Middle East?
By JACK GOLDBERG SOMETHING rum is happening in Libya. According to Western media Gadaffi is in
If the poor survives a mysterious sickeness
depression, would still have to wrestle with mutineers and fellow officers or face the wrath of his people.
There is no doubt that under a smokescreen
US imperialism hellbent on creating conditions for thicker smokescreen is thrown by the events in the Arab world, many which directly triggered by the attack on Libya. events have been reported, they were purported to be isolated incidents of
The reality is quite different. For the first time in many years, the Arab masses were united in their hatred of
imperialism condemnation of their bourgeoisies imperialist strategists.
collaboration between the Arab regimes and US imperialism was by no means nakedly open Egypt having resisted US prompting boisterous and dangerous neighbour was plain to be seen.
anti-imperialist sentiment engulted the entire region countries. The reaction of the Arab rulers was swift and in many cases
In neighbouring Tunisia — which a few years back almost merged with Libya - the Army quench peaceful demonstrations in olood. Dictator for life President Bourguiba grasped the opportunity to deliver a powerful blow to his opposition.
Historically tied to US interests, Bourguiba has, for the past few years, been preparing his succession in the face of powerful unrest. repressed in blood several bread riots, he has recently unleashed a sharp offensive against the
power-mad disinformation Gaddati the main particular. protagonists, bourgeoisie. General Secretary (mouvement be debarred from backfire as the trial becoming treatens to fuel more unrest. cause Having Socialist Viewpoint No. 13 July 1986 p9
of have Giza, industrial were Central several and strikes. Despite uprising, collaboration against Libya. organisations of the working class, trade union UGTT In This time, he moved against what he preceived to be his strongest the nationalist Ahmed Mestiri MDS of the des Démocrates Socialistes) was arrested and charged with sedition. If convicted, he would the presidential election. Bourguiba's plans can still of Mestiri is célèbre and conscious masses, Egyptian Premier Mubarak
In neighbouring Egypt, the mood
frustration and defiance
exploded into massive rebellion. The scars of the February uprising were too fresh and the regime still thirsty for blood. During the qun battles that raged through
Son Hel want Madinnt al Nasr, dozens of conscripts were killed
The young policemen who rebelled years. They total about a quarter of a million and are used to supplement the regular police force. Drawn from the poor peasants, their poor pay was too small to keep them, let alone their families. A decision by the regime to extend their service from three to four years sparked a battle that lasted for
To the bloody repression that ensued, the working class responded by demonstrations
Othe crushing of the Mubarak was only too conscious of the consequenes of any
US imperialism This is the simple
The final country where the state had to use all its might to crush demonstrations was incident was confined to the
Cof Yarmouk and only involved students. The ferocity the precision of the repression lifted any doubts about the preparedness of King Hussein to confront any dissent.
This was followed by a crackdown in the Jordanian Communist Party. fifties, the Party has been more or less tolerated. This time 23 of its leading members, including Fayek Warrad, its General Secretary, were arrested.
Tis no doubt that the anti-imperialist feeling - reminiscent of the Suez crisis thirtee
Cof the power of their masses and are fully prepared to meet any act of dissent with blood. Unlike the fifties which saw the rise of radical lett nationalist regimes in response to, and to fit into the aspirations of the
Othe movement that may develop today would be spontaneous, powerful, but also shortlived in the absence of a revolutionary party of the working class.
Postal workers hit back at speed-up BY GARTH FRANKLAND ATTACKS on working conditions and on spread from one public service and nationalised industry another, often as a preliminary to privatisation. In April the Post Office management in Leeds opened up the latest round. The result almost brought on a national strike.
Post Office management tried to cut staff hours worked from 24,500 to 15,500. They later upped this target to 19,500. In response sorting office workers and delivery workers did the basic 43 hours, effectively banning overtime.
Chaos ensued. Post office boxes were sealed up and 720 casuals were taken on as scabs. Staff hours rose by an extra 30,000. Communication Workers known criminals were recruited and no proper training was given. The result was increased backlog many items of mail going missing.
Leeds was the pilot study for an examination of productivity staffing levels which the Post Office and the Union of Communication Workers were discussing. Union's national officials and the management in Leeds had had many meetings over the lasst years prepare the scheme. The workstudy and stop watch teams were allowed to operate with the union's national approval. Harry Jones, the UCW's national officer, played a day-to-day role in preparing productivity deal.
Up to the scheme being introduced the Union had exercised powerful local control over overtime worked and over rotas. All this was to go. Instead work schedules based on a time and motion survey — so detailed that it eliminated thinking time in the mail sort operation — were introduced.
jobs have to was to be broken. course there would be little or no overtime, combined with a possibility of split shifts. People night shift were suddenly to be put on nights without consultation. arangement of hours was to be week. Union of said that hundred per cent successful. and "oath allegiance" and to seek an injunction The to vicious workers in place of overtime. the Viewpoint.
Leeds postal workers on picket line The effective power of the union members It be was to replaced by speed up. The sweetener was an offer of up to £20 per week. Of who had never worked show 0f Pare i she even new hours on Saturday morning, so that workers would only have 1 night off a After a secret ballot the Union staged a 24 hour stoppage. It was a management refused to accept the workers back unless they signed an 2,000 The refused, a number were suspended, and the strike continued. The UCW took the Post Office to the High Court so that its "The remarkable thing about the strike was the commitment of the postal