THE brutal repression of the Polish miners following the imposition of martial law has angered many miners in this country. Poland has become a major issue in the union.
Yorkshire Miner correctly condemned the hypocrisy of Thatcher and Reagan over Poland. It pointed out that if British workers fought for some of Solidarosc's crucified in the press.
'Poland's Communist Parenormous responsibility for what has happened in their country.
But then it changes its tune attacking Solidarnosc as follows: long before Solidarosc began LIL ments which had about as much to do with as Maggie Thatcher.
It continues: There are neutral reports of Solidar nosc beino intested with some of the very worst neo-fascist, ultra-national and ant-semine elements. Not one shred aucence: s given to back this up. Protest The Yorkshire Miner anice claims to point ine finger at the guilty parties.
one*. The truth is that it is a cover-up for the bureauOFF Poland who brought the economy to its knees to defend their and privileges They have about as much to do with socialism as Thatcher and Reagan, Militante in the NuM should write letters to the Yorkshire Miner OTO testing about this dis Heard arce and pul ting the truth about Solidarosc. The Yorkshire Miner's view can only discredit the left in the eyes of the union member ship playing into the hands of the right wing By contrast the Scottish Miner BICOCHIS largely factual account of the Polish events though it fence. All the ends sitting the TIME TAPTE were forces on both sides deepening connict instead of smoothing it away.
Mick Mccaney dent of the Scottish NUM, has called for the release of the 18 miners* leaders interned following the stay down sinkes Piast, Wujek and Ziemovit Silesis Xmas. He has demanded the end of martial law, and offered to mediate bet the Polish miners WEET and their government.
Such offers are likely to fall on deaf ears. The bureaucracy doesn't want negotiations. It wants to smash Solidarnosc, ferably forever. It knows it can't co-exist for long with a mass independent work ing class movement.
Other areas of the to aid the Polish workers. The union in South Wales has demanded that delegation be allowed to visit Poland. Nottinghamshire has given £2,000 for Medal a10 well as backing a recent demonducton m te area. con necting this to the which have already been discussed in specific bined heat and power district heating scheme drawn up by the Parsons shop stewards commit tee). tries link together such alternative isolated natives coherent whole.
it places conversion in the context of an alterbut casts useful criticisms against LEIL and economic strategy. How is conversion to be made a working mality? Conversion.
dependent upon a socialist government requiring ac countability lor huge sums of public The national executive is also considering what action to take. Proposals include unions to seek a ban on imports of Polish coal. raising money for the families of miners killed imprisoned or blacklisted calling for release of union ana sending union to Banning Polish coal is no way forward if it means asking Thatcher to stop the imports.
The NUM should give the lead in organising a The hated Polish militia on the Warsaw streets money are spent. Cont planning ments. nationalisation, legislation on conversion, community participation and workers control likes Vickers can socially controlled. the pamphlet points out However, the discussion of likely 'mass institu tional opposition by the capitalist and state is totally inadequate and there is no conception of a strategy of massaction or a seizure of control this mass is Apparently this mass stitutional supposed to vanish into thin air with the election of an accountable socialist government I his evasion relates to discussed in the pamphlet. powertul about move ment campaign for aid to Solidarnos and for sup port to the Polish workers Vilitants can begin the fight for such a campaign by getting out the truth about Solidarnosc stands for. That's the best way to expose the hypo crisy of the right wing A start can be made by submitting appeals to Area Councils, calling on them to invite representatives of the Solidarnosc trade union working group speak meetings, to tour the pits and welfares Conversion is not placed in international context or related to me presen crisis of the British economy labour ESCHESTR strategy tor conversion cannot be effective unless is accompanied by WElL as economic strategy.
Despite such criticisms (which need to be given flesh in political mass action) the pamphlet is a major step forward for the CND in its political think movement 176.
*Jobs for a Change: AlterDays of Hope workshop. 115 Westgate:
up per copy Reductions for