22 SEPTEMBER will see a historic event for British labour strike in support of the health workers.
Not a moment too soon. For three years the TUC leadership has run away from a fight with the Tories.
After all this, they are at last being forced off their backsides. But this is no testament ment to the Aberdeen workers, who held a one-day general strike on their own initiative;
to the miners, steel workers and Fleet Street electricians and countless others who have risked prosecution and the sack to defend our health services.
They have had to fight their pathetic leaders tooth and nail to secure this action.
Why? Why won't this leadership fight? Is it some innate streak of cowardice? No because of their politics. It is know that a strike movement like that of 1974 would sweep this government from office, propel a Labour government into office, and chanenge luto carry out its promises More than anything else, our trade union leaders fear victory.
traparliamentary fury which Thatcher's class would bring down on them.
And so their members on, the other hand gets ready to stab them in the back.
the Labour Party is a blow by cowards and traitors at the vitals of our moment: an attack on those in the Party and unions who do not fear victory.
The fight against the witch-hunt therefore MOLOTS women, youth, anti-war SOCIALIST CHALLENGE calls on all its supporters to give all-out backing to the 30 October conference against the witch-hunt. Letters of invitation will shortly be available from the steering committee, and a leaflet will be given out at the 11 September gathering. We urge readers to take the following steps Write to the organisers for copies of the letter of invitation, including the address of local organisations which you think can be won to back the 30 October conference.
• Ensure that the matter is brought up under correspondence at wards, General Councils, Labour Clubs.
• Contact local Labour left and trade union left groupings to ensure that the conference is publicised in mailings and in the left press.
• Take copies of the broadsheet against the witch-hunt produced by Alliance' for sale in the ment.
• Turn up early to the 11 September conference, if you have been delegated, to help distribute literature for ference. Socialist Challenge supporters will be meeting at 10.00pm at the entrance to the conference hall.
Follow Lambeth's lead in calling a rally to win support from the Labour movement as a whole. Link the fight against the witch-hunt with building a campaigning alliance betweem umols. vouth, ties: mobilise for the healthworkers, for the 16 October anti-Tebbit demonstration, for anti-missile activity such as the youth march from Manchester to the Labour Party conference.
If you would like to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or would like more information fill in the form below Name Address Age.
Union/CLP (if any)..
Send to: Socialist Challenge, PO 50. London N1 2XP.
Socialist Challenge 11 September 1982 page 2 a virtual one dav aeneral because they They fear the exwhile with one hand they wave The witch-hunt in trades unionists, activists, the Young Socialists Party Workplace branches and the 'Unregistered local labour movethe Hackney conand constituency parand the NEC
----- pull-quotes -----
JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM