Workers Press no. 770

workers press

BUILD COUNCILS

Liverpool Trades Council takes the

INCORPORATING THE NEWS

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL

THE BRITISH working working class unites to make the government resign. class is passing through The Tory government will never some of the most danger- forgive the miners for the retreat forced upon it in February.

And ous days of its long his- they intend to prevent dockers, tory. At the hands of the railwaymen or any other

SCCUOR

National Industrial Rela- of workers from doing the same April thing. As Heath said on tions Court, millions of 19: workers and their 'We have got this Bill, we are going to use it, and we will see families are being sys- this through. tematically deprived of While the trade union leaders the basic rights which comply with the legal decrees of the Industrial Court, the working have until now made it class shows that it will not sit possible to fight and live.

back and allow its rights to be destroyed. The Taff Vale judgement of Shall the union leaders be 1901 formation of brought the allowed surrender to the the Labour Party. The revival of rights gained in the two cen- Taff Vale today signals the turies of struggle, or will the opening of revolutionary up working class fight back?

struggles. The working class, always, as Heath and his Tory govern- will fight defend its basic have embarked on this and the Tory government rights,

SCORE

course and they will not turn would have to defeat this work- Every back. single worker must ing class in action to get its way.

realize that there will be no This is what it is preparing to do.

'negotiated' out of the The trade union and Labour There will only be a fight crisis. leaders will do anything to help to the end. the Tories through this by crisis Either the government and retreat class-collaboration. imposes a new slave But the issue status on does not rest with the working class by destroying them: basic class forces are in trade unions and wiping out great historical the motion; changes 200 of history, years or the are inevitably posed to the ruling LIVERPOOL Trades Coun- cil has voted overwhelmingly to set up a Council of Action *to immediate organize an response to government action against the dockers from sentatives all working- and to unite the whole of class organizations trade in Merseyside struggle stewards unions, shop com- the Tory against govern- tenants' mittees, committees, ment'. unemployed and working-class Over 100 delegates took part political parties'-to set up the in the meeting on Thursday Council. night which called for The decision was carried as immediate meeting of repre- an addendum to a resolution THE INDUSTRIAL war in Britain reached a new climax yesterday as the rail unions and the govern- ment set themselves on a collision course. As the Appeal Court backed the government ballot the train drivers union ASLEF called for a special TUC con- ference and a war on the Industrial Relations Act.

ASLEF leader Ray Buckton (right) said he was dis- appointed with the verdict but he was confident his members would vote against the government.

HE NEWSLETTER • SATURDAY MAY 20, 19

ENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCI

the class; the issues can only be resolved in struggle. The working-class movement must now prepare and act with great urgency and resolution to defeat the Tories' plans. Rule by decree is being built up to Co replace capital parliamentary democracy. Elementary rights to justice are to disappear, as the Tory government sets and rules through its own appointed courts. The actions of the National Industrial Relations Court, intended as a blunt instrument to tame the working class after the miners' strike, are stiffening resistance of millions of the workers. in the As they have shown municipal elections as well as in their actions on the railways and docks, workers feel they can beat the government, and they are right. They will not tolerate dictatorial decrees from a Tory government ruling without a fat mandate. Armed with the authority of the Court, the Tories' plan could well be to provoke a major con- frontation with the dockers and the railwaymen. They would then declare a state of national emergency and use special powers, backed by the decisions of the Industrial Relations Court, to smash the unions at factory and local level, and to me from the trades council con- demning the TUC General Council for advising unions to before the National appear Industrial Relations Court as a flagrant breach of TUC policy.

The resolution demanded a special Trades Union Congress and called on the TUC to AY 20, 1972 • No. 770 • 4p

E SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

Statement by the Political Committee the Socialist Labou hit at left-wing organizations.

Those who oppose their illegal acts will be condemned as law- breakers, arrested and jailed.

The continued authority of the National Industrial Relations to Court now demands that it must proceed to fine and jail rank- and-file trade unionists.

An open clash between the organized workers and the gov- ernment is now inevitable. This necessitates the most responsible and thorough political prepara- tion. The first need is to unite the working class to fight for the return of a Labour government pledged to socialist policies.

Every speech by Heath which conciliation and nego- the talks of tiation is a smokescreen obscure the Tories' real plans.

Every approach by TUC of general secretary Feather and the Council to the Tory General Cabinet is time lost, creating illusions and fatal preparing defeats. Seeming to put off the con- frontation, these treacherous actions only ensure even more bitter struggles later on, under worse conditions. Every retreat only whets the appetite of the Tories. The trade union leaders who refused to fight the Industrial Relations Bill by mobilizing their members for a General Strike to break off immediately all talks with the Tory government on regulating wages and other methods of co-operation. It also called on the TUC in conjunction with the National Council of Labour to organize a 24-hour General Strike as part of a campaign to defend workers at present under attack by the Industrial Relations Act and to bring down the Tories and re-elect a Labour government pledged to socialist policies. nittee of abour League bring down the Tories bear a terrible historical responsibility.

These same leaders helped the Tories once more by trying to sell wage restraint in exchange for the non-activation of the Bill.

Now they are divided and im- potent. But the struggle cannot be postponed. We could be only weeks away from a General Strike provoked by the NIRC. Now is the time for the working-class movement to be mobilized to defeat the Tories, before their plans are completed. Because in the background the Tories are also preparing, through changes in the army and police, the machinery to counter-attack when the working class forces them to resign and elect a Labour government. The police raids on the homes of hundreds of socialists in March and the attack on the rights of accused persons in court, all are deliberate prepar- ations. Ulster is the training- ground. Donaldson and the Industrial Court have brutally demonstrated that the unions cannot defend themselves under the law. They cannot win. But these unions are the bread and butter of every worker and his family. They are the guarantee of every single democratic right.

How then can the unions be defended? Only by the mobiliz- ation of the working class politically to make the Tory government resign. Such a mobilization will em- brace very broad the masses, vast majority ot the population.

The unbearable rise in the cost of living (17.2 per cent increase in food prices since June 1970), the existence of close to 1 million unemployed, the threat of doubled rents, and the attack on democratic and trade union rights, affect virtually everybody, including the middle classes.

With the Tories deliberately preparing to provoke a General Strike, what alternative faces the working class except to prepare for a General Strike itself?

A decisive policy by the labour movement now can unite all the anti-Tory forces and stop the Tory conspiracy to replace parlia- mentary democracy with dictator- ship: FIRST, there must be formed Councils of Action in every area, as in the period before 1926, to unite all those fighting against the government on all issues. This is the only way to defend trade unions and it is the key to every anti-Tory struggle. These councils must consist of all workers' organizations: trade unions, Labour Parties, the SLL, Communist Parties and all socialist tendencies, as well as committees, tenants' co-oper- atives-in short, all sections of the labour movement. These Councils of Action will be the basis all over the country to organize massive resistance to the plans of the Tory govern- ment. This organized resistance is the very minimum requirement

SEE PAGE 2 COL. 1

workers press

BUILD COUNCILS

Liverpool Trades Council takes the

INCORPORATING THE NEWS

DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL

THE BRITISH working working class unites to make the government resign. class is passing through The Tory government will never some of the most danger- forgive the miners for the retreat And forced upon it in February.

ous days of its long his- they intend to prevent dockers, tory. At the hands of the railwaymen or any other section of workers from doing the same National Industrial Rela- April thing. As Heath said on tions Court, millions of 19: workers and their 'We have got this Bill, we are going to use it, and we will see families are being sys- this through tematically deprived of While the trade union leaders the basic rights which comply with the legal decrees of the Industrial Court, the working have until now made it class shows that it will not sit possible to fight and live.

back and allow its rights to be destroyed. The Taff Vale judgement of Shall the union leaders be 1901 brought the formation of surrender allowed to the the Labour Party. The revival of rights gained in the two cen- Taff Vale today signals the turies of struggle, or will the of revolutionary opening up struggles. working class fight back?

working The class, as always, Heath and his Tory govern- will fight to defend basic have embarked this Tory ment on rights, and the government and they will not turn would have to defeat this work- Every back. single worker must ing class in action to get its way.

realize there be that will no This is what it is preparing to do.

'negotiated' There will only be a fight The trade and Labour leaders do anything to help will to the end. the Tories through this crisis Either the government and class-collaboration. imposes But the issue does not rest with a new slave status on the working class by destroying basic class forces them: are in the trade unions and wiping out historical changes motion; great 200 years of history, the are inevitably posed to the ruling VE t LIVERPOOL Trades Coun- cil has voted overwhelmingly to set up a Council of Action 'to immediate organize an response to government action the against dockers sentatives from all working- and to unite the whole of class organizations trade in Merseyside struggle stewards' unions, shop com- Tory against the tenants' govern- committees, mittees, ment. unemployed and working-class Over 100 delegates took part political parties'—to set up the Thursday in the meeting on Council. night which called for The decision was carried as an immediate meeting of 'repre- an addendum to a resolution THE INDUSTRIAL war in Britain reached a new climax yesterday as the rail unions and the govern- ment set themselves on a collision course. As the Appeal Court backed the government ballot the train drivers union ASLEF called for a special TUC con- ference and a war on the Industrial Relations Act.

ASLEF leader Ray Buckton (right) said he was dis- appointed with the verdict but he was confident his members would vote against the government.

HE NEWSLETTER • SATURDAY MAY 20, 19

ENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCI

the class; the issues can only be resolved in struggle. The working-class movement must now prepare and act with great urgency and resolution to defeat the Tories' plans. Rule by decree is being built up to capital parliamentary democracy. Elementary rights to justice are to disappear, as the government sets up and rules through its own appointed The actions of the National Industrial Relations Court, intended as a blunt instrument to tame the working class after the miners' strike, are stiffening resistance of the millions of workers. As they • have shown . in the municipal elections as well as in their actions on the railways and docks, workers • feel they can beat the government, and they are right. They will not tolerate dictatorial decrees from a Tory government ruling without a mandate. Armed with the authority of the Court, the Tories' plan could well be to provoke a major con- frontation with the dockers and the railwaymen. They would then declare of national a state and use special emergency powers, backed by the decisions of the Industrial Relations Court, to smash the unions at factory and local level, and to me from the trades council con-

TUC

demning the General Council for advising unions to before the National appear Industrial Relations Court as a flagrant breach of TUC policy.

The resolution demanded a special Trades Union Congress and called on the TUC to AY 20, 1972 • No. 770 • 4p

E SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

Statement by the Political Committee the Socialist Labou hit at left-wing organizations.

Those who oppose their illegal acts will be condemned as law- breakers, arrested and jailed.

The continued authority of the National Industrial Relations Court now demands that it must proceed to fine and jail rank- and-file trade unionists.

An open clash between the organized workers and the gov- ernment is now inevitable. This necessitates the most responsible and thorough political prepara- tion. The first need is to unite the working class to fight for the return of a Labour government pledged to socialist policies.

Every speech by Heath which talks of tiation smokescreen obscure the Tories' real plans.

Every approach

TUC

by general secretary Feather and the General Council to the Tory Cabinet is time lost, creating illusions and fatal preparing defeats. Seeming to put off the con- frontation, these treacherous actions only ensure even more bitter struggles later on, under worse conditions. Every retreat only whets the appetite of the Tories. The trade union leaders who refused to fight the Industrial Relations Bill by mobilizing their members for a General Strike to break off immediately all talks with the Tory government on regulating wages and other methods of co-operation. It also called on the TUC conjunction with the National Council of Labour to organize a 24-hour General Strike as part of a campaign to defend workers at present under attack by the Industrial Relations Act and to bring down the Tories and re-elect a Labour government pledged to socialist policies. nittee of abour League ons. bring down the Tories bear a egal terrible historical responsibility.

These same leaders helped the Tories once more by trying to sell wage restraint in exchange for the non-activation of the Bill.

Now they are divided and im- potent. But the struggle cannot be postponed. We could be only weeks away from a General Strike provoked by the NIRC. Now is the time for the working-class movement to be mobilized to defeat the Tories, before their plans are completed. Because in the background the Tories are also preparing, through changes in the army and police, the machinery to counter-attack when the working class forces them to resign and elect a Labour government. The police raids on the homes socialists in of hundreds of March and the attack on the rights of accused persons in court, all are deliberate prepar- ations. Ulster is the training- ground. Donaldson and the Industrial Court have brutally demonstrated that the unions cannot defend themselves under the law. They cannot win. But these unions are the bread and butter of every worker and his family. They are the guarantee of every single democratic right.

How then can the unions be defended? Only by the mobiliz- ation of the : working class politically to make the Tory government resign. Such a mobilization will em- brace very broad the masses, vast majority of the population.

The unbearable rise in the cost of living (17.2 per cent increase in food prices since June 1970), the existence of close to 1 million unemployed, threat the of doubled rents, and the attack on democratic union and trade rights, affect virtually everybody, including the middle classes.

With the Tories deliberately preparing to provoke a General Strike, what alternative faces the working class except to prepare for a General Strike itself?

A decisive policy by the labour movement now can unite all the anti-Tory forces and the stop Tory conspiracy to replace parlia- mentary democracy with dictator- ship: FIRST, there must be formed Councils of Action in every area, as in the period before 1926, to unite all those fighting against the government on all issues. This is the only way to defend trade unions and it is the key to every anti-Tory struggle. These councils must consist of all workers' organizations: trade unions, Labour Parties, the SLL, Communist Parties and socialist tendencies, as well as tenants' committees, co-oper- atives—in short, all sections of the labour movement. These Councils of Action will be the basis all over the country to organize massive resistance to the plans of the Tory govern- This organized resistance ment. is the very minimum requirement

SEE PAGE 2 COL. I

PAGE 2 Workers Press, Saturday May 20, WHEN IT comes to looking for linings clouds of economic crisis you assiduous can't find a more applicant than the 'Morning Star' editor. yesterday's editorial he be- In comes almost euphoric about month's this unemployment figures. He certainly doesn't share the scepticism of even right-wing Social Democrats who like Reg Prentice MP, described them as 'intolerably high' the for May for over 30 years. He makes no mention of the fact that in Scotland and the North jobless rates have broken all post-war records.

These facts and the prospect that unemployment figures will shoot-up steeply in the autumn once Common Market entry is complete and the trade war intensifies is of little concern to him. In fact they could be positively embarrassing because they contradict his Stalinist thesis that the boom can be maintained by working-class 'pressure'. 'The Tories have been forced reluctantly and slowly by mass especially from the pressure, union movement, trade to introduce some measures which may be having a limited effect.

The fights put up by the UCS, Plessey and other workers and redun- against closures dancies, and the many battles to push up wages to increase purchasing power and therefore demand for goods, have had an impact.' This is a dangerously over- diversionary Simplified and argument which reverses the sequence of cause and effect in the process of accumulation. It recognized, has long been by bourgeois com- even mentators, that the Tories, as previous Labour as the well overnment. in their haste to enter the Common Market and necessary sur- accumulate the pluses to do so, set out to cut domestic consumption and the money supply at an inordinately high rate. They over-reacted to the. point Far where they were faced with industrial serious stagnation and a government-induced de- pression. This trend, coincid- ing with the general crisis of world economy exacerbated by the August 15, 1971, measures of Nixon, could have led to an • critical situation for extremely the Tories. By the middle of 1971 all sections of the capitalist class were agreed that certain relaxation of measure on investment were credit and necessary if profit rates were to revive. But this stimulus

• FROM PAGE 1

for the working class to prevent gained destruction of all it has in 200 years of struggle.

The Councils of Action will be the organs which defend the working class against the Tory counter-attack when a Labour government is elected. They will carry through the socialist policies demanded such a government by expropriat- ing the employers and defending the gains thus made. of

SECOND.

These Councils Action will prepare to defeat the Tories in the General Strike, and will demand of the TUC that nationally co-ordinated pre- parations for the General Strike preparations in the are made, hands of the Councils of Action.

Those union like Jones of the Feather in the TUC, who break the decisions of elected confer- ences to capitulate to the Tory and the Industrial overnment must be made account- Court able to the rank and file of the movement. Every T&GWU member must demand recall of the T&GWU Biennial Conference. If Feather will not do it the TUC majority must immediately reconvene the TUC to discuss у Мау 20, 1972 alone could not have worked unless certain political con- ditions were satisfied. These were: 1. the successful passage of the White Paper on the Common Market. out 2. the enactment of the Industrial Relations Bill. 3. the revaluation of the yen and the deutschemark and the 'dirty floating' of the pound on the international foreign currency exchanges. It was this modest and care- fully-controlled fillip to invest- ment, which, incidentally, led to the tremendous speculation in land and house pronerty and created the objective conditions for a renewal of trade union struggle. The high point in this upsurge was the miners' strike.

Contrary to what the 'Star' alleges, it was the slight reflation of the economy by the Tories that stimulated working- class militancy and not the other way round. This is a point of seminal im- portance to Marxists because it is only by understanding this relationship that we can pre- pare for the next stage of the struggle to force the Tories to resign. Those who believe that working- 'pressure' forced the class Tories to reflate-as the Stalin- ists do-must, by the logic of this reformist thesis, capitulate to the Tories and abandon even the pretence of a struggle against the Tory government.

This is precisely what the Stalin- ists propose in the 'Star': 6 ...the greatest possible pressure needs to be developed for which will make measures drastic cuts in unemployment and lead to full employment.'

(Our emphasis.) Capitulation the Tories is to also capitulation to the trade union leaders who betray the struggle against the Industrial Relations Act. That is why the 'Star' editorial can praise Hull docks shop stewards' chairman Walter Cunningham, but re- mains cringingly silent on the retreat led by the union chiefs from any fight on the Act.

Far from giving in to pressure by the workers we confidently state that the Tories will do what Marx predicted in 'Capital': •..as soon as adverse circum- stances prevent the creation of an industrial reserve army ..

capital ... rebels against the 'sacred' laws of supply and demand, and tries to check its inconvenient action by forcible state interference' means and In other words, if you want full employment prepare to meet the provocative attacks of the Tories and force them to resign through a General Strike.

the urgent tasks of the new . ar situation. The decision of Jones and the T&GWU officials to obey the Court and discipline shop stew- ards holds out the gravest dangers and must be completely opposed by workers everywhere. THIRD. The Councils of Action must have a political programme against the Tory government and to answer the crisis.

This programme is to make the Tories resign and elect a to Labour government pledged. to socialist policies. The working class will . not tolerate a Labour government like that of Wilson which served the employers. The Labour gov- ernment nationalize the must banks, the building societies and companies and all insurance major industries, without com- pensation and under workers' control. It must withdraw all troops from overseas, release all political prisoners and internees in every the world under its part of influence. It must disband the standing

AS NIXON HEADS

PRESIDENT Nixon is assured of a fulsome wel- come when he lands in Monday, Moscow on despite the provocative US blockade of Haiphong and the escalation of the Vietnam war. According to Moscow Radio, he will find a 'sincere negotiating partner' in the Soviet Union. The radio said the Soviet leaders were 'striving to give the idea of co-operation between states and peoples real substance and help towards a practical settlement of real problems.

'Despite the current turbulent international events and sharp turns in the international situa- tion,' the radio said, 'our coun- try fundamentally observes in its foreign policy the Leninist prin- ciples of peaceful co-existence and favours settling international problems at the negotiating table.'

A particularly ominous passage in the Radio's broadcasts on May 18 implied that Nixon's visit Soviet-US rela- could produce tions comparable with the war- time alliance between Stalin and Roosevelt. Dr Petr Shishkin, described as historian, Soviet prominent a said: The principles of peaceful manifested them- co-existence selves most fully in these periods of American-Soviet relations when realism dominated in the policy of American statesmen. 'We might mention President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in this respect. During his term of office diplomatic relations were established and economic and trade ties developed successfully?

An even more important fea- ture of Soviet-American relations during this period was the con- clusion of the Yalta and Potsdam agreement which cynically divided Europe into spheres of influence and under which Stalin agreed to co-operate in restoring caDi- talism in West Germany, Italy Greece and France. The secret diplomatic dealing behind the backs of the working in class embodied Yalta and Potsdam is the essence of the Stalinist policy of 'peaceful co- The Soviet leaders existence'. cynically misrepresent this policy as 'Leninist'. in But they sub- practice ordinate the revolutionary struggle of the international working class to the diplomatic requirements their own bureaucratic rule. As Shishkin puts it: "The element of mutual benefit is a distinguishing feature of peaceful co-existence.'

army to prevent it from becom- ing the centre of an ultra-right Franco-type conspiracy. It must replace it with a workers' militia, democratically elected with officers and subject to the control of the working class through the trade unions and Councils Action. It must enter into reciprocal trading relations with the Soviet Eastern Europe Union, China, and all countries who are willing to trade without political ties.

In conjunction with such a trading policy the Labour govern- ment must take immediate steps to prevent devaluation and an- other balance of payments crisis a) Confiscating the immense in- held overseas vestments British banks, insurance houses, big corporations and wealthy individuals. b) Repudiating all international short-term debts. c) Establishing a state monopoly of foreign trade. Withdrawing from IMF and d) other imperialist bodies.

It must end secret diplomacy,

1DS FOR MOSCOW ...

is BY JOHN SPENCER He adds: 'The principles of peaceful co-existence also [sic] tally with the interests of the peoples of the capitalist states.'

The implication is that what is good for the capitalist rulers of the West is also good for the working class. The biggest danger of all is to the Vietnamese revolution. What kind of are the concessions Soviet leaders planning to offer Nixon in the privacy of the Kremlin?

AROUND THE WORLD

THE

TREATIES

with Poland Union, which and the Soviet existing frontiers, accept were passed yesterday by the upper German West house of the They will become parliament. President Gustav law when the ratifying Heinemann signs Bill next week. majority in the upper house, abstained from voting. But both houses passed unani- mously all-party resolution an which claims that the pacts only establish a modus vivendi and do not create a permanent legal basis for the existing German frontiers. The Polish government fears AMERICAN GIs have been cap- tured in recent fighting in Viet- nam, according to Nguyen Huu President of the National Tho, Liberation Front. The claim was made in an interview published in the French Communist daily, 'L'Humanité'. South Vietnamese forces are making desperate attempts to pre- pare for the expected onslaught on Hué by making sorties to disrupt positions and enemy lost territory. regain Buddhist monks and supporters of the Cao Dai sect have called publish all secret agreements, in- cluding all Cabinet minutes up to the present day. The Industrial Relations. Act must be repealed forthwith, the NIRC disbanded and its officials sacked. The right to strike and organize freely in trade unions must be legislated. On this basis, full employment, rising living standards, decent housing at fair rents and the re- storation of all welfare, health and education benefits must proceed. There is no time to lose! The working class will fight every inch of the way to stop the Tory attack, but it must not fight with one hand tied behind its back.

The trade union leaders will either become policemen patrol- ling their unions on behalf of the they will Industrial Court, cr become the democratically elec- ted representatives of the rank and file. There is no middle road.

All those leaders who collaborate with the Tory Court must be replaced by leaders who will be subject to the, decisions of the members. their refusal to cancel By Nixon's visit, despite the mining of the North Vietnamese coast, the Soviet leaders have already they consider signalled that Vietnam to a European their security conference and for trade terms with the US. The international working class must be on its guard against a new Geneva sell-out of the Vietnamese struggle. The Krem- lin's secret diplomacy places the long struggle of the Vietnamese workers and peasants in greatest danger. the Kremlin is prepared to go too far in making concessions to Bonn. Poland acquired territory from Germany at the end of World War II and wants definite guarantee of its present frontiers.

Chancellor Willy Brandt's gov- ernment nearly fell on the issue, while the ratification Christian Democrats, although divided, are now in a position to force Brandt call an early to General Election in which the treaties will be a major factor.

This comes in . the midst of growing economic depression is when the working class demands of ithe scene with coming. onto own • the Brandt government. soners for a permanent ceasefire and the foreign withdrawal all military aid from Vietnam within six months.. They offered to act as go-between to bring about a peace settlement. by the Foreign A statement Ministry of North Vietnam says that 'the Vietnam problem must be solved by Vietnam and the United States at the Paris con- ference on the basis of respect for Vietnam's independence, uni- fication and territorial integrity and for the South Vietnamese people's right to self-determin- ation'. It is through this political struggle that the unions become fighting instruments, enabling the workers going beyond the elec- tion of a Labour government to the actual wresting of power and property from the capitalist class.

It is in this struggle that the revolutionary leadership will be built. Without these Councils of Action, without the programme outlined here, the working class will be left defenceless in face of the Tory plans to provoke a General Strike, Emergency Powers, arrests and jailings.

When Heath said to the United Nations in 1970 that we faced a decade of civil wars, this is what he meant. It is for this, and not for 'conciliation', that the Tories are preparing. • Victory to the railwaymen!

• No retreat before the NIRC!

• Victory to the dockers!

The trade unions must set up Councils of Action in every area! Prepare for the General Strike! We appeal to all workers to im- support this policy and mediately apply to join the Socialist Labour League, work- it into ing with us to transform a revolutionary party. May 19, 1972.

Fighting the Tories' Rent Bill Revolt planned against consenting councillors A HIGH-LEVEL investiga- tion has been started into the riot by prisoners at Dublin's Mountjoy jail on Thursday night. Three prisoners who climbed on the roof of 'B'-wing identified themselves as Provisional IRA members. They said they wanted to negotiate a speedy trial for men on remand-some of whom had already spent four months in jail. One man who climbed on the roof, Alphonsus O'Riain, told reporters: 'We want to say we have no fight against the Irish people, the ordinary Gardai, or the warders, Our fight is against the collaboration forces, the Special Branch,. the secret service and the British authorities who direct them. We know these people receive from Trouble began when 30 or 40 political prisoners seized cell block keys. They then released other prisoners and within a few minutes warders were over- powered and the block sealed.

Altogether about 100 prisoners were involved. Large-scale evacuation of Mountjoy prisoners began yes- terday. • Prisoners were herded into vehicles and • through rushed Dublin under heavy police escort.

It is thought some of them were going to the detention centre at Curragh and the military the centre at Arabour Hill, Dublin.

The transfer operation began after a government bureau an- nounced that all the prison cells 'unoccupiable' because of were riot damage. A WARNING that industrial unrest in the printing in- dustry would hinder chances of business recovery was made yesterday by Sir Max Bemrose, president of the British Federation of Master Printers. He said it had been a tough year for the industry. There had been for the first unemployment time in 25 years and more than 200 firms had closed in the last four years. The federation's annual report said there were signs of improve- ment in business confidence, but he warned the situation had not been helped by overtime bans imposed by two unions seeking wage claims. He forecast: "There will cer- tainly be an increase in the demand for the services of the printing industry and it is up with full to co-operation between unions and management, both to meet those demands efficiently and profitably He said the Common Market was 'certainly one of the most important factors in our im- mediate future'. SOUTH LONDON tenants and Labour Party members have launched a campaign against the decision by two Labour councils to implement the Tories 'fair rents' Bill.

In Wandsworth the Tenants' Joint Action Committee has called for the resignation of the 29 Labour councillors who voted for implementation. Plans are also being laid for a possible rent strike, marches on councillor's homes, lobbies and rallies. HULL SHOP stewards have voted unanimously to continue their black- ing of three local con- tainer firms. The decision was taken in defiance of special pleading by two local officials of the Transport and General Wor- kers' Union, David Shenton and Brian Barker. Shenton, the district secretary, and Barker, the docks secretary, this week became the first

T&GWU

officials to appear be- fore the Tory National Industrial Relations Court. SIR JOHN DONALDSON, pre- sident of the National Industrial Relations Court, has his legal equals across the Atlantic.

This is a ruling by Judge Kroninger on a strike by mem- giant bers of the Teamsters' Union at Pepsi Cola company in California: 'One can't be permitted . to uncage a tiger and then throw up his hands, claiming that he shouldn't be held responsible because he no longer has control of it. If a union has chosen to unleash its members it has got something more than to do stand by! BY PHILIP WADE Our Housing Correspo A committee spokesman said: 'A number of councillors have said they believe that they would get no support if they decided to vote for non-implementation.

Not one of the councillors has legislation is a good piece of said this The narrow council majority in favour followed a number of stormy meetings in the Labour which had eventually group voted for non-implementation.

The council's decision has led to the resignation from the group

FROM OUR OWN CORR

They were later commended by Court president Donaldson, for their sincere and 'genuine' intervention. 'We have been greatly impressed and assisted by the oral evidence which union officials have given in this case,' Donaldson gushed.

After pleading with the Hull shop stewards at a meeting on Thursday night, a vote was taken.

In a case which paralleled the recent court battle involving the NIRC and the and Transport Workers' Union, Kron- General inger found the Teamsters legally responsible for their members' actions. He fined the union $41,000 on 82 counts of 'violence, vandalism and mass picketing'. The multi-million Pepsi Cola company also came in for its share of punishment—$1,500 their crimes only in- but then cluded pulling guns on pickets and attempting to run them over on the picket line: 6l l

BECAUSI

OUT

LUMP

AN , Correspondent of council leader lan McGarry (31) and several other leading Labour members. "The council should be pre- pared to refuse to carry out this legislation, even if it means that put in housing the Tories a commissioner,' added the spokes- man. A committee statement says: 'We also throw out a challenge to those councillors who vote to implement the Bill to resign seats and stand for re-election. 'You were elected to look Workers Press, Sat

WN CORRESPONDENT

led The 36 stewards unanimously decided to continue the blacking of MAT Transport, Panalpina (Northern) Limited and a ferry firm. At the court on Thursday, Donaldson found that the

T&GWU

and Walter Cunning- ham, chairman Hull shop stewards' committee, were guilty of an unfair industrial practice.

issued a permanent order against the defendants calling on them to stop the blacking.

The union is appealing. Mr Cunningham, who has boy- cotted all court proceedings, said he did not recognize the authority of the NIRC. The 43-year-old docker added: "The blacking will not be lifted.

Even if I am left languishing in jail at the end of the day, they will still have to face the national stewards' committee.' shop It was the national committee which originally introduced the the nation-wide ban on a number of container firms. "The committee will lift it, not me. No matter what they do to me, they will have to face the stewards. They national shop will have the last word.'

BUILDING WORKERS in on strike for a week against and for the reinstatement of at the National Hospital, Q been made official by the I Allied Trades and Technician and General Workers' Unior A steel-fixing company, Gofix Ltd, into went liquidation shortly after refusing to accept the cards of two new em- ployees and the four steel-fixers were made redundant. The company that suc- Ebannon ceeded them,

OUT

Ltd, employed only two people and Lovell's, the main contractors, gave these two the go-ahead to work as director-workers on the site. Senior steward George O'Driscoll said that these two adopted an "anti-trade union attitude at work. "This represents an break the attempt to at Lovell's, organization which is 100 per cent.' He said that they were trying to get an emergency recall of the T&GWU building trade group to make the dispute official.

after the interests of the com- munity, not to assist the Tories in driving down the living standards of working people.'

A Lambeth Labour Party spokesman said that the Party did not want the council to implement any part of the Bill.

'While we cannot dictate to the councillors, they should con- leaders, sider their in Lambeth, Position as he said. • See page 4: 'The tenants' fight in Nottingham. • Page 8: The Communist Party and the 'fair rents' Bill.

1972 PAGE 3

Cunningham: : They Tall but they still have to deal through the stewards. the shop stewards Yesterdar held a meeting with MAT Trans- the three blacked port, Before the Cun- 11c clill ningham said: I hold out hopes the talks with the firms— I do on any just as firm's said spokesmar there nad already been of discussion' with the T&GWU's docks also announced yester WaN day Thal be held on Hull docks on Mon- day which

T&GWU

would speak. Builders fear for BUILDING WORKERS in central London, have been on strike for a week against non-union sub-contractors and for the reinstatement of four steel-fixers. The strike, at the National Hospital, Queen Square, London, has made official by the Union of Construction and Allied Trades and Technicians, but not by the Transport

ALL TRADES UNIONS

ALLIANCE

MEETINGS

Fight the Torles' 'fair rents' Bill

NORTH

KENT:

May OGAT House 23,

SOGAT

p.m LEssex Ro Darttord DAGENHAM: Tuesday _May 23 Fanshawe 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Avenue, Barking.

CLAPHAM:

Tuesday Manhan May p.m. Small Hall, Baths, Clapham Mano St, SW4. PRESTON: Tuesday, May 23, Cial Hotel 'Railway and Commer- cial (near railway station), Butler Street. "Recal TÚC, Make the • Tories Tine resign'. WEST LONDON: Tuesday May Whartedale Ad, 8 •Prince Albert .p.m. off York Way Kings Cross. Racecourse Estate Northolt pool).

NORTH

8 p.m. Bricklayers Thursday Tottenham High Rd (nr Arms', White Hart Lane

CROYDON:

Thursday May 25, Bd.m. Ruskin House, Coombe

LUTON:

Thursday May 25, Hail: a St John Ambulance SOUTH EAST LONDON: Thure day Mar _p.m. Engineers' Club (opposite New Cross Station).

ACTON:

29 Monday Mal Co-op p.m Hall, High Ad

EAST LONDON:

Tuesday May 30, 'Aberfeldy". Aber. foldy St, E.14

" PAGE 4 Workers Press, Saturday May 21,

BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDEN*

Eight thousand families the vast Clifton On housing estate across the river Trent from Notting.

ham face real misery from the Tory Rent Bill. In the last century Notting- ham slums were known as the worst in the British Empire, while huge profits were made by the hosiery and coal-mining bosses. The answer of the working class was a long and bitter to establish basic struggle rights. Immediately following the early Luddite outbursts, the Nottingham Reform Riots of 1831 forced the Tory govern- ment of the Duke of Welling- ton to resign and opened the way for the Liberal Reform Act of 1832. Later, Nottingham was the first city to officially welcome delegates to the newly-formed Trades Union Congress. Over two centuries ago the lace operatives formed their union in Nottingham. The hope of decent housing conditions has been one of the most important results of this long struggle for political and trade union rights. For 42,000 people, Clifton Estate seemed to offer a new and healthier life. But newly re-elected Labour Churchill councillor Bob explains the reality of 1972.

'Clifton in the daytime is a ghost town because the wives go out to work to pay the rent,' he said. 'If they stick fl a week on next September, this will be wiped out.' He pointed out that a three- bedroomed house now costs £7.56 a' fortnight in rent and rates. This will go up to £9.56 and eventually in September' could double. Many of the housewives on the estate feel the present rent is excessive in view of the damp problem in the concrete council houses and the diffi- culty of getting the council to tackle repairs. 'From October to May the walls all go black with mould,' said Mrs Christine Dennis. 'I have three children and my girl's bedroom walls are wringing wet. She is off school a lot with asthma.' Mrs Maisie Levers had much the same to say: 'My complaint is the damp.

You wouldn't mind paying a bit more each week if they did the repairs, but I have to go out to work to pay the rent anyway. With the children's dinner money and my own fares there is not much left.'

Mrs Elsie Levers backed her up: 'I have damp in the back kitchen. The plaster on the walls and ceilings is cracked all over the house. All my walls are black. ay May 20, 1972

ONDENT

'I won't be able to pay the increase in the rent. I'm at work now. In 20 years I've had She also made a point that has been worrying a lot of council tenants: "They ought to stop people buying houses on the estate.

are for poor people.' These Mrs Pat Lawson, a young widow with two small children, is on the Executive Committee of the Clifton Tenants' Associ- ation. She works part-time for the Entertainment Centre that the Association has founded.

She is completely opposed to the new Bill. 'I don't think it's fair. The increases will affect us rent greatly. The scheme is sup- posed to be for poor people, but it'll only be the rich that can afford the rents.' She thinks that the scheme will drive a lot of people to consider buying their own houses and she is opposed to this. Pensioner Mrs Dora Darby illustrated the sort of increases Clifton tenants have had to face over the last few years.

I live in a bungalow. Five years ago the rent was £1.15s a week. Now it is £5.02 fortnight. I am living on a widow's pension plus social security. My pension will be going up in September, but I'm already paying a much bigger rent.' Insurance Mick agent Broughton; who has many on the estate, pin- clients pointed some of the Housing Finance Bill's more far-reaching effects: 'This is the most vicious piece of legislation for years.

It's wider than just the rents.

Inere will be a bad effect on younger couples trying to buy , houses older their because couples will be forced off the estates. "Traditionally the rent of council housing has been about 15 per cent-20 per cent of the average income. This increase will force the trade unionists demand more is just what the pay —which government does not want.

'The private sector will landlord profit-the private and the speculator. 'And this law is taking even more power out of the hands of the local authorities?

The means-test aspect of the increases sticks in the throat of Clifton tenants, many of whom work overtime to make sure there is something left over from the rent to pay for improvements to home and garden. Trade unionists, of course, are more aware of what can happen with a rebate scheme in operation. George Groves is a dues collector at work for the Hosiery Workers' Union.

'The means-test will mean that a person with four children can be paying £2 rent while the person next door will 102 80. Housing on the Clifton estate in Notting!

be paying a different rent, he said. Mr Nick Ford, a life-long miner and

G&MWU

now steward at the Nottingham Wilford power station, put the same point: 'We have worked all our lives. My basic opinion is that we have never been out of work and we don't see why we should pay more and others less. 'I don't mind pensioners and widows and such like getting a ; he said, I'm definitely rebate, going to press for a bigger wage demand.' What the housewives see is the sheer impossibility of pay- ing the new increase. 'The main thing is to try and stop it, said Mrs Eastwood at her home at Greencroft, Clifton. 'I'm against paying, definitely.

With four kids how can • you keep on paying pounds? You have to leave something out somewhere, and then you get Housing on the Clifton estate in Nottingham where tenants are plagued with the problem of damp.

in arrears.' Her husband asked: "If this Tory plan, new 1s a Will une Labour here carry it council out?' For an answer this we went to Bob Churchill. 'If we refuse to implement the Bill,' he said, 'we are liable in clink and the ena ur Tories would be in control of I'm the council. the UITe electors voted us in to run the City of Notting- affairs of the ham and not to spend time at one of her Majesty's Prisons, for not implementing govern- ment law.'

CAPITALIST

DISEASE

Unempl loyed engineering Nelson worker Fox- earth Avenue, Clifton, has very different ideas: "The Rents Act is merely a of a disease, namely symptom capitalism, 'therefore he said, robbery say with violence is stating the obvious.

"After decades of collabor- ation, the working class must organize to smash the ruling- class parasites and their stooges the Labour Party and the in trade union movement.' Nick Ford, fairly and put what he thought the squarely duty of the leaders of organized labour is: 'All the unions must stick together on this rent increase, "All said. he branche.

UDOI

TUC to and stop there were a rent strike we would all have to stick together would be discrimin- there ation against individuals.

'My opinion there should be a General Strike to get this Tory government out. For the workers of Notting- ham it would not be the first time

DANGERS IN DEFENCE OF

After seven weeks dur- ing which 100 witnesses heard and 200 were exhibits produced, the state has done nothing to substantiate charges of murder, kidnap and con- against Angela spiracy Davis. The prosecution ended its submissions five days ago with the district attorney's declara- tion: "The evidence compels a conviction.' The state's case has been deliberately presented to obscure the political content of the trial against Miss Davis, a member of the Communist Party and lecturer in German philosophy. Instead, the prosecution has sought to turn the case into a 'crime of passion'. Chief prosecutor Albert that she Harris contends planned an abortive kidnap- ransom plot in order to obtain from Marin hostages the County Courthouse, California.

hostages were These to used to barter the freedom from San Quentin of Soledad brother George Jackson. The plot ended disastrously when Jonathan Jackson, George's younger brother, was shot dead along with two other prisoners and a state judge as they were leaving the courthouse in a hired van.

Harris's case rests, he says, on letters and diaries collected by the FBI during their investi- gations. They contain corres- pondence from Miss Davis to George Jackson and 'prove', according to Harris, that her motive was 'to free the man she loved'. Against protests from the prosecution Harris got three letters and an edited version of the diary entered into the court record. He argued that unless the documents were shown to the jury 'we might as well pack up and go home.

The letters (one of which was published in full in Workers Press, May 15) are completely irrelevant to the trial. They simply express many of her deeply-held politi- cal beliefs as well as her close emotional ties to Jackson and the Soledad Brothers' cause.

What is alarming, however, is that when the prosecution introduced the letters the de- lawyers labelled Harris fence 'obscene'. They were as shocked by the 'sick game' he was playing. But Harris is not playing a 'game'. He is in deadly earnest.

As an agent of the crisis- ridden American ruling class he is desperate to railroad Miss Davis by any means at his disposal. The state is determined to carry out a conspiracy frame-up. In shrieking 'obscene' and talking about 'sick games', the defence is allowing the defence of Miss Davis to enter the murky and treacherous world of the state itself. A political defence of Miss Davis is the urgent necessity of the hour. It is no accident that it is the Communist Party which is behind Miss Davis's defence.

So far, apart from Miss Davis's own opening statement, the defence has studiously played the state's game of avoiding the direct political implica- tions of the trial. When • the defence opens next week it will be vital to see it the Davis lawyers mount a political attack on the state case to demolish it. The state case against Angela Davis has relied on some extra- ordinary witnesses. One was Louis May. He gave crucially damaging testimony that he saw Miss Davis and Jonathan Jackson emerge from a yellow Hertz rental van in San Quentin's parking lot some time before lunch on August 6, 1970, a day before the court- house shoot-out in which Jonathan was killed. May said he was stationed at the prison's East Gate entrance above the parking lot. He explained that he drove a tram used to transport visitors from the East Gate to the 'Spectro- scope Gate' about three-tenths of a mile away. May said he offered to give Jonathan Jackson a ride, but Jackson replied, 'No, thank you.? Albert Chief prosecutor Harris asked May if Jackson 'was accompanied' inside the East Gate. 'Yes, sir, May answered. May said he didn't see Miss Davis and Jackson get into the van before leaving the prison parking lot. However, he added, he did see them as the vehicle came up the ramp from the lot. "Johnathan Jackson. was driving and • Miss Davis was about in the middle of the Workers Press, front seat, sitting next to him and facing him, May said.

'I heard quite loud voices, he said, 'and they sounded argumentative' He admitted he couldn't distinguish their words. Under cross examination, however, it emerged that May was a former inmate of San Quentin. It also emerged the 'star' witness was a twice-con- victed sex offender and he had served time for burglary.

As he stood in the witness box, he faced further litigation.

Was he giving help to the state case in return for help, the defence asked-but got no reply. Another witness, Mrs Lois ers Press, Saturday May 20, 1972 PAGE 5 Leidig, testified that she was in Judge Haley's courtroom at Marin County on August 7, the day of the gun battle. She claimed to have seen George Jackson there. When the defence challenged her truth- fulness, she angrily replied: I am under oath and don't you call me a liar The defence then intro- duced a letter Mrs Leidig had written to a friend on January Il 1971, in which she said: I am hoping for this verdict for all of those anarchists involved. Our national courts need a verdict like this. Her letter also expressed support for capital punishment.

PAGE&

aa, Solarday May 20, 1872 Crisis, Credibility and the Decline of the West

BY ANNA TATE, PART TWO

Due to lack of support be purchased with expanding of manufactures. In exports for a policy of direct in- the the inter-war period, tervention in 1954 from threw Japanese industrialists in their lot with the militarists other western powers, in an effort to solve this prob- Eisenhower bided his lem through imperialism. To- time. faces day the same problem The Geneva Conference of them again in much aggravated form. The Japanese 1954 seemed to the Vietminh economy has been shorn of its to be a fair settlement. While pro- tected colonial markets, invest- dividing the country at the ment outlets and food and raw 17th parallel, the agreements materials sources, and its trade stipulated, and this be must with the Chinese mainland has stressed, that the division been reduced to a trickle.

only a temporary one, that it did not create two states but The US now had to hold two contending parties within Asia at whatever cost to the one nation-state. This peoples of that region. Elections were to be held was concealed behind a moral- within stone years he under the Thus, istic stance. Eisenhower supervision Inter- pledging in his support to national Control Commission, Diem-the most ruthless dic- as to which party should con- tator Asia had seen for some trol the entire area. time-claimed he doing Vietnam North attempted so in order to 'discourage any time and again to ensure that who might wish to impose a such elections take place. The free foreign ideology on your Americans however, had, by people. The people of South that time created a separate inflicted then had state in the South under Diem, them a series of dicta- upon protected by SEATO protocol.

the name of freedom tors in This was a flagrant violation and the foreign ideology of US of Geneva settlement, the capitalism. US although the Under- Under the wholesale repres- Secretary of State had claimed sion of Diem the National at Geneva that: Liberation Front came into being 1958. It in must be In connection with the stressed that the NLF was born statement in the Declaration in the South, on southern ini- concerning free elections in tiative, to combat the fierce Vietnam, m y government of Diem measures against the wishes to make clear its posi- Hanoi did not accord people. tion which it has expressed in its Front to the recognition a Declaration made in Wash. till two years later. ington on June 29, 1954, as Unable concede a real to "In of follows: the case mass opposition in the South, nations now divided against Eisenhower, and Kennedy, who their will, we shall continue to succeeded him President, as seek to achieve unity through used the façade of 'aggression free elections, supervised by from the North' to cloak their Nations to ensure the United intention holding on to that they are conducted South Vietnam all at costs. fairly» , Dean Rusk, Kennedy's Secre- tary of State, spoke in 1961, Dulles made explicit his re- of the 'determined and ruth- iection of the Geneva Accords less by setting up the campaign of propaganda, South East infiltration, and subversion by Asia Treaty Organization the communist regime in North (SEATO). At that time he de- Vietnam to destroy the Repub- clared: lic of Vietnam' "The important thing from Kennedy's all the war was now on is not to mourn the more subversive for being kept but face the future past to secret and illicit. In revealing opportunity to prevent the loss the story behind 'Kennedy's Vietnam War', northern from Private Ralph Stavins leading to the extension of wrote that: communism throughout South- 'During its 33 months East Asia and the South West in office, the Kennedy Administra- Pacific? tion managed and directed an line had Thus, a strategic illicit war. sending an US been drawn by the across additional 1,000 troops to Viet- South East It had been Asia. 1961. Kennedy broke nam in drawn not by accident, nor by through the MAAG ceiling and the whim of in certain violated the Geneva mon Accords. power, but through a determi- Speaking to Rusk at a National nation to protect the expansion Council Security meeting in of Nippon capitalism under the November 1961, Kennedy guidance of the

USA.

A State defined the Presidential manner Department Study Group Re- breaching inter- proper to put this verv plainly in national laws: port do we 1955. take going say anna 'Tapanese industry has long to break the Geneva Accords?

since its meagre outgrown Why not remain silent?" domestic resource-base and At the end of 1961, there must find expanding overseas 1364 of food. fuel and in- were US military per- sources South dustrial materials which sonnel in Vietnam. By can the time of Kennedy's assas- in sination November 1963, there were 15,500. The policy of 'one more step' had begun to over-reach itself. The great liberal Kennedy had waged a silent, but not a passive war.

It was he who built the élite of the Green Berets. corps According to Sorenson: '.. the President's pride was still the Army Special Forces, rapidly growing to a level some five or six times as large as when he took office •.. The President directed— again over the opposition of top generals-that the Special Forces wear Green Berets as a mark of distinction.' With the US economy still giving the false appearance of "strength, Johnson President was able not only to continue the policy of 'one more step' but to skyrocket into escala- His 'quick kill' strategy tion. required the gargantuan injec- tion of US troops irto Viet- am. By nam, together with devastating bombing and marine man- oeuvres. In the US elections of 1964, Goldwater, Barry senator champion of the ultra-right, advocated intensive bombing of North Vietnam, while John- son countered with an image of peaceful restraint, declaring on August 29, 1964: I have had advice to load our planes with bombs and to drop them on certain areas that I think would enlarge the war and result in committing a good many American boys to fighting a war that I think ought to be fought by the boys of Asia to help protect their own land. And for that reason I haven't chosen to enlarge the war.' later, in Just one _ year Johnson had August 1965, brought about a situation in which systematic bombing of Vietnam was taking place and there were already 125,000 US troops in that country. The US failing were, nevertheless, miserably to halt the guerrilla resistance. They now began to invoke the 'noble strategy of victory' i.e. American troop doubled strength was to the Pentagon's 500,000 and quotient of pain' bombing and chemical warfare were stepped up. The Vietnamese have with- stood the pain and have manifested outstandingly an heroic will to fight back.

The advent of Nixon to the Presidency in 1969 was a vic- America's so-called tory for 'silent majority'. His election was no accident. The American dream of world hegemony had taken deadly blows over a decade. The Vietnam war had deep- ened and exposed the under- lying contradictions of US imperialism. The right-wing 'silent majority' were demand- ing a return to the dream. a reassurance that all would be well, that a 'hawkish' Repub- lican would turn the tide of history. The Democrats, Kennedy had and Johnson, come to power under the impulse of a self- nation elated with confidence, Nixon under the impulse of a profound crisis of But days of confidence. the Keynesian 'economic liberalism' were over, giving rise to pro- tectionism. Trade war and military war were now to merge. The tide of history could be turned into either only barbarism or socialism. Nixon has set out on a course of barbarism the im- which are of plications of world-shattering the forces of barbarism against those of socialism, was out- rageous in its distortion. He claimed that: "Throughout the war in Viet- the United States has nam, xercised a degree of restrain precedented in the annals o That war. was our respon- sibility as a great nation-a nation which is interested, as America has always been. in peace and not in conquest.'

If the massacre of thousands, the injury of millions and the devastation of a nation for the benefit of capitalism be can restraint construed by as Nixon, what can world the expect when the 'restraint' is dropped? Nixon, the man, is un- important in this circumstance.

The objective conditions which have brought the United States to this point of decline, deadly in its intent, constitute determinant. As Franz Schurman put it: 'From the end of World War II till 1968, the vision of American Empire rested on three fundamental assump- tions: 1) that only America the strategic military to protect the free power world... 2) that the powerful American economy was the foundation of all other capi- talist and free world economies ... 3) that the political power of the American government was... alone capable of bring- kind of free ing about any world unity. As late as the little appeared to mid-1960s, contradict these assumptions. America enjoyed unmatched superiority over the Soviet Union in strategic weaponry ... Despite the spectacular growth of the Common Market countries and Japan, their dependence on America was symbolized by the centrality of the dollar in their trans- actions ..? By 1970 this vision could no longer be sustained. Gone was the centrality of the dollar.

Gone the disparity in strategic weaponry. Gone the political power of the American gov- ernment. The resignation Johnson in 1968 signalled not the demise of a man, but of the political of the power administration. Workers Loading bombers (I) In the Tonkin Gult. A Above: Diem's corpse Now. 2, 1963. Below The American industrial economy had placed an over- whelming emphasis on "high- technology production, and as a result, consumer and produc- tion goods declined. Recession and inflation with concomitant price rises and growing un- employment have led to Nixon's protectionist measures which now threaten to turn into wholesale, capitalist trade war. The high point of contradic- tion is that Japan — the very the US had country which built up as a bulwark of capi- talism in Asia-has by its very growth, come into conflict with the American economy. Schur- correctly analysed the man situation thus: "The shift from capitalistic internationalism to capitalistic nationalism in both pre-wal periods was marked bv: 1) escalating arms races between the great powers, 2) erosion of international monetary the system, and 3) rising demands larkers Proca, Salurday May 20, 1972 PAGE 7 I the Tonkin Gulf. Above: Kennedy, Johnaar Now. 2, 1963. Below: Goldwater (I) and Rusk for domestic welfare expressed by growing left-wing pressures.

Each of these three factors plays an important role in the advanced capitalist nations today. In the 1960s, America appeared committed to reach- ing an arms control agreement with the Russians. Now Nixon has committed himself irrevoc- ably to the arms race with his new "Keynesian" budget. Japan is just now entering the arms Britain's Conservative race. government is moving toward a strengthened military pos- ture. The seemingly inexorable pace of inflation in America, which can only worsen with deficit spending, assures the doom of the international monetary system' As the western world, in its decline, moves into barbarism, the only power which can reverse catastrophe is the power of the international working class and the inter- national peasantry, united and armed with Marxism.

PAGE 8 Workers Press, Saturday May 20

BY PHILIP WADE

The Tory Housing Finance Bill which will double the rents of almost 6 million council and private tenants has now passed its final stages in the House of Commons and has gone through to the House of Lords. Tenants in their tens of thousands have moved into action against the so-called "fair rents' Bill. Their pressure has thrown many Labour councils into a real Crisis. With no clear policy on the Bill, several have capitulated before Tory onslaught on to implement the Bill when and if it becomes law. Some Labour councillors have resigned in protest against these decisions while the right-wing in some areas has moved in and suspended opponents of the Bill who wanted Labour councils to have nothing to do with it.

It has to be made clear from the start that this Tory attack on housing flows directly from ever-deepening crisis of British capitalism. The Tories desperately need to drive down the conditions of the working class wherever they can. If their hated Bill becomes law the Tories will cream off £200 million in subsidies which councils have used to keep rents down. It is also estimated that the Bill will bring in an extra £500m in rents over the next few yearshalf of this will go directly to the government.

The Tories attack through need and they are heedless to pressure or protests. They have embarked strategy of a on destroying all rights. The trade the social services and unions, the welfare state, prices-all have come under the Tory fist.

question posed The central before tenants' associations, there- still remains forcing the tore, government to resign. There is no other way to defend the rights of tenants or any other section of the working class.

This means the seeking of unity in action with the big battalions of workers massed in the trade unions now preparing for a showdown with the Tories and their Industrial Relations Act. The main obstacle to the raising of the tenants' understand- ing to the need for such a per- spective is the British Communist Party. True to its reformist pro- gramme of the 'peaceful road' to socialism the Stalinists have throughout the campaign against the Bill sought to tie tenants to the coat tails of the Labour bureaucrats in the town halls.

For many years the CP has an important influence in had the tenants movement. It con- trols the National Association of Tenants and Residents which always comes through with the Party line on housing. Wherever it is involved, the ay May 20, 1972 CP has but one objective: to ensure that the movement trapped in remains protest channels that can lead nowhere.

It has separated off the fair rents' Bill, which . aims to smash the basis of municipal housing, from the whole drive of the Tories to drive down living standards through the destruction of every basic right of the work- ing class. Instead the CP has embarked on a programme of petitioning and protesting which can only confuse and out tenants wear and in which no way raises their political understanding of the fight against the Tories.

The CP's political bankruptcy is revealed for all to see in four-page pamphlet published earlier this year on the Housing Finance Bill. And what does the front page declare? 'No rent rises. The Communist Party says Kill the Tory Rent Bill' Once the CP has more resurrected the discredited slogan of Kill the Bill. Trade unionists will remember the attempts made to deflect the struggle against the Industrial Relations Bill with this line. On the back page of the pam- phlet the CP's pernicious reform- ist policy is elaborated under the 'Homes Before Profits'. title "The Communist Party says this Tory Rent Bill can and smashed' must be , it declares. How will this be done? For in the next breath it is already assumed the Bill has become law-the pamphlet goes on to call on all Labour councils to defy the Act 'all along the line'. If the 300 Labour councils take this stand then, backed by the trade unions, the tenants and the labour movement, this Tory legislation can be defated.'

total of And that is the sum their perspective on the Bill. Of is no policy for this course, fighting to defend the right to housing or any other right of the working class threatened by the Tories. But it is the line of Stalinism through and through. The work- ing cluss as an independent force consciously dis- for change counted by the King St purveyors of peaceful co-existence.

in a completely Tacked on separate and independent way to the statement on the Bill itself is the Communist Party's so-called housing policy. 'But we need to go further.

[note, socialist] Radical not changes in policy are needed to solve Britain's housing problems,' it begins. Its five-point programme says: increase No increases; rent housing subsidies, grant 2 per cent loans to local councils and cheap mortgages to owner- occupiers; build 500,000 council houses for rent each year, and stop the sale of council houses; nationalize urban land; national- ize the big building firms and the building materials industry.

The CP is at least right when "radical changes. it calls these For in no way they can be con- sidered socialists demands.

Land and the building industry to nationalize without are workers' control and, presumably, But that is with compensation. not all. The real, reformist, class- collaborationist of the nature CP's line is revealed in the state- the money is to ment on. where come from for 'a real crash pro- gramme for housing' 'Cut the arms bill by at least wealth 50 per cent, impose a

TO ALL

TO SUPPORT YOUR

YEMBERS FIGHTING

Tenants lobbying parliament to protest against the Tory Housing Finance and Corporation that tax, increase dantly clear this or any Tax to 50 per cent.' 'problem' facing the work- ing class could not be resolved Of course no demand is made by or under capitalism. for the nationalization under workers' control of the building •.. it [the housing shortage] societies, banks and insurance is product of the necessary social who between them bourgeois order; that it all cannot fail to be control the finances for present in housing. These elements which the are society in great instead asked to reduce interest labouring masses are exclusively which hasn't dependent upon rates presumably wages, that of occurred to them before the quantity noW. to say, upon of subsistence necessary for their existence and for the propagation of their kind; in which improvements of the etc., continually throw machinery, masses of workers out of employ- ment: in which violent and regularly recurring industrial fluctuations determine on the one hand the existence of large unemployed reserve army of and on the other hand workers, workers drive the mass of the from the time to on to time unemployed; in which streets the workers are crowded together the big in masses in towns at a quicker rate than dwellings come into existence for them under the prevailing conditions; which, in therefore, there must always be tenants even for the most in- famous pigsties; which and in finally in his house-owner capacity as capitalist has not only Frederik Engels the right but, by reason of com- petition, to a certain extent also 'This so-called procramme the duty of ruthlessly making as CP thinks makes clear that the much out of his property in house with enough with tinkering rent as he possibly In such can. capitalism worker could every the housing shortage is a society have a decent place to live in at accident; it is no a necessary a reasonable rent. institution and can be abolished But when Engels took up the with all its together effects on only if the housing of question series health, whole etc., 1872 he made articles in abun- social order from which it Inance Bill. springs is fundamentally re- fashioned.' The so-called Communist Party is opposed to this revolutionary conception. In direct opposition to CP Socialist Labour policy the League says that you cannot peacefully co-exist with capitalism which in Britain today is repre- sented by the Tory government.

To isolate tenants like the CP does and lead them into single-issue campaign to make the Tories reverse their policy can only lead to defeat. The working class is a revolu- tionary class capable of indepen- dent action which can force the Tory government to resign now and return a Labour government forced by the mass movement to carry out socialist policies.

It is clear, however, that a new leadership will have to be fought for throughout the tenants' move- ment. Tendencies such as the Communist Party will only lead to a betrayal of their interests.

An alternative leadership must on the • be constructed based principles and practice of revolu- tionary Marxism. That is the only forward for tenants and way other workers fighting the Tory government.

Private Billy Dean Smith is being made a scapegoat for the demoralization and mutiny in the ranks of the United States army. After more than a year in solitary confinement, he is due to go on trial in August charged with 'fragging' two officers in Vietnam. The first GI to go on trial for this charge, Smith faces the death penalty if convicted. He has appealed to 'the people all over the world to help me and my family fight for my life'. Billy Smith is on trial for his -life because he is a militant fought racialism and who repression in the army and opposed the imperialist war in Vietnam. His army career was marked by harassment, con- tinual punishment for minor infractions and shortly before the murder charges, he was being processed for discharge as unsuitable and unfit. His officer, commanding Capt Rigby, claimed that he was unenthusiastic about 'closing with the enemy' of a frag- explosion An mentation grenade in Bien Hoa, Vietnam killed two officers and wounded a third. Smith the troublemaker' was im- mediately charged. The only evidence against him a in his found grenade pin pocket at the time of his arrest.

Nothing links this pin with the grenade that killed the officers.

His sister pointed out that he was seen playing with a ball shaped grenade on the day of the explosion and the grenade that caused the deaths was pear shaped. She also says that his shoes did not soil on match that around the explo- sion area and that there is no with the grenade pin match found in his possession. There is not a scrap of evidence against Smith. He is facing the death penalty as a warning to the hundreds of GIs who have thrown grenades or taken shots at their officers and to the thousands more who are refusing to obey orders as mutiny grows in the demoral- ized American army. While William Calley, the mass murderer of My Lai, is treated as a hero and makes preparations for his early release, Smith is a symbol of be that: must resistance destroyed. The fear of every officer of a in the back and the bullet hysteria of a ruling class on the brink of defeat in Vietnam is directed at Billy Smith.

Smith faces a military court to destroy him. determined Only the action of the working class can free him. Above: Willam Calley, the mass murde hero. Below: Washington police In rlot for Miami Beach city council are taking no chances this summer when the Repub- lican convention comes to the millionaires' play- ground. The 1968 Chicago Demo- produced cratic convention some of the worst police in the brutality ever seen United States. And with • up to 250,000 people expected to converge on Miami for the two conven- tions to protest against the Vietnam war and the govern- Miami's ment's policies, burghers are getting ready for a repeat performance. In fact, the council split four-three over accepting the Democratic convention. They weren't worried about the presence of Nixon and his war- mongering aides. They feared there might not be enough police and troops lining the streets to maintain law and order. Police chief told the Rocky Pomerance council he wants 5,000 police on duty during the two con- ventions and the month in between. So far, he has been able to Ni 1as murderer of My Lat tractor • In rlot formation. muster about 1,150, but Nixon has promised Federal marshals and the army. The resolution to invite the Republicans passed only after the inclusion of a proposal that Nixon create an élite riot 1,000-member squad, cynically described in the reso- as a 'convention peace lution corps. Members of this official goon squad are to be carefully by computer 'from selected appropriate suitable and branches of the armed forces'.

This plan has already received the enthusiastic backing of the Nixon Administration. Jerris Leonard, head of the Enforcement Assistance Law Administration (LEAA) has called it 'an exciting proposal.

The Administration has already promised the city $550,000 to additional security for pay forces during the Republican convention, in addition to $520,000 earmarked for the protection of the Democratic convention in July. This is a commentary on the two main American poli- tical parties - both of which require over $500,000 protec- tion money to save them from the wrath of the people they are supposed to represent.

In fact, both the Repub- licans and the Democrats represent big business interests which are bitterly hostile to the working class and to the thousands of young middle- class people who will be flock- ing to Miami to protest against Nixon's policies. Workers Press, Exchange in the National Industrial Relations Court.

of The transport manager Limited Panalpina (Northern) was telling Court president Sir John Donaldson about the blacking of one of his lorries on Hull docks. The witness said he asked one of the dockers who he was. The docker turned around and replied: 'Mickey Mouse' Donaldson Did Mr Mouse say what union he belonged to?' PS: Donaldson's reply is not as humourous as it: may first appear. In the case it is neces- sary for the container firms to haie concrete evidence of the dockers' union membership.

On Hull docks there are two unions — the Transport and General Workers' Union and Amalgamated the National. Stevedores and Dockers, the "blue' union, so named because of the colour of its member- ship cards. The world economic tensions reveal themselves in the most glaring • in the colonial way and semi-colonial nations. Take Australia. The recently-retired chair- man of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission has said that Australia should consider the capability for developing bacteriological, chemical and nuclear warfare. He said this might be neces- sary if Australia had to turn itself 'into a defending island against hordes of refugees or armies fleeing from a even world disaster or in other pos- sible circumstances. Speaking a recent on national television debate, Baxter agreed wholeheartedly with the world cataclysmic forecasts of Professor Paul Erlich. ers Press, Saturday May 20, 1972 PAGE 9 He said: 'I believe a disaster of some sort will strike the world about the turn of the century destroying billions of people, possibly through environmental collapse or nuclear war.' as an island with Australia food-producing capacity and other advantages would be in a unique position to survive such a disaster. Paul Erlich: cataclysmic forecasts In these circumstances defence would become a matter of survival for Australia which would be comparable to a life- boat which could carry only a certain number of people without sinking. Baxter said Australia must be in a position to accept those refugees that it wanted and turn away others. Now you've got the picture, haven't you. As the refugees stream towards the land milk and sunshine, the Aussies all man the beaches and fire nuclear missiles at them and drop chemical and biological bombs on them. No comment. This item appears in the latest 'Australian News', the journal issued by the Australian High Commission in the Strand: 'An ombudsman, the first in Australia, is about to take up duties in Western Australia. He is Mr O. F. Dixon, the state's Chief Crown Prosecutor' Moscow Trials Anthology Paperback, 62}p

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PAGE 10 Workera Preos, Saturday May 2 ENGINEERING workers who are on strike in Wolver- hampton have won support from their fellow workers in Glasgow. At a mass meeting yesterday 500 workers at Goodyear Tyres Ltd heard that shop stewards at the company's Glasgow plant had blacked work being shifted to Scotland. The Glasgow stewards took the decision after they had travelled at their own expense to Wolver- hampton for talks with the strikers. They will also launch a financial help appeal to the Wolverhampton men. The strike, for a substantial pay rise, is the first since the factory opened in 1927. Horace chairman of the Bowering, shop stewards' committee, said that the most significant thing about it was the new determin- ation shown by the men. 'They are determined not to move until the firm come up with a reasonable offer.' Earlier this week management offered f5, but this was tied to of demands which a number would have given them absolute rights to make arbitrary changes on the factory floor. Following the move by their Glasgow workers management has men will meet next week to hear reopened negotiations a progress report. THE CASE against three men charged in connection with the explosion the Parachute at HQ in Aldershot Brigade are expected to start on June 8.

It is likely to last at least eight days and 52 witnesses could be • Taylor, for the called, Timothy Director of Públic Prosecutions, at Aldershot told magistrates yesterday. In addition, he said, state- ments from 66 other witnesses were served on the defence yesterday. The three accused men were again remanded in custody for a week. Iwo are accused of the murder of seven people, who died from explosion last February. Civil servants A CONFERENCE representing grade Civil 60,500 management Servants decided not to register the at the moment under Industrial Relations Act.

But they gave their executive authority to register if and when it thought circumstances war- ranted this. The Society of Civil Servants' annual conference at Margate took this stand after its general secretary, John Dryden had told them: 'As far as this society is concerned the Industrial Relations Act is a total irrelevance.'

Fill in the form below and

SECRETARY, SOCIALIST

186A CLAPHAM HIGH ST, L

Name Address day May 20, 1872 Young Socialist Right-to-Work marchers pronged campaign. THE ENTIRE 110-strong wor Crayford, are to be made red of big sackings at Craytord's Shop stewards fear that as many as 750 of the present 1,000-plus labour force could be axed because of the drop in commercial orders and the phasing out of armaments production. A decade the factory ago employed up to 2,500. It was slashed to about 1,400 by 1967.

Early retirements and voluntary redundancies accounted for a further 300 by 1972. Vickers say armaments pro- duction at the factory will be ended within six months and add ominously that orders for commercial products have stopped coming in. Commercial output includes bottling machines and box- making and packaging machinery.

Vickers have said that if there were enough commercial orders they would build a new but smaller factory adjacent to the existing building to employ up to 500 people, but shop stewards claim that even this now seems unlikely. Substantial redundancies at Vickers would considerably boost local unemployment currently running at 13.6 per cent for the neighbouring boroughs of Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Since 1964 more than 140 factories have closed in South East London whole with as a loss of up to 100,000 jobs.

Vickers' 35-man shop stewards' information about ow and send to NATIONAL

ALIST LABOUR LEAGUE,

H ST, LONDON, SW4 7UG.

india marchers pass the Vickers plant during the De ng work force at William Mallison ade redundant by the end of June.

iord's Vickers' factory is expected Convenor Bob Hall: May propose sit-in committee has been in touch with local councillors, MPs and Defence Department officials to see what could be done to avert further run-down at the factory.

In January 1971, as a result of meetings with officials at the Defence Department, armaments production at the plant was given 'a new lease of life' until 1973.

Communist Party AUEW con- venor at Vickers, Bob Hall, said: 'We went through a propaganda stunt of writing to MPs, but this really only _showed blokes that people who direct seeing the their lives doesn't work.

'My attitude is that you've got to fight and know once we exactly what Vickers are going to do, 1 shall recommend either a sit-in or a strike.' Despite these strong-sounding words, Mr Hall (49), who has been a CP member for 33 years argues the orthodox Stalinist view that workers simply won't fight. The problem have, says, is not nothing that workers lose but their chains, but that 'they like the chains they've got'.

He adds that workers will move so far and no further and that to 'get too far out in front' risks the danger of sectarianism.

Mr Hall lists a long catalogue of reasons why a redundancy fight at the factory would be impossible. The average age is 55, he says.

Some of the men think they will find other work if the factory ng the Deal-London section of the five.

/allison Aircraft Products Ltd, f June. And an announcement pected at any time. cuts back and others are 'dis- illusioned'-hardly surprising in the tight of the way i which and Stalinists • alike reformists have done next to nothing to fight the spate of sackings in the Crayford to Woolwich area.

But, significantly, he says that some men in the factory are arguing for double redundancy pay while others want to see the jobs retained. In other words nobody knows quite what to do and many would be susceptible to firm leadership. The same is almost certainly true of Mallinson's, which CP Dartford Trades Council sec- retary Vic Drongin described merely as a setback' adding that 'pressure for government policies which will put an end to un- employment' should be continued.

It was Erith AUEW district which passed the committee Right-to-Work resolution on Socialists' Young which the nationwide winter marches were based. Now there is a chance and a need to defend the right to work by a principled stand at Vickers and Mallinson's and by widening the struggle for jobs in these factories into a fight mobilizing the labour movement and the working class against the Tory government. revolt in ASTMS THE REVOLT against registra- tion under the Industrial Rela- tions Act is growing in the white-collar Association of Scien- Technical and Managerial tific, Staffs. The union's Croydon branch has called for a special delegate conference to carry out wishes of the majority and de- campaign for register and a recall of the TUC Congress.

At the recent annual delegates' conference, a two-thirds vote for deregistration failed on the tech- nicality under rule and the union remains registered. General secretary Clive Jenkins has said he wants the union to be treated like an unregistered organization. MORE indication that the the TUC right wing in General Council intends to prevent any fight with the Tories has come from the mouth of Jack Peel, general secretary of the National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers. In an interview yesterday with one of Britain's most reactionary • "Yorkshire Post papers, the Tory a general council Peel, member, said: 'We have probably national the last major seen strike of the century'. He was one of the judges in: the final round of the 'Industrial" Relations Game' run by the paper and a management consultancy group. The 'game' was designed to see how strikes could be avoided. Keeping good company in line with the TUC's retreat on the Industrial Relations Act, one of Peel's fellow judges was former Tory Employment Minister Paul Bryan. Holding out his hand to Tory arbitration plans, he said: 'In industrial some relations attention is again being given to refereeing and it is for this reason prediction* that I make this [about national strikes].

"The framework of the In- dustrial Relations Act, although it is likely to be modified by this and successive government, will make it less easy for small problem to escalate and is bound to act as a deterrent to full strike action' So presumably the government can proceed to destroy the right to strike and he won't oppose further indication of Giving TUC collaboration with the Tory government, he added that there was a need for a prices and in- comes policy as soon as possible and said a lot of work was going on to formulate one. THE EXECUTIVE of the National Union of Teachers has been sharply criticized for its decision not to press for the recall of the TUC to affirm opposition to the Industrial Relations Act.

A resolution has been sent to the executive from the Croydon Teachers' Association asking for a 'reconsideration' of the fight against the Act. The resolution states: "This association views with alarm the attacks of the em- ployers and the government on the trade unions by the use of the Industrial Relations Act. It records its support for trade unionists fighting to defend their living standards and their right to work. 'In particular, at the present time, the CTA supports the railwaymen's and dockers' de- mands. It asks the NUT execu- tive also to register their sup- port for these unionists trade under attack, and to publicize the the railwaymen and case dockers in "The Teacher" and by circular. 'It also asks the TUC to re- verse its decision recommending that unions may attend the Industrial Relations Court and should pay fines imposed by that Court.' When the mover of the resolu- tion challenged the executive's position on the recall of the TUC, and demanded to know where the executive stood on this question, executive member Jack Jones hastily left the meeting as he had another meeting to attend.

BBC I

10.00-10.30 Wie bitte? 11.30 Weather. 11.35 Queen in France.

12.45 Grandstand. 12.50 inter- national football preview. 1.15 Fight of the week. Phil Matthews v Roy Dale. 1.50, 2.20, 3.25 Rac- ing from Newbury. 2.35 World championship tennis final. 3.10, 3.45 Rugby league championship final: Leeds v St Helens. 4.35 International air race. 4.45 Final score. 5.05. Basil Brush. 5.35 News. 5.50 Dr Who. 6.15 TOM AND JERRY. The Flying: Cat. 6.20

'SPENCER'S

FILM:

MOUNTAIN: Maureen Henry Fonda. O'Hara, Spencer family struggle against poverty in a Wyoming vailey. 8.15

THE MORECAMBE AND

WISE SHOW. Guests Shir- ley Bassey, Glenda Jack- son, Andre Previn. 9.00

A MAN CALLED IRON-

SIDE. This Could Blow Your Mind. 9.50 NEWS and weather.

10.00 INTERNATIONAL MATCH

OF THE DAY. Wales England, Scotland v Ireland.

11.15 JULIE FELIX.

t1.45 Weather.

BBC 2

9.05-1.00 Open University. 3.00 Film: 'A Private's Affair'. Sal Mineo. Trio of Army draftees be- come friends. 4.30 The Perpetual 5.00 Tutankhamun's harvest. Egypt. 5.20 Look. 5.45 Television doctor. 6.00 MAN ALIVE. Hyde Park.

6.50 WESTMINSTER.

7.10 NEWS,

SPORT and weather.

7.25 PEOPLE OF THE SEAL.

Eskima Winter.

REGIONAL TV

CHANNEL: 11.00 London. 12.05- 12.30 Music in the round. 2.13 Weather. 2.15 Star soccer. 3.15 'The Film: Bandit of Sherwood Forest'. 4.35 Danton. 4.45 Lon- don. 6.54 Weather. 6.55 London.

7.55 Film: 'The Last Angry Man', 9.30 Cinema. 10.00 London. 11.15 UFO. 12.05 Epilogue. Weather.

WESTWARD. As Channel except: 12.30 London. 12.55-1.20 Farm- house kitchen. 1.50 Farm and country news. 12.05 Faith for life.

12.10 Weather. SOUTHERN: 11.00 London. 12.00 in the Weather. 12.05 Music round. 12.30 London. 12.55 Farm progress. 1.25 Training the family dog. 1.45 Stingray. 2.15 London.

3.15 Film: 'The Iron Glove'. 4.35 News. 4.45 London. 7.55 Film: 'A Chlld is Waiting'. 9.50 Car- toon. 10.00 London. 11.15 Some- Weather. to say. 12.15 thing Epilogue. HARLECH: 11.00 London. 12.05 Music in the round. 12.30 Lon- don. 12.55 Farmhouse kitchen.

1.45 London. 2.15 Soccer. 3.15 Film: 'The Honeymoon Machine' 4.45 London. 7.55 Film: "Vickl'.

9.30 Mr and Mrs. 10.00 London.

11.15 Avengers. 12.15 Weather. HTV Wales and HTV Cymru/ above except: 12.05 Wales as sylv. 12.40 Liusern. ANGLIA: 11.00 London. 12.05 Music in the round. 12.30 Lon- don. 12.55 Farmhouse kitchen. 1.20 University challenge. 1.50 Weather. 1,55 Farming. 2.30 Film: Sult. 4.10 'Man In the White : Simon_ Locke. 4.45 London. 7.55 Film: 'Esther and the King'. 10.00 London. 11.15 Saint. ATV MIDLANDS: 11.00 London.

12.05 Music in the round. 12.30 London. 12.55 Farmhouse kit- 1.45 All our yesterdays. chen. 2.15 Star soccer. 3.15 Film: "VIlI- age of Daughters'. 4.45 London.

5.35 Forest rangers. 6.05 Lon- don. 7.55 Film: 'Double Man'. Cartoon. 10.00 London. 9.47 11.20 Spy force. ULSTER: 12.05 Music in the 12.55-1.20 'round. 12.30 London. Farmhouse kitchen. 1.45 London.

3.15 Film: 'Tarzan's Savage

ITV

10.45 Joe 90. 11.15 • Sesame street. 12.15 Jackson five. 12.45 News. 12.50 World of sport. 12.55 On the ball. 1.20 They're off! 1.30, 2.00, 2.30, 3.00 Racing from Thirsk. 1.45, 2.15, 2.44 Racing from Hereford. 3.10 International sports special. 1972 Stanley Cup final. 3.55 Results, scores, news.

3.58 Wrestling. 4.55 Results ser- vice. 5.10 The train now stand- ing. 5.40 News. 5.45 Sale of the century.

THE ROLF HARRIS SHOW.

6.15 Guests Val Doonican, Georgie Fame, Alan Pride.

7.00 WALES V ENGLAND. In- ternational soccer.

NEW SCOTLAND YARD.

8.30 Hard Contract.

SATURDAY VARIETY.

9.30 Edward Woodward, Leslie Crowther, Russ Conway, Larry Grayson, The Set- tlers. 10.30

NEWS.

TAKE THE WORLD FROM

10.40

POINT

ANOTHER

OF VIEW. Simon Welfare.

11.25 STRUGGLE FOR ISRAEL.

12.25 ASPECTS OF FAITH.

Band.

BOWL.

Singer-critic-writer George Melly explal in ITV's London series 'Music in the Ro 7.55 Fury'. 4.45 London. Film: 'Under Ten Flags'. 10.00 Lon- 1.00 don. 11.15 Saint.

YORKSHIRE:

10.45 Talking hands. 11.00 London. 12.05 Music in the round. 12.30 Camp- ing and caravaning. 1.00 Farm- house kitchen. 1.25 Farming out- look. 1.55 Calendar. 2.20 Snooker. 3.15 Film: 'The Floating Dutchman'. 4.45 London. 7.55 Film: Drop Dead Darling. 9.50 Popeye. 10.00 London. 11.15 Aquarius. 12.15 Weather. GRANADA: 11.00-12.00 London.

12.05 Music in the round. 12.30 age London. 12.50 Farmhouse kit- Kinkug, an Eskimo mother, plays blind!

a worthy repeat on BBC2 tonight at 7.2

REGIONAL TV

5.10 CHANNEL: 12.45 London. Ken Dodd. 5.40 London. 11.25 Weather. WESTWARD. As Channel except: 11.45 11.40 Gus Honeybun. Rupert Bear. 11.55 Lone Ranger.

12.20 Lidsville. 11.25 Teach a man to fish. 11.30 Weather.

SOUTHERN: 11.15 All our yester- days. 11.45 Thunderbirds. 12.42 12.45 London. 5.10 Weather. Primus. 5.40 London. 5.45 Train now standing. 6.15 London. 11.25 News. 11.35 UFO. 12.30 Weather.

Epilogue. HARLECH: 10.20 Tennis. 10.45 Woobinda. 11.15 London. 12.15 Farming diary. 12.45 London. 5.45 Train now standing. 6.15 Lon- 11.15 Prisoner. 12.20 Lee don. Weather. HTV Cymru/Wales as above ex- cept: 5.10-5.40 Sion a sian.

dia elly explains 'The Birth of the Blues' In the Round' on Sunday at 11.15.

chen. 1.20 All our yesterdays.

1.50 Mad movies. 2.15 London.

3.15 Film: 'Mouse on the Moon'. Far 4.40 London. 7.55 Film: "The Pumpkin Eater'. 10.00 London.

11.15 Man in a suitcase. rm- TYNE TEES: 10.20 Farming out- look. 10.45 Talking hands. 11.00 London. 12.05 Music in the 12.30 Camping and car- round. avanning. 12.55 Farmhouse kit- chen. 1.25 Farming outlook. 1.55 Out of town. 2.15 Where the jobs are? 2.20 Snooker. 3.15 Film: 'The Old Dark House'. 4.45 Lon- 7.55 Film: 'The • Running don. 2.30 Man'. 10.00 London. 11.15 Aqua- kit- rius. 12.15 Epilogue.

rkers Press ays blind man's bluff In an igloo near the Nor ight at 7.25. ANGLIA: 11.00 All our yester- days. 11.25 Film: '1001 Arablan Nights'. 12.45 London. 5.10 Flint- stones. 5.40 London. 11.25 Film: 'Man Who Could Cheat Death'.

ATV MIDLANDS: 12.10 Stars.

12.15 Captain Scarlet. 12.45 Lon- don. 5.45 Train now standing.

3.15 London. 11.25 Challenge 11.55 Who knows? ULSTER: 12.30 Enchanted house.

12.45 London. 5.10 Primus. 5.40 Train now stand- London. 5.45 ing. 6.15 London. 11.25 Theatre.

YORKSHIRE: 11.00 All our yes- terdays. 11.25 Make a wish. 11.50 Skippy. 12.15 Lidsville. 12.45 London. 5.10 Primus. 5.40 Lon- don. 5.45 Train • now standing. 11.25 Edgar Wal- 6.15 London. lace. 12.30 Weather.

BBC 1

Nai zindagi naya jeevan. 9.00 9.30-10.00 Wie bitte? 10.30 The people of God. 11.30 Boomph with Becker. 11.45 Mistress of Hardwick. 12.10 Bellamy on botany. 12.35 Profit by control.

1.20 Farming. 1.50 Hammer it home. 2.15 Made in Britain. 2.25 Going for a song. 2.55 Laurel Film: 'Odette'. and Hardy. 3.15 Anna Neagle. 5.10 British Em- pire. 6.05 NEWS and weather.

THE ORIGINS OF CHRIS-

6.15

TIANITY.

6.50 • ROBINSON. Ap-

ROBERT

peal on behalf of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for the Disabled.

SONGS OF PRAISE.

6.55 AIR SPECTACULAR. Big- 7.25 gin Hill International Air Fair 1972.

FILM OF THE WEEK: 'THE

8.10

COUNTERFEIT TRAITOR'.

William Holden, Lilli Pal- War time activities mer. of the spy Eric Erickson.

NEWS and weather. 10.25 OMNIBUS. A Girl Like 10.35 You.

KENNETH HARRIS INTER-

11.30 Melchett, VIEWS. Lord British Steel Chairman Corporation. SCOTTISH: 12.05 Music in the Ion. round. 12.30 London. 12.55-1.22 on'. Farmhouse kitchen. 1.25 All our The yesterdays. 1.55 Beatrix Potter.

2.40 Zingalong. 3.00 Film: 'Little Shot". 4.45 London. 7.55 Big Film: 'Summer and Smoke'. 9.55 Appeal. 10.00 London. 11.15 Late call. 11.20 Randall and Hopkirk.

GRAMPIAN: 12.05 Music in the round. 12.30 London. 12.55 Farm- house kitchen. 1.20 All our yes- terdays. 1.45 Farm progress. 2.15 Soccer. 3.15 Film: 'Siege of the Saxon'. 4.45 London. 7.55 Film: 'The Lion'. 9.30 Odd couple. 10.00 London. 11.15 His and hers.

11.40 Job look. kora Press, Saturday May 20, 1972 PAGE 11 ar the North Pole In 'People of the seal, GRANADA: 11.50 Play the game.

12.15 Secret service. 12.45 Lon- don. 5.10 On the buses. 5.40 stand London. 5.45 Train now -ing. 6.15 London. 11.25 Thriller.

TYNE TEES: 11.00 All our yes- terdays. 11.25 Bushboy. 11.50 12.15 Lidsville. 12.45 Arthur. London. 5.10 Primus. 5.40 Lon- don. 5.45 Train now standing.

6.15 London. 11.25 Strange re- port. 12.20 Spilogue. SCOTTISH: 11.40 Beagan gaidh- lig. 11.55 Clapperboard. 12.15 Tom Grattan's war. 12.45 Lon- don. 5.10 Roadrunner. 5.40 Lon- don. 5.45 Train now standing.

11.25 Late call. 6.15 London. 11.30 Gideon's way. GRAMPIAN: 12.15 Yoga. 12.45 London. 5.10 Rovers. 5.40 Lon- now standing. don. 5.45 Train 6.15 London: 11.25 Strange re- port.

ITV

10.30 All our yesterdays. 11.00 Eucharist. 12.05 Farmhouse kit- chen. 12.30 Something to sing about. 12.55 Out of town. 1.15 Stingray. 1.45 University chal- lenge. 2.15 Sportsworld 72. 3.15 Jason King. 4.10 Catweazie. 4.45 Golden shot. 5.35 Pretenders.

6.05 NEWS.

6.15 PRIVATE VIEWS.

6.55 APPEAL. Dame Flora Rob- son for the National Gal- lery.

7.00 STARS ON SUNDAY.

CHARGE.

7.25

DOCTOR IN

Which Doctor? 7.55

FILM: 'THE

DOUBLE

MAN. Yul Brynner, Britt Ekland, Clive Revill. Spy thriller.

9.50 POLICE FIVE.

10.00 NEWS.

10.15 THE ORGANIZATION. Ver- onica and Mr Pulman. 11.15

MUSIC IN THE ROUND.

The Birth of the Blues. 11.45 SHORT STORY. The Min- ister's Bath.

12.15 ASPECTS OF FAITH.

BBC 2

9.35-1.00 Open University. 1.50- 6.30 Cricket. Northamptonshire v |Lancashire.

7.00 NEWS

REVIEW

and weather. MUSIC ON 2. Counter- 7.25 point.

8.30 THE WORLD ABOUT US.

The Forgotten Mermaids. 9.20

HELEN REDDY AND THE

LES HUMPHRIES SING-

ERS from The Talk of the Town. 10.05

TUTANKHAMUN'S EGYPT.

The Scribes.

THE LOTUS

10.25

EATERS.

Aphrodite.

: NEWS SUMMARY

11.15 and weather.

11.20 UP SUNDAY.

PAGE 12 Workers Press, Saturday May 20 BRITISH-LEYLAND's Midlands hit by plants, were stoppages yesterday. Birmingham, At Longbridge, inspectors went on strike for the week time second hitting engine production.

As the 360 inspectors walked out, management laid of 2,300 production workers on the Mini 1100 and 1300 and the Morris Marina. work- The strike over méasurement in an interim pay system while talks go on over a plan to switch from piecework to Measured-Day Work. earlier this A similar strike week by 102 machinists stopped for the production of engines and. Marina 1.8

MGB,

1800 models. These strikers returned on Wednesday. Meanwhile almost the whole force-400 workers- work walked out at British Leyland's light commercial vehicles factory at Adderley Park, Birmingham.

• The strike was in protest against management plans to take work from the factory to other parts of the Leyland empire.

CONFUSION reigned in Notting- ham yesterday over a controver- sial army plan to involve junior school children in a mock riot for an army internal training film on urban guerrilla warfare.

The Royal Scots, recently back from Northern Ireland, were to stage scenes on Monday in the clearance district of St slum Anne's. the Letters were sent from Blue Bell Hill Junior School urging parents to let their child- big chance' have the to ren 'make a career in films'.

But students at the Trent Poly- technic Department of Education and investigated the scheme approaches were made to central Labour MP Jack Nottingham Dunnett. Yesterday's 'Guardian Journal' of announced the cancellation the scheme, but local students employed as extras for the film only that it was were told "postponed'. staff Meanwhile polytechnic and students are enraged by a memorandum from their com- mittee of management forbidding in any them to participate demonstration next Monday.

THE LABOUR Party's national executive and shadow cabinet met in London yesterday to dis- cuss a 112-page policy document drawn up in preparation for the Shadow Secretary the most important section of the draft, which is for discussion only and commits the party to nothing, was how the party should control prices.

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1,500 workers are to be made redun- dant at three plants with the firm blaming falling orders and competition from Japan. The firm, Ransome Hoffman Pollard Ltd, which announced big redundancies only last autumn, yesterday said the labour force at its general bearings division factories in Co. Durham, Chelmsford and Newark would be severely pruned. In spite of government action to boost the economy, there had been no overall rise in demand the level or orders and was significantly below current pro- duction levels, the firm said.

Of the workers involved, 530 are at Annfield Plain, Co.

Dur- ham, 320 at Chelmsford, 525 at divisional Newark and 100 departments at Chelmsford and Newark. ay May 20, 1972

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

THE APPEAL COURT uphel ernment to force a ballot on the the train drivers' union ASLEI trial and political campaign to A spokesman for the union said indicated they would send out ballot votes would be collected in next Fri Lord Master of the Rolls, Denning, found that the rail workers had breached their con- tracts, that the action would economic havoc have created and that the Tory Employment Secretary who applied for the within his powers ballot, acted under the Act. Almost as he was speaking, 44

ASLEF

lay delegates at the annual conference at Torquay called for an urgent recall of the TUC Congress to prepare a cam- 'involving all forms paign political and industrial action'.

They also pledged to campaign within their union for a 'Yes' against the vote in • the ballot government. This will be backed by propaganda from the unions.

Leaflets from the largest rail their union NUR called on members to vote 'Yes' and reject 'scurrilous' the attack on the unions by the Tories. First reaction to the expected decision from court came ASLEF leader Ray Buckton: 'Naturally dis- am very appointed. I shall be contacting our solicitors and will make a fuller statement later.' Commenting on the unanimous decision to campaign for a 'Yes' he said: "There is no doubt at all that the delegates have registered the opinions of the rank-and-file members. I have this message very firmly. It has confirmed that there is no need for a ballot because the delegates are rank- and-file men.' Lord Denning said: 'I ask is a entitled man to wages for his work when he with others is doing his best to make it useless? Surely not. Wages are to be paid for services rendered, for producing deliberate not chaos. hold that the concerted course of conduct was in breach of the contract of employment.

This means that on the evidence this work-to-rule was irregular industrial action short of a strike,' he said. It has to be remembered that we are concerned with a grave threat to the national economy to see that the steps which were proposed did not imperil the liberty, livelihood or property of any man.'

WEATHER

SOUTH WEST

and central England, Wales, the southern West Midlands, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland will be rather cloudy with showers or longer outbreaks of rain. North and East England and Scotland will be dry at first but showers which may be heavy will develop. There will be some sunny periods. Outlook for Sunday and Monday: Changeable with showers pro- longed at times perhaps with thunder. Some sunny intervals.

Temperatures near normal.

Registered as a newspaper at the Post Published Workers Press. Omice. by 1868 Clapham Hish Street, London.

SWA 7UG.

Printed by Plouch Press Ltd.

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SWA TUG.

" upheld yesterday the right of the 1 t on the railwaymen. As the verdict w I ASLEF committed themselves to : aign to destroy the Industrial Relati nion said the Industrial Relations Comm ut ballot forms immediately after the verdi next Friday.

STUS (

EIGHT HUNDRED and fifty workers at William Warne and Co. Ltd, Barking, have been locked-out since May 12 after 150 members of the white collar union ASTMS struck against the sacking of officials. ASTMS division organizer Dave Ingram said yesterday: 'We have had rather a bitter time over the past two months with the company and think they want to break ASTMS strength?

Trouble began at the factory in line with in February when the Industrial Relations Act, Warnes set-up two new con- sultative committees for pro- duction workers and staff which included non-unionists.

MAY FUND

REACHES

ONLY £605.10 needed before the end of the month. With 12 days more to go, we need approxim- ately 250 a day to complete our total. We are sure you will do it.

The urgent question facing the working class today is to press on with the fight and drive the Tories back. The great strength of the working class can and must be mobilized to force this government to resign. This is the only answer to the Industrial Relations Court. Workers Press Is needed for this fight. Use this weekend therefore to step up the cam- paign for our May Fund. Don't •unturned. Let's leave a stone make a huge effort and try and raise well over our target. Post all your donations immediately to: Workers Press May Appeal Fund 186a Clapham High St, London, SW4 7UG. PRESSURE is growing among Birm- ingham workers for district-wide indus- trial action over the engineers' pay of the Tory gov. erdict was given, claim. Two key meetings will take place ves to an indus- next week which will decide whether Il Relations Act. workers in the engineering industry s Commission had the verdict and the will join Manchester in the campaign for pay increases and a shorter work- ing week. British-Leyland shop stewards will meet on Thursday and give a dead-line by which the company will have to make concessions on pay and hours if they want to avoid immedi- ate industrial action. This is likely to be followed by a mass meeting of stewards from car and component firms which will be addressed by Hugh

AUEW

president Scanlon. The other centre of action is in the Lucas -shop stew- group- at the firm's Birmingham ards factories already discussing combine-wide action if the com- demand meet a does not pany for a f6-a-week pay rise and shorter hours. Norman Cartwright, East Birm- ingham secretary of the AUEW, said he expected support for the claim from the other unions in Confederation Shipbuild- the and Engineering Unions. ing

OF AN

He said a claim by the West Midlands Engineering Employers'

US COMMITTEE

Federation that majority of local firms affected by the claim for £2 had settled or less as 'extravagant'. He said that if any firm was expelled from the Federation for concession hours, making a on 'would take action in the union support of that firm'. should Birmingham engineers be very wary of these opening Action on the claim manoeuvres. in Man- ASTMS insisted on sole bar. is long overdue-men chester have been fighting it out gaining rights for all clerical for nine weeks now. stafis and a agreement over stop-gap Scanlon The visit is also was reached. Scanion But March 25 ominous. was the man when non- unionists and 26 ASTMS workers publicly criticized members who were declared redundant via the in the areas for not pressing with the claim. This boycotted consultative committee, ahead was executive he and his had union officials protested that they after led the fight to abandon it at had not been consulted. After a strike national level. threat the com- The executive followed through discuss the sack- pany agreed .to last week ing and was reached this kind. of policy agreement when they sent a circular round all but

-ASTMS

on one man- Manchester which plant negotiator Ron Hallatt. the area indicated the key Now Warnes have agreed to re- clearly that shorter hours-the employ Hallatt for a 'reasonable demand for

ASTMS

time'. But one all the employers are resist- period voted overwhelmingly ing—was no longer top priority.

workers This has led to a number of yesterday until he to stay out without serious retreats in Manchester.

reinstated strings. gets The youth• paper Plenty of news, views and eight-page which leads the fight features at 3p a copy. against the Tory government, for the Order your regular copy now.

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