pions of free, democratic Poland, they are strangely silent not so strangely lynchpin of imperialism in the region.
What is happening to active trade union leaders in the apartheid republic has been brought forcefully into public view by the death in detention of Dr Neil Aggett. Neil is only of licially trade unionists and political activists who have died at ine nanas or lne South African police.
which asu Cast aroused world-wide hor. was the murder of Steve Biko, the Black LOnsciousness leader. Dr Aggell s case Is excepola. only in that he was the first wale person to meet this i ate.
He was because his activities organising black the Rand as Secretary ot the food and Canning Workers Union.
Under South Africa's draconian laws, the police can detain any person almost indefinitely without trial, without aclegal advice Africa idH far as the great majority of its population is concerned the black working class they live perpetually under emergency law in a police stale.
South Africa's white ruling class have shown increasing nervousness at the growth of trade unionism WHILE the 'Western' politicians led by Reagan and Thatcher are masquerading as the chamtrade unions in - or perhaps about the fate of trade unionists in the Republic of South Africa, the among black workers, and the militancy of the strikes over the last two years. There were at least 170 19ik, by of them illegal.
of them illegal.
Of the strikes organised by the Federation South African Trade Unions (FOSATU), 53 were won.
The government has trea to control tne trade union movement by reouring unions to register the so-called Industrial Conciliation Act which the unions see as a device to hamper their growth.
They want instead factory-level agreements on shop stewards and wage-bargaining rights. repression of unionists is escalating. Through militant action, more than such have been agreements forced on employers.
A meeung or twelve of thions held oma targe Langa, Cape Town in August last year passed the following resolution:- accept that trade unions are public bodies and accOrdingly we do not object to providing nor lalion respect to our constitution finances and representivity. However, subject ourselves to control by other than our allyouuy own members. therefore reject and resist the present system registration insofar as it is aesignea to control and in terfere in the internal aftairs of the union... , Il 15 internationally recognised right of workers to withhold their labour. Moreover. under present conditions and legislation, strikes happen freArmoured cars on patrclin Soweto. South African quently because of low wages, inadequate bargaining procedures that workers have no alterside the law. It is in any event the duty and function of the unions to stand members.... prohibition financia support for workers will be obeyed. unions agree to support each other in the event of any union resisting ticipation on the Industrial Council.
It is because of the militancy and solidarity shown by the unions as typified by the Langa resolution that the aparuncle authoritie. nave resorted increased LU repressive lucasule. against black trade unionists and whites like Dr Aggeti who support them. The Langa meeting took a decision to continue resisting banning detention any possible' and warned that continuation of this practice 'could onlv worsen the already deteriorating dustrial LOll The unions also agreed to give every help in the so called homelands, The permanent emergency prevailing en Republic The taken over by the new 'rul- lici Ilig Class They were particularly par- concerned with the situation prevailing in the latest these independent statelets - the Ciskei and agreed send Minister Sebe to express their 'extreme displeasure at his anti-union stance' As a protest over tne death of Neil Aggett there were nationwide last Thursday. At three of South Africa's ports Cape Elizabeth and East Lonand don work came to anal way for 30 minutes as black steveaores aownica louis In other parts of the Western Cape, there was a massive response to the call for action. Students University Witwatersrand staged a lunchtime protest meeting, was addressed by the pri cipal Professor DJ Picass. Will said: civilised nation should not allow this sort of outrage to happen' There is no record ot any protest from Ronald Reagan, Margaret chers, the Pope, other of proclaimed evangels free trade unionism.
Grenadian premier Maurice Bishop the Concistures government's 1981 saw the development the island's organisations, ticular the National Youth Organisation and the National Women's isanon, and ine extension of the system of 'peoples democracy' which allows the participation mass of Grenadians the of Louill y the democratic institutions will be instrumental par- solving the economic problems.
gets situaAS THE deteriorates, of Salvador. try.
Chief There The United States this situation strikes biggest Haig, US a0 castern destroying munication the conducting government trucks which country.
will happen whatsoever, tions Thatgroups banned or any self OT plained the relationship undermining joke.
vising the elections were wing parties strategy. wing death mass parinto a very Organ- Salvador.
Tine the standing their These the fake decisive stage.
military situation the United States getting increasingly worried about the possibility of a victory of the left wing guerrillas in El Following the destruction on 27 January of a large part of the Salvadorean air force in a guerilla attack on the llopango air base near San Salvador, the FMLN guerrillas have launched military atacks all over the counevery sign that the military effort of the Salvadorean army and National Guard is collapsing.
in a response to is doubling. military aid, and a debate about whether to send troops is going on Alexander Secretary of State, already made it clear that the US will 'whatever is necessary' to prevent a left wing victory.
The attacks have been aimed at transport and comlinks major roads have been cut by guerrilla groups patrols. destroying Cand generally disrupting the economic life of the The United States is also becom ing increasingly worried about what the much-vaunted elections scheduled for 28 March These elections have no credibility held in civil war condithe main opposition The State Department has now come forward with the bizarre suggestion that the left wing be allowed to stand in the elections from 'out would guarantee equal time on Ti saying and radio for 'the left'. It has not explaither this would include the DR and FMLN, nor what exactly it is in between government and the El Salvador government which gives the United States control over such things A target of the United States statement on the elections was the Socialist International. According to the US, the Socialist International is the efforts to gei 'peace' in El Salvador by opposing the elections as a fraud But in fact, the US's offer to ensure 'fair' elections is a fraud and a Everyone that the Salvadorean army, which is superwould never allow an FDR/FMLN victory even if they were allowed to stand, even if free of intimidation and organised in the countryside as well as the cities, even if the left were freely campaign without their militants being made sitting targets for the right squads But none ofthese conditions will be fulfilled.
It is increasingly clear that the Reagan administration has got itself nasty cleft stick in El To intervene militarily wil bring about a political storm both in United States and worldwide.
Not to intervene could well mean back while the revolu tionary guerrillas are victorious AS approach, the struggle in El Salvador is reaching a
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farce as US desperate