Terry Viney (Croydon CLP)
The 80,000 strong demonstration against nuclear missiles, in October, was a major rebuff to the Tory Called by the CND - and backed by the Labour Party - it showed the growing hostility among British workers to Tory attempts to turn the country into a nuclear "aircraft-carrier'.
Those who marched through the streets of London were only too aware that the siting of Cruise missiles ties us, hand and foot, to the US's agressive military strategy. It makes us a number one target in the event of war.
CUTS It has not just been attempts to import the American Cruise mis-. siles, however, which has led to anti-nuclear groups springing up all over the country. Equally important is the Tories' decision to replace ageing Polaris submarines by Trident at the cost of over £5 billion.
Their priorities couldn't be any clearer. At the very time they are calling for massive cuts in social services - unemployment benefits and social security being the latest victims - taxpayers' money is being poured into these nuclear time-bombs.
As Tony Benn, speaking at the enü of the rally explained. workers are not going to be taken in by these attempts to ".. divert attention from injustice at home by conjuring up an alleged enemy abroad".
LABOUR This is, no doubt, one of the reasons why the campaign has found such a favourable response among sections of the labour movement. The Labour Party, at its last conference, took a clear decision in favour of unilateral disarmament.
Moreover, since that time, the massive T&GWU has decided to affiliate to CND and a major debate on the issue has opened up within the ranks of the AUEW. The Yorkshire area of the NUM, of course, has been opposed to nuclear missiles for some time.
This growing support for the campaign within the labour movement shows that workers are not prepared to see money - which should be spent on schools, hospitals and housing projects - squandered in the Tories war drive.
POWER ahead - and organise a really mass movement against the Tories' 'nuclear insanity' - it is movement that it must turn.
onto the streets thousands of union members - that it will develop the power to put an nuciear gamble.
Its decision to call another mass demonstration - and its beginning to recognise the potential that exists.
NO CRUISE MISSILES!
BRITAIN OUT OF NATO!
year List leaders.
If CND is to grow in the period freedom.
THREAT increasingly towards the labour It is only by deepening its roots in the unions - and bringing out end to the Thatcher government's support for a labour movement conference against the missiles alliances". slightly earlier - shows that it is SCRAP MISSILES - NOT JOBS!
weaken it.
Solidarity's support among Polish workers is such that it nas already topped the eight million mark over half of the 13 million in the socialised sector of the economy. No doubt this explains why, last month, the 'puppet' Trade Union Council bowed to the inevitable and dissolved itself.
The rapid growth of Solidarity - born out of the strikes earlier this - come no accident More and more Polish workers see it as a real tool to combat the corrupt and repressive regime of the Stalin This was shown only recently in Czestochowa when Solidarity lead ers — representing over 135 actores an elais inreater.ed strike action to force out Governor Wierbicki, accused of intimidating workers and hampering union The Stalinist leaders in Poland -and their backers in the Kremlir ment which points toward taking command of the government and establishing a democratic socialist Veiled threats are already being made. On November 6th, CP bos: Stanislaw Kania went on TV to attack " people who build oi maintaining and fanning workers' dissatisfaction, These are people who clearly aim at socialism and our While issuing threats, however, the Polish leaders fear a head-on confrontation with the powerful working class and the impact such a confrontation could have on other hastern auropean counuies.
DIVIDE AND RULE For this reason they have - at least for the time being - decided on a different course This involves only too well that the fight for democracy and equality by the Polish workers threatens the very core of their repressive rule.
The East German leaders have virtually sealed up their borders to Polish citizens to prevent the spread of the 'upsurge'. They have - moreover - openly threatenec to support the Soviet Union in action adainst the 'enemies of socialism' Workers' leader Lech Walesa EXAMPLE Fear of the Polish workers' struggle is not confined to Stalinist leaders in the East, however. Desp.
ite the hypocritical 'support' from figures such as Reagan or Thatcher, they know only too well that a victory for workers there would be an inspiring example to workers here fighting against austerity plans and attempts to erode democratic rights tals is way criticism dRine Polish workers leaders - such a Lech Walesa - is already begining to find its way into the Western Prors Omes attented Walese for Only recently, the New being "surrounded by the accout