Kinnock's the Party's commitment to decision of the last Labour weapons was a sign that it Greenham Comon the cop-out nuclear
Andrew Moore/Refles In accordance with the need Not surprisingly the president Russians really are busting a with our allies' Kinnock and against Soviet SS-20s, if the Healy went to Washington. to discuss this programme expected to defend Britain nuclear attack on Western 'did not agree with it, and gut to launch an all-out Europe? argument on which all talk of 'Russian threat'. In doing so Kinnock, anxious to be seen and match to Thatcher. For a nuclear deterrent is based of course he gave game, set as being as 'patriotic' as 'commitment to NATO'. weapons be realistically Thatcher, conceded the - that of the so-called how can conventional Symbolic protest by CND, April 1987 socially useful projects such as According to this programme, conventional 'defences'. This health care and education the Britain in a Modern World'. instead of the money saved campaign' called Modern from the abandonment of nuclear weapons going on money would go towards would reinforce Britain's strengthening Britain's Britain would provoke massive Nuclear powered US warships policy reaffirmed was to scrap programme for a non-nuclear would still be allowed to visit, but without nuclear weapons. Polaris; and close US nuclear It was obvious at the time stay, but the nuclear bombs December last year Labour pressure from that hostility soon began to show. On 10 would have to be removed. bases would be allowed to bases. The F-111 bomber missiles; de-commission US hostility - and the the Trident submarine programme and cruise unveiled its 'defence that this reaffirmed
persuasions. For all those who completely the right wing is in the showdown in that war will surely come after the election. mouth their excuses. There is movement is going to have to Kinnock — at the ballot box, voting against the Tories and kind of unity is possible. The right wing have declared war on the left in the party, and the attack on Sharon Atkin just one item on which it is possible to have unity with control of the Labour NEC, even if they choose people Blunkett and Meacher to Labour's opponents and with left reputations like Everyone in the labour plays into the hands of demonstrates just how racists of all political have eyes to see, it - a very sophisticated level of major attack on Sharon Atkin, which demanded her removal, he alleged, used issues of race was made by Peter Kellner in witch hunting organ. Lloyd's It goes without saying that Lloyd has turned into a base attack; one of the first pieces Tribune attacking those who, under his editorship accused Tony Benn of looking senile NUM, but the hard left as a central target has been the nefarious political ends. A Blunkett wrote a dreadful under its new editor John Scargill leadership of the moving 'soft left'. David witch hunting column in the New Statesman, which ignorant and slanderous sections of the rightward and sex for their own political analysis. immediately turned round and against black Labour activists. after four black parliamentary racist attacks, the Labour NEC is being turned into a term of abuse and hatred by the mass Instead of countering these showed them what they could attack on Sharon Atkin came Trust, the very word 'biack" politicians. The use made by fanned the flames of racism, made a statement of 'unity' The frame-up of Sharon Broadwater Farm trial has Grant and Dianne Abbot, Atkin was orchestrated by the media of the frame-up as has the press campaign aids and abets them. It is even more ironic that the candidates, led by Bernie media, and this is being with Kinnock. Kinnock reinforced by leading do with it. after conference. But to accuse offensive against Black Section Socialist Outlook No 1 May/June 198/ are the epitome of racism. He leaders of the big unions have struggles of black people, and wanting to create 'apartheid' has accused Black Section of backed him up at conference Labour Party is the opposite the growth of black sections, organisation of black people which accused all the major political parties of racism in want to prevent the Labour Black Section of wanting to of the truth. It is those who who want apartheid in the practice. According to the in the Labour Party. The Runnymede Trust report Party linking up with the create 'apartheid' in the came in the wake of the Ironically, the NEC's to prevent the self- Labour Party.
Phetip Gordon: Relled union busted In twelve months Kokuro has into left and right wing factions. Meanwhile collaborationist and company unions have cashed in the militant rail union Kokuro. on this collapse, and are setting up a new national federation of companies: and in preparation for up to 70,000 redundancies waging an all-out war against suffered a major political split Japan rail 100,000 members; and it has (JNR) in April has carved the Japanese National Railways JNR management have been been halved in size, losing THE PRIVATISATION of network into seven new
faction, the 'National council of jobs are expected to come under Socialist Outlook No 1 May/Tune 1987 smashing of most independent Japan's bullet train unions in the Japanese private , controlling 15 of the This decimation of Kokuro, The surviving class struggle companies start whittling back until recently the backbone of multilateralism, the staple diet breakaway right-wing unions. The Kinnock/Healey policy work cut out: another 40,000 JOHO, News from Militant confederation, follows on the seems likely to set up its own wing of Kokuro will have its in CND and the Labour Party transmuted into the familiar has been 'clarified', but that changed. It is up to activists (Information from RODO of the Labour Party has not ditching of party policy and Socialist Party members of the rail service to maximise dross of common or garden of right-wing politicians for headquarters. This faction the axe as soon as the new call our leaders to account immediately organised a to sound the alarm at the the public sector Sohyo more than thirty years. HEATHER LAVIS union's 27 regional Japanese Workers) (Battersea CI.P) • profitability Kokuro', sector. Party, all cracked. Kokuro right leaders of the Japanese Socialist Kokuro delegates threw out the wingers proposed a new policy right wing line, and forced the leaders, who were replaced by leaders committed to fight on. with top bureaucrats from the Kinnock has suffered death at declaration of support for the Unilateralism in the hands of it is now clear that a Kinnock General Council of Japanese interpretations. Even though resignation of the right wing Kokuro leadership, together It was this proposal which Reagan to James Callaghan, for the successful outcome of from a broad spectrum from weapons, waiting (eternally) chair Yamazaki Toshikazu, Kinnock's policy is attacked Trade Unions (Sohyo) and right-wing style, the ousted 'negotiations'. The gold of government would stall on Needless to say, in true divided the union. At an convention last October, the hands of a thousand privatisation, signing a - of total surrender to extraordinary national unilateralism has been 'clarifications' and re- getting rid of nuclear government plan. Kokuro members, 60 per cent of assigned to these new units were deny that these 18,000 are at the re-employment by the new rail overtime and shift allowances, union representatives. JNR has made no secret of the fact that demoralising odd jobs such as whom were present or former union members - nor does it companies when the system is Healy had already declared nuclear weapons from Britain unilateralism has disappeared containing the most militant from the pronouncements of the Labour Party leadership. 81 per cent of the workers we shall not act unilaterally. paperweights, cleaning and the centres were a means of discussions with our allies'. It is now clear that every with the immediate loss of Under this pressure, the removal of medium-range All consultation on their withdrawal of American bamboo work, making bottom of their list for missiles from Europe. and a new routine of renewal would be in that 'in seeking the last vestige of real divided up. polishing. schemes and wholesale transfers companies and the privatisation aimed at axing 21,000 jobs prior unions were given extended job job-security agreements, while of rail workers to JNR-affiliated These workers - often skilled against Kokuro was primarily threatening Kokuro members redundant unless they left the inspectors — were confronted relations and undercut the US The management offensive union. Meanwhile right wing railworkers, including engine believed that it would weaken cooperate with the seven new • setting up a network of Geneva arms talks'. Kinnock missiles pending the result of NATO, undermine East-West in fact had already started to would delay removing cruise to the April carve-up of JNR. drivers, linemen, clerks and retreat from even a nominal utilisation centres' to which unilateralist position before voluntary retirement leaving for Washington by over 18,000 mainly union members were reassigned. negotiating position at the seven 'unions' pledged to Measures taken included: negotiations involving the that they would be made announcing that Labour 1,400 'human resource • refusal to renew guarantees; companies; scheme.
UPFRONT 200,000-plus section of workers, unions and management cannot party to judge what is fair' - if Instead of giving any lead in health unions have focussed on body - 'an independent third have gone 'in-house', this has pleas for the establishment of majority of hospital contracts increasingly rapid turnover yet another new pay review fighting for action by this among a largely female worsening poverty and been at the expense of NHS pay: Labour and unions miss the boat staff nurses - seems unlikely to sector pay. As a result, not only argued that now is not the right are nurses (a majority of whom less than £10 per week extra to nurses out of the NHS. But the time to wage a fight on public without any kind of lead from unions still seem willing to sit The trade union attitude is be enough to stem the tide of summed up by NUPE leader are in TUC-affiliated unions Tom Sawyer, who recently the labour movement, but rather than the RON) left idly on the sidelines. out that the Tories had left a E30 health authorities to pay it with. while radio and TV interviewers Tabe to for eurent amuld pay -threatening new cuts) between their 'generous' settlement and review body suggested; he was looking for a nurse who would not even have the wit to point €150,000 per health authority say she was satisfied with the the money they are giving to caught totally on the hop - He could not claim that a scoured hospitals in vain million gap (as much as average increase recommended announcement that this year it dire failure of the leadership of would pay the full 9.5 per cent pay review body has been seen election. But the NHS pay issue covering a total of 1.2 million as a key indicator of an early is further evidence also of the by the 'independent' nurses' health workers, should have Tories are most vulnerable. the workers' movement to been at centre stage of the exploit an issue where the The pay negotiations, THE CYNICAL Tory
systematic under-funding of the carried by hard-pressed nurses. potential for a real, cross-union by health authorities in the last five years have centred on cuts in staffing and in the wages of and secretarial grades: yet the 'cost improvements' imposed under-staffing among clerical battle over pay, in which the Almost all of the so-called knock-on effect is more and ancillary and other staff. A more ancillary tasks being Pay levels are also now causing a major crisis of agree! chronically low-paid ancillary E the initiative and using the issue services, Labour leaders and the to highlight Tory cuts in health election. Yet instead of seizing outmanoeuvred by Thatcher's behind the scenes to persuade only a small pay increase this run-up to the expected June the nurses' pay body to give unsuccessfully twisted arms cabinet and the anti-union Royal College of Nursing health unions allowed While the Tories themselves to be
public concern over the plight of seriously. Instead of developing and grudgingly that few health been squandered by the union Meanwhile the half-hearted Hattersley appear so belatedly leaders are running from any commitment that might cost the health service as a major NHS could be exposed, has Michael Meacher and Roy and cut-price pledges from electoral weapon, Labour workers can take them real money. leaders. Moore/ Refle range from a miserable £1.93 to staff are also being left high and called for 'a substantial flat rate increase in all basic rates of pay towards a target of a minimum. a wretched £2.19 per hour - basic rate of £125 per week' Present ancillary pay levels ancillary pay claim, which Management have just rejected the joint unions dry by the unions. It is well known that hospitals much as anything to hold down in Britain's big cities have been happened to the health unions? make the running, when it has been the RCN's appalling elitist Why did they allow the RCN to and anti-union approach and commitment that has done as constitutional 'no-strike' Meanwhile, what has minimum rise for all nurses - a Hattersley and Meacher did not the headlines with the easy and from the health unions to grab Belatedly trying to get in on make the obvious and popular demand which it immediately abandoned as soon as the 9.5 £1,000 a year minimum; nor exploit the near-total silence promise to pay up the extra year, the RCN was able to immediate £1,000 a year popular demand for an the act, Labour leaders per cent increase was
suggesting the Party make some the 700,000-strong waiting list. bold commitments on the NHS; spend as necessary to wipe out Instead leaders of both Labour In a recent crisis meeting of necessary to cure AIDS, and to Party's disastrous showing in Skinner stunned everyone by opted for a cautious line least Labour's NEC to review the and the health unions have likely to win votes or wage the opinion polls, Dennis to spend whatever was HARRY SLOAN increases • giving a weekly rate of £77.20 to Management seem reluctant to domestic, laundry and catering ever further below the poverty £87.60 for the basic 40-hours. worked, with wages cut by an services has brought a drastic increase in part-time working review, leaving ancillary pay go much beyond the 4-5 per cent mark in this year's pay and a massive loss of bonus payments. Though the vast competitive tendering for The brutal process of driven thousands of trained staff key nursing staff as low pay has NHS, there is little to attract new and much to demoralise existing union negotiations, and offering suffering a growing shortage of take-home pay for a staff nurse out of the NHS each year. With conditions in an under-funded The new pay settlement - in London as low as £87 per arrived at without any trade entrants to the profession - week, a steadily increasing better-paid private sector. workload, and worsening staff or lure them into the popularity with 500,000 nurses, easily squashed this by cynically nurses; instead they offered the that they had failed to sway the would accept the review body's Labour government would pay Socialist Outlook No 1 May/June 1987 meaningless pledge that a new review body, and seeking easy recommendations - and then Meacher, left stranded, did Thatcher's team, knowing did they promise to restore announcing that they, too, normal pay bargaining for the full review body award.
ICTORY