750 people, including delegations from emport and Bristol, marched through Cardiff City centre in a protest against the Immigration Bill. The march was organised by the Welsh against the 1971 Immigration Bill, a и Dу 100 Black Allance, a militant black defence group based on the Cardiff docks area. The Alliance was formed a year ago in response to discrimination and police harassment of the black comCity, It is probably unique a ion of leader nity in Cardiff. This is asons why Cardiff is the iss demonstration against going on for three months. About five weeks ago Management agreed to open negotiations with the union (AUEW). This was an important breakthrough as previously Brannan had pretended to ignore the strikers; he had informed local Social Security offices that the strikers were sacked and had union. The strike is not yet over. The strikers are insisting on a 100% return to work and a guarantee pay differentials- the original cause of the strike-will be opened immediately after a return to work.
As there were no pre-arranged slogans it was interesting to note those that were taken up by the march-"hands off black people" and siogans against racism, fascism and the Bill itself; "black and white unite and fight" although initiated was not taken up.
The march ended with a rally outside the City Hall addressed, in the absence of councillors and M.Pa who were "too busy" to speak, by two members of the Black Alliance. The speeches stressed the necessity of continuing and extending the struggle against the Bill, and in particular, of organising the labour movement to commit Trade Unions to taking dustrial action and to stop just passing resoluTalking to Mole reporters after the rally, a spokesman for the Alliance explained that alWORKERS PICKETING OUTSIDE BRANNAN'S IN CLEATON MOOR, LANCASHIRE The strike of women workers at Brannan's Thermometer at Cleaton Moor in Lancashire has now been managed to keep the factory ticking over on the basis of scab labour. However, the militancy and consistency of the picketing, the effective blacking of goods and some success in building up public support against Brannan locally, have together forced the management into negotiations and into recognising the that negotiations on the arbitrary upgrading of some employers to staff positions as a means of creating though their trade union membership was a small unorganised minority, they hoped to pressure T.U. leaderships into fully representing the interests of black workers and into taking action against the Bill similar to that against the I.R.B.-strikes, etc. The Alliance saw the Immig ration Bill as one measure of the comprehensive Tory policy against the working class, tying in with the Industrial Relations Act, the Common Market etc. Asked about the slogan "Black and white unite and fight" he said it was obviously an over simplification -the basic need was to organise black people in their own militant organisations which could then participate in the generalised working class struggle. The Alliance will continue to fight.
Cyflawnder ir dyn du!
South Wales Moles IN THE NEXT ISSUE (1) A detailed analysis of the Engineering industry by Dave Bailey.
(2) The aftermath of war in the sub-continent by Tariq Ali.
(3) The new rise in militancy in Spam by Judith White.
The next issue will appear after the New Year.
COMING OUT SOON:
A 30,000 word pamphlet on Ireland by Bob Purdie, which analyses the roots of the present crisis and provides a Marxist account of present-day Republicanism.
IMG Publications.
students' liason committee moves into action Policy Statement Agreed at First National Conference December 4th.
The moves to attack and destroy the Local and National Student Unions is not taking place in a vacuum, it can only be understood as a part of a general attack on these sections of society which stand in opposition to the interests of the ruling class in particular the Trade Union Movement. Therefore, this attack is a political attack and as such is one which must be tought by consistent political action.
Seen in this context-accepted at the National Union of Students Conference at Margate-the policy adapted by the N.U.S. is not sufficient to defeat the governments plans.
The L.C.D.S.U. was initially formed at the N.U.S. Conference by a group of delegates dissatisfied with conference policy. It is a rank and file organisation of students. It seeks affiliation from Students Unions, Area Committees, Socialist Societies, and any other interested bodies in order to promote militant action to defeat the government attempts to destroy independent student politics and organisation, and all other autonomous democratic organisations, it will fight for the following:1. Total Political Independence The government attack on Student Unions can only be understood as an attack on the potential of student unions to organise politically in opposition to the technocratic reorientation of higher education and in support of working class and anti-imperialist struggles. The present structure of Students Unions and the NUS were set up and financed as far as the State was concerned to face a different reality than this. The ruling class feels therefore a need to redress the situation whereby SU's can be utilised in pursuit of the aims of radical politics. Its main concern is not to smash the so called 'representative function of NUS and local SU's nor to obliterate their social and welfare function -although a certain attack can be anticipated here-but to pave the way to wider attacks on the student body as a whole 2. Rejection of Financial Accountability The major weapon in the attempt at political emasculation is the threat of financial saction.
Any concession in this area allows precisely that tion, for which the Liaison Committee will seek to mobilise concrete solidarity actions in other institutions. 6. Militant Action Our strategic aim is the preservation and extension of the political independence of students, hence student union autonomy. WE HAVE NO ECONOMIC POWER as such, only the ability to take political actions. It is precisely the prevention of this militancy which is tha aim of the government both in the present and in subsequent proposals. It has to be shown that the outcome will in fact be completely the reverse. Rather than guaranteeing a quiet life, it should be the signal for an upsurge in student militancy. Any tactic which is based on low level activity like petitions, lobbies of parliament, representation to the Committee of Vice Chancellors, etc. is not only certain to fail but will be conter-productive; it will be demoralising and will produce precisely that quiescence which is necessary in order to bring in the governments" changes. The tactics recommended must be the most militant right from the start. Strikes, demonstrations, nationally co-ordinated occupations are the only kind of actions which have any chance of being successful. After all it is because students have taken such actions in the past to show that they mean business that the government is now launching the counter-offensive. Only in this way will we mobilise students and then draw in wider layers.
7. Students-Workers Solidarity The call to involve the labour movement is very healthy for it rejects the idea of 'student power' and recognises that student struggles only have any meaning in the wider context of the class struggle. But we must be clear what we mean by this. We emphatically do not mean meetings between NUS bureaucrats and TUC bureaucrats, nor empty calls for trade union support. Unless the question is approached extremely concretely it will go no further than wishful thinking. What is first of all necessary is a political campaign which explains that the proposals are not mainly about finance but are in essence an attempt to and politics. earlier). smash the political organisation of students in support of the class struggle. In conjunction with this we must also attempt to involve in our actions those sections of the trade union movement which can be most closely involved in the struggle: the staff associations (AUT, ATTI,NUT, etc.) and those workers whose servicing function is of vital importance in the running of these institutions. The experiences of North Western Poly and Norwich (involvement of staff, however half-hearted) and Reading (UPW blacking of administration mail) show that the development of such concrete links is both necessary and possible in advancing student struggles. We must furthermore, approach local trades councils, union branches and shop stewards to gain concrete support and participation in our actions It is only on the above basis that there is any chance of success although, of course, this cannot be guaranteed in advance. But precisely because the NUS failed to adapt such a program it is necessary for the Liaison Committee to coordinate militant action during the period leading to the possible implementation of the government's plans and to solidarise and organise concrete support for those colleges in the vanguard of the fight against the government plans.
The Dec 4 Conference reiterated its decision taken at Margate initial meeting which called for militant strikes on Dec.8, with occupations where possible. The LCDSU will initiate and co-ordinate in connection with local struggles, militant actions throughout the country both before and after Jan. 23. The Conference elected a 12 person Steering Council to organise publicity, speakers, etc. to be re-elected at the next conference (Jan. 15 or For speakers, full conference report, information, contact LCDSU, c/o North London Poly, Holloway Road, London, N. 7. Phone 01-607-6767.
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5. BRANNAN&SONS LT° STORES MERCURY I POISON KILLS