HELP BUILD THE LEFT IN THE UNIONS. SEND US A CHEQUE TODAY The debate, held in London on 11 April, was organised by the trade union journals section of the NUJ, to carry forward the debate begun on the pages of Socialist Challenge Morning Star about existence of pin-ups on page three of the Yorkshire Miner Scargill argued aggressively in favour of pin-ups, and if his were entirely predictable and entirely wrong, it is nonetheless disturbing that a trade union leader who has expressed a sensitive standing of the problems racism should have absolutels no equivalent understanding of the problems of sexism.
Pin-ups are a fact of life, he said, part living.
In the same way that many working-class people vote Tory and make racist jokes, replied Anna Coote.
Scargill did not address himself to the points raised at the meeting but stuck doggedly This prepared Women's bodies are beauti ful, it's only the dungaree-clad School closures SCHOOL STUDENTS from many inner London schools attempted to organise a march against school closures on 10 April attempted because the headteachers involved, ported by their teachers, want to elaborate lengths to prevent their pupils taking part.
Despite these efforts a large number of school students did attend.
At Paddington school it was the 2nd and 3rd forms who threatened with punishment if they attended the protest.
In the words of one former who did attend march: It's easv to threaten Ist, 2nd and 3rd don't understand everyone disobeyed then the staff couldn't punish anyone.' Despite oppressive teachers 40 students from Paddington Arthur Scargill came with a set of prejudices and judging from his closing remarks he left with them prudes the movement who are trying to be men who object to pin-ups, he said.
Angela Phillips pointed out has been at the forefront of the and the fight for sexuality and against the sexism our has led to feminist publications being banned in Ireland.
Scargill also implied that there was no involved as the working class "girls' wigw were queueing up to be on page three weren't paid His main argument, ever, was that pin-ups boosted unact- sales.
of Daily Star and Mirror had it right, and their high circulation was their reward.
Similarly MEne
Miner was more widely read modern-day than the national NUM paper, which Scargill put down to the pin-ups.
He even said the left press should learn the lesson and increase the popular, more accessible and speech more attractive pin-ups on page three.
Probably the most disgustschool did get to Hyde Park.
They were joined by pupils Thomas croft, Sarah Siddons, Lavender Hill, High SCHOOS The school students involved are determined against serg up acton committees sup- and telephone trees between the schools.
Social workers
VALGO 6th Hamlets have now been on the strike for eight months.
years, they The Labour council in Tower Hamlets have so far refused to that negotiate Their only response has been to propose massive cuts in jobs;
women' s "prudishness' exploitation pin-ups in our paper. howHe felt that the Sun, the women at the treating Yorkshire He thought preoccupation been heckled circulation by meeting position on pin-ups. Dy more through begun GUESTIONS women's movement.
Carleton, BanBuckhurst Hill County and Robert Montefiore Hamlets to go on espouse. school - their plans include Hamlets their council: *Stop these cuts *Improve provision *Save our services Hospital Campaign, docks. workers in Tower cuts.
Rally 2pm the national Hall. ing thing was the way in which Scargill effectively refused to enter into a real debate will meeting, cattle-market'. them utter that this pin-ups' was a diversion from the real struggle of the working class - working class. he was outraged that he had at an ANL DrOLESES at his the pages Some trade unionists have Miner itself. understand the raised by the to try to scrap the community work team; and to downgrade all the posts in social services.
No workers could or would accept their proposals. They go against all the trade union and socialist principles that Tower council claims to THE On Friday 20 April, Tower likely workers will controversial march through the streets to tell service to provide Speakers will include representatives from Bethnal Green Robert established Montefiore school, and the press' There will also be speeches winter. from trade unionists who have consistently fought against pay The restraint and public spending La St Mary's shows Churchyard junction Whitechapel Rd/Brick Lane], march 2.30pm to Bethnal Green Town WE thought Arthur Scargill should come to the top of our queue of working-class 'boys' waiting to be The Scottish NUM decided against pin-ups on the grounds that they did not dwell in a Scargill doesn't accept that pin-ups have anything to do "cattle-markets' or that they contribute to the sexism which divides and weakens the He must be taken up on this question at every opportunity. Socialists should insist that a debate on pin-ups is opened on of the Yorkshire Scargill will happily come to London to 'debate' the issue at National Union of Journalists' continued membership of the Press Council is be the most issue to be debated at the union's annual for conference on 23-27 April.
The Press Council is meant public redress against the newspaper barons. It does no such thing. the It's actual terms of reference are to 'uphold and defend the freedom of the - which is about as established as sunshine in councils last annua report, for 1976 (efficiency is that complaints just 34 were upheld.
Recent adjudications include criticisms of the NUJ's journal the invitatior of the NUJ, but will he debate it in Barnsley with an audience of miners and their families?
The divisiveness of sexism within the working class has to be challenged.
We should get Scargill and other trade union leaders to come out in the open and debate their views, so that we can expose the contradiction: between supporting women's rights and equal pay at work while refusing to fight the sexist ideas and attitudes that underpin them.
for illastrating with a swastika a report about the unsuccessful attempts of a member of the National Party to the union, the upholding of s complaint against the radical West Highland Free Press about which the council notified the newspaper's main financial sponsor.
The NUJ conference will be debating a motion which calls the union's immediate disaffiliation from the council;
executive to make proposals for alternative body, and wide publicity fo union's own code of conduct.
The right wing in the union will argue for the retention of a reformed Press Council. If this position is to be defeated, it will spelling out the class interests involved.
It is one section of societythe working class - which takes the brunt of the capitalis presses attacks, and if these attacks are to be effectively challenged, a press council will have to be set up by the labour movement
By Tom Scott Society of Teachers Opposed to Physical Punishment MOST people, including many nave been into believing that caning is dying out in our schools.
The NUT, led Jarvis, and the NAS/UWT, led by Terry Casey, fostered the myth that beating is used only as a 'last resort'.
The truth is very different. 80 per cent of schools still cane Many excessively, often for trivial "lateness', and even the wrong colour shirt'. Fred have schools.
The ment repressive nature of most of our The abolition of beating is an essential pre-condition for the growth of democracy in our educational system.
Society of Teachers Opposed to Physical PunishISTOPP] the only organisation which devotes all its energies to campaigning for an end to schoor beaung If you're not a teacher, you can join as an associate.
----- pull-quotes -----
pin-ups turned out to be. totally intact.
debate between Arthur Scargill and Anna Coote on A debate is usually an exchange of ideas, but
Journalists in conference