UNIONTHE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF CARDIFF TRADES UNION COUNCILMAY 1991 FREE

THE PERGAMON 23FIGHT ON

After 23 months of steadycampaigning the Pergamon 23are lookingas strong asthey everwere. Sacked by Maxwell on 24May 1989 for an official one-daystrike, the 23 NUJ members inOxford have stood their groundand rejected two attempts byMaxwell to buy them off. SupportfromTrade Unionsandthe LabourParty remains overwhelming, butunfortunately the Labourleadershipisshowinga reluctanceto face up to this issue.Labour Party Conference '90 passed aresolution overwhelmingly in favour of theprincipled stand taken by the PergamonPress strikers and condemning Maxwell'sbehaviour in the dispute. The Composite(No 41) demanded the immediate rein-statement of the Pergamon 23 and fullrecognition for the NUJ to represent all itsmembers, and urged the Labour leader-ship to make representations to Maxwelldemanding a just resolution the the dis-pute. So far, however, the NEC has madeno moves to putthis resolution into effect.Pressure must be brought to bear on theLabour party NEC through the leadershipand the conferences of all affiliated un-ions. Make sure this is raised at your unionconference this year, and, if possible, getyour union executive to raise the matterwith the NEC of the Labour Party.Talks are currently taking place between theNUJand the company around a possible initia-tive to hold an independent inquiry into thebackground of the dispute. In the meatime thestrikers have launched a major fundraisingcampaign and they need your help urgently.In particular they are looking for regular dona-tions from branches (and from individualswhere possible) in the form of a standing order(forms can be obtained from the addressbelow). Alternatively, please make chequespayable to "NUJ Pergamon Press Chapel", andsend to 60 Cricket Road, Oxford, OX4 3DQ.For more information, including a copy of themodel resolution for Trade Union conferencesthis year, telephone 0865 60762.Alun Lewis IRSFFor details of Maxwell's Publications see P2

WED?\ESDAY, MAY 12, 1926.No. 7,020. One Penny.

Flashback to earlier days before Maxwell owned the Daily Mirror. Has the Mirror's attitude tostriking workers changed much in 65 years?

ORGANIZATION THAT COUNTERACTS THE STRIKE EVIL.

Lady Louis Mountbatten helping at Hyde Park. Loading meat into a small car at Smithfield.

SAFEGUARDING T}lE NATION'S FOOD AND TRANSPORT.

police escorting- :1 convoy of lorrie:; laden with petrol, near Regent's Park.

While Maxwell has spent the last two years Telegraph decided to fight, and puttheir £10/trying to keep the Pergamon Press dispute out minute lawyers to work on it. To date Maxwellofthe Daily Mirror, he has also been encourag· has not referred the five cases to the courts,ing other proprietors to do the same. Follow- and if he does not do so within three years ofing extensive coverage given to the dispute at issuing the writs, the cases will fall, and he willthe '89 Labour Conference, six papers, the be liable for all costs. Perhaps he lacks confi-Telegraph, the Independent, the Guardian, the dence in his ability to prove the original allega-Morning Star and the Daily Mail, all found tions, that he denied his workers the right tothemselves faced with libel writs. All but the belong to a Trades Union, are false!

PUTTING ON THE WRITS

EDITORIALWell, we're back after another long delay. Thismagazine is produced entirely by voluntarylabour, and with the editor in hospital, not a lotgets done. The last time I was in hospital was'exactly 30 years ago, and in many ways, littlehas changed. The skill and technology im-provements have made microsurgery aneveryday occurrence, and yet the buildingsare even more rundown than the wartimeleftover prefabs I was in last time. In the faceof such neglect by this government I reallydon't know how the staff carry on, but of.course they do. This government has reliedvery heavily on the dedication and goodwill ofour citizens to keep all manner of socialservices going whilst they cut expenditure inreal terms, sell off the nations' assets atridiculous prices and give enormous tax han-douts to the rich. When I was last in hospital in1961, a married man on average manualearnings paid no income tax, whist the veryrich paid at 19/- in the pound (90%), andpurchase tax was only on luxuries. Now thesame average worker pays around 30% oftheir wages in income tax and national insur-ance, plus 17.5% VAT on virtually everythingthey buy, whilst the top rate of tax+ NI for thevery richest is now only 40%. Taxation wasonce a way of equalising the wealth of thenation by taxing the rich to provide services tothe poor. Now the rich keep their moneyoffshore avoiding tax altogether, or provide itto themselves in tax free ways (every holidaybecomes a business trip, every meal out aworking lunch) whilst the ordinary citizens payover half their earnings in taxes, or even moreif they smoke, drink or drive a car. For me theGeneral Election can't come soon enough.

Sometimes the most ridiculous propheciescome true, particularly under this presentregime. In the last issue we ran a spoof advertfor electricity privatisation, and in J:ti'efootnoteput what I thought were silly suggestions as towhat the Tories could do n&X1:; ........ give usback our Poll Tax, issue flft/cardboard boxesto the homeless, cut taxes to nothing, intro-duce a QIY Health S~rvice, and privatise theCivil Service, ... ::"'. Well since then they havegiven us ba<;k'part of the Poll Tax in the crudestpiece of vote buying this century, a Tory thinktank has come up with the the idea of reducingincome tax to zero, and apart from the alreadyongoing sell off of the Export Credit GuaranteeDepartment here in Cardiff, the governmenthas started to prepare the ground ready toprivatise the collection section of the Depart-ment of Social Security. The section wasdivided off in April 1990 as the "ContributionsUnit", and now from April of this year hasbecome the "Contributions Agency". They have"Already forged strong links with a number ofbusiness organisations with mutually benficialresults." to quote their own leaflet. ManpowerServices became an "Agency", and has nowgone private, so you have been warned!

These developments are, of course, logicallyconnected. You can only reduce taxes to zeroby reducing Government spending to zero, byreducing Government to zero. The only thingliable to bring these Tory lunatics to theirsenses is if they realise that when their totallyfree market world has finally come to pass, wewon't need any MPs at all, and they will all beout of a job! Alex Bird NGA

2

Maxwell's PublishingInterests

On May 24th 1989 the Oxford-based PergamonPress, owned by Robert Maxwell, sacked 23 jour-nalists for taking part in an official one-day strike indefence ofthe rightto be represented by their tradeunion, the National Union of Journalists,IF YOU OPPOSE ARBITRARY SACKINGS ANDBELIEVE IN FREE TRADE UNIONSDon't buy - Don't handleMaxwell's magazines, books or joumalsDon't let Maxwell get away with itSpread the boycott - tell your friends, family andcolleaguesScience, Technology and MedicinePergamon PressPergamon JoumalsPergamon Major Reference WorksPergamon BooksJossey-BassInformation and Electronic PublishingMacmilan US Information ServicesStandard Rate and Data Service directory DivisionMarquis Who's WhoCreative Black BookBusiness MattersOfficial Airline GuidesAir Cargo GuidePocket Flight GuideTravel Planner Hotel & Motel RedbookWorldwise Cruise & Shipline GuideOAG Electronic EditionFrequent FlyerPocket Flight GuideElectronic PublishingBRSMolecular DesignORACMaxwell OnlinePergamon Orbit InfoLineNimbus RecordsSatellite CommunicationsAD/SATIndependent Network SystemsMaxwell Business TelevisionMaxwell Satellite ServicesMagazines and ExhibitionsMaxwell Business CommunicationsUnited Trade PressPatey DoyleEvan Steadman CommunicationsArchitects JournalBuilding ProductsFactory Equipment NewsInsurance AgeMaxwell Consumer PublishingHome and Law MagazinesWedding & HornePractical HouseholderThe GardenerHigh Life (for British Airways)Moneycare (for Natwest bank)Hilton (for Hilton Hotels)Panini InternationalLanguage InstructionBerlitz .InternationalBerlitz GuidesInternational Learning SystemsTranslationLanguage Institute for EnglishEuramerica Translations

Institut for FagsprogEncyclopaediaCollier'sDealerfield'sEducational PublishingJOintly with McGraw-Hili:SchoolGreggCTB/McGraw·HiliEducational ResourcesGlencoeBarnell LoftScience Research AssociatesLondon HouseMacmillan US only:College DivisionGeneral PublishingMacmillan USCollierScribner'sAtheneumRawson AssociatesThe Free PressSchirmer BooksBradbury PressFour Winds PressAladdin BooksAudel BooksDellen Publishing CoQue CorporationHoward W Sams ListAdult Trading DivisionJuvenile divisionMacmillan Dictionary for ChildrenThe Chronicles of NarniaIllustrated ClassicsEncyclopaedia of EducationEncyclopedia of the American ConstitutionEncyclopedia of ReligionWe the PeopleMacdonald & coBrassey'sMilitary BalanceStrategic SurveyAdelphi papersArmed Forces JournalDelphin VerlagFixot

La Lutte ContinueCardiff May Day Committee are organising anotherMay Day celebration on May 6th at the Star LeisureCentre in Splott Road, After the success of lastyear's event in re-establishing the traditional MayDay worker's celebration, they are attempting tomake this year's bigger and better. There is a Rallyat 6.30 with Paul Hill and Maria Flores, followed bya Social featuring International food and music, theMilkshJkes, Dave Burns, Dave Williams, the RedChoir, poets and crazyologists. The committee issupported by the Trades Council, CND Cymru,WAAM, as well as various other politicaVsocialisVsolidarity groups.

Published by Cardiff Trades Union CouncilEditor Alex BirdPrinted by Fingerprints (TU) Job No FP 3763Write to the Editorc/o Fingerprints, Pen-y-WainLane, Roath, CARDIFF.Tel. 482582 Fax 499429The opinions expressed in' Union Eyes are notnecessarily those of the Trades Union Councilunless indicated. All material is copyright CardiffTrades Union Council © 1991 unless otherwiseindicated. Reproduction is welcomed by sympa-thetic publications, and all fees will normally bewaived, provided publication is not for profit, and acredit is given.For further details on the Trades Union Council andits activities, or for affiliation details, contact theSecretary, Alun Lewis, 80 Cottrell Road, Roath,Cardiff CF2 3EZ, Tel. 494748,Our apologies to all who have submitted articleswhich have been omitted. Our sincere thanks to allwho have helped with the paper in any way,

III:IIIlIIIIII

Mayday MaydayTrade Unions to the

rescue!Cardiff General Branch

On Tuesday, February 12th, the Wales TUCand OXFAM launched a special joint appealaimed at raising money for OXFAM'swork withthe poor through trade unions in South Africa.Black workers in South Africa face many of thesame problems as ordinary workers in otherdeveloping countries in trying to get fair termsand conditions of service. The crucial differ-ence in South Africa is that the system ofapartheid denies people their basic rights onthe grounds of their race or ethnic identity. For

heid, they also have to deal with the basic"bread and butter" issues that affect any unionactivist. Just as we do in this country, tradeunionists in South Africa deal with health andsafety issues, basic organisation and givingsupport and advice to people in real need.UMTATA ADVICE OFFICE

Umtata is the capital ofT ranskei, one of the so·called "homelands". For the black people wholive there, life is far from easy. With highunemployment, low wages and no chance to

INDUSTRIAL HEALTII ANDSAFETY EDUCATION

PROGRAMMEIn 1986 Rufus Rwexu started the IndustrialHealth and Safety Education programme(lHSEP). In South Africa, latest governmentfigures show that in one year, more than 1500people died as a result of industrial accidentsand more than 20,000 were permanentlydisabled. Although there may have beencompensation in some cases, no price can beset on the pain and hardship suffered by thevictims a[ld their families.IHSEP are involved mainly with workers in theTextile, Motor, Chemical, Food and Construc·tion industries. They had theirfirst big successin 1987 and since then have helped negotiatebetween 600 and 700 agreements with differ·ent companies.IHSEP also helps with training of union safetyreps, research into health and safety issues,advising and providing up-to-date informationon industrial health problems, swapping infor-mation on health and safety experience withothers working in the same sphere and offer-ing the services of a doctor and a lawyer ifnecessary.These are just two of the South African tradeunion projects which OXFAMis helping to fund,but even if recent welcome progress contin-ues and brings further change in South Africa,the legacy of apartheid will remain for decadesto come. This is why money is so desperatelyneeded.

most ordinary black people this means a life ofexhausting, grinding and humiliating poverty.Trade unions can be one of the most powerfulforces working against poverty and for socialjustice and change in society. They can repre·sent an important constituency among thepoor and it is for this reason that Oxfam worksin South Africa with a number of trade unionsand organisations linked to the union move-ment, as an effective means of relievingpov-erty and suffering.South African trade unions are right on thefront line in the fight against poverty. As well asdealing with the bitter consequences of apart-

leave, every day is a struggle to survive.The Umtata Advice Office workers give help topeople at the sharp end of apartheid. Theygive advice and help with employment bene-fits, pension problems, as well as forcedremovals and police harrassment. In a fewmonths last year, they took on 147 new caseswhich represented the complaints of groupsof up to 600 people.Recently the Advice Office was able to advise.a group of forestry workers on how they couldlegally call a strike in line with the LabourRelations Act in order to secure desperatelyneeded back pay and wage improvements.

__ WORKINGTOGETHERINWALES _Wales Co-operative Centre provides free Services to help create employment through

Workers' Co-operativesWorkers' Co-operatives are democratic businesses which two or more people can run,pooling resources and responsibility. Profits are shared, and each member is personally

involved in the quality of product or service.

Wales Co-operative Centre has Development Officers based in .Bangor,.Wrexham,Carmarthen and Merthyr Tydfil, as well as marketing, training and financial advisors

based in Cardiff.FIND OUT MORE _

by phoning Cardiff (0222) 554955.

WALES CO-OPERATIVE CENTRE • • •

~~~~:r:~~at;~~~~;~~~:~~pOL CYMRUmFounded by Wales TUC. Sponsored by the Welsh Office, Welsh Develop-ment A~ency, Mid-Wales Development, E.E.C., County, Borough andDistrict Councils of Wales.

MAY DAY GREETINGS TO ALL CO-OPERATORS

YOU CAN HELP• By sending a donation to support OXFAM'swork with the poor through trade unions inSouth Africa.• By distributing leaflets about the appeal atyour place of work.• By making sure that your branch/l:radescouncil regularly receives OXFAM's trade un-ion mailing "Action for Rights".If you would like to donate to the appeal orwould like further information, please contact:Eluned Nickson, Oxfam, 4648 Station Road,Llanishen, CARDIFF. CF5 4LU Tel: (0222)757067

MayDaygreet ings to allco-operators andTrades-UnionistsWorldwide

Ty Penderyn', Pen-y-Wain Lane,Roath, Cardiff, CF2 3NH

Tel 0222-482582Fax 0222-499429

3

Trades Unions press for more resourcesfor inherited blood disorder sufferers

At this year's TUC Women's Conference amotion was passed unanimously on Sickle CellDisease and Thalasseamia. Over half a millionblack people in the UK have these traits, andthe motion deplored the inadequacy of govern-ment funding for research and support serv-ices for sufferers. The motion calls on affill~ated unions to campaign for better workplaceconditions, such as paid time off for counsel-ling and screening, and for the TUC's EqualOpportunities Department to campaign on theissue.We are lucky in Cardiff to have one of only nineCentres in the UK, and so start from a goodbase to campaign in the workplace.WHAT ARE SICKLE CEll DISEASEAND THAlASSAEMIA MAJOR?

They are severe disorders of haemoglobin(the oxygen carrying protein in red bloodcells), found mainly in people whose origin isAfrican, Afro-Caribbean, Asian, Mediterraneanor Middle Eastern. They are both hereditarydisorders which means that they cannot becaught like flu or measles but are passed onfrom generation to generation mainly as aharmless carrier form or 'traif.People with sickle cell disease have inheritedit from both their parents, and have abnormalhaemoglobin. They can suffer from anaemia,infections and severe pains in any part of theirbody, for which they often need hospital carewiih powerful painkilling drugs.Similarly, those with Thalassaemia have inher-ited their illness from parents, and cannotmake normal haemoglobin. The are depend-ent on lifelong blood transfusions, and nightlyinfusions of a drug to remove an otherwisefatal excess of iron from their bodies.

WHATS A TRAITSickle cell trait and thalassaemia trait are thenames given to the harmless carrier states forsickle cell disease and thalassaemia. A person

with either trait is completely healthy. Thetraits are not illnesses and will not turn intosickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia. Thesetraits may be quite common in certain commu-nities as they give some protection againstmalaria in childhood.

WHO CAN CARRY IT?Every community carries its own hereditarydisorders - Cystic fibrosis for example is morecommon in North Europeans than in othercommunities. (1 in 23 can carry this.)The chances of carrying Sickle Cell or Thalas-saemia trait depend on where you or your

The traits may be passed on through genera-tions without causing problems.If only one parent has a trait or the disorder,then there is no chance that a child can beborn with the disorder. However each childhas at least a one in two chance of having thetrait.If both parents have the trait -or the disorderthen there is a one in four chance in each preg-nancy that a child may be born with thedisorder.250,000 babies a year are born globally withthese disorders, making them the commonest

women'sHEALTH~Otttelt.-J --

ancestors come from.For example:1 in 10 for Afro-Caribbeans1 in 4 West Africans1 in 17 for Pakistanis1 in 10 for Gujerati Indians1 in 7 for Greek Cypriots

WHAT SHOUlD I KNOW?

!l{f:tSouth &West Wales Branch

Supports Tony Dubbinsin the Election for GeneralSecretary of the GPMU.May Day Greetings to allworkers in WalesBranch Secretary: John Slater

1 Bradenham Place, Penarth. Tel: 0222-703539

4

inherited diseases in the world. In less devel-oped countries, most will die in childhood;however in Europe, North America, and theCaribbean treatment is enabling sufferers tolive to middle age and beyond, at a price, fortheir quality of life is not always good.

WHAT SHOUlD I DO?Find out if you have a trait by having a test. Askyour doctor or the Sickle Cell and Thalassae-mia Centre to test you for sickle cell or thalas-saemia trait.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?You will receive the results of your blood testin the form of a card for you to keep.If you have the trait then you will be offered anappointment with one of the counsellors attheSickle cell and Thalassaemia Centre (JudithShankleman or Tessa Liburd). Your partner orother family members can also be tested.If a couple both have a trait, they can beoffered genetic counselling to plan for a healthypregnancy and baby.The Centre is an open door service so you donot need an appointment. You can telephoneor call in for information orto have a bloodtest,during office hours. At other times we have ananswering service.

Our address is:Cardiff Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia CentreButetown Health CentreLoudoun SquareDocksCardiff CFl 5UZTelephone: (0222) 471055

Tatnpons and your healthTampons, although an extremely practical disease, and those who have suffered a mildform of sanitary protection, have a numberef form are at great risk if they continue to usehealth risks associated with their use. The tampons.main~isk.is TO.x.ic~hock Syndrome (TSS).TSS The disease has not had as much publicitywas flrst.ldentl~led In 1978, b~t not reve.aledto here as inthe United States, andmany doctorsth~ pu~hc until 1980. TSS IS a rare IlInes~, are unsure of treatment or fail to identify thewhich IS thought to be ~aused by a tOXin disease at an early stage.produced by the bacteria staphylococcusaureus which occurs naturally in the vagina of What YOU can do.many women. Tampons, and particularly high~ .' Stop using tampons altogether.absorbency ones, seem to create the condI-tions forthis bacteria to produce large amounts • Avoid high absorbency tampons.of the. toxin r-SS-toxin-1). Around 75% of • Change tampons frequently.cases Inthe United States haveaffected womenbetween 15-24, all of whom were using tam- • Never leave tampons in for over six hours.pon.s.Of those who ge~the ,iII~ess, 6%will die. • Use sanitary towels at night.DUring 1990 3 deaths In Britain were reportedby the media, all under 20 years of age. Cases • Wash your hands thoroughly before andother than in menstruating women are ex- '- after insertion.tremely rare, and are associated with wounds • If you lose a tampon go to your doctor/or burns. family planning clinic/casualty at once.A great deal of uncertainty still surrounds the • If you suffer any symptoms remove yourdisease, alth.ough the sxmptoms that have tampon and see your doctor at oncebeen noted Include: a high temperature, a .rapid drop in blood pressure, vomitting and Other risks come from the manufacturingdiarrhoea, a sore throat, aching muscles, a process itself. Tampons are ma'de from cot-sunburn like peeling rash, especially on hands ton and rayon. Cotton is a disease prone crop,and feet, dizziness and disorientation. The and a considerable amount of pesticide isacute phase can last up to five days, followed used during production, so some residuesby weeks of convalescence. The long term must remain in the finished product. Rayon iseffects include memory loss, difficulty in con- made from wood fibres, and these are brokencentration and hair loss. The drop in blood down by chlorine, which results in traces ofpressure causes a decay of cells (necrosis) dioxin contaminating the rayon. The Swedesresulting in organ damage, and some women are developing alternative methods of rayonhave lost fingers or toes. TSS is a recurring manufacture, but predict it is at least two

years away. Experts disagree as to whetherdioxins can be absorbed through the vaginalmembrane, but some Swedish experts thinkthere may be a link between dioxins in tam-pons and cancer of the uterus.Tampons can also cause ulceration of thevaginal walls, and in some cases tamponfibres have incorporated themselves into themembrane itself.More information on these problems, and onthe environmental aspects of sanitary protec-tion can be obtained from:Julie Cook, The Women's Environmental Net-work, 287 City Road, LondowEC1V 1LA. Tel'071-490-2511.

CARDIFF CITY

May Day Greetingsto all Trade Unionists

FIGHTING FORPUBLIC SERVICES

5

The Central America Trade Union and HumanRights Conference, cancelled in Februarybecause of the blizzards, had been re-sched-uled for Cardiff at the beginning of July.The Conference, which will be held at the AdultEducation Centre, 28, The Parade, Roath, onSaturday, July 6, will come at a time whichpromises change for the region. The jointorganisers, the Wales Nicaragua SolidarityCampaign and the Cardiff EI Salvador andGuatemala Solidarity Group, have puttogethera day which will give an update on the coun-tries, and look at practical ways trade union-ists inWales can help fellow workers in CentralAmerica.Trade unions are at the forefront of strugglingfor social justice, and protecting human rightsin the isthmus. Outlining sQme of the difficul-ties they and other popular organisations facewill be Gladis VillaLobos of the SalvadoreanMothers of the Disappeared, Patrick Costelloof Trade Union support for Guatemala, and arepresentative ofthe Nicaraguan Sandinistas.

Trades Unions are at theforefront of struggling for

social justice

The afternoon session will examine in detailprojects supported by solidarity campaigns,Human Rights Committees and Oxfam. Work·shops will outline how trade unionists can getinvolved, with everything from getting theirunions to pass motions at their conferences,to supporting projects with badly needed cash.Central America remains one of the poorestand most oppressed parts of the world. Hu-man Rights abuses by the military in EI Salva-dor and Guatemala have led to the deaths oftens of thousands of people, and a UnitedStates effort to destabilise Nicaragua's elec-tion by a desperate population of UNO, whowere seen as the US's friends.Since the elections twelve months ago livingconditions have steadily deteriorated in Nica-ragua, with the poorest hardest hit. The news

in Guatemala is not good either. Peace talksbetween progressive forces in the country andthe right wing government have stalled, withthe result that left wing guerillas have steppedup their activity in a bid to force the Right backto the negotiating table.This tactic has paid off in EI Salvador, wherepeace talks have been going on for a year,after the massive offensive by the FMLN guer-illas in 1989. There is now the possibility of anend to the eleven year long CivilWar, based onthe demands of the Left for a scaling downsimultaneously of guerilla forces and the ultra-right army. The process of de-militarisation ofSalvadorean society will be the key to thepeace - the army has been behind the deathsquads, and a peace which left the military inplace at its present strength would invite areturn to the deaths and disappearances ofthe early 1980's, when thousands were mur-dered each year.In neighbouring Nicaragua, despite the gloomafter the Sandinistas' defeat, they have contin-ued the struggle in opposition, defending thegains of the Revolution. In the past twelvemonths there have been three waves of strikes,called after actions by the UNO government.The latest, which lasted from the beginning ofthis year to March, centred on the call byhealth workers for increased wages and re-sources for their National Health Service,which is suffering from a chronic medicineshortage.Although working in the three countries isn'teasy, solidarity organisations and develol>-ment agencies support a number of grass-roots projects, many of them based aroundunions and human rights groups. The confer-ence will provide an opportunity for learningabout these, and strengthening the links theWelsh Trade Union movement already has withthe region.For more information telephone Anna Robin-son on 0222 489549.Ben Gregory- WalesNicaragua Solidarity Cam-paign.

SOGAT~~~~

Britains biggest printing unionMay Day Greetings to all fellow Trades

UnionistsWales & the West Branch wishes everysuccess to Brenda Dean in the ballot for

General Secretary of the GPMUBridgeway House, 4/5 Centre Court, Main Avenue, Treforest

Industrial Estate, CF37 5YRTel 0443-841242 Fax 0443-841266

6

NegotiatedCo-ordinationMany trades unionists are disappointed withthe first attempts to build a socialist economyand society, both at home and abroad. As aresult the ideology of market distribution ofresources has gained ground.The only writing I have come across recentlywhich both upholds socialist ideals and yetrepudiates market economics is the book byManchester University lecturer Pat Devinecalled "Democratic and Economic Planning"(Polity Press £29.50 - obtainable from CardiffPublic Library).He supports W. Brus' contention that democ-racy is the necessary condition for economicefficiency, for only thereby, with ordinary peopleexercising control at the levels of their activity,can bureaucracy be brought under control.Capitalism and "Statism" are ALTERNATIVES"for the creation of the pre-conditions of so-cialism".State ownership is public ownership but notnecessarily social ownership. The means ofproduction must be used in the interests ofsociety, of course, but society must disposeof them. Socialization is not a single act but aprocess, which in some sense, has beenproceeding for a long time. But the develop-ment of popular control over economic deci-sions, large and small, runs at a slow pace(although it accelerates and decelerates in itscourse). Even under conscious, countrywide,monitoring it needs several generations.There are four necessary conditions for social-ism:-1. political democracy,2. economic democracy,3. planning4. the "abolition of the social division of la·bour".On point 4 he says "people who spend theirlives performing partial tasks, determined forthem by others .... develop partial conscious-ness" which means that they cannot take anoverall view of things, and this prevents themfrom running things.Decisions should be taken by those affectedby them. This involves the establishment ofself-governing groups which would includespecialists and the creation of a second cham-ber which would be a "House of Interests"comprising representatives of central, regionaland local government together with majorindustries and enterprises, trade unions,consumer groups, community and environ-mental groups and other organisations suchas those representing ethnic minorities,women, recreation, etc.Under negotiated co-ordination (NC), the pro-duction units and other representativeworkplace Bodies would be responsible fortheir daily activities, the use of existing capac-ity and for setting price. But this prime pur-pose would be to meet customer demand.Theywould also do the changing of investmentdecisions and negotiate with NC units ques-·tions of input and distribution.These are a few garbled extracts with which Ihope to persuade people to read the book,which deserves to become a classic of politi-cal economy. Might I close with one morequotation? " The alternative to socialism isbarbarism" .Charlie Swain AEU

LISTINGSEach issue features a listings column. Send usdetails of your meetings or events, regular orone off, and we will include it for FREE.Alternate Mondays at Chapter Arts Centre,7.30pm, Canton and Riverside CND. Detailsfrom Ann Lukes, Tel.. 221841.First Monday each month, Barry Anti-NuclearGroup. Venue varies, contact Janis GriffithsTel.. Barry 740630.First and Third Monday each month,. PenarthCND. Upstairs lounge, Albert Road Commu-nity Centre, 7.30pm.Second and Fourth Mondays of each month.Amnesty International, Friends Meeting House,Charles Street. 7.30pm.Last Tuesday of each month, Cowbridge PeaceGroup. Chapel Cottage, Colwinston, 7.30pm.First and Third Wednesday of each month,Caerphilly CND. Workers' Hall (Back entrance)Behind Snooker Hall.First Wednesday and Third Friday of eachmonth, Uandaff and Fairwater CND. Venuedetails Tel .. 552825.Second Wednesday of each month, CardiffAnti-Apartheid meets at the WAAM office, 224City Road at 7.30pm.Last Wednesday of each month (except Aug.& Dec.), 5.30pm - MSF Insurance Branchmeets at the Oddfellows Club, Newport Rd.,Cardiff.First Thursday each month, Mid GlamorganCND. Otley Arms, Pontypridd, 7.00pm.Second Thursday of the month. Wales· CubaResource Centre meets at the Adult EducationCentre, 28 The Parade, Cardiff, 7.00pm.Third Thursday each month, Transport House,7.00pm, Cardiff Trades Union Council.Third Thursday each month, Gwaelod-y-GarthPeace Group, Village Hall, 8.00pm.Third Thursday each month, Uanishen CND.Church Hall, Heol Hir, 7.30pm.Last Thursday every second month, (odds) -Cardiff Action for Fair Elections (a non partypressure group for Proportional Representa-tion), Roath Community Centre, Ninian Road,8.00pm. Contact Charlie Pearcy, Tel. 619890.Every Saturday, 1O.OOam'tiI5.30pm. - PeaceInformation Stall run by Cardiff Peace Shop inthe Hayes, opposite Mothercare.First and third Saturday every month, 10.00amtil 5.00pm .. Anti Apartheid Information stallrun by Cardiff Anti Apartheid Group, in theHayes, next to the Peace Stall.Woodcraft Folk, the co-{)perative youth move-ment. Regular meetings. Details from JohnGurr, 484041.Poll Tax Hotline. If you are facing a courtsummons or need advice, phone the Hotlinerun by the Welsh Campaign Against the PollTax on 0685-842857.Greenpeace Support Group meets regularly atIntervol. Contact Brigette Wilson, Tel69131 O.Saturday April 27th - Amazonia is a Hot Issue.10.00 am to 4.00pm at the Mackintosh Insti-tute, Keppoch Street. £3/1.50 inc light lunch.Organised byWEA and Brazil Network Cymru.Monday April 29th - Public Meeting called bythe Resource Centre Sub-committee of Car-diff Trades Council to establish an Indepen-dant Resource Centre for trades unionists, vol-

untary groups and the unemployed. MondayApril 29th, South Riverside Centre, BruneiStreet, Cardiff.Monday May 6th - May Day Rallyat 6.30pm,followed by Social at 8.30pm. Star LeisureCentre, Splott Road, Cardiff. Paul Hill (Guild-ford Four), Maria Flores (Cuban Ambassador)plus The Milkshakes, Dave Burns, Cor CochionCaerdydd and lots more. Social £3.50/£2.00Late Bar.Saturday 18th May-Liaison Committee for theDefence of Trade Unions national delegateconference. Conway Hall, Red Lion Square,London WCl, 10.45am. Credentials £3 from61 Shepeshall, Lee Chapel North, BasildonSS155EJ.Friday May 24th· The Caring Decade? -Ajointconference sponsored by the TUC and theCarers National Association at the CongressCentre in London. Details from CongressHouse, Great Russell Street, London WCIB3LS.TUC Educational Trust residential courses attheir centre in London; July 1 - 5, Women'sSummer School, July 15-19, Trade Unions and

the Economy, Tackling Racism at Work, July22 - 26, Trade Unions and the Law. Detailsfrom Julie Crew, Tel 227449. Applicationsmust be approved by your Head Office eightweeks before the course starts, so apply now.Saturday July 6th- Central America - TradesUnions and Human Rights Under Attack, a con-ference on practical responses. Originallyscheduled for February, but postponed be-cause of the snow, this is organised by CardiffEI Salvador and Guatemala group and WalesNicaragua Solidarity. Details from Anna Robin-son, tel 0222-489549.August 17th - 24th. WEA Summer School -Coleg Harlech. This year it features six studygroups, Wales and the World, Changing theImage of Women, Pobl a Gwleidyddiaeth 1815-1992, Trade Unions in a Changing World,German Learners Course, English for GermanSpeakers. Details from WEAOffice, 11 StationTerrace, Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff CF54AA. Tel 552277, or Irene McGrath, 19 Long-spears Avenue, Gabalfa, CF4 3NU, Tel 615000.Grants towards Fees may be available in cer·tain cases.

MAY DAYGREETINGS

USDAWreaches out tolow paid workers

UNION OF SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE ANDALLIED WORKERS

working together in Wales

MAY DAY GREETINGSSouth West Region, Williamson House,17 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF2 1TB

Tel: (0222) 491260Regional Sec. Ivor ]. Thompson

7

Trades Councils' plan to set up aResource Centre enters second phase

Just over two years ago, in March '89, weprinted an article on the Merseyside TradesUnion, Community and Unemployed Centre'.This centre contains a Women's New Technol-ogy training centre, (much like the one inCardiff), a Co-op Development unit, a Record-ing Studio, a Visual Arts;Photographic unit, aSports area, a Print Shop, a Theatre/Confer·ence Centre and Bar, a Library and Museum,and a Children's Centre;Nursery. Inspired bythis, after a resolution in its favour was passed,Cardiff Trades Council established a sub-committee to investigate the possibility ofestablishing a Resource Centre for TradesUnionists, the unemployed movement, andlike minded voluntary groups. This committee,having spent this time looking at the possibleways of establishing such a venture has de·cided that in order to survive in the long term,such a centre must be self financing. Theproposed means of doing this is by letting asubstantial part of any premises as offices atfull commercial rent, which should producesufficient income to support the other activI-ties. Grant aid will of course be sought forindividual projects, but it is felt that it isessential not to rely on it.The committee has spent much time investi-gating the possibilities of setting up this centrein the Friends Meeting House at 43 CharlesStreet together with the site next door, No 41,currently owned by the City Council. Thescheme is in no way tied to this location,although a City Centre location is preferred,but we believed this site to be both suitableand available. Unfortunately such plans havebeen severely hampered by the apparent lackof co-operation by the Estates and ValuationDepartment. The site is up for sale, but theEstates Department will only deal with oneinterested party, Charnwood Holdings Ltd,who also wish, or wished, to purchase theFriends Meeting House, demolish it bar thefrontage, and rebuild over virtually the wholesite. Despite having been promised details ofthe site by the Estates Dept "as soon as theyare available" early last year, we have still not

~~[ijMAY DAY

GREETINGSCardiff District Committee

1-3 Fitzalan PlaceCARDIFF

Tel: 493015

8

received any, in spite of a complaint to theOmbudsman and considerable help from RhodriMorgan MP. It would appear that for whateverreason the Councilor its officers do not takeour proposals seriously enough even to sendus a site plan and details of either an askingprice or tendering arrangements. In the mean-time Charnwood Holdings Ltd have withdrawntheir current planning application, after thePlanning Officer recommended against it in hisreport to Committee. (Charles Street is aConservation Area, and the Planning Brief,which describes Friends as "solid", recom-mends "the existing buildings, which contrib-ute positively to the street scene, will beexpected to be retained and refurbished.")The Estates Department have therefore spent15 months dealing exclusively with a devel-oper whose wishes, so far, have apparentlybeen at odds with its own Planning Brief.Despite these time wasting problems theTrades Councils Sub-Committee have decidedto call a Public Meeting to launch an Indepen-dant Body to pursue the development of sucha Centre, either in Charles Street or else·where, fully recognising that such an opera-tion is beyond its own resources alone. Themeeting is at South Riverside Centre, BruneiStreet, on Monday April 29th at 7.30pm

PUBLIC MEETINGto launch

A RESOURCECENTRE

for Trades UnionistsCommunity Groups& the UnemployedSouth Riverside Centre

Brunei StreetMonday April 29th

7.30pm

In March this year COHSE published a reporton London's mental health services, preparedby John Lister of London Health Emergency,together with information provided by COHSEbranches, Community Health Councils andHealth Authority Managers. It is a crushingindictment on the Tories implementation of"care" in the community. Between 1984 and1991 over 51% of psychiatric beds haveclosed in London, a total of 7,273 beds. Yetthe total number of places in homes (private,voluntary and local authority) only rose from968 in 1981 to 2,180 in 1989, leaving ashortfall of around 6,000 places. In the sameperiod the number of places in day centresactually fell.Copies ofthe report are available from LondonHealth Emergency, 446 Uxbridge Road, Lon-don W12 ONS, Price £10.

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