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We invite readers to send us their letters, up to a usual maximum length of 400 words.

Send to Socialist Organiser, c/o 28, Middle Lane, London N8. WHILE welcoming the Socialist Organiser centrespread on YOPs, I think it is necessary to criticise Alinh lionine' comraae IVUICK article.

Firstly, you must recognise that two distinct and separate forms of perspective exist for combatting YOPs as they presently exist.

One is to argue for non-cooperation with YOPs youth of Brixton and Moss Side.

Our general strategy vis-a-vis Scarman seems misplaced to me. We missed an opportunity during the investigation to make effective propaganda because of our boycott of it.

Now we are losing the opportunity to give a lead both to the 'youth' of Brixton and to left sections of the official labour movement, by limiting ourselves simply to singing the praises of the former and ignoring the latter.

BOB FINE, Islington.

rg tip of the iceberg. Like it or not, racism is a common feature of British society.

Unfortunately, the majority of my Asian and West Indian friends regard the Tories and the Labour Party in the same light.

Neither Party seems to be taking on a firm stance against racism, not even against the National Front.

Before they are willing to give us their support, we must be prepared to give them positive action. The result of the Foot/Tariq Ali issue can only add salt to the wound.

NICK ALVAREZ, York. a toss whether this or that politician or intellectual agreed or disagreed with the Shah - the bloody lot were thrown in the dust bin once the people took to the streets. Today we are seeing the Labour Party being crushed between the SDP on the right and the SWP on the left. The Labour Party is bleeding to death and so doing is reaping its just reward for decades of treachery. Workers can be won to genuine socialism. Only last week. for example, over 40 Socialist Workers were • sold in Warrington Town Centre alone. Imagine what could be achieved if the Thomases, Harts and Mcllroys were to join us.

BARNEY DAVIES and CYNTHIA McPOWELL.

Warrington. and for withdrawal of union involvement in any cases where YOPs are employed or being run.

Secondly, you can recognise that YOPs can be transformed by organising these schemes into unions on union rates of pay.

Comrade Liggins advocates both, and creates a rather confused critique of the role of the unions. Either the unions should I MUST protest about the article "Typists go back to 'withdraw support threaten the whole existence of YOPs', or YOPS should be unionised.

From my experience of the TUC Jobs Express and the debates between these alternatives, I favour the unionisation. It is clear to me that both cannot be done.

Secondly, the comrade incredibly fails to mention the YOPs Trade Union wing.

Three days later the LibRights Campaign (YOPSTURC) initiated by the LPYS and backed nationally by the TGWU and NUPE. On November 2lst it organised a founding conference of 300 YOP trade unionists.

It campaigns for union rates of pay for YOPs; for the existing rights on YOPs to be put into practice; five weeks' holidays; and much more.

er Cresswell, the incumbent Branch Secretary and The YOPSTURC issues & monthly bulletin, 'Ge Organised'. It has wor widespread support, and two weeks ago it organiser a Glasgow-wide strike o hundreds of YOPpers fo union rights. It also recruit them to LPYS, and is pres ently the main campaign.

It has called a nationa activists' conference 3lst January in London and a national lobby o Parliament for February This is the major campaig of the LPYS, and I am sur prised comrade Mick di not at least mention it All Socialist Organiser sur porters should get involve in it it they want to seriou ly unionise YOPs.

Thirdly, the unions ar attacked for not unionisin YOPs. But rather than blanket critique, the wor of NUPE in the North-Ea: and TGWU in the Nortl West should be illustrated I would also like to kno what is minimal abou unionising YOPs for higl er wages, more holiday and a disciplinary proc dure. On what other bas are unions built?

NUPE puts them on par time status so they can pr lower dues, hardly 'insul ing' them.

EVERTON WILLIAMS, West Londo