10. have told striking dictated government's 10% limit is maintained.
the public and private Include demands for social expenditure on housing, hospitals, etc. The trade by a Labour government. and cities trade example of how to unite broad workers committees another vital step in the right direction.
support of the firefighters.
The Labour goverment is existing reversed at amy minute.
periods of elections.
the door for Thatcher are not the still on strike. The Labour Government Is still refusing to accept their demands. The uniformed scabs are still in action, It is almost as If those whom the gods wished to destroy were first set on a collision course against a public sector union which had never struck before, Callaghan, Healey and Foot - the Labour leaders for 'standing firm' — would be making a very dangerous mistake to imagine that a defeat for the Fire Brigades Union would be a victory for the 10% norm. Edward Heath made a similar mistake when, in 1970, he thought that by deteating the postal workers he could lay the Labour Ministers might not like to publicly acknowiedge the fact, but their pay policies are, in reality, being implemented by the army. Were it not for blatant use of troops to try and defeat a workers strike, the FBU would have won within twenty-four hours. Callaghan himself is reported fireworkers he "Sympathised' with them, but 'national interests' policies. in other words the firefighters have a strong case, but the Interests of British capitalism require that the It is a fact that the wage demands of workers in sector disrupt functioning of a crisis-ridden economic system. But the solution to the problem does not lie in upholding the system at the cost of those whom It is here that the traditional trades union response to the situation is hopelessly insufficlent. For while all wage demands against the bosses of both private and state industries must naturally be backed by all socialists, the matter does not end there, For what has to be fought for in addition is an alternative set of socialist policles which pose a challenge to the Interests These policies would nationalisation workers control, a sliding scale of wages, cuts in defence spending, a programme of increased schools and union leaderships refuse to organise such a struggle because they accept the argument about the 'national interest', Decause they refuse to challenge the legitimacy of the capitalist system and because they believe that such a system can be satisfactorily managed The firefighters deserve to win on avery count. If they lose the fault will not simply be that of the government, but also that of the rest of the trade union movement for failing to launch a united frontal assault on Labour's economic policies and proposing concrete alteratives. In several towns unionists have taken their responsibility. Nottingham's march is a timely sections of against Labours policies. Support organise solidarity could be theme of such action must be to compel the TUC to back a much needed call for national action in at the present time on the good will of the Liberal Party - a goodwill, incidentally, determined by the need for self-preservation - but this could be Ultimately a Labour electoral victory will depend on its relations with the working class and those who,mobilise it in Labour's Xmas present to the Fire Brigades Union could wall be a defeat. But if it is, It will, in the short term, presage a severe defeat for Labour at the polls. In other words those who are opening workers or the firefighters, but the leaders of the determined as continuing to grow.
and action for the firefighters. Mass Action Means firefighters mobilise the help from other anions. Not Just in berns of money, but all foems di solidarity action. frami culling off services to the scab troops, to Mass Action Means flooding the TUC with demands that they come out in favour of the firefighters, Calling upon the TUC to give toral support to the strike and to all other trade unionists who act in sympathy.
Mass Support Means not tely ing on the TUC or committees *Teeside: Boycott plans for helpers With its conglomeration of oil und chemical industries, is one of the highest fire risk #reus in Europe. That's why thi superscals — Ilghters - nove been sent there Bot the local FBU are hitting back. Branch officials have beer #A anompanies ure belping the souring the are.
RAF And now they bave drawn the? and army to strikebreak.
stor companies which Intend to boycott once the strike I over.
Regional secretary Bill Griffin explained to Socialist Challenge That the FRU delegation has been obstracted from contacting anplants, and that they will not be serviced by ICI, Wilton and Steel, Monsanto, Seal Sunds and Rohm and Huas at Seal Sands.
Bill Griffin Bas abo appealed по вас годивые сотацсе ог 10и FBU to demand the TUC call a general strike in support of the TICEDLES The third week of the FBU strike sees the strikers as Never, and support for their stand Reports indicate that already many fire officers have joined the strike and pressure is mounting on the Fire Officers" Association to come out in all out support. But the key to victory remains organising mass support greatest possible involved. "Battersea: the FBU kers in every These are the best Observer, eral secretary Oftice.
aclivity the the RAF ority.
Teeside - special RAF fire- in this regard.
Ially disassociated fire claiming It the bulletin put out leadership. claimed with money has from K23 Battersee.
Many member of the [K23)
Billinghum, Port Clarence, furious.
E70 to FBU They receipt. established by existing bodies such as trades councils, public sector alliances, ete. Make sure hat in whatever body is set us nembers of the FBU are Mass Support Means continuing to hold demonstrations and lobbies in support of the firefighters and against the 10 per FBU leaders smear striLondon.
According to last Sunday's Terry Parry, genot the • Fire Brigades Union alts by his phone, day after day, waiting trom for a call from the Home stations.
Whether or not this is the sum of Terry parry's current Observer does not say, but the leadership of FBU have shown little enthusiasm for the strike.
Where they have shown a degree of activity is in their efforts to head off any rank Labour and file activity in the strike which challenges their auth- support The FBU leadership has been paying special altention to Batterses fire station On Saturday 19 November the FBU ofticItself from a march led by Batterstation workers, DELICON took on an added delight. In Last wook the campaign outline a Issue No Il of Strike News, by the was reference to the strike fund, that 'so far no been received This Issue of Strike News, dated 24 November arrived al sector Ballerson fire slation with the sentence crilicising them omitted. But when they ware told about it they were For two daya viously they had handed over firefiehters.
official John Gregory for the strike lund.
had also received a 10,000 UNIFORMED Fire Brigade Union members and their families mounted a magnificent demonstration in support of their pay claim through London on Suturday.
The pity is that so few people saw it, as marchers wandered by the deserted office blocks of central Delegations came from Strati clyde, Merseyside And Saut ampion but the overwbelming bulk of the demonstrators wete the Many don more elaborate and comfortable!
However, all the 10,000 got fa mealy-mouthed speeches band Speakers Corner wagon-jumping Labour MPs and their own "leader Terry Parry Joan Lestor, Chairperson of th fretan, or the labor Facy, the Pacts but.... 'this is not about the 10 per cent limir and pay policy The appalling sexist Frank MP told the marchers thar Jim Callaghan was going to get raped on this oneso 'he might as welllay back andenjoy it.!
chorus of boos cheers and then proceeded to possibl schemes and deals on hours and productivity, none of which wil give the firefighters what they want → more pay now.
*Swansea: Public workers "PUBLIC SECTOR workers in 3w are wearing a . public meeting in support of the Following a lead from Morrison National Union of Public Employees, the meering has been supported by TGHU local authConfusion over whether this was a FEU only demonstration incant the turn-out from orber London trade unionists was very small, despite the growing num her of solidarity meetings and support commitices in the Lon wea, I will organising icto activity the huge assive supper that caists for the icefiehters, which will guarant *Haringer Trades Comeril and J Cision of the FBU are holdin a sourciarity demonstration this Sanerday 3 December asrembin or Tam Rood, London (north side of Finsbury Park).
Meeting
Trades Council und NALGO which ruised 164 -haiy the Grunwick strikers and half for the fingfigiters further 292 was ratised in one day by FRU menber outride For The demonstration is being held to channel the massive local suppor thai and Tire fighters and frode wnionists in the rest of Nursh London are being approached to attend. Norti and Fast London Socialist Challenge /vll servants in the SCS, NUPE social service workers, as will as the FBU Ken Price, secretary of Swanleading the barle for more wiger sea NUPE said, The foremen are Jor us all. They deserve all tha запро не сал ACCEPIT The meeting will take place on 6 December ar Duffry Cinb Woodfield Steer. Morriston, Swarse, Er i obe to start or 7.30pm.
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THE FIREFIGHTERS are basis for a semi-permanent victory.
it oppresses. of Capital in this country.
any al these increasingly resent the smart
Terry Party, peterst of the reu, was greeted were