Socialist Republic: Vol. 5, August 1982

POBLACHT SHOISIALACH

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

Paper of PEOPLES DEMOCRACY

AUGUST 1982

PRICE 15p IRBLAND; 20p OUTSIDE IRELAND; 10p unemployed & strikers No Return To Stormont

SMASH

PRIOR'S

PLAN!

Tuam Workers Not Fooled By Promises

HEALTH WORKERS:

"Support Us In This Fight!" € A week of intensive rial action (from August 9-13) has been called by health service unions as latest step in their 3 month battle against the Tory govertment's pay policy. Throughout the North healthworkers will be Joined by other trade unionists on the picket lines as they under- Line their determination to win the full 12 per cent claim. It has been a magnificent fight by the healthworkers to now. Their militancy nd unity of purpose has been example to all workers roughout Britain and Ire- The healthworkers pocupy the frontline in the fightback against the Tory attacks on living standards. The healthworkers know what is at stake in this dispute.

John MoGeown, Northern Public Service Alllance SIPSA) Branch Secretary at THE Galway East bye-election brought a new Flarns Fail TD, Noel Tready, and a new promise Charles Haughey that the Sugar Factory would be Sean Lemass' rationale opening the Tuam factory the West of Ireland 18 socially deprived and needs Jobs. Inds was welcome news for Tuam workers. But Haughey would never have given this commitment if he hadn't needed votes and, more decisively, if the sugar factory workers hadn't organised to fight for their Jobs. The sugar factory closure was first posed by the Coalition government in September 1981 against noisy Fianna Fail opposition. Fitzderald would agree only to a one-year reprieve and won the vote on FPis resolution for keeping the factory open indefinitely by only one vote - that at Although Pianne Fall regained power in February 1982, Tuan corkers had to wait until July before they got a clear commitment that their jobs would be saved. In the long term, Tuan sugar factory workers can only be guaranteed their jobs by organising with other workers in the Sugar Company chain

PAGS. 2

The Royal Victorla Hospital explains: stake in this dispute "At is the very existence of National Health Service. Tories want to hand the health service to privateers who ain to make a fast of the misery and illness of the sick. We aim to Tories. all workers in this dispute.

"The support from other unions has been good up During the three day strike in July workers from the Post Office and the De Lorean pation stood or ine with us support is very because some union are already backsliding on the fight. call their members out for the three day strike and will try the same thing during the five day strike. indust- "Support from other trade unions needs the for August 9-13, Impossible for these union the misleaders to sell us out.

A11 trade unionists should be demanding strike action during this week to alongside us in the fight against the Tories. "The rank and file of all the unions want to stay we win the full claim. while the Health Service Employees

(COHSE)

Municipal Workers! Union (GMNU) took unofficial ection to stay the picket lines during the on three day strike and are reedy to do the same now. "But the Tory government 1s just as determined to defeat us, so we won't win without the support movement in general. Ireget that support victory over the will benefit all workers."

BY CIARAN MAC NAIMHIDHE

STRIKE

ON

HERE

shoulder the losses from now on. Haughey in being forced to He sanctions manouevre. Knock Airport. before the Talbot Car Factory but meanwhile living workers, standerds are eroded and unem- PLoyment continues to rise.

Workers are losine battence with Fianna Bail, but are not turning to the Coalition as the alternative. the The profit out stop the We are fighting for to now. ocCthe picket- This kind of for the workers. important sure to Leaders They refused to to be stepped us the Industrial to make it and Inows and encouragement, out until in Limerick w111 Mean- Confederation of Tralee and Longtord. and the Generel and in these nlants lesson that united management. of the trade union lessons o2 the struggle. If we we will win a that perspective. the workers' side. Irish capitalists, the Irish people. Gerry Tuite ten years in prison. Galway East bye-election: and retreats forces. crisis. viding a focus for these Burlington Workers show how to tame Multinationals Treet ended in victory recent strike at Burlingtons Despite pressettle for the menagement offer the workers went on strike and after two weeks, management met their demands.

The success at Burlington will have important consequences, Burlington is the sixth biggest multi-national In the world and receives a substantial &24 million grant from Development Authority (IDA). A third of the industrial workforce 1s employed in similer companies the difficulties of taking on the multi-nationals.

The success at Burlington will provide much needed confidence Most Immediately the victory have implications for Burlington's three other companies in Tullamore, Workers accepted the management's offer and now lag accept. behind their mates in Limerick.

They are likely to learn the In action can overcome the resistance of Socialist Republio spoke to a leading shop steward in the plant and asked him about the handling of negotiations br the trade union officlale, who had while Labour and the left• deputies offer no fighting 11fficulty Socialists know the reason for the crisis and the way out of But there was no antiimperialist candidate taking The Galway Bast bye-election was a great 9P0s Puttie to point out that is futile to rely on the promises of Haughey and Fitz- Gerald: Fianna Fail end Fine believe Gael are committed to maintaining the profits of the multinational corporations and which can only mean lower living standard: Noel Treacy could talk of Irish unity through negotlation while was being given An antiimperialist candidate would have exposed FF as the propartitionist party it is and related its collaboration with Britain to the imperialist domination of the Irish economy.

Two lessons are clear from the 1) an anti-imperialist electora] bloc could make a positive impaot on the balance of class 2) Workers have both the ebility and willingess to fight back egsinst the effects of the economie and political Anti-imperialiata can take s decisive step forward by proinsisted on a ballot of the management a first offer despite the obvious opposition fron workers at the plant.

When the offer was turned down Dy a margin of eight to one there was talk of immediate unofficial action. The shop stewards however felt 1t would be better to keep up pressure on the IIGWU officialdom and from then on to give official backing to strike action. In this case it worked The workers learned that they could both defeat management and control their own union, Another lesson was the need for anoverall strategy on wages by the whole trade union movement.

Trade union leaders last year recommended a 25 per cent increase in wages. But when negotiation for a new national Wage Agreement collapsed they toned down this demend to 15%: a figure the Federated Union of Emplovers (FUE) was prepared to Many workers were digheartened as a result. addition to adopting a suzticiently high and realistic wage norm, he suggests that the trade unton should have singled out a number of big firms to aim at first. This would have made it easier for workers in = weaker position to keep up with stronger sectiona of the workforce. Trade union leaders and offi cials tend to take the easy way out and accept management offers. Regular attendance by section delegates at their branch meetings is essential to prevent this. At Burling-tons this was a particular because most members Lived in Limerick City while branch meetings took place in Ennis, 25 mlles away. Branch meetings must be made more accountable. A final lesson is the need for unity among workers in Burlingtons four Irish plants. "Although we are now ahead, I that in the long run we must have joint wage negotiations and closer co-operation all round."

JOE HARRINGTON

Campaign Against Plastic Terror Goes On The campaign to ban plastic bullets in the of Ireland has been ward in several ways during Events connected with July. this murderous the use of weapon are listed below: JULY 1: A High Court Judge ordered that the Belfast Coroner, sitting with hold a fresh inquest death of a Belfast Julle Livingstone. killed last hunger strike, by a plastio bullet. JULY 21 Scottieh Labour MP tue Denia Canavan, called for aning of plastic in Ireland. the Engitah partiaclaimed that British soldiers serving in were doctoring plastic electric to inserting blades, batteries. also said that half casualties resulting plastic bullets were by children. JULY 9: A United States Based multinational company has pulled out of the manufacture and distribution of plastic bullets.! The president of Allegheny International stated that his firm had withdrawn completely from its involvement in the market for plastic bullets used in riot control.

We belleve that both the d and 20 County states must be smashed and replaced by a 32 County Workers and Small Farmers Government.

acity and interest in achleving this wealth of society while being denied the right to control or distribute It.

Attecks on the living standarde and rights of the leish Working Class are the nesult of the continuino roma ination of the Irish people by British We belleve that the Irish people have he right to defend themselves against Imperfallen. We do not belleve that minority armed groupe can e beitiute thom selves for the maeses and win freedom for them. County fightback can defeat Imberial.

on In Northern Ireland. have formed a Bullete". o1 Ireland. clusion from these mented. dangerous riot control, ignore weapon is used purpose, terrorise the the use of North taken forbasic fact, far, has ignored the plastic A united impertalist into the force one Into British schoolgiri, Julte was during the ICTU conference comedi for bring During ity. the North A ban on plastic bullets nails and also help He opportunists the fatal into the from plast sustained prepared to of resistance. in Ireland.

BRIAN HUGHES

PEOPLES

DEMOCRACY

Only the of barty organisation. CEnTraCT. let Hberation. Only a united 32 JULY 10: The National Couno11 for Civil Liberties are considering taking the case of Brian Stewart, the 13 year old schoolbay killed by a plastie bullet, the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg. JULY 15: The Irish Congress of Trade Unions overwhelmingly supported a motion urging a ban the use of plastic bullets JULY 20: Belfast Teachers Against H Block and Armagh called group "The Organisation of Concerned Teachers Against Plastic Its purpose is to compalen arainst the use of plastic bullets in the North

STRENGTHENING THE CAMPAIGN

We can draw one specific conevents: the campaign to ban this repugnant and vile instrument of death and injury is alive and kicking.

we must also state that the campaign is extremely frag- Some groups, such as the SDIP, argue that it la too a weapon to use in and therefore it should be withdraw. They the fact that thie for specific one to intimidate and anti-imperialist movement off the streets.

Its saturation use during the pinpointed this This is why, so the British government to ban the anticampaign b is the can nove the this broadly context passed by the is to be weL- It lays the ground union activists to this issue at their campaign unlon Bovement is now a real possibilbullets, would won by a masa movement, push political to such as the SDLP The background. British government is quite shed the blood of our people in an effort to break our unity and spirit Defeating the British government on this issue would push back its offensive and lend much needed confidence to the anti-imperialist movement other oppressed groups, lo irganiee: Independently und right for their emancipation - both now and after the defeat of British Imperialism.

We belleve in the building of a Marxist party based on Lenint s mode!

the central feature of which te democrate We are socielist Internationalists and For that reason Peoples Democracy Is the Irish section of the Fourth Internetlonal - the World Party of Socialist Revolution founder In 1938 by Leon Trotsky. Join PEOPLES DEMOCRACY Editorial 1 PRIOR'S "rolling devolution" B111 1a how law, through all the legislative sent and rede ved the Roy 19and received the Royal Assent. Electiona to Assembly have been set for October 20. When Prior first broke the Idea of a new Assembly during the closing stages of Peopled Denorer Stred that Peoples Democracy warned Britain was creating ditions for revamped loyalist rule at Stormont. many who dismissed this idea and pointed to the "unique relationship" the Anglo-Irish summit Can anyone doubt today that loyalist rule is once again on the agenda in the 6 Counties?

The Irish government has been told in no uncertain terms to Its nose out of Northern keep The SDLP has been affairs. told that Britain will decide who it say stand as a candithe elections and who date in not! Once again those who believed that the future of this country could be secured by fawning to British politiolana have been kicked in the teeth. Planna Fall and the SDLP won't learn fron their present treatment et the hands Тогу PoverTment. not the SDLP fights the elections to the Ar taked a or not the SDLP takes seats, it alone with Flama Fall will buckle down to the Britiah. The anti-imperialist movement can learn from the present actions of impertalism. Editorial 2 OVER THE past few months, nave been commemorating the first anniversaries deaths of Bobby Sands and his comrades, murdered strike by Thatcher's government. There is no way therefore in which the cries of horror: following in London will be echoed here.

We recognise the bleatings governments and medie for sickening More than ever though, imperialist resistance needs to reasseas the purpose and usefulness of such teotios as the London bombings. time Bince the republicen leadership issued a policy statement on the role of military campaign all anti-imperialist struggle.

However, many republicans 11ke Peter Dowling in a recent issue Phoblacht, of An that military action alone would not secure victory for national liberation and have called for

IRA

tactios to No Return to Stormont! Stop Prior! having passed mobilise ground. the new ceived the the paper resolution. the con- There were acknowledged in be boycotted. talks. we need are open imperialist rule tion. bluster, road. of Thatcherts Whether or whether Ireland's misery ing of for Countles. It can Seek Another Way we the of Stormont. on hunger the IRA bombs of the hypocrisy which it 1s. security the anti- It is a long spective. the in the overgets more provide. have argued Peoples Democracy take stunts,

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC AUGUST 1982 PACE =

recognise the danger posed by to the Assembly and resolve the a wovement on streets which can stop the Assembly getting off the The "Stop Prior! pledge which has already resupport of prominent organisations and individuals is a step in the right direction but it must be hardened out into more than a Once the Assembly gets off the ground it will be a hundred times harder to bring it down.

That's why Peoples Democracy nave urged that the whole bustness, elections and all, should There can be no British solution to the crisis in Ireland.

What elections to an A11-Treland Assembly which, through ending Partition, can the road to the defeat of and explotta-- For all their nationalist Fianna Fall and the SDLP will never choose this Haughey and Hune prefer to be cringing servants of British Imperlalism than to be accountable to the workers and small farmers of Ireland, A mess movement on the streets and in the workplaces could not only stop Prior's Assembly but stop Haughey and Hus their tracks as well. It could be the beginning of the end of and the openthe road to freedoa the downtrodden workera and small farmers of the 32 struggle at present is posed by Prior's Assembly Initiative which is opening the way to restored loyalist rule et To defeat this threat, a political campaign based on mass mobilisation of all those opposed to British rule in Ireland is necessary.

Sim Fein has hesitantly giver support to such a campeign to halt Prior's Assembly, block collaboration and place British withdrawel and a United Ireland on the agenda.

It is clear from the Republican Movement's own statements that the London bombings form no part of such a campain, indeed no part of any political per- "One bomb in London gets more publicity than 100 that's all the motivation An Phoblacht could believes that after 14 years of living in hell, the anti-unionist population need not publicity but a stratery for

Trade Unions And the Fightback

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC AUGUST 1982

THE BEGINNING of July saw some 600 delegates gather in Belfast for the annual conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. It was a gloomy, uninspiring affair only lifted briefly by striking healthworkers and a representative of the de Lorean occupation who addressed the delegates. ICTU president David Wylle set tone for conference in his opening addressi he spoke of the appalling unemployment, the savage attacks on publie services -- health, education and housing -- of the attempts by both the British and Irish governments to smash the organised strength of the trade unions.

NO DEBATE ON FIGHT-BACK

Missing from Wyllets speech was any plan to lead a fightback against this offensive by the boss class.

Plous statements, polite applause for strikers, pleas for the governments to change course all the platform offered the delegates by way of a plan to solve the crisis.

The platform was equally determined to see that there would be no debate on what a real plan might look like.

Right at the beginning of conference a motion from Derry Trades Council calling for discussion on building a Labour Party In the North based on the trade unions was ruled out of order for being political.

The Idea of bullding such a labour Party In the 6 Countles Is unreal -but no more unreal than the fiction of workerst unity within the trade unlons which is constantly paraded by the ICTU leadership. tion would have been exploded by a debate on bullding a Labour Party and that 1s the real reason for ICTU inning its discussion. The ICTU leadership live in an unreal world. Despite the facts that unemployment now totals over 270,000 in both the 6 and 26 Countles and Is still rising, basic infrastructure of the Northis economy is in tatters and the Southern economy Is almost totally in hock to interational finance, ICTU refuses to acknowledge the obvious — the capitelist system itself in in a massive crisis.

The nature of this crisis determines the type of solution for which working class must organise.

While brushing shoulders with government ministers may have produced some crumbs in the past, when the crisis was less severe, it monit provide any answers today.

Workers need not only a bigger slice of the cake -- we need to take over the bakery. Instead of the present system, profit-oriented cepitalism, we must secure a system of workers! control and socialism.

The present leadership of the ICTU Is incapable of grasping this nettle, they are wedded to the capitalist system. The likes of Wylle are more concerned with being seen as responsible! by the Tory press than with organising a real militant fight.

for jobs and in defence of living A new leadership, instandards. dependent of the bosses and thelr governments will have to be built.

Such a leadershlo will need to recognise that a fightback against the bosses is a political as well as an economic battle.

FACE UP TO BRITISH DOMINATION

That means facing up to the role which British Imperialism plays in Ireland. Ever since the 1916 Rising It has been fashionable In the trade union movement to dismiss the ques tion of national independence as a the soucalled treal!

PAGE 4

the Irish economy. The ICTU leadership, pro-imper- Talists like Kemmy's SOP and the Workers! Party defend this same position today. For cover they dress in the clothes of fanti-sectarlaniem', preach fthe unity of protes tant and catholic workers! in the North, the embrace the most reactionary causes in their crusade to appease the loyalist allegiance of the majority.

of protestant workers. -- that Is That fic- Yes, finel! 'Let the hunger strikers die? No problem.! Support RUC? Of course, why not ?1 While thls sta In the ears of protestant workers It does nothing to promote working.

class unity; nothing to stop the assassination campaigns of loyalist that the paramiliaries; nothing to end the protestant stranglehold in the Belfast shipyards and other heavy: industry; nothing to end the discrimination which means that one of the every two workers In Ballymurphy is on the dole while the figure in loyalist areas is one in eight.

The truth Is that trish workers will never be united while British imperlaliam holds sway in Ireland, while it Is allowed to buy the loyalty of protestant workers at the expense of their catholic fellows, while It is allowed to manipulate the of the North and South, trade union movement And they are not afraid to Extradition? the halt. southern capitalists.

ECONOMIC PLAN

economles throughout Ireland,

TOIL

Partition is the link between impertalist domination and Irish capitalism.

The trade union movement in Ireland is 650,000 strong, the vast majority afflliated to the ICTU, Proportionately, it is one of the largest control. - in the capitallst world. With the right programme and the proper leadership It would be an unstoppable power on the side of the working class.

The trade union movement should be at the head of the movement for national self-determination.

It is wild nonsense to believe that a British overment which montain!

20,000 armed troops In the 6 counties would allow Irish workers in the 26 countles to settle accounts with Haughey and FitzGeraldd without intervention on the latters! be- The same British soldiers who now patrol the Falls Road would very quickly be manning checkpoints on Dublints OConnell Street.

The withdrawal of the Beitish Army from the North and the dismantling of that sectarian state are vital Ingredients for any successful struggle against. in police and prison bodies.

THE NEED FOR A SOCIALIST

The trade union movement; organised should not leave

DUBLIN DISTRET COUN

IRISH TRA

SPORT R

GENERA

any group of workers to tight the There should bosses on their own. be a natfonal campaign to halt factory closures, to see that de Lorean, Clondalkin, Burlington and any other plants under threat are taken into public ownership under workers!

The trade union movement should put forward a plan for putting the unemployed back to work and to provide jobs for the tens of thousands of youth joining the dole queues.

Such a plan would include a 35 hour week to share work, and a programme of public works to bulld the much needed houses, schools would be and hospitals. This plan financed through the natlonalisation of the banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, and punitive taxation of multinationalsi profits. To promote workers! unity the trade union movement must adopt policies of positive action to offset the history of discrimination that burdens massive sections of the Irish working class - catholle workers in the North, women and young workers throughout the country, Such policies would include a national minimum wage and the establishment of quotes for the most oppressed in all sections of industry, commerce and education. Only in this way can discrimination which cripples the workers! movement be ended.

ORGANISE THE FIGHTERS

To force the trade unions to implement such a policy, the leadership This must be made account able, involves the right to elect all officials and the right to recall, the right of workers of any political affillat ion to campaign openly for election to office, the right to take all major decisions at mass meetings of union members and the organisation of union activity so that all members can participate fully. It also means putting to an end the various schemes through which the present leadership seeks to tie the working class to the bossest state.

Participation in the Employer-Labour Conference must be ended and trade unionists should no longer provide cover for repression by involvement The healthworkerst strike in the North, the Burlington strike, the occupations of de Lorean and Clondalkin show the willingness of working people to fight. They know they are not only fighting for their own

YERS*

Resist Public Sector Cuts - Organise!

SOCLALOT REPUBLIC AUGUST 1982

Jobs but for everyonets and in so doing are directly challenging the Tory governments of Thatcher and Haughey. So too the many thousands of workers throughout the country who took action in support of the hunger strikers last year demonstrated that many working people know that it Is the same rotten system which terorises the minority in the North and steals Jobs of workers in Limerick.

SOCIALIST-REPUBLICAN UNITY

But while the bosses and the trade

VORKER

DEMAND

PADE UNT

union bureaucrats ane organi sed, there is no organised opposition within the trade union movement.

The economist left with their bellef that the only way to radicalise workers Is on issues of wages, jobs and conditions are easy meat for the buresucrats who can outflank them on the general political and social questions. The bureaucrats understand only too well the fragile nature nature of economic unity set against political and social divisions.

This Is why anti-Imperialism is the only solid bedrock the trade union misleaders.

the only perspective which offers a coherent, overall alternative to the reformism of the bureaucracy _ by challenging partition, There is a burning need for anti- Imperialists in the trade union movement to come together to hammer out a strategy for a working class fightback. This can be best done around existing struggles, for example by bullding support for the de Lorean occupation or the Burlington strikers. unionists could organise a national tour for militants from these struggles which would provide finan-lal as well as moral support and be a start in building Inks between workers on both sides of the border.

Demonstrations against unemployment could be built North and South with workers crossing the border to give Such initlatives would help

SUBBOR

to end the Isolation of the trade unions from community Iife and being into the struggle the hundreds of thousands of working people, mainly women and youth, ganised in the movement.

PAGE 5

rank Now published its worried. to were: In other realistic anteed Incone low pald.

ERE

children.

JEN

Increased. and property the bouses, omed by a tiny lation. such wealth. weaker sections then for opposition to It Is cut of E120m in spending will Anti-imperialist trade overstretched, people who punishment. Haughey a pol1cy Ireland's

A GENERAL ATTACK

Haughey believes Countlest jeopardy because ment is spending still unor- 810.000m OveR THE past year trade unton Leaders have tried to hold off and file pressure for action against the injustices calling for D1 PAIE-PRS1 by restreint until Commission the on Taxation issued its report.

that the Commission has findings, these same leaders must be rather The unions have received a smack in the face and there is no hiding the fact. Among the proposals submitted the Commission by the TTGWU, Ireland's largest trade union, * That the progressive nature of the tax system be retained.

words, the present syates of paying according to beEf Treme should continue with more flexible and tax bands. * That the tax and social welfare systems be integrated.

This would mean that the state would pay every worker a guarminimun income which vould be Included with other for tax purposes. This would help the unemployed and * Increased tax allowances on loans and VHI payments. * That tax allowances for children be replaced with increased social velfare benefits for This would mean that the children of the unemployed would fare better. * That employers' tax allowances on machinery eto in the Corporate Tax system be reduced to more realistic levels, and that taxation on bank profits (which 1s now only 9p In the E) be substantiall * That a proper tax on wealth be Introduced. At moment more than 70% of the wealth of the country (le second stocks, shares) S% of the popu- This elite pays prectically nothing in tax on IN JUNE 1981 C J Haughey addressed the nation in the following terms: "Fianna Fall has always been a party with an active commitment to the weltere of the poorer and of the conthen from the worst Pretect of the current recession will steadily improve standard of living in the better times that lie ahead."

Just over a year later. in 1982, J Haughey g government has launched e slasting attack on welfare system and the whole public service sector. government affect every man woman and child in the 26 Counties as food subsidies disappeer and health and educational services shrink. With inflation running at 20% already service workers have the civil service understaffed by 7% and nurses and teachers the nillion Live below the poverty line are in for severe So much for of "Caring for Future!. that the 26 future is now in the governtoo much. He cannot afford to borrow since the foreign debt now totals three Tax Commission

DECLARES WAR

ON WORKERS

FAIRER

TAXES

FOR ALL

* That VAT be reduced. Every one of these proposals has been dismissed by the Commission on Taxation. opposition to the trade unionists, recommendations have been sade: * A flat rate of taxation for everyone irrespective of size of Income. that the flat tax rate should be just marginally below the exlating standard 35% only. In the higher tax benefit ration on low said the same rate of workers will cantly. mission on Taxation's report, can he raise extra money through increased taxes. cut spending -- hence blitz. to intensify the misery of poor population but it will make little impact on the government s spending deficit.

The government needs to Bave €271m so the new cuts will leave a further E15im to be found. In reality there is more to the attack than the size ment's deficit. purpose of the wage freeze and job cuts is to lay the groundwork for workers in the private sector.

Politicians and economiats alike have been claiming that recent pay awards to public excessive wage demands elsewhere in the economy. gains of the publio service workers can be driven back, they reason, In general

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES MUST FIGHT

This argument 1e based on fraud Some workers in the public sector have recently won aboveeverage increases. whole wage settlements for public service employees have been below the averaze. reflects the well-documented trend of declining wares in the times the Ef nublic sectow Anning be abolished. Lor sociel employers, it. fore more just, effect however, In direct demands of the following Since It Is suggested living tax rate of for hesitancy. the 17% of workers now urgently needed. brackets will time the rank branches and Increase simifito take the

ANNE SPEED

So he has to the €120m rising clear the on public spending of the govern- The sorry olicht A further workers week-kneed similar action against slaught then fuelled is needed, If the sell out by then wage demands can be held in check, mittee.

for public But on the This 4070g * That the euployers! Ilabilt for PRSI which 1s currently payed at a rate proportionate to the workers contribution, Instead they propose a 5% levy on profits insurance. The effect of this would be a muc lower contribution from most and some would pay nothing at all. * All special tax allowances, espectally on housing loans, to be abolished. * Instead of tightening up Corporate tax system a much more flexible and evasive ele ment should be introduced Int Against the advice of th Department of Finance the Coumission on Zaxetion has recommended a new system of keeping compeny accounts (current cost accounting) whic will give the employers greate leeway in minimising and concealing their profits, * No tax on wealth, no special taxation of bank profits; tep on Income fram stocks and shar to be abolished. The Commission on Texation boasts that its proposals will broaden the tax net (to include farmers, self-employed, unemployed, eto) and are ther The real by letting th rich off the hook, would be reduce the revenue from taxa tion by up to 1,000m. This toss could only be made up b outs in social service expenditure and increased taxation on consumer goods (VAT). The report of the Coantasion Taxation, to put it bluntly.

constitutes a plan for a systematle attack on workergi standards. The leadership of the trade union novement no longer has an excuse Action 1s At the of the day it will be up to and file in the trades councils initiative. employees are definitely et th back of the crowd when it come to the push to keep up with costs of living. It is that the tactle of employers and government is to single out the most isolated and demoralised section of workers and attack them first.

Bo far, leaders of trade unions in the public sector have responded in a militant tone to the new guts. But If the exper fence of the past decade is anytning to go by this will amount to nothing but rhetoric.

public is the result of the and compronise strategy of these leaders.

If there is to be any real resistance to Heughey's onthe rank end file will have to take a lead.

What in the firat place, is for militant activista in the public seotor to unite across the board to prevent a the bureaucrats in the ICTU Public Services Com- Secondly, private sector workers must be convinced that solidarity with the fight against the cuts is in their own best interest.

This will be a task not only service militants but for militant trade unlonists everywhere.

Make Haughey Back Down!

OCTALIST REPUBLIC AUGUST 1982

AFTER 8 WEEKS occupation of the De Lorean car plant near the workers ended Belfast, their sit-in on July 28. of the workers were guaranteed 6 weeks work getting cars for shipment to the eady mited States but after that future is unknown. Ist Republic talked to Jackie ATGWU Trade Group Fitzpatrick, presentative at the plant.

SR: Why did the workers decide the sit-in? to end JP: We were blackmailed by the We were told that receiver. • British consortium was very Interested in taking over the plant and might provide 3,000 sit-in was supposed Jobs: the to be holding up progresa and the receiver the takeover said we would be responsible for losing these jobs didn't stop our action. vorkers swallowed this only a small number of workers vere actively involved alt-in, the offer of 200 jobs for 6 weeks was too hard to resist. SR: What happens after the 6 weeks are up? Ji: No one knows for sure.

bever got hard evidence that British consortium existed.

of us felt it was a big 1 to that the now SRi How wes It decided who would get the 200 Jobs? JP: This was pretty shameful, the unions drew up a list. lames were common to both it the end of the day workers Shap stewards then 9 workers who wouldn't 6 Weekst work. ind my own name as I wasn't ared to sentence someone to the dole. the other stewards, wasn't for me. Next Step:

NE SPEED & FELICE COHEN

SINCE we last wrote on the onstitutionel Amendment, unti-Amendment campaien has scored some successes. public meeting in early June 1,000 people and drew about campaign ratsed E2000, one protestant clergymen the ranks of Joined eferendun opponents. 0o of the delegates at the recent ICTU annual conference eld in Beltast, individually Igned a petition declaring heir opposition to the referengroups have begun Aption established in Cork, be Wexford and Belfast. Limerick,

PLAC MOUNTS A CAMPAIGN

other hand, the forces behind the also been organising. the "Soolety for Protection of the the main one or PLAC the Campaien"

PAGE 6

200 fight? Socialmade. of workers. 100 attended that. on if we Most and as in the We charge and this that the 200 now shop back on the keepine a From workers, done mass meetings and manage- A lot of planning was a major there factor 1s the and only Lo confidence in of John De Lorean I put I don*t keep us in work. but About 20 the A of Ireland, graphy) et cranks before, Over for contracebtion. die-hard order". cant support conservative with an active the main referendum the Unborn Child" compomade #Pro-life les of the

PLAC

thin that manice. Lesson Of DeLorean: 'Link-up With Workers in Struggle' of us voted to continue the occupation to get permanent Jobs for everyone but we were obviously in a minority. SR: How do you explain the willingness to give up the JF: A lot of mistakes were No real effort was majority made to involve the The only nass one that meeting held was the ended the sit-in and only about When the

THE AGHT TO WORK

MYS DEMAND

OCCUPATION !!

occupation started the normal union structures were left in led to the stewarda committee lot of discussion solven. talking to the Clondalkin what we should have was elect an occupation committee and hold regular to keep people up to date and involved in the campaign. This problem. Another general lack of the success of the plant because of the antica and the policies of the Tory Government.

No one believed that the Tortes would put themselves out to 3R: At the start of the sit-In from the League for Decency (long time opponents of art!.

contraception and arch detenders of censorship) to the Assoclation of Catholic Parents Irish Pamily League, •to Oppose Porno- We have had experience of these kinds of in the battle But PLAC involves more than the usual I advocates of "moral It has gained simifiamong the more predominantly and male nedical profession and parish-pump politicians, PLAC sve reached out into the inftles In the 26 counties campaign, Peoples Denocracy believes the they have learned from mistakes of the past and a conscious effort is being to curtail the activit- "extremists" The there was some talk oi tying De Lorean In with British Leyland, of nationalisation?

JP: This was raised with the British Government in meetings with Prior and the Industry Minister but they weren't interested. aign to this end and the roader trade union movement the Northern Ireland Conmittee of Congress, for instance. Idn't serdously promote public ownershio as an option. SR: What support did De Lorean

LOREAN

get from the trade workers union movement? At certain levels, was substantial. Trades Council passed a resodonatIon. In the rallies held to support the healthworkere which allowed to appreciate a lot of us better what the health strike about detending the Netonal Health Service. support from trade union branches, Importantly, we made some links with the Clondalkin and Talbot worker in the South and some of ug went on: the March for Jobs. I'm sure more support could have been won If we had been better organised but there was has now gained the leader- It 1g hip. hat the Catholic hierarchy particular, in main Iniluence in this new turn of the right-wing moral majority lobby. PLAC has in fact become a NO

MENE

get very much leaderships. job. quested. There was no. camcommunity support. strike JF: Well, many n the to defend them. people their jobs, this to happen. the see workersi gave general weren't brepared their time threat? the support Bel fast everyone a Tinaclal fe also Involved us The other thing not just pay but We also got financial tice. to be developed. your demands: to keep more dangerous be assumed has been a the government vote. such an emotive social wouldn't also a feeling thet we from the union SR: De Lorean provided jobs for many workers in West Belfast who were either unemployed for a long time or had never had a Did you get any support cron the Local community?

JP: We got the etont e, re- Our action very popular with the community and we held collections during which people wanted to talk about what was happening.

But as there was really no overall strategy behind the occupation there was no real tapping of SR: During the republican hunger there was an active committee in De Lorean. What role did the H Block activista play during the sit-in? some of us have been active in both the H Block movement and this fight but of the Block activists didn't play any prominent rcle ait-in, This had somehing to do with the way the sitin was organised. A lot of nationalist workers don't really relate to the trade union movement, don't trust it A lot of Just accepted Losing sort of expected They don't trade union leadership as genuinely concerned about rights so while ther support they invest and energy. SR: What lessons does the De Loreen struggle heve for other workers whose Jobs are under JF: Well the first lesson must be to organise democratically.

to keep That's the only way Involved, taking dethrough masa meetings. is that links have to be buiit between workers in struggle and workers prepared to fight. The Clondalkin workers gave us a lot of ideas which unfortunately we weren't able to put into prac- These sort of Links need Finally, you have to be very clear about at the start we weren't sure whether we wanted our jobs or just get some redundancy money. That gave a lot of room to the Government and the receiver to undermine our struggle. anti-amendment campaign and major obstacle to all those who defend democratic rights and seek any advance towarda a secular society.

DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE.

Therefore it 1s all the more imperative that we build a mass open and action oriented campaign against the referendum and the amendment and that we have a strategy for doing this. The issues are clear; we muat atrive to stop the referendun by pressurising to backdown and call it off; and in the to event oi it goine ahead •NO+ bring out a messive lany within the campaien, Feel that abortion ls stil] issue with stigna, that we may

Zionist Genocide With American Backing : Behind The Misery THE Terocity of Israel's genocidal war in Lebanon proves, yet again, that there neither peace nor the Middle Bast until the Palestinians' national rights are recognised.

PALESTINIAN DIASPORA

Total Palestinian population (1975) 3 million: 95% st111 live in the Arab world and more than 50% in historical Palestine, ie under Israel1 occupation.

COUNTRY

Israel Gaza West Bank Lebanon Jordan Syria Trag Saudi Arabia Kuwa 1+ Gult States

WHO ARE THE PALESTINIANS?

They were the peoples of Palestine before 1948. The majority vere Pale. stinian Arabs Christian and Druze religions, nomadio Bedouins and there were a few munities. The Palestinians were mainly small peasant tarmers.

WAS PALESTINE EVER

INDEPENDENT?

No. The people living in thie area had been cessive occupations -- Ottoman (Turkiah) Eepire and then by the British who set up a mandate colony after the first World War. colonisers to arrive were the Zionista froa Burope. Belfast Clee Formed

SOT DAO D

LMAZOWSZE

One of the leading members of Solidarnose in exile, Kowalewski, visited Ireland during the ICIU conference in July. Kowalewski. member of the bodz Regional Presidium of Solidarnose.

here to addreas the foundine meeting of the Belfast branch of the Irish-Polish Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). the meeting Included John Mitchell, General the Electricity Supply ary of Board Officials Association a full-time official with National Union of Public Erployees (NUPE). Kowalewaki outlined to the meeting the present of Solidernasd in Poland as It prepares for a general atrike in the Autumn. spoke of the determination of the Polish workers to see an to martial law and the upend holding of the free independent trade union, thanked Irish trade untonists for the support ready given to Solidarnosd. can be Justice in Palestine ot Unlike the land. Nos in 1975 436,100 390,300 758,400 228,000 200 indigenous 39, British 1947-18 the the Muslin, drove small Jewish con- Palestine. state.

OP PALESTINE?

sUC- Strip The next the Israelis the coming months. time as same ence, he vited to attend delegate. yskiewicz, when he ates. Zbigniew be allowed However, who was a ence in at the announced Carol Coulter, of delegates stood to acknowledge Other speak- Secretvisit to and met John Carroll, Mullen. office-holders Union

(ITGWU).

position pledged their for Solidarnose. He Zbieniew internees. they had allarge majority supporters

WHAT IS THE STATE OF ISRAEL?

Zioniat colonisation of Palestine with the help of British imperialism aimed to create exclusive Jewish state in at the expense the indigenous population previous occupations it aimed to expel the Palestinian Arabs from their

DID THEY SUCCEED?

To a large extent yes. The Palestinien Arabs rebelled % . 1 against Zionist colonisation in the Arab Revolt of 1936were defeated by the and Zionists and in Zionist armies out of Palestine 800,000 Arabs and declared the new State of Israel on three-quartere of historicel Only 170,000 Palestinians remained inside the borders of the new Zionist

WHAT HAPPENED 10 THE REST

The areas which the Zionist: vere unable to gain control the West Bank and Gaza vere occupied by Jorden and Egypt. In 1965 invaded these areas and has been occupy- Ing then for 15 years. It had been hoped that with Zbigniew in Belfast at the the

ICTU

conferwould have been inas a fraternel 1981 Janusz On- In 9 Solidarnold leader now interned in Poland, received a standing ovation addressed ICTU deleg- This year the ICTU executive was determined not to embarrass its Stalinist members and rejected the request of many unions that Zbigniew to speak. the borgents pres when Zhianiew's conference was by National Union of Journalists (NUJ) delegate a great number in applause their support. This was Zbigniew's second Ireland. In March this year he visited Dublin Christy Kirwan, and Michael the three leading in the Irish Transport and General Workerg The three men union's support Unfortunatethat did not stop the Iran delegates voteng many of against the resolution at the ICIU conference which called for the lifting of martial Iew and the relesse of all Nevertheless, the resolution was adopted by e and union trade of Solidarnose w111

WHERE DID THE PALESTINIANS

GO AFTER 1948?

They fled to neighbouring Arab states and became exiled minorities. Europe and America. of the Palestinian ghourba (exile and alienation) the camps of Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. tered and exposed to different political systems and influences throughout Arab East, To the Arab regimes the refugees were problem 930 A their inability to stop the creation of the Zionist state -- imperialism's watchdog in the area.

HOW HAVE THE PALESTINIANS

SURVIVED

AS A PEOPLE WITH

A NATIONAL

THE DIASPORA?

Their determination to return to Palestine, with the Arab regimes which supported the Palestinian cause but did nothing to help them regain their conand the repression of the Palestin andrey the Arab regimes led to a new phase of Palestinian resistance in the 1960s -- the rise of the Verious organisations making up the Palestinian Resiatance Movement and their call for mass armed struggle to liberate occupied Palestine.

The resistance used to be based in Jordan, In 1970 King Hussein launched a berbario attack against the Palestinians with the help of Israel and the US. The ensuing massacre Left 9,000 dead and Know as Black September, tens of thousande were either Imprisoned or escaped to Syria and Lebanon. the Resistance was forced to go to Lebanon. The various organisations in

THE FOLLOWING IS AN OPEN

LETTER FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY

COMMUNIST GROUP (LEBANESE

SECTION OF THE FOURTH INTER-

NATIONAL) TO ZHE LEBANESE

RESISTANCE ORGANISATIONS,

BROADCAST OVER WEST BEIRUT

RADIO AND PUBLISHED IN THE

BEIRUT PRESS.

Comrades, The only road to preserve the sacrifices of our two peoples, and to prevent them being uselessly wasted, the only roed to preserve our irmy and our political 11benties, the only way to abort the Begin-Reagan campaign against our national cause, the only way to disart their offensive, this only way is represented by the following measures, which we call on you to implement in the name of the blood which has been shed by thousands of mertyrs: 1) to continue the struggle without restrictions against the Zionist army of occupation, to prevent it having a moment's respite, and to make it pay for every minute of occupation of our land. 2) To refuse entry to arales heve built up hospitals, Some went to unions The core Nationel They were seatсатра. the a burdensome reminder of the tion,

IDENTITY DESPITE

their disillusion The centre of PD's Sister Organisation in Lebanon Shows Way Forward Arabia, enemy. patriotic Nationel Guard, unti1 tional retreat of aruy from tha

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC AUGUST 1982

PAGE

the Palestine Resistance Move went developed a state within a state in Lebanon -- they Palestinian schools, the General of workers, WOme 201 Students with branches all round the world, a government in extle council, the Pelestinian and organised the administration of the

WHY SUPPORT THE PALESTINIANSP

For 34 years the Palestinians have lived in exile. Their struggle for national liberatheir right to return to Palestine is a Just, antiimperialist struggle. At this moment in Lebanon they are suffering their worst defeat in the Israeli genocide of the last month. Solidarity with their struggle la needed urgently. state armies or armies of the agents of imperialism. 3) to refuse any formulas concocted by the USA and Saudi thanks to the Zionist occupation and with the complicity of the state. 4) to treat the institutiona of the state as treacherous.

To set up a government of national resistance composed of forces which have genuinely struggled against the Zionist 5) to set in motion local democratically organised councils so they can orgenise the resistance in Beirut.

6) to unite the military forces and centralise them within the framework of a and to prevent the use of arms by certein suspect groups which have nothing to do with the national resistance. 7) to demand of the antiimperialist states and forces, notably the USSR and Cube, an inmediate military intervention elongside the Lebanese and Palestinian restatance the total and unconds

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC AUGUST 1982

(Continued from page 6) lose the battle. But PD believes building a massive "NO* vote will lay the ground for resiatance further attacks on democ- "cool the ratic rights, courage" of the right government to the cause consider their political future with caution before launching further any attacke. In other words, we are on the defensive. The balance of forces is weighted against us and this campaign gives us the opportunity to push back the right. we stated at the head thAmendment campeten the Anti-Amendment has scored some initial even adding виссевзев. all these up in no way constitutes a strategy for building the campaign. Signs are hovever, that the present leadership is attempting to develop one.

BLEMENTS OF A STRATEGY

So far, the campaign structure is besically democratio with a delegate structure allowing for stical representation 202per action group/organisation), monthly meetings and open meetings between son groups at a region- Peoples Democracy contributed the following basic framework to a recent del- This was egate meeting. approved by that meeting and further strengthened by similar motions from a number of action groups. I. Winning support in the labour movement and in the working class areas. 2. An Action Programme was adopted centering on --National Rally at the end of October --International solidarity coordinated activities --Mass Lobby at Deil on the day of referendum vote 3. An open conference was agreed to assess the campaign in October/November. 4. Building support in the six counties, especially among the SDLP as a particular embarrassment to the Haughey government was also endorsed as part of the campaign.

DEMOCRACY - AN ON-GOING DEBATE

Some differences remain namely about political representation and its implementation within the campaign.

Several delegates, larly members of the Communist Party and a number of resisted the need teminists, to extend this to the steering They conmittee. It could hinder the campaign long drawn out report-back and was unnecessary. arose as a result of argument an IRSP member being unable to take her place on the PD and the IRSP

PAGE 8

sentenced the in Dublin BBC* g trial marked a high Our bodies- Anglo-Irish suk chaice word. Haughey -- Thatcher. to is exactly what

HAUGHEY'S HYPOCRISY

and J Haughey, each. opportun, s0like this always. republican card them -to imprison, and real Carlai sere Tulte's uncle, inJured. clear that the particuargued that This On the day Gerard Tuite was ten years jail to Special Criminal Court the Brian seren Dublin correspondent in described the outcone of the He accurately ointed out that this event pornt "in collaboration". Is the key the word Haughey would use to describe his special relationship! with Margaret Bhat 994 10059100 When the Criminal Lav (Juriadiction) Act was being debated In Leinster House in opponent of the ention was none other than Charles the present Tools- This Illustrates both Haughey's hypocrisy and his Leaders of the ail party have behave Haughey Is the latest in a long line of Fianna Fall Leaders who have the no qualma abert phen ne sults when and who are Just as ready, when it sufts them, even execute The anti-imperialists. commitment of real antiimperialists goes beyong the rhetoric used to gather votes at elections.

AN IRONY OF HISTORY

This is a curious irony of history: almost exactly 4P before Gerry Tuite's trial, one of Haughey's predecessors, a certain lamonn De Valera, ordered the Free State Speciel Branch to break up the wedding party of Gerard Tuite's parents. searching for Patrick Dermody, a well known Republican the counties of Cavan and Monaghan at the time.

In the ensuing gun rick Darmody was killed and another wedding guest was 40 years on, with jailing of Gerard Tuite Ed matal 19 leopard has not changed its it is an agent of British Imperialism.

FIANNA FAIL WORKS FOR BRITAIN

The imprisonment of Gerard Tuite and the escapers from Belfast's Crumlin Road Jeil showe that the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1s being used by Planna rail, at Britain's behest, to latest piece of repressive the Sunningdale Agreement, solely for use against Repub- This very point was made by Sean MacBride, Senior represented Gerard Tuite et the Special Criminal Court once Judre Liam Hamilton had MacBride pointed out that the that vote -- but de facto won the argument when an ICCL absentee was replaced by mother ICCL member. We can only conclude that the IRSP seema to be a victim of political hostility or prejudice.

However, these are issues to be ironed out in the course of this and many other struggles.

They do not negate the need for unity in action againat the Amendment which Peoples Democracy is cormitted to.

TUITE TRIAL;

Irish courts do Britain's dirty work.

STOP

not be used Act will to justice people crimes against of the 5 Counties. not, to justice murderers the people: the following Caron Anne Kelly, old * Julie Livingstone, 14 years old * Nora McCabe, 30 years old and a mother of five children * stephen McConomy, 11 years old The killers of these four wore the uniforms people all of the British Army, Hundreds of or the

UDR.

others have suffered in exactly the same way over the past 3 years. That is not how the Gardsi and Special Branch see thinga: every day, ation about the activities of socialists and republicans In the 26 Counties to the uniformed murderers of the 6 Counties. Haughey's 'concern! for the suffering of the nationalist minority in the North is therefore a fake. Peil act in Britain's interests through operating the Crininal Law (Jurisdiction) Act. The British are delighted at the ard Tuite and the Crumlin

"ITS LIFE

THAT NEEDS

AMENDING,

NOT THE

CONSTITUTION"

Road escapees. encouraged by Beirut. only get ing Haughey often like Atter ione and ified because actions. land? ical: the of Ireland. Even The supporter of this. see to bring of guilty observes the nationalist for example, bring to 01 12 years the RUC, they pass on inform- Fienna jailing of Ger- Meanwhile, the extension of repression ageinst Republicans, the Unionist backwoodsmen are not satisfiedthey went extradition and the return of the death penalty.

Paisler even suggested thai Loyalists should imitate the Israeli Army slaughter in Lebanon, and attack Cork, following the example of

REPRESSION WILL NOT STOP

THE FIGHT FOR IRISH UNITY

The nationalist minority will its democratio rights in a United Ireland. Tamperwith the internal admin- Istration of the 6 Counties will not change this fact.

Represaive legislation does not alter thia reality. says things this | 'Northern Ireland has failed as a political entity', for example). Haughey really belleved these sentiments he would end collaboration with Britain. Recently the IRA resured ita bombing campaign in London.

every explosion like this right wing politicians issue hypocritical condemnatsuggest that repressive legislation is justof these If that was true, how 1s it that 7 years after the passing of the Prevention of Terrorism Not the IRA can atill set off boubs in Eng- The reason is politbombings happen because of British misrule Irish Press, a Fianna Fail can The editoriel in its July 26 issue correctly that many peaple in Northern Ireland do not their own either in Long Kesh or recovering from some form of violence arising out of rogation, or some such." pressing distaste current British policy. Britain wants the Dublin government only to have a secand no political "the two edged nature of this sword can very easily be made apparent in any future negotiations over cross border This coyness is in one sense rather pathetic, but it is authoritative establishment shows how unstable the politmovement is in a position to