Labour in Crisis

HARINGEY LABOUR

EGRIEFING

LABOUR

STOCK MARKET CRASH

The stock market crash finds the Labour Party in crisis. Kinnock and the Front Bench have been unable to respond to capitalism's latest crisis? Their fetreat in the face of the Tory ideological offensive - including Brian Gould's advocacy of small shareholding as an extension of democracy - has disarmed the Party and the labour movement at a critical moment. Recovery from the general election defeat is not yet in sight - and will not be until the Party makes a radical change in direction.

HARINGEY COUNCIL IN CRISIS

The fruits of Kinnock's approach can now be seen in Haringey, where the Labour Council is resolving its financial crisis at the expense of the workers and residents of the Borough. Thousands of jobs are being lost and vital services are crumbling. Resistance by the unions is being met with victimisation and union-bashing. Our equal opportunities policies are in Deceers’:

FACING REALITY

The Labour movement must face reality - the reality of the stock market crash, the reality of te renewed attack on jobs and services, the reality of the Tory legislative offensive against the inner cities, including their plans to destroy Council housing, comprehenasive education, and local democracy with the reactionary poll tax.

THE ONLY RESPONSE The Labour Party must become a focus for organising all resistance

IN CRISIS

HURRY OF YOu WANT bE PART OF IT 0

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to the Tories and the capitalist offensive that will follow the economic downturn. It must

encourage and support all existing

struggles and forge links between them.

new

SOCIALIST POLICIES

Only a coherent socialist programme can unify all those prepared to do something about Thatcher. This programme should be built on:

* Workers' control of the economy, including nationalisation of the banks and financial institutions. * A non-aligned, non-nuclear foreign policy, including withdrawal from NATO and Ireland, and full support for liberation movements in Central America and South Africa.

* BR radical democratisation of British society at all levels.

NO CUTS IN JOBS OR SERVICES!

Haringey Briefing has always argued that the only response to the Council's budget crisis was a refusal to cut this year's budget, and that only this stance could previde a base for a united struggle against

the coming Tory attacks on local government.

Only this strategy could have protected the progress made by Haringey Council - and its equal opportunities policy said that there was a will to fight, and that local Labour Parties and Councillors faced a stark choice:

in particular. We

either join with the workforce and community in a

fight against the government ment

- or join the governin attacking them.

After months of hiding behind the rhetoric of "Caring cuts" the right came out the Council meeting on September 22nd. package includes: freeze across the Council

into the open at

The cuts a vacancy

(including in the already crisis-ridden Housing and Social Services Depart-

an end to temporary in teaching posts, part-time youth service and adult education

ments),

contracts, cuts

increased charges

piper school dinners, a

posts, for meals-on-wheels, alarms, 4 a week rent rise, sure of a day centre, a sheltered workshop, an old three children's homes, and much

Many of the worst ef-

clo-

people's home,

more. fects of the cuts package are only now coming to

17 aht.

Though many Councillors and Party members have aban-

coned the fight, the work-

Haringey fights back!

force ang tne community are coming to realise the dangers they face and are prepared to struggle.

Meetings of Council committees and the Labour Group have been lobbied by a wide variety of workers and service-users, including delegations from Fairfax Day Centre and Selby Site who filled the Civic Centre with songs of

defiance.

On October 22nd, thousands marched on the Civic Centre when NALGO and NUT joined forces for a succesful Day of Action which closed schools and Council workplaces. Workers in Area 2 Social Services are now on indefinite strike in support of a worker who was disciplined by the Council for refusing to cover for a

vacant post.

Housing workers are protesting against petty restrictions on the use of telephones which make their jobs impossible. Facility time for union representatives is also being restricted by management. In education, officers are preparing to fine teachers

for refusing to cover.

NUPE leaders now recognise in the fight is neces-

that unity against the cuts sarf if there is to be an effective resistance to privatisation. Every day

militancy is on the increase. Some of those who

supported the initial cuts package are growing uneasy as the bankruptcy of their strategy - and its full consequences for workforce and community and the equal opportunities policy - become clear.

Haringey Fights Back! was launched as a broad-based organisation to coordinate ;

the fight against the cuts. Its first meeting was attended by over 200 people and enthusiasm has remained intense ever since. We will continue to oppose all cuts, and to carry on our campaign both inside and outside the | Mandy Mudd “

FIGHT THE ALTON BILL

The twentieth anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act, steered through Parliament by Liberal MP David Steel, sees another Liberal, David Alton, spearhead a new attack on women's right to choose.

In a tactically astute move, the Alton Bill seeks to reduce the time limit on abortions, rather than completely de-legalise them. Whilst an overwhelming majority favours some form of legalised abortion, support for a reduction in the pre- (24 weeks after conception) has grown as technology has increased

sent time limit

the survival chances of premature babies. Antiabortionists have not forgotten the mass protests against the 1979 Corrie Bill and are not confident enough to mount a frontal assault on abortion rights.

Among those who would be hit hardest by the Alton's proposed 18-week time limit, need time to raise money to

are Irish women, who

come to Brtian, young who either didn't realise they were pregnant

women,

or were too frightened to tell anyone, older women, who mistake pregnancy for

the menopause, women who

have undergone amnio centesis (carried out at 20 weeks) and discover severe foetal abnormality.

In relation to this last group the anti-abortionists have stolen the language of the left - our demand for equal rights for all, regardless of physical or mental disability. Social-

ists must reaffirm that it is a women's right to

choose whether or not to have children, free from control by state, church, or men.

We have to expose the hypocrisy of anti-abortionists who demand that women bring up severely disabled children whilst supporting cuts in social services and the NHS or who cry out for capital punishment.

A number of pro-abortion and women's rights groups have joined together to form Fight Alton's Bill (FAB), which is calling a major demonstration to coincide with the second reading of the Bill in January. Socialists should build the campaign in the trade unions and Labour Party and women's groups. We should set up a Haringey FAB group to leaflet in the streets, lobby Hugh Rossi, send speakers to meetings of all kinds, and ensure that every Labour MP campaigns and votes against the Bill.

NO RETURN TO BACKSTREET ABORTIONS!

Jane Connor, Hornsey and Wood Green LPYS.

SET UP HARINGEY FAB

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 42.20

BRABANT ROAD TU CENTRE EVERYONE OPPOSED TO THE ALTON BILL WELCOME.

IRELAND : THE CAUSE OF LABOUR

Ireland: Cause of Labour? is a conference for trade unionists on employment discrimination in the North

of Ireland. Twenty years after the civil rights movement, and ten years after fair employment legislation, the unemployment rate for Catholic men in the six counties is twice as high as for Protestant men. Catholic women are 50% more likely to be unemployed than Protestant women.

The conference aims to provide much-needed political background on employment discrimination in Northern Ireland for the British labour movement.

Though it is primarily a delegate trade union conference, the organisers - the Labour Committee on Ireland and Labour Women for Ireland - are encouraging Labour Party members to attend as observers. The workshops and speeches (Ken Livingstone and Clare Short are coming) will be open.

ne conference is a response to the MacBride Principles, a set of nine equal opportunity guidelines for Northern Ireland. They have already attracted support in the USA where a number

of state legislatures now insist that US companies operating in the Six Counties adhere to them.

The British labour movement has been almost silent on this issue. The conference is a major opportunity for trade unionists to rectify this historic failure and initiate some action.

Women must attend the conference in order to make sure it coesn't become an all-male arena in which the question of women's employment is not discussed. The double oppression of Irish women, overlooked by the MacBride Principles, must be recognised. The Principles must be amended to include positive action proposals for Catholic women.

Make sure your LP Branch, Women's Section, trade

union sends a delegate or observer. Ask for a report back at the next meeting.

Cecilia Tredgett, Tottenham Women's Section

IRELAND: CAUSE OF LABOUR?

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH CAMDEN CENTRE BIDBOROUGH STREET

HARINGEY LABOUR BRIEFING

MEETINGS: 8PM FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH BRABANT ROAD TRADE UNION CENTRE

Help us build a socialist Labour Party!

TO GET ON THE BRIEFING MAILING LIST CONTACT:

Mandy Mudd 801 6041

Mike Marqusee 341 9203

Dave Palmer 881 1254

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THE FARM'S LONG MARCHE

Saturday, October 3rd, the second anniversary of the death of Mrs Cynthia Jarrett and of the Broadwater Farm (BWF) uprising, saw 2500 people march thirteen miles from Tottenham to Hyde Park via Downing Street.

The march demands were for a public inquiry into the events surrounding the uprising, for the release of all the jailed youth, and for an end to state

racism and oppression. The march was organised by

the BWF Youth Association, the BWF Defence Campaign, and the BWF Residents Association to launch a new Movement for Civil Rights and Justice.

The march was led by relatives of the Tottenham Three, unjustly convicted

of the killing of PC “Blakelock, and local black

community groups, including the Willan Road Day~Gare

Centre and the Black Women's Centre. Also present were Positive Images and Haringey Black Action, Haringey Briefing supporters, and Haringey councillors prominent in the fight against the cuts. Although the route was

the march was lively, from QuadrophoIrish Republican of a strong

of Irish groups reflecting the serious commitment of the Troops

Qut Movement to the march.

long, with music nic and an band, part contingent

The almost complete absence

of trade unions banners, and limited Labour Party support (mainly from local and neighbouring Constituencies) reflected the failure of many trade union and constituency activists to take anti-racism work and the attack on democratic rights

seriously. The difficulty

of trying to launch a national initiative from a local base was illustrated by the North London

dominance of the march.

The march showed that BWF is still here and fighting. What next? The trials have now finished. Over forty youth remain in prison. appeals of the Tottenham Three may be heard early next year. The question now is: how to build a broadbased black-led movement

The

against racist state attacks and in defence of democratic rights? Is it possible to sustain a national organisation at present or will the impetus stay with local campaigns?

The Defence Campaign meets every Monday, 7:30, at

12-16 Tangmere, on the BWF Estate. Ring 885-3752 for

details.

Sarah Parker, Noel Park.

CHESTERFIELD

COMES TO

HARINGEY

s22

Lymington Avenue,

TUBE: BUS 243,

WOOD GREEN Ia3

HARINGEY | CONFERENCE

BRIEFING

AN OPEN MEETING FOR ALL SOCIALISTS TO REPORT BACK FROM CHESTERFIELD AND DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

BLACK WOMEN’S CENTRE LORDSHIP LANE, N17

SATURDAY 5th DEC.

7.30pm

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