Buying shares doesn't mean workers control ty, the multi-national vultures that are gathering our wealthiest public asset will share the carcase our berween tem.
Yes, you've got the idea -THUHCY DUYS VOLG ting the only class struggle general secretary, Geoff coming elections in the National Union Railwaymen.
In an LUCIC 0 Bob branch of the NUR, which will shock YOUn workers who buv and sel their Militant has revealed that has no stomach for the fight for policies which it claims to support.
recommend support for Jimmy Knapp the southern region and now an official at the national headquarters. Knapp IS seen as challenger the right wing domination of the union. As sucn even a victory for Knapp could have the eltect of confidence of the militant wing of the union.
so we are not indifferent to the outcome of the clections.
But our standpoint is how best to mobilise and ceas up rank file workers to fight the class enemy. Our main enemy is the bosses and the Tories. We are not terested in replacing the right by the left.
Lead There are some on the left in the union - who Party for a lead ook who see things in such electoralist terms. For them, the struggle for a left victory takes precedence over everything.
They see the for rank and tile action let alone real struggles that as being a barrier to electoral victory ol the lett as they imagine such action would scare off the 'middle ground' These people have prioritised for SUDOULL Jimmy Knapp as a means blocking the Rocerates order isolate those individuals THOSE strongly ex-general secretary Sidney Weighell. Militant's stance towards Knapp doesn't challenge such an approach.
Even if Jimmy Knapp was the only, challenger to That means screwing the workers for the last ounce of profit. Holding a share or two would not alter that.
What all this talk of 'democracy covers candidate for Hensby, in the upof the right wing Militant's approach would be wrong. Any left wing campaign would have to be really critical. means would have to emphasise approach which stimulated rank and file mobilisation and be aimed clarifying Knapp's political half-hearted literary queries.
To date, Knapp has failed to state where he stands on key issues facing rail workers - like over the productivity offensive and the wages erosion. He nas no recora or organising railworkers to oppose these attacks. Record Geoff has included in his cam many of the poll : platform ed by railworkers to meet the bosses' policies around which he as a creditable record of struggle There is a single transferrable voting system in these elections ou ucc is no chance of splitting the vote and leting in the right Russell, in his article himself suggests that militant railworkers might do well to seek assurances (rom Khann job losses, pay and conditions. But even this misses the point. verbal assurances from Knapp that is required but a com bative and aware rank and one of increased payments for ordinary working people - taking into account national insurance contributions and the massive concessions to the upper bracket. the opportunity to elect a leader that will lead a campaign to defend jobs and services. But he offers not
Public ownership must
provide a service quires planning not the law of Railworkers lobby Weighell. He paid the price for always ignoring the ranks La shred of evidence that Knapp's campaign, as it is presently being run, really represents such an opporby workers themselves.
This is the democracy want. The 'shares' issue is just a diversion.
tunity.
Russell's only argument against supporting Geoff Hensby is that British Telecom to you - keep it that way NO PRIVATISATION many see him as an out sider' That would be good advice for betting on horse race. But the class belongs struggle demands mor principle. This appears t be more than Militant an Russell can offer Donations can be sent to D His Victoria St, Transport and Union. 9/1 Wes the picket line and said he su ported the strike. Militant fighting for him to give acti SuP P.S. Raindi is running it scab whom chauffers in i his own car.
by good intentio WHE the offici Tues Only massive suppo the playing by our rules, not tho Tories, can reinstate tl sacked workers and score real victory against the bosse jobs and conditions offensiv in Birmingham Socialist Challenge 17 December 1982 page
----- pull-quotes -----
THE MILITANT tendency which ritualistically proclaims itself the 'voice of Marxism in the labour movement' has decided against suppor-
STOP The Tory Phone Vandals.