SOLDIER X: I don't think we should be doing the Tremen's joh. suid that they hated scubs as mach on ihe bosses. AnywaY,IES dol OT DIE Ye We've got to do it because we obey orders If they ordered Commons we would have to do it. But I ask we soldiers should draw the line. We should try to call a meeting to discuss this strike...
This conversarion did mot take place in Aldershol barracks. But if it had, then (a) we could have been prosecuted for identified, could have faced a court martial. These are not unimportant considerations when considering how to organise a fightback against the growing interventions to defeat strikes. It is indicative of the present political situation that neither the Labour Party eft nor the Corumunist Party's Industrial arin has done anything on this question — in contrast to the Twenties, as we explain cisewhere in this paper. the use of police, the Royal Air Force, and the Army in an such a scale by the State has not been seen since Second World War. repressive apparatus cannot be limited to mere What is needed is a campaign to demand democratic rishis for soldiers. Pot opportunity to discuss whether or not they should scab, at whether the firefighters should receive a decent wage. In fact many soldiers, after the experiences of rosent weeks, will probably appreciate why the firefighters need better wages.
NEW MODEL ARMY The structures of the British Army are a far cry from the Now Model Army of Oliver Cromwell They are coral bureaucratic and authoritarian. The soldiers are zombies. well-quipped and programmed 10D0I. allowed to form a union or join a political party, If caiaht havite Dollel diSCUssIOns dismissal and prosecution. What goes on in the officers mess is, of course, not considered politics. 99 percent of the officer caste in this old, imperialist army are true blue Tories is probably an aocident of birth.
The soldiers are cut off from political activity. They are bombarded by anti-union. anti-Trish, anti-Third World and anti socialist propaganda by their officers in the harracks. It would be revealing to study soldiers were given before expedition. The concern of both Tory and Labour leaders for the troops does not extend to campaigning Tor then democratic rights. In fact, their concern over the conclusions the soldiers have reached to put up with their present scabbing role is simply a prelude to increasing their wages beyond the pay norms.
The right to strike and the right to form unions must be extended to soldiers as well as police officers True, they might strike on occasion for reactionary aims, In that case we would apposc me suikc achon tas we opposco be dockers who marched for Powell in 1968, or the Uter Loyalist strikel involvement of soldiers and police in the unions would allow discussions to take place and would open them up to at least listen to the view of the labour movement. The National Association for Freedom, the Tory and Liberal parties and the Labour leaders will not carpaign for the eatension of democratic rights. It will be the left which will have to take up the movement. Fred Mulley. stated that he had no objection to the idea on principie. The unions should put him to the test.
Our New Look READERS will note that the paper has changed a little in size. We would like to assure you that this brinkage is not a result of Dobson or Oakley's curse; merely that we bave been obliged to change printers. We trust our readers will quickly adapt to the new change.
during the 1926 strike fatten the House publishing it, and (b) the soldiers, i the The resmonse to the use of the no bre has civen them the They they face instant The fact that the briefing Bur we should understand that the campaign inside the labour the Defence Minister, recenrly