Organising solidarity

gles of the black workers. The Botha regime for its part has made it very clear that it has no intention of ccefully relinquishing power to e slack majority government which however limited the programme and perspective of its leaders — would inevitably open the door for immediate conflict with the interests of South African capitalism.

The South African workers need a leadership as committed to their class interests as Botha is to those of the South African bourgeoisie: but they also need a conscious Marxist leadership that grasps the limitations of the ANC's cross-class political alliances, and recognises that only with the overthrow of capitalist exploitation in South Africa can the black majority establish its democratic rights and smash the trappings of racism. THE heroic 18-month strike by shopworkers at Dunnes stores in Dublin forced the Irish government in December to impose a selective ban on imports of products from South Africa.

Eleven workers went on strike in July 1984 when one was suspended for refusing to check out a South African grapefruit at a till. They held out sufficiently long for an Irish labour court to declare that could resolve one sispute them

resolve dispute. result was a cabinet decision by

901 the Fine Gael coalition to ban fruit and vegetables produced by firms which use prison labour. The strikes had previously rejected as inadequate a plan for Irish supermarkets to phase out the sale of South African goods.

When they visited Britain during last year's TUC Congress. the Dunne's strikers were appalled at the lack of positive action by British union leaders in solidarity with the South African workers.

But despite this, public pressure and some picketing by anti-apartheid activists has pushed a Socialist Viewpoint No. 10 February 1985 p17

Tn Africa number of leading retail chains into banning South African goods.

First in line was to Co-op, followed by Tesco and Sainsbury which announced cutback in sales of South African products. In December five more chains - Littlewoods, Argos. British Home Stores. Next and Harris Queensway declared that they would not or did not stock goods from the apartheid state.

TUC General Secretary Norman Willis was of course quick to claim credit for this in a meeting with South African union leaders. But