Dutch Strike Wave

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Monthly rund A QUARTER of the way through the fund drive, but only the target raised. So we must indeed double our efforts!

Nottingham has joined the other nine groups in the table this Nottingham supporters are planning an Xmas party, and a stall; and the infamous Islington jumble sale is taking place this week. Other groups must make plans too; especially those who haven't Meanwhile the fund column has received the following letter from 'We resent the slur on our good name in the labour movement implied by the epithet 'animal lovers' in your column last week. In fact our efforts are mainly due to the great demand for 'Shergar coats' in Neasden market. We demand that you immediately retract this dastardly statemeni as we shall undertake proceedings through the Press Council, the Labour Campaign for Press & Media Freedom and Colonel Gadaffi [not necessarily in that order] if you do not.

Being at the top of the table (74%, who can stop them now?], success is obviously going to these people's heads. The most harmless comments in the fund column are being seized upon and questioned. We say to Brent supporters: we shall not retract! Why did you not mention resorting to a labour movement inquiry? And what about the weekend trips made by one of your number to the Essex marshes? These questions must be answered.

Meanwhile, send donations to: The Treasurer, 214 Sickert Court, Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Signed articles, Published by the Socialist Organiser Alliance, 28 Middle Ian London N8. Printed by East End Offset, London E2. • not necessarily represent the views of the SOA. Nicaragua's Sandinista regime.

They concluded by seeking a guarantee of full scale logistical support from the USA -backed up by outright military intervention.

Asked whether the State Department would support such aD adventure, McFarlane categorically replied:

"Yes. We support what it takes to support the independence of Nicaragua's neighbours in the future. To the extent that Nicaragua exports revolution and tries to subvert this process we oppose that."

Of course there is not the slightest evidence of the Sandinista regime trying to "export" revolution - though revolutionary struggles are to a greater or lesser extent in existence in El Salvador, inside Guatemala and other Central American MOLE REVIEW Official badge of the 'Save the Mole' campaign. 25p or £2 for ten, from N.Barstow 165 Liverpool Rd, London N1. but its President has been more than willing to accommodate the CIA's hired gunmen and facilitate their murderous cross-border raids.

But despite the deployment in the region of US military aid, 'advisors" and bands of mercenaries, the State Department has not succeeded even in taming the left wing guerrilla struggle in El Salvador, which has continued to make new gains against the vicious ruling junta.

Ikle, fresh back from El Salvador, was forced to admit that 'It would be exaggerating to say things are going badly, but the momentum has become sluggish."

To put right the problems faced by the junta's troops, however, would cost tens of millions more in military aid to El Salvador. Sooner than confront a hostile US Congress with such a proposal, Reagan continues to mount the offensive through Honduras and other pliable military regimes in the area, focusing on the alleged "threat" posed by Nicaragua.

The fight to undermine this imperialist offensive is not by any means the sole responsibility of the Central American revolutionaries and the American working class. In Britain, too, and throughout Europe the fight for labour movement support to the struggle for the liberation of Central America from imperialist rule must be urgently stepped up, before Reagan feels able - directly or through a proxy invasion - to threaten the overthrow of the Sandinista regime. A MASSIVE wave of industrial action from public sector workers has hit Holland. It is in response to the coalition government's announcement of its intention to cut by 3½% the salaries of state employees and impose a general reduction of 3½ % in social welfare benefits.

The date set for the implementation of this is January 1, 1984.

So far, rubbish collectors, mail workers, train, tram and bus workers, customs officers, harbour pilots, and the police have taken action; but only the rubbish collectors and mail workers have been out solidly since the industrial action began.

Even so, the action has had an impact: rubbish is piling up on the streets, people have been using the trams en masse without paying the fare, and small businesses have suffered from the lack of postal communication.

There have been further threats of action in the north where the strike movement is more militant from radio and television workers, and the teachers' union. The action at the moment is not widespread.

Despite this, though, there is a generat feeling that it the government does not back down on its intentions to cut wages and social welfare benefits then they will be faced with a general strike.

The government has conBy a correspondent in Amsterdam ceded ½% on wages of public sector workers but has said that there will be no further concessions.

It is a hardline attitude and the feeling by workers is that the government is not doing anyweek, but 27 groups have yet to start.

started yet.

Brent supporters:

Essex Road, London N1 2SY. thing to reduce unemployment (Holland has the highest unemployment rate in the Common Market) and the belief that the government is trying to destroy the welfare state has brought the situation to a head.

Talks this week, ordered by the Dutch courts, between the government and the main Yours icily, Brent SO GROUP Brent Sheffield Cardiff Hull Leeds Southwark SE London Tower Hamlets Halifax Nottingham unions involved in the action could prove decisive in determining the future of the dispute.

It is quite likely that the union leaders could accept a deal based on a smaller cut in wages than the 3% presently offered and a guarantee of more jobs and thus derail the strike movement.

ieved 74% 16% 13% 12% 12% Groups yet to score:

Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Chelmsford, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Leicester, Leigh, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Oxford, Rochdale, Stockport, Stoke, Wallasey, York, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Putney.

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MOLES OF THE WORLD.