Policies Problems - and / unemployed

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employed. should be scrapped, and need for the MSC schemes We should also organise all the job programmes except as a means of not the unemployed to support incorporated into the rele- paying a decent wage for the NHS workers in the vant expanded public serv- what should be work done defence of living stand- ice departments, where the by expanded public service ards, by swelling the pick- unions are well organised. departments. A proet lines. In this way the un- Only such a policy can gramme of public works employed can be increas- abolish the undermining of must be centred on the ingly transformed into the the unionised public serv- existing public services, ally of the labour move- ices by the non-unionised not used as a means of ment, instead of a reserve MSC programmes doing dismantling them. WHAT IS the socialist alternative to all the government's cheap labour schemes? How can we gain the right to a real job for everyone, with real wages?

In each area, unemployed and employed workers can begin this task by holding workers' inquiries into the public services and facilities needed by working people; and by drawing up alternative workers' plans for reopening closed factories and for expansion of direct labour departments, hospitals, schools, social services, etc.

Along with this should go the demand to open the books of the local authorities and the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) to reveal the colossal profiteering by private firms, both as suppliers of public services (drug companies in the NHS, educational suppliers and publ ishers, banks and insurance companies) and as 'sponsors' for MSC programmes and exploiters of cheap non-union labour.

Such investigation of owned services sector.

How will this be financed? The very question shows the irrationality of capitalism - a system where new wealth cannot be produced because of lack of wealth.

The banks and financial institutions should be nationalised, and inyestment and credit brought within a rational economic plan -which, however, is possible only it we have a real workers' government.

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Unemployed workers must be drawn into the struggle against current Tory attempts to privatise the existing public services, and thus create th : unity in action of unemployed and army of scab labour.

The MSC schemes the same work. YOUTH forced to close after an attack by a group of skinheads. The disco, which had regular attendances of 300 lesbians and gay men, was one of the few non-commercial gay discos in London.

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right wing "consolidated do not settle everything! pool Labour Party con- shows the right wing trade ference. union leaders that they face At the first meeting of a threat of revolt in their the new National Execut- rear. There is no mandate ive Committee, they swept from the trade union rank left-wingers off the key and file for a witch-bunt.

anisation Sub-committee to energetic, concerted organd the Youth Sub-commit- anising in the unions, we tee, in particular, now have can cut the ground from solid right-wing majorities. under Basnett, Duffy, and Compromise proposals Grantham.

Mortimer were swept our Parties are almost aside. Michael Foot ab- unanimous against a witchstained on each vote as the hunt. Bob Mellish's resignChapple and Basnett have got the bit between their teeth. But they haven't won yet! LAST Wednesday, 27th, the Lahour and trade uninn their victory at the Blacksub-committees. The Orgfrom general secretary Jim right wing pressed ahead.

But the votes at the NFC Sid Weighell's • fate If the Labour Left turns The Constituency Labation will put the NEC to the test on CLPs' right to choose their own Labour candidate. Bermondsey CLP executive, and CLPs elsewhere, are determined to defend Peter Tatchell as Labour's chosen candidate.

Delegates from 101 CLPs last Saturday voted to refuse to expel socialists under the register' , and to stand firm even if the NEC threatens to disband them.

If Militant falls victim, other left-wingers will follow. If left-wing activists are axed, left-wing policies will be chopped too.

The fight to create a real working class political alternative to the Tories - to BOB Mellish's resignatior has less to do with differ ences with the local Labou Party than his desire to tak‹ up a highly-paid job vice-chair of the Tor! London Dockland Develop ment Corporation, at the invitation Michae Heseltine.

This Corporation, witk Bob Mellish's support, ha: agreed to luxury flats or Corbett's Wharf at wel over £100,000 each, wher the local people in the are: desperately need better Bob Mellish has alsc supported the Hay's Wharl scheme to build the equi valent of 14 Centre Point office blocks on the Bermondsey riverside when many local estates in the immediate vicinity are in a terrible state of disrepair and urgently need placing The Docklands Corporation has also been proposthe develoomen two yacht marinas in Surrey Dock which will not be

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By Chris Erswell.

Peter Tatchell comments Bob Mellis decision to force a by- election in