political parties and currents tha do not take up arms against the socialist state. The Stalinist models of socialism in the ESSR and Fastern Europe have discredited socialism in the eyes of millions of workers throughout the world We are opposed to them and wit offer full support to all those fighting for socialist democracy.
The interests of workers and on a world scale. Capitalism has not only created a world murket, it has created world politics. Thus we fight for working class unity on an international scale. This unity will in the long run he decisive in defeating both The imperiulist regimes in the West and the brutal dictatorships they sustain in Latin America, Africu and Asla, immediate withdrawal British troops from Ireland and letting the Irish people determine their own future.
The Communist parties in Europe are in crisis. Neither the "Eurocommunist nor shearing man bar an meaningful strategy overthrow of the capitalist state. New revolutionary soctalist parnes аге пноге necessary than ever more favourable than over the preceding three decades. Hut such parties can only be built by rejecting sectarianism and seeing internul democrucy not as a lusury. but as a vital neeessity. This means the right to organise factions and GILLICIS If you agree with these principles SINE involved in activities by Socialist Challenge supporters in your arca, fill in the form below and send it to us.
Interested in more information about activities in my arru. • 1 would like udditional literature and enclose 50p to cover costs.
Name.
Address.....
wild to socialist & hallenge, 52K " pper s, Tendon Vi.
Socialist Challenge 31 May 1979 page 2 capitalist policies. Is this still relevant under the Tories?
The TUC has decided to taik with Tories about ref'orni. They say the Tories will be "ill-advised" to assume that the TUC would on legal changes picketing and other union rights. Len Murray told Employment Secretary Jim. Prior that voluntary guidelines were a better way to Frank Chappie of the electricians" union has gone further. He gave a personal pledge to stop strikes taking place before agreements run out or whouta secret callet to accent that "conscientious objectors" have the right to break a ciosed shop, and not to use strikes for political purposes.
But he is only following the logic of miners' leader Joe Gormley, who said that the unions should get the best deal possible from the Tories. convince Margaret Thatcher that legal changes are not necessary the union leaderships implement her 'reforms" for her, So far they have failed. The TUC "guidelines' on pickeling were largely ignored during the struggles of last winter - in the public soctor dispute and lorry drivers" strike in particular - as the rank and file realised they would render their action inetfective. Haggling So the right wing are nor content with just talking to the Tories want to prove they can deliver the goods. Their offensive has already begun at the union conferences.
At the T&GWU conference the experience of the lorry drivers' strike will be at the centre of debate. Three branches have submitted expressing concern at the apparent Inability of the elected leadership of the union to control and influence the actions of some members involved int industrial disputes.' They call for the execurive not to make strikes official unless wiion directives are being observed. are prepared to - they But more imponantly the line of the right wing will be tested in action. With Thatcher already attacking jobs and wages in the public sector, and motions not ruling our a wage freeze in the future, we will see more union leaders openly attacking workers in struegle as Chapple did workers" dispute last winter.
the idea that union necessary and opposing the talks. As 500B -185% EXC 8243 )
and chain' defeats of Left-wing during the health Vicar of being reform' week.
attacks.
Turies.
block Ken Gill, the white collar engineers' leader, says: "We are not in business to haggle about the weight of the ball But we have to learn from the the years. members of the Tuc General Council refused to mount any opposition to the Concordat, for accused of ruming Callaghan's election stralegs: That attitude has left the way opea for the current right-wing offensive.
The right wing will be echoing Callaghan's theme thar the unions should not take political decisions to thware the Tory government's plans - it does after all have a mandate from the clectorate. Those Like Alan Fisher of the public employees union who believe the unions have to live with the Tory government offer no Reversals The recent public sector union conferences show that the righr-win ascendancy can be reversed. NUPI conference mandated Fisher to oppose talks with the Tories, the left regained the CPSA Icadership, and evch in coeretary David Basnet was defeated the GEMWL when the conference voted for action for a E65 minimum wage and 35 hour The viciousness of the Tories attacks on the public sector brought these unions up with a jol. They reahsed how trade union reform would hamper their resistance to these Political But more than this, the left in these unions was organised to fight for socialist policies wbich provide an alterpative to collaboration with the In the CPSA the left campaigned for individual work place voting as un alternative to the present branch vote system, and soundly defeated the right's attempt to win postal ballot elections.
They were organised to fight for a strike strategy as opposed to the right-wing line of limited sclective 'designed nor to hurt the public, in pursuit of the pay claim The left also won a censure of the execurive. The leff candidates for the executive who were most associated with these policies won some of the hichest votes:
If over the last five years it wa essential to build an organised left wing in the unions — a new Minority Movement — to fight the right-wing collaborators with Callaghan, today that left wing is just us vital. What the public sector conferences showed was that the fight to unite the labour movenient in action against the Tories roquites a political fight against the night wing.
TORY BRITA rumours This is discrimination TY BICE against competition. population the size of Gwent.' Our Sports Correspondent adds об а picce practised by Cricket Conference whose trophy competition begun last week as part of the run-up to the better-known Prudential World Cup compeles in the ICC Trophy but, not being an ICC member, is not allowed to score points for victories. Points scored Wales count in the
----- pull-quotes -----
proceed" Logic