basic slogan remains: Workers of the STEPHANIE GRANT world unite!' revolutionary marxists have the task of supporting revolutions happening cise- Those who uphold Trotsky's approach stress the underlying unity of the world's working class, but recognise that the spec- ific tasks facing the workers in the ad- vanced capitalist countries, the opressed be resolved if the working class seizes power, while the creation of a classless socialist society can be realised on on a IN EACH COUNTRY, the working class and world', and in the stalinist states can only and colonised countries of the International solidarity Bolshevik Party line during World War I, There is an inter-imperialist war. With that war we have nothing to do. But there are also wars of national uprising by oppressed nationalities. The Trish upris- ing is 100 per cent justified. Even if Ger- man imperialism tries to profit from it, even if leaders of the national movement link up with German submarines, this does not change the just nature of the Trish war of independence against British impe- Lenin's analysis laid the hasis for the and this in turn was vindicated by the 1917 Russian revolution and the imme- diate post-war upheavals. The Bolshevik victory gave enormous impetus to the SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no B July/September 1988
approach: Ic also addresses thr ancillary workers, can wage and problem of how i health service trade union movement wluch is nearly ten ycars of Tory Attacks membership and militanes, the cony: (whilst prinring to a jeadouses, by comprimon for sections of the SH$ workforce more Horoughigoing socialist The cvermore new realist mombers, and weakened by which have directly hit key and the cure of trade union constraints nf a capitalist divided by professional REVIEW FEATURE DUR SAVE to be taking as many strike votes under the headline Left-wingers Journeyman Press, L3.50 (03.00 accused of driving the nurses to to THE affiliares/readers, [2.50 John Lister, Chiting the Tafeline, February, when nurses seemed bulletins, the Times ran a story. for bulk orders of 10 or more). as there were broadcast news Emergency, 335 Grays lin! healthworkers' action last Contact London Health AT THE HEIGHT nE the JANE WELLS Road, Lendon WCI.
notch up some notable victories. experience of weakness and fcar into the deleatism of can't fight rather go along with the Time' and, albeir locally, continue to change of mood — to militancy Health union leaderships have "Teds under thic hospital beds" healthworkers current trade workers continue to struggle - would light", They would scare than adinit that a teal Despite tis, health service is staring them in the face. unfortunarcly, most of the cynically translared a real This book, unlike. Defending the NHS HEALTH SERV Nurses demonstrate on 5 March 1988 YOUR HEALTH "ERVICE was, argued the Timer in the best theories, a happy band of lar-left London Health Emergeniy, and the scenes of industrial unrest in journal The huge, spontaneous: was deliberarely ignored. There: activists beavering away behind otber sections of healthworkers- The article concerned in the the NUIs — with Lister himself tradition of wacky conspiracy feçding the angels discontent strike" ('accused", it must be political carcer, his job with his articles written for this main onc John Lister: his. said, only by die Times). militaticy of the nurscs
employed, there is no duht that the union role is central, and the worse the conditions for winiting to prevent them taking industrial It is a tribute to the vision arid must take care that their proper struggles. "Whatever tactics are does not become a wrapon used longer this fight is delayed, the determination nf thousands of well-being ul today's patients union leaders, renognises the action in protect tomorrow's will become. Healthworkers centrul importance of those bealth service for us all' noted (as is recorded by the final workers in other industries, with document some of the struggles paid bealth workers, who, since groups concerned with deletice black women us both workers campaigning links forged with patients, and with local bealth of the many thousands of low the sevcaties, have lought lor NITS women (and especially and users of the service; tie decent pay and for a decent riderly, and those sullering service: recording too, the Lister then goes on 1o mental illness. firm thr concessions made at its under-resourcing and cuts (both your interest and keeps in all the wrirren by Laster, sets the scene breakneck pace which keeps up The first section of the Bowik, the Labrur government to the establikhment in the 1940% hv all puwertul consultants and development of today's NES: with an introduction to the Seven chapters chart the private medicine, through Tory and Labourt: che lestory of the NHS ar al important facts and Jeading activists: into an ever-expanding network oat the detail, and to give some facing the NIs, together with a conducted by the leaders of the L.HF's typically racy style — of campaigners in the field, to fill Is publication is well Limed. impressive round-up — in the With a lull in the periodically the history and current crises collection of short articles by over 20 experts, workers and Cutting the Lifeline is an Well, he's at it again. high-profile campaigns first-hand accounts: of strike action.
evidence — from the pages of this around the cuntry — is that the SOCALIST OUTLOOK no B: July/September 1988 recorded in this book, have been conspiracy. There are thousands defend the NHs is all a croiskyist healthworkers und campaigners won against vast odds: And the more out there ready to take up book, from the testimony of its action taken by campaigners sustained and in many cases afford to rost easy under the Towes and its friends cannot illusion that the struggle to contributors, and from the thar their struggles, many Shields, in an instructive article) and, centrally, for healthworkers: some strategies for defending the provide a democratic and secure problem for bealth campaiguers facing as resolute an adversary contributor to the hook, Dave health service. It advocates a Cutting the Lifeline outlines Exactly how to win now; health policy which would as Thatches, is an urgent respunsive health service. financial foundation for a possible even within the and their leaders, of tbe Black report (which linked newly-respectable radical right's numerous re-organisations, and, under Tharcher, the suppression stared aim of wholly dismanrling the NHS as 4 tax-funded service business plan for the NHS: the avanable to all, and free at the It also records the effects on the lives of those failed by the implenientations of Sainsbury poor health to poverty/: the aurhorities and boards with supremnu Sir Roy Grillith's blatant stuffing of health trusted Tories, to the last-minute efforts, latching onto real struggles, at that), with only day of action, and the possibility day-to-day fight by NHS workers Culling the Lifeline, focuses and strike to be called by the health fortieth anniversary in July, the of only a forry minute (!) token tughlights the important issues labour movement (and usually) and attempting to contain the "burning torch" relays, a "fun" brings together some of the union leaders to mark the and servide users goes un campaigning for the NIS to be addressed by those
REVIEWS Politics, sex and