Workers Press no. 686

workers press

MINERS' PAY TALKS

BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

THE BATTLE for Saltley depot, Birming- ham, ended yesterday in total victory for the miners. Several hundred of them were joined by 20,000 of the city's engineers in a massive picket outside gates of the gas board's coke depot. A huge police contingent was waiting. They took one look at the determination and size the pickets...and called it a day. At 10.44 a.m., as the crowd surged forward, the police closed and padlocked the depot gates. Yorkshire Arthur Scargill, NUM executive member, told the cheering crowd: With the solid- arity of the trade union move- we have achieved our aim. down in •British trade union history.'

Since Monday, Saltley depot has scene of angry been the clashes between and pickets police. At least 60 men have been arrested and several have injured by been scab lorries crashing through their lines. On Tuesday a police inspector had both legs run over by a lorry.

Yesterday's demonstration • fol- lowed a one-day strike call by Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers' E Birming- ham district committee. About 50,000 men are thought to have taken the day off from the big British-Leyland plant at Longbridge, Salisbury Transmissions, branch GKN, Joseph Lucas and Dunlop's.

When they massed outside the depot there were shouts of "Heath out' and "Close the gates'. Cannock Chase district NUM treasurer John Stuart com- mented: I feel proud to be a member of the trade union move- ment. It was a mass demonstra- tion solidarity behind the miners. I hope it unites the whole rank and file of the trade union movement behind the miners' case. "The TUC should take the lead from the rank and file and see that the miners get a just settlement. "The longer the strike goes on the higher will be our price for a return. The determination of the men will increase.' Jim Haddon, E Birmingham

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11, 1972• No. 686 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

BY ALEX MITCHELL

THE TORY government is becoming increasin prospect of class confrontation over the miners V FOR VICTORY: Birmingham massive demonstration in Birmingham, when engi trade unionists showed their pickets to force the closure of the Saltley coke de solidarity by turning their up in mousales lo cose me salte of the solidarity being forged in the working class coal depot. Another picture p. 4.

SALTLEY

AUEW district committee mem- 'And they would let this lot same in London. Thousands out ber, said: It wants to be like be picked off if they had their to lobby MPs. that all over and way. The

TUC

should stop 'We will stay till country, on strike get this government out. feathering Ted Heath his and organize solt els down This action. strike ana knees *They soon shut the gates this can be won. We've suffered five moron. The attitude of the police That's solidarity action. in the TUC who hand-in-glove with the Tories.

"please: it hasn't been Loday Was Joe Morris, Tony's father, said like that before today. Tony Morris, miner from •We would have settled for £5 Rugeley, Staffordshire, said: 'We It's time the TUC started before the strike. But not now have had a pledge from one implementing its constitution, It's t9 or nothing. factory that it they the re-open Clause 8. pet, said: This shand Barnsley area Dare culary LOaT (Friday) 5,000 back up unions in a fight.

They tomorrow miner, said: happen sale will be here. let the postal workers and all the over the country The latest power workers be picked off.

What we want now is the *IT

WAS

wonderful! settled their Gordon for now if it said Roy Brownsford, Vaughan, wasn't the

CUR

SUIC

lodge imposed Nor- venor, told our reporter secretary weve been Drowpeater quice ines •We came first of all ton after it for years and now the so vertment. statord- shire after all "This trade to victory for unionists the over. give physical support to miners is crucial for the *This solidarity shows *Threats to close the whole trade union move- our broiners nere WhO pits don't frighten us have been hard pressed ment. The eyes of all (naT The workine cass beat anybody if it anymore. They can close last few days. have been sticks if they together. bloody lot for all couldn't allow this focused on don't settle quickly now works over the last few We care. police General the men from trade unionists about days. What have therel Strike. That's what we Pressed Steel Fisher like this. done really need marched now, away from the But this is a political complete victory for the General Strike to fight as well. This trade union

OUSE

devor win ine cneers or Organized this Tory government. the miners ringing pute could have been movement.' creasingly alarmed by the niners' strike. Yesterday's en engineers joined miners' oke depot, is just a sample g class. Late yesterday pay talks in London between the miners and the Coal Board broke irrevocably and the down government ordered a court of inquiry. Coal Board chairman Derek Ezra said the minimum terms sought by the miners repre- sented a 25 per cent increase totally beyond the and were reach of the Board. To end the strike the NUM is demanding £7 a week for under- ground workers, E6 for surface workers and corresponding in- creases for face workers.

But it would be wrong to think that the Tories are not using every available trick and device to play on the weak- nesses in the NUM leadership.

The first stage of this wheeling and dealing could be seen in the 'new offers' so-called which came into prominence in the past 48 hours. Then there was yesterday's unanimous decision by the NUM's executive to reject the new offer. On the face of it, the decision was militant—a slap in the face to Ezra and company.

But only three hours after taking this decision miners' leaders Joe Gormley and Syd Schofield went to Carr's Depart- ment of Employment to start further talks. Why? Because the govern- ment and the NCB are plan- ning a 'package' deal covering wages for miners during the next 18 months or two years.

This is the reason for the inquiry. This 'package' be can expected to contain the usual productivity strings which right- wing trade union leaders are so willing to sign these days. Thus the dangers are clear - on the eve of the greatest shows of solidarity and militancy for the miners, the conspiracy is being hatched to snatch away wage justice. Miners must insist that there should be no settlement except on the basis of the original demand. The mass class action in Birmingham yesterday must be the signpost for today and every successive day of this Tory attack on the miners. Foreign News 2 Unemployment in the 1930s 4 Discussion on ATUA Manifesto 5 What happened to James Larkin 8 TV programmes 11

workers press INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11, 1972 • No. 686 € • 4p

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

DAILY ORGAN OF THE

MINERS PAY TALKS

COLLAPSE

SALTLEY

BATTLE

BY ALEX MITCHELL

IS THE TORY government is becoming increasingly alarmed by the prospect of class confrontation over the miners' strike. Yesterday's massive demonstration in Birmingham, when engineers joined miners' V FOR VICTORY: Birmingham trade unlonists showed their pickets to force the closure of the Saltley coke depot, is just a sample solidarity by 'turning up In their

WON

Saltiey of the solidarity being forged in the working class.

coal depot. Another picture p. 4. Late yesterday pay talks in London between miners Coal Board broke the

BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

down "irrevocably" and the government ordered a court of

THE BATTLE

for inquiry. Birming Coal Board Derek Saltley depot, chairman Ezra said the minimum terms ham, ended yesterday in sought by the miners a 25 sented per increase total victory for the 'totally were beyond mhters. reach of the Board'. Io end the strike the NUM is Several hundred of them demanding f7 a week Ior under- were joined by 20,000 of the round workers. Sunaco workers and corresponding in- city's engineers in a massive for face workers. creases of the picket outside gates would But to Wrole gas board's coke depot. think are That The Tomes

MOT

SALTLEY

every available trick and using A huge police contingent was device the weak. waiting. They took look one leadershit the determination size this wheeling and stage

COT

pickets... and and dealing could be seen in the day. so-called 'new offers' which came into prominence in the past At 10.44 a.m., The 48 hours. surged forward, the police closed Then there was yesterday's and padlocked the depot gates. decision by

LIIC

NUM's Scargill, Yorkshire reject Arthur executive • The new offer. On the face of it, the NUM executive member. told the decision militant- -a slap in was cheering crowd: with the sold- arity of the trade move- the face to Ezra and company achieved hours after ment, ThiS have our oUt only three taking this decision miners alll WIll aown leaders and Syd Joe Gormley British trade union history.'

Schofield went to Carr's Depart- Monday, Saltley depot Since ment Employment to start has been the scene further talks. angry clashes between least Dickets and Why? Because the govern- police. At have and the

NCB

are plan-

WCHI

veen arresteo ano several nave package dear coverin: been injured by scab lorries for miners during crashing through their lines. On next 18 months or two years. 1 ucoudy a This for is the both legs run over by a lorry.

inquiry. to be like Watts he nicken oT expected to conta. lowed a one-day contain the usual productivity strings which right- wing trade union leaders are willing to sign these days. Thus nam alstrict committee. the dangers are clear • on the About men are of eve thought to have shows al caleol solidarity ana millancy IOr …The oft trom the big British-Levand the conspiracy is being miners, said: ' We Plant hatched to snatch away Transmissions wasc justice. val ticulally Darnsiey area Miners must insist that there When back up unions in a nght. should be no settlement except wil de sere. the depot the basis the original Heath ofter is tantamount to an insult.'

demand. gates. The mass class action Cannock Chase district NUM

WONDERFUL SOLIDARITY

Birmingham must treasurer John Stuart Com- I feel proud to be menteod successive member of the trade union move- attack on the miners. ment. It was a mass

WAS

demonstra- 'IT wonderful!' "The working class is their Gordon settled by it ears, 100 I fed ve beet the said Roy Brownsford with the Tories. Yaughan,

AUEW

wasn't Denino.

INSDE

miners. I hope it unites the whole lodge venor, told our reporter: cuidentes rank and file of the trade union movement behind the mineis Cast. "The TUC should take the lead Foreign News 2 from the rank and and Unemployment in the see worklue cass alenten lhe that miners

JUS

1930s settlement. Discussion on ATUA knock "The longer the strike goes on Manifesto 5 The the higher will be our price return. The determination What happened to he men will increase.' James Larkin O areo Jim Haddon, E Birmingham TV programmes 11 uls lory government.

PAGE 2 Workers Prees, Friday February 1

AROUND THE WORLD

THE NIXON administra- formally tion has requested Congress to approve the devaluation of the dollar by 7.89 per cent and promised fur- ther trade talks with Japan and the Common Market. The Gold Bill, introduced Congress by Treasury to Connally, Secretary John raises the official gold price from $35 to $38 an ounce.

The Administration agreed almost two months ago to put the Bill before Congress, but made it conditional on trade conces- sions from the other major capi- talist countries. Connally said an agreerent had been reached with Japan to UNLESS a start is made towards economic and mone- tary union the Common Mar- ket will disintegrate, warned rop monetary expert Raymond •arre on the eve of vital * ranco-German talks. Barre, vice-President of the : xecutive Commission in charge : ¡ economic and financial affairs, wAs speaking to the European rarliament at Strasbourg.

proposals Commission to reduce the margin of fluctuation between Common Market curren- blocked cies have been since the international last May by monetary crisis. The French are known to fav- our a reduction of the margin from the present 4} to 25 per cent. Barre claims that 2 per cent is the maximum compatible price with the EEC's agricultural policy. this month Earlier Barre declared that member countries should not use fluctuations in exchange rates as a substitute for customs barriers. Like other experts, he is seri- musly worried at the threat to stability European monetary represented by the huge volume of Eurodollars and other float- ing capital. In addition to a smaller mar- gin for currency fluctuations, the French want control over specu- lative capital movements and co- ordinated action by the central banks. clearly These measures are aimed at the United States but are unlikely to become effective • if the Common Market -even members are able to come to an agreement before speculation against the dollar brings another monetary crisis.

PAN AM

PARITY FIGHT

THE SVEN-day-old work-to- • overtime ban by Pan rule anc at Heathrow airport Am st*• conti. yesterday. On Wednes- .ers rejected the man- day r.. agemen!, latest pay offer for an to industrial staff and extra 85 to clerical staff. up. • i Am staff claim that lem do not have parity ma: and BOAC workers Wit if living pay awards in OV ear. February 11, 1872 lower certain trade barriers to particularly US exports, those affecting agricultural trade. 'Sub- agreements have also stantive been reached with the European final Community, subject to approval by its council,' he said.

But no trade agreements had been reached with Canada, though there were plans for talks fact the US to continue. In government is still deeply dis- satisfied with the results of its talks with the Common Market, and Connally himself is believed to be planning another ruthless assault on the European employ- .

ers' entrenched trade positions.

The agreements with the Com- mon Market and Japan amount to little more than commit- ment to negotiate seriously next year. An influential section of US big business wants to attach pro- tectionist measures to the Bill on its way through Congress.

Connally tried to dissuade

POMPIDOU

EARLY POLL

CERTAIN

IN ITALY

ITALY faces a General Elec- following an abortive tion last-ditch attempt to patch up the centre-left coalition. Sepa- rate meetings of the coalition being parties are held to decide on the next step follow- ing the inability of Christian Democrat Giulio Andreotti to form a government. In the absence of a last-minute compromise, a provisional gov- ernment is likely to be set up organize elections year to ahead of time. Even a provisional government will be difficult to form, owing to the deep differences between the coalition partners over economic policy to deal with Italy's deep depression and the proposed divorce law retorm. Fascists in Milan made bomb attacks on the offices of the Com- munist Party daily paper 'L'Unita' and two monuments to partisan Wednesday night. dead on was injured in the print man shop. Arrangements for visit OK PREPARATIONS for President Nixon's visit to Peking are go- ing ahead 'just fine', said spokes- man for the 70-strong American advance party. He declined to when asked whether comment there would be a mass turnout when the President arrived at the airport. When told that the American be telephoned party could not from Peking and that the guards on their hotel refused entry to all except the official group, he expressed surprise. His group capital in driven about the Chinese limousines with armed escorts. them in his speech, pointing out that the Bill was essential to "better balanced international economic relationships and to international monetary stability'.

Wright Patman, chairman of the House Banking Committee, similar made a statement. said: "This legislation is needed to deal with the trade problems which have developed under the Nixon administration would anticipate that Congress would give expeditious treatment to this request.' Though the US is raising the no plans gold price, there are the sale of gold on to resume the official market. This means the dollar will • continue to be inconvertible and the main source of international remain. crisis will monetary There is no way out of this crisis by negotiation or legisla- tion and it is clear from reports Connally's trade war plans of that he knows this.

BRANDT

BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

AMERICAN air power in sharply increased as President Peking visit. The biggest aerial a year has been launched again tion Front and the N Vietname Three aircraft carriers are now operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, which is usually patrolled by a carrier. Another aircraft single carrier is standing by in Califor- waters awaiting orders to nian leave for Vietnam. At the same giant B-52 time, more are on their way to bombers Indo-China. Yesterday the US air force mounted its heaviest bombing raid on a single target for more than a year. B-52s fiew six mis- sions round the clock against a concentration of NLF and Vietnamese troops 26 miles from the coastal city of Da Nang.

Fighter bombers yesterday flew more than 80 strikes against targets in the Central Highlands and the provinces S of Saigon.

These were the biggest fighter- bomber raids since August last year. The Americans claim the liber- ation forces preparing are a major offensive on the eve of Nixon's Peking trip. They hope to bomb the NLF into accept- ing whatever deal is cooked up between Nixon and the Chinese Stalinists in Peking. FACED with a rising tide of African revolt, Rhode- sian Prime Minister Ian Smith yesterday launched a strong attack on the African National Council which, he said, was be- hind the violence which broke out last month. He was speaking at a press conference called to answer the charge that the arrest of ANC leaders was blocking free debate on the Anglo- Rhodesian settlement propo- sals during the Pearce Com- mission's visit. He claimed that it was re- from banned ceiving funds. organizations abroad. His govern- a dossier ment had built which, he said, 'consists of a formidable array of evidence that there is a tremendous amount of intimidation' Smith said that the dossier would be submitted to Pearce Commission. With typical disregard for the he claimed that Afri- evidence, cans would accept the settlement terms but for the violence which he accused the ANC of foment- ing. Indo-China has been esident Nixon prepares for his it aerial offensive for more than ed against the National Libera- ietnamese.

STUDENTS

LOCKED OUT

STUDENT demonstrations and boycott of lectures in support of 4,000 Madrid university medical students who have been sus- pended from their studies have • led to the closure of faculties in six Spanish universities affecting than 150,000 under- more graduates. The medical students refused to end their boycott of lectures against a new educational law forcing them to do an additional year of unpaid internship at a government - designated clinic.

The students also want more re- presentation in university affairs.

Education Minister Villar Palasi and university rectors have launched a campaign against 'the subversive forces who are using academic problems for their own destructive ends'.

TORIES

MANHANDLE

PICKETS

PARLIAMENT

this IN Secretary week Home Reginald Maudling has re- peatedly denied any re- sponsibility for the police miners' attacks on pickets. le told the Commons or Nednesday: It is not for ne, as Home Secretary, the to interfere with police in carrying out the law. It is not for the government to order chief constables Maudling is attempting to do Pontius Pilate. a He's trying to tell us that the large-scale arrests, the roughing up of pickets by 'heavy mobs' is all an ac- cident. To give the lie to Maud- ling's statement, *we would like to quote from the 'City Press', the ultra- respectable newspaper in the City of London. In a front-page lead story yesterday, the paper said: 'How desperate the government are, is clear from their declaring State of Emergency. In addition, very strong in- structions have been sent by the Home Office to chief constables of local police forces that lorries must be allowed to enter coal dumps and power stations, even if it means violent confrontation and between the police the miners' pickets.' The brutality of police to- wards pickets makes clear that such a policy is in operation. Is Maudling saying that he, Home Secretary, as doesn't know that his own Home Office has sent such a directive? Come off it, Maudling! CZECHOSLOVAKIA has just thrown out communist a of journalist, former victim •and concentration Mussolini camp prisoner Ferdi Zidar of the Italian CP organ 'L'Unita' While the paper has vigour- ously denounced the measure, it as heen less than honest in its reporting of the cases of other journalists who have Italian fallen foul of the Czech govern- ment. It has not reported the denials of Dubcek-supporter Jiri Pelikan -now living in exile in Rome , Vittorio that Catholic newsman Ochetto was his go-between with the Czech opposition. Ochetto has been held in a Prague jail for over a month.

Nor has it reported upon or against protested recent arrests of intellectuals and workers opposed to the present in- Czech government. These clude the of frame-up sons victims Rudolph Slansky and Jan Sling.

TREMENDOUS T&GWU HOSPITALITY

DAY FIVE-Thornhill. WE MARCHED into Tory territory today along the Nith valley, but the reception at the ena of the day was equal to that of Kilmarnock. The hospitality this time came from the Transport and General Workers' Union branch at Dumfries. They put us up in the Kirk- patrick sausage factory. We have an excellent warm hall and the use of the works canteen—so we've just sat down to the best meal of the march. Tomorrow —wait for it—we get a whole roasted sheep. As usual the generosity came qui AT RENTON in the the Vale of Leven Labour Exchange has given up trying to place 'buroo' is Instead the i festooned with adverts for the army and navy. The clerk behind the desk signs the form and passes it over to the assistant who pays out the money. If the young worker inquires the bureaucratic about a finger points to the Technicolor posters inviting teenagers to join Her Majesty's forces.

Fortunately most of the Ren- to do ton youth want nothing with the services. Most think like Jim Lundy (17) one of the squad of Renton boys on the march.

'I told them I wasn't going to go over to Ulster to get a bullet in my back for the Tories.

Archie Thomson (17) tells another story. He went to sign up in the 'glamour' regiment, 'the Argyles'. 'A year and a half ago I went They tested me out and along. said I was fit, then they found I had a record for assault. They «We said, train killers not re cruit them". That was enough. I want no part of the army now and the N Ireland situation proves it.' Archie, Jim and their mates John Young (16) and Pat Cal- laghan (17) are part of the team responsible for selling the papers and collecting money on the march. They scatter before and the column as it passes after and villages through the towns and appeal to workers to help the fight against the Tory govern- ment. I talked to them about the place where they live. is anestate that Renton masquerades as a community. For the young, life means hanging around a street corner and dodg- ing the police, who have launched an unremitting campaign of harassment. Andy told me of one incident which he says is typical.

'One night I coming was home from the youth club. I for- got something and decided to go Two cops came and said "Which are you going?" way I told them I was going to the open-handed from the working class—surrounded as they are by acres of reactionary Dumtries- shire. "There're no thanks necessary, said the local T&GWU official 'You'll need Mr Tremble. that sheep to get you past all the between here and Car- lisle.' Even in this far area, away from the main jobless blackspots in Scotland, unemployment is at record levels. In the town of Dumfries 3,000 out of a total population 30,000, are unemployed-that's a rate of about 10 per cent.

Farther up the road at San- quhar (a Royal Borough and Always out pacing the column betwee who sell Workers Press as they reach eac youth club would "lif», and they said they me if I did. I came out of the club and went for some chips. Then they moved in. One pulled my hair and made me pick up a chip and then they took me in for breach of the peace' Archie tells another story of apparent injustice. He was up on a similar charge as Andy. The JP asked if he would plead 'not guilty'. Archie said he would. 'He said I was just wasting the court's time and sent me down to Barlinnie jail for four days to Then they charged await trial. me and found me guilty.' Almost all the lads have been out of work for six months.

When they had jobs it was slave labour. Archie and John worked on local farms. Farm worker they call it.

Farm slave I call it. I got £8 for six days a week. The work was Scrambling around the rotten. field shifting the rocks in the snow easter, to make the ploughing Two of the other lads worked in a local wool factory. They tried to get union a going, but the management stamped on the idea. The firm pays good money by the low

WE DEMAND

THE

RIGHT

10

MORK

another Tory dole queues are stronghold) the even longer. an ex-mine- John Plannigan, workers' union official, and an independent socialist councillor, some of the marchers that told the jobless totals had rocketed.

ago they closed 'Four years the Fallhead pit. That was 1,200 down the road and in 1964 the Gateshead mine was shut down —another 300.' The victims of these purges stood around on the 'quaint' streets of the town and watched the march pass through.

jobless rate The 18 per which even beats cent, most towns in that province ravaged by unemployment—N Ireland.

This figure is despite efforts to

WE D

in between towns are the Renton boys reach each town standards of the Vale, but the is relentless and back- work breaking. morning to night. is to recruit young workers for a short time then throw them out.

If a 19-year-old is working and a 16-year-old comes in who is stronger, the older boy gets kicked out,' said Pat. All these things make these lads march. They all want a better life free from the contin- of the law and pressure especially the 'Rookies'—new plain clothes police who are purging the area because of the outcry over 'vandalism'. You'd call them a rough and ready bunch, but they are al- ways out there pacing the column between the towns. Already their experiences have made a big impression. John spoke for them all, when he paid tribute to the workers who have helped us along the way. 'The reception at Kilmarnock and the welcome we got there in Thornhill was really tremen- dous. It makes us keep going de- spite the problems and the diffi- culties. I think if these kind of workers could only get together in a movement we could get the Tories out.' Workers Press, Friday February 11, 1972 PAGE 3

GLASGOW

KILMARNOCK

CUMNOCK

SANQUHAR

THORNHILL

CASTLE

AN NAN

DUMFRIES

CARLISLE

get jobs.. Six new factories have speedyat the landintee rise a ong We passed way-the land, the river and come into the area. two of them on the way in.

belong to the Duke valley Hamilton. One was penned off with Brock's fireworks The selling team has just come barbed wire But the workers came out the I plant. into canteen where am all the same-all writing. It of the greet us seems many women and young girls (so much inhabitants of Tory Thornhill are for the Workers Press. new jobs). not keen on After that it That doesn't bother the march- was open coun- -and some of the best I have there're try- ten socialists in ers, ever seen—all the way to Thorn- Scotland to every Tory now. The hill. from New Cumnock, results We followed the river Nith. where welcomed into we were The two the working men's club, prove it.

young miners we recruited at Cumnock told me it The miners there have ordered for fish of 50 of the paper each day. a good was stream copies Tomorrow we are in Dumfries and trout) but not, (salmon -three days away from our 12 for the working-class course, man-the 'keep-off hours' rest at Carlisle. notices were

RIGHT

ASGOI

Feb- Make the Tory resizny kovernment SW LONDON: Tuesday 8 p.m. Small Hall, ruary 15, Clapham Manor Clap- ham Manor St, SW4. Return a Labour government miners and Ulster workers.'

pledged to restore full employ- and repeal ment all laws ACTON: Wednesday February against the unions! 16, 'Mechanics Arms', p.m. Churchfield Rd. 'Support W3. Feb- WILLESDEN: Monday miners and Ulster workers.'

8 p.m. and Labour Hall, High Rd, NW10. LUTON: Thursday February Unemployment and the capital- Recreation Centre, ist crisis. Rd. World economic crisis.

SOUTHALL:

Tuesday Febru- ary 15, 8 p.m. Indian Workers SE

LONDON:

Association, Featherstone February 17, Rd 'Victory to the miners'.

New Cross Stn). 'Support ALONDON; Tuesday, Feb- miners and Ulster workers.'

•Prince ruary p.m. Albert' N LONDON: Thursday Feb- York Way, Kings Cross Edmonton. Reto Tow Town Hall, and Ulster port miners Edmonton. and workers' trade unions. Socialist Labour League Special lecture Common Hall, Hackin's Hay (off Dale St) LIVERPOOL, 8 p.m. Tuesday February 15 given by C. Slaughter (SLL Central Committee)

PAGE 4, Workers Press, Friday February 1

THE FIGHTAGAINST

UNEMPLOYMENT

BY JACK GALE

PART 31

What did happen in 1931? In 1929 the Labour Party was returned as a minority government, allowed to sur- vive only by the courtesy of the Tories and Liberals, in time to meet the full effects of the collapse of the boom in the United States. In June 1930, unemployment in Britain stood at 1,122,000. By January 1930 it was over million, by April it was by mid-summer over 1,700,000, 2 million, and by the end of the it had soared to well over year 2} million. Feeble efforts were made to set up a Ministerial board to co-ordinate employment schemes under J. H. Thomas (one of the members was Oswald Mosley), MacDonald already but was appealing for support from the other parties. In june 1930 he proposed a conference of leaders of the three The Conservatives re- parties. but the Liberals agreed, fused, and regular discussions between Labour and Liberal leaders took place from then on. however, Such manoeuvres, were powerless to prevent the rapidly deepening crisis of world capitalism and the growing lack of confidence in British capital- increasing ism. There was an withdrawal of funds from London, louder and accompanied by louder demands, both in Britain abroad, for reductions and national expenditure — especially in the cost of payments to the unemployed. Winston Churchill, for in- stance, condemned 'paying for the longest time, in the loosest fashion, the largest doles to the largest number' ('Times', February 19, 1931). was accompanied by This strong pressure for economies permanent Civil Ser- from the vants at the Treasury, and found echo inside the Labour an government. Chancellor of the Ex- The Snowden, told chequer, Philip parliament that 'no budget in the world could stand the strain placed upon it that has been by the increase in unemployment in the last 12 months', . Snowden also declared that the task was too big for any one party and the demand began to be raised that the House of Commons should function as a Council of State. Unemployed man and his family living in : February 11, 1972 During the depression. Unemployed work In February, the government established the May Committee 'practical and to report on legitimate deductions in the national expenditure'. This con- sisted of two members from each Party and was chaired by Sir George May, who until shortly before then had been of the Prudential secretary Assurance Company. Meanwhile, the capitalist crisis worsened. On May 11 the main bank in Austria - the Credit Anstalt — collapsed. There was a widespread collapse of banks in Germany, leading to an intensified run on sterling which, in turn, led even less confidence in to the British economy. By July 14 the German banking system had collapsed completely, and by July 22, the Bank of England had lost £22m of gold "The Great (see L. Robbins Depression'). On August 4 the Bank of England announced that tem- porary credits of f50m each had y living in a shack. oyed workers staging a hunger march.

been obtained from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank of France. This dependence of the Labour international government on financiers naturally led . to the domination of the policies the government by those finan- their direct political ciers and representatives, the Tories. This is well illustrated by the negotia- between Snowden and tions Neville Chamberlain before the report of the May Committee was presented to parliament.

his book, "An Autobio- In graphy, Snowden recounts how he was visited by Chamberlain: 'He aware of the was well financial position and would avoid putting me in an embar- rassing position. He was anxious to be helpful, and he thought it might be well if I could make a reply to him which would impress the country with the gravity of the situation. I gave him a full information in account of the my possession. We agreed upon the general line that he would take in his speech, and I promised to follow with a speech which would raise the discussion above party controversy.' A similar line was being taken by other members of the Labour who later claimed to Cabinet, have opposed MacDonald all along. J. R. Clynes, for example, also spoke of the country expect- ing co-operation from the three parties. The position of the Tories and Liberals was accurately described by R. Bassett in his book 'Nine- teen Thirty-One': * The Conservatives and Liberals greatly preferred that the situa- tion should be dealt with by the Labour government than that they should undertake the political risks involved.'

What these risks were became clear when the May Committee reported. It recommended reduc- tions in the pay of Civil Servants, teachers and servicemen, but its main recommendation was a reduction of £66,500,000 in unemployment expenditure, in- cluding a 20 per cent cut in the standard rate of unemployment benefit. Clearly there was no hope of an open Tory government get- ting away with such measures.

'Front' was needed A Labour to force such things down the throats of the working class.

No wonder "The Times'; re- ported on August 4: 'The Conservatives recognize that the government are in an extremely difficult position, owing to the campaign largely is already being waged which in some Labour quarters against the May report.' But withdrawals of foreign balances from London were in- creasing daily, the temporary credits were being used up rapidly and pressure from America and Europe for cuts in unemployment expenditure was being stepped up. "The Times', of August 12, reported that constant discus- were going between sions on MacDonald and Snowden and Baldwin (the Tory leader), Samuel (the Liberal leader) and the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. (The Governor of the Bank of England had col- lapsed due to 'exceptional strain' and had to leave the country to recuperate!) One of the myths of Labour Party history is that MacDonald, Snowden, Thomas and Sankey traitors, while were the only Henderson, Morrison, etc., were loyal to socialism, standing out bravely in defence of the un- employed and breaking resolutely from MacDonald, whom they had never realized was going to the Tories. The truth is that none of the leaders of the Labour Party saw any alternative to some sort of attack on working-class standards.

They clung to MacDonald, striv- ing to reach some compromise, until he broke from them.

One of the proposals put for- 'alternative' to dole ward as an cuts by the 'lefts' was a revenue tariff of 10 per cent to 20 per cent. This would have raised the cost of living and been a dis- guised cut in wages and doles.

The whole Cabinet agreed to economies totalling £78,500,000.

These included increased insur- ance contributions and limited the period of benefit to 26 weeks; cuts in the salaries of government and public employees (such as teachers); and reduced expen- diture on the roads. (This last smashing one meant, in effect, of the few attempts by government to provide employ- ment.) These proposals, however, met with tremendous opposition from the trade unions, and a deputa- General tion from the

TUC

Council met the Cabinet and that they be with- demanded and replaced by drawn a graduated tax on profits and a levy on unearned income. It was this pressure from the unions which produced a split in the Cabinet, pushing some of those members most closely con- into nected with the unions opposition to the proposed cuts.

This produced a state of furious despair amongst the right-wing, illustrated most clearly by an entry in Beatrice Webb's Diary (August 22): "The General Council are pigs,' S.W. [Sydney Webb] said. 'They won't agree to any cuts of un- employment benefits or salaries or wages.' The opposition from the unions forced the Cabinet to modify its proposals, but the lack of a real alternative socialist to Мас- Donald was revealed by the fact whole then the that even Cabinet agreed to cuts totalling R. Bassett £56,000,000 (see 'Nineteen Thirty-One'). These proposals included a teachers' in 15 per cent cut saving of £5,000,000 salaries, a on Transitional Unemployment benefit by the use of a Means Test, and a levy on all employed workers. MacDonald was now in a crisis.

On the one hand, the reaction of the working class through the unions created a split in the Stanley Baldwin. Cabinet; on the other hand, the Tories and Liberals, backed up by the bankers, refused to co- operate unless the total economies came to £78,500,000 and there were cuts in the dole. Samuel, for instance, described the Cabinet's proposals as "bold' and 'courageous', but went on: 'We [1.e., both Liberals and Conservatives] doubted whether such a large sum of savings could be effected . . . without a diminuation in the scale of unemployment allowances' It was because of this impasse that a conference of the laders of the three parties, on August 21, had to be adjourned and an emergency Cabinet meeting called, which there was unanimity on the need to seek the support of the Liberals and Tories.

Meanwhile, of the Bank England had exhausted its own credit in America and France and any further loans had to be negotiated on behalf of the government. The chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York told the government's representatives that they could probably raise a further loan of f50m in New York and Paris, provided an adequate economic approved by programme was parliament. In other words, a programme acceptable to the Tories.

CONTINUED TOMORROW

REVOLUTIONARY PARTY

ALL TRADES

On November 6 last year a national conference of the All Trades Unions Alliance decided to adopt a draft manifesto to transform the Socialist Labour League into a revolutionary party. Since the conference & country- wide discussion has been initiated in League branches, in the ATUA, in the Young Socialists and among Workers Press supporters.

Until the Right-to-Work rally at Empire Pool, Wembley on March 12, we intend to carry a full page each day devoted to your comments on the Draft Manifesto. 1 we have received more than 100 con- tributions to this vital discussion. Now we want at least another 100. Workers and their families, youth, students and the un- employed are all invited to join in this discussion. If you haven't got a copy of the Draft Manifesto write to . Workers Press or contact : your local ATUA branch.

JOHN BROWN

Shop steward, Municipal and General Workers Union. Employed as miller at Small & Parke's, Collyhurst The recession in the car industry is reducing my wages rapidly, as all overtime has finished.

The idea of the Draft Charter is to get it to as many people as possible in industry who don't know anything about it. This is the whole idea-make the Tories resign and elect a Labour govern- ment pledged to socialist policies, real policies. Let us have a real Labour government. The right wing were lying when they said entry would bene- fit workers and create employ- ment. I'm all for throwing out those 69 traitors, in fact anyone who is against the working man.

I am critical of the Labour Party leadership on entry into the Common Market. They wanted in but only on different to go terms. Unemployment will go up when we go in. And prices will go up even faster than they are now. I insist that the real fight is centred around the struggle to force the Tories to resign.

The Tory government is governing illegally. It has been like that for years-the Labour Party isn't much better. The • Tories are an illegal government and it is the right idea to make them resign. In fact all trade unionists and the TUC should support this. out Ted Heath. Let Throw him go back to his yacht. He is sailing us into a real storm. The solution is to get them out. I think the working man is getting fed up with the lower standards of living which are brought about by Tory policies, by unemploy- ment and by rising prices to meet the Common Market prices.

The TUC and the unions must put them out and someone must take us out of the storm before we hit the rocks altogether.

STEPHEN JACKSON

43-year-old miner at Coventry Colliery My idea of entry into the Com- mon Market is that it is a move to smash the trade union move- ment. Cheap labour could be im- ported from Europe and defeat workers' of defending chances their living standards. It is a move by the big businessmen.

Those Labour MPs who voted with the Tories are nothing else but side-kicks. They should be thrown out of the Labour move- ment. The Tory government had no mandate to make all the attacks on the working, class. I think there should be a national stoppage to force them out.

The working masses should have everything they are entitled to. The Labour government should nationalize all major in- dustries and, since nationaliza- be for the people, tion should it should be run by the people that is by the workers who work in those industries. There shouldn't be compensa- tion to these owners. It should never have been paid in the first place. They've had their whack out of these industries already. I believe in everything the Workers Press says. The more workers who read it the better.

It will open their minds, to the extent that it points out hap- penings that are not published in the other national papers and it will change their outlook on life altogether. The party has to be built. It is the main opposition to the capitalist system.

JAN UNCZUR

Warehouseman at Boots Ltd., Nottingham and USDAW member The Manifesto aims to change the whole system of unfair distri- bution of wealth. Obviously it will act as a guide to the labour movement towards a really more socialist labour movement. There are right-wing factions in the labour movement with their insistence "getting the economy straight at the expense of workers and pensioners.

We should use the Manifesto as a foundation, a reference on which to base all our ideas and ideals. In Workers Press you get cer- tain instances, but in the Mani- festo you get the whole issue down in the pamphlet. It is a good thing to point out the dangers of Stalinism. There is an ever-present danger-we could go off the rails in the same way. When you get countries like Russia that seem to have gone completely off the rails, this is an important lesson. All the criticisms of the Mani- festo and the Workers Press should be aired and discussed so that we do not become com- placent. You must put a lot of pressure on the trade unions to censure people like Roy Jenkins and the MPs who voted for the Common Market. The Labour Party seems to be It letting the matter rest. 1S issuing vague warnings but doing nothing about it. were in they While Labour were criticized by the press, but this criticism has died down now the Tories are in. There are a million unem- ployed and the cost of living is going up but there is very little criticism from the press.

I agree with the call for a United Ireland. The Manifesto says we should take the RUC and the troops out. It should also call for a united Ireland.

On the Common Market, the Labour Party should be forced at the next election to stick to its policy of opposition.

Students live under terrible conditions and more should be done for them. Their grants should go up and they should have a lot more say in the running of their colleges and universities. As soon as the Labour govern- ment gets in there should be an immediate pensions rise. Prices should be frozen., Al!

'The real fight is centred around the str to pull down this Young Soclalist plac year. to allow an immediate increase in the standard of living.

K. M. WETTON

Member of

USDAW

Winsford branch and works for a local textile firm. Firstly I would like to say that I completely agree with the Mani- festo. Surely one does not need to be a politician to realize that ..what it says is the truth,..

Workers Press, Friday Fobruary 11, 1972 PAGE 5

YOUNG

51y nd the struggle to force the Torles to resign.' Yet Stalinist leaders attempted lalist placard during the demonstration against closure of

UCS

in June last For example in paragraph one, face us on entry at a time when concerning the notorious the world monetary system is so Labour MPs, that we now near to total collapse. only this week six Labour front- As I have said, this is a very benchers have been axed. Could good paragraph and should surely this mean that Wilson even make who reads 1S everyone getting the picture? aware of the struggle and hard- The point that the Manifesto ships that must follow a decision about puts over entry into the such as the Tories have made Common Market I found really (off their own bat). enlightening. All in all, I found that the We are able to the Draft Manifesto said what it had see differences between the Tory to say in terms that were down- of promises better things to-earth and easy for to anyone to and.the hard facts. come that understand.

Up to the end of World War Lewis's then sets effects i in the Unzad Save, tribute in moothing the way or many role Il mining was still a pick-and- $200 run-down of jobs. million investment wicked shovel operation. But in the Board A Prices and incomes in mechanizalon bul nunarcus ur period following nationaliz- industr thousands workers

OUT

TeDort coal ation in 1947, the drive was tribute work. wy est virginia aone more than 200,000 subsisted on National with heavy the leadership Cot to cheapen coal 'molly-grub'-a special handout Union of Mineworkers in much investment in labour-saving same way alive ded surplus to as machinery. needed This productivity policy in the closure made a significant uneconomic ycals 1961 collieries has pits revealed itself severa. Queues of 7,000 men, ways: women DosiLIve continuin Mechanization and automation the anel chuleren were nine cucuvity over last were waiting for their monthly por- In decade. adaition, mine workers have co-operated exten- was eliminated. study was introduced. A key factor in the employers' with management's efforts Method ability to bring about unable match Pits the NUM's official policy c on such a giant scale has Tast ana conunuous browucuor been the willing collaboration of keeping costs down to preserve were closed, of coal. The labour force was cut by the competitive position Ine Union cauers That half. • schemes. ine runaown Figures show that the amount It was Iohn I Lewis head of involved Sunkes sa of mechanized redundancy and the United Mineworkers in the trihite to the increased

USA,

who, more than any other transfer arrangements the per for care which NCB has cent in 1955 to over 8 per cent be mechanized in so carried mines to 170 intensification of coal- short a time. His policy was not to oppose cutting 1s not only a leature ol to the the British industry. as those COnE In Belgium automation begin- of Arthur Horne bett WOrK (benerted WiLd poncies 20, bao 1950s led to higher pay. He stated the loss of period and Will in the post-war would not as great as Paynter and Daly more recently. Horner and Paynter alone in the year further members of the Communist argument wo wid mean that 105,000 in Lola. numbci failure to modernize Party.) banded, it is the pies peeing is Although it has been dis- Inal pils would tion rose in the same period from and nave to close. causine unem- 1,262 to 1,820 kilos per man- ployment. •ne coar inausu wilch is zuld shift. govern- ing bureaucrats National Coal Board. Since the But possibly the most drama- ment and employers have paid Men covered by power-loading deals earn Yet for these more. top and lower left, miners, operating heavy duty coal cut- ters, work is tough, dirty, dan- gerous and the health risks are much greater than before. Can- derrig colliery, above, is now miners still closed. But many working day spend their crouched in narrow, wet seams for of £25 a earnings gross week or less. 1969 report the NCB has been engaged in a speeded up pro- gramme of jobs decimation; exploitation the remaining work force has also increased.

undertaken The report was study 'efficiency in specifically • to the coal industry. The PIB's chief complaint was there apparent that was an "decline in the rate of increase in productivity'. Output was not "the rate of falling, notice, just increase in output. The PIB's concern, in other words, was not simply to main- of output tain a higher level than, say, seven years ago, but to continuously raise output . ..

and at an accelerating pace.

To increase output by less this month than last means failure. • The far as the answer so concerned was a report was strengthened management 'better able to exert its authority in certain areas of operation'.

The PIB • also highly recom- mended the introduction of New labour-saving machinery. face-working, power-loading and roof-supporting techniques were developed, and, in the early 1960s, experiments were made linking these to remote-control Not all these exhausted men are miners. Whole communtles I chlldren and 28 adults 'burled alive by the NCB' at Abertan.

October 1966 to save the 116 communties Joined the desperate battle in NCB' at Aberfan. Now they are backing the pit strike with equal determination.

ary 11, 1972 PAGE 7 the other 'face conferences, systems including. the use meane therefore suggest that the On and closed-circuit television.

of Coal new 1 ne enormous

COSL

DUalu s method study various crummy gel-lorelucis dre £100,000, for branch be strengthened. aurance andovers Method-study, instance to 1250ze one call well can pick the brains oi a section and install known, merely step workers on how to increase a nrst reas in contre that ente towards production how *least fix with employers would be to cut site the PIB manning. "The PIB Such new the elimination it wanted this to be done entirely saw directed of piece-work. assistin al a ume and difi- The NUM, ers convenience. miner in as cancerous Was continuall tre basis for let dea cult loo our towaros erminaung rising, as an essentiall communist holding down wages. Thus: Party and leadership, him trom the work-process alto- gether. It was in this continuing introduction co-operated with thiday. "he situation that the PIB called for techniques made easier if the increased strengthening of man- associated agement. Every wage Also advised of method-study. The report Mosures and then the pits were wast Icoultie from local bargaining means that stated. une boaro nas now a more erec- closed anyway. "Method-studv techniques have tive means of controlling wage 'Restraint' was never rewardea. an important role to play in such costs. calte lowest tor labour-intensive industry that The report record of has the Went coal-mining. We found strikes existed ra cowork end scope lization nas our study of labour their ighest number of closures, productivity both worlds. highest rate of dust disease and among non-tace workers also in- expect on une one nano use useful scope miners' patience acated

TOT

oranges orcare anor gains in productivity this wage freeze and work control. exhausted.

COALMINING OUTPUT PER MAN AND NUMBERS EMPLOYED

utput pr Percentage Output per man Average Number of anshift mercase on wedu nuu der or colteries in wage-earners production at employed end of year cwt % TonS

THIS

362 517 576 85.4 4.2 491 336 317 292 * No longer calculated Source: NCB

PAGE 8 Workers Press, Friday Fobruary 11, 1972 The 1923 strike by the Workers Union Transport ended in retreat and a Is wage cut for the workers. Larkin was bitterly opposed to the sell-out by the union executive which went against a ballot of the striking men.

The employers then went on to use their victory to im- pose wage cuts throughout irish industry. Meanwhile Larkin was in- the Communist vited by International to represent at its: 5th Congress Ireland which took place in 1924.

LARKIN

THE

DECLINE

BY JACK GALE

At the Congress, Larkin sup- the thesis out forward br portea Lenin before his death concern- ing the British Communist Party. end of the Congress, he At the the was erecteo execuuve committee of the Communist International. Ireland, the right wing But in Was gae robo la. OraliN- port union executive. March Larkin expelled from was by the union atter a legal action.

changes in the union nim agalnst rules had failed.

WEAKENED

While Larkin was Russia, In his followers attempted form Workers® Union the UlUl. woR. over to.Wvu workers (about two- Dublin thirds of the Dublin me 305- ship), 20 but only ni the branches of union outside Dublin. the Workers' Union was greatly weakened by Coal the Vierchants Associaton

TOCK-OUT

with the employers assisted being by the transport union leadership. Trotsky The whole rish trade union movement was being weakened employers' alta 2 By 1926 there Urlly members in Treland rade union compared with 130,000 in 1923. In February 1928, Larkin made his last visit to the soviet Union attene execuuve meet e of the Communist International.

This decisive meting. The witch-hunt asalls!

LTULSKY

was under way and auring a tull Comintern discussion, Larkin invited the was speak Em met According yucouull. Larkin. he refused saving: The issue was one concerning the and women kussia and that would impertinence on my part to take sides.' did address a Fenoscow Soviet, however, meeting the te Irish quesuon and he wound paske hands by audience 'hold up the of Stalin'.! During had

VISIL

LarKII severdi duscussions with kukharın tine sussed that he had taim.

Larkin insisted that he had could dill shaken from this Then Larkin, despite his earlier Lenin's support hicl" above), went diong WiLI Stalin's theory TOrON erind ushered in after 1928. policy was disastrous Top: James Larkin for the adressing a labour meting In Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin his trom amer rettur Irish working Reduced ir Bottom. Stalin (eft) at kirov's ivina-in-state 1934 Larkin remained silent while the Class, AMeR ec numbers. and short purges, murders and trials were going on.

funds, the Irish labour move- ment was unable to resist further wage-cuts imposed by employers, by coercive legisla- backed up tion in the form of Public Safety Acts. In 1934 - with the Kirov Assassination - Stalin's murder machine moved into top gear. At no time did Larkin ever issue a single statement on this. His own fortunes in: Ireland were declining. Irish His Worker" Two years earlier he had received a derisory vote as parliamentary candidate for N Dublin (1,200 compared with over 8,000 in 1928).

The Communist Party of Ire- land was launched in 1933, with Irish Workers' own paper Larkin Voice'. Although was treated as its elder statesman, he took no part in its activities and never wrote for its paper.

While never making a public recantation, Larkin in practice. had dissociated himself from the international communist movement by 1934. A word from him against the murders, purges and trials would have carried great weight in the working- class movement throughout the world-but it was never forth- coming. He kept his silence, and in the years of defeat, reaction and the growth of Stalinism, silence meant decline. At the end of 1941, Larkin joined the Irish Labour Party and was later selected as its candidate for N Dublin. The Irish Trans- port Union executive - now indistinguishable from any British right-wing union bureaucracy- objected to his candidature.

The once-great Larkin did his upmost to placate these bureau- crats—the sort of men he had spent his life fighting:

REGRET

'I assure you most sincerely that I am willing to work loyally with any member of the Party regardless of previous differences antagonisms, he promised, and 'and I shall at all times accept the judgement of the Administra- tive Council' Transport Union To the bureaucrats, he wrote: 'If in the heat of past conflicts statements were made by me, I regret having made those state- ments, if today they appear as obstacles to a united • effort by all members of the Party.'" Larkin died on January 30, 1947. A lion of the labour move- ment, he was a monument to its suffering, its determination and its courage. Writing about another workers' leader who was subsequently destroyed by Stalinism — Willie Gallacher-Lenin declared: *People who can give expres- sion to this temper of the masses, who can arouse such temper, must be prized and every assist- ance must be given to them. At the same time we must openly and frankly tell them that temper alone is not sufficient to lead the masses in the great revolutionary struggle... The writer of the letter [Gallacher's letter against parliamentary activity] is imbued with noble proletarian hatred for the bourgeois "class politicians" [This] is the beginning of all wisdom, the very basis of every socialist and communist move- ment and of its success. 'But the author fails to take into account the fact that politics is a science and an art that does not drop from the skies, is not acquired for nothing, and that it it wants to conquer the bour- geoisie, the proletariat must its own proletarian "class train politicians" will be who as skilled as the bourgeois poli- ticians. "ª This was Lenin's method. To welcome and assist workers who wanted to fight as communists, but to fight for their political development against the concep- that they brought with tions them from outside the communist movement. Larkin possessed the same 'proletarian hatred' for bourgeois politicians, the same - indeed, greater - ability to arouse and the express temper of the masses. But Stalinism was more than the physical liquidation of Bol- sheviks. It was an attempt also to liquidate the theory and method of Bolshevism. The struggle to proletarian train fighters as revolutionaries in theory and practice was the exact opposite to Stalinism. Willie Gallacher's fate was one of the fruits of Stalinism. So was Larkin's. 10 Emmet Larkin, op. cit., p. 290.

I Emmet Larkin, op. cit., p. 300.

12 Lenin 'Left Wing Communism'.

COMMUNISTS: ALL REVISION-

F. Kissin.

ISTS NOW?

By S. Fabian Research Serles 299. Price 40p. The Fabian Society, in the person of Fred Kissin, author of this pamphlet, has discovered that the Communist Parties have revised Marxism, abandoned revolutionary politics and of Fabian adopted version gradualism. 1698

LENINE ET LA

REVOLUTION

RUSSE.

Dossier 'Sclences Humaines' No. 35 By Serge Ber- stein. Armand Colin. Paris.

This useful little book pro- claims that its intention is to offer series of documents enabling the Russian Revolution to be placed in the context of the revolutionary movement, concretely while showing its human character. He reaches this conclusion from an examination of the developments in capitalism and to justify the 'peaceful road to socialism' As he this theory says, smacks of Bernstein's revision- ism developed at the end of the last century and the theories of right-wing Labourites like Stra- chey, Crosland and Jay, worked out in the 1950s. Although the theory of state monopoly capitalism has only been current in its present form since the mid-1960s it repre- no big change for the sented Stalinist movement. While the explicitness of this revision, or rather rejection, of Marxism may do something to bring theory closer to practice, all the evidence of history shows that since the early 1930s, at least, the Stalinist parties have opposed revolution. Kissin cites the case of France in 1936 as though it was some- thing of an exception. It was not.

Nor did the Communist Parties want the overthrow of capital- ism in Western Europe after the Second World War. On the con- trary, they co-operated with the bourgeoisie in enabling it to survive, by holding, back the working class and exhausting its revolutionary energies. of Stalin- An understanding ism's role, like that of reform- ism (and especially Fabianism), in opposing revolution, is the key to understanding the reasons for capitalism's survival after 1945.

Of course, the Communist Par- ties seek to conceal that role by covering up their abandon- ment of revolutionary politics in Marxist formulas.

POWER

It does not require much theoretical penetration to see through the theory of state monopoly capitalism. It provides the justification needed for the seeking policy of an electoral "left' 'pro- alliance with the gressive' or 'peace-loving' bour- in order to bring to geoisie power governments willing to do a deal with the Kremlin on the basis of "peaceful co-existence'.

in There is not much point debating with the advocates of this theory unless it is done from this standpoint. Kissin uses their revisions to strengthen the class case for Fabianism-which came into being consciously to pre- vent Marxism winning influence in the British labour movement.

Tob It consists of accounts, mostly by eyewitnesses and participants, of the situation which led up to the overthrow of Tsarism, the of 1917 its immediate the October events Revolution and consequences. There are familiar passages Trotsky's 'History" from and from Lenin's writings as well as witnesses from the more usual like John Reed and Sukhanov.

There is also testimony from the Kornilov defeated - Kerensky, and the anarchist Voline.

What stands out, of course, is the role and personality of Lenin as the driving force of the revo- •Pravda, We are reminded lution. that at first dismissed his 'April Theses' as inadmissible' and to the worker Bolsheviks.- to the worker-Bolsheviks.

Unwittingly, the pamphlet shows how much present-day Stalinism and Fabianism have in common and how bitterly opposed both are to Marxism. Kissin passes in review Man- del's new • industrial revolution theory and Kidron's 'permanent arms economy theory, both of which, like state monopoly capi- talism, have failed to explain the development of post-war capital- ism and offer an excuse for re- formist policies dressed up in "left' phrases. To deal in detail here with all Kissin's own distortions of Marxism aid of Lenin's theory be im- of imperialism would possible, just as it would to ex- pound Marxist analysis of the 1 present-day capitalism. This must begin with the crisis of revolu- tionary leadership which enabled capitalism to survive the deep prolonged of the and crisis 1930s and the second imperialist war. Kissin himself offers no alter- native, except the stale plati- tudes of Strachey and company which the ending of the boom has exposed in practice. He notes been that there a change since 1968—he mentions the world monetary crisis, the rise in unemployment and the events in France in that year. This has, he says, raised some doubts about the state monopoly capitalist theory; and that is as near as he gets to admitting that the contradictions of capitalism are now revealing themselves to the confusion of all revisionists.

Note: The author of this pam- is said phlet, Fred Kissin, to have a dissident com- joined munist group' in his native Dan- zig after 1933. The main group of this kind, called the Spartacus League or the German Inter- national Communists, supported Trotsky. In fact, a Dr Kissin, to whom the author may be related, visited Trotsky in Norway in July, 1936. While he was out of country, the Nazi regime in ‚the 'Free City' arrested most of its members and put them on trial. They were sentenced to imprisonment. terms of Ironi- cally, this trial of Trotskyists time, took place at the very Moscow, at the first when in show trial, Trotsky was accused of being in league with the Nazis and the Gestapo. Trotsky wrote an article pointing this out and supporting in the stand taken court by the Danzig Trotskyists.

After Lenin's return to Russla in April 1917, there took place the first serlous clash between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Sovlet, just when jubl- lant May Day demonstratlons (above) were taking place in Petrograd. We read how a French diplo- mat in St Petersburg wrote in his diary of Kerensky: Despite everything he is the only , man on whom we can count The last item is Lenin's "Testa- ment', in which he calls for" the removal of Stalin. For those who wish to follow the course of the insurrection, the back cover has a map of central Petrograd. The book, within its modest limits, is good introduction to the Revolu- tion. Workers Pross, Friday Fabruary 11, 1872, PAGE 8 The Peking Stalinists are get- Male unemployment in parts Scotland ting into a bit of a tangle over of reaching Nixon's protocol for forth- astronomical proportions. In Stornoway it is 33.2 per cent coming visit. -one man in three without a Usual procedure when a top- job. is for ranking visitor arrives In Lemsmahagow, male him to be met at the airport 29.3 unemployment is per by senior government officials.

cent; in Lerwick it is 26.5 per OK so far. cent; in Banff 14.6 per cent; Unfortunately, it's also in Dumbarton 12.4 per cent; procedure to invite representa- and in Dundee 12.3 per cent.

tives of close allies to join the Meanwhile, since the Tories welcoming party. office, there have came to More unfortunately still, been more than 12,000 grocery China's i N closest allies price increases—an average of are Korea, N Vietnam and the S more than 20 a day. Vietnamese Provisional Revo- lutionary Government. Tam Dalyell, Labour MP Nixon is likely be less to W Lothian, has inherited than delighted at being greeted dormant baronetcy and is by the beaming faces of the now entitled to be called 'Sir people he's been helping Tam Dalyell of the Binns'. wage war for the on last Sir Tam is the son of Major 25 years. Gordon of the Indian Loch who adopted the name army, Dalyell after the death of his father-in-law Sir James Bruce Wilkie Dalyell Bart, of the Binns. baronetcy was created in 1685 by James II, who only just managed it before getting the push in 1688. Tam (Eton, Royal Scots Greys) became parliamentary representative of the proletariat 1962 1n when he was considered one of the bright young Gaitskellites.

NIXON

And they can't be left out simply because the US has no Clause (Moosehead) Tramer, established diplomatic rela- dog, is among the 17,000 them. tions with There are Americans listed in the current none with China, either. issue of the American National Top diplomats based in Social Directory. The Directory China are tipping that invita- is the US equivalent of Debrett tions will go N Korea out to and the Almanach de Gotha. and Co, but that their repre- Moosehead figures alongside sentatives will discreetly keep of American such stars the out of the way. social firmament as President There's also the matter of and Mrs Nixon. the welcoming crowds usually He has an impressive pedi- turned out on these occasions.

gree-for a Great Dane. His It might be a bit difficult to master, Bernard Rosen of Little get the Chinese masses reason- Silver, New received Jersey, ably enthusiastic about cheer- an unsolicited application for ing the leader of the world's the Directory back in 1970; filled it out and sent it back, largest imperialist power.

Last week the hitherto obli- but was not listed in the 1971 dropped gatory welcome was edition. for Ali Bhutto of Pakistan.

When he received another It's possible the crowds form last year he listed Moose- won't be there for Nixon, head under the of name either. Claudius Tramer Van Dermot.

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Comments on the article Miners and the Tory government' continue to flow into our offices.

Today two pit workers from the NE tell our reporter PHILIP WADE what they think. The article, written by Wheldale, Yorkshire, miner and Socialist Labour League member Brian PAGE 10 Workers Press, Friday February Comments on the article 'Mine Today two pit workers from t article, written by Wheldale, I Lavery, originally appeared in

MALCOLM BARRAS

works at Westoe colliery, near South Shields and is a commitree member of the Durham mech- anics' section of the NUM.

"The national executive of the NUM has not been strong enough on a number of issues. For ex- ample, I would like to see them ask the transport workers' union for total support in stopping all movement under any cir- coal cumstances. I had hoped some- like this would happen thing when they met Vic Feather, but nothing did. 'At the moment we're getting the same treatment as the post- men got last year. The same hap- pened with the power workers.

They used the threat of old people dying because of their work-to-rule. But the press for- got to mention the thousands of people who die from the cold each year because of their low pensions. I think if the strike carries on this way, it's going to be like the UPW. South Shields liaison committee was right to call for a one-day stoppage, but I think it has to be made a national General Strike. 'But even our own leaders are backtracking. Without consulting the membership they have told stop picketing US to NACODS [overmen, deputies and shotfirers]. But we feel we should carry on. When you're on strike, you have to use every means at your disposal to win. "The article is probably right leaders. about the other union We are in the middle of a pro- a mini-revolution and cess of they feel they might get slung out in this situation. So they pre- fer to take the middle-of-the-road stand. we had the chance to get the Industrial Relations Bill. But the union leaders said we hadito use other means than a general strike-and now the Act is mov- ing ahead. 'This present Tory government wants to go back to the 1930s, when the rich got richer and the They are worried poor poorer. and fearful about the upsurge in the working class and trade union movement and want to put us back in what they consider our rightful places. I can see a link between the holding unemployment figures, down wages and entry into the Common Market. They want to say to us they are in a depres- sion and if they give us wage in- creases we'll all lose our jobs.

I watched that TV programme the "Guardians" , and although they didn't say which party was in power, to me it was obviously Tories. We've already got the security firms doing what they like and they might try and set up centres where they put trade unionists in jail and try and purge their minds. That's what the Industrial Relations Act is all about. "This strike is all a question of politics now and it has moved on from just being about wages.

I think the article is right when it says it's about the whole future the working class. For the Tories to climb down would be a major defeat for them and would probably mean a General Election. 'But what worries me about forcing the Tories to resign is who is going to replace them. I know the Labour government / Fobruary 11, 1972 le Miners and the Tory government from the NE tell our reporter PH eldale, Yorkshire, miner and Socia ared in Workers Press on Monday,

MALCOLM BARRAS

will automatically come back in.

But last time they carried out Tory policies dressed up in Labour clothing. I'm completely in favour of workers' control and ending the compensation payments. But it is right to say you can't have con- trol within capitalism. Neverthe- less, knowledge we have more about mines than anyone on the NCB and I don't see why a miner • couldn't take over from Ezra.

'Many men who used to work for the old coal-owners are still managers today and the owners themselves are laughing because of the compensation they're get- ting. Committees of miners could make the decisions after getting the information from the techni- cians. "Then we wouldn't have the situation where the managers tell the miners what to do. The miners would be responsible to other miners. 'I suppose the first step in this direction would be to get the Tories out and replace them with a Labour government com- mitted to policies like national- izing the big industries. We'll rnment' continue to flow into ou ter PHILIP WADE what they thi Socialist Labour League memb Monday, January 24.

1 BARRAS (TOP) AND TOMMY GRAHAM

have to mobilize all the workers to achieve that. 'But I still feel that the Labour leaders would not carry out these policies. In six months after get- ting the Tories out, we could be back in a similar position. We could mandate them, but enough Labour MPs broke their pledges when they voted with the Tories the Common Market. on thought those MPs should have been turfed out of the party.

'When I talked about a mini- revolution, I meant the situation •where all workers come together and use every means to get rid of the Tories and all the middle- of-the-road characters and put men in power who won't be frightened of carrying out poli- cies of common ownership.

'We're going to look at the whole question of leadership. Anyone who's not up to scratch will have to go and be replaced by committed someone to socialist ideas. If we could build such a party with people sticking to their principles, I would probably support it. But at the moment there are • leaders no around willing to fight for us.'

into our offices. they think. "The e member Brian

MINER'

TOMMY GRAHAM is a road- way worker at Lynemouth col- liery in Northumberland where miners work three or four miles out under the North Sea.

The branch was unanimous in rejecting the NCB's final offer.

Tommy, a member of the committee, talks in a branch • about Brian personal capacity Lavery's article. 'If we don't fight the Tories' pay claim norm, it will be down to 4 per soon. Everyone cent knows this is a test case and if then every man jack we lose, will lose his wages. We just have to throw the Tories out-it's now or never. 'In Rhodesia and S Africa they murder miners and force them to work for virtually no wages at all. I think the Tories want and do this to the to try miners in this country. It is coming to a showdown-not just for the miners, but for the whole working class. 'Now they're talking about bringing troops in and if they do it will be another do like Ire- land. 'All the men's grievances are coming to the fore now, right back to 1926 when Churchill called the troops in on us. I was 14 at the time and I remember the two Cramlington men who AM . derailed the "Flying Scotsman" and the time we used to sing out- side the prison where they were kept. 'There can be no compromise our. in this strike because we mean it this time, especially the young miners. Miners won't stand for the troops coming in. If we stay out the country will come to a standstill. Then the Tories will come out if they can't have to rule the country. It is true what the article about the TUC leaders. says There is no doubt they have done badly and could have pushed it a lot sharper. All the of their leaders are frightened jobs and they have been for a long time. It is not the workers them- selves who are frightened but the leaders. They don't want to speak bluntly. 'All workers should be fetched out in a General Strike and then say to the government: It's your move. They would have to call another election because it would be proved that the whole coun- try is against them. 'Gormley and Daly are not sticking to the guidelines of the strike and not pushing for the

NER'S STRIKE

DAY 33

ad- full claim. They seem content to sit back and see what the Tories want to do. I think each branch should a motion demanding the pass Tories come out and say to the union leaders: Either fight or pack your jobs in. We want real socialists in the leadership, real Labour men, men who have not forgotten where they came from.

: coming under workers' 'Pits control is a very good idea. Although we have lots of com- down the mittees and SO on mines, in the end the manage- ment always have their way.

They could be run by miners who would also be in charge of disciplining men who damage machinery and so on. 'Nationalization should mean you're working for yourself. But it's not like that and I put it down to the leadership that we are not further forward than we are. I also agree that there has to be a national fuel policy.

'A nationalized economy would be good too, but we must make sure that the men at the top are not paid the fantastic wages they get now. 'You see, we never really got a fair deal under the last Labour government. Our wages dropped during this period and I don't think we should have had to suffer for our own party.

It is right that the aim of the working class has to be socialism. It will have to come to that in this country and it is already here. "This is the worst ever Tory government and we have to be blunt and speak the truth like the Workers Press. In my hon- est opinion it will have to come to a revolution and I mean that.

It will be something like Lenin's and we will need a socialist party to back it up. It's good to see something like the Right-to-Work marches.

We are not going back to the 1930s, whatever the Tories think. I shall try and get down to Wembley:

MINERS

Your thoughts on the strike and its relation- ship with the Tory gov. ernment are welcome. Any letters should be sent to: The Editor, 186a Clapham High St, London, SW4 7UG.

ALLEGATIONS AT MENTAL HOSPITAL

BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

PATIENTS' money totalling £49,000 disappeared in one ye nental hospital, Preston, according to the doctors' paper to be a report of the recently completed Payne Committee pital, to be published by the government next Tuesday, alle A consultant treated 625 long-stay patients in one half- An earlier, internal, inquiry day session. had 'run into the sands'.

Financial irregularities • A psychologist with respon discovered and two nurses were sibility for the 24-patient deaf convicted of theft. Soon after- unit plus the overall hospital assaulted wards, a male nurse psychological service adminis- died. two patients, one of whom tration was expected to ignore After the nurse was convicted of the of the other Payne Com- treatment manslaughter, the 2,000 patients and was asked mittee began its inquiries.

for her resignation when she The Committee accepts as refused. 'bearing the of truth' stamp although applying in not every The article says the General case a claim by: senior nurse, a Nürsing Council has not since convicted of theft: Whittingham inspected since 'Everyone at the hospital is 1961, although the Payne Com- around, in the racket. • look mittee was told there had been of the staff: change which see 'a constant flow' of complaints their cars every year, go abroad by student nurses since 1965.

for holidays every year and have built bungalows recently:' "

SERIOUS

Allegations accepted by the committee include, in addition to

CHARGES

the matter of £49,000, the following complaints relating to four long-stay wards before or around 1967: In July 1967, serious allega- tions of ill-treatment and fraud of There was little rehabilitation of the made at a meeting were long-stay patients, Student Nurses many Association. whom showed sign of an Minutes of the he every meeting were absence of medical treatment'.

suppressed chief male nurse, the matron and the prin- koni-term fongents tended 5, cipal tutor, and the students dumps, into with actions for libel threatened although with proper facilities at and slander. 160 least of them could be In July 1969, assistant an capable of living in the com- Dr A. B. Masters, supported t by munity. supported principal patients, assessed chiatrist and their staff, sent the Some by Secretary of State allegations of the Hospital Management Com- ill-treatment of patients, fraud mittee chairman as the type and maladministration. just sit around all day The dally paper that leads the fight against the Torles. £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: 186a Clapham High St., Circulation Dept., Workers Press, London, SW4 7UG. I would like to take out a subscription to Workers Press.

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Name Address one year at the Whittingham ' paper 'Pulse'. An article said nmittee of Inquiry at the hos- lay, alleges: but becoming doing nothing cabbages' were frequently locked out with - inadequate clothing, regardless of the weather.

Incontinent, institutionalized patients were restricted in food and fluids and sometimes locked in a room under the stairs.

• Violent patients were some- times restrained by having wet towels twisted round their necks until they lost consciousness.

nurses poured • Two male methylated spirits on the slippers and in the of one patient dressing-gown pocket of another and set it alight. THE FUTURE of the Churchill Machine Tool Company will be discussed at a special conference in Coventry next Monday be- union representatives tween and members of the com- pany's group management. Shop: stewards from the com- Altrincham, pany's Cheshire, to London plant travelled earlier this week and warned Tory Ministers they will fight the proposed closure of the threatening factory which is 1,100 jobs. They were joined by other stewards from the Alfred Herbert group. The proposed Churchill closure is the latest move in the Alfred Herbert group's plans for cutting the work force. A total of over 4,000 people, 40 per cent of the group's labour force, have lost their jobs in the past year.

Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Altrincham, Anthony Barber, told the stewards that in his view no decision had yet been taken on the future of the Churchill factory. Barber announced that he had arranged for a further meeting between the local council, Trade and Industry Secretary John Davies and union representatives.

Navy officers put in claim THE NATIONAL Maritime Board has received its second pay claim in two days. A demand for increased pay and improvements in leave arrangements has been submitted on behalf of 54,000 Merchant Navy Officers. This followed a new pay claim on Tuesday from 54,000 merchant seamen. A meeting has been arranged for April 6.

The officers want substantial pay increases, arrange- compensation for excessive hours.

At present most officers average "104 days' leave a year.

Last year they secured a 6 per cent pay increase and in 1970 accepted a pay offer which gave average increases of almost 20 per cent. Workers Press, Friday February 11, 1972 PAGE 11

BBC 1

and weather.

6.00 LONDON THIS WEEK.

6.20 TOM AND JERRY.

6.25 TODAY AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS.

7.40 THE LIVER BIRDS.

8.10 A MAN CALLED IRONSIDE. 'Eden ls the Place wo Leave.

9.00 NINE O'CLOCK NEWS and weather.

9.20 THE SCOBIE MAN. Maurice Roeves.

10.05 COME DANCING.

10.40 24 HOURS.

12.45 Weather. ввс 2 11.00-11.25 Play school.

6.05-6.30 OPEN UNIVERSITY.

6.35-7.00 WHICH WAY? Public and Private'.

7.05 OPEN UNIVERSITY.

7.30 NEWSROOM and weather.

8.00 MONEY PROGRAMME.

9.00 SOLO. Eileen Atkins as Mary Kingsley.

9.20 REVIEW. 'Three Volces on Their Own'.

10.10 JOYCE GRENFELL.

30 minutes of monologues and songs.

10.40 NEWS ON 2 and weather.

10.45 LATE NIGHT LINE-UP.

ITV

2.30 Matinee. 3.00 Houseparty. 3.00 Tea break.

10.20 Schools. 4.40 Pinky and Perky. 4.55 3.40 British Museum. 4:10 Drive-in. Arthur. 5.20 Bright's boffins. 5.50 News.

6.00 TODAY. Eamonn Andrews. 6.30 F TROOP. 'Carpetbagging, Anyone?'

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT. Hughie Green.

7.00 7.30 THE PERSUADERS! 'The Ozerov Inheritance'.

THE FENN STREET GANG.

"The Great Frock Robbers'.

8.30 9.00 SPYDER'S WEB. 'The Hafiz Affialr'.

10.00

NEWS AT TEN.

SHIRLEY'S WORLD. 'The Lovers'. Shirley Maclaine.

10.30

THE FBI.

'The Cave-In'. Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

11.05 12.00

COLLECTING ON A SHOESTRING.

12.25 THE MEDIUM AND THE MESSAGE.

BBC-1's new four-part thriller serial 'The Scoble Man' starts to night at 9.20. Maurice Roeves plays Scoble and Claire Nelson his wite Judy.

REGIONAL

ITV

CHANNEL:

10.20-2.30 London. London, 4.30 310.20-2.30 Van® 4:35 4.05 Pinky Perky. Puffin. Romper 4.50 News. 4.55 4.25 Flint- Dick Thunderbirds. London. 6.00 Dyke 455, 5.20 Ask Crossroads. 5.50 reports. 6.35 Report 6.00 News, weather. 6.10 London. 10.30 Food of love. 11.00 6.35 Crossroads. Film. "Barhados Quest'. 10.30 10.32 London. Weather. 11.50 News. 10.20 London. 2.31 Name of the game.

YORKSHIRE:

3:45 weather. Out Pied the shadow 3.35 News. the 3.00 piper. As Channel

WESTWARD.

Holidays 4.15 Crossroads except: 4.20 8025 bur News. 4.40 Pinky 4.55 Flint 6.00 Diary 58 Sports 10.30 Tom C desk. war. Stones Sidon News. 5.50 Replite. 12025 Weather. 6.30 Parkin's Film: Nigh

SOUTHERN:

London. 3.05 break. Haracaone and 4.10 Heckle

GRANADA:

10.18-2.30 London. Bot. .40 4.05 From eckle is Maric toga. 6.00 sea. 5.5( bird's hall tom

AVA

4.50 Captain 5.15 Out Rain- Doc. tor lage London. bow 5.50 9.00 London 10 20

NATC

10 25 Film: Place. 10.30 an London. Wastend Man'. 12.05 tastic night. 11.10 See our next thrilling The Weather. dis- instalment. royerere. TEES: 10.20 London. 2.30 10.20-2.30

HARLECH:

London. the sun. Women only. 4.15 Tinkertain- 3.50 Pied piper. 4.55 Crossroads. 3.45 Holidavs abroad 4.15 ment. News. and Perky. 6.01 Africa. 5.50 London. 6.01 ssroads. AA Pinky West. 6.18 Report 5.20 Tom Grat Flintstones, .30 London. 10.30 Todav. 5.50 Land the 6.00 tan 111000 S. .30 Stoo weather look. 3.30 Nanny and professor. Hanautmant London 10.30 Pilm 1215 News above except: 6.01- Six'. Two Make 12.30 Epilogue. and HTV 6.01-6.1/

SCOTTISH:

above 10.20-2.17 London Wales except: 6.01. 3.45 10.30-11.00 Kiri. 3. Crossroads 5.50 enterprise in industry. Dateline. Lost in. space. 6.20 • 6.300 Dateline. London. 10.20-2.33 3.55 Stewart. 7.00

ANGLIA:

London. Timmy Maroo. 4.00 break. Rom- 10.30 11.00 News. Tea 4.25 Tandon. 5:50

A SO

room. Bottom of the sea. Late call. 11.05 Film: «phantom London. 6.00 About Anglia. Morgue'. 12.35 Daddle the Crossroads, ? London. and portage. Film: 10.30 Bygones. Machine?: 11:00-2.55 London.

CRAMPIAN.

'3.40 Simon Locke 3.38 News.

ATV

MIDLANDS: 10

10.20-2.30 Lon- 4.40 Pinki and Perky. 4.10 Yoga. Tom don 3.10 Yora. Horoscope. 4.55 520 Grat 45 Women. 4.10 Tulia. 4.40 3.00 war. Hatty Lost in space. weather. and London C 5.50 Todav. 6.35 8.30 London. Penn 9.30° Lond gang. Gilles centi ceilidh. 0 M 11.00 8.30 Stewart. north. London. 10.30 don. 10.30 Film: Secret Convict London. Film: "The Night Walker? Weather. Lake'. 12.30 Epilogue.

PAGE 12 Workers Press, Friday February 11, 1972 THE TRADES council well Road have donated sunport and resolution or support to schemes Leamington, which the local trades council £7.56, and men at promoting route of the with a call union McAlpine's Bloomsbury raising cash the the the through Kussell Square will brances Midlands, is fully sup- give Shop raise toi newas dran the Young Strathclyde university Two London Alvis Co, Coventry, more representative Amal- unanimously Right - to - Socialists' the passed full Union pledging campaign. Glasgow

WORK

sending out circulars also backing the gineering support Tine affiliated union branches marchers. backing the paign. We have

UEW

will be received fl TIon donated zz and is send. stewards donation has ing a delegation trom the ukarashanen ThA compiling a list or thell of the National Society Empire Pool, Wembley, members who could come W oodcutting accommoda- Camberwel help with Machinists.

AUEW

colected la Amalgamated Union of Building workers from Herbert Ltd, ATTred Woodworkers. The the construction Coventry, shop stewards • TOMORROW: A full list of support so far. have also site on London's Crom passed Sell LE

VARDS

DOCKS

will

LONDON

stop SE of 50 today in support men £18 pay who are an cut and loss their perma- nent jobs. expected The strike, which 16,000 of the love most dockers in the port, stage of second national cạm- shop stewards against paign by the growing threat of redundancy in the industry. Just over two weeks ago, 40,000 dockers

SLIUCK

countrywide demonstadon the employers' rumoured plan to destroy one dock job in every six dy lure At 10 a.m. today tne London stewards plan a show of strength dockers Tilbury where by Wallis, Smith ployed Coggins Ltd, appeal against Pressea steel riser workers applaudca by miners as toy marco away wron unattached pool yesterday. See story page 1.

return to by the Board. run Dock Labour While in the pool the men get £20 against £38.25 Already Lon- while in working. the there are 500 in pool and 2,000 without regular while nationally. the position

FUND UP

equally serious. the trade slump Allnough cited by the employers as AT £372.16 chief reason for the surplus, is speed-up under Hor lactor the Phase Two Deviln YOUR RESPONSE is great. Our scheme signed in the

BY AN INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT

437216, which leaves us weis ot moment stands various ports. stewards ration- LOndon. the way to the £l,250 target.

THE TIMES' yesterday debu alize their own face the As the miners most Phase Twa by claiming the em- war against the Industrial Rel serious struggle scheme 'using the pivycis "Times' scoop. Worker lar all tae bubouri was a wrong v'. ing class must ve tone. Dockers should Conv sistently exposing the TUC's The more the union leaders spells the pool, very back down from the fight, Instead, the Act since Robert Carr fir they claim. some men Press workers

HOIC

Vilal developing Yesterday's front of comes ailer page w na native leadership. "The however, seizing chance Times' simply confirmed need a big an all-too- all of our warnings. Let's go up rebruary's fund. The article abour out written by now ana race possible. Post all your donations anonymous correspon immediately said: The

TUC

policy of to: February Appeal total opposition to the Industrial Workers And Richard acting Fund Relations Act and all the agencies chairman the em- ot 186a Clapham High Stree connected with it is expected to ployers, has that London, SW4 7UC be reconsidered soon. accelerate may loudy s 'The outcome would be the port, Today's appeal, unlikel defiance officia ot the rUC boycott of the Act, right Irresistible pressure actively (but wingers have been

WEATHER

the committee secretly, will Commission on Industrial Re- which wil probably lations... lock and reference E AND CENIRAL Englana Will made with an be with frost sunny, but co-overdon was Showers public by Len Neal, chairman of places at first. longed later in the daor becoming 11101C return the men pool the could lead strike and Scotland will have revealed that parts of the Acts Code have been showers, with clear sunny Practice drawn up by the TUC. what many dockers inter- intervals. CoUL TOLe We've also traced these right- pret as an attempt to head rain will spread from the south- unions-the such action, union chief Jack west later wingers. Four ser. All W districts will have fre- appealed the workers quent snowers or longer

DCLIOUS

of perhaps Association have

WITN

Launder al- secretary of the Trans locally. showers ad in the s ready registered: Jones, Workers ground in the Later month Lord and snow over high

OCEL

Cooper's General and Municipal Union lost of Temperatures will be near normal great will credibility by his retreat when all districts. which staged the first strike Outlook Saturday and special conference at the dockers showers at will recommend in 1970. But Sunday: Rain or against the Tories The to seek Bright periods. next many stewards will nevertheless Times. be almost certainly heed his plea.

rather colder. rexisualion

LI C

electricians' union, led by Frank Despite strike the its plans,

NEWS DESK

Halonal

DORI

stewaruk Coll has mittee never chauenced 01-720 2000 TUC's Jones on the drawn abolition of dock labour failure to reinforce its conference

CIRCULATION

decision on rebel unions.

Unions held with port scuene 01-622 7029 who register should be expelled. employers. Workers Press uncovered these with Victor reathet DUl talks maining silent on registration, the early as January last right are being offered field day to behave just Urgently needed on the docks they now h win prepare a gently hop 26: which eather is January sala on urgently for •Feather frantically trying to what is clearly to be a key battle action against the against the Tories.

FROM IAN YEATS IN S WALES

S WALES miners gave the thumbs down to the Coal Board's new offer yesterday: 'It's worse than before,' Simmonds told me at the Celynen miner Desmond station picket line outside Rogerstone power near Newport. around 'They're just juggling with the same figures. There's no and it's spread over backdating 18 months. I don't think Joe Gormley will The men even consider it. won't accept it anyway. It would have to come back to a ballot and be then would definitely it down.' thumbs Hundreds of S Wales miners are without coal themselves and of cash, many have run out especially the single men, but the Coal Board's new offer has only fanned the flames of defiance.

Said Mr Simmonds: 'We've stuck it out for five weeks and we're broke, so we might as well stick it out until they give us what we want. "The miners have gone back like a lot of sheep in the past, together and but now we're all won't be back for we going nothing. 'It will take £4 or f5 to get and then us back now even will be touch and go! The pickets called on the NUM stranglehold to tighten their If we stop a lot power stations. away from the closed Saltley coal depot we'il do more power stations, Simmonds. some good, said Mr Pointing across, to Rogerstone he told me: "They power station, are desperate here. They haven't had a load of coal, oil or nitrogen for five weeks and they're trying all ways to get it in. But we are not letting anything through'

GENERAL

STRIKE

Mr Simmonds said he saw no y debunked the TUC's phoney chance of the Tories giving way. It's the government fight- we're rial Relations Act. Not that it ing,' he told me. 'Ezia said so Workers Press has been con- himself. They won't make us special case because if they allow TUC's feather-like attacks on us to go above 7 per cent, every- Carr first introduced it.

body will jump in. It's all very well asking them not to, but they will. rebel unions. He is hoping that if 'We've got to fight this govern- Tories give the TUC the ment and beat them. If we can't official assurance will that they beat, them now we're out on (in the miners' not use the Act strike, we'll never do it. If we strike),

TUC

policy the on go back now we may as well not well be reversed registration may have come out. We'll be a laugh- later this year when the full TUC ing stock. meets. But warned: 'We'll get 'The Times' ended its article nowhere on our own. The govern- yesterday with this: 'Other ment is determined to smash us unions have followed the present and we're not strong enough (non-registration) policy only alone. of a sense of loyalty to the

TUC

and would like nothing | 'Now that a state of emergency more declared the

TUC

than to regularize their position.

has been At this year's congress there will should lot fetch the out on a be calls for a change.' General Strike' Youna Socialists National Right to Work Campaign from Glasgow to London arrives in

CARLISLE

Saturday February 12

COME TO OUR RALLY

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 13

City Hal Carlisle, 7.00 p.m.