sıgnificant demonstration of growing black power Was front. The current strike wave began in the first week of May, when 2,000 black workers at Leyland In Cape LOWI came out on strike. They were protesting because the pay rise agreed by the National Union of Motor Assembly and Rubber Workers of South Africa (NUMARW) last December came nowhere near to meeting soaring inflation, especially the big increases the cost of food and other essentials. They demanded cents Increase to R2.00 (£1.20) an hour.
The Leyland bosses refused to meet the union to discuss its demands, acçusing the union of breaking the December sacked all teestriking workers and oftered to re-hire them on an individual basis. The comclaims that Dally 1,500 have returned work and that production has been resumed. Ford Strikes have also broken General Motors. This was in solidarity ers of MACWUSA, the *Motor •Assembly ano gone back to work under protest, following a strike increases.
Management has agreed to recognise the Tex ile Workers National Union of Workers, at Rowntree chocolate Strength and imperialist vestments in South Africa are almost whony aepel dent on the superexploitation black labour for their massive occasional bomb of significance.
South Africa class struggle of worker against capitalism and " fight for self determir. tion by all the black peo is inextricably interwore Socialist Challenge : 11 June 1981
*& The Soviet sabre Discussion at Solidarity meeting LAST weekend the Soviet leaders sent a strongly-worded communique to the Polish Communist Party insisting that they make no more concessions to the workers.
The latest threat comes in the by Solidarity to stage warning strikes this Thursday in four major cities. This is protest against the authorities' failure speedily bring justice those responsible for the In vialch, when Solidarity were beaten up by the political police.
Polish deputy premier Mieczyslaw Rakowski has weighed the Soviet threat accusing Solidarity of wanting Bydgoszcz, Rakowski protested: 'Why does no one say publicly that Rulewski is a classical demagogue?' The Soviet bureaucrats have good grounds for worrying. In the last two weeks three events have further undermined their domination in First, the police officers have petitioned to form their UWIl independent trade union affiliated to Solidarity nationally.
The rank and file police officers have been profoundly affected by the don't want to be of the passing interests of taceless high un otticials.
Then came the pronounecucuLs of the ill-fated Katowice forum. This group hardline Stalinists issued an appeal denouncing the 'ragamuffins and scounin Solidarity who 'undermining socialism'. This was music to the ears of the Soviet leaders who rushed to embrace the grouping's every ulicialle.
Kiss remarks. The group itself rapidly issued a new statement welcoming aspects of Poland's 'democratic renewal' before dissolving itself entirely The final blow which caused great gnashing of the Soviet leaders' teeth was the release on Friday 5 June O1 four dissident members of the nationalist Confederation of an Independent A massive campaign had been launched for their relcase. in numerous parle of the country people had son a huand students May and students across CEnt country had held protest demonstra tions.
----- pull-quotes -----
rattlers are at it again