TONY Cliff's article contains important warning: do not think that all was well until 1974 and then it all Went SOul.
Fundamental weaknesses of the labour movement were very much in evidence before 1974, and these were reinforced to the point where they decisively limited the resistance to the Labour These nesses will not go away just because Thatcher is in office, and we have to tackle them as such. That essence of Cliff's message.
So what are those The first. that Cliff sectionalism. In 1972 and 1974 the miners were seen to be fighting for all and won active solidarity from other workers. Under Labour the tiremen were betrayed by the TUC and no-one came to their aid.
So why was this reinforced after 1974? One factor rejected by Cliff is that unemployment had dampened militancy. And 11'C true that this has demoralised the class to the point where they fear going out the gate lest lacy get the sack.
Recession Nevertheless, there has been a not unimportant change in the economic situation the first world capitalist recession since before the war, which hit Britain in 1974 and reached its low point in 1975.
Firms no longer
Make rationalising production and moving machinery from one plant to another.
factory sit-in enough to stop redundancy, because a firm going bust has nothing to lose from sitting it out.
The workers have demoralised, but nor do they believe any longer that the situation will get better soon. They are right to begin to look for more far-reaching solutions.
Last winter's wages remained sectionalised workers Ford squeeze more out of profits, whilst workers in Leyland saw no such easy way out. Part of our job in fighting the sectionalism within the movement is therefore to fight for policies which do show a way out.
an weakweaknesses? identifies sectionalism 250 monopolies yet confront in our struggles.
Of course this objectives are needed to struggle in the synchronised just The longer seems way incomes policy been Once Labour general opposition collapsed.' Alternative Workers saw no Labour Party, and in the partly becould to keeping Labour in office. was not only them.
Labour
ranks of the workers.
socialist fight back, because creating organisation fighting right-wing and Chapple.
Nor away.
right wing official structures who will The national docks shop only turn to when they have no you policies, - that's what members talking left.
argued out.
La fightback lorry drivers' rule.
and file saw that 'national interest' arguLondon London E That ALLICIC. mocramon siruggie.
the six counties. postage) from:
London SW9 Congress of the Fi limited "democracy strike call went totally • unheeded, the problem just unofficial union to make the call for action when the official leaders fail to — it is to win the political fight with those official leaders.
•where does this leave us in the Tories? The same leadership which said "don't rock the boat' is stronger today than it was when Labour came to office. The unions should keep out of politics - get the best deal possible from Thatcher' is the cry of Gormley will the economic crisis go Showing how a fight for socialist policies can take place now will be vital if we are to defeat that One thing will change however The 'left' union leaders who collapsed in the face of a Labour government will be getting their militant speeches out of the drawers and filing cabinets where they put them five years ago.
A small minority of workers will remember their role and not put any • trust in them. But a far larger number;
want a fight against the Tories, will not have that memory Rank & File has to see that the lefts are put to the test of the next few years. It has to go to them and say, 'if support a fight around these organise democratic basis to doso"
That's what was done in the CPSA the civil service when of the started The 'Broad Left' turned into an open activist body different political positions could be It was almost unique when Labour was in government, because the left leaders elsewhere were silent. Now it could be the exception that proves the WHAT'S LEFT WANTED: full-time refuge worker for Hackne Nomen's Aid. Write: HWA, B7 Cecilia Road Tel: Roland 01-274 999 daytime MALL GAl socianst sceks cheao and spaciou uth London from Auturan 10.30am-5pm. Creche Further information from: Women's Voice, PO Box 82 URUGUAYAN comrade needs room. Phone:
IRELAND Socialist Review No • 5 is now out Wolch alls national • vortern Ireland econonk renas. analysis or che general election result f7 • ols renews rice & : ISR(B), 60 Loughborough Rd TUC General Council supports imperialism House Great Russell 9.30am. Smash th of Terrorism Act! Organised Revolutionary Communist Teridency.
The question of socialism and democracy has been of constant interest 1o soclauss since n emergence of mass socia democrane partes This pamphlet is the text of the resolution Socialist Democracy and the Dictatorship of the adopted by the United Secretaria of the fibed nuered it the Forthcoming World It shows that Stalinist bureaucracy and th 441 H only choices available lo the working clast Pamphlel 35p plus 10p pop from The Othe Bookshop, PO Box 50,
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one which foughi for action from the official structures, and within which