ministers of the black African states.
In Portugal itself, workers are shaking off the fetters of 40 years of fasciat rule and displaying tremenous creativity and fighting vigour.
Relations have been established etween the varions trade union lies, and a common programme of mands drawn up.
These include the restoration of I individual freedoms: the confir tion of trade union rights, incluthe right to strike (a matter the has been very vague about), a press, reflecting the views of who produce it rather than who own it, a forty hour, five week; immediate action against ation; immediate wage increases, the establishment of a minimum the reinstatement of all victi1 workers: and the administraa of all social security exclusively the workers" organisations.
In the STEEL INDUSTRY (which Lowned by the Champalimaud onopoly, one of Spinola's main backers) workers are putting forward • list of demands that include mediate honouring of all collective agreements, an end to all managebent-run tests for promotion (often sed in the past to eliminate troubleakers), the dismissal of two memof management closely connec land the immediate reinstatement all workers dismissed for trade nion or political activities.
The workers are alsn demanding bat the company's wages bill should he paid to the workers in a single mp sum-the precise amount subet to negotiation -and the workers muld then collectively determine fividual payments. Plans for paying in equal wage to all workers have apparently been agreed upon.
The management's refusal to grant these demands (using the excuse that the bois, Champalimaud, was in Saril brought the threat of an mediate strike. The workers solved to occupy their plants moand the clock, and special immittees were set up to cusure total effectiveness of the stoppage and to supervise maintenance work Red Weekly: 16 May 1974 Page g AS GENERAL SPINOLA puts the final touches on Portugal's new provisional Government, the struggle of the liberation movements in the African colonies and of workers at home continues to mount.
So far all the liberation movements have reaffirmed their determination to continue the fight until total independence is won. This stand has received backing from a meeting of the foreign on machinery subiect to damage.
Only the intervention of the Communist Party procured a postponement of the strike, and negotiations are now being carried on with the management.
A national assembly of RAILWAYMEN drew 5,000 workers to Lishon last Saturday. The meeting elected twelve representatives to the railway company's board of directors although it had received no invitation to do so. The workers resolved that the 'basic lines of company policy" should be laid down by their representatives.
Despite the decision of the junta to urant an amnesty, the continuation of the colonial wars has made most Portuguese deserters and draft dodgers think twice about returning.
A demonstration of more than 300 deserters against the colonial wars took place in Paris recently.
Among the ideas being discussed by deserters organisations is the drafting of a collective statement refusing to serve in the colonial wars which all returning deserters would sign, and the organisation of deserters to report to their barracks in a group in order to present this statement.
Spinola, even when he dons his new hat as Portugal's President, will face big problems trying to satisty his capitalist backers. A direct conrelied upon to play an increasingly important role as the struggle for a socialist Portugel develops.
Red Weekly The Portuguese Trotskyists of the LCI (seen in demonstration above) are still small in number. But they can be Kaders. all it key demands, brunodiately thic
----- pull-quotes -----
Support Red Weekly - SUBSCRIBE! Rates: £4 per year, f2 for 6 months Foreign t6 per year, £9 airmail Special offer! 12 issues for 50p Name Please send cash with order to: