apart reforms, major reshuffles of rhe Milos Jakes, while an apparen non participation in the Polish Jaruzelski has received a major the 1968 mvastion, Husak was. the party of Dubcck supporter Czech people for his rolc after personal dynasty in Romania government have raken place. In Czechoslovakia, Husak, However, his replacoment, cither vored against or dida't Deeply resented amongst the was Instrumental in purging Solidarity's campaign for referendum appears to have Soviet invasion in 1968 and becone the first major cast an opportunit indebted to reformist on the economy, austerity where a majority Gorbarhes v ascendency: position of president. has hardiners we prepare the on cconomic reform and Hungary, with the most left with the cerrmonial Brezhnev for his power. Nicolac Cranscac's innovative of cranemir collaborated with other at the seamus. Even in European victim of alterwards vaste
mability of the Soviet Union to on an yven keel seems certain to paralleled in the recent past by unwilguess and unreasing intervene to keep these states Irad to social upheavals only andycars, Fronomic the rise of Solidarity SEAN ROBERTS difficulties and the the Sovict Union seems certain! All m'all, Lie casr European regames appcar in for a ruugh which is more sympathetic to ride over the coming months cucr deeper into the mire. A co crystalliss within the nest time while Crane-au winks new opposition with the parry and security organs few months. leadership in the Soviet Union battering in the last few mocks drey, in turn, am biding their repeated elsewhere. students Gorbachev's rocent visit and have also taken to the streets and not just metaphorically! Ceausescu?: ill-concealed and bis image has taken a contempt for the new was plain throughout the process. Although this does workers from a truck lactory m regional party headquarters m scrond thoughts about paying opposition to has bleak regime Rraso noted, destroying che off the entire foreign debt at breaknerk speed as intermi November 10.000 strikie not appear to have been continues to shout. In Tories
pressure on NHS under
show the potential strogth and and substantial retrcats within Nothing could more clearly AFTER SFVFN bitter years of a month - both on the NHS. unfamiliar sight of theo: swift popular support of health uncompromising Tory government, came the workers and anti cuts campaigns.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK nd 5 January/February 1988 The Tories have managed to loreth anniversary year of the arends have launched a major hospitals, and while the media Important partial victories can be won. but Thather will seck ou the Nils fee Socialiat Ortlook leilerslup worth ins salt would defend their tied allowances: provoke new mintancy among - reflecting public opiniii! — demonsiration and a 11C: day revenge in the pritracted wat faction - which woud get This gies than loc Lue- want that their cast cuts ac bur none for complacency health workers al the ven Nuts. it is still not toe late masave support. In this persuade them to do so and essential we try to A labour movement having most impart on is srill highly critical of cumpaign on the NHS. including a Tatemal HARRY SLOAN government police. Cuts have put tremendous pressure on NHS staff and patients 7 The Manchester strike couk! mod at the right time. Nurses Oiler union offcials quickly put cheruselves at the forefront seek new ways to take nurses and threarence nurses" strikey Tories had embed down and transfusion service workers — unions a fresh opportmity to: of the fight to defend the NHS, and patting industrial action Edinburgh demanding exrra again dominated by NUPH — had aready begun to forese sove-week bvertime ban in cisewhere Within days, die jumped on the bandwagon, dropped their wage-cutting though they will climbdown, low-paid blood campaigns, and had won a firmly back un the agenda. had wored to take action to giving the bicherto passive yet prove a turning point. Even belore the Tory pav for their own wage Teal many ant-cuts restructuring. sobene: 1 statt leadership of the Royal College hysterical abuse — leaving die: mose vitriofic opposition to the 'new realist lime, but the right strike to be voiced by the scab dury payments for nighr shitt during working bours, which strike by so few sitkers have Even the rabid Tory press. Is contrast, RON fout Tom Sawver'& detratist Seldom can any nor-nighr members at several hospitals Thomas's hospital — calling assisting mdastrial achon by organised by a section of the have been evading the RCS healt unions. or — as at St sympathetic Mational media held hack an it rescrves of received so much and such no-strike policy by racity plans to serup their special NUPE leadership willing to The Manchester strike. disraptive mass ranctings are rantamount to strike of Nursing coverage. working астіон concession — an extra L70m 1o: has mercly encouraged doctors dodrors from over 160 hospitals indequate, but the concession Thatcher from consultants and the presidents of three medical running alnngside increasingly called for increased Junding ol strike by 40 NUPE night nurses had brought a growing midia by London Health Emergency Organised Within days of this petition a Nonh Manchester hospital pressure to make further cuits districts. The sam was totally climax in an open letter from across the country, including be shared terween the healiti brilliantly-orchestrated roke and campaigners to fight for care in the aftermath of the November and December Early December saw dus ITospital Alert, the petition Concession pumber two. macty over NIS curbacks. bcalth authoritics to resist vocal complaints from top but also arced carme the first niaor Tory - in protest against Tory rovul collcers, and then a and the Hounslow-based 1.200-strong petition to ovcr 20 prulessors. tie SHS• doctors, TRISTA:
UPFRONT TUC policy towards that of Norman Willis — steering new realist Eric Hammond set u to reor on the future of special TTIC policy review body THE roc is preparing a major roquiresents of the employers: trade unionise in Britain The umans Boold take account of the strareity of the unions and This has come to light in 1CC TUC papers argue that there papers bring examined by a need to be major changes in These moves, which are acceptatice nfsingle union Lat on single union deals employers single maxes move towards the open deals in line with the desires"
a deal o a departure cum for a parts whose hands we wined scakorenther made unions. Tr Party, its involvement in such their recent permichas role me that the leadership of the ARD which Hammond ren» emploverto underine and is thr dearest indication yot is macing towards the satne with Flass collaboration and collalkiation with a moansr kind or business anonism 1e for the Contionis strike and at ALAN THORNETT TUC accepts single union deals the rainers И appara perille bond managenient to chance that Ford managemen and romains ready and willing will drop such a deal when the LK sill simney agtees veilleut: cynicall said that they would second largest union in Ford Wasping. the art stanie al drop thie deal proviting the president Bill Jurdaa know nther unione m Ford cald du su. Buch Autie and ALL Take Tri Tammond ar Dundee is an ant of direet very will that Lices is no The NEL delegation to sign it Communis Party member and cnicrumanent systems Ar that WU in their attempts to secure moccine Willis was prepared to AEl: excave council member deal in the propchel new Ford plant in Dundee, designed to accepr as good coin a cynical Willis on the attempte of the NU to socure a single union nght-wing leadership of the forced a meeting with FUL malacture hight-icch car general secretary Norman manneuvre exerted by: Jinuuy Airlie and the the deal. PETPU over us scabbing mole in Wapping. Tast monrh the TUC All this may also account for: stance on this issue. This came vut clearly when the rest ol tic union, and trowing thet out contmuing relusal of the FUC the TEC as they desceve, they France and genicral purposes To rake iny action against the committee put thic matter oft charactetises the TUC public unions in Ford Uk recendy are preparing, behind the seches, tu case in to their policy, run alongside rhe challenging Hammonds contrary to existing TUG the dauble speak witch again. Now, ustcad of policies:
common things apply and what lessons from our struggles, and tie some hope for the firer time we could do to change thungs" Silentmelt: There are lots of For futiler information un te receire the Stret. Bornitoent Coln, Lames (bel need and made an important This conference lias given If we could get together with support dispures, we would those who have been in and in a long which concluded beginnung. In the words ol they are parallel to a lot of Tied berseen un where the lanet Seamour from Solidarity conference: an important beginning Terry French. • other disprites. 0262 5128012 reconvene anonally and elected a 1b person steering committer meantime, The commince will dockers gave the confercuce an strikes being supported by the trade union leaderships. Hull support in every pessible was The cunferenen met 4 basic produce a bimonthly bulletin clorious boost be pledging The confer men actred to conterence of sacked miners burcult action in support ol (which is NUM policy) The activity: There will also De conference also pledged to yunrterly open meetings: Terry French's call for a to carry put work in thr op current disputes and struggles and solidarity solidart network. challenging the betrayal of the wide range of topes: including sarked and victised workers. Franches, untuployed groups several trades cuuncils, ution fran North Yorkshire women session cenrred on building a member, jailed in the mancis 1abour Parly and women in representatives From CCID strike); and Dot Whitworth unions and Coalville NUR. Workshrips were held on a solidarity network and on Terry French Kent NUM Discussion in the final building solidariti in the and disputes support Speakers included against put closures. Commutes. the utmons. SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5. Jamuery/February 1988 union solidarity conterence was Icaring the political lessons of srikers and victimised workers Campaign group of MPs: from NuM and elscwhere; from the the way forward for solidarity rercht disputes and struggles. experiences and in discussing from Wapping, Hangars, the sinterence brought together in overcoming isolation and ON NOVEMBEK 7/8 a trade held in Leeds Galled by ex together with Oxtord and Support came from ex- strikers from Silentnight, Tower Harlets dispures uppon cunnittees, the action and campaigning 150 people interested in frustration, in sharing activity.
reducing the wage bill by seven The ollicial union respunse was on the issue. A majority DE800 came out in favour of a strike. kept secret frum most workers workforce for a one day strike. stupped paying in September to the pension fund for three per cent or plundering C80m (INC) eventually balloted thie but of the pension fund) was until after the company had Last October the national joint negotating committee vears (which is the same as although the ABU and the slow working practices which would pay increase (of six and a half percent for the first year and increases equal to the rate of heading for a possible major management. On 7 January their pay claim which ried a WORKERS AT Ford 1K are inflation for the second twe management's respotise 10 years to a series of new. the Ford unions rejected mostly_Japanese-based, create dangerous new These include the confrontation with precedents.
TOWL delegates then met 1o EETPU did nor have individual majurites of their own. I was favour of a strike. They voted which was a 1300 majority in own members' decision, with who did not have their own against implementing their then said that those unions Involved in the strike, thux. the Longbridge delegation by a seven to six majority agamst unplementing the decision and the Cowley spatting the unity of the discuss the TOWE result majoritics could not be workforce. stretching negotiations out over spicson the shop floor; and the scrics of spontaneous strikes in the carly stages of negotiatris These proposals provoked a flexibility, the introduction of The negotiators tried higher-paid force of company contracts; the ending of all 'group leaders, crcating a introduction of short termu vehicles al a valuc of 1100 introduction of complete creation ol 'zone circles which cost For 13.000 another Tapanese idea. co defuse this anger by demarcation and the million. i
mecting of the asscably plant. leadership decided to abide by demander strike action on the convenom and branch officers workforee to fieht back is also: An a rostle Cowley was shown in the recent ballor for In Cowlry, the hody nlant workers have not been given the vote and take no furder action on the issue. A mass the opportunty for further closed down for a day, bur however, overwhelmingly The willingness of Hie deleganion in favour: action: issue. with a serins of striker since last Car workers under attack February: In the Cowley body Despite Murphy's attitude, the workforce has responded with the deal' Ford assembly plant at Dagenham maximum of 51:50 a weck and main plants the quality honus payments. In Longüraige workers have reccived a produced only minimal management oncc a month and a 'compromise seidetner on a situation could lead to a strike. changes in working practices if Management rejected this out of band': but the signs are that illowing the November review management were prepared to. would be prepared to consider however, the trade union side At the meeting on 7 January, a long period — meeting te date to go by without action. told management that thcy two year basis is possible. On the face of ir, the arcept a one ycat deal.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5 Tonuary/February 1989 Richardson received 936 votes procedures and many dubious against due existing right-wing Despice the fact that the right complaints within the union) wing controlled the balloting things rook place (which now the left-wing candirate Tony growing force in the class: in the Cowley body plant. workers are likely to be a seem to be the subject of All this shows that car struggle in the coming cancidate with 1171. MATT BAKER period throughour the plant after a fall promise of a ballot on the Issue their employer's contributions series of mass meetings and a call for stronger action which meeting voted in favour of a ARC's decision to suspend Jeaderships three munths, a in the producture bonus. d look the local and national was then disallowed by the to get it called off. A mass -causing the meeting to break up an plant, foi example, an overtune ban spread confusion. plattorn Swindon, are actually worse off than rhey were before the wage poshed through with tie strong rocerved a rotal of t1.50 for the chief negoriator Mick Murphy national uninn leaders. TGWU production bonus. This has told the workers at the time that he was over the moon among the workforce who roview due to a fall in the creared great resentment remember the deal being in Cowler workers have whole 14 month perind. Some plants, such as recommendation of the Such a seltlement would be a ompiocrs" offensive of the past than most from the prolonged weakened and they have been new quality bonus which wat review 14 months ayu. In the watkers. have suftered more (ARG), in particular over the serious blow to car workers, who, alongside engincering. ren years. Their shop flour repcatedly betrayed by the contained in the last wage disputes in Austin Kover organisations have been There have also been trade union leaders.
uwnerxhap.can open Hie door to d lundatuental restructuring if ownership to the working riass values (if not class) which will restricture its relationslup to capital. Rot in the absence of "benefits' brought by share voter, and esrending share without even a contiocus cooponue role model. and relaricely munior economic an arractivh alternative does not fundamentally counter argument, the Socialist Outlook wants your letters! If you feel moved to write — and we hope you will - take cars lo redress: Janc Wells please try and keep to a maximum of 300 words. Send to: PO Box 705, (which of course they can) then run capitdisin mure efficiently higher-return gamble directly on somebody else's livelihood. And as long as the Tories can couvurce people that thry ran a nroessity in many cased for immediuely becomes a Tory have an immediate financial interest in returning them to 20 per cent of the electorate and profftably than Labuur salaried workers), shares 2 number 10, That, lor the Tories, is the point of the Not every share holder: much higher risk. London SWI9 1HA. policy well-being of capitalismi, and in share owner's investment with on which lagree with Gough) People who own shares have i and bank deposit actount, are computes in which they have wistful-thinking to equare the modest and stable return (and duesn't reguire a conversion to book holder: building society "Thatcherite' values (a point point on which we disagree). wirely abour a guaranteed, char of the building sociery but it does ecosage it (thic stake, and interest, in the the proficability of the those shares. It's per cent of the adult population Bur what is the real effect of On Gough's own figures, 20 point and — in the light of thie Share nonsense? now own shares. That sounds like quite a lot ol shareowners Of course, share ownership (Seriali Outiond 4) was to the 'Shar-owning democracy?? the fuge increase since 1979 Gough) in the number of people in Britain holding (three-fold, according to Jamie Gough'e article. Lear comrades, crash - timely. shares? to me.
freedom, council housing, education, obortion rights, goy and shrinking opposition - had returned to work of pruning, uprooting and restructuring, have been able signs of the strange activity that had token place: Bill and Ben stupidly with some of the tools and materials left lying around THE ANTICS of Bill and Ben the flowerpot men seem to have Who would believe that there is on opposition, when there Yesteryear's kiddies' tv heroes used to wait until the man who works in the garden want to lunch, before emerging to inspired the tactics of Neil and Bryan the "frontbench team' When the gardener returned, he found only little tell-tale formula. Since June the Tory gardeners', intent upon their has been so little popular campoigning by Labour on such Today's trendy Labour leaders have hardly varied the Instead, Neil and Bryan come out occasionally to play cavort hormlessly in the potting shed, mouthing amiable savage attacks on local government, union rights, social lesbian rights, the black communities and civil liberties! security, the unemployed, the NHS, the pall tax, press warned by the ever-nervous Little Weed The incredible to toil almost undisturbed. gobbledigook, "DESIGNER 2OCLJI2M"
and the TUC as Slowcoach the Tortoise, "Flowerpot 2' hos little Despite featuring Marxism Today in the role of Litrie Weed around. Neil finds a few Tory voters to play with. Then both Silly Bryan picks up share ownership, gurgles and clowns When the Tory gardeners come back, they find just o few Unlike the original show, the BBC is unlikely to be deluged of them spot the labels used by the Tories to attack the left, with demands for o video. But unless we ore coreful, 'The policy reviews, surcharged Labour councillors, and and try to use them too — with whacky results! mysterious clues to what hos happened Frontbench Men' could run and run e demoralised Labour voters. to offer any audience. JOHN LISTER SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 5 Jahuary/februory 1998
io be tempted into a major challenge to of the evidence presented to the select committee wak agaiest it. During its ant own goal with the publication of a was exposed as a pack of lies and did firmed National Abortion Campaign (NACT) which organised a 20,000-strong women's advisory committee to take a position against the hill. This in turn put Co-operative MP for Thatnabv, voted for James White on Februan 7, but, like an mereasing number of other. MPs withr majorities of lew than 5,000, he is un- Wrigglesworth said, "the situation had William Benyon, the ill-fated Conver- vative MP for Buckingham, was the nest womehi's nights. His bill, whach got is second and final reading on 25 February 1937 songht Weake it more diflesh for doctors to recommend abortion to give THE JAMES WHErE bill Tell a the end if ment of a select committee to look at the proposals. Among other things. White. a Labour MP, wanted to amend the social clause in the 1967 act, to introduce agencies and reduce the upper tume limit from 28 to 20 wecks. The White bill was deleared for several reasons; it Was very long anil complicated and the overwhelming balk rather long passage through parliament the anti-abortionists scored an impor- trunk called Babies for Burning, a typical piece of anti-abortion propaganda winch Of course finally the Will was de leated by mars action coordinated by the hewly demonstration in June 1975 and which forced the TUC and the national Tabour massive pressure on Labour MPs as the following extract from Issue No S8 of the feminist journal Spare Rib demonstrares: *Mr Tan Wrigglesorth, the Labour and October 1975 following the establisti changed since the hill was drafted" vote for hum agan. beensing for referral them a lot of damage likcly: co: ABORTION men tote What right have 60 15 year old girl what todo? Year old DIES AS
police access to medical files and to reduce the tune amit to 20 weeks, As with the White bill. it never gor to a third nyon bill NAC. ALRA and a group st non—FAB) orgunised various activities and were simultancouse contering un reading, largely shrough tihbustering by pro-choice MPs. The anti-abortionists were also greatly divided over the Be- women within it (Feminists Against Fe-
fighting the cicets of cuts in the health When in 1979 women again took 10 che streets in delianre of abortion righos and against the latest bill being proposed a lot less aspicious for an eat anel nat victory- A Tory goverument was un by John Corric MP. the situation seemed SOCIALIST OUTLOOK: no 5 January February 10HE service on abortion prossin. Young women march against the Gillick ruling 1985 - they will be especailly hard-hit if Alton's bill succeeds
ment. Is is this self-sume strategy which The first thing we have to do in are secking to make a compromise with David Alton for i 24-weeks Timit, thos Tabour movement to defend the 1967 act through task action, led by women and organisal through the labour move- preparing ourscives to deleat Alton is to over had in the mass movement and seck ments within the labour movement There are dise in the movement who Iving a the frce of positions within the or for aborton on request. This is farth bey instead to rely on parhamentarist strate- gies like winning over Tory wets or the which shy away from such mass acton. reject tashionabile "now realist •we need to deleat Alton today. because Ihry havc lost amy Housc of Lords.