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®353HOER WEER - SOLOSS OF PAY
2 Natiaafise afb firms ereaiine codundiictes @fuil pas for the uncgipios ce WP we OE eC rash programme of pobiic oe WOrks @ Sash iin fhe diced
AGAINST THE WILSON GOVERNMENT |:
Publications Price 10p
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Hie Mnternguonal Marxist Group (British section of the Fourth: intvnatonai) is a revolutionary socialist Organis#tion commit: st to the overthrow of capitalism in Britain anc! throughout the world. To this end we support every working class Struggle against the bosses and the Wilson Government: every struggle against racism; the fight against the oppression of women: for ch end to British imperiatism in Ireland; and for solidarity with the struggles of the Portuguese and Spanish workers At the present time the IMG arques that it is the Wilson Goverament which is co-ordinating the attacks of the ruling class on the workers’ movement. Therefore the fight back against these attacks must have as their aim the removal of the Wilson/ Healey clique from their position of ‘leadership’ within the labour movement and their replacement by people committer to defending the interests of wort ing people - notably the right to work.
If you agree with the ideas put forward in this pamphlet or would like to discuss them further please fill in the form below and send it to 97, Caledonian Roud, London N.1.
I would tike more information « rat the IMG and its activities.
a
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in Febrosry L974 ine Toxy Government was swept from office, The past four years had seen o ware 1 working class sty, wales aaainst the hate? Neath regime ©: uv greater scale and breadth than anything previously seen +7: ast-war Sritwis FP ee ial npr Clys Be ‘sell evs, the fisht to free the Pentonville Five, and the two siners’ strikes sym- : ivi dvp cise what these bitter conflicts with the Tories were s'l abe st: te refnsal of the uz Stanards und organisations smashed in order to bolster # s-ying iritisi- cayitalism. Alomusix athe cp ib. os.aitg iocustiial Nelations Act, mass unemployment am! incomes policics were the weapons Jy Woda tee Todes trie : tu enforce their strategy. On all three fronts they were repulsed.
Yet. today, barely erghteen nionths after Labour’s SIX POUND LIKiT victory in ihe General Elecuion of Februety 1974 —a victory guaranteed by tae miners’ refusal t- call off The £6 limit - lyingly presented at the FUC and Lieir stuke acuion despite tre pleas of Wilson and the Labaurs Party Conferences as ‘part of the fight to Laco os leadersiap - the working class 1s facing an unsaves jobs’ -- 1s one of the biggest redundancy creators precedcated attack on its jobs and living standards. of them all With lving standards falling, peopie will The dole quetics have grown at the rate of 1,000a have to cut back on what they buy Demand will fail day since Labour Lock office One and a atarter miland production wil} have to falkin line with this, lion are new remstcred as out of work -- aud many i thus creating yet more redundancies more, particularily women workers, dew’ teyister when But the £6 limit serves a much wider purpose than they do become unemployed. Fhis is more than at any this By entering into this deal with the Wilson Govume unde the Tory Goverumcnt ernment, tue trade union bureaucracy has pledged According to the tirm Regional Surveys, b¥ing itself to a ‘social contract’ — a ‘contract’ to safe- Standards have dived oy $% per cenit tox the low paid guard the capitalist economy No matter what privover Lue past year — even before the introduction of ations the crisis of the capitalist economy brings the wage-cutune £6 lurut At the same time the Child upon their mersbers, they will stand by 1t Not only Poverty Action Group states that 700,000 parents go will they allow the real value of wages to fall, they to bed hungry once a fortnight so that their chitdren wilt also lead no real fight against unemployment — can be fed Frank Field, director of che CPAG, reports as this, too,would ‘rock the boat* that Britain's f2ve mallion >poor ‘cat less than the safety The reality of their attitude to unemployment is level for good health’ not the crocodile tears reserved for the press, but their open scabbing on the big jobs lobby called for BANKRUPT SYSTEM 26 November Despite claming that unemployment was the issue on which the £6 limit siood or fell, the “7 atthe working class faughi agauutst under the General Council of the TUC cuculated ali affdiated 4 Goverment 1s now berm forced upon us by Trades Councils telling them not to support the the Wilson Government with the active collaboralobby called by the North West Region of the TUC tion of Jack Jones and the othe: FUC leaders These and snpported by labour movement organisations traitors are demanding that working people pay for up and down the country Smashing the £6 limit the econormc cnsis, although cvery day 7 mgs more and supporting every struggle against this wage-cuttexamples of the pankinpbey ead ins ing measure is 2 vital part of the fight for jobs italist system Two stor: in the national press sui chin wi pe itectly ATTITUDE OF THE ‘LEFTS’
The first, on 28 August, con usicet a report by the National Institute of Economic and Social Re- But so far the people in the best position to fight search. The report noted tha! unssmployment was the’ betiayals of the Wilson Government and the TUC aia 35-year high, and went on to predict that seasleadership — the ‘lefts in Parliament and the trade onaily adjusted unemployment would nse to 1% union bureaucracy — have failed to lift a finger millien by this wits: with oext year seeing a furagainst the £6 limit or put forward the measures desther jump to 14 milton. The NIESR‘s proposals for perately needed to defend the right to work After dealing with thus catastrophic situation. cautious reopposing the £6 limit at the TUC, Engineers’ leader flation — and even this met with the cautious crit- Hugh Scahlon now meekly approaches Murray and icism of the editorial wetters of The Times Co. for ‘advice’ on the pay claim the AUEW can submit to the employers! Eric Heffer writes in Tribune The next day The Tisies reported another story. prior to the Labour Party Conference that while he While Britain is acutely shart of homes and cvera opposes incomes policy the conference must not million homes ate unfit for human habitation, 748 ‘get sidetratked into a false debate about a £6 limitmillion bricks are lying stockpiled and the British ation’ — a view fully in line with the fact that 7ribbrick-making industry is operating at 30 per cent unehas not supported any of the struggies against below capacity The stockpile represents over the £6 norm 70,000 houses and £28 million of tocked up capital. Half the brick manufacturing capacity that has Heffer is actually saying that the working class closed down mi the jast 18 months will never remust not get dragged into ad debate over whether its open, and 2,000 jobs have been lost. At the same living standards should be maintained or should be time the number of unemployed in the construcdrastically cut by the Healey measures But Clive tion industry is estimated at {60,000 Jenkins, leader of the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staff, takes the biscuit. Writing in Tne source of this ‘red propaganda’ was Mr Anin the same issue of Tribune, he dectares: ‘If we thony Cadman, director general of the Bick Develleave aside the £6 wage limit, last week’s Trade Unopment Association It doesn’t take a revolutionary ion Congress was a very progressive affair” This socialist to see that unemployed construction workis rather like saying that the patient is in excellent ers using stockpiledbricks could be building badly health apart from the fact that he’s got cancer! needed homes, schuols aud hospitals. But the economic futute offered Ly the Labour Government, When the ‘lefts’ do actually put forward measures backed by the trade union bureaucrats and supportec to deal with unemployment, much 1s made of the oy the Tones and Libeials, is one of falling living composite motion on jobs passed at the TUC Withstandards, de ining public services, and mass unemout a doubt a serious fight for these proposals, which ployment. e
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moa@ peherabes loiecies) ol fre eeenlaay, wo be ae seme jebs Eetile teangsals Giicauselves from:
Vitpy pots uy tis Hheivy Lt . e-podge of measures, ore Of which pro- To se used de tatictians HeACA Groen coy 2 vfews: wide resposse: (a enciployiient The aes a 1. GT MELT Of carrying, out ‘the wd dations of tee Ryder Report thai tig KWViPORT CONTROLS Degen LO TOR vids Chose Vast suites orl rene {n fucl, tae increasingly popilar dentuac! Cor tee Sensors Trethiitionoat baie Paps eevee while tf port controls lo curb fareiga competion now TVET 1 Caplilt Tais as anpeaesiite tehoy thie bavi advaneed by mosi sechions of the PUR and Crisis OF Capltklist provits vad haat cig of celusipy es dribune Group dees exactly the opposite Thus now so eredl (bat vireuaiby to taoué oh pan pine Gutad tas tha aotauble advan: ye of heme at once dhoap¢ au gmereuse Maney se Ee CLONOMIY Wh oe wosund and redeliaaary Unforbicately seme work- Mgscatrt ed cen tlietebore a ceh tis ws sot UL eis treinga desperate jobs situation as in the hardproduction an ompleytecel dts doped give a Curiher peessed textile utustry ~ have taken thas Jemanil boost to uifiiteon up.so tHe tn, ations of import controls aush be Reflupon of a voeatonsy whisk would benefit the cloury Spudi cut working class in anvétiig bat the very soll derm can only Vig galy paels of tre workt from which imports only be caurned out under workers cor sural, which could be exvluded without provoking massive retaliacoulkbensive the Urrection al te ueeney created mqto tion fron Britau’s capitalist nvais are those already prodactive invesimerct. (ais down: id stir be Created wniihied by amperialsm fimport controls would be without rage inghition dfos ot oaise. deirpainels anirtempa to export ritan’s unemployment onto the creation Of a simple stale pak oes itnoralsatian roe backs of Hie maipaveiss d masses of Asin Attica of al) the iaajor sex tions af Hie eseneeny as the necessary a vlbh YP RIT hasis for a planned cooreray vdetis woo put “oe WoT Import controls he of aay benefit to for ward “Sopbastisn ted” ager ican, sped tT controls wip vcarkers Im bails, a8an-every other vase, Gave NO ten ei trol pa bt ps: ptshigdbnadar is Wot merely aanotal cesture but in gil fiag material interests of dic workime class The RETALIATION Masi etteet of amport controls would be to give a masive boost foinflation Elinimaimnye cheaper Furthermore, the ‘retlatian’ aiguieernd tor import mmestced soods would force up pirces So even it controls totally leaves ont mt account ihe qrestion of there was a teniporary increase im dumestic produc: iefahation by other send sis? states Poanesorr cencrels try: it would be paid for entuely by gonsurcrs were pried to tine cacnar products «fay oh or more waolher word for the working Jass Tnpert conpowelfa) capeiist courepeniers raed tee worhl To trols ure just another capitalist methud ot mihing cauchy the same crt Alrgady te. or ck ae neckiitworkers pay for tie Crisis aa this case through pushing IR POT Terpsadk Cotas UT iash bates CTE ad COUN up prices and thus lowenag real wages TrivS -- im lhe Uinetod Shute s loge fos seen wie. Mausutes are cutrentiw pane “SP ITM PORE POSET le lucreauses in prices would have a second ¢ifect TONS CN Steel, care aba other Mayor ene which would rapidly cancel out any jobs indtistnes wrick | tink) EXPOTES fies Topel ste h economy Navel dhrough import contiais ineseeaitig prices In that sort of trace we. ‘habsitiation where wanes are diel down aicans would be stricily a te ig fiat the werking class is able to buy jess ( sork- With export aiete ers ate forced to pay mae tor Rreiish oy pikes “MLO CLLSES would get worse au instead of Japanese oties sub ctothe ue beat P irough Lie root as it alee. fishies ween British textiles instead o- Prkee ita cies. het wet: “protectionist relies wee appired by all er will sumply have less to spend oi boat. ivtlajord. oruny offer goods — causing duy-of!s in these mdusthe major copeaaisi posers Erving standards would fail still further as more expensive Homers iuced (nes instead Jobs ‘saved’ in one midustry would sunply be Dougiit at the expense of workers sacked goods were sunstituted for clu sper tiupaie in unether industry Fre any sititads In whick pupal contrets would benefit the working clasy would Ie as pare of a state CONDITIONS FOR ‘REFLATION’?
MOnepaly ab Pe : sfoatoewine ite civatton ef a planned © onemy ba pu controls would then be sed Litsi npert controls won't save jobs directly. as one melPod by which vie working class saupht to le more sopoishcated secuons of the Later lett take advan ab, redone aad es tend Che warkl division drgue that they would create the condiiaris fora oO) labett z ed by crelghism ober sintunes of dev venwal 'retlation® of (he econumy by the Govern: hrs weuid help Cheuk tee Prost muiuatly glopnicnt ment thatis the pumping of huge quantiles Cpeisigte of irh.eetrr and patterioad dade ana beneficn ol money into Lhe economy in order fo mecrease tie world sea cling the gaat oof dee .. lan & demand for goods uns therefore picregse mvestincnt, it hanes. ly Maid pre orbinte fle way pravaluction and empleyraeat Without import con i MOU Cd ed trols. st is areued, 13 money would simply veck He, im huge quantities of imports causing the hilonee Jie gehormist detts’ have an ot payments te callapse With import controls, wH the Lita res, supported however, tis crnsis of the balance of payments fig plopose diaa the Wibson Crow would he avoided, allowing the povernmun? to suc. ‘apitubeat shite siteidd carry + Qe word sin cessfully reflate aie economy ctysts marty ules SO Wb Wonlet Siig Peduiler ais tha yan Rit this arpument is as fell of holes us the over Firnsdy. what is ceputedisé reflalion in any case? stiuply meuns sieking ap the rate of inflatien stu Agiulek the peachy scucir, INIPOrt comes ods: Ags ows . furtiner in order to cut unemployment a bi hither teee Thak eean ployment oii fe beer tan sotce way hie workers pay, and raging inflation always With fi Tiosooe amd the Wuson deal ce claie, it bs loads to cconeume e@hapse and imass guemploy ment Nessa y Los isl yet hasle QUuS8 4etey iver the short terin, capitalist ieflatien would agaist UN isi Pere’ Ler work. ‘nuvessarily save ory jobs The Government 1s i vetly Planning to pup a mistion posss's a day W Erdiatee Pee Prick Teg 1st
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+ vedundiancies caused by the policacs ot the multibeginning of Scp-ember the Labou: Gove:nment's national fi7ms - and also expressed the.r solidanty anjection of £:0 milaon ava the Manpower Traiming with rubber workers an Spain — are showtug the way Sezv.ces Commeston fos the vhate councry wilt do forward for an -ntetnat:onal working class tigh: litte 16 s0iv¢6 this potiem against unemployment Aiveady ait se: actionaty lorces have been explonng waysin whch che yciung unemployed Whue the International Marxiss Viroup sift fight for united action against unemployment and jor the can be used as cheap labous io carry cut essential farmaiion of Right to Work Comm.t'ees in cvery public suvvices aiech have been aitowed iu run atsa. involving all sections of the :abou: movement, down because cf cuts in pubes expenditure How we belleve that the demands put fo:watd by these long beTos. the dads who ate digging ditches and bodes must actuaily be capable of guatartce:ng gardening parks aze put onto laying coads? The the mght to work. This is why the Inierriational labour movtisetit must ight any attempt to exploit Marxist Group fighis within every ovgan:sation of the youth a cheap cabou; The youth should be th: labouy movement for the following measures to Organised ipro the umens and community projects combat unemployment: estabushed urde+ the dvection of the umons and pad at trade un.cw satcy ay pa.t oi the Campaign tor * FOR A 35 HOUR WEEK WITH NO LOSS OF a Soccdily usctla p.ogeammme or pubuc works to PAY combhal uncproy ment ‘The most basic demand to defend the ght to The umons mus’ aiso ensure that there ts no work is the immediate reduction of ihe working deciine in the nuinbe: or jobs and apprenticeships week to 35 hours with no loss of earnings A 35 going t© vhe yoush in th: laciorces in Shettield, hour week coupled with a nattonad bun on overtime Workers at Liycock 8 Hngearcus ng - part ot the Guest. would benei:t the entire working class. employed Keer atid Newisfod group - thseaisned to siz.ke after and unemployed By campaigning toc the :eduction TWEIlY] APP!el Cer 455 givett a letier Telumg them of the wotking week Lo 35 hours wih no toss of they had ne sob an che sist day they fuencd up lor pay, the respons:biity and cost ol unsmpicyment work The vista. ob sinke acuon was enough to 8 laid squa‘ely at the door of the capitalists The Torce Mhettage ment to concede the umon’s demand. 35 hour week means that all the *ovk avacable in Al tative appreh tices acé nos back at work and sacicty is shated out amongst the whoie working manage rier: has agreed to manta.n the future intake class at chs lee! This kind of action taken up naonaly can Wart tens of thousands of young wo.kess to the Just as smportanily, the demand fo; 3* hours can dé Gh the faben movcinen! on iuttle siiugegtes be fought : for at al! levels im jocal ba ga-ning, against the be nahional sla.ns, and in demands on the Government. ft has alrcady been adopted in a token tash on by * DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND BLACKS! several unions. A real campaign tor 35 hours would The youuh ai: aoe che only secvzon of soccety to be unite empoyed and unemployed and put the Wilson hit patria yo hed by unempioyment Because Gove nment right on the spot ove: unemployment the woking <.4s= 1. dange-sousiy divided aiong scx if cr cciused to concede the demand. and fa.t ons. sacs unerap.cuyine it raiss6 the chreat The Ne. 3 Drves.onai Council of the Assoc.arion that + onien workers and bla.ke «ii be both the af Scentic Technical and Managesic! Statt has already fist vect.ow of unc nployment and the scapegoats approached the Bamingham No 20 Dist: of the of the capvanst cos.s That ints os a very -eal threat Coniederation of Shipbuilding and Eng: neering Unions is shoan by the hes. uly chav wink exists in parts of to launch a campa:gn to combat uncmntoyment which southe'n Eng:and -vacds miness of Scottsh. Weish ancludes the demand tor 35 hours Ib cats fora and Ducham désient #no cam Joven in search of ‘campaign across the Distrat tot a 94 heir week to gobs in the tveiicii. and thutes be impased undaterally ef net conceded Wih mery inove women at work and the siate- But ihe union icaders have no witention ot teading sponsercd ‘ux of buck immaants nto low paid a sev.ous fight for this demand. In jac. the FUC's Jobs svi. dle. pet Cwellly yeuts pasticuaey in the guide nes on *he smplementation of the £6 itmut public. segta’ reas vorary and tacse forces will raise aly exclude impiovemenis :n non-wage benefits the detwacd that boi he sence boame Already Ms a *ay cf ‘getting round’ the hima They -msisi several hurnd.cd Tuckssh weekuis sacked by the Lonthat any teduction in hours would lige ta count as don fatiiz Hewes gooup have found out to thear prt of 4 pay increase. Thus at the present cane the cost that ant otiy do chey not have the right to i:ghi tor 38 hours also involves a f.ght ggzainst the work, thoy ie even have the right to stay in £6 conus the couns-y fn paris G. souch London, such as Buxton Varmyncyment amoagss young West * FULL PAY FOR THE UNEMPLOYED Indeans sas Ih as OU per cens The «a-kers on the dole have the greatest intersy MAME Cation attard to stand est in the fight fot jobs, but too often they are ignor- > LP MUS vigscously rGS.sb any éd by the umons. Fhe unemployed are the wetans Yeack vorern of biacks lisse. support the auenipis of the cuss they shoutdn’t be fered to pay tor at. women snd backs around all Full pay for the unemployed extends the poneaple app cess.0n mn ihe community. and of warkshating wilh no loss of pay, embouved in Mefend fe 29 sautus sepatately inscde the the demand fot 35 hours, to the unemployed Ht UTONS TH wu K Gut atuon aga ns? che specific probprevents the unemployed from becoming a potential lets ihey tice The iabour movement must adopt scab army by drawing them lightly to the s:de of an att tude of nncenipromsing hoseliry towards all organised labour, and putting the cost of ihe crisis est aoertanon ike the i971! Imm.gratton Act; and where +t belongs — on the backs of the caprtaicst ‘sauions tke ihe Natronal Front. towdids nus) OcE class Davesions of scx and ‘ace camnot be al.owed to become the acmtics hee. oi the ight against unemploy- * CRGANISE THE YOUTH!
Mew.
Gne of the most demoralising aspects of unemployment 1s that which hits the youth coming straight from * NO TO REDUNDANCIES — WORK SHARING school onto the dole queues. In Bi:m-nghain alone WITH NO LOSS OF PAY 8,009 school-leavers were still without jobs at the In msay dus ues, pamncwlandy motoi manufacturar EEE
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‘ ing, G2 !sses have tutrodnced three or four day The response of the union leaders. the Labour woths because they fear that any attempt to implelefts’ and the Communist Party to this concerted ment large scale redundancies would provoke a wave attack on car workers’ fobs has been pathetic Far of factory occupations At the same time many union from launching a fight against acceptance of the leariersimps at a local and national level — including Ryder Report - which is a blueprint tar the cupitalist leadey os. rors in Gritish Leyland who are memtationalisation not only of Hitish Leyland and other bers of the Commumst Party -- have collaborated in sections of the motor industry, hut of other sections of ‘voluntary redundancies of lic economy as well -- hun and the Lahour lefts” welcomed it ‘Fhe Communist Party, through its Recenily a uelevale conference orgarused by Leicesstrong position in the British Leyland slewards comfer Trades. " voted its unanimous Opposition to bine commuttee has helped toimplementit —accept- Yosenenies Gi oo antary redvndaney This must be in Vos secrecy around the discussians on the ‘ome extended to allarces of (he ubour movement Atong committees’ that manugement asked for Willi this we must develap in answer to the bosses" attempts fo put the harden of the capitalist crisis an- This systent of ‘joint committees vader dixcussian to toe hacks of te workers through ©. timeworkat Leyland, and Chrysler's werker perticipation schemes, hee have a single aim: to give the workers the ifhision of controt while setting workers’ representatives to take Withe bosses want lo reduce the working week -responsisility for mass sackinas aod speedy fine 2 ft retarenrexpense Work-sharing with no lass of pay extends the principle of | the 35 hour A gigantle reorganisation of (se structure and proweek ot Means thot slewots committees or workers” ducts of the motor industry 1s certainly nes esscry committees in every plant sod combine wark out how but a precondition for carrying this oul in Lie mtermoc. work ys available ond then divide it up equally ests of ihe worlsing class is toraé racenan of vie Ruder Nefween plus and mstde tic factorics. Everybody Report. The fundamental problems facmg workers in veuns through a shorter working week, and noboily the motor industry will only be solved by nationalsalover throneh joss of carnings tion withoul compensation of the entre motor and components industry under tie central of the workers Sua ACESE WITHOUE COMPENSATION ALL ORANG REDUNDANCIES AND PLACE OPEN THE SCOKSI OT WORE ERS’ CONTROL WITTE ALL The plioney participation schemes of the hosses, hol NTERL the weak-kneed proposals of ihe TUC for ‘indtstrutt Tare vest way to fight for and inpose work-sharing democracy’, and the inadequate disclastire provistons wits no loss of pay 1s through workers organising for in Laboar’s Industry Hl ate useless in iin respect tac ugt ‘tian of all major industries All the This is tellingly revealed hy the secrecy surrounding all shdrmiss.cx cred joks in the motor industry for exthe key sections of the Ryder Revort ‘Fie fiybt to re ample, seve nomted to one conclusion —- the only move the cloak of commercial secrecy surrounding all way List redundancies can be bealen back is through the financial and planning arrangements of the employtye nuhoushsation under workers’ contral of the crs through the opening of the books ts the fieiit for whois iccustry and its reorganisation in the interests of workers’ control to prepare and implement the nationalthe worriin,: class isation and socialist reorganisation of industry These ‘Phe yumber of jobs alfected by the crisis in the teal measures of workers’ control, which alone will be motor indestry is myaitic In February 1975, 484,000 able to cuarantee no loss of Jobs, will net be won peaple were directly employed jn motor vehicle imanthrough Bills in Parhament but through hitter struestes ufacturing 4 3 percent of total manufacturing emwith the bosses nloyinent. ‘The jobs of hundreds of thousands more The hosses, of course, would try to sabotage uny are cependent on tic motor industry. In announcing nationalisation of such a key industry simply by refitsthe Government's acceptance in principle of the Ryder ing the credits and finance necessary to carry 1 throash Report, Pharaid Wilson told the House of Commons Workers’ control in the industry could not be effective on 24 Aprd i975 that ‘a million jobs are at stake’ unless all financial dealings with the banks aud finance The reset of the confrontation m the motor industry houses were aise revealed The nationahsauion of the Is Lueretore of vilal concern to the whole working banks and finance tlouses into a smyte stale hank class would therefore he cruciil to the succeas Of Cenc Purriy-lires thousand jobs were cut in the car indusplans ivy in tis year ending July 1974 — no less than 9 per But when tie Labour lefts raise the question of cent of the tolal workforce ‘Iwenty thousand of nalionalisation, they do so in a toully confused way these jus went oi Gritish Leyland alone. Leyland It is never clear whether they tegartd it as an ant-caplas wmrounced its intentions —-o wut its 116,000 italist measure of just as a beticr way to tua oF salvase slronge car division by another 20- 30,000 Chrysler a ‘vital’ capitalist industry Nationghisation for then (UK, which fost £17 million over the last financial is something implemented by acre. : anent measure year, fas cut back its workforce froin 29,500 to through the capitalist state upparatus The best’ the 25,099 and this is still not enough! In late October workers will get out of tlis is a few peopte on the the Curysler bosses toldtie: workers that they had bourd — asin the redundancy-rdden British Steel precisely eleven working days left to Christmas - Corporation — anda bit of ‘worker participation’ in and now Chrysler are yet ayain threatening to close productivity drives and mass sacking Not surprisingly down their whole british operation the lefts are rather quict about the massive redundanci¢s now being carried through in British Steel and PRODUCTIVITY DRIVE the Past Office Vite wighings Gave heen accampunied by a massive The international Marxist Group campaigns for procuetivity drive liven at Ford Hulewoou, where the nattonatisation of all firms declaring redundancies procuction lines ure working at capacity to turn out and in particular the whole of the meror miastry -ths new Esecori, nanayement are trying to push through not becuse it is beiter for the capitalist siale rather Le sume productivity sclicme and a iahour pool that than priv:.te firms to ru certain indusirics, but to Had toa seve n week stoppage al tie Dagenham plant guarantee jobs. ive are against compersation to former earlier tits yoar During this dispute 2,000 workers owners because it allows the capitalist class to increase left Borat's - half tae total that management has so its power by investing in more profitalte scctions of far wnuneseti to chop this year the economy. Such money should be spent on defens-
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ing jobs and wages and carrying out the necessary reoperative they have only themselves to biame for creat: organisation of industry so that it can serve the needs ing the il!-feeling in the first place’ (Tribune. 1S August of the working class and not the dictates of the capital- 1975). ist market That can only be guaranteed through the With the bencfit of hindsight, Tribune continued: imposition ef workers’ contro} in nationalised industries. “Had the entire group fought Poore and his decision Nationalisation for us ts part of an anti-capitalist to close Meriden tn the fitst instance and demanded offensive aga:ns( unemployment implemented by the nattonalisation, then perhaps the current situation working class through its own osganssations — factory would not have ansen. argue some union leaders * committees, occupation committees, national action Which Js ail a little like leading a blind person. half committees. indso on 1: is only through the opeiing way across the road and then blaming him foi getting ot all the employers’ books to prepare the way for knocked down Nattonaltsation under workers’ connationalisation, that it will be possible to organise a trol of the whole motor-cycle industry should have workers" plan for production that defends jobs This been raised at the beginning of the Mersden struggle school cf workers control will be the working class’s preparation for the management of the planned social- * STOP THE CUTS IN PUBLIC SPENDING — FOR ist economy which wil! finally put an end to the misery A MAJOR PROGRAMME OF SOCIALLY USEFUL and waste of capifal'sm PUBLIC WORKS AND THE NATIONALISATION OF THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION FIRMS NORTON VILLIERS Even when the lefts and the Communist Party put ‘The compiete confusion and equivocation by the forward comparat‘vely useful proposals for trghting - ‘lefts’ on the queszzon of nationalisanion has nowhere unemployment — such as the demands tor a cash been better demonstcated than in the motor-cycle inhouse building programme and an end to the educadustry at the coat ct the industry s workers The tion cuts, both of whi¢h were passed at the TUC Conrefovmusis’ response to the crisis at Norton Villiers ference they are completely hamstrung because Toumph was to clan that che firm was ‘viable’ and they advance no way in which the labour; movement that it was ‘an industry Bntain cannot affard to lose’. can mobilise to implement these demands Instead Statements along these lines have recently appeared useless pleas are made to Wilson and Heaicy, the very wilh increasing tiequency in FrAune, although no people who are implementing the cuts, to mend their deft. Mis have been stomping the country raising ways When the iefts do manage to break out of theix support fot the workers in occupation al NVT Wolverparliamentary asylums to mobilise mass acuons 11 1s hampton (who unfottunately now believe that their mass action .. to lobby Parliament! Jobs can be saved by proving that the factory is ‘feasible’
How, for instance, do ihe Ictts propose to take up on the capitals: matket +f :mport controls are imposed) the demand for public works Are these to be a set- Where one I:bune MY, Leshe [luckfield, did activeies Of piecemeal measures whereby Wilson is allowed to get off the hook of unemployment? O: are public ly intervene catly on in the crisis, he only helped to lead the workers at NVT Meriden up the blind alley works going to be, as the IMG proposes. pazt of a workof a woikers’ co-operative and in dozng so isolated ing Class strategy to defend and create jobs and zeverse them from a class-wide fight against unemployment the Government's cuts m social spending The Meriden occupation could have been used as a PUBLIC SECTOR CUTS base by the workers to campatgn throughout the working class for the ndizonalisa‘ton of the whole motor- Nowhere is the ihreal of mass unemployment more : cycle industry under workers’ coritrol — all too necessreal than in the pubiic sector Cuts in Post Otfice orders ary in the light of subsequent developments at NVT are being blamed for the threat of redundancies hanging Smali Heath and NYT Wolvecshampton over the heads of 26.000 tele-commun:catrons workers Instead the €aciy enthusiasm of the workers was m giant firms ike GEC and Plessey And ai tic very whittled away through pionths of wheeling and dealing moment in late Septmber when Healey was announcing between unron off:csals. Lestic Huckf-eld,and the Depthat the Government's pathetic package of £205 million artment of dndustiy Fhe Sunday Tunes (28 July would save 100,000 jobs, another Government spokes. 1974) commented on the tinal agreement: ‘So far unman, Lord Shepherd, was telling the ITouse of Lords disclosed plans are to tusn out 12,000 bikes witha of further cuts in public expenditure which wiil cost at workforce ci 482 ir the first year, stepping up emplyleast 100,000 jobs. ment to dauble output §4¥75 As Meziden never By mid Juiy of this year 166,862 consituction tured oui more than 79.000 machines with 1,750 workers were without jobs — over | 2 pei cent of all men on the payroll under previous managements, buildmg workers. The figure is probably much h:gher this isa productivity boost of atleast 85 pet cenlbecause many labourers do not registet as building Not suyprisingly the workers at NVT's Small Heath workers The consicuction unions themseives are prefactory n Bi-m ngham became very concerned for dicimg 250,000 unemployed by this time next yeat ther jobs, and vwiztuaily shouied Benn down al a meetif the Government cuts are not reversed At the same ing later in the year time people st live in a mithon homes which ate unfit for human habitation, go to hospitals which have not CO-OP SOWED DIVISIONS changed since Victorian times, and send their children The workers’ co-op at NYT Meriden was hailed to overcrowded class :coms in schools lacking essential repairs Over 5,000 newly qualified teachers are still unenticalty as a Gumph by 7ssbune and the Morning unemployed and next year there will be more than Ster. (n fact the inte-vention by the ‘lefts’ isolated 10,000 4 Struggle, sowed d:v's:ons in ihe working class, and posed no clays-wide answers lo unemployment Only {0 per cent of the sweeping cuts of £1,200 million made by Tory Chancellor Barber in December Tribune then had the gall to turn round and accuse 1973 were restored by the Labour Government Since the NVT workers ai Smail Heath and Wolvcrhampton then Healey’s April budget has cut public expenditure of being responsible for this poor state of affairs! ‘At by a further £300 million for this financial year, with the time of the Met:den s:t-in there was a certain amount of feeling: at Met:den that they were not getthe prospects for 1976—77 being even more dismal Public expenditure 1s due to be slashed by another ting all the support they might from Small Heath and £900 million at 1974 prices (equal to more than £1,100 Wolverbampten The “we re all sight Jack™ attitude has cettamly rebounded on some people at Wolverhamat current prices) New orders to building contractors for educational building had already failen from £484 pton and if litie support comes from the Meriden co-
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« milkon in 1977 to £380 million in i474 fat 1974 vision of interest free loans, is needed to finance a proprices) — a drop of 39 per cent Similarly new orders grammeé of public warks which wall benefit working from the health service have dropped over the last people Far from shrinking in the face of the power of two years by 22 per cent, while only 268,000 houses the financial sharks, as does the Wilson Government, wete completed iast year compared with 400,000 in the labour movement must demand the nationalisation 1968 of all the banks and financial institutions into a single bank which can not only finance public works but pro- CLASS—WIDE ALLIANCE vide funds, under the direction of workers’ committees, for the te-equipment and expanston of nationalised Noi surprisingly the combination of mass uneinindustry ployment and cut-backs has mcreasingly led to The construction industry itse!fis dominated by a demands fot 4 programme of public wotks 06 few giant firms which take all the mayor contiacis, comper cent of ail work mine construction industry is bined with inefficient, small scale firms which really act State-frnaneed Rat other than ritual delegations Lo as labour suppliers To carry through the extensive 10 Downing St.ce: and the gnastvng of teeth amongst measures cnvisaged, the total nationalsation without {he Labour lefts im Parliament, none of the ‘left’ teadcompensation of development land and (he building iners have proposed how such a programme is to be dustry is required varried out fis to Mason himself that appeals are being made to launch such a programme. when it is Co-ordinated on a national scale, a workers’ plan for fus Government ahrch is the architect of Uhe present a wide-ranging programme of socially useful public atiacks on the welfare state works will meet with the bitler opposition und sabotage of the camtalist class But if this slogan is to A class: wide response and organisation against be more than a hollow cry from the reformists — who the cuts is required. and no amount of tnps to Downdon't want to lead a serious fight against unemploymeg Stice. and speechitying m the House of Commons ment because it would bring them into head-on colli. IS pong LG reg c thes The first crucial step is to sion with the Wilson Government — then it is such a build aliiances vetween building workers, teachers, bold plan for socially useful public works which we students. health workers and: other public sector need workers who ate on the seceiving end of the cuts Local labour movement conferences against the cuts * REMOVE THE WILSON/HEALEY LEADERSHIP and unemployment can establish aclion committees OF THE LABGUR PARTY to Organise these forces Action commitices can: . provide the focus around which the whole of the Itas the Wilson Government which is orchestrating working class can unile in a particular trea in defence the present wave of attacks on johs and living ‘standotiobs and the gains of the welfare state ards of working people, and it is the same ‘leaders’ ot the labout movement who will fight most bitlerty In every toca! government department, hospital against the implementation of real measures capable of and schooi, investigatory committees must be estabdefending the nght to work The whole policy of the lished 10 reveal the extent of the cuts caused by Wilson/Healey leadership is one of slashing public Healey’s sweeping attacks on social spending These spending, creaiing unemployment, and dnving down commrtiees wil then have Lo draw up a hsé of the wages on behalf of the interests of national and interprojects requzed lo maintain and improve ihe standnational capital ards of sermces T1415 only through gathering this information that t will be possible to draw up a Despite this, the ‘lefts’ refuse Lo launch any fight to progranune of sociaiiv useful public works rather remove these people and replace them hy representatives than the odds and ends produced hy various governot the workers’ movement committed to polieres which ment deparlmcnis to buy eff social discontent defend jobs Instead they enter useless pleas to the Wilson/Healey clique to turn overa new leaf = and llow is such a progrumme for schools, hesprtals, reverse all the pro-capitalist policies which they have houses and pubhe amentises to be financed and execbeen so enthustastic in impelementing up tull now uted? The suins of capita! required are immense, and the only pestis source is central state expenditure At the sane time the Tribunites have launched a Thai mewiit thoi any campaign agains the cuts and campaign to defend the election manifesto without unempjoymeni im the pubhe sector must be directed pointing out that itis the social contract — bethin against the whate economic policy of the Wilson its first version and now in ihe form of the £6 limit Govemiunent, particularly the £6 curb and the Healey - which has been used as a fig leaf hy the Wilson Govpackage Only ihe complete reversal of Gavernment ermmment to justify its attacks on the working class policy could tay the basis lor attacking the vested Michael Fool, who has been one of the most vociferous interests of private industry and the Cily of London, defenders of the £6 limit, coniimues to ‘grace’ Tribune which alone have the money to finanee a massive platforms along with Jack Jones, while Tony Benn reprogramme of public works mains in a Cabinet committed not only to mass unemployment but to throwing out the timorous measures FINANCIAL SHARKS of worker participation, information disclosure and nationalisation he earlier proposed The latest scheme The power of the bunks and the financial instituto bite the dust ts his plan for the nationalisation of tions over public spending istmmense The Greater the ship repair industry, which w now apparently to re- London Council, for example, currently pays 90 per main in private hands after a massive propaganda camcent of aJ] its rents to the City in the form of interest paign in the national press by the private employers onioans As council houses are amorused over a period of 60 years, interest rates are by far the biggest REMOVE WILSON LEADERSHIP item borne by housing revenue accounts, and supported by subsidies Inflation has put interest rates through The International Marxist Group believes 1 1s vital the roof 11 is largely because of this that the past declo campaign not only against the pro-capitalist policies ade has sseen the current account deficit of local authof the Wilson/Ilealey clique but for the removal of ority housing increase tenfold from £150 million to these people from their position of leadership in the £1.5 billion In some local authorities noi even a labour movement Unless (his is done, the same battles complete end to building would cancel their housing will have to be fought again and again, whatever vicdeficit as refinancing continues tories are won now This can only exhaust the energy The immediate cancellation of all local authority and fighting strength of the working class and eventually debts to the financial institutions, and the state pro lead to passivity, because of the crisis of political pers-
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pecdive Which will arise unless the Labour traitors are superiority of revolutionary policies will ce Jemoneollfruiled head on sizaled. In every locality the IMG fights lor Right to Work committees to be established which aye repie- Vo the left Lobour leaders we say — you will be sentative of the labcur movementin the aren ane [2 ovP hy wdat you doan pra.uece for the fight for include all pottocal currents in the workers’ movement stow many of tue lefis have campaigned up and loos We campaign for local conferences of the labour aewat Che country iv support of the Clay Crass . movement, to detail the extent of unemployment Councillors and called on other Labour Councils to and the cuts in particular areas and prepare the way extend their campaign by refusing to implement the for the launching of local and regionally co-ordinated £6 lunit and the cuts in social spending” Flow many strike action in defence of jobs and mi seanority with of the lefis have actively camputened in support of local struggle which break out against unemployment the workers occupying aginst redundancies af Norton Villicrs Triumph in Wolvertiampton, Balfour Darwin On every front -- whether if’s jobs, wages, the cuts, in Sheffield, und the Personna razor blade factory in women’s rights to abortion, solidarity wilft ive workers’ Glasgow? We demand thal the Iefts support every struggles in Spain and Portugal, or the fight to vet local und nationgt mitiative against unemployment, British troops oul of Ireland it is the Wilson ot be exposed as a bunch of fakers We say to Benn Government which stands in our way It is the that if he pretends to defend the tight to work he Wilson/Tlealey clique which 1s presently co-ordinating must resign and lead a fight against Wilson’s Tory the attacks of the ruling class on Lhe workers’ polcics movement The IMG wil remain merciless in its crilicism of it is through these same strugsles that the forces the retermuists and their inabihty to put forward rea which can challenge and remove this leaderstap ore soltitions to the problem of unemployment Abt tic being ussembled Butso far they remain uncoordinatac! sume time we will fight for united action with ail {tis in bringing together all those fighting Wilson's sections of the labour movement who want tu policies at whatever level that a national class strogede engage in struggle agunst unemplayment — includicy left wing can be forged in the labour movement wluch those who campaign in defence of the Manifesto can put paid to the Labour traitors and their Tory however, partial and inadequate Uie basis of united policies and open Lie fight for the seciahst clkernative activity is to begin with RIGHT TO WORK COMMITTEES aT “ Lo tate et We believe itis through engaging in united action in the living struggles of the working class thal the