SO AGM sets next targets

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to defend jobs and services. pioyed. * Freeze rent and rates.

workers' defence squads.

tability, etc. and affirm their stand publicly.

a matter of urgency.

and services should be blacked.

average for the trade. the bankers and bosses.

Official badge of the 'Save the Mole' campaign. 25p or £2 for ten, from N.Barstow 165 Liverpool Rd, London N1. HEALTH cuts, anti-union laws and Labour Party workplace branches were among the priorities for campaigning work decided at the Socialist Organiser Alliance AGM last Sunday, 30th.

The political resolution, passed unanimously, recognised that: 'We are in a bad period. The labour movement is depressed." But it focused on the possibilities for fighting to change that situation.

Tony Richardson from Cowley said that despite repeated sell-outs by the leadership there was an explosive situation in the working class. Big confrontations on the anti-union laws were possible. We must gear into these possibilities.

John Douglas from Barnsley supported the resolution's proposal that: "We should take steps to revive the Mobilising Comrittee for the Defence of Trade Union Rights - experi mentally at first." This would make us better able to intervene in industrial disputes, he said.

Nik Barstow from Islington spoke about the situation under the new Kinnock leadership in the Labour Party. Socialist Organiser had been relatively isolated at the Labour Party conference because of our stand Two pamphlets summing. up the ideas of Socialist Organiser.

Stand' - 20p plus 15p postage. 'How to fight the Tories' - 10p plus 15p postage.

Or the two together, 45р including postage. From Socialist Organiser, 28, Middle | Lane, London N8.

Glasgow. Contact: Stan Crooke, 34 Garturk St, Glasgow G42. SO is sold at West End bookshop, Rutherglen shopping arcade (Friday lunchtime), Coatbridge shopping arcade (Saturday lunchtime), and Maryhill dole (Tuesday morning).

Edinburgh. Contact Dave, 229 4591. SO is sold at Muirhouse (Saturday 10.3012) and at the First of May bookshop, Candlemaker Row.

NORTH-WEST Manchester. Contact Tony, 273 5691. SO is sold at Grass Roots, Books, Newton St, Piccadilly.

Stockport. Meetings every Sunday, 7.30pm: contact 40 Fox St, Edgley, Stockport. SO is sold at Stockport market, every Saturday, 11 to 12.30.

Wirral. Contact Lol Duffy, 3 St James Court, Victoria Rd, New Brighton. Merseyside.

Liverpool. Contact 733 5563. 50 = sold at Progress** S=i Berry St. and at 1*15=0:an chapel.

Stoke. Meets first and third Tuesdays of every month. Next meeting November 15, 8pm: 'Socialists and CND'. with showing of 'Carry Greenham Home' video. For venue and other details, phone Paul Barnett, 328198. Socialist ORGANISER agi Te we stand Labour 1 Socialist Join the socialist policies!

Hyndburn. Contact

ton 395753.

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH-EAST Huddersfield. Contact Alan Brooke, 59 Magdale, Honley, Huddersfield HD7 2LX.

Harrogate. Meets every other Sunday evening. Contact Mark Osborn, 522542. SO is sold outside the market, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday lunchtime.

York. Contact 414118 (98 Hull St). SO is sold at Coney St on Saturday morning, at the Community Bookshop, outside the dole office most mornings, and at the University on Friday mornings.

Sheffield. SO is sold outside Boots in Fargate (Saturday :2:0 1y and a: the Independent Bookshop. Glossop Ra.

Contact Rob, 589307.

Durham. SO is sold at the Community Co-op, New Elvet. Contact Andy, 64088.

Sunderland. Contact Durham. Martin Thomas reports on the Socialist Organiser Annual General Meeting against Kinnock. That stand was correct: but now it must be combined with initiatives to turn the Labour Party outwards.

The resolution also noted that the Labour left is differentiating. Many are falling in behind Kinnock; "but others are moving in the opposite direction ... greater numbers on the Left are open to serious discussion about internationalist, socialist alternatives to the nationalist, statist, bureaucratic politics of the 'Alternative Economic Strategy'"

The biggest controversy of the AGM came not over the political resolution but over a draft resolution on local government. The AGM agreed to refer it to the groups for further discussion.

Moving the resolution, argued that it is high time to draw a balance sheet of the 'local government left'. This left, lacking clear strategy, has failed at the crunch every time, and has become in effect a force for reconciling the labour movement with the limits of the existing system.

And the SOA needs to Halifax. is sold Books.

Bristol. Contact Middle Lane.

MIDLANDS candid look at itself, too. On the whole our council positions are not proving an asset to our political work. We have not managed to crystallise a clear opposition to the rightward slide of the 'local government left' Our councillors are not sufficiently integrated into the SOA.

The main speaker against this view was Islington councillor and Labour Chief Whip Alan Clinton. My document would, he said, take the SOA back to the sectarianism of yesteryear, always demanding confrontation with the Tories tomorrow if not today. Councils cannot at present confront the government head-on, and must instead use guerrilla tactics, fighting for the welfare of the working class as best they can.

Some other comrades opposed my document's recommendation of "caution" in standing more comrades for councils, while not necessarily disagreeing with its criticism of the local government left.

There was also a debate on Ireland. Ian McCondach from Halifax moved a resolution criticising SO's coverage on Ireland as "appeasement to Protestants". Patrick Murphy from Stockport replied that SO had not "appeased" the Protestants - the paper, uniquely on the left, has combined solidarity for the Republican struggle with serious discussion of the Protestant working class, rather than dismissing the Protestant workers as a marginal detail or an appendage of the British Army. The Halifax resolution was defeated.

Another resolution from Halifax called for improved communications within the SOA, and was carried. The AGM asked a future delegate meeting to discuss establishing a discussion bulletin for the SOA.

A new secretariat was elected, with councillor Susan Carlyle from Tower Hamlets replacing the late Jonathan Hammond as chairperson.

The AGM passed a resolution on Palestine, supporting the fight of the Palestine Liberation Organisation but also affirming 'the right of Israeli Jews to live in Israel/Palestine with social and political rights". There was • solidarity resolution on Grenada and reports on organisation, finances and the paper.

Other areas of work were discussed in a day school on the Saturday, 29th, which also included a debate on our attitude to the EEC.

Gay YS meets at the same place, again every four weeks. Next meeting November 20. Contact: Martin 263 9484.

Gay NUR just forming.

Launch meeting soon, open to all lesbian and gay railworkers. Contact c/o 119 Southwyck, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9.

Lesbians in the Labour Party: next national meeting Saturday November 26, 2pm in County Hall, London SE1. Creche available. Contact: Sarah Roelots, c/o Gays The Word bookshop, Marchmont St, London WCI CLASS FIGHTER conference, 26-27 November in South London. Two days of workshops, videos and discussion on perspectives for Class Fighter. For details write to 214 Sickert Court, London N1 or phone Jane on 263 9484.

Southwark/Lambeth. Next meeting, Tuesday 22 November. James Dunkerley on 'Central America after Grenada'. 7.30pm at Lansbury House, 41 Camberwell Grove, London SE5. (The meeting on union leadership with Alan Thornett has been postponed to December).

Socialist Organiser London educationals. 1. Fridays, 6pm, at the London School of Economics, East Building, first floor.room E196.

November 18: Cuba and Central America. To follow: State and Revolution; The Russian Revolution; The USSR and Stalinism; Ireland; Why is the Left divided? 2. Sundays, 8pm, in Southwark (phone 609 7459 for details).

November 13: Black nationalism. To follow: Rise and fall of the Benn movement; Castroism. 3. Half-day school in Hounslow, Sunday December 4, 12noon to 5pm, at Hanworth Labour Hall.

Polities of SO; The 'parliamentary road', The Alternative Economic Strategy: The working class and revolutionary politics.

Details: 898 6961. 4. Discussion series on imperialism, Thursdays 7pm at 214 Sickert Court, N1.

November 10: Multinationals and the EEC. To follow: The New International Division of Labour, Lenin on imperialism; The economics and politics of 3rd World development, Is the USSR For details of preparatory reading etc. contact 609 7459, 278 1341 or 354 1050.

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