the right-wing.
In his native Australia, journalists on the Murdoch-owned The Australian went on strike over their bosses' UNLESS you count the authors of the Bible, no press baron in history has notched up the record of Rupert Murdoch - the probable new boss of Times Newspapers — in imposing his views on tens of millions of readers. Murdoch's empire spans three continents, and in each of them the newspapers he has taken over have well earned the gratitude of Labour tirades in the general crechon brought the Tory Malcolm Fraser to power in 1975.
Margaret Thatcher is another reactionary who is indebted to Murdoch.
She has bestowed on him knighthood for creating Britain's topselling working-class Tory the Sun, replete women's torsos.
The Tories are alone among muraoch s well-wishers in this country. "The leaders of both the NGA and SOGAT onlit unlous have recclitly appeared on platforms declaring the need tor socialist theatre, Action Space in Camden, London, is in a still worse situation. The loss of its £27,000 grant may result in bankruptLy. Jill Posener, their one time publicity officer, explained that their annual grant provided a solid base from which Action Space negotiated credit and loans. They are now left with a £32,000 debt trustees are personally liable.
All Acuon Space's staff of nine are on the dole and the building is 'WE HOVE THE POWER «THENS **!*O BROADSIDE MOBILE WORKERS THEATRI present lack of it.
Strange, then, that NGA secretary Joe Wade declared at the end of last week: 'I personally would chosen the man. He has the resources, ability, ex pertise and the right kind of track record.
SOGAT general Bill Keys was pressing confidence that would read.
ger, although mention his concern over 'concentration of ownership' "Did this enthusiasm simply reflect a concern to save jobs, bearing mind that the other bidders roll out much the same kind of Tory hymn being kept by volunteers. The only paid employee is a youth seconded Space on a governmentfunded vouth opportunity scheme.
Questioned by journalists about why there had been no warning given earlier to the axed arts groups about the tate that was in store tol them, Richard Hoggart VICe chairperson of ACGB, replied: 'Have you ever tried going up to a man to tell him you were going to hang him?' sheets? Not exactly.
ine redundancy levels that nave been agreed are mouthby the Slall' dards of any newspaper magnate 40 per cent in case 1,000 SOGAT members, and NGA compositors. DCI among ine Michael Croft, directhe National Youth Theatre which has lost its £15,000 grant, has called for the resignation of 'hangman' Hoggart. along with that of ACGB secretary general Roy The National Youth Theatre stands to lose its the Shaw Theatre in London. Both the National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Brass Band have lost their subsidies, too, all on the grounds that they are amateur and not professional companies.
BROADSIDE MOBILE WORKERS THEATRE In short, it's a wipeout, which was obvious the moment Thomson announced the sale unless the unions put up firm resistance.
There is a way out of the Thomson/Murdoch blackmail. technology could be used The ACGB doesn't explain what is to happen to the paid workers who are attached these youth companies Michael Crott told US.
'It's despicable at a time of high youth unemploy.
ment when youth need all the outlets they can find.' The other criteria used by the AÇGB choosing its victims are equally spurious. claims to have been guid ed by 'primarily concreative and artistic quality.' But according to a number of WORKING WOMEN'S CHARTER rather than axing jobs, by creating facilities for working class it the owners won' use their printing plants for this Dul DUSC they could be taken over. . As it happens Labour Party policy calls for a national print corporation although you would hardly guess it from the of the Labour SUCCULIC MPs who are opposed to Murdoch's bid.
It is not too late to stop Murdoch digging in. The job agreements could be renounced and the printworkers and journalists could for the working class its own Street They would lack labour movement support.
the companies, their work has rarely (in some cases never been seen bi Arts Council representatives.
The ACGB is supposedly an independent body from the governBut a number of arts been wor ried about the Way which, over the last year, ACGB policy has come to reflect official Tory government policy. Fight But it's not so sur that the Arts Council has preferred to arrange cuts than organise fight on behalf of its clients. Since its inception, the council has been totally unrepresentative and undemocratic body. The arts practitioners and audiences it is supposed to serve have never had any right to in volvement or come back working party on the are 1976, called for the restructuring of the ACGB participation by the unions concerned and a greater degree of demo conterence of the same year was presented with similar proposals.
The arts companies just axed are many of those which have starting terests of working people and their communities.
Survive Arts Fightback ha been formed by some o the arts groups concern ed to fight the cuts, and to protect jobs and ser vices which arts workers provide for the com All com panies are determined to survive somehow and deserve maximun sup port the whol labour movement
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taken point the needs and int