Turn anti-apartheid struggle towaras direct links!

Scan page 5

strikes are the first indicaFIVE years ago, the bosses' apartheid state tried to drown the awakening movement of black workers and youth in blood. But the hundreds, possibly thousands of murders by the state, did nothing to destroy the underlying militancy and determination of the working class.

There have been lulls in the struggle, and specific setbacks and defeats. But none of this has been able to reverse the forward drive of the working class.

Today, black workers stand more militant, better organised, more mobilised and confident in their own strength than ever before.

Strikes have spread from one part of the country to the next, from one group of workers to another.

Workers in the motor industry, textiles, mines, transport, media, power, food and canning, paper, chemicals, engineering and metals, construction - all of these and others have taken strike action, despite the fact that every strike has been illegal and accompanied by non-stop police brutality, victimisation by bosses, and bans on almost every mass meeting.

Strike after strike has forced wage increases from the bosses, who rely on massive repression and unemployment to keep wages at terrible poverty levels.

Again and again, the government's plan to use the Wiehahn laws to strangle the unions has been forced back.

The bosses and their government have been forced by the growing strength of the workers' organisations to recognise the living reality of those organisations -whether or not they give formal recognition.

Through collective action, workers have forced concesions even on the issue of the Pass Laws, which are absolutely essential to state control.

Widespread action in the schools, and united action by students and workers, have forced changes, concessions and backdowns in the government's education system. The threat and reality of mass action has forced government, bosses and their stooges to hold back bus fare and rent increases in many areas.

Guardian

This growing class movement has at every stage thrown the ruling class and its apartheid regime into deeper division and political crisis. And now the vealing the edent of te in Britain. The internati al capitalist class and imperialist governme connive with their ally South . Africa against needs and demands workers. But exactly same international links the basis for effective : powerful working action.

Despite imperialist e larations for a halt to a supplies to S.Afriça, a continue to flow in. I only working class actio black supplies of arms related materials that stop the flow Only through the sti gle to open the books he struggle agains secret diplomacy: can realities of imperialist i nivance with their SA ing class, be uncovered by teete arms blacking be i lemented In addition, the stru for solidarity demands fight to open the book investigate the links every company with si Africa - and thereby t the basis for immed supportive class struggle against suffering whenever struggles de in South Africa - while op at linked companie attacking working people in S.Africa. struggle against suffering This requires the br in their own countries. ing of direct workplac No-one who exploits and workplace links, so that oppresses workers any- demands and needs of where can ever be the real workers can be conveye ally of workers in S.Africa their class brothers - whose real struggle is to sisters. AAM leadert destroy oppression and exploitation, not to reorganise ortA th and SAcT it. It is only from the inter. ers, has recently reject national workers' move- motion sali direct hel ment, and from working class action, that real sup- this, they have the sur port can come to materially of the British trade u strengthen the black work- bureaucrats, who see ers in struggle, and to eff- independent working i ectively hit the apartheid mobilisation as a chall state and the capitalist to their control. class behind it. Too often have regr There is a deep hatred of for solidarity action apartheid in the internat- workers in S.Africa: ional workers' movement. swallowed up in bu Symbolic acts of solidarity cratic manoeuvres -- demonstrations, march- shop stewards and wol es, protest meetings and being informed by i on the shoptioor not pıckets - can all act to boost the morale of SA officials. This has rec happened in both workers. Yet much more than Leyland strike and symbolic acts is possible. strike at Wilson-Row: And much more is necess- (subsidiary of Rown ary. Supportive blacking Mackintosh). action and strikes are weap- Reformist and Sta ons which the working class bureaucrats fear thi internationally can and workers are mobilise take blacking and : must use. The SA ruling class is action in support of completely entwined in» workers, then they international finance capit- soon be taking the al. There is hardly a major action in support of wo capitalist monopoly which at home.

does not invest, directly or to build international . We must use these indirectly, in S.Atrica. arity action and de Again and again, there are strikes in SA subsidiar- united struggle to er ies of companies operating poverty and oppressio THE REVOLUTION LEON TROTSKY 30p from Socialist Organiser, 28 Middle Lane, London N8

----- pull-quotes -----

TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM FOR