Workers Press no. 1063

workers press

SANCTIONED

TALKS WITH

INCORPORATING THE N

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTI

By Jack Gale YESTERDAY'S Morning Star'-daily paper of the Communist Party-said that if' the TUC leaders had been engaged in secret talks with premier Heath, they had behaved disgracefully and foolishly and they ought to tell their members about it.

There is, of course, no 'if about it, as the Stalinists know very well. The trade union leaders -including the Stalinist- supported lefts', Jack Jones and Hugh Scanlon-have been talking with the Tories and the bosses, openly as well as secretly, both before the state pay laws and since.

Scanlon told the draughtsmen's section of his unionin conference at Bournemouth-on Tuesday: 'If there was an invitation from the government for further talks', it should be accepted. Scanlon had already taken part in two secret sessions of such talks! The cover for this class-collaboration was constructed at last September's Trades Union Congress : with Stalinist support.

The 'Morning Star' repeats the lie that last year's TUC agreed to oppose policies of wage restraint in whatever guise they are put forward. In fact, in the form of left words, the Congress endorsed continued talks with the Tories.

10 The entire Congress. Stalinists included, voted for a Transport and General Workers' Union re- solution which called for opposi- talks with the govern- 'which ment or the

CBI

had wage restraint in view'. But it did not say that no talks at all should be held, nor did it con- demn the talks that were actually taking place at the time.

In fact, speaking on behalf of the platform Sir Sidney Greene, right-wing leader of the National Union of Railwaymen specifi- cally stated: *The government and the CBI now realize they have do to business with us. And I am not saying that in any critical way.'

The Tories, Greene said, were "trying to change gear as fast as they decently can. much, he 1 welcome it very said. 'Let's see how far we get. In moving his resolution, Jack Jones referred to Greene's report.

as 'quite good' and said that if sacrifices had to be made, the trade movement would make them. Yet the "Star" reported (Sep- tember 8): *The of the resolution tone

NUR

chief Sir Sidney Greene and of the contributions No 10. He welcomed leaving will give little encouragement to talks at the premier's residence the Tories who hope to accom- in his speeches TUC chair- modate the TUC in the talks on man last September. economic problems.

IG THE NEWSLETTER

•

FRIDAY MAY 4, 1973

E CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SO

Victor Feather (right) with Tory Chancel public occasion after talks on state pay la *Prospects of agreement being reached on the basis of today's "Charter"', the 'Star' continued, *are bleak the Tories for and the right wing in the TUC In sharp contrast, Workers Press reported on the same day: It is clear from the debate that the General Council sees this motion as a mandate to con- tinue and intensify its secret talks with the Tories' Who was right? When talks resumed were almost immediately after the Trades Union Congress ended, the 'Star' said this was 'unfor- tunate and led to rumours' about 'an incomes policy in some form or other' (September 27).

Nevertheless, the Stalinist daily informed its readers: "The more realistic bosses at the CBI were hoping the government would take action on rents and prices' in order to placate the unions! The paper then said it was 'astonishing' that the TUC chiefs did not reject Heith's plan for a £2 limit on wage rises.

On September 28 the CP's Political Committee called for the breaking off of the talks, but again repeated the claim that the "clear lead" TUC had given a against the Tories. The Stalinist leadership called for 'the determined pursuit of wage claims, but made no men- tion of a fight to bring down the Tory government. The so-called 'clear lead from • No 1063 4p

THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

y Chancellor Anthony Barber on a more tate pay laws. the TUC had no effect on Feather. On October 25, Workers declaration Press reported his that the TUC would talk 'until the early hours of the morning' to get an agreement with Heath and the CBI. We reported his assertion that the TUC would enter talks with- out preconditions'. The talks, he said, were conducted on trade union side by people who have got a great deal of experi- ence in the negotiating field and such people don't make anything a precondition. On November 1 all bar one of the 37 General Council members trooped into Downing Street.

Feather claimed that talk statutory or voluntary control "and all the legalistic jargon' was merely "a dialectical exercise'.

There he said, was, machinery' for state control of wages. Workers Press, but not the 'Morning Star, reported that it was the 'left' Hugh Scanlon, who had proposed an approach to the Tories on the TUC's plans rents. We said and tor prices (November 2): *This is an extremely danger- ous move that disguises trade union co-operation with state pay control. As long as the talks continued, we warned, 'the Tories are gain- ing advantages and preparing their own offensive which will involve state control of wages.

TURN TO BACK PAGE

THEIR FAVOURITE POSE:

Hugh Scanlon, Jack Jones, Harry Urwin (T&GWU) and Terry Parry (firemen's union) outside No. 10, of course. ANOTHER good post from Socialist Labour League branches: Kingston 30 Wandsworth 5 Bradford 17 2.50 Birkenhead Todmorden 6 Castleford 5 Willesden 8.20 Croydon 50 Leeds 36 Battersea 5 Glasgow North 31 Tooting 10 Lewisham 1.43 East 1.50 Holloway 1 Paddington 2 Sheffield 10

OTOS

5 Southampton 12 Glasgow 25 •... Our total is now £10,757.33 - still a long way to go. Is there a read er of Workers Press who could afford to give our fund a real boost? Post all donations to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG

workers press

SANCTIONED

TALKS WITH

INCORPORATING THE N

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENT

By Jack Gale YESTERDAY'S 'Morning Star'-daily paper of the Communist Party-said that if' the TUC leaders had been engaged in secret talks with premier Heath, they had behaved disgracefully and ought to tell their members about it.

There is, of course, no 'if' about it, as the Stalinists know very well. The trade union leaders-including the Stalinist- supported 'lefts', Jack Jones and Hugh Scanlon—have been talking with the Tories and the bosses, openly as well as secretly, both before the state pay laws and since.

Scanlon told the draughtsmen's section of his union-in conference at Bournemouth-on Tuesday: 'If there was an invitation from the government for further talks', it should be accepted. Scanlon had already taken part in two secret sessions of such talks! The cover for this class-collaboration was constructed at last September's Trades Union Congress with Stalinist support. The 'Morning Star' repeats the lie that last year's TUC agreed to oppose policies of wage restraint in 'whatever guise they are put forward.' In fact, in the form of left words, the Congress endorsed continued talks with the Tories.

10 The entire Congress, Stalinists included, voted for a Transport and General Workers' Union re- solution which called for opposi- tion talks with the govern-

CBI

ment or the 'which had wage restraint in view'. But it did not say that no talks at all should be held, nor did it con- demn the talks that actually taking place at the time.

In fact, speaking on behalf of the platform Sir Sidney Greene, right-wing leader of the National Union of Railwaymen specifi- cally stated: The government and the CBI now realize they have do to business with us. And I am not saying that in any critical way.'

The Tories, Greene said, were trying to change gear as fast as they decently can.' much, he I welcome it very 'Let's see how far we said. get' In moving his resolution, Jack Jones referred to Greene's report.

as 'quite good' and said that 'if sacrifices had to be made, the trade movement would make them.' Yet the 'Star' reported (Sep- tember 8): resolution •The of the tone

NUR

chief Sir Sidney Greene and most of the contributions No 10. He welcomed leaving will give little encouragement to talks at the premier's residence the Tories who hope to accom-

TUC

in his speeches chair- modate the TUC in the talks on man last September. economic problems.

IG THE NEWSLETTER

• FRIDAY MAY 4, 1973

E CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SO

VIctor Feather (right) with Tory Chancel public occasion after talks on state pay la 'Prospects of agreement being reached on the basis of today's "Charter"', the 'Star' continued, 'are • bleak for the Tories and the right wing in the TUC?

In sharp contrast, Workers Press reported on the same day: 'It is clear from the debate that the General Council sees this motion as a mandate to con- tinue and intensify its secret talks with the Tories? Who was right? When talks resumed were almost immediately after the Trades Union Congress ended, the 'Star' said this was 'unfor- tunate and led to "rumours' about 'an incomes policy in some form or other' (September 27).

Stalinist Nevertheless, daily informed its readers: 'The more realistic bosses at the CBI hoping the government were take 'action on rents and would prices' in order to placate the unions! The paper then said it was 'astonishing' that the TUC chiefs did not reject He th's plan for a £2 limit on wage rises.

On September 28 the CP's Political Committee called for the breaking off of the talks, but again repeated the claim that the "clear lead' TUC had given a against the Tories. The Stalinist leadership called pursuit' of for the determined wage claims, but made no men- tion of a fight to bring down the Tory government. The so-called 'clear lead' from No 1063 • 4p

THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

ry Chancellor Anthony Barber on a more tate pay laws. effect the TUC had no on Feather. On October 25, Workers Press reported his declaration that the TUC would talk 'until the early hours of the morning' to get an agreement with Heath and the CBI. We reported his assertion that the TUC would enter talks 'with- out preconditions'. The talks, he said, conducted on were trade union side by 'people who have got a great deal of experi- ence in the negotiating field and such people don't make anything a precondition.' On November 1 all bar one of the 37 General Council members trooped into Downing Street.

Feather claimed that talk of voluntary control statutory or all the legalistic jargon' was 'and merely 'a dialectical exercise' There he said, 'no was, machinery' for state control of wages. Workers Press, 'but not the 'Morning Star' • reported that it was the 'left' Hugh Scanlon, who had approach to, proposed an the Tories on the TUC's plans and rents. We said for prices (November 2): 'This is an extremely danger- move that disguiscs trade ous union co-operation with state pay control.' As' long as the talks continued, we warned, 'the Tories are gain- advantages and preparing their own offensive which will involve state control of wages.

TURN TO BACK PAGE

THEIR

FAVOURITE POSE:

Hugh Scanion, Jack Jones, Harry Urwin (T&GWU) and Terry Parry (firemen's union) outside No. 10, of course. €100,000

PARTY

BUILDING

FUND

ANOTHER good post from Socialist League Labour branches: Kingston 30 Wandsworth 5 17 Bradford Birkenhead 2.50 Todmorden Castleford Willesden 8.20 Croydon 50 Leeds 36 Battersea Glasgow North 31 Tooting 10 1.43 Lewisham East 1.50 Holloway Paddington Sheffield 10 OTOs 5 Southampton Glasgow Our total now £10,757.33 - still long way to go. Is there a read of Workers Press who er could afford Cond a real boost give our Post all donations to: Party Building Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG

will not save the President The drive to nuclear war PAGE 2 Workers Press, Friday May 4, ' PRESIDENT Nixon yesterday tried to divert attention from the Water- gate scandal by issuing a bellicose warning that the United States would go to war again if North Vietnam did not change its course.

In a wide-ranging foreign policy the President to Congress report declared that Hanoi was committing 'ominous' violations of the Vietnam ceasefire and said the US would not stand idly by while North Vietnam sent thousands of troops and hun- dreds of tanks to the south.

In the most direct threat issued in public by the United States since the Paris agreement was signed at the end of January, Nixon said that it was not clear whether the North Vietnamese build-up was a prelude to another offensive, 'but what is clear is that it must cease.

The President also said he would continue the bombing of Cambodia presi-

DEMOCRATIC

dential candidate Sena- George McGovern tor to Nixon's has rallied new disclo- support as sures in the Watergate scandal shake the foun- dations of the American political system. He told a meeting of news- paper editors: 'There is no direct evidence to implicate Mr Nixon in the planning of political espionage or the sub- sequent obstruction of justice.

Like all of you, I hope he was not involved. He denies that he was-and I, for one, must believe him.' One of the facts which has now come to light is that Repub- lican agents in the Democratic campaign did what they could to McGovern's obstruct opponents in the bid for the nomination because he was seen as the can- didate least likely to defeat Nixon. Connally , the In another effort to stop rot, while pushing his own claim to be seen as a future President, former Texas governor John B.

Connally has joined the Repub- lican Party. • has also Support for Nixon right- come from the extreme wing Governor of California, Ronald Reagan. He has called the men who burgled the cam- paign headquarters of the Demo- Party 'well-meaning cratic ly May 4, 1973 which has been the most intensive ever known in Indo-China.

Other military aid would also be given to the dictator Lon Nol. But Nixon said he would not send US ground troops into Cambodia. His foreign policy speech ranged other aspects of the world over situation, including the Middle East, Africa and Europe. But the sabre- rattling against North Vietnam was clearly intended as a desperate attempt to divert attention from the catastrophic scandal engulfing him at home. Nixon has his back to the wall over the Watergate affair. In his speech he Monday television stressed his intention to devote his time to foreign affairs. Is he now planning a new military adventure in Indo-China in the hope that this will dispel the reek of corruption around the White House? By TOM KEMP McGovern individuals' who were not cri- 'something that minals but did was stupid and foolish'. These attempts to save Nixon come too late to stop the crisis which is engulfing the American ruling class. Practically the entire Press is THE 1973 SERIES of French nuclear tests is due to open shortly on the South Pacific in the island of Mururoa Tuamoto archipelago, 4,000 miles from New Zealand. No date has been given for the start of testing, but in past years tests have begun in late May or early June. The New Zealand deputy prime minister recently visited Paris to protest against the projected test series. But he was told categoric- ally that the French government would not agree to fix a date for ending all Pacific tests.

A New Zealand government spokesman said yesterday that as last resort the government a might send a frigate to the danger area to try and stop the tests.

Australian trade unions have reaffirmed their intention of boy- cotting French goods if the tests go ahead. The dockers will re- fuse to load or unload French

WHAT WE THINK

WORKHOUSE BUTTER

THE

EXPECTED

Tory Speenhamland system which all- that nouncement end of the cut-price colme butter be sold 18th century. Social Security people on Wher godennamano waoes has a sinister ete dinered or houstons aspeli Of course this aspect has hundreds thousands not and will not be laruw raers WoTe

LICE

amid dealt with all the Irrev•eriom miseri ele • the ballyhoo dependence on the parish eotas! mass media about 'cheap subsidy. butter for the needy Tht et who tried break Tories are It is that here vicious circle the trying Cnote were. Nte cuy was sub-class of people who whipped the Into WORKe depend trom on houses as 'sturdy beggars'. , the capitalist une slater as Today. him all the world •rSs those can seeks to to whip them Into the usea ridden system cutting of service living standards, workers' 2.25 Already Taan spectre the ocennam men, women and his land and the workhouse is depen- children are raised again. supplementary •anl rising typical the But benefits the beotie class, whose British and Social to the Suv-verr Ture maked •GalIl parasitic ana

VCOIS

that It tries to turn the clock Close on families as possible. back as cheaply draw have to week in lact ine ccodce c outel Su oenen pian has absolutely nothing oco en do with helping the even above 'needy'. the poverty entirely cynical old- an cesua d anti-working the pensioners, these "rove imperialist Captalism to strangled forced by class people consone. along tors who run the Common keep butter Market up tr e stale conditions Just much the agri- as •nees cultural labourers who where huge SIros the the product threatens pauperized under Word Nixon's sident's adviser on domestic about sceptica „ 1ºn0r. ance of the Watergate bugging amalrs. nave res nied unuel These men are ge.

• PIOL.

lieved to have co-ordinated the Some commentators are link- together watersale LUVe'u! COmesuC BOuL Cal with former Anornev-nene ra methods with the sensational John Mitchell. Augus 15, 1971, speech the US suddenly defaulted

THEY

with worked together obligation to sell gold at $35 an Nixon's counse lohn Dean. now ounce. sacked, to hush up bugging The when came to light. These in- Gordon Tether in the 'Fin- cluded the seven ancal almes' sees bayliculls of another "character flaw" in the arrester mien. Sorouses exer Nixon Administration that had clemency and a series of official denials. expression- -Or Deru lo 1111 Treasury many watchers are former White ALSO indicted maintain-in approach to eb Marruder and international financial affairs

CHONSE

Frederick LaRue. much earlier'. Nixon has been trying to take AT LEAST four other men are himself by a series the heat off including under investigation, of forced resignations and dis- The arres dents

LONCI

.aDOULIE• which has stripped the ments secretary Dwight Chap- muissais House of its inner staff.

White TEN MEMBERS of the 'palace

NIXON'S

bert Kalf baers is also implic ted.

Her- guard' of the President's trusties , under indictment by the aie lun chief cam- Kaman. wao was Grand jury investigation paign fund-raiser during the Bob' Halde- election, made

TWO

top figures, presidential man, White House chief of staff, cash for special elort Lo Talst and John Ehrlichman, Pre- the Watergate defendants. 500,000 of the world's ships, workers WI| DoV- anomier cott mail to and from France and population. will handle Australia's National Radiation shopworkers Advisory Council has calculated renci broocks The French government claims past have TOaT Irrench Tests absolute right do what already caused one case of ikes Pacific and South thyriod cancer year one Witk But both New Zealand colonies. oliel Cases oi cancel and Australia are planning year in Australia. International to the There could be one mutation take half in every three and a in the Hague court or tusce ycals disability Inis is uniikely to Impress tooe iccolle

CLO N

oCaLa Pompidou which has re- in the first generation, With ul- international 200 deaths subsequent genera- peatedly the tions, Council calculates. protests to carri Oul Cc

LOSLIIY

of nuclear weapons in the atmos- The French tests are verv much Levels of radio-active fall- ail the imperialist mardo r Pacific imperialist powers. the countries all vul being fostered and nave TISeL nolicedbiy sunce

LIC

Lallall is French began their tests in 1965 courare• inroughout the canțo rize wins nad professor world the crisis Linus Pauling Aus- worsens war C and Tinf he will testifv against Lensiiies everg nd megatone Pompidou's arrogance over the calculated that for nuclear tests is the putrid of of nuclear French capitalist tradition CYCLy explosive •eronate n goe acos. Impenaust erandeur and colonial phere, 500,000 children will exploitation. suffer physical and dam- Pompidor mental continuing de Gaulle's policy of 'tous azimuths', age and cancer will be caused tc send them plummeting. The Council of Ministers in fact took this decision in March—it is a strictly tem- arrangement lasting porary only so long as the present surplus. In a bid to 'stabilize' prices, the Council decided, mem- ber-states could if they wished dispose of fresh butter at about 8p a pound cheaper than shop prices to those on Social Security.

This arrangement was sep- arate from, and in addition to, the 'intervention' system under which the Intervention Board, headed by Tory Sir Con O'Neil, can take surplus stocks out of circulation in order to keep prices up. Fleet Street will try desper- ately to portray the Tories as benevolent friends of the poor dispensing alms to those unfortunates who have fallen by the wayside in 'booming' Britain. In fact this government of strikebreakers and price- hikers is once again ruth- lessly pursuing its class-war strategy on two fronts; while maintaining the con- ditions for continued rob- bery from workers' wage- packets it is hoping to re- duce yet more families to the state of second-class citizens. One of the leaders of the bugging gang, Gordon Liddy, re- ceived large sums for the opera- tion out of Republican campaign funds. With shady operations like Watergate going on it is not sur- prising that the Nixon campaign cost $10m more than it reported.

financed by a Watergate was fund controlled by former Com- merce Secretary Maurice Stans and the pay-offs made in $100 bills. This secret fund included from financier and $200,000 alleged swindler, Robert Vesco, who took over Investors Overseas from Bernie Cornfeld Services in 1971. At the time Vesco was being investigated by the Securi- ties and Exchange Commission. A Grand Jury is now investigat- ing his activities. Stans is reported to have told Vesco that he would get help from the administration in re- turn for the money, which was handed over in notes. The deal was known to Nixon's brother Edward, and his nephew Donald Nixon, worked for one of Vesco's companies. With the investigations into affair still in its the Watergate early stages it is clear that it was only one of the shady deals with which White House operators were concerned. Pompidou preparing to meet all comers with nuclear weapons if they infringe French sovereignty.

De Gaulle refused to sign the 1963 Test Ban Treaty, which out- lawed atmospheric nuclear test- ing. He deno inced the treaty as an attempt by the major nuclear powers to maintain their mono- poly. The latest series of tests are perfec- believed to involve the an A-bomb "trigger' ting of for the French hydrogen bomb.

... .......

The strike that could halt the car industry Rubery Owen strikers in fifth stormy week

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

IN DARLASTON, STAFFORDSHIRE

RUBERY OWEN workers, resisting the imposition of a Measured-Day Work scheme, meet today as their strike at Darlaston, Staffs, continues through its stormy fifth week. The firm has totally closed its Seven Acre and Kings Hill factories, laying off some 500 non-strikers and apprentices. The mass meeting of strikers held on May Day put the strike firmly back on again after weekend Press reports had forecast that it was all over.

Talks on a peace formula Right: A strike vote as Rubery Owen worked out by workers their fight offcials Moss Antoo lee (T&GWU) and Bob Wright Measured-Day Work methods Into the

(AUEW)

Birmingham Darlaston Works. last Friday broke down. Local union officials walked because meetin laimed dae because Chanced mind over terms for a return to work.

NO HOPE

Can't negotiate Fred Griffiths,

AUEW

Wolverhampton district there is 'no hope' immediate

WOLK.

NO ruLure are laid on with the company.

Fred Griffiths, divisional Griffiths told the strikers: organizer of the engineering You negotiate speaking settlement with to a sirike Culpaly meeting last week. changing CoaL conunually its mind' Fred Straw, Rubery Owen's production services told the 'Wolver- director, Sparks' hampton Express and 'We agreed principle last week to union pro- position. But when we came identify details it would move beyond have goper cent's limit of El plus per cent. back- Mr John Owen, managing director, told the same paper: ve do mot know war orel minciples are at stake! moves made- -major fires

DIG-IN

Drawn-out fight

THE

120 electricians Owen. claim Many workers are wonder- they were 'loyal' to the com.

ing whether these lay-offs by during pany working the and decision to shut up Drouucuion workers shop that Rubery they have been let Disilly down and are threatening to wen nas decided to alg for a long drawn-out fight. strike themselves when the is over present disoure Mr Straw's comments about the Tory pay They claim they were ver and Owen's of 'prin- talk bally promised a f4-a-week ciples' certainly point that rise and therefore worked way. for the first four une workers One of Rubery's welders strike until they were indefi- expressed the feeling of many nitely laid off on Tuesday. he told wor

WULKCIS

WICH

everybody But Kers Press That under. the terms was end hopes dispute the the which arreement that weekend dispute manaement reached with national union officials last was going to ena. MOVES WERE made yesterday to and subsequently the industrial 'But we are now prepared escalate action at cancened laelr Increase was Raleigh Industries' Nottingham plant stop out until we But a to be reduced to £2.50. fruitful agreement. have over a handful who worked on May of intention going back Gerry Piddock, when the rest of the 6,000 Day shop steward, told the wwer s lemms. workers came out on strike against Press: the Tory pay laws.

FEARS

"The The 70 of the electricians fear, the members metal mechanics be who walked Not happy union colibally

DACK-

coul pedalling on a verbal under- service ovel toree scaos taking that would be department are still on strike.

The Another Rubery Owen plant's shop eligible for a f4 a week pay joint stewards Hicl who works worker, on com- consider ose. yesicrudy warat ponents for the Land Rover about a few scabs in other depart- that EPTU fears Now it seems ments and whether to black told anolt toe any official trade union leader- members have been production they handle. ship. recently last He said: 'I was not very being asked lo happy $1.50 a week each to subsidize shop-floor work- principle ollr the high base ero molaer unions, They were only necolate WRITS for by-elections in West the £1 plus 4 per cent claim, Bromwich, Staffs, not to and West to commit looks like being a now Houghton, Lancs, will be issued principle of high base rate.

lengthy struggle. Commons in the today. This The position in Darlaston Many workers express the means that important polls on vlew Thal Ku Derv May 24 will be staged during financial troubles lot go a deeper than is being brought a month when local government

NEWS DESK

elections are taking place.

our al ine monical. Many feel that workers The total result will give a fairly this is what lies behind the accurate guide to government popu determination 01-720 2000 company's lalily Chance relations s factories. Labour held both the Commons Workers PI The CKD department has already blacked the scabs' work and there are plans to stop production com- pletely over one scab in their own department. If the blacking and stoppages spread, the whole plant could grind to a halt. Stewards at their meeting con- giving an sidered ultimatum suspend the scabs or face united strike action. Mr Maurice Foley, who was seats. MP for West Bromwich is now a Common Market official. The vacancy at West Houghton arose through the death of Mr Tom Price. Outstanding is a by-election at General election figures: West Bromwich M. Foley (Lab) 23,412; Hawkins (C) 18,976. Labour majority 4,436. West Houghton T.

Price (Lab) 29,674, Dr C. A. Uns- worth (C) 23,847. Labour majority 5,827. Norkers Press, Friday May 4, 1973 PAGE 3 Jack Hallam, local metal mech- anics' official, said: 'I warned the management before May Day they.

would be better off closing the factory completely or they could have a lot more trouble than the one-day stoppage could cause them.

'They ignored this advice and instead put up a provocative notice condemning the May Day strike and encouraging people to come to work.

'We will support any of our members who refuse to work with scabs. Other main unions involved, the AUEW, T&GWU and G&MWU, are likely to take the same line.'

SHOTTON steelworks - threatened with closure before 1980-smashed producțion records last month, with more iron and steel being made there than in any previous four- week month. A total of 94,574 tonnes of iron was produced to beat a six-year-old record by more than 5,000 tonnes. while the total of 135,507 tonnes of ingot steel surpassed the previous best, in January, 1965, by 555 tonnes.

FOREBODINGS FROM 'FINANCIAL TIMES' CHAIRMAN

PAGE 4 Workers Press, Friday May 4, When Professor Lionel Robbins, late of the Lon- don School of Econo- mics, is worried about capitalism, it must be in a parlous state. The 74-year-old chairman of the 'Financial Times' took up half a pink page of that organ of finance capital to express his forebodings on April 24.

Robbins is an unrepentant defender of the free market and the rights of private pro- perty, including its right to exploit wage labour. Admit- ting that there has to be some state intervention to prevent The Tory government has once again been talking about tightening up on so-called "scroungers, alleged to be 'fiddling' money they are not entitled to from the Social Security (SS). Among other things, this means encouraging the SS in- vestigators-that bunch of dedicated ex-coppers and the like who spend their time dog- gedly spying on women for evi- dence of 'co-habitation' or ask- ing neighbours-and in some cases children-questions about who the woman sleeps with. This heroic task of persecut- ing the weak and unprotected of course, vital to the is, national economy. if anyone Furthermore, should churlishly suggest that the elaborate government spy machine probably costs more than all the so-called 'scroun- gers' put together, he should be told at once that that is not the point; it is a , matter of principle-Tory principle!

Of course, some people may be reflecting that there are, in fact, easier ways of making far larger sums than can be got the Social Security from people. In this connection, two spring names that probably readily to mind are: Ferranti and Bristol-Siddeley. It was early in 1964 that ay May 4, 1973 the forces of the market from tearing society apart, he none- theless views with some con- cern the recent tendencies in that direction. Even more, he is deeply alarmed by the current infla- tionary trends. As he says, the logic of the system, i.e. capi- talism, 'involves more or less stable money. Acute deflation or inflation play havoc with its fundamental assumptions' He claims, however, that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure the stability of the value of money. Accepting that a yearly price rise of 2 per cent may be necessary, he When the increase says: rumours began to circulate that Ferranti's contract for the Bloodhound missile had abled the company to make what, even according to capi- standards, talist was con- sidered 'excess profits'.

Sir Basil Ferranti, of one the directors, had been parlia- mentary secretary to the Min- Aviation from July istry of 1962 until October, when he resigned. He was Tory MP for Morecambe and Lonsdale. Ferranti's admitted, eventu- ally, to having made more than the government bargained for, and offered to knock flm off the price of future work. They added, mind you, that under no circumstances would they pay back cash, nor would they agree to an inspection of their accounts. The government announced that there would be an inquiry, whereupon Ferranti's an- nounced that they would open their books, after ail. According to the govern- ment, Ferranti Ltd appeared to have made 113 per cent profit on its capital; 63 per cent on cost; and 40 per cent on turn- over. 'By any standards exces- sive and unjustified', said Min- ister Mr Julian Amery. A few months later, the committee of inquiry into the these affair revealed that figures were an underestimate.

The true profits had been 45 per cent on turnover, 82 per cent on costs, and a really vast sum on capital. The report said that Fer- 'submitted quota- had ranti tions and agreed prices which they knew were very likely to yield profits that the Ministry would not regard as fair and reasonable, profits which can only be described as excessive'.

It said that the company had submitted prices "which hat they knew were much too threatens to reach two figures, as it has done recently under the present government, then all sorts of obvious damages to production and distribution become evident.' Strangely enough, he is un- able to explain why there has been accelerating inflation, not only in this country but in all capitalist countries. He does not consider it at all as an international phenomenon of the capitalist crisis. In any case Robbins is caught in a contradiction. If the free operation of market forces is the best way of orga- nizing production, why do they not ensure that money will Sir Basil Ferranti—made 'excessive and | high' and had 'misled the Ministry. was talk after the There Ferranti affair of changing the costing methods in the Min- istry; but three years later came the Bristol-Siddeley aero- engines case on similar lines.

As for Basil de Ferranti? He is now director of Interna- keep its value? Showing that government intervention to control prices income carries dangers and can become self-defeating, nevertheless calls for govern- ment controls. And he baulks when it comes to control of profits, providing a forthright the capitalist to defence of make as much profit as he can on the basis of 'an incentive to enterprise involving unusual risk', and so on. But if an attempt to control profits would blight the very force upon which the capitalist system is based, how, he asks, control of in- can there be comes. ssive and unjustified' profits.

tional Computers as well as Ferranti Ltd. And the former Morecambe MP with the lightning Minis- is once again terial career holding public office he one of 16 British members of the Common Market Advisory Economic and Social Commit- tee. deeply

LOTS

LONG

alarmed claims that a yetray price current trends, cent may be

STRE

apel nocessarv. After expressing a series of doubts which many bourgeois doubt economist wonde regard today as old-fashioned, he nevertheless comes down on the side of direct control of prices and incomes as an emergency measure. He does so because he recog- nizes that to control inflation, either through the budget or through crealt resuriction, to run the risk of bringing about a really-damaging de- pression'. for all his doubts, So, he falls in behind which he hopes ment policy, hopes will be approved, as indeed it is, by 'non-revolutionary trade union leaders' But he realizes that unless this policy is regarded simply 'a breathing as space' more and more controls will be quired keep capitalism to prevent functioning ana still further inflation. Evidently addressing himself to the government, and speak- ing with some authority backed up in the City of Lon- don, he says: 'The belief that reasonable stability of the value of money can be re-established proper constraints on the rate of increase of the credit base and public spending is wishful thinking; and whosoever tells Ministers that Conservative they can neglect these funda- without mental amuences eventually imperilling the whole free economy does grave only to those disservice not immediately advised, but also to the future of the country as a whole'. Robbins's intervention is an indication of the depth of the crisis and the anxiety it is gen- the defenders erating. among particularly the of capitalism, of the classic style. capitalism It is a far cry from the con- which fidence the system Robbins and his like used to display and expresses the final bankruptcy of the kind of eco- nomic thinking which they re- present.

LESSONS

OF UCS

REFORMISM ON THE CLYDE

TREFORMISM ON THE CLYDE

REFORMISM ON THE CLYDE

hanestoryofucs the Clyde' 'Reformism on the first exposure of Com- munist Party tactics at the UCS work-in. It shows how a powerful challenge to the Tories degenerated into a reformist protest. It exam- of the ines the records men who led the struggle, James Airlie James Reid, and Sammy Barr. Price 30p, 128 pages, illustrated.

Avarade from New Park Publications 186a, Clapham High Street

SW4 7UG

Lonel. or the Paperbacks Centre 28 Charlotte Street London. wi (Enclose 10p for postage)

MOSCOW LAUNCHES ATTACK

ON MAO'S 'DIRTY DEALS'

The Sino-Soviet war of words has reached a new pitch and, since China's entry into the United Nations, has been carried on in UN meetings and organizations. At the meeting of the Eco- nomic Commission for Asia and the Far East, the Chinese delegate accused the Soviet Union of wishing to dominate the area and of menacing the peace and security of Asia'.

In reply, the Russian delegate described the charge as 'the product of a sick imagination'.

At a Kremlin meeting to mark Lenin's birthday on April 20 two Chinese diplo- walked out when they mats heard Politburo member Di- mitri Ustinov attack what he anti-Leninist called 'the chauvinist position of Peking'.

He said: 'Peking's interna- tional policy is penetrated by anti-Sovietism and a divisive spirit towards the international communist and national libera- tion movement, and is in practice linked with the ac- tions of branded enemies of communism.' The Soviet and East Euro- pean Press frequently accuses China of lining perialism, as trade agreements with Japan and the US, while opposing the Soviet attempts at detente in Europe. Lin Plao, Mao's second in com- who mysterlously disap- mand, peared. Soviet analysts claim that there has been a shift in Chinese policy since the mys- elimination of Mao's terious second-in-command, Lin Piao, in September 1971. A Moscow broadcast to China on April 8 said that the 'situation in China has become volatile in the extreme, and it threatens to explode and rock the whole country at the slightest provocation' . It also said that foreign policy had been reversed since the Ninth Congress of the Chinese Com- munist Party. Then the Soviet Union and the United States were both attacked, but now, the com- mentator went on 'The Peking leaders are making concessions on matters of principle to the imperialist force which had been declared to be the world people's most vicious enemy'.

Moscow also noted that any commemoration of the Ninth Congress of the CCP had been absent from the notably Chinese Press. A leading role at this congress was taken, of course, by Lin Piao. harsh attack A particularly on Peking's policies was made in a Moscow broadcast in Rumanian on April 17 which was on the theme: 'Imperial- ism and Maoism-tell lies at the same time in the language of anti-Soviet and anti-socialist propaganda.' Charman Mao accused by Moscow of 'Acting in unison' the speaker went on, 'the Maoists imperialists and attempt to sow dissension in the socialist camp and to drive a wedge between this camp and the national liberation movement.

They do this with the help of theories about the two super- powers and about the rich and poor nations.' The Soviet bureaucracy is cynically inconsistent in ac- cusing the Maoist bureaucracy of doing precisely what it is itself engaged in-making dirty deal with imperialism at the expense of the working class. A new English edition of the First Fiv Years of the Communist International' corporating hitherto unpublished materi from Volume XIII of Trotsky's 'Works'

THE FIRST

FIVE YEARS OF THI

Workers Press making concessions... force. In fact the Kremlin and stressed in internal propa- outbid Peking trying to ganda, which iS exclusively are each other in the concessions concerned with exhorting the which they are ready to make masses to overcome practical to imperialism. difficulties and to repudiate the In recent weeks the Chinese line of Liu Shao- revisionist chi and 'swindlers like him'.

position has been more one of innocence than On April 10 a Chinese trade injured Moscow reply to Soviet delegation arrived in aggressive Contacts with capital- for talks trade. attacks. on two-way But no information ist countries have expanded at seems to astounding both have been published about its an rate by visits to China of politicians activities. and businessmen and Soviet Union has also The as a re- making sult of Chinese diplomatic been overtures to initiatives abroad. Albania, Peking's mouthpiece Soviet revision- which has bitterly Attacks on ism or great-power chauvinism criticized be no longer appear to in the past. 'First Five ed material The First Five Years of the Communist International This first volume of Trotsky's writings and speeches for the Communist International covers the period of its first three Congresses when the post-war revolutionary upsurge reached its peak and then began to recede. It establishes, without fear of con- tradiction, the important role which he played in the foundation of this, the Third workers' International, and in the formation and early development of the French, German and Italian Communist Parties. At this time the theory of 'socialism in one country' had not been invented and Joseph Stalir was still second-line Boishevik leader who played no part in the international movement which he was later to pervert and eventually destroy.

OF THE

Price: £1.50, 421 pages. Available from: New Park Publications 186a Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UG or the Paperbacks Centre 28 Charlotte Street, London, W1 (Enclose 10p for postage) cers Press, Friday May 4, 1973 PAGE 5 The Soviet Union has de- cided to shelve its visa tax on Jews who want to emigrate, opening the way for the finishing touches to be put to the trade pact with the United States, signed last year. The visa tax — a levy on emigrants calculated according to their educational and pro- fessional status - was sup- to protect the USSR posed against a possible 'brain drain' of skilled manpower. It went hand in hand with the Soviet Stalinists' blatantly anti-Semitic attempts to sup- the right of Jews to press their religion and practise crude Jew-baiting by bureau- crats and officials. The Stalinists' reason for lifting the ban on Jewish emi- gration does not mean an end will be put to anti-Semitic manifestations within boundaries of the USSR. It is of no benefit at all to those millions of Jews in the Soviet Union who want to continue living there and have no ambition to leave for Israel. But it does of course satisfy in considerable measure the demands of the Zionists who naturally want to encourage skilled Jewish manpower to leave the Soviet Union and come to Israel.

EXIT TAX

for this Zionist protests, reason, have been directed almost exclusively to establish- the right of Soviet Jews ing to leave for Israel without hav- ing to pay any exit tax. There has hardly been a murmur of indignation in these circles for those victims of anti-Semitism who want to stay in the Soviet Union and are, in many cases, hostile to Zionism. The Zionists are well aware that anti-Semitism on the part of the Soviet bureaucracy can only assist their reactionary ends by increasing the grip of reactionary separatist ideology over the Soviet Jews. The constant theme of offi- cial Zionist propaganda is that a Jew can only live in dignity inside the promised land: the Zionists share with the anti- Semites the idea that lews place in 'normal' have no society. actions of the Soviet The bureaucrats have immensely assisted the Israeli authorities in spreading this totally erro- neous and reactionary concep- tion. Stalinists anti- The Semitism is Zionism's finest ally.

REACTIONARIES

It is typical of the Soviet bureaucracy that having crea- ted through its repressions a Soviet desire among many Jews to leave for Israel, it should then enable them to do so for the most opportunist reasons. The lifting of the exit tax for Jews was demanded by extreme reactionaries in the US Congress and accepted by the Soviet authorities purely because it would get them most favoured nation status with US imperialism. The oppressed Palestinian people will no doubt view this less than total move with acclaim—under Israeli govern- ment plans the new arrivals will get the chance to settle in the occupied territories of the west bank, which were Arab lands before the 1967 war.

ULSTER: FIGHT THE EMERGENCY PROVISIONS BILL

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Friday May 4, 1973 Statement by the International Co The International Com- mittee of the Fourth International calls on the British and Irish work- ing class to oppose the Northern Ireland (Emer- gency Provisions) Bill, which is a major step to- wards an outright mili- tary-police state in Ulster. The ICFI condemns in par- ticular those Labour MPs who either voted for or abstained its in second the Bill on reading. By doing so they con- tributed significantly towards basic democratic abolishing rights in Ulster and created a precedent for the extension of Diplock proposals into the Britain as well. This Bill deprives lister workers of the few remaining legal safeguards the against brutal tyranny of a capricious, unrepresentative reac- tionary executive. The abolition of trial by jury, the law of evidence and the transformation of the judi- ciary into a tool of the execu- tive. as well as the unprece- nternational Committee of the Fourth Interr dented powers of detention conferred the courts, on are aimed at legalizing the perva- sive use of torture, frame-up, system of internment and the government-sponsored inform- ers in Ulster. It also encourages the armed forces and particularly the in an paratroops, to indulge and orgy of beating, looting killing of unarmed civilians. It is no accident that the wave of indiscriminate shooting of teenagers and so-called ter- rorists has been stepped up sharply since the White Paper and the first reading of the Bill. Although, at present, aimed principally at the Provisional IRA who equivocally opposed the White Paper, but refused to lay down their arms, these laws regula- and repressive just will be used tions as freely against Ulster workers in the coming industrial and political struggles. That is why, when Ulster Secretary of State William Whitelaw assured the House of Commons that the regula- tions were only provisional and would not last a minute longer than necessary, he was guilty of the most despicable Tory deception. This was made possible be- e Fourth International. cause of the craven acquies- cence of the Labourites and the reformist collaboration of the Communist Party-domi- nated civil-righters, the Official the Social Demo- • cratic and Labour Party in Ulster. the Fine Gael- Meanwhile Labour coalition led by Liam Cosgrave, which has replaced Lynch and Fianna Fail in the south, continues and even ex- tends the support of direct the bourgeoisie of the Irish Republic for British imperial- ism's plans. The social democrats of the SDLP, together with the Sta- linists in the civil rights move- ment and the Official Sinn Fein and IRA, have gone over openly and completely to the imperialists. by this common Shielded tront of reformism, national- ism and Stalinism, the extreme right-wing forces given are time to regroup the forces of disintegrating Ulster Unionism into the basis for a fascist movement for intervention in the developing crisis in Ireland and in Britain. More and more the openly neo-fascist forces in the Tory Party will turn to Ulster as a preparations base for their against the working class.

They are directly linked not only with the right-wing Pro- testant para-military forces in Ulster, but also with the mili- establishment in the tary British state machine. Ireland, In Northern as Whitelaw boasted to the Con- ference of British Young Con- servatives, arrests and impri- ruthlessly sonments were stepped up in the period im- mediately before and after the publication of the Tory gov- ernment's White Paper. More people are imprisoned at this time than at any previous date. As part of the same exer- 500 raids were made in cise, Britain itself, not only on Irish nationalists but also on members of the International Group. raids Marxist These followed the earlier bomb ex- plosions in London at the time of the rail drivers' strike.

In Belfast, Young Social- ists are harassed, intimidated and held long hours for ques- tioning merely for selling their literature. The powers recom- mended by the Diplock Com- mission will be used more and more to suppress all opposi- tion to imperialism. The Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act legis- lated by the Lynch govern- ment in 1972 in conditions, which aroused open suspicion of a provocation by the forces of state, is being used to the the Fine Gael-Labour full by coalition government. Cosgrave and his Ministers of their work boast openly intelli- with British military against the in acting gence purchase of arms by the Pro- visional IRA. Members of the bourgeoisie are driven Irish to this final and open admis- sion of their abandonment of any vestige of commitment to national independence by the international depth of the economic crisis and their con- sequent fear of the working class. This is what compels them to come out openly in alliance imperialists. with the British not retreat from They will this, but must take even more They have reactionary steps. virtually abandoned the wea- demagogy national pon which facilitated their control of the Irish workers. It is in order to help the Irish bourgeoisie and the Bri- tish imperialists this dan- 1m| gerous situation that the Sta- "left' linists and their allies now play a vital role: the role of be- counter-revolutionary class. trayae fores workte class nt tho welcomed by them as vic. It is said to reflect the tory. pressure of the masses on im- perialism, creating situation which the Irish people incor further can step advance a politically. said to mark the defi- It is end of Stormont, the nitive of traditional im- perialist-Unionist The rule. are told that the pro- masses posals in the White Paper re- 'step forward', present struggle! "victory' in the the White reality Paper represents the plan of the im- perialists to carry out aran more brutally the "pacification' Direct Rule. Tust the and reformists wel- Stalinists Direct Rule. so they armed mowes for the implementation condition now White Paper proposals. of the They will even accept govern- office and try to ment ancitro "collaboration of the trade the frisking IRA suspects in Be British troops the new admini- unions Above right: Billy Hul with Edward Heath. stration. Workers Press, Frida They will do this while Bri- tish imperialist troops con- their their tinue occupation, and They shootings arrests. will do this while para-mili- tary forces led by the extreme right-wing continue to flourish. They surrender the inde- pendence of the working class at the point where Protestant well as Catholic workers as into struggle thrown Tory against the anti-union thus and leaving the way the right open wing to lead backward work- ers into the arms of reaction.

These Stalinist and social democratic parties have con- sistently refused to mobilize the working class, particularly against imperialist occupation, Tory against the London. in They now turn on a work- ing class frustrated by the the and military occupation reduction of the struggle to of terrorism and protest, acts and try to take advantage mood exhaustion, of ot White Paper the 'giving' chance, of clutching any out of possible way the pre- sent impasse. This is the role of Stalinism everywhere today: to translate tactical taken by every step with the imperialists to deal the working class 'vic- as tory', frag- thus once again and diverting menting the working class from the politi- task of defeating cal the enemy's preparation and unit- in a political struggle on the road to power. this the wav that Stalinists in Ireland ioin with social the democrats and liberals in advocating that the for ad- essential prerequisite for relaxation of vance. any the Tory government's repres- for any release of poli- sions, the prisoners, of the tion activities. the Provisionals! And behind this miserable excuse they drop demand for the release their They willing agents imperialist repres- sion. The International Com- mittee of the Fourth Inter- William Whitelaw, Ulster State Belfast. ( Above left. love right: Billy Mull, leader Workers Press, Friday May 4, 1973 PAGE 7 national has always warned typically that middle-class nationalist methods of terror adopted by the Provisional IRA cannot defeat British im- perialism stand in the and way of the political changes necessary to build a new lead- ership. nally we suthose in conditionally those struggle against British im- perialism. Now we can see even more clearly than before the mean- ing of the Stalinists' campaign, the last three years, for a in 'Bill of Rights' and a Consti- tutional Conference on North- ern Ireland. Whitelaw and the Tories have deliberately incor- porated a fraudulent 'Bill of Rights' in the White Paper.

The Stalinists welcome the new powerless puppet Assem- bly as a step to representative the imposi- government, not form of tion of a new imperialist rule. They welcome the concilia- tion of Cosgrave with White- law and Heath as a step to 'constitutional confer- their ence', towards eventual Irish firmer unity, not towards a and more repressive dictator- imposed through civil ship war in which the Dublin gov- ernment fights alongside Bri- tish imperialism. flowing from The dangers the latest imperialist measures and the betrayals of the Sta- linists and lefts' are neces- by new sarily accompanied great opportunities for and Marxism, for the section of the International Committee of the Fourth International in Ireland. Only the ICFI and its sec- raised from th tions very beginning the demand for im- withdrawal of the mediate imperialist army. Re- British visionists Interna- like the Socialists wel- tional group comed the intervention. Only the ICFI and its sec- held high the tions have the political inde- banner of pendence of the working class and of the indis- of Ireland soluble unity of its struggle with that of the working class in Britain. The coalition government in Dublin is a coalition of com- plete crisis. Its majority can be destroyed by even the slightest change in the politi- The Irish cal situation. eco- nomy's weakness exposes it to rapidly- effects of the the worsening economic crisis.

working north The class, nort south, is driven and mass struggles by ably into the inflationary basis of this same crisis, which is destroy- ing its already meagre living standards. These struggles, in contrast to the craven betrayals of the traditional Stalinists and the leaderships, will create a great for political discus- opening sion on the predominant ques- tion of leadership. Many wor- king-class cadres can be won from the masses and from the ranks of the traditional orga- nizations to Marxism and the Fourth International. In Britain, the central strug- defence of basic gle for the against the democratic rights preparations of the Tory gov- ernment demands an unrelent- ing struggle to force the Tories to resign and elect a Labour which must be government forced to withdraw all troops from Northern Ireland. Such a struggle would be a great blow against imperialism and would provide the basis for a leap forward by the Irish working class. • Throw out the White Paper proposals! • Destroy the Diplock pro- posals! • Unity of the Irish working class, Catholic and Protestant, against unionism and imperial- ism! • Unity of all Irish and Bri- tish workers for the overthrow of the Tory government and the Cosgrave coalition in Dublin! • Fight for a Labour govern- ment which must be forced to withdraw troops from Ulster and release all political pri- soners!

PAGE 8 Workers Press, Friday May 4, A series by Bernard Franks Part four One in ten of all shops doing business in 1961 has since closed down. During this period the multiple retailing groups intensified their domina- tion of sales at the ex- pense of other sectors of the industry. In Britain the multiples have increased their grip on all re- tail trade, from 20-per-cent domination in 1950 to 40 per cent today. This has been at the expense of the Co-op and the independents. If we subtract the trade of the department stores from that of the independents, then the small shops are left with 43 per cent of all turnover compared with 60 per cent in The 138 largest multi- 1950. ples with 100 or more branches —Tesco, Woolworth, and sO on-now take about one-sixth of all trade. In some sectors the num- ber of shops has increased— antique dealers, wallpaper and paint, do-it-yourself, radio and television, greeting-card shops, pet foods and garden centres.

Elsewhere the fall in num- bers has been very dramatic.

the number of shoe repairers has fallen by 50 per cent to 5,80l. medieval times goods In were sold at fairs and markets or by travelling pedlars, pack- men and street traders. In Piers Plowman, the poem sometime written between 1360 and 1380, William Lang- land writes of the methods of cheating customers at the fairs.

He tells of people who harm the poor: 'And secretly and oft they poison them; They grow rich on their re- tail with what the poor should eat, They buy houses, they be Al come landlords. If they sold honestly they f would not build so high Nor buy their tenures.' Selling food from a house or permanent dwelling was banned by local laws up to the 14th century for fear of secret hoarding and cornering of the market in some product. These laws fell before the rise of mercantilism, when the huge growth of trade required a middle-man between makers or importers and customers. But the producer-retailer did not disappear. He was classed as a craftsman and took on apprentices and journeymen, who worked with a view to owning their own shop as in any other trade. However, with the growth of factory methods, the divi- sion between production and distribution became wider.

The great fairs disappeared, but the markets were able to adapt to capitalism and con- tinue in being a focal point for traders of all kinds and their customers. In the 18th century there y May 4, 1973 were no brands. All sales, books, even • of new were settled by haggling. The first attempt to charge fixed prices was in the 1770s by Flint and Palmers, a haberdashers and drapers on London Bridge.

The socialist, Robert Owen, for many years a shop worker, was an assistant there in 1774 at the age of 13. He had started work as a shop boy at the age of nine. Owen left Flint and • Palmers after one year because 'the slavery every day of the week seemed more than my constitution could support. Owen, once a shopworker-'the slavery every day . seemed more than my constitution could support.' In the 19th century there in the was a great increase number of shops catering for the growing numbers of better- paid skilled workers, compo- sitors, engineers, etc., and a middle class rapidly growing wealth. in The poor continued to buy at street markets or from street sellers — pedlars, cost- ers and tallymen. These, however, were a de- force with the im- clining provement in production tech- niques and transport. The neighbourhood shops were able to take over the sales of food, hardware, candles, crock- ery, blacking and so on. food The price-controlling, es- and sale pecially by millers, of shoddy clothing and adulte- rated food to workers contri- buted to the establishment of workers' Co-operative the Movement and eventually of the Co-operative Wholesale Society. Some methods used by the unscrupulous manufacturers to adulterate food were the watering of milk, colouring of butter and cheese with danger- mixing chalk chemicals, ous with flour üsed for bread and whitening it with alum, and mustard, pepping-up vinegar pepper with brick-dust, and starch and sulphuric acid.

In the mid-19th century the costers were strong supporters of Chartism. Henry Mayhew wrote in his articles 'London Labour and London Poor': 'The politics of these people are detailed in a few words - they are nearly all Chartists.'

• "You might say, Sir," re- marked one of my informants Sainsbury's—a family-owned group 'fatherly concern'. Above: Slum dwellers "That they ALL were Char- tists, but as it is better that you should rather be under the mark, say than over NEARLY all." ' Mayhew continues: "Their ignorance and their being impulsive makes them a dangerous class. I am assured that in every district where the costermongers are congre- gated, one or two of the body, intelligent than the more have great influence others, over them; and these leading men are all Chartists. • • 'One of these men said to "The costers think the me: working-men know best and so they have confidence in us.

I like to make men disconten- nts ted, and I will make them dis- of that tries to foster the image i dwellers of London, 1889.

contented while the present system continues because it's all for the middle and monied classes and nothing in the way of rights for the poor."' Chain stores appear In the mid-19th century the departmental store developed and a number of chain stores opened, though rarely • with more than one or two bran- ches. In 1851, the largest firm was Shoolbred & Co., a drap- ers of Tottenham Court Road, London, which had 500 staff living-in. It was late in the century, with the mass produc- tion of many more consumer goods, that the larger chains 1900 began By to doutal. 100 or there were firms with more shops. Many owners of retailing today, companies the family-owned groups, try to project a paternalistic im- of fatherly for age concern their employees and customers and by themselves by their forefathers. Special biographies are com- missioned to show the 'rags-to- progressions firms' founders based wholly on honesty and hard work.

"The discipline, terrible exploitation, iron poverty and bad working conditions of the shopworkers the sale of shoddy, ill-fitting clothing, of cheap adulterated foods, and of quack medicines to the work- ing class, on which the great fortunes were built, are con- veniently forgotten. So are the battles which the labour movement had to fight in order to bring about legis- lation short-weight, acause short-measure, over-charging, lying advertising, long worK- ing kind, hours, payment in lack of safety in shops, living- in and secrecy concerning the ingredients of food and medi- cines. The situation of production made the goods workers who is avoided. For example, one- fifth of the early retail chains specialized in the sale of boots and shoes. Mayhew described the appal- ling living and working condi- tions ot the boot and shoe operatives He told of 12 workers liv- ing and working in one room; of adults near starvation; OI child labour and unskilled labour being introduced weaken the position of crafts- men and force down wages.

He described. … too. be Jane. thods of the distributors of the shoes made up by sweated labour in End the East "The London of which: ma- terial and wages cost under 2s per pair, and they are sold imported from goods France at 4s 6d and 5s 6d.'

CONTINUED TOMORROW

LAST TANGO IN PARIS

By a guest reviewer 'Last Tango in Paris' by Bertolucci examines the complicated workings of the minds of a middle- aged American and a young French girl who have an affair in Paris. The Paul, brilliantly man, played by Marlon Brando, admits that he has never understood what motivates women. We this from flash- learn backs to Paul's marriage which his wife's bloody ented 1n death, either by suicide or his murdering her; it is not clear. In his of

VISION

Lne marriage broke down because of his wife's hypocrisy and dis- honesty. She deceiving was him with a lodger in the hotel they owned and ran. He could she was telling never him the truth about anything.

But the relationship he has with the girl reveals things in his own make-up which could have contributed to the break- down of the marriage. Paul starts out aggressively.

But although his onslaught the girl at first, Caviales slowly the earthy bluntness begins to alienate her because his independence excludes her unneces- and makes her feel sary No names,' he tells her. 'We don't need to know each other's name. • It is an attempt insulate himself from ever being hurt again he was as hurt wife's deception bv his and death. The film's famous sexual scenes tell an essential part of this story. His rugged assaults on her extreme are expression of an his wish that the relationship between them should remain on the level of a male and a female who meet in a deserted Paris apartment for sex. Lave no other contact, and, above all. do not get involved in each other's thoughts, feelings or personal developments. Her responding this is but the less well explained, background to it is the very antiseptic relationship she has with her fiancé, a rather juice- less film production fanatic. Her masturbatory Solo IS all expression of how, despite relationship the drama of her with Paul, she still feels ex- cluded by it all. The 'no names, no involve- ment' strategy cannot work.

They each bring the into relationship all that they are; their life's is whole history carried within them. Inevi- tably, begin to talk they of their lives. They begin to get know one another. Slowly, all of the hostility and hatred that he has bullt up against any tender relation-

WORKERS

NOTEBOOK

THEY DIE

And these signs shall follow they shall them that believe... таке serpents, and iner drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them? Mark 16: 16-18 There number are religious sects who claim to take the bible literally but few quite literally as the Church of God Holiness Jesus' Name. The members of this outfit centred in Carson Spring, Tennessee - regulars their faith by handling poisonous snakes. And do the serpents bite them? Yes. Marlon Brando with Bernardo Bertolucc ships with women in general begins to melt in the face of the even greater need he has to be loved. His tough indivi- dualism is nothing but a cover for his vulnerability. The strong man who in the early scenes dominates the girl, and in the flashbacks rages at his wife, mother-in- law and friends, has become once more the fragile person who broke down and cried at his wife's deathbed and now wants desperately to 'belong' somewhere again. But the aggressive destruc- tiveness is part of him too. His previous desire to dominate the girl cannot be undone. His Do they live through it? No, they die. But doesn't this cast doubt on the sacred verse? Not at all—it just proves that though they had enough faith to let the snakes bite them, they didn't have enough faith to keep alive. All the same, the leaders of the faithful recently felt the need for some even more striking evidence of the truth of their church (possibly be- numbers were cause dwindling?). So at the culmination of a service, assistant pastor Jimmy Ray Williams (34) and layman Buford Pack (30) prepared a potent mixture of strychnine and water. 'Praise God! Praise God!'

chanted the congregation. 'A perfect love casteth out fear, declared the preacher, who wasn't actually drinking the stuff himself. And Williams and Pack gulped the concoction down.

Bertolucci during the filming of 'Last Tango In need to achieve mastery in any situation is as much part of his character as the need for love. And his earlier attempts to undermine her have already decided her to steer clear.

made up her mind Having to reject him, he suddenly be- comes a far less attractive man in her eyes. The transforma- tion of Paul from the hardened but appealing foul-mouthed humourist to the slightly ridi- culous middle-aged suitor is a masterpiece of film-making.

It climaxes in the tea-dance desperately scene where he tries to reassert the fascination he holds for her with an exag- gerated display of his tough- The faithful were exalted until they got out of church.

Then both Williams and Pack doubled up in agony - and died. You just can't trust any- body. At a meeting on housing in Kingsgate Schools, West the principal Hampstead, the Mr J. W. Graham speaker, of the Price, Commonwealth Society, said that housing problems will never be solved until people grapple with them in the right way. 'No scheme for state aid to private enterprise will help, . 'The people should he added. taken demand back the land in the beginning from them and it should be restored to without compensation.' them Date? 1923. Story from the 'Hampstead and Highgate Express'. Wokers Press, Friday May 4, 1973

PAGE 9

Tango In Paris.' ness, his humour and his inde- then, literally and figuratively, pendence. wipes her hands of him and leaves. It doesn't work. The rela- 'Last Tango' deals with these tionship between them has people's lives mainly at one irrevocably changed. He even level, the psychological inter- has to get drunk to keep up as affec- his bold act. action between them ted by their personalities.

She laughs bit his a at There is attempt but through clowning, it all examine what social pressures she sees his despairing plea to might tend to make their be- full-time. her to take him on haviour what it is. Bertolucci She doesn't want to. takes them as they are, each The final chilling develop- and with a personal history, ment is acted out sexually too.

each seeking solve their As he drunkenly sits at their life's problems in purely per- dance-hall dark corner-of-the sonal terms. table imploring her to begin a Within that framework, the new relationship with her, she film is a powerful study, ab- coldly him and sorbing, and superbly made.

masturbates Where is Britain Going? Paperback 37tp 1 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.

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PAGE 10 Workers Press, Friday May 4, 1973

TODAY'S TV

BBC 1

ITV

9.30 Schools. 12.00 Cartoon. 10.00-11.20 Schools. 12.25 Holi hynt.

12.05 12.55 News. 1.00 Pebble Mill at one.

Rainbow. 12.25 Happy house. 12.40 1.30 Chigley. 1.45 First report. 1.00 Cuckoo in the nest.

look. stranger. 1.30 Crown court. 2.00 General hos- 2.05 Portrait of a musician. 2.35 Living with icons. 3.05 If a child 2.30 Good 2.50 afternoon. pilal. 3.35 Tomorrow's world. 4.00 Racing from Newmarket. 4.15 Cartoon.

cries. Slip and slap. 4.10 Play school. 4.35 4.20 Lassie. 4.50 Lift off with Ayshea.

Jackanory. 4.50 Coal hole 5.45 3.20 I dream of Jeannie. 5.50 News.

club. You are there. 5.40 Hector's house.

6.00 TODAY. 6.35 CROSSROADS.

5.45 News. Weather.

7.00 THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

6.00 NATIONWIDE.

6.45 TOM AND JERRY.

7.30 THE FBI. Caesar's Wife.

6.50 TOP OF THE POPS.

8.30 WHO DO YOU DO?

7.25 STAR TREK. All Our Yester- 9.00 JUSTICE. Trespass to the Per- days. son. 8.15 GOOD OLD DAYS. Des O'Con- nor, Arthur Askey.

10.00 NEWS AT TEN.

9.00 NEWS. Weather.

10.30 WHO WILL WIN THE

CUP?

9.25 THE REGIMENT. North West FA Cup preview. Frontier.

11.00 POLICE FIVE.

10.15 AMATEUR • BOXING'S NIGHT

OF THE

YEAR.

Amateur Box- 11.10 FILM: "The Long Haul.' Victor Association Championship ing Mature, Diana Dors, Patrick Finals of 1973. Allen. Thriller. 11.30 NEWS. Weather.

12.40 EPILOGUE

11.35 THE

WORLD

OF

JIMMY

SAVILE, OBE.

12.45 SHIRLEY'S

WORLD.

Thou 12.25 Weather. Shalt Not Be Found Out. Do you get WORKERS PRESS 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.

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BBC 2

11.00-11.25 Play school. 5.25 Open University.

7.05 MISTRESS OF HARDWICK.

My Jewel Arbelle. 7.30 NEWS. Weather.

7.35 GARDENERS' WORLD.

8.00 MONEY AT WORK. The South African Connection, part 2.

British investment in South Africa. 9.00. FILM: 'Private Road.' Barney Platts-Mills' film about two young middle-class lovers. With Susan Penhaligon and Bruce Robinson.

10.25 FILM NIGHT.

11.00 NEWS. Weather.

REGIONAL TV

CHANNEL:

News. 1.30 London. 4.25 Flintstones. London. 5.20 Junkin. 5.50 Lon- London. 8.30 Comedians. 9.00 •Scandal Sheet.' News, weather.

WESTWARD.

Channel Honeybun. 12.40 London. 12.57 News. 1.00 Lon- don. 6.00 Diary. 6.25 Sport. 11.00 News. 12.30 Epilogue.

SOUTHERN:

London• Women News 2150 London. London. Cartoon. roads. 5.50 London. 6.00 Day by day.

Scene SE. 6.35 es sky's the limit. 73s neichboud: neighbour. MINERS suffering disability of between 10 per cent and 50 per cent from the dreaded dust disease, pneumoconiosis, are in danger of losing compen- sation. Mr Dai Davies, head of the National Union of Mine- workers' compensation depart- ment, said in Porthcawl that forthcoming Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee report was expected to recom- mend that no one be paid for less than 50 per cent disability. It GLASS CONTAINER work- ers in the General and Muni- cipal Workers' 1 Union are being called to a national industrial conference in Leeds next month. The conference, which will take place two weeks before the union submits a new pay claim to the industry's employers, will take place on June 14 and 15.

Workers in the glass container industry face a fight on two fronts-not only on pay, but on jobs as well. LEADING BANKS have turned down a suggestion that retired bank staff should receive cash payments out of the 'f5 saved' because of the state pay laws, says the National Union of Bank Employees. The union wrote to each of Above: "The •Regiment series on 'North West Frontier' with Christopher Robinson Left: Bruce as Peter 'Private Road'—a look at a middle-class 9.00 London. 11.00 Weekend. 11.05 Daughter' Film: 'Dracula's 12.25 News. 12.35 Weather. Epilogue.

HARLECH: 9.30 London. 2.00 Women 2.50 London. 4.25 Rainbow only. 4.50 London. 5.20 Chuckle- country. 5.25 heads. Crossroads. 5.50 London. 6.01 Report West. 6.18 Report Wales.• 6.35 Doctor 7.05 in charge. Film: Star' 9.00 "The Tin London. 11.00 Profile. ( 11.30 Our kid. 12.00 Dr Simon Locke. 12.30 Weather. HTY Cymru/Wales as above except: 4.25-4.50 Stesion cantamil. 6.01-6-18 Y dydd. 11.00-11.30 Outlook.

HTV West as above except: 6.18-6.35 Report West. ANGLIA: 9.30 London. 12.04 News. 12.05 London. 2.30 About women. 2.50 London. 4.15| 44.50 London. 4.25 Romper room. London. 5.20 Partridge family. 5.50 London.

6.00 Anglia. About 6.35 London. 7.30 Hawaii five-o. 8.30 Comedians. 9.00 London. 10.30 Probe. 11.00 FA cup. 11.30 Riptide. 12.25 Epilogue.

ATV MIDLANDS: 9.30 London._12.00 Guide. Forest 12.05 London. 4.25 4.50 London. 5.20 Flint- Today. stones ondon. 7.30 Comedians. 8.00 Hawaii five-o. London. 11.00 'The Curse of the Mummy's Film: Tomb.' Weather. ULSTER: 11.00 London. 1.33 News.

1.40 Schools. 2.40 Romper room. 2.50 London. . 4.23 News. 4.25 Rain- 4.50 bow London. 5.20 country. Mr Davies told the NUM's South Wales area conference that he understood the Advisory Com- mittee had come to the con- clusion that the disease was 'not as disabling as previously believed. 'If that is the case, they should ask and examine the victims,' he said. 'One a day is the official figure of men dying from pneumoconiosis, but the four or figure five un- officially? It is well known among miners The G&MWU says closure of the Rockware factory at Green- ford is just one symptom of what serious situation in the industry. Large-scale redundancies were recently threatened at United Glass in Harlow. These were resisted. the English Clearing Banks sug- gesting that money which had been due to bank staffs follow- ing a • 7 per cent pay increase awarded at the beginning of the year, but deferred for three months because of the freeze, should be distributed to • bank pensioners. i has the evocaiive title

BBC₽

ristopher Cazenove and Penelope Lee.

Platts-Mills' Morissey in Barney ddle-class youth. Reporas hospital non. ondon. London. Patho 6.00 Reports. 7.30 finders. 8.30 Comedians. 9.00 London. O'Hara Treasury. 11.35 11.00 US Look up.

YORKSHIRE:

9.30 London. 4.25 Flintstones. 5.20 4.50 London. Me and the chimp. 5.50 London. 6.00 Calendar. Weather. 6.35 London. 7.30 Who do London. 11? 8.00 Hawaii five-o. 9.00 11.00 Film: 'So Evil, So Young.' 12.25 Weather. GRANADA: 9.30 London. 12.00 Songs.

12.05 London. 4.15 • Pete Smith. 4.25 Joe 90. 4.50 London. 5.15 Dick Van Dyke. 5.50 London. 6.00 News. 6.20 Sky's the limit. 6.50 Film: 'Rhino,' 8.30 Comedians. 9.00 London. 11.05 Film: "The Caretaker.' 12.55 Spyforce.

TYNE TEES: 9.20 I met London. 4.25 Woo- 2.13 Yoga. 2.50 London. binda. 4.55 London. 5.20 Pebbles and bamm- Today. • Cartoon. do? 8.00 7.30 Who do you 'Maniac' 12.35 News. 12.40 Lectern.

GRAMPIAN:

10.58 1.38 London. Schools. 2.52 News. 3.00 London. Merrie 4.20 4.50 London. melodies. ,.20 General hospital. 5.50 London. 6.00 News. 6.10 Protectors. 6.35 London. 7.00 Deep endeavour. sea 7.30 What price oil? 8.30 Comedians.

9.00 London. 10.30 Job look. 10.35 'Desire Under the Elms.' 12.35 Film: Meditation. that men who die from chest or heart ailments have often had pneumoconiosis as an accelerating factor. The conference passed a resolu- tion asking the national execu- tive to that widows ensure received industrial benefits in where their husbands cases died from the disease. Official figures show that 40,000 suffer from pneumoconiosis in the_ UK, up to 8,000 of them The majority in South Wales. are certified at 10 per cent.

Now 500 G&MWU members "S st Canning Town Glass face the The union's productivity ser- vices department is currently discussing with Canning Town Glass 'ways and means of saving jobs and avoiding closure of the works. A £5.64 claim was recently submitted by the G&MWU to Pilkington Bros, the biggest em- ployer in the industry. But union leaders are most unlikely to press it to the point of all-out con- frontation with the Tory pay laws. HIGH WYCOMBE Trades Coun- cil has unanimously passed a resolution calling for special dis- pensation to be granted to Work- ers Press and the 'Morning Star' in any future strike of printers.

A letter from Long Kesh camp Argentine's president-elect in tough Dear Editor, With reference to your report of the memorable May Day demonstration in London on Tuesday, may I just take this opportunity of pointing out that along with the other trade union general secretaries, whose presence you were able to note, all of the national and London district officials of this union present—in addition of were course to many of our rank- and-file members, both march- ing and playing. Yours fraternally, Brian Blain, Secretary Music Promotion and Public Relations Committee Thanks for telling us.—Ed.

THE LEBANESE army continued its attacks on Palestinian retugee and commando camps formations yesterday applause amid fervent from the Zionist Press the border in across Israel. The fighting was particu- larly fierce in the camps around Beirut, though the re- fugee camp near the inter- national airport, scene of the heaviest fighting on Wednes- day, was reported quiet yes- day. The official toll on the army side stood at 12 dead and 40 wounded at lunchtime yesterday, but many more casualties were not accounted for. The com- mandos are said to have lost 24 ARGENTINA is still under martial law imposed by the military junta after the kill- ing of a retired rear-admiral on Monday. Tough bargaining is now • ex- pected between military the THE WEST GERMAN bank rate was raised yesterday for the cent. The rate at which com- mercial banks can borrow from the central bank rose to 8 per BRIXTON: Monday May 7, 8 p.m.

Control Room, Brixton Training Centre. 'Report back from May Day'. CRAWLEY: Monday May 7, 8 p.m. Social Service Hall, Station Road. 'Stalinism and the struggle to defend democratic rights.'

Club, opp. New Cross Station. 'The role of the TUC in the fight against the Tories'. BATTERSEA: Tuesday May 8, 8 р.m. 'Nags Head', cnr. Wands- worth Road and North Street. 'Report back from May Day'.

DAGENHAM: Tuesday May 8, 8 Hall, p.m. Barking Co-op Fan- shawe Avenue. 'Marxism and the trade unions.' TOTTENHAM: Tuesday May 8 p.m. Bricklayers Arms, High Road, Lane. White Hart near 'Force the Tories to resign.'

WYTHENSHAWE

(Manchester): Tuesday May 8, 8 p.m. 'Cock o'th'North' 'Report Portway. back from May Day'. KINGSTON: Thursday May 10, 8 р.т. Nobin Hotel Citon Acara, Over the last few months your paper has been finding its way into this camp and from hand to hand it has finally reached me. I have enjoyed reading it and must send you my con- gratulations on your stand for the working class, and your straight-to-the-point attacks on the capitalist class and their lackeys. But the main reason why I thought I should write to you came after reading your article by Jack Gale on Brazil. First, I would not like you to think that I am setting out to criticize the article; in fact it was very informative. killed and 99 wounded. Between ten and 13 civilians caught in crossfire between the two sides were also killed. There scattered outbreaks of were fighting throughout the Lebanon, particularly the region Arqoub, close to the border with Israel. Israeli newspapers were openly exultant about the prospect of a 'Black May' for the Palestinian resistance fighters, drawing the between the comparison cowardly Lebanese attack on the camps and the massacre orga- nized by King Hussein in Jordan in September 1970. Zionist daily 'Haaretz' The said the Lebanese army-like its country's nationalist leaders— was demanding an end to the presence of the guerrillas who Lebanon's 'undermining were ler chiefs and President-elect Hector Campora, who has just returned from visit to ex-President Peron in Madrid. Campora is understood to favour an amnesty for political including guerrillas prisoners, jailed in the past seven years of The rise will have repercus- sions on Britain and other coun- tries by attracting funds to the West German money markets.

This credit curb is a sign that bankers are getting worried about the galloping inflation.

Economic activity in West Ger- many slowed down in the latter Road. 'Forward from May Day —to remove the Tories.' WILLESDEN: Thursday May 10, 8 p.m. Brent Labour and Trades Hall, Willesden High Road, NW10. 'Stalinism and the strug-- gle to defend democratic rights EAST LONDON: Monday May 14, 8 p.m. Bromley Public Hall, Bow Road, E3. WANDSWORTH: Monday May 14, 8 p.m. Kings Arms, High Street, SW18. WATFORD: Monday May 14, 8 p.m. Watford Trade Union Hall, near Watford Junction Station.

'Stalinism and the struggle to defend democratic rights.'

PADDINGTON: Tuesday May 15, 8 p.m. 'Prince of Wales,' Harrow Road, corner Gt Western Road, 'Marxism and the Trade Unions.

TOOTING: Tuesday May 15, 8 Baths, Tooting Tooting p.m. Broadway, SW17. Build the Revolutionary Party! SLOUGH: Wednesday May 16, 8 Farn- p.m. Community Centre, 'Forward ham Road. to the Revolutionary Party'

LETTE

It was just that Jack Gale have did not to travel far afield to find a country with such suppressive laws —there his doorstep, : was one on namely Ireland. I believe that it would be doing the working class in ungland, Scotland and Wales good if you were to a lot of inform them of the laws that their masters have set up in Ireland, namely the Special Powers. I don't think that our com- rades in England know what these evil laws entail. Today in this land of ours the working class are being sovereignty'. Coming from the Israelis, this is rich in irony.

They have quite blatantly and on numerous occasions violated Lebanese sovereignty-the last time when they sent a murder squad to Beirut in the confi- dence that the Lebanese army would stand by and watch • them murder Palestinian leaders.

This cowardly massacre was hailed by 'Haaretz' among other papers which now feign concern for Lebanon's sovereignty.

The Lebanese capitalist gov- ernment wants to smash the Palestinian movement because it hopes in this way to ensure peaceful co-existence with Israel.

The shameful price of such a is per- very doubtful 'peace' manent subservience to Zionism and a mountain of Palestinian dead. army rule. The military, as shown by its imposition of martial law, part of 1972. Revaluation of the Deutsche- mark has already hit exports and an attempt is now being made to arrest further price increases.

Other European countries will no doubt follow suit, bringing economic slowdown un- employment. SOUTHALL: Wednesday May 16, 8 p.m. Southall Library, Osterley Park 'Stalinism Road. and the struggle to defend democratic rights.'

WALTHAMSTOW:

Wednesday May 16, 8 p.m. 'The Crooked Billet, North Circular Road. 'Force the Tories to resign.'

WEMBLEY: Wednesday May 16, Copland School, High 8 p.m. Road. 'Stalinism and the struggle to defend democratic rights.

WOOLWICH: Wednesday May 16, 8 p.m. The Castle, Powis Street, SE18. 'Stalinism and the struggle to defend democratic rights.

BASILDON: Thursday May 17, 8 Barnstaple Community p.m. Centre. 'Stalinism and the strug- gle to defend democratic rights.' CROYDON: Thursday May 17, 8 Ruskin House, Coombe p.m. Road, Croydon. 'Forward to the Revolutionary Party.' FELTHAM: Thursday May 17, 8 "Three Horse Shoes, Felt- p.m. ham High Street. 'Stalinism and the struggle to defend demo- cratic rights. • . . Workers Press,

ETTER

shot down in the streets, homes ransacked, are being men, and boys are being women without trial and imprisoned I don't have to elaborate on • the famous torture centres of Hollywood and Girdwood. All these evils are being per- petrated by men using Special Powers. I could fill a book with what these powers cover, but the main point is that every suppressive law in Brazil is well covered in the Acts. I can only hope that the English, Scots and Welsh workers are not too naïve to think that their Tory masters

MAY FUND

NOW

• STANDS

AT £96.96 YESTERDAY'S post brought £76.46 making our total now {96.96. Let's keep it up and try and raise a record amount this month. It is going to be a tough struggle. On top of our Monthly Appeal Fund we are asking you all, dear readers, to help us also raise, by the end of May, the first stage of our £100,000 Party Development Fund. sure we can do it. We are Never before has there been such a need for an alternative revolutionary leadership through- out the labour and trade union movement. And only Workers Press gives this lead. So help us in every way you can. Show the enormous fighting spirit needed for this exceptional effort this month. Raise all you can and post immediately to: Workers Press May Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG wants a crack-down on urban guerrilla activities. The urban guerrilla group, 'The People's Revolutionary Army', which claims responsibility for Monday's assassination, has not needed the junta's order to re- lease all kidnap victims held.

Newly-elected deputies and senators met yesterday for the first time in seven years of mili- rule. They will not be able tary to initiate any legislation until after the inauguration • of Cam- pora later this month. All Trades Unions Allian OLLERTON: Monday May Blue Tit. 7, 8 p.m. Speaker: Mike Banda (SLL Central Committee).

CASTLEFORD:

May 17; 8 p.m. Rooms. Speaker: G. Healy Secretary SLL). Workers Press, Friday May 4, 1973 PAGE 11 won't use these tactics to sup- press them Hear nature In fact, it is well known here that the generals of the British have al illy slalco their troops coo• oracuce …Tor in case the workers in England Scotland and Wales get out of hand. can only hope that the working class of England, Scotland and Wales will for demo- ano lake cracy before it is their blood down the streets. running Yours in the fight, and number cage number attached.) We will reply to this letter tomorrow, Ed.

SOCIALIST

LABOUR

LEAGUE

MEETINGS

After May Day - What Next? Liverpool

SUNDAY MAY 6

7.30 p.m. Mona Hotel James Street (Near tube station) Central London All Trades Unions Alliance

TRADE UNIONS AND THE

TORY GOVERNMENT

Sunday May 6 7.30 p.m. Shaftesbury Hotel Monmouth Street Speakers: Gerry Healy National Secretary Socialist Labour League Stuart Hood (ACTT in a personal capacity)

CIRCULATION

01-622 7029 Rest ere Published aper worker Ni-wEd 7029. All Trades Unions Alliance Public Meetings What next after the BARNSLEY: Thursday May Maker Politt Masons • Arms Speaker: Slaughter (SLL Central Committee). Sagar st 8 p.m. Sagar

ELECTRICIANS COMMIT UNION TO FIGHT STATE PAY LAWS

BIG DEFEAT FOR

STALINISTS SANCTIONED TALKS

PAGE 12 Workers Prezs, Friday May 4, 1

FROM IAN YEATS IN DOUG

A rebellion against the right- Electrical and Plumbing Trac shattering defeat for the execut • Despite pleas from general secret commit the union to step up its of union laws, all but a handful of t do so. First signs that the biennial conference would refuse to accept the executive's dictates without murmur came on Wednesday, when right and left-wing delegates handed in a petition with 140 signatures demanding a date be fixed for election of a general the secretary. Chapple has held the offices of both general secretary and presi dent since the death of vehement anti-communist Sir Leslie Cannon in 1970. Yesterday conference was given no hint that the executive had received the petition. But executive individual members privately doubted the document, with 'so few' signatures, would be raised at all. Chapple has already said he is considering an announcement be- fore conference ends, and a state- ment is expected on Friday.

The petition was sponsored by Catholic Action supporter, Jersey delegate Jock McCain, and signed by a number of left-wingers.

Yesterday Chapple launched a predictable but bitter attack on the Communist Party members and their supporters, who prac- tically for the first time in the four-day conference marched to the rostrum one after another to speak in the debate on the Indus- trial Relations Act. He said: 'Our history has been one of exposing bad laws and making laws. It is not legislation in itself that is bad, but the type of legislation. We should try to work • within legislation and improve it. He warned: 'We are not here to overthrow a democratically elected government in Britain. There are some who really want to overthrow the democratic system. They will be as opposed to the Labour government, which we have not yet got, as they are to the Tories.' Chapple said speakers who branded supporters of the demo- cratic process as backers of re- gimes such as those in Spain and South Africa should remember that trade unions were not free countries communist like Russia, Czechoslovakia and China.

He said: 'It does not make any difference whether we are put in jail by Brezhnev or Heath.

Chapple called 'blind opposi- tion, the anti-union laws to 'hysterical', and claimed the Act had its good parts. He added: 'No one would deny its clauses need to be some of repealed! He concluded: If the trade to re- union movement wants main a power in our society, and ensure a rise in living standards, raised old age pensions and sus- tained employment, it must work industry to achieve higher with productivity-assuming of course we can have a say.? Only four of the 30 resolutions on the Act survived compositing.

Chapple's attempts to get all the resolutions remitted to the executive for them to deal with as they saw fit was defeated by 291 votes to 205. calling A resolution for a secret ballot of electricians on the Act, and upon the executive to improve its worst to work aspects, was thrown out by 260 votes to 227. Another resolution instructing the executive to urge the TUC to mobilize the whole trade union movement in defence of unions threatened under the Act was carried by 268 votes to 235.

y May 4, 1973 IN DOUGLAS, Isle of Man e right-wing leadership of the ng Trades Union ended in a executive yesterday. ral secretary Frank Chapple not to up its opposition to the Tory anti- dful of the 650 delegates voted to Delegates leavin Chapple twice called for tellers, and made it clear that in the interests of union unity either all the resolutions would be re- mitted or he would urge con- ference to vote for them all.

Main motion The major resolution on the 'This conference re- Act said: affirms the 1971 policy conference decision of deregistration, and calls upon the executive commit- tee to join in the fight for a stronger and more united TUC the Act. policy to defeat 'Conference calls on the Par- liamentary Labour Party to repeal

FROM PAGE 1

That round of talks was SO blatant that even the 'Morning Star' had to call on October 28 for them to be broken off-but the Stalinist paper reassured its readers 'a deal seems unlikely.

On November 1 the 'Morning Star' declared that talks could not continue unless the unions backed down on resistance to holding down pay. That laws couldn't happen, we were told, because of the opposition led by Hugh Scanlon. The 'Star' again tried to lull the working class into dangerous complacency on November 4 by stating that Heath had 'failed to trap the TUC leaders'. He had set-back' 'suffered another and his 'attempt to get the TUC to act as pay restraint policeman had come unstuck'. Only two days before, Workers Press had exclusively blown the lid Buckingham secret Palace talks with CBI leaders of Edinburgh and the Duke attended by Feather, Jones, Smith, Alf Scanion, George Alan Fisher and Frank• Allen, Chapple! On November 7 the 'Star' said that the state pay laws (referred to as a 'pay-freeze') were 'a con- fidence trick and a confession of failure' On November 8 the TUC economic committee voted to tes leaving the EPTU conference in Douglas, ' this law when • it becomes the government, and to pledge that no Labour government will inter- fere with any of the hard-won rights of the trade union move- ment.' Proposing, ex-CPer Jim Atkin- son, from west London, said: 'This union must get together with the TUC to build unity and bring maximum pressure on the Tory government to repeal this Act. 'We want this Act repealed, and we want a pledge from the next Labour government that they won't interfere with the In. a trade union movement. society where all the cards are stacked in favour of the em- ployers we need a free trade • is the union movement which break off the talks as long as what they called the 'freeze' con- tinued. The 'Morning Star' reported this, and the Labourites' contri- butions in the parliamentary debate on the state control of 'Hot blast at the wages, as a Heath Freeze'. What the 'Star' did not report -but Workers Press did was Feather's statement that: 'We shall judge the circum- stances in relation to the stand- still in the light of any changed....

atmosphere or new development.'

On November 22 Feather was saying that he 'had not slammed the door' on further talks and that the unions 'had no choice' but to accept the 'freeze' On January 16 this year Feather announced that the TUC was 'not seeking a confrontation with the government or the em- ployers' and that 'eventually, and probably quite shall soon, we need to talk again'. On the morning of February 14, the TUC received a sum- mons from Heath and promptly trooped into Downing Street that same afternoon to be told 'no chance' that there was of the government giving in to pay demands. the Morning At that time Star' was enthusiastic about the decision to hold a special con- ference of the TUC on March 5.

Douglas, Isle of Man. only defence workers have Mr Atkinson, in common with almost other speaker every against the Act, claimed the massive spontaneous opposition of the working class, as in the Five, case of the Pentonville had made it a 'dead letter'.

Repeal move Now the movement must work to have it repealed. backed the executive's call to tes delegates crease liaison with trade unions in the Common Market-parti- cularly in view of the growth of multinational companies. This was presented as a great step forward-and the fact that the decision was taken at the same meeting which decided to go yet again to Downing Street was completely played down.

Only the Socialist Labour League, the All Trades Unions Alliance and the Young Social- ists raised the demand for an in- definite General Strike to force the Tories to resign. The ATUA mounted a 1,000-strong lobby of the March 5 conference to press that demand. The Stalinists' Liaison Com- mittee for the Defence of Trade Unions was hardly to be seen.

While the Stalinists falsely claimed that the one-day strike was the first stage of a plan to defeat the state pay laws, Work- Press pointed that no ers out such campaign was being organ- ized by the TUC. We have been proved right.

We supported the one-day strike, was in- but warned that it The Stalinists were adequate. determined to hold back the working class within the limits laid down by the official union leaders. At the National Union of Teachers' conference, where the leadership opposed even limited May 1 action, the Stalin- ists voted with them! Now the 'Morning Star' pro- fesses horror and shock at the

EPTU

and Below: secretary president-elect Frank Chapple. report that the TUC is engag- ing in even more sell-out talks.

But the grounds were pre- Stalinists. pared by the While Bert Ramelson, John Gollan and George Matthews were assuring their followers that the TUC, especially the 'lefts', were putting up a real fight—this is what was actually being planned behind the scenes. Without the support of Com- munist Party members in lead- ing positions in some unions, the union leaders would have been unable to proceed so smoothly on the path of class collabora- tion. The Stalinists assist that policy and deliberately keep the truth from their followers because "peaceful co- their theory of existence' "parliamentary and to socialism' involves roads boss and capitulation to collaboration with the right wing.

We say the Stalinists are hand in glove with Feather, Jones, Scanlon and company and are involved in their treachery up to their necks. This shows how urgent is the task which the Socialist Labour League has set itself—to trans- form itself into the revolutionary party. One of the central tasks of that party will be to drive the of all varieties, right- traitors wing, 'lefts' and Stalinists from the leadership of the unions.