How the left can make headway in the colleges

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Last week we carried an interview with Karen Talbot, a member of the National Union of Students executive, and Jane Ashworth, on the perspectives of the new paper 'Socialist Student'. This week we have the continuation of the interview, covering issues in NUS and in NOLS (the National OrganisaYou haven't said much about response - especially in FEs. grants, even though the real There's a gap to be filled by a value of grants has gone down a strong left organísation among Karen: Grants are still an properly we can fill it.

Together we Group 6 SHE DOES paper of Socialist Students in NOLS. Available want to be covered by the PRB?

First, we must be clear that the PRB has no real power to impose its recommendations on any Government. In Fowler's consultatión document of February 22 this year there is the biggest loophole I've ever seen: •The Government has given an assurance that its recommendations will be accepted unless there are clear and compolline reasons for not doing so. ...You've only got to remember Thatcher's refusal to meet the Doctors' and Dentists! Review Body recommendations to realise the ineffectiveness of such a machinery. Similar cases LAST WEEK we cited a Department of Employment study which indicated that - on average. - white-collar workers strike about ten times less than manual workers.

The figures are from 1966-73.

•The period studied was one of a general rise in strikes [except for the year 1973]. However, the figures do show non-manual Arikes increasing faster than manual strikes. It is dangerous to draw any sweeping conclurices from this because the periad studied is so short.

Analysis

À further analysis of the date res pettined by the Depart• Employment dait 'white-collar' real' Had anerages Strikes Strikeper days per 100,000 100.000 sacken rocker Bike gaps 3696 1424.2 decaias 1833 11€9 creating. that organised regularly by management. The TUC's dispute guidelines were so tightlydrawn as to cause as little disruption as possible.

If Norman Fowler cared as much about the direction and accountability of the NIS as every hospital worker cares about her or his responsibilities we'd be well on the way to providing a full and comprehensive service.

The NHS strike tactic is used sparingly and with precision. But the right to withdraw one's labour is a right which must never be thrown away on the terms presented to us in the • Don "Transport' includes warehouse workers, storekeepers, etc. 'Metal/electrical' includes all workers involved in "processing, making, and repairing' metal or electrical goods. I'Processing, making and repairing' workers in other industries are among the middling groups for "Science' means "professional science, engineering and rechnalogy. 'Assembling etc pardo strike activity, meane 'Profeenion. - _ eduIN THE sixties the Left made more headway than anywhere else in the Labour youth movement and the Labour student organisation. Today the YS looks a very big nut to crack. Could NOLS be easier? Could it be a lever to change the YS?

Jane: Well, NOLS is about the same size as the YS. Militant is the biggest group in NOLS, but themselves. They don't have the same sort of periphery that Socialist Students in NOLS has.

Everything depends, really, on what we can do in the Further Education (FE) sector.

Students in FEs still live at home, they're still part of the local community, and their interests aren't as narrowly focused on the college.

Karen: You can start building in the FEs with the peace campaign, for example. You can activate a lot of people and get them involved in Youth CND..

How many Labour Clubs there in FE at the moment?

Karen: Very few. A lot less than there are in the universities and the polys.

Jane: But there are some developing.

What are the big issues in NUS [the National Union of Students] which Socialist Student will be taking up?

Karen: Peace, obviously. the usual priorities of cuts grants.

The NUS is veering to the right again now, moving away from demonstrations, away from pickets and direct action. Sociati ist Studens sbould be pashing for action in place of the inkenistic and ineflectual gescures that come dov= froes saciocal level. Why is the NIS marie off the creeks Lace tion of Labour Students). more towards trying to influence the government - which is a totally futile exercise. It's a major priority for them to produce briefing documents to argue with MPs and local authorities.

But there has to be action, if necessary without the backing of the national union executive. What scope do you see for linking up with campus unions on іввев like cuts and privatisation?

Karen: It's really important. It happens in a lot of colleges already, but it needs to be developed more. Labour Clubs should get involved with their Trades Councils.

Jane: NUS will send out circulars saying, 'Make links with your local trade unions' But it doesn't mean much.

What NUS leadership mean by it is things like the Education Alliance, which is very, very top-heavy - basically half a dozen people from NUS Executive going along and talking to half a dozen people from various education unions.

But I think cuts and privatisation can forge some real unity at campus level. The government clearly intends to get as much ancillary work as possible out to private contract. There'll be job cuts and reduced services, no doubt about that.

It's not 'just something for campus unions. Whereas in the past it's been a campus focus, now much more we're talking about issues affecting the whole of the working class.

Do joe think there's a case for Laboar Party workplace breacbes colleges breacbes in colleges, to bring. together Labour students and Labour Party members among the ancillary workers and teaching staff?

Jane: Yes. I think you'd have to make sure the workplace branch was dominated by the ancillary staff - because teachers could well be a dead hand on it, especially in universities - and it would work together closely with the Labour Club.

lot in récent years.

NOLS NC and lots more. issue, and we are still pushing the $30'a week claim for FE students.

But we won't be having a big national mobilisation on grants in the first term of this academic year - which perhaps means it 'Il be seen as less of a focus.

Jane: That's true, but it's wrong. I don't see why a student union should be considered as any different from a trade union on this. A trade union that doesn't deal with its members' wages isn't. going to be a credible trade union. The same applies to NUS and grants.

We need to push for a fighting orientation all round. At grass roots I think there'll be the students, and if we do our work 1SHDENTS THATCHEA!

EVERY Tina

ASROGATO

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socialist Urganiser no. 149 October 6 1983 Pega

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Articles by Tony Benn; Karen: Talbot, NUS Executive on 'The year ahead'; Tony Dale,

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