THE PAST DECADE has seen dramatic changes in the student The strategy mass action in ulliance with the NOCKIN CIRSS WREER OTONG HE grip of the right wing ten years ago has now been abandoned by the National Union Students Brond Left leader. ship in lavour of 'democratising higher education.
Theorised by the Communist Party In 1977, this strategy captunco mat getsuons such as grants being caf would now be tackled in the context of the ideological. and democratic Issues raised about the future of The previous combativity of the student movement hammered fat as proposals for national and local mass action mel met response the national EUCHAND Far raising consciousness of the student movement and seeking ways to combat the betrayals of leaders, promoting socialist policies alongside building campaigns.
became increasingly absorbed into the right-wing project the government.
LEIS against sombre buckground that un open letter the CONCTEOR Signed by teading members of the Broad Left, the Union of Liberal Students, und Independents it argued for:
"A political force embracing all those on the left active in the student movement whe arguing und fighting fundamental and radical change in society.
Coming at the time of the election of Thatcher and Co. it provides. un opportunity discuss • basis for opposition to the Tories.
But many of the signatories of the open letter are architects of of the strategy outlined above.
The decision not to ask far left members to lester implies that some sections of the Broad Left are aiming of for an alliance with ELS to occupy the centre political spectrum in NES and isolate those other sections of the left, including some those in their own ranks.
Clearly the Conference organised around the letter this weekend decides on such an alllance it will be an endorsement of the strutegy of twO years WAS declaration that lendership intends fo this strategy Into the 1980s. If the weakness of NUS has escuped the attention of those In its leadership, it certainly has not escaped Thateher, the Carlisle and Rhodes Boyson.
There are parullels with the way the Concordat weakened the the trade unions.
Economist, advocating
COULOUS BUMUCH union reform, succested: 'Hoisting the unions hy the petard of their owa concordat, undertakings of good viour would be the neatest anc mOsE conciliatory trade union reform.
The concessions made by the leadership to Calfaghun government provide similar OIL the SCHICLE If any new alliance is to be SINE are movement it must reject the for current strategy of the NUS It it 112111 DUDE defending student interests. The unity of the left within the NUS is now more crucial than ever, as is a clear policy of united sapport for the strugeles of the working class whether they have the approval of the trade anion leaders or not.
Within this framework the maintenance of the indepenRUSSIAN dence and autonomy of the state is the decisive question.
This means particular prior- the ity in strengthening the unions in the Puriber Education sector and the small colleges in of general.
This and campaigns line of the Tory attack.
movement from the defence organisation, and the social services.
ment must be extended Palestine, through an emphasis on mass around grants, overseas students and the other only main issues that are in the front The mecessity of alliances The with the labour movement has partientratene in trade union living standards immediate Solidarity with the struggle of the anti-imperialist more southern Africa, Iran and Latin student movemest which can Again through a fight against the common enemy of scandalous lack of activity by the NUS to fight for the right of the Irish people to self-determination and the withdrawal of troops mast be the first in the NUS's anti-imperialist tasks.
In order to engage the student movement in mass action around the cracial issues mass participatory democrac • the NUS remains a gain to b defended.
If an alliance with sach programme of actios was lo emerge from this weekend' conference, then the future o the NUS as a fighting union would remain assured. Those participating have a heavy responsibility (Mick Archer is a member o tbe NU'S Executive.)
Conference on the new alliance, 26-27 May, Polytech nic of Central London From Monday April twenty third Bair Peach won't stammer any more Can't be mugged again by nazi thugs Or lead the unvons rank and fle Or teach his kids or hurt his friends Left Wing Activist they sneered The TV News. the Daily Mail They stood around and jeered han to chop down a large ook tree He went to stop recurrence here le fascists