Birmingham Labour Briefing no. 26

Birmingham Labour Group and

THE METSO MONCRIEFFE AFFAIR

On 7 October, at a full meeting of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Phil Murphy presented a petition, Signed by over 4,000 Birmingham Tesidents, the petition said: ‘We tne undersigned residents of Birmingnan call upon Sirmingnan City Council to de all in its powers to stop Metso Moncrieffe being deported from Gritain, We also call upon the Council to make Metso Moncrieffe a Freenan af the City,'

The petition was seconded and after voting the Lord Mayor declared the patition could mot be accepted because there were more votes against it being Teceived than for, if 13 almost unprecedented for a satition not to be received by Council - thay are quite distinct from resolutions,

After this declaration, — two supporters of Workers Against Racisre unfolded their banner and shouted ‘No deportation! Metso Moncrieffe must stay!' The police ware ordered to Tenaya them, Pandemonium had broken cut in the Council Chamber,

Meanwhile Phil Murphy challenged the Tuling asking if tf was against practice, crecadant and procedure for a resolution <9 be declared ‘lost’, The reply sa:t it was up to the Council, Council leader, Dick Knowles, then deplored tne desonstration and said the petition wiuld have been received out for the ceference to making Metso Noncrief‘e a Freeman of the tity,

C'llr Mick Rice then demanded a Ramed yote, This wag refused, Then C'lir Gurdev Manku rte-presented the petition under fis mane, This was ruled aut oof order, C'lir albert fore challenged this ruling at least six times because the Lord Mayor refused to allow the City Soliciter to make a TuLing,

Qick Knowles - opposed receiving petition,

Pandemoniua continues with Albert Bore siting down when tne Lord Mayor stood up and then rising again as soon as the Lord Mayor sat down, The impasse was broken when the cord Mayor called on C'lir Carless to present another petition. This he did,

Although there 1s a certain element

of farce in these events, some important lessons can be learned, Normally petitions are not won or lost, merely referred to the relevant committes for consideration, How then did it come about tnat a petition to nelp prevent the deprtation of a young slack man tailed to be recarved by 4 Labour conrtrolled «Council? Dick Knowles statement to the Counct] said if was because it raferred to taking Metso Moncriaffe a Freeman of the city, In this way C‘llr Knowles was maging it Quite ciaar that he was prepared to collude with ‘the Tories on Birmingham fity Council to defeat a patition hecause he did not like the request being nade, It is important to remember Nera that if was mot basing decided whether to confer Freeman ctatus simply whether or not to tecaiva the oetrtion, Knowles was saying $2 over 4, OU) Tasidants that he was not even orapared to ocontenplate such a raquast, Let alone grant 1%, He was also oreparad ta collude with the Torres in removing from a member of tne Labour Group a fundamental right - to present petitions on bemalf of residents,

There is, however, a broader lesson to be dragn, [t is evident that the controlling right wing of tne Labour group, iS) Quite «happy =o tos ake superficial claims about its commitment to racial equality, These ciaims seem

continued overleaf,,,

continued from page i,

to be made as a public relations exercise $0 mislead the Black electorate in their wards = inta

believing they are seriously committed to racial equality policies, Gut when this same right wing group are called on to demonstrate their commitment in practice they are found wanting, The superficviality of their claims become avigens. dick Knowles and those who cupoort hia seem te ba telling tne stack of Birmingham and the country as a wrole that they are quite happy to git around and see black people des Sorted barauge dDing something about 12 might cause tham ‘embarassment’ and forca Cham to change thers preconceived ang of what olack peopia should o° i nat fignt racise,

foncriatfa affair shows claariy why Qick Enowlas and tne right wing fave so stranuously resisted Birtinghas figteict Labour = Party policies an face Relations and Equal Qpportunities: are simply not

da te

wn

Tne Slack communities can draw only Melusion tram this and the Labour the past: knowles : the words of a Britisn war lagcar: "You fave sai here too long tar any good vou mignt have oeen

doing",

Black people are fighting a var against racisa, ¥e can only support those leaders who are prepared to join in that war, Those who are not part of the solution are part of the probies, Knovles is clearly not part of the solution,

Councillor Phil Murphy,

Postscript:

After writing this article, Phil Nurohy told ‘Brrefzag' that he had learned that Knowles and company nad decided that it was Phil Murphy and not Dick Knowles who had to go, [t appears they have decided to remove fim from vice-chair of the Race Relations and Equal Opportunities Committee at the next Council meeting, It seems they are also instructing officers of the Council not to allow him to operate as vira-ctalr of the committee, or indeed aS chair during tne absence of the chairperson. This is because only a full Counerl seating cam revoke an aoperntnant made py a full Council meeting, Phil 18 concerned about the legality of these instructions and also What it 13 that people are afraid he wight do while acting as chair person!

Youth and

Ireland Day School 8 November

Birminghaa University,

Speakers inckude Sinn Fein, NUR, Christine Crawley MEP, Black Sections, LW, LCE and many sore,

Get your students’ union, labour club

or other arganisation to sponsor the school, din Padmore, Erdington, 5904,

For more information, contact: c/o 64 Gickton Close,

Birmingham, ar tel; O2t 643

Next month......

Next month ‘Srrefiag’ will have full coverage of the visit by Sinn Fein counctilors that was taking plate a5 ve want to press, There will also De the usual up to date coverage of what's going on in the Birmingham oarty,

YARDLEY CONTINUES WITCH-HUNT

Seetictaply enouge the Labour 2 National Executive Committee with the Yardley

ty Im 1es Complains

heats maabershio of

Bsemingnan hrs Tha latter

ct Labour Farty.

Prom party meadquarters in Waiwortn Rnad is interesting for a number of reasons,

Firetiy, she letter wags sent to the Selly Gae oarty, af which Geo is a wemoar and tne fardley oarty, out mot ob _ fuaselt, the person at the ere of the disoute.

Secondly, ine NEC sees, from the ter fu

len to pe more than a littie an J5a0 about the whole business, None wis, oof course, will be any surprige to anyone who fas Deen on the vaceiving end of Yardley's attentions in the past,

The letter, [ike the previous decision on the refusal of the Yardley

party to accept five people, sone of

ey

whom wares transfers from = other tonstituencies, into membership, makes AQ nention of the word ‘expel’, Nor

ao3a5 it give any reason for its implied call for the suspension of the comrade, And of course netther Bob nor the Selly dak party had any chance to present their case to the NEC, Sounds familiar?

Meanwhile, tne Selly dak Party nas takan a firm and unequivocal stand on the whole business, The party has a long-standing oopasition to expulsions, was affiliated to ‘Labour Against the

Yitch-hunt' several years 3g0, and submitted 3 resolution on the Knan/Scally case to this year's national conference,

AL oa recent General Committee esting, Councillor Albert Bore

proposed a resolution advising the NEC politely, but firmly, that Selly Oak was deeply disturbed by this attack on one of its mambers, that it understood the original NEC decision as upmelding

the exclusions from Yardley, out {that Selly oak was a different constituency party and was keen to have Fob as 4 rember, he resolution was passed unanimously and Bob was similarly "éendorsed as one oof tne party's delegates to the District Party,

Meanwhile, the Yardley party, atiil gulking, have tried to take it out an their left delegates to the District Party by withdrawing their delegation, which, of course, includes the Gistrict Farty secretary, Margaret Wells, in addition, Yardley ware one of the four Birmingham parties not to submit a resolution to this year’s party conference, Again, they were naned at the last District Party meating as one of the four party's holding back funds that are assential to the work of the District,

Nice one, Yardley! Keap it up:

pe EEE el

BIRMINGHAM LCC - A FADING

INFLUENCE

A najor review of the growth of the Labour left in Birmingham is being compiled by the Birmingham Labour Coordinating Committee (LCC),

This review comes hot on the heels of a Similar LOC project nationally. Bireingham LCC feels it is necessary ta take stock of its position in the city, where ifs own influence has faltered and declined at a time when nationally the LOC is claiming to have seized the Initiative, and when, in Birainghan, the focus for the left has shifted to ‘Sriefing’ and the new Suanerfisid Group,

A five page first draft document sets out a commentary on the fortunes of the left since the formation of Sirminghan Labour Left (SLL) in 1981, Its political analysis apparently owes uch to Andraw Lydon, a member of Hall Green CLP and a ‘veteran’ of the old BLL,

The failure of the Birmingham LCC 15 attributed mainly to the difficulties it has found in presenting a united ang distinctive stance to the rest of the party, The docusent points to the lengthy debate that took place in 1985 aver the ‘rates crisis’. LCC sembers ended up not putting forward any

alternatives, in contrast the the firm stance coming froma the recently formed ‘Briefing’ group, Moreover, as the docuaent explains, "a long standing LCC aeber, Albert Bore, had been a principal assistant to Dick Knowles in presenting the leadership's case“, resulting in further fragmentation within the LCC.

True to the openly frank and honest fone throughout the documant, it adaits that ‘Sriefing’ supporters fave been the loudest single voce at Bistrict Party level, LCC members aid not act in unison in realising tne need to brea with the ‘Briefing’ bleck and pus forward alternatives “to prevent the LOC becoming a subsia:ary to Briefing.”

The review is scathing of the new Suamerfield Group, which it claims has “continued the closed aractice originating with the Birmingham Labour Latt., thus the organised left becomas a2 group that 1s more oarsonally cosy sather than coherently political", The Summerfield Group is olamed for the failure of Lynne Jones to 5e elected to the Labour Group Officers (Executive? position in 1926, and for exposing Therasa Stewart to a serious challenge for her position as chairoersor of tne

Social Services committes,

Although a welcome and necessary contribution to serious political debate in Birmingham, the LCC document skates over the fundamental strategic problems facing the ‘soft’ left, Albert Bore and Greg Campbell set the agenda for this sector of the left in 1983 with a strategy they called “drawing in the centre’, The most fundamental factar underlying the fading influence af Birmingham LOC, and its failure to present a coherent political alternative, lies in the realisation that this strategy has proved to be a complete flop, Tney have deen left isolated and marginalised by tne polarisation of the Birmingnas party around two clear and rival pathways - more of the same under Dick Knowles and cotipany, of as ew sordalist administration focussec oon sth Summerfield Groua/ ‘@riersng’ lett

Erpminghas LCC faces a choice ag to wnich side of the fence it 1g going to jump, Gr will at continue ta sit Oainfully above tne ress oof us, demeaning the fact that longer takes any notice of itt

morone any

Youth Against Apartheid

Qver the last twelve monins there hag been a massive increase in the struggle to overthrow apartheid in South Africa and Namibia, The white

South African regime has responded with batons, dullats, detentions = and surdars.

‘Youth Against Apartheid’ is open to all under 26 who wish to fight for Sanctions against apartheid and butld solidarity with the organisations struggling for freedom in South Africa and Namibia,

Youth Against Apartheid meet every Thursday at Birmingham's Other Bookshop 137 Digbeth, 7,30 pm.

Og

AFRICAN Q NATIONAL —\ CONGRESS . \

fO THE PEOPLE!

CAMPAIGN FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF AMIR KHAN AND KEVIN SCALLY

The struggle continues...

Despite losing by a narrow vote at Conference, Amir and continue to campaign for our teadmission to the Labour Party, Prior to Conference, we had been informed that the National Executive Committee (NEC} had decided to reopen the case, because of our legal challenge, Qur immediate task now will be to try to ansure that this does not result ina stitcb-up, lf Ken Cure is in charge, then it will be,

The vote at Conference was 3,4 million to 2.7 million, We managed to win the support of the vast majority of constituency delegates ag weil as that of the Transport and General Workers Union, NUPE and several

smaller unions, During our lobbying of:

trade unionists before the vote, it was clear that many had decided to oppose the resolution only on the grounds that the NEC was re-examining the case, Moreover, many delegations were swayed by the vary dread hint that Larry Whitty, Labour Party General Secretary, had given in his Speech on the debate, He indicated that cases like our would be dealt with very favourably by the NEC, Afterwards, Whitty told me that he had opposed our expulsion but conceded that the NEC sajority vould not be influenced by his views, i

During Conference, Doth Amir and: myself were struck by the extent of: the goodwill and support we received, from ordinary delegates, We vere invited to speak at numerous fringe neetings, including the /ridune rally, the Campaign Group of Labour HPs rally, the Campaign for Labour Party ferocracy tally and the Labour Coordinating Comaittee vaily, It was clear that support came from right across the political spectrum, and that even aany right wingers were uneasy at the

nyself will.

expulsions, On the:

Kevin Scally

conference fringe circuit, Sparkbrook constituency party gained a reputation that it will take @ tong time to live down, On the eve of the final day of Conference, at the celebrated fed Revue performed before an audience of 1500 delegates including Neil Kinnock

hinself, Sparkbrook CLP was the subject of one af the most caustic sketches,

Otherwise, this was a Conference vhen the leadership was in complete control and where trade unions, in particular, were unwilling to rock the boat, Our cause was a particularly sensitive one, concerning as it did the party's deputy leader, Many therefore chase the ‘safer’ option of leaving the NEC enquiry tean to deal with the matter, The left, however, should place little faith in this right wing dominated NEC coming up with a just solution, unless political pressure continues to be applied, For this reason our campaign will have to continue, Amir and myself are still taking speaking engagewents all over the country and this will continue ungil our readnission has been won, All constituency parties will soan de circulated with a further appeal for support, We shall be sending out node resolutions for submission to regional party conferences, Activists should be lobbying inside trade unions which did not support us at Conference, especially UCATT, TASS and ASTMS, We are still atheapting to get infarmation on how some other unions voted,

The tanpaign, neanvhile, continues to win support = in Birmingham, where nine out of the tvelve constituency parties are packing our feadnission, Bath the labour Co-ordinating Comaitiee and Labour Briefing, rapresenting the major organised left currents in the party, back the cappaign, With this level of support we believe we can win and so put a stop to other witch hunts of left wingers who aay be in a minority inside hard right dominated constituency parties like Sparkbrook,

Kevin Scally,

WOMEN FIGHT BACK!

Women in Sparkbrook fought back at a 150 strong public meeting in Digbeth Civic Hall on Friday 10 October, Hattersley may dominate the constituency, but he certainly does not control the Women's Section of the Sparkbrook Party who organised the westing,

Besides hearing speakers opposing strip searches, supporting the sacked Borderway's workers and from Women Against Pit Closures, the seeting alse heard Linda Bellos, leader of Lambeth Borough Council and the first black woman to hold such a position, launch a scathing attack on Hattersley, In particular she supported demands for the reinstatement of expelled party fiembers Kavin Scally and Amir Khan, She also noted how unusual and how pleasing it vas to be part of an all woman platform addressing a sixed meeting,

Tha final speaker was prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Diane Abbott, She, too, took the opportunity te réjoin har attack on Roy Hattersley and his racist attitude towards black people, But central to her speech was her faith in women and their ability, She remembered sitting amongst the Parliamentary Labour Party at National Conference and realising they were nothing to be afraid af, Anyone in the room could do better than aost of then,

The meeting came to an emotional and inspiring end as the women from Women Against Pit Closures sang their anthen to the women of the working class,

Send all articles and letters for ‘Birminghaa Labour Briefing’ ta: 49 Thornhill Read Birminghaa 821 98S ar telephone (021-) 55) 9174,

SUMMERFIELD GROUP SET FOR

LAUNCH

The final steps have been taken in launching the Birmingham Suenerfield (Group, a new broad left alliance of ‘Labour Party meabers,

_ Latters are being distributed to all party branches, constituencies, women's sections. and Young Socialist branches inviting party meabers to declare their

support for a wide-ranging docunent calling for radical socialist reforas “in the city,

The new Suaserfield Oeclaration calls for “a high socialist profile in Birmingham and,,,..an active party campaigning for radical socialist policias and raising political

consciousness amongst the electorate,’ fluong the policy priorities are:

:% an end to grammar school education in Birmingham:

¥ building 2000 council homes a year by 1988;

4 money to ba spent on regenerating manufacturing industry rather than on ‘prestige’ projects:

Xa proper Contracts Compliance unit with ‘Leeth' that will raise working Conditions and opportunities for Black workers:

¥ nore rights for council tenants: Saxpansion of the Women's Wnit and Race Relations Unit and establishment of a Lesbian and Gay Rights nit:

¥ implementation of the neglected Nuclear Free Zones policy: ¥ introduction of socialist planning

agreements, These, and the other policies on the

‘Srrefing’ wets sagularly on the second Nonday of each monte, Next nesting on Monday 12 Movember at 7.39 pm, none for details,

Deceaber's ‘Biraingham Labour Briefing’

will be out on 25 November, The deadline for articles, letters ete, is Sunday 16 Noverebr, When you send an article, please enclose any pictures or illustrations you think may be useful,

'Sunaerfield list, are drawn from lexisting District Party policy, It is imot yet clear how the Summerfield Group will think through the development of New policy,

Finally, a provisional date of Saturday 29 November has been set for the launch of the group which should Now complete the job of demolishing the right wing's domination of the Council,

Rab Pocock,

SUTTON

Far many years the Sutton Coldfield Constituency party has been known for its moderate views. Maybe now, at last, things are beginning to change, | After a long period of bitter debate in the constituency, branches of the party have finally bean formally created, This has resulted in a newly constituted constituency party.

At the September General Management Committea meeting a resolution was -passed calling for the re-instatement oaf Kavin Scally and Amir Khan as Labour [Party meanders, The resolution commanded the support of both the left and the ‘right in the party,

Tt was overwhelmingly felt tnat Khan cand Scally had broken no constitutional Tules of the Labour Party and had merely spoken out for democracy in the Sparkbrook party,

Stuart Moran - Sutton Coldfieid CLP,

SEXUAL HARASSMENT ~ COUNCIL MOVES TO SILENCE WOMEN

arters aay have read - "J “nail! about the sex Quiz’ dropped by the October's Education “is teferred to a adout sexual harassment 12 be sent to a saaple of women teachers in the city, It was part of a school management project set up by the Woren's Conmiftee with the support of the Education Committee,

The School Managenent Development and Women Teachers Project is a one year action reasearch project to identify the role and responsibzlity of Ranagenent in promoting equal, opportunities in teacher employment, [4 has many aspects and is curently working on career development, re-entry after maternity leave, late entry to teaching and so on, [t is, howaver, the work on sexual harassment, central to the project, which has come under fire,

The Project Director has ied a group of four teachers in the research on seyual harassment in schools, Current research led the group to believe that it 1s an aspect of employmant which affects the health, welfare and effactiveness of women in particular, Management response to incidents was mot always adequate, The group aimed to compile data which could be the basis of policy instiatives,

Thus work Dagan in January to review current rasearch and plan ways of collecting data, Ae interview schedule was devised oo and «Birmingham © women

“toa.

interviewed, Men Against Sexism in Education also agreed to interview een using the same schedule, Black woren teachers have been approached to make a similar contribution,

More quantitative needed hovaver, work, the group formulated a questionnaire, which it piloted, took advica on and revised, The plan was to take a large quaber of schools and sample all the voaen in those school, About one third of women teachers in the city would therefore be covered,

By 15 June, the questionnaire vas ready {9 be sent te schools, Teacher unions were asked for comments at their joint consultative meeting, At the follow-up meeting on It Septeaber all unions indicated their complete satisfaction, Then on 23 September, the unions were told the Education Committee had decided to withdraw the questionnaire, Some confusion surrounds this - members of the Education Committee go not remember discussing the issue until their Labour firoup meeting on 29 Septenber.

Clearly much behind the scenes work had gone on over the Summer, Indeed, one <o-optad member of the committee, Brian Stoton (whose naae crops up a lot lately in rumours of benind the scenes stitch-ups} 19 believed to have ianoueavrad to initiate an alternative projact to be conducted by an oubside agency, Meanwhile Stoton and committee vice-chair Chariton, posing as

research was

Building on recent NUT:

experts,seen to have dé: methodology of the ques ‘problematic’, Unfortunate.

it is entirely sound, a¢

confirmed by real experts :7 eonen's studies and accepted by the unions, who, fo their credit, have expressed a willingness to conduc! the questionnaire thenselves,

The whole affair illustrates how the wen who lead this city view women and wonen teachers in particular, They do not want women to be in control of a research process which may reveal compromising facts about male behaviour, Thay do not think ‘simple’ women teachers are = capable =f conducting such research, They do not know that the Project Director is a highly respected, qualified and axperienced teacher and researcher, They do not know that members of the group have studied research methodology, They do not know because they have never condescended to speak to the Project Ourector,

Most importantly, it demonstrates the limits to their commitment to equal opportunities Their attempts = ta silence women show just how little of their power they are prepared to

relinquish, What hope ois there, under the

present leadership of the Council of

implementing policies which = will produce real changes that benefit women?

BORDERWAY - ENTIRE WORKFORCE SACKED

has made a bid for

Council's “Worst award, On 19 August, Nameshang:, owner of Bordervay oc, Catherine Street, Aston, sacked fis antira workforca,

This vas the rasuit of twenty of the firm's workers deciding to join the metal sechanics craft section of TASS on 20 April, Despite the profitadilty of the metal pregsings company, wage sates are poor; the four aale setters earned £2.49 an four: the 16 women operators earned an incredibly tow £1.80 an four, with no standing-time pay in case of breakdown,

Me, 6 Nemesnangy firminghan Trades Emplavear of 1985'

The union's initial application for.

recognition and negotiating rights vas tajected by the company's nanagesent, Following this, the employees then

elected two shop stewards, Soon after, they were called into the manager's office, told the company was overstaffed and given twenty minutes notice,

A ballot of the TASS senbership followed, There was a unanimous vote for strike action, The company have now dismissed eighteen striking workers, two oof the original twenty having returned to work,

The management's company was overstaffed now seens strange in view of the fact that eighteen scabs have now been taken on,

However, still standing firm, A militant picket is turning avay all deliverias and wail but the company is sanaging to continue

claim that the

the striking workers are -

A mass picket is now planned for 12 Noveaber, Meanwhile, pickets take place at these times:

Saturday: 7,00am - 12,00noon: Monday ~ Thursday: 7,00am - 5, 00pm: Friday; 7,Q0am - 2,00pa,

The issue af stake is simple: the tight of workers to belong to and be involved in a trade union,

Support the pickets, Send donations to:

TASS Craft Metal Mechanics Section

70 Lionel Street, Birminghaa, 83 16 (TASS

John Robinson - Craft Metal

Mechanics)

eee

functioning,

MICHAEL MANLEY IN BIRMINGHAM

Michael Mantey, leader of the Jamaican Peopla's National Party (PNP) and former Prime Minister of Jamaica, was in Birminghae in Gctober, He was speaking at a meeting organised oy the People's National Party (UK? at Digbeth Civiv Hall on Tuesday 14 October,

In a lengthy and detailed speech, he outlined the lessons of the last PNP government as well as the struggles of Tacent years against the reactionary and pro-Anerican Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) government of Edward Seaga, Seaga himself, af course, has fecently announced fis resignation from the leadarship of the JLP,

Manley clearly expects to be “rine Minister again in the mot too distant

future following the PNP's rarent overwhelming victories in Jamaican local governmant elections, Taking

about 57% of the popular vote, they von control of [2 of the island's 13 parishes, Comrades fron the one parish which stayed in JLP control were the abject of auch light-hearted derision throughout the meeting,

Rebuilding the country, awever, Manley maintained, would be an arduous and difficult task, Working people, he seemed to imply, would fave to de willing to make sacrifices.

Also speaking at the seeting were Councillor Mick Rice, representing Birminghas Trades Council, In 2 wellreceived speach, he emphasised the vital task of taking up the anti-racist struggle in the trade union movement, Fine words and snetoric were net enough, fe said. Action was needed and action hac to be fought for

éut another spsarar vas none other

than Councillor Dick Knowles, leader of Birmingham City Council, It was Knowles who brought the house down with his ill-conceived assertion that no-one on the Labour Council was a racist, Few in the audience were prepared to swallow such statements, coming, as they did, so soon after the Council's refusal to accept a petition opposing the deportation of Metso Noncrieffe, Fortunately for Knowles, he was able to escape in the alddle of a standing gvation for Michael Manley without having to reply in public to several angry would-be questioners,

Knowles! already low-standing amongst large sections of the bdlacx alectorate of the city must have nosedived still further ag a rasuit of his contribution,

SOCIALIST TEACHERS’ ALLIANCE

STOP THE COVENTRY SELL-OUT

Tha teachers’ year-long Day and conditions fag now emitical point,

The unions and auvrorities, tna Laoour, fave 31g ‘tovantry Agreenant’. unisn, the §we ratraat rastoration of pastructurin com

org

NUT, far fifty resected it, Under or leamerstip 1s ‘aw agmit of the deal neag to The oreblem 1s thar Integral package, wits tradad off against big conessaioms teas the unions over conditia

Tha satend = largest NAS/UWT, having led the the Coventry talks has saw juapec off again, opportunisticaily, at the last uinute in order to pick up disgruntled NUT members by a posture of greater tilitancy., This includes a forthcoming salfeday oatrike, But ifs strategy sanains no different from that of ths —

3eDaLgn oF

1" from existing

relat

wore permanan. vic . “inbarim agreemesi tc covering far 3 aver if mo suoply Ras aroused wembers fun,

in Birmingham. a members in Central

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supoly are 93)

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Sa usdecming tha fgachers’ lates: trreat vas day trae tagchers refused te Agreanant sacrifice gf Labour's

for motions of raya gr da No ina subsequent National 29 cut ovasgure on Couned amc Byron to support the cangaran. fot $9 sabohaye tt

Rich Soclalist

Matcher - 0 Ladvweed CLE,

LABOUR LISTENS TO THE INNER CITIES?

Under the title ‘Labour Listens to the Inner City’, the Regional Party Office convened a consultative conference an Saturday 18 October. At a poorly publicised meeting forty or so members heard an address by Vivendra Sharma the party's national Ethnic Minorities Officer. Following a call from Alton Burnett, District Party Ethnic Minorities Liaison Committee convenor, and Jeff Rooker, MP for Perry Barr, the Regional Officer, Hileen Murfin, ended the conference with a promise that it would be reconvened. Below ‘Briefing’ prints the Black Sections response to the meeting:

Black Sections have already warned Slack people inside and outside the Labour Party of tha bantustan sham that is the Black and Asian Advisory Committee,

& Birmingham meeting with the Committee's officer and Black and white party members held in Eroadway School, Parry Sars on Saturday 18 October pent aver backwards to prove the point,

With the presence of two white male yPs, Jeff Rooker and Terry Qavis, it gave a disturbing picture of what the Labour Party leadership has in store for Dlack peaple.

it was clear that the party bosses wanted to give the pressing issue of racist a low profile, With the Committee remaining fron low-key te invisible, atlowing some black people a little get-together, the leadershio can fae} they are not odliged to do anytaing serious about tackling racism when they gain power,

Ix fact, pushing tnat view on the small number of black people wna athended the meeting vas ifS mato purpose,

Iv the first place. only aight days notice owas given oof oa teeting supposediy held fer ail Sirmingham

party members, With the bus strike to.

defend living standards of bus workers, the Labour Party could say 1t 19 doing its anti-racist bit while mot having anyone examing it,

So participants were instructed to discuss how ta gat more Dlack peoples into the party and invaive then af ail levels, All very necessary, but it failed to mention how the Labour Party eagerly jumped on the ‘keep the blacks out! bandwagon with = the 1965 Immigration Act,

It also failed to discuss how the:

city cauncil attempts = to strategies proposed by black people and then ignore them when they are party policy,

Instead, feff Rooker said we should look at the conditions of the inner

leadership frustrate

attively anti-racist

cities and now to get councillors together to talk about if, Others picked up that lead and talked about bad inner city conditions facing all living there,

White participants ended up suggesting that white party members were aot really racist and black people will not integrate and have an inferiority complex,

Black Sections say: yes, white people suffer from bad conditions but black people are worse hit because of ideas oof white superiority amongst working class people, Labour Party wembers and society af large,

Black Sections supporters at the aeeting felt if was sad that some black participants, starved of any Labour Party anti-racist action and fearful of

Be _e rrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeee

offending white people if they spoke of racism, fell for the sham,

fs a beginning to ending racism, we point to advisory councils set up in India and Africa fifty years ago by British imperialism and say; major political and social change was not achieved by advisory comeittees but by black people's own organisations,

Simon Hinds - Birmingham Black Section Prass Officer,

Lies

Birmingham Labour Party Black Section has bean formed to fight against racism both within and outside the Labour Party, for the greater involvanent of black people within the party, and for the implesentation of anti-racist policies by the party, Meetings are held on the first Sunday of each aonth, All black Labour party eeabers are velcone, ‘

Next meeting: Sunday 2 Novenber, 3,00 - $,00, Council House,

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