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"FAR from seeing everything as separate campaigns, we can build an organisation that links up the struggles"

Anna Lunts, a NUPE shop steward at Prestwich Hospital, Manchester, concluded the Socialist Organiser AGM last weekend by calling on SO supporters to turn out to the rail and health workers' struggles.

We should help on the picket lines, distribute the 'Health Workers for the Full Claim' bulletins, sell badges, and produce strike leaflets, she said.

"But I hope nobody is going to put up a tent on the picket lines and forget about the Labour Party. We have to link together the Labour Party and the industrial struggle - turn the Labour Parties outwards."

Referring to an earlier debate on SOA priorities, Anna told the AGM: 'The priority of priorities is the class struggle"

The AGM had been opened by contributions from Steve Good (Kings Cross ASLEF), Andrea Campbell (COHSE), and a London Transport worker, on the current struggles. On the Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there were several workshops, some of which we report on these pages. The major plenary discussions were on a general perspectives document - 'Organising the Left' ', published in SO 89 - a priorities resolution and the Labow Party witch-hunt.

Andrew Hornung successfully proposed an emergency resolution of solidarity with the Palestinians fighting back against Zionist slaughter in Lebanon. A resolution moved by Colleen Molloy committed the SOA to a programme of solidarity with the new non-racial unions in South Africa.

Bob Sutcliffe, reporting back from the Labour Campaign for Gay Rights workshop, put the question: why do so few non-gay comrades introduce resolutions in the labour movement on gay rights? Why do they feel inclined to start anything they say on the question; "I am not gay, but Rachel Lever introduced the discussion on the witchhunt. The sharp point of the . struggle, she said, would be in the local Labour Parties; in the end the CLPs will decide whether to defy the witchhunt or to purge 'unregistered' socialists.

CLPs must he committed to defiance. And it is also "really important to mount a campaign in the trade unions to say that this is not just a tidying-up, it is a witch-hunt"

Although the SOA is small, it can do irreplaceable work. In the struggles over the last few years, said Rachel, ''we have played a significant role in keeping the left on course. We must continue to do that."

The same theme was taken John O'Mahony's introduction on 'Organising the Left' 'Socialist Organiser must take the lead in the fightback against the witchhunt. If recent events have shown one thing, it is the uselessness of the soft left.

'There will be pressure to keep our heads down. There will be leftists saying, 'We're all right, we control our local Labour party, why do we need to organise a national campaign' Pete Keenlyside from Manchester moved reference back of the section in 'Organising the Left' on the fight to make the next Labour government a workers' i government, on the grounds that it did not distinguish clearly between a workers' government and an old-style left Labour government. ... John O'Mahony conceded that the section was indeed unclear, and the reference back was carried.

Debate The other major debate on 'Organising the Left' was on the document's statement that some Labour leftists in local government - notably former Lambeth council leader Ted Knight - had turned out as 'cynical traditional fakers' Jeff Slee from Lambeth proposed unsuccessfully that this description be removed: it was exaggerated and could isolate SO from many activists who support Ted Knight. On many issues other than rates and cuts, Ted Knight is with us.

John O'Mahony replied, "If people use Marxist phrases six days a week,

Martin Thomas

Socialist Organiser Alliance AGM

then bow the knee on the seventh day when it comes to a clash, then they are fakers. That they use Marxist. rhetoric makes it worse, not better.

'There will be pressure to think: why do we need the SOA when we have leftists like Ted Knight leading the London Labour Party. And we must resist it"

The conference was attended by SO supporters from all over the country, JOHN HARRIS as well as representatives of several campaigns invited to contribute workshops and bookstalls: the CLPD, Health Workers for the Full Claim, Labour Campaign for Gay Rights, Labour Committee on Ireland, Leyland Action Committee, London Labour Briefing. National Left Wing Youth Movement, National Unemployed Workers' Movement, Polish Solidarity Campaign, Solidarnosc Trade THE workshop agreed Union Working Group, that the main priority for and Turkish Solidarity the Mobilising Committee Campaign.

in the immediate future A new Secretariat was was to work round the elected: Jonathan Hammond (chair), John health and rail disputes.

Instead of just propaganBloxam (secretary), Jenny dising around what is still Fisher (treasurer), Martin perceived by the majority of Thomas (editor), Alan, workers as an abstract Clinton, Alasdair Jamison, issue, the Mobilising ComMick Jarmaine, Maura Jones, Rachel Lever, Steve mittee must: Mcarthur, John O'Mahony.

Rance of practical solidarity Final note to witchaction in support of the rail hunters: the AGM was and health workers. completely open to observers from trade union essential for the success branches and Labour Parties. Copies of AGM rail pay campaigns. Such documents can be obtained 'secondary' action is of from SO, 28 Middle Lane, course already unlawful London N8.

ment Act.

of Tebbit's Bill to the practical experience of workers Mustill supporting the health and workers. *Argue for the widest possible strike action on July 19, the start of the next TUC-co-ordinated NHS strike. Provide the political arguments which . link Tebbit's attack to struggles taking place now. *Start to build for a one-day strike in September *Emphasise the import- when the bill becomes law, as a step to all out action when the first injunction is taken out. *Expose the arguments of the TUC's publicity documentation which is based on a consensus view of industrial relations and not on a class analysis. under Prior's 1980 Employ- *Raise the demand for solidarity strikes on July *Relate the significance 19 to be also strikes against Although Thatcher has until now been turning a blind eye to mass secondary action and picketing, the government will come under strong pressure to implement the existing legislation.

Already the media. is bleating about the uselessness of laws which dare not be used. Even if the British Rail Board or Area Health Authorities are reluctant action pickainst against secondary suppliers may not be so SO supporters should be prepared for a rapid escalation of activity against Tebbit should such an injunction be issued during the rail strike in particular.