tories. Harold Wilson openly collabo- rates with Heath in using the The Taff Vale Railway sequence of the fined by union has been whose own workers in joyous mood after a clash wi Party has become just another breed of Tory. And a paper like Workers Press is essential, be- cause I think the national papers only give one side of things.

LONDON hospital worker Mike said Bowman pageant brought past social changes to life. He said: 'It came across be- cause it was all built round working-class dissatisfaction and ill-treatment and the violence used by the authorities. 'All that aggravation went on so that we could have rights and now in this affluent society, a democratically-elected govern- is trying to take them ment away.? 'THE PAGEANT seems to be an exact copy of what is about to.

happen now', ' said Anthony, a vast audience. power of the state to deprive workers of the right to bar- gain freely their through unions for wages. led, The right wingers in the Labour Party are the standard-bearers for coalition government, which means abandoning the gains represented by the form- ation of the Labour Party fol- lowing the Taff Vale judge- ment. The trade union leaders follow in the footsteps of Richard Bell, the railway union official who tried to hold back the ce of the Pageant Impressed engineers fined by the courts. Above Taff Vale a clash with their employer and his car.

young hospital worker from Belfast. The whole system, Labour and Conservative, is just running headlong towards dictatorship.

I definitely think there must be a new revolutionary party. I've only realized recently that the unions can do very little to help. 'At my hospital we voted 96 per cent for an all-out strike, but the union leaders said we could not. 'I don't think the hospital workers can win their struggle by themselves. We need other outside the hospital people unions to support us. The TUC should call a General Strike. If they don't we are going to lose. We can't afford to. to stav out and stay out. Our wages are too small.' struggle of the Merthyr rail- waymen. Today Feather, Jones, Scanlon, etc., seek to dissipate the strength of the working in piecemeal, isolated class struggles and inadequate one- day stoppages. Behind all this is the uncontrol- economic crisis lable world which the capitalist class can seek to solve only by com- pletely crushing the working class and driving it back to - 19th century conditions.

If the Tories are allowed to take back all the rights won by the

/EDWARD

(22)

O'ROURKE

£20 a week as a caretaker in London and he found the Pa- geant 'very interesting'.

Edward told me he was only just starting to get involved with politics. the wages, It's he said. "They're terrible. Prices keep going up, but wages are frozen.'

Edward is married and his wife is expecting a baby. Food and prices vegetable are a matter of every-day concern.

'As we saw in the Pageant, things were bad in the old days.

But if this freeze stays on, think things will a lot get rougher for the working class today' JOHN MCGUINNES, Liverpool docker, said: 'What happened in the era of Taff Vale is happen- ing today. That's what came in this powerfully over SO Pageant. I think every worker now can are being that the rights see taken off them by this Tory government. But only a few see that it will need a revolutionary to defend those rights party now. This Pageant has been a big step forward to the revolu- tionary party.'

SID SMYTH,

an engineering worker from Hemel Hempstead, commented: 'For me the Taff Vale incident was the most powerful-I am a member of a union that has been hned £55,000. The whole history of the working class was shown at the Pageant. It was. St very impressive. It showed how the working class and only the working class built their rights and organizations. I joined the Communist Party in 1936—the year of the Spanish Civil War. I left in 1968 over the invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Now I think that all the militant forces are rallying round the working class, then living and working conditions will driven back to what they were before any of these rights were achieved. But the capitalist class on a world scale is forced to try to do this because of the crisis of the system. This means that in 1973 the democratic gains made in the past can only be defended by revolutionary methods. This is the way in which the history of the past lives on and be developed in the must present. The attempts by the state at the this century to beginning of shackle the unions and make it impossible for them to func- tion required the working class to take a giant step forward and form its own party. This inexorably out of the arose struggles portrayed at the Pageant. Today the step forward that must be taken by the working is even more decisive class than that which followed Taff Vale. Present conditions re- quire the construction of the revolutionary party. The formation of the First Inter- national by Karl Marx and his associates in 1864 posed the question central facing the working class-the building of an international revolutionary organization to lead the fight against capitalism. Today, after the betrayals of social democracy and Stalinism, this means the building of the Fourth International. That is why the Pageant of Labour was far more than an impressive display put on by talented people. It was a chal- lenge to every person there and to every reader of the Workers Press to accept the responsibilities that now flow from that history-the respon- sibility to transform the Social- ist Labour League into the revolutionary party which will lead the fight to overthrow capitalism and establish social- ism on a world scale. SLL, the making of a revolu- tionary party is here today. It's a truly historic occasion.'

. TONY JONES, an assembly line worker at Standard Triumph, Wood End, Liverpool, thought the section put on by the Jarrow workers about the fight to build in the the first trade unions north east was tremendous.

'A lot of my mates who came down from the factory with me were overwhelmed by the whole thing. It impressive was an spectacle.' CHARLIE BOYD. from Export Packing Service, Banbury, said: 'Seeing the enormous struggles the workers had in the past in order to survive drove it home about what we are facing today.

'Knowing how previous gener- ations of workers stood up to terrible military and police re- pression makes it easier for us to face up to the forces of the state we have against us in the current situation. 'Apart from that. it was a tre- mendous presentation. I thought it was not possible to present such a spectacle. I don't usually get emotional about things, but this was really moving.' PHILIP JAMES, a worker in the publishing industry, felt: 'It was a fantastic achievement to put on such a spectacle. Some of the actual theatrical scenes were diffi- cult to follow for technical and other reasons, but the enormors the drama and movement struggles came across powerfully.

I had no idea that the fight for working-class rights had been a violent struggle because such of all the repression. The mili- to be turning out tary seemed every five minutes. 'I think it will take some time for the full political significance of these historical lessons to sink in. It was very stimulating.'

Greatest day in history of British Trotskyism

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

OVER 10,000 people at the Empire Pool, Wembley, on Sunday participated in a unique and unforgettable political experience. They witnessed the making of the British working class in perhaps the most dramatic way ever presented. The Pageant. 'The Road to Workers' Power' was not a play, a film, a meeting or a concert, but a political event that gathered together the representatives of that will build the revolutionary the forces party in Britain. One thing is certain—no other movement in the country, including the Labour Party with all its resources, could have undertaken such an historic task with such outstanding success.

The scale was enormous. From nothing but the idea, and the determination to carry theory into practice and build Party, the Pageant lIne was created. The total cast was 250. The bulk were workers and youth, some new to politics-almost all new They were at the to revolutionary politics.

Empire Pool in costumes themselves-from the ragged children the mines the to railway workers of Taff Vale in 1901 in their blue uniforms, serge waistcoats and caps. At the Empire Pool the teams from Jarrow, Merthyr Tydfil and London Manchester, met for the first time the army of technicians, lighting and sound experts and designers who all came forward and offered their services free to make the Pageant a blow against the hated Tory government.

Technically, the Pageant was one of the most advanced ever staged. Much of it was spectacle- union meetings, clashes with the police and fights with scabs. But there were detailed scenes many • that could easily been because have lost of the vast size of the arena.

This is why the acquisition Eidophor ot an closed-circuit television process was so important.

This is of immediate of system transmission audience, television pictures The screen. therefore, could look from the floor of the Empire Pool itself to the 30 ft by 20 ft screen at the top of the arena to pick up magnified details of the action as it happened. The Eidophor was also used and etchings other carry material of the periods depicted the four Pageant episodes as in march for Jobling -the miner well as film of Tory leader Heath hanged and gibbeted an making one of his many speeches all miners who stood ample to law and order. by the union. Both the Boldon colliery band Funeral hymn and Music Force, the Manchester musicians' co-operative, meat reception trem the audience.

Music played a vital role too. Vic Brox of Music Force wrote The Boldon colliery prize brass three great songs- -one was band played in the Tarrow epi- celebration Chebrat of 1837 which demanded Peoples' sode, which showed the building the One of first miners' union. parliamentary for voice the tune was a victory march played It working captured the class. The at a miners' meeting. other joy power of the first wor- was the Gresford hymn, written mass movement. the Gresford pit disaster after Wales. Pageant the he props which includ anlanded The audience in In the also hymn was played as a funeral colliery trucks, a gallows and gibbet, a cannon, a small electric car, and scabs' train used amazing an during the Taff Vale incident.

Stirring scenes But the final scenes of the Pageant were the most stirring of all. The Eidophor showed film of Lenin and Trotsky and the of the Winter Palace storming during the Russian Revolution.

The four main characters of the Pageant, the miner Jobling, Julian Harney the revolutionary Chartist, Karl Marx and Holmes the railway workers' leader at Workers Press, Tue .. чало Taff Vale came forward and spoke of their fight and sacrifice.

Then Comrade Roger Smith a member of the Central Commitee of the Socialist Labour League and in overall control of the Pageant came forward to salute these men who struggled in the past. He pledged that the move- would struggle on until ment the working class had the power.

Pageant ended with the The 'Internationale'-sung by 10,000 people in the hall- the new British revolutionary vunguard.

MORE PICTURES — Centre pages. ress, Tuesday March 13, 1973 PAGE 3 Above: National secretary of the Socialist Labour League G. Healy the platform and on closed-circuit TV at the Empire left: Shella Pool rally. Below Torrance and Producer Roger Smith (SLL Central Committee members) and Corin Redgrave conducting the collection. Be- low centre: Gary Gurmeet (Edi- tor 'Keep • Left', top) and | Dave Smart (Whittington Hospital).

Below: Delwyn Hopkins (Shotton steelworks action committee, top) and Tom Thomas (Roe- hampton hospital).

POLICE FEDERATION:

IT'S NO TRADE UNION

PAGE & Workero Press, Tuaoday Marc What do Ray Buckton of ASLEF (above), Sir John Par- tridge, ex-president of the CBI and Maurice Macmillan (top), the Tory Employment Secre- tary, have in common? They were sharing the same platform at a seminar thrown by Society the Industrial yesterday. It was conducted at the Europa Hotel. For Society members this beanfeast cost £25 and £38 for non-members.

The seminar, entitled Fac- ing the Freeze' ? was open to •directors, senior executives, managers, trade union officials and convenors'. The composition of the speakers clearly shows that the whole exercise had nothing whatsoever to do with the in- terests of the working class.

Macmillan's department is jointly in charge of running the state pay laws, Partridge was in the CBI delegation to which the tripartite talks paved the way for the legisla- tion, Alex Jarratt, another speaker, was also a member of the CBI team, while Pro- fessor R. A. Turner, of Cam- bridge University, was a for- mer member of Labour's Prices and Incomes Board.

So what, might you ask, was Buckton doing at such a corporatist-style affair? His own members are at present fighting tooth and nail for a living wage while he is spend- ing his time with those who want the laws enforced. Writings of

WININGS

Leon Tratsky

LEON TROTSHY

1057-38 (938-9)

WRITINGS OF

WRITINGS OF

LEON

LEON

TROTSKU

11933-341 1834-35 Six volumes of Trotsky's writings during the years 1933-1940 £8.00 including postage Please tick those you requ Name Address Complete form and post to New Park Publications, 1 A New Park Publica day March 13, 1973

OWN CONN-SPO

From time to time we have followed the right- course of the ward leadership of the Asso- ciation of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staffs (APEX). Its latest move was a pro- for a corporatist- gramme style joint negotiating body consisting of representatives from the TUC and the Con- federation of British Industry to agree on a wages policy.

of its February's issue journal, "The Clerk' , now has an article on the Police Fed- of a series on eration-part 'Other People's Unions', it is written by Tony Judge, editor Federation of the Police magazine. It begins with the startling sentence: 'Trade unionism and the police looks like an oil water combination. You and say that again! can Judge goes on to assure his is far from readers that this the splendid job being done 'an by the Federation as influential enlightened and representative body concerned to improve the lot of the serv- ing policeman' and claims that it was in the forefront of those who called for improved the understanding between police and immigrants and has done much to improve rela- tionships with the public' To be fair, he does give a potted history of the setting up of the first police union in 1919, following two strikes, which affiliated to the was TUC and the Labour Party.

Within a few months the Lloyd George government had brought in a Bill making it illegal for policemen to belong to a trade union or have any- thing to do with politics.

When 2,000 men struck in defence of their union, they were sacked. The article also points out that the Police Federation was established by the same piece of legislation as for- wholly internal body, bidden to have any outside association'. All its meetings are held History of Russian Revolution special gift pack of three volumes £1.70 including postage ou require. Amount enclosed £.

post to: tions, 186a Clapham High Street, Lo Publications Booklist is a vailable, ir

TIYAT:

working with the in time approval of Scotland Yard and .. pays all the public money costs of meetings and their annual conference. In other words, the Police Federation is virtually a 'com- pany union' set up after the 1919 policemen's strike was broken to prevent the police force having any connections with working-class organiza- might interfere tions which an effective with its being strıke-breaking ınstrument.

The main role of the police Trotsky-a documentary by Francis Wyndham and David King £1.65 including postage reet, London SW4 7UG able, free, on request.

OFF

CN is to defend private property and the 'law and order' of the capitalist state against workers their fighting defend to rights. Hundreds of picketing wor- kers, youth and immigrants have already learnt some very hard lessons about the rela- tionship of the police to 'the public'. Many of them have a few bruises to prove it. And that was before police- were officially armed men and given powers to shoot- Mr and Mrs R. Graves used to live at 2 Mex- borough Cottages, Buck- land, Hertfordshire. But when their fourth child was born, Mrs Graves was very ill and her hus- band took two days off work to look after her. Mr David His employer, Hodge, sacked him claiming he was inefficient at his job.

But that wasn't all. For Mr was a farm • labourer Graves and he lived in a 'tied cottage' his house was 'tied' That is, to his job. When he lost his job, his employers obtained a possession order in the Hitchin County Court. A similar fate betell Percy Billings (51), who had been employed as a gardener at Runnymede House. When he lost his job for no reason he and his wife lost their home at Old Windsor, Surrey. After interventions on his behalf by the National Union Agricultural and Allied Workers, the bailifis allowed Mr Billings' furniture to stay in the house for an extra 48 hours. to-kill and ask questions afterwards! Today, as the Tory govern- ment prepares for all-out war with the working class, it needs a force it can rely on to do its 'strong-arm' work —breaking up picket lines, terrorizing potential 'trouble- makers' and arresting, or even shooting militants. given that The impression the Police Federation is some sort of bona-fide trade union is dashed every time a picket line is mounted. 'We've done what we can to help them', said Lady Loder, daughter of the estate owner. Another NUAAW member, Mr G. Krueger had been em- ployed as a tractor driver at Chiddingford from 1968 until June 1972, when his employer decided that he would prefer to employ a younger man. The Krueger family were evicted on January 8, 1973.

Mr Samuel Huggins was dismissed following a bout of sickness after three years' employment as manager of a turkey-rearing farm at Attle- borough. He and his wife and their two daughters, aged seven and five, were evicted on October 31. They spent the first few nights after being turned out of their home sleeping in the family car parked in a gate- way. The legal department of the NUAAW deals with an aver- age of 500 'tied' cottage cases annually. * Details from 'The Land- worker', March 1973, journal of the National Union of Agri- cultural and Allied Workers.

Effusive articles in praise of Stalin appeared in the Albanian Press to mark the 20th anniversary of his death on March 5, 1953. Meetings were or- ganized in factories and other places of work and exhibitions arranged. The official party daily 'Zeri ¡ Popullit' published an article headed 'J. V. Stalin — great revolutionary and Marxist- Leninist' It said: 'All revolutionaries and freedom-loving people remember Stalin as a great revolutionary and as an out- standing Marxist-Leninist who devoted all his life to the defence of the victories of the revolution and the construc- tion of socialism in the Soviet Union, to the cause of the liberation of the proletariat and all oppressed peoples.'

The article recited the familiar Maoist litany, attack- ing the modern revisionists of the Soviet Union for turning it into "a centre of world counter-revolution, into an im- perialist state enemy of socialism and the freedom of the people' The Albanians accuse the Soviet Union of having under- mined the Liberation struggle of the Vietnamese people by aiding the US aggressors to withdraw 'with honour' from Indo China. They keep quiet about the Chinese, who were no less enthusiastic about the Paris "peace' agreement than the Russians. Apparently in China the 20th anniversary of the blood- thirsty dictator was allowed to pass by without notice.

Enver Hoxha (below), carrying out a caricature of the build- socialism in small, ing of backward and isolated Albania, obviously models himself on Stalin. The cult of the personality is going full blast as in North Korea, where the building up of Kim Il-song (below) would have made Stalin envious. The North Korean Party daily des- cribed Stalin as 'an outstand- ing figure of the international communist and working-class movement'. In the Soviet Union and the east European countries a studied silence has been pre- served on the anniversary. The which bureaucracy came to power in the Stalin era still lives in dread of its old boss, as is shown by its mortal fear that the truth about the past should be revealed. Under the guise of insur- ing against attack from the USSR or China, the Japanese government is preparing for a war in Asia to further the ambi- tions of the big mono- polies. These companies which have been hit hard by the up- valuation of the now-floating yen and by restrictions on their exports to the United States, are turning more and towards the violent more resolution of their economic crisis. Their dream of resurrecting the Greater East Asian Co- - Wi Prosperity Sphere must bring them into direct collision with the USSR and China, both of which • have rich reserves of minerals and oil coveted by the Japanese monopolies. Militarization, technically forbidden under the post-war reality encouraged States, is going ahead at an extremely rapid rate. The armed forces, euphemistically described as the 'self-defence' forces, are being given the an L ES rotsk! Now available from New Pa 186a Clapham High Street, latest in all branches of mili- tary equipment. The military budget this year is twice that of 1972, which was itself a post-war record. The government is making overtures to other states in the area hoping to give its troops training ex- perience outside Japan. The latest move in this care- fully-geared plan is the release through an anonymous govern- source of documents ment which it is claimed contain military's the fundamental plan for defending the nation trom attack by the USSR or China. The excuse for putting for- Co-. ward this plan at the present time is that the government's confidence in support from America is declining and that the United States can no lon- ger be relied on to 'defend' the country. Officials in Tokyo claim that the plan is a reaction to Asian policy proclaimed by President Nixon. This policy called for Asian countries to shoulder the primary responsibilty for military expenditure and rely on the US only for air, sea and logistical support. By LEON TROTSKY Paperback. £1.00 Illustrated Sharp pen-portraits of leading figures of the Second Interna.

tional in Russia and Europe, for.

the first time published in an English edition. The translations were first commissioned by the 'Keep Young Socialists' paper Left' Their enormous success has led to the completion of the translation of the whole book, which is the first part of Volume 8 of Leon Trotsky's 'Works' pub- in the Soviet Union in lished 1926. It provides the most vivid historic picture available of the of figures the Second Inter- national, their strengths and weaknesses, written by an obser- ver who was also a participant in the daily struggle of the Euro- pean and Russian working class.

1 New Park Publications h Street, London, SW4 7UG Japanese miitary bulld-up: A parade in Minister Tanaka with US President Nixon The Tokyo officials claim this is an uncertain commit- ment and assumed the 'worst case'—minimum military sup- port from the US—in drawing up their plans. expressed in The strategy the document has been accep- ted in the senior levels of Japan's armed forces, accord- ing to Tokyo sources. It has yet to be applied in planning and training, they said. According to Tokyo sources it has no provision for send- ing troops abroad, unless there secret provisions which are were not revealed. Nor has it any provision for nuclear arms, relying instead on the US nuclear "umbrella'. It makes no provision for expanding military forces be- yond those projected in the fourth five-year military plan currently on its way through the Diet (parliament). But this, of course, in no way rules out a further escalation of military expenditure in the future.

Everything indicates that the Japanese militarists have become a bit more canny than their pre-war ancestors. The latter circulated a detailed • the signa- memorandum over ture of Count Tanaka in the mid-1920s which fell into the hands of the Soviet general staff This incautious document frankly and openly stated the predatory war aims of Japan- ese imperialism which required to expand and win colonies and subject territories from its established rivals, particu- larly British, United States, Dutch and French imperialism.

The same economic laws which drove Japan to attack the Chinese mainland in 1931 are today driving Japanese imperialism to attempt another "solution' in the same spirit.

The vaunted plan is not pre- paration for defence, but for attack. According to the official spokesmen, the doctrine assumed that a conventional attack would be undertaken with speed and surprise. It parade in 1971. Above: Japanese Prime dent Nixon. would be aimed at Japan's with cities, enemy para- troopers and soldiers, borne helicopters from ships, by assigned to seize key centres.

In one fell swoop this glib 'assumption' is used to 'justify' a 900-strong air force which, the document claims, would be pulverized by bombing of airfields in a few hours under combat conditions. At the same time, the argu- ment also justifies possession of • of over 250,000 a navy tons, which the government acknowledged would only function for three or four days if the scenario went into operation. One might well ask why bother having an army at all, if it can only stand up to its nearest neighbours for at most a matter of days? Then the document reveals what the real purpose of the exercise is about. The second purpose of this force is to protect against 'internal insurgency inspired from China'. This plan is more to the point: it envisages the use of the army to crush insurrection from inside the country—in other words to crush the working class of Japan. The subtlety of the docu- ment can now be seen: on the one hand it enables the for government to prepare counter - revolution behind a smokescreen of 'national de- fence' and on the other it to prove how. inad- serves equate' the country's 'defences' would be in the event of an attack in earnest. On either count, it can only fuel the military appetites of the big monopolies which are thrashing desperately around for a 'solution' to their im- mense economic problem. In line with their counter- both revolutionary politics, the Soviet and the Chinese bureaucracy are competing for the attentions of these mono- polies by signing away mineral rights and offering preferential trading terms-each hoping to the Japanese turn threat against the other.

Workers Press, Tuesday March 13, 1973

PAGE 6

onto the screen. This was the first time this he great success of the Pageant, 'The Road Eiderphor equipment has been • Workers' Power', is a tribute to the strengtł and determination of the working class to defend used in pageant presentation in Britain.

Top right: In the finale the combined cast of its basic democratic rights.

audience of more than 250, the majority of whom were trade unionists The enthusiastic 10,000 trade unionists and their families who and youth who had never appeared before an attended the anti-Tory rally at the Empire Pool the showed their readiness to fight the class enemy no bulla an alternauve revoluuonary Icauel They cheered the Pageant performance ship. ottom left to right: Marx, played by and gave a deafening response to the speakers Tempinski, and Engels, Terry Wilton discuss demand that the Tory government be forced the developments in the British working out of office. In the collection more than £1,039 Class n a scene shortly after the formation of th was raised to continue the work of the Pageant and to build the revolutionary party in the im- First International in London in 1864 A panoramic view of the vast Wembley audi- torium. In yesterday's Workers Press we carried a photograph which showed only the audience general that had taken up their seats by shortly after pany. His face is projected onto a giant Eide 3 o'clock. This later picture showing three sides phor screen which hung at the back of the of the auditorium has the seating filled Four TV cameras tracked the perfor- stage. mances and simultaneously projected the action capacity.

TORE

ENERA

TRIK

PAGE 7

Workers Press, Tuesday March 13, 1973

ADHEREZ EN MAS

AU PARTI POPULAIRE FRA

THE FRENCH POPULAR FRONT

BY TOM KEMP

In the coalition of parties which made up the Popu- France in lar Front in 1936-1937, a decisive role was played by the Radi- cal Party. The alliance of the reformists and the Stalinists of the Com- munist Party with this party of the imperialist ruling class chained the working class to the defence of the capitalist social order. The alliance with the Radicals was represented as an alliance with the middle class. As CP secretary Maurice Thorez put it: we must win the middle classes before the fascists do. But the • Radical Party, as Leon Trotsky pointed out many times in his writings on the events in France, rep- resented not the petty bour- geoisie, but their exploiters.

"To realize a genuine alliance and the between the workers not possible except by teaching the petty bourgeoisie how to emancipate themselves from the Radical Party, how to cast off once and for all its yoke from their necks. Mean- while the Popular Front acts in a directly opposite manner; entering into this "front" Socialists and Communists take upon themselves the responsibility for the Radical Party and thus help it in this way to exploit and betray the masses.' In the elections of May 1936, many seats were won by the Radical Party because its 1098 electoral allies of the Popular Front stood down on the second ballot. When the strike movement raised the spectre of revolu- tion, Socialist Party leader Leon Blum and Thorez vied with each other in demonstrat- allies ing to these capitalist that they had no intention of the working class to leading power, but were upholders of the existing social order: After the strike movement had been brought to an end with the help of the Communist Party the employers began to recover their confidence. As Trotsky put it: "The Popular Front, having fulfilled its role as a brake, now represents no- thing more for the bourgeoisie than a useless hindrance.'

Apologists for the Com- Party speak of the munist period as one of great gains for the working class and claim that the Popular Front averted the danger of fascism in France.

This is false. A recent Stalinist historian dealing with the period makes a tell-tale claim. Jean Bruhat writes in 'Le Front Populaire' (Editions Sociales, 1972): •Emerging from a long and difficult period of preparation and formation, with the Popular Front the Communist Party became-and that de- finitively-—a fundamental part of French political life. It be- came the testamentory executor of a certain number of pro- gressive national traditions.'

It is on these grounds that the Communist Party presents itself today as a responsible party, opposed to adventures, a respectable part of the left coalition Mitterand's with Socialist Party-which stands to the right of Blum-and the rump of so-called 'left' Radi- cals, who, even less than their forebears in 1936, can be claimed to represent the middle class. The claim that the Popular Fropt put paid to the fascist danger in France is equally spurious, though Bruhat makes it an important part of his apology. In fact, there was no fascist danger in 1936, or not until after the ending of the strikes. The fascist leagues had been dissolved and new parties, Jacques Doriot's Parti Populaire Français and De La Rocque's Parti Social Français, had only just been formed. It is true, of course, that considerable subsidies were received by these parties after May-June 1936. More danger- was the notorious Cagou- ous lard plot revealed in November 1937, based on an underground • which had close organization contact with the administration and the army, including the called CSAR secret service, (Secret Committee for Revolu- tionary Action). Preparations had been care- fully laid for the taking of power by armed force. Dozens of arms caches were discovered, as well as underground cells for prisoners and lists of those who were to be rounded up.

In September 1937 it organized an explosion at the head- quarters of the French em- ployers' confederation, CGPF.

The right-wing Press blamed the Communist Party. Although the Cagoulard plot was discovered, details of the police findings were soon stifled. Many of those con- cerned later turned up in the ranks of Vichy. It was after the defeat and during the Nazi occupation that the fascists into their own. They came provided the forces for the dreaded 'milices' which did the Gestapo's dirty work in track- ing down underground workers and murdering many of them.

To claim that the Popular Front enabled France to avoid fascism is a travesty. It is only in so far as true the bour- geoisie did not need to take the gamble of a resort to while the Popular fascism Front itself was holding back jacquer Doriol, loader of the teactat 'Party Populatre Françale', spoaks at a rally. In 1937 the party had only just bean formed and, contrary to what the Statin- Ists say, it presentod no danger until after the ending of the strikes. the working class and prevent- ing revolution. But it outlived its usefulness during 1937.

The aim of the capitalist class then was to take back all the concessions which had been made to get the workers out of the factories in June 1936, especially the 40-hour week, which proved to be the costly of all. Various most breaches in the 40-hour week were authorized by law in Then, in 1938, the 1937. Daladier government used national defence as a basis for a more general attack on the principle. The working class fought back against the employers' offensive with a series of wild- cat strikes carried out without union support and often against of the CP- the opposition controlled CGT. After the Clichy massacre, strikes broke out in a number of plants and, to keep the movement in check, the CĞT called a half-day pro- test strike against the fascists.

A significant strike took place at the Goodrich rubber tactory in December 1937 over including various grievances, the introduction of the Bedeaux of time-and-motion system study. The workers occupied the factory, which was then surrounded by the "gardes mobiles' (armed police). The factory hooters were sounded signal to workers in as neighbouring plant who poured out into the streets. Under the pressure of thousands of workers the government with- drew the police units. But the workers were per- suaded to refer the dispute to arbitration and to give up the occupation in the meantime.

A settlement was proposed which rejected most of the workers' • demands, but which the communist-led union sup- ported. The management proceeded to sack 52 workers who had been prominent in the strike.

meetings Three mass were necessary before the Stalinist officials could get the men back to work amid cries of "sell-out' and 'traitors'.

Episodes of this kind pro- duced demoralization and cynicism among sections of workers. Backed by the Com- munist Party, the CGT did everything it could to prevent strikes, or to confine them to short protests which wore down the workers without bringing any results. There were more strikes in 1937 than in any year since 1920, but they mostly had a local and short-lived character.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

Where is Britain Going? Paperback 372p • Problems of the British Revolution Paperback 35p ' Lessons of October Paperback 60p In Defence of the October Revolution Pamphlet 15p Marxism and the Trade Unions Pamphlet 25p Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International Pamphlet 10p Postage: 10p per book, 5p per pamphlet.

Order from: NEW PARK PUBLICATIONS 186a Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UG

Storm in the Bay of Biscay.

A Soviet bulk-carrier, 'Des- hava', recently returned to the of Bilbao in northern port Spain, only a few hours after leaving the harbour with a load of ten Spanish lorries and 27 vans. The cargo was destroyed by fierce gales. The destination? —Havana, Cuba.

American folk singer Johnny Cash has got 'religion' in a big way. He has recently put a reputed $lm of his own money into the making of a film about Jesus entitled 'The Gospel Road'. It starts with a shot of Cash, bible in hand, walking along the Jordan in- the banks of viting the audience to 'come along with me in the foot- Most of the steps of Jesus'. rest of the film is said to be dominated by Cash singing and giving all the songs narration. It sets out to show the Christ story in modern-day Jerusaiem.

Jesus is played by blond Robert Englestrom in sandals and plain disciples are de- robes. His scribed as 'an assortment of ragged, unkempt men . There does from a ghetto area'. not seem to be an Arab in sight. A special preview given to an audience of priests and Johnny Cash ministers of religion in Atlanta, Georgia, got a mixed reception.

Most of the men of God gave their stamp of approval, but some complained that there was a little too much guitar' Others said Jesus and the apostles looked 'like hippies' to which Cash replied: 'I guess that's because Christ was a sort of hippie in his day.'

Cash says the picture is his witness Christ' 'personal to and adds that he feels its pro- duction is the reason why he was born into this world.

spanish Revolution' By! Leon Trotsky. Pathfinder Press (New York). Price {4.15 cloth.

£1.65 paperback. Leon Trotsky's writings on the Spanish Revolu- tion make an imperish- able contribution to the theoretical heritage of Marxism. It is timely that they should be made their lessons again be- come directly applicable.

As Trotsky wrote to the Spanish youth supporters of the Left Opposition in 1932: 'The strength of Marxism is in the unity of scientific theory with revolutionary struggle. these two rails, the education of the communist youth should progress. "The study of Marxism out- side the revolutionary struggle can create bookworms, but not revolutionaries. Participation in the revolutionary struggle with- out the study of Marxism is unavoidably full of danger, uncertainty, half-blindness.

To study Marxism as a Marxist is possible only by participating in the life and struggle of the class; revolu- tionary theory is verified by practice, and practice is clari- • theory. Only the truths fied by of Marxism that are conquered in struggle enter the mind and the blood.' It is only from this stand- it is possible to point that grasp and understand what Trotsky was trying to get over and other, to the Spanish, revolutionaries of the 1930s and apply the lessons to the tasks of today. Failure to heed his warnings resulted in the bitter and complete defeat of the Spanish working class, which has lived ever since under the scourge of the Franco dictatorship, and consumed the revolutionary cadres that he was seeking to shape into a party of the Bolshevik type. From his exile in Turkey, Trotsky closely followea the unfolding events as the re- •opened in crisis volutionary Spain in 1930 with the fall of the Primo de Rivera dic- tatorship. In correspondence, and pamphlets articles sought to rally the forces for the building of such a party.

The supporters of the Left Opposition were, until 1934, working as a faction inside the Communist Parties to bring them back to a Leninist course.

A principal task was, there- fore, to oppose the disastrous ultra-left policies of the 'third period' which defined all re- formist and other trends in the labour movement as "social fascist', In any case, the Communist Party of Spain was small, with 1,000 members in less than Subject to a rigorous 1931. repression under the regime of Primo de Rivera, it was also being torn apart, perhaps more than any other section of the Third International, by the divisions in the Russian Party.

While some of the leaders followed Bukharin and the right, notably Joaquin Maurin and Julian Gorkin, another group around Andres Nin sup- ported the struggles of Trotsky and the Left Opposition. It was upon Nin, in particular, that Trotsky placed his hopes for the revolutionary party in Spain and his struggle against Multia fighting women against Franco Nin's unwillingness to accept these responsibilities, and alter his slide into the • morass of centrism, makes up the most important part of this volume.

It was not until the eve of the Civil War that a hand- picked leadership, devoted to Stalin, came to the fore in the Spanish Communist Party, such as Jesus Hernandex, Jose Diaz and Dolores Ibarruri ('La Pasionaria'). With the exception of the latter, this Stalinist leadership had played no part in the workers' move- ment and was virtually un- known. nd. ...Both Maurin and Nia, on. pr other hand, the were ex- perienced leaders with a back- in the trade union ground movement as well as in the Communist International. Maurin went on to establish 'Workers' Peasants' and a Bloc', based mainly in Catalonia -the most highly industrialized part of Spain and the cradle of the working class. This group had moved to the right in opposition to the Communist left turn of the International. Until 1934 Nin was the leading figure in the Left Opposition in Spain, carry- ing on theoretical work around the review 'Communismo' and correspondence in constant with Trotsky. Although Trotsky's writings were directed mainly at the Nin group in 1931, he did not despair of the possibility of the tendencies rallying all allegiance to com- Claiming munism into a single party.

In April 1931 he wrote to this effect to the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in a letter which remained without reply.

It began: "The fate of the Spanish revolution depends completely upon whether an authoritative and combative Communist Party will be constituted in Spain in the coming months.'

The building of the revolution- ary party was always the key question • for Trotsky. It was complicated by a number of factors specific to Spain which are dealt with in pamphlet which Trotsky the wrote early in 1931 before the downfall of the monarchy and the crisis which accompanied the establishment of the Re- public. Trotsky's experience, derived from the three Russian revolutions, enabled him to get to the heart of the Spanish problem in this work. He discerned the making of a revolutionary situation before even the Marxists on the spot were aware of it. The accumulating contradic- tions of the regime and the Workers Press, Tuos it Franco In the spanish Chull War.

which the world pressures economic crisis threw on a backward and mainly agrarian economy, but one in which the proletariat occupied a key position, made Spain the weakest link in the capitalist chain, in the same way as Russia in 1917. Spain's peculiar history and "inevitably her backwardness weakened the centralist ten- dencies inherent in capitalism'.

Hence the political importance of nationalist and separatist moyements, especially in Cata- lonia and the Basque country: These tendencies posed special on problems for the revolution- aries and a correct approach aspirations of to the these peoples had to be worked out.

The role of the army as a centralizing force and at the same time as a source of in- stability arose also from the backwardness of Spain and the weakness of the ruling classes from which the officer corps was recruited. Primo de Rivera's dictator- ship was based on the army, but it had failed utterly to solve any of the historic prob- lems of the country. 'It fell,' writes Trotsky, 'even without a new military coup; he was simply deflated, like that runs over a nail, a tyre What followed could only be a deep convulsion out of which could come either the victory of the working class and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat or a new dictatorship of the brought to property owners, power by the military and re- sorting this time to the methods of fascism. In essence this was the struggle into which Spain was in 1930 and which plunged ended in Franco's victory.

Spanish politics, as Trotsky saw, were ripe for revolution.

In a few lines he summed up all its main constituent ele- ments which we find time and again throughout the story: ... the perfidious monarchy; splinter factions of the the conservatives and liberals who despise the king and crawl on their bellies before him; the right-wing republicans always ready to betray, and the left- wing republicans, always ready for adventure; the conspira- torial officers, of whom some want a republic and others promotion; the restless students, whose fathers view them with alarm; finally the striking workers, scattered among the different organiza- tions; and the péasants reach- ing out for pitchforks and guns.' Meanwhile the industrializa- the tion brought about during and ross, Tuesday March 13, 1973 PAGE 9 after World War I, in which Spain remained neutral, brought new contradictions. High tariffs were imposed to give industry command of the home market, but only by raising prices and limiting consumption. The new industrial capitalists remained too weak to play the same historical role as their counter- parts in Britain and France.

They remained part of a re- actionary bloc with the land- lords, the generals, the state officials, the church hierarchy and the bankers. of industry The growth strengthened the ranks of the working class but, as Trotsky explains, it did more than that: 'Social life in Spain was condemned to revolve in a vicious circle so long as there was no class capable of taking the solution of the revolution- ary problem into its own hands.

The appearance of the Spanish proletariat on the historic radically changes the arena situation and opens up new prospects .. 'The question of whether the present revolutionary con- vulsions can produce a genuine revolution, capable of recon- structing the very basis of national life, is consequently reduced to whether the Spanish proletariat is capable of taking the leadership of the national life into its hands. There is no other claimant to this role in the Spanish nation? This made a decisive ques- tion whether a leadership could be built to take this—the only fully revolutionary and pro- gressive class-to power. The revolutionaries had to operate in concrete conditions where it was necessary to carry out the tasks of the bourgeois- This democratic revolution. meant not only support for a republic, but also for other democratic slogans intended to all feudal purge society of vestiges - landlordism, the domination of the church, the oppression of nationalities. But these had to be combined with other slogans of a transitional character — nationalization of industry, wor- the banks and kers' control of industry, state planning of the economy. The more courageously, resolutely and implacably the proletarian vanguard fights for slogans,' Trotsky democratic insisted, 'the sooner it will win over the masses and under- mine the support for the bourgeois republicans and socialist reformists. The more quickly their best elements us, the sooner the demo- join cratic republic will be identi- fied in the mind of the masses with the workers' republic'

CONTINUED TOMORROW

PAGE 10 Workers Press, Tuesday March 13, 1973

BBC 1

ITV

9.30 Schools. 10.30 This News. 1000 Pebble 1.00 Mill only). 11.00 Schools. one. house. 12.25 Pinky Perky. Andy Pandy. 1.45 Ask the family. 2.05 2.25 1.00 Samools 35 Racing Chelten- report. Jealousine Lizzie Wogan. 1.30 Emmerdale ham. 2.30 GOOd Harriet's back 2.30 in 3.00 round. Vision 5.40 Sir afternoon. About Britain. News. Weather. showtime rancelot. Magpie. 5.20 1 dream of leannie. 5:50

NATIONWIDE.

6.00 News.

6.45 LAUREL

AND HARDY. Men

6.00 TODAY. 6.40 CROSSROADS

war. 7.05 Ronald LeSs, ON

'NURSE

SOUTH

SEAS.

7.05 WHICKER'S

Lewis. eople me 8o native oan Purcell, Esma Cannon. comedy. MaMS, AN 7.35 AND WIFE. No 8.30 Flowers.

WHATEVER

HAPPENED

THE

LIKELY LADS?

The Magic.

9.00 SO IT

GOES.

Connin® by Home of NEWS. Weather. three plays 9.00 With Jenkins. Antony 9.25 Brook, Faith Anouska Hempel Forward. Including Paisley,

10.00 NEWS AT TEN.

Napier, Oliver William Erskine Holmes, 10.30 POSED Ede a Convent.

Gerry Fitt, Faulkner brian Keith ohn Cole, Kyle, David Nood.

11.15 PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING.

11.45

VIEWPOINT.

11.40

NEWS.

12.00 WE SHALL OVERCOME.

12.05 Weather.

BBC 2

POT BRACK,

11.00-11.25 Play school. 4.10 Play 9.00 5.25 University. 9.25

THEATRE:

TELEVISION

school. Open •The Typists' Work. 6.40

OFFICE.

Place to Two one-act plays

OPEN

birdball. 7.05

UNIVERSITY.

from America. With 7.30

NEWS

SUMMARY.

Weather. Wallach, Jackson, Anne 7.35

COLLECTOR'S

WORLD.

and James Farentino. 8.05

WATERLINE.

Inland Water- 11.05

NEWS

EXTRA

Weather 11.35

OLD

ways.

GREY

WHISTLE

TEST

LAMES GAS BOARI

PLEASE

KEEP THESE

GATES CLEAN

HOUR EMERGERCY ST

Do you get WORKERS PRESS regularly? If not, why not take out a subscription now? £20.28 for 12 months (312 Issues) {10.14 for 6 months (156 issues) £5.07 for 3 months (78 issues) If you want to take Workers Press twice a week the rates are: £1.56 for 3 months (24 issues) {6.24 for 12 months (96 issues) Fill in the form below NOW and send to : Circulation Dept., Workers Press, 186a Clapham High St., London SW4 7UG. I would like to take out a subscription to Workers Press.

Days required

MONDAY

THURSDAY

TUESDAY

(Please tick)

FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

Or Full subscription (six days) for.

.months. Name Address Amount enclosed f I would like information about Fill in the form below and send to NATIONAL

SECRETARY,

SOCIALIST

LABOUR

LEAGUE,

186a CLAPHAM HIGH ST, LONDON SW4 7UG.

Name.. Address..

TODAY'S TV

REGIONAL TV

with 2.00 CHANNEL: 9.30-12.00 London. 1.15 4.50 2.30 Women. News. 1.30 London. 3.00 London. 5.20 Partridge family.

5.50 London. 6.00 News. 6.10 Look- around. 6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 Whicker.

7.30 Film: '20 Million Miles to Earth'.

9.00 London. 12.00 News, weather.

WESTWARD. As Channel except: 12.05 • London. 12.20 Gus Honeybun.

12.40 London. 12.57 News. 1.00 News. 1.00 London. London. 6.00 Diary. 11.57 News. 12.00 Faith SOUTHERN: 9.30 London. 12.04 News.

12.05 London. 2.30 Houseparty. 3.00 Cross- London. 5.20 Cartoon. 5.25 roads. 5.50 London. 6.00 Day by day.

6.35 Junkin. 7.05 Doctor in charge. 7.35 Hec Ramsey. 9.00 London. 12.00 News. 12.10 Weather. Guideline.

HARLECH: 9.30 London. 2.30 House- London. Chuckle- 3.00 5.20 party. heads. 5.25 Crossroads. 5.50 London.

6.01 Report West. 6.15 Report Wales.

6.30 Try to ten. 7.00 Whicker. 7.30 and Film: Showdown at Abilene'. 9.00 London. 12.00 Looking at. 12.30 Eli Weather. Patti HTV Cymru/Wales as above except: 4.25-4.35 Miri mawr. 4.25-4.50 Canta-

MEAT - PROCESSING

companies are pressing the government to be Tory allowed to increase their prices by up to 25 per cent.

The producers want solid packs of cooked meats—-silver- cooked and side, brisket, chopped ham and pork-to be counted, like bacon, as fresh than processed foods rather for price control purposes.

This would mean that prices could be raised without govern- ment permission in line with fresh meat, fruit and vegetables.

Mr Bill Newton-Clare, chair- man of Scott-Bowyers, one of the industry's largest groups, said: 'We have been holding our hand on cutting down on pro- duction for a few days because hear from Mr to we expect Godber, the Minister for Agricul- ture. We have an enormous back- log of increases to make up. We have to get at least another 10p BRIANT Colour liquidator Mr P. Granville White will give a on the latest offer for decision the Old Kent Road factory this week. Buyer Mr Peter Bentley said yesterday that he had received a letter from the liquidator sug- between gesting a meeting two sides 'early this week' Workers at the print factory, which has been occupied for months, have been told nine nothing of the progress of the negotiations and they have been manning 24-hour picket thwart attempts to evict them.

DOCKERS were working nor- mally at Hull yesterday follow- ing a protest stoppage on Friday.

Thirty ships being manned in- cluded the timber carrier Tower Conquest' over which the dis- pute began. About 1,000 dockers were in a confrontation with 250 police when they picketed a riverside was said to be wharf which using non-registered labour to handle cargo. The cargo was being handled by dockers yesterday. 13050 Cro 705 Madison 7.00 ing. 12.00 World in action.

Cartoon. Weather. Whicker. 7.35 Scotland 9.00 12.00 12.30 Weather. hyoichics.

HTV

West as above except: 6.15-6.30 Report West. GRANADA: 930 tondon, 2030 Collect.

9.30 12.04 shoestring London. London.

ANGLIA:

New. Londo 4625 Loom women. 3.00 5.50 London 6.00 News. 4.20 Ne wind 5.20 Police 617:35 6.35 Smith family. 7.05 5.35 About Anguill London. Film: "Savage'. 9.00 6.35 London. 6.00 Crossroads 7.00 Whicker 7.30 12.00 Madigan. 9.00 London. Reflec. 9.25 Only 2.31

TYNE TEES:

2.30 London. 5,20 S ver 5.50 3.00 London. Jack

ATV MIDLANDS:

9.30 3,30 6.00 LondOn 3.00 London. women 2.00 Today 6.00 Madigan 12.40 7.00 Whicker. 12.15 Scotland Yard mysteries. 1.30 _crossroads McMillan Wilce scalcil. ropolls.

SCOTTISH:

9.30 2.30 Date. London vy callier. London. 6.35 Adam 2.0U Adam

ULSTER:

London. 6.00 Today 11.00 london. 1.3? News. Whicker McCloud. 1.40 Schools. 2.40 Romper room. 3.00 4.23 News. 4.25 call. 0M london. 12.00 late London _London. Emmerdale farm. 6.00 5.50 condon. 6.35 Crossroads. Cartoon. and wife. 7.0 Merillan 8.30 Whicker. 9.00 London.

YORKSHIRE:

2.30 3.00 Madigan. London Here's Meditation. 6.00 Calendar. condon. Lucy. Meat canners want lump sum price rise 15p pound to bread of some lines if brisket, for on production break the Tories don't allow further example, price even.

TISCS

Newton-Clare, is also making severe who we are very losses, said Newton-Clare 'and the Sausage and Chairman the of absolutely verge Meat Fle Manuracturers

CASSOC

al c said beef prices had gone Curtailin. broduction

OPCI

the solid beef packs at our Bletchley cent since (Bucks) factory. He ning December rcallucu the political difficulties for of stewed steak and

MIT

canners Godber, but if these meats had also wanted the go-ahead SleWs fresh for price hikes. 'I know a originally classified been as who Ioods woule lave Callucis al t duvul and 2p a time and stop up close would been noticed In spite of all their pleadings not have be treated . special case Newton-Clare to words ounc the profits is admitting that the huge round that of price increases have been or- meat-processing nrms nave never The Tory been healthier ganized stealth. firm, Scott- Newton-Clare's

CALCISIVE

been price increases spending to the meat pro- bowvers. ducers only two weeks veritable tortine a versing productions on television and the The increases were all-round Press. The honest Loat nave

OCCI

since the state pay and The cost of this exuavaralle consumers into effect. passed onto the laws came largely working-class industry are are The hrms Lic now pleading unable fresn They are threatening to cut back meat.

ALL TRADES UNIONS

ALLIANCE MEETINGS

Fight rising rents and prices • March 20. p.m. Control Room, Brixton Defend basic democratic rights Training Centre. Force the Tories to resign the Revolutionary March Party.'

HARROW:

Tuesday 13, 8 p.m. Labour Hall. Harrow and 20, T LO.m. Festival day, Crish Wealdstone. 'The fight against Festival Inn, Stalinism'. Street Market, E14. March

TOOTING:

Tuesday TOTTENHAM: Wednesday March Road. Selkirk Hotel Selkirk Bricklayers Arms, D. Tooting Tottenham High Road, Mr. White •For- Broadway ward to the Revolutionary Party' Hart Lane.

CLAPHAM:

March 13

WATFORD:

Wednesday 21, Trade Union p.m. Clapham Watford Clapham Manor Street, S.W.4.

Junction Station.

CAMDEN:

March Wharts: Tuesday

WOOLWICH:

Wednesday March 'Prince Albert Sale Road Kingsl 8 p.m. Castle, Powis Street, Cross SE18 No: Coup Halt, Man Road March p.m. Copeland school, High March 8 p.m. Gone anol Road, Wembley. PA BINGO: Princes Tuesday March

HACKNEY:

Thursday March 22, of Wales' Hap.m. Faroun …KOm Harrow Road, and corner Town Hall, Mare opp. Great Western Road. 'Forward Street. LEWISHAM: Thursday March 22 HOLLOWAY: Thursday March 15, Deptford Engineers Ciub 8 p.m. 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Seven Sisters New Cross Road Road. S Lp.m. Community Centre, Far-

WALTHAMSTOW:

Thursday 8 p.m. Community Road, Slough. March 15, 8 p.m. Royston Arms ham Chingford Road, March i Lion, Stevenage

CROYDON:

Thursday March 15, 22, 8 p.m. 'Red Lion', Ruskin House, Old Town. p.m. Coombe WILLESDEN: Thursday March 22 Sunday March 18, Labour Trades Hall

CAN LOONI

5.30 Barnstaple Community o.u. Centre.

WANDSWORTH:

Monday March Kings Arms, High DAGENHAM: Tuesday March 20, p.m. Barking Co-op Hall, Fan Road. SW18 The Fight agains • P.M. shaw Avenue. Stalinism'.

Gasstewards push for action 'You have to grovel to earn a living'

FROM OUR OWN

CORRESPONDENT

AS a sequel to our story of the controversial Bilsborrow Hall transaction in yester- day's Workers Press (page 10), there has been a com- the Hall's one- ment from time owner, Sir John Barton- Townley. Saturday's In letter to Post' Sir 'Lancashire Evening leading Tory John, a former Party member in Preston, com- plained of the public criticism over the deal and said that the €100,000 paid by the govern- ment was fair. He explained that he had not commented because he sooner in and of 'popping keeps out Malta' and busy. His was too given as The Lodge, address was Bilsborrow Hall, near Preston. The hall has been bought as lodgings for two judges when they attend the Lancashire Crown Court at Preston. Sunderland gas-fitter Billy Breck The price paid is more than twice the original valuation.

THE

COOKS at Queen's Hospital, Croydon, - all NUPE members—who struck work for three days last Inflation is running away with gave a joint week. state- Ten ago we our wages. years buy a house. ment to our reporter: could save up and Now there's chance. One no Our basic wage, including of us-with a wife and two pay and Sundays, is shift children-is £43.50 paying £20.22. The management criti- That's more month in mortgage. for striking, but we than a fortnight's basic pay. cizes us are willing to let any of them of £7.50 Another us pays try living on our basic wages.

Food for his family week rent. £10 £12 week and One of us recently worked a costs to he £2 fares and including his rest spends to six-day week, work. That's his basic and and took from day overtime, home £28.30. wage gone. Most of us are married with Ten

TRAINING

children. years ago our wives worked for pin money or little extra. Now they for some have to work for You can train for four years out to go necessities and we have to take to gain a City and Guilds quali- fication-then you get a 55p a extra odd-jobs to make our pay eke out. week allowance for it. You've got to grovel to earn a It used to be eight hours' living. losing our res- eight hours' sleep and are work, pectability. That's hours' relaxation. Now its why want eight and that's why 16 hours' work. The living wage average we went on strike 100 per cent.

length of service among us

BY A WORKERS PRESS REPORTER

•We are delighted that the THE TUC is calling TUC is holding a joint con- special meeting to discuss ference discuss the to demands for a separate role of the future Wales for Wales. General

TUC

rUc Victor Feather secretary "It is the first indication said in a circular yester- of the TUC's acceptance of day that a special meeting the special needs Wales. of of the general council on There can be no doubt that would discuss for April this a step step forward Wales TUC's regional the the ar- If Feather's announce- rangements Wales. in any way an ment means Representatives of all Welsh acceptance of the members in unions with

TUC.

then it is a step to Wales would be invited. be condemned. Workers Feather said that even if Press covered the TUC's general structure the inaugural of meeting this hody and it turned out remained unchanged. there might be a case for changes to be a hodge-podge of trade Stalin- Wales. union bureaucrats, in or even an Wales trade body. ists. right-wing nationalists union and conference of Welsh other careerists of one union delegates was held type or another. -though Feather At the when there last month- point asked send is a need for the unions not to greatest representatives-and unity by all British workers deci-

TUC

for against the common enemy ded to form a Tory Wales. -the government- this body can only serve to George Wright a acting divide of the for workers along na- secretary The recen tional lines. Wales, said yesterday:

PAGE 11

Workers Press, Tuesday March 13, 1973 A G&MWU shop steward

SUNDERLAND

workers striking for the last gasworker for Billy Beck afford

TONT

weeke Andee COLC Cd laws, under which the workers in Sunderland, to let his union leaders are stopping the Gas is particularly critical of the back down to the Tories implying union leaders

CODOTALO

OHCIIR

of more than £2.24 a week. over pay.

OITY

venne separate the gasworkers from Gas Corporation Married with four child- Satur- despite last

AUFO

negotiations. ren, he will be watching par- day's shop stewards' vote to ticularly closely the outcome call off this action The differences in General and week's time, sizeable Wak Lucay d rates with workers the Municipal Workers' execu- minorit dustewaros are electricity supply industry tive meeting. pressing for an all-out strike.

are now £4.51 le polulo oul pay for 40 and £o.50 for His take-home «Wé need much more mili- I(O] craftsmen. £19.50, and as hours is iust tant action. To get any break in the situation just From statements the men off nave to unu everylls the union re aders hip asked

LIC

IcusLLy. would appear how firms and 90 aneune Test orane 'So far 120 Tories would allow an offer 47,000-strong labour force the of £3.05-the sell-out settle. SOnoois HO ti eası he at today's prices manage have been shut down. electricity just laughs bitterly tribution, service the supply just before Tory and one of the town gas pro clamp-down Nov- •CEOn Planils atre Coce.- ember- —all would be well. ballot on pect of a but when we wanted to take out the other produc- UrDOralOn• ucw la oc Billy explains: "This makes is succinct. it look to some people as if DIalLS wouldn't let us. we're greedy bastards, hold- the leadership, '"The impression the union union culll. Lanoull down', tor oup saes. eThey've leaders give is that thes just says. been cutting want to drag it out until the But what we really want down size all the time the power ena ol the montn, wnen ine parity and now they want pay White Paper become: We're stations. not asking to pack in. and then they can aw same rise, 1Or • The fold same rate. "What they're offering now unel Say "Nothing we can do now, is no different to what they lads". 'There's difference in no offered to start digging a hole for cables and leaders' 'Union officers keep stress.

digging for pipes But union noe we've only there should be no difference activities limited time to take action.

In the pay. NOr ces official, the presence in of the catering manager, would come out Then we he us later and sald Canue aian t want us to some oul, In that paid over fl taxi fare to get to

WCYC

wanted hold Christmas Day work Sundays. In the past had a at on

LCVCI

and that we talk. home. there's beer of taxis to get al snort nouce The stufi ves us dee us here on Christmas Day, management hult 11 kept falling through. Last Christ- Tory about nudulcolo the said they dication. They are the

NOT WEAK

ones Illas Ilallasculcal dedicated. We are the on. wollo av user Cen ther said there would be no buses The management dedicated ones 8 a.m. should and taxis before here Monday rody. But we didn't want that r e ne They have big wages, big cars been nave OOOKeO CnaOO I we didn't want to hurt cause They don't know been. and big houses. Lne paticul what happens here at the week- Cunose

WILI

end. Also, we wanted to show the chased round and got every- weren't weak the Christmas Day body Nnallde culcu

CW C

1n laughed

COVERED

iney would nave work comle be cone wye gol no had not come out after money for that and we didn't said would. even ask for petrol money. WC We keep this job covered 24 Those who hours a day. If anyone is ill, we alla alle held strike striking don't anything for say make it's covered. On sure The thing acreee Snex Holidays and Bank about tnat. heard was that the union official ounluays some of us have set ofi at 4 a.m.

The had apologized to union called us out for the manage- walked seven to eight miles eee v o we vocecy nenu sovae oale unea | work. And it's mously to come out because we wanted us to come out! known tor •stovoeo are union men. , men and we money if we are a few minutes do a good job. late. a respectable wage for' it.

There are men here who have union ABOUT 2,500 Ford work- workers were laid off. Some ers were laid off at Dagen- mer On •OCV-ln white section were also sent yesterday ham afternoon home. after 120 men on the fram- continuation of the ing area of the body plant wanser overame oa struck mass meeting arallisl CU1ll. pany's £2.40, government- Sunday, further controlled pay offer. strike action at the plant wa discussed. At the Swansea axle plant, Following Sunday's meet. the 2,400 workers were con- toolroom ing Halewood theit ana press-snop workets and overtime ban. was nere assembly plant shop stew. evidence at Halewood, how- ards, steward ever, that toolroom workers claimed the Merseyside felt the deci. were carryne let down dy Dagennam of weekend meeting Shop-floor opposition overtime ban call an sporadic the strikes and work to rule The predominant Trade union side leaders feeling appears to be that the Ford of the national joint union leaders and convenors negotiating would committee should either call decisive, indicatior out Lve nc ves cludy C acOn apas! when the planned meeting Tories-or come out openly of involved and abandon • £10 claim Rank-and-hie Dagenham Yesterday's kers, cannot afford was in support of to abandon clairn. Be stoppag with Ford policy, hind their frustration Cy ClUls decioedsast week N OI sora. sporadic sunike. dic strikes plant by plant dirii pare wrone upe cah force the back to will wrong prove huitipanl the negotiating table ot leading compani culallon the It cut off supplies to the executives that threat The recent Welsh TUC meeting assembly plant, where 2.000 of a major strike is finished.

Floating down the river of PAGE 12 Workers Press, Tuesday Marc

MARCH FUND

REACHES

£297.01 a magnificent Pageant

AFTER

last Sunday, we are more deter- mined than ever to press ahead with our Fund this month.

More and more, Workers Press must be used to reach out to thousands of workers in every district to prepare them for the battle against the Tories.

The huge response from the audience at the Empire Pool to shows the great its history changes taking place amongst the working class. The struggles and determination of the past re-lives again in the struggles today lo defend all basic rights.

Our paper must be used to mobilize this great strength and build a revolutionary party to lead the working class. We need everything you can raise for our March Fund. Make a really special effort. Add extra amounts wherever possible. Post all do- nations immediately to: Workers Press March Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London, SW4 7UG

BY DAVID MA

PICKETS at London's Whittin accused clerical stafi and doc under police protection. In what union officials be- lieved to be the first action of its kind during the hospital workers' industrial action, police moved in yesterday morning and ordered pickets to cut their numbers from 40 to two. Later private cars loaded to the rooftops with laundry crossed the picket lines. 'They are breaking our strike,' shouted one orderly • helplessly. them if the 'How can we stop police keep moving us on?'

A police constable told pickets that the police had the power "reasonable, What constituted a to decide number of pickets, unlikely to 'intimidate vehicles entering or leaving the hospital'.

Although working-to-rule against the Tory pay laws, laundry workers at the Whit- ignored tington hospital have union advice to strike. But the hospital is divided by and laundry nor- a major road mally has to be driven into the hospital by transport drivers, Yesterday's who are on strike. scab action protecting police drivers must therefore have been a deliberate attempt to break the strike. If anything this action made the Whittington strikers, mem - bers of the General and Muni- PEKING'S 'People's Daily' has published a brief article on latest country to Spain, the diplomatic ties with establish China. It does not mention the 1936-1939 Civil War, simply stat- ing that a Popular Front united government was formed in 1936 and three years later General Franco came to power. at the Registered as a newspaper Published by Workers Post Office. Clapham High Street, Press, 186a 7UG. Printed Plough 01-622 7029. sday March 13, 1973 THE JOINT float of six Common Market curren- cies decided in Brussels late on Sunday night is a further giant step • to- wards the disintegration of the postwar capitalist monetary system. It means that the curren- cies of almost all the major capitalist powers will bloc, when the foreign ex- change markets re-open on March 19 after a shut-down of over two weeks. The German mark, the Danish crown, the Florin, the Belgian franc, the Luxemburg and the French franc, will float together under the arrangement agreed by EEC Finance Ministers and cen- tral bankers meeting in Brussels.

PARITIES

The mark will be revalued by cent against the other 3 per. Common Market currencies in- volved in the joint float and from next Monday onwards the six countries will try once again to keep their parities in a fixed relationship while floating against the dollar. the dollar The float against will not be a 'clean' one how- ever: there were definite indica- tions from the Brussels meeting

DAVID MAUDE

Whittington hospital yesterday.

and doctors of strike-breaking Workers' Union, cipal more determined than ever. A 400- voted meeting strong mass to fight to the bitter end the hospital employers' £1.88, government- controlled pay offer. Mike Taylor, regional officer of the National Union of Public Employees, said he would be at hospital today to discuss the the situation with his laundry members. Last Friday, militant ancillary workers at the hospital voted to continue their strike for a second week. Committee member John Wainwright said: I've never seen such a passionate meeting.'

hospital orderly on picket A duty yesterday said: 'If it was two days, it would be different, but after two weeks and losing all our money we won't go back so easily.' She added: 'The conditions we work in are rotten, and the wages are disgusting. We have to make that beds would turn your stomach over. 'We take home £18 with £6 rent out of that. When you've bought food and shoes there's not enough left to pay your fare back to the hospital. 'The TUC should be asked to back us. Everybody should be strike-all the unions out on together. That is the way to beat this government? number of Nationally the hospital hit by strike action rose yesterday-from 272 at the end of last week to 287. Backing for the 'underpaid' workers came yesterday hospital from 11 doctors at Birmingham accident hospital, who called for their demands. settlement of Hospital managers in the Bangor and West Lothian group issued a similar call. A shop, stewards' meeting , at the British-Leyland truck plant at Bathgate, near Glasgow, to- morrow, is to discuss industrial action by their 6,000 members in support of the hospital strikers.

BY FOREIGN EDITOR J

that the central banks will inter- vene to prevent the six curren- cies becoming too greatly re- valued against the US currency.

Sterling, the Irish pound and the Italian lira will be left to float alone as they have already for some months. been doing The Brussels meeting extended an open invitation to on-EEC countries in Europe, notably the Scandinavian countries and Swit- zerland, to join in their jointly floating regime.

TARGET

Some, at least, are likely to accept because they know that any country which now remains on a fixed rate will be a certain target for 'speculation'. With the Brussels decision, every member country of the Interational Mon- etary Fund's group of ten, apart from the United States and pos- sibly Sweden, will be floating.

This is the end of the system of 'fixed but adjustable parities' From now on there is no saying from week to week or even from day to day what the parity rela- tions between currencies will be.

The ramshackle Brussels ar- week of follows a rangement crisis meetings between the capi- fir Hospital workers from St James' hospit out leaflets, then marched back to join CIVIL SERVANTS leader Bill Kendall Civil and Public Ser- vants' Association (CPSA) has elled on the TUC to move quickly to follow up the special Congress call for a one-day General Strike. In a letter to Victor Feather, Kendall drew attention to the other TUC commitment to sup- port individual unions fighting the pay laws. The civil servants particularly needed help and solidarity be.

cause of threats of disciplinary • against them by manage- action ment. Civil service workers who are starting a week of selective strike action around the country yester- day stepped up their campaign following a threat by the head of the Customs and Excise Sir Louis Petch.

DITOR JOHN SPENCER

talist world's Finance Ministers and central bankers. It marks the final stage of the disintegration Woods system of the Bretton established in 1944. Since March 1968, when the US inaugurated the two-tier gold price system to protect its dwin- dling gold reserves, the monetary system has reeled from crisis to crisis. Each successive crisis has weakened and undermined the Bretton Woods system still further. The two-tier system effectively ended on August 15, 1971, when the Nixon administration refused to sell any more gold to central bank dollar-holders. With the aid of a 10 per cent imports sur- charge, the forced Americans other countries to accept their terms for a dollar devaluation at Washington's meeting a in Smithsonian . Institute on Decem- ber 16, 1971. The Smithsonian agreement lasted less than 14 months. The first breach was the sterling float of June last year. This not only breached the Smithsonian terms, but also the EEC's own 'snake in the tunnel' arrangement in- tended to maintain the relation- • between member-countries' ship currencies. The Smithsonian terms were finally buried on February 12

SUPPORT

YOUR

PITA

NUPE SAYS

es hospital, south Londan, marched to Balham ck to join their picket line.

If any civil servants not on strike refused to carry out the work of strikers when ordered to do so, he said, they would be suspended without pay. When this news was reported to a strikers' meeting in Glasgow, took instant the civil servants action. 'Immediately we heard this threat, we decided to leave the picket Customs neeting and House,' said Cliff Bush, CPSA vice-president, who was address- ing the meeting. only the start in 'This is Scotland,' he added. Half the staff of the Glasgow Customs House were on strike.

Over 300 computer punched-card operators started a week's strike Bank at the National Savings headquarters at Cowglen, Glas- gow. In the north east, two groups of civil servants, including export this year, when a big wave of dollar-selling precipitated another revaluation of world currencies against the dollar. The Japanese yen was forced to float and the German mark and other Euro- pean currencies up-valued against the dollar. This arrangement broke down within eight days. A new wave of selling finally forced the closure of the markets and they have remained closed since. The general float which has emerged from the Brussels meeting is simply • an acknowledgement of break-down. The advent of a generalized floating regime must have severe effects on all forms of interna- tional commerce. It may well in- crease the rush to buy gold and further undermine any remaining confidence in paper money.

GOLD RUSH

Furthermore it will lay the basis for big commercial crashes in the immediate future caused by the disruption of commerce resulting from the closure of the exchanges and the lack of stabi- lity in currency exchange.

At the same time the break- down of currency relations will fuel an even more ruthless trade war characterized by the exten- sion of protective tariff barriers, the lumping cut-price goods and . the restriction commer- cial relations to exclusive bilat- agreements-in short the eral worst trade recession in the his- tory of capitalism.

YOUR

• Balham tube station yesterday to give documentation staff, went on a fortnight's strike in the Newcastle area. At the Southend headquarters of Customs and Excise, 50 women and girls who work on talance of payments statistics went on ant strike. Also in Southend,_com- staff working on Value- puter Added Tax registrations came out for a week. Freight customsmen went on strike at London's Heathrow airport. A total of 5,000 civil servants were on strike. A CPSA spokes- man said more would be brought out at key points if disciplinary action was tried. Social Security offices, cus- toms points and taxation depart- were the main areas ments affected. Towns covered included Manchester, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Hull, Swansea and Southend.