INSIDE Excerpts from Che Guevara’s ‘Bolivian Diary’ — PAGES 8-9 Youth, workers in L.A. What U.S. elections protest Proposition 187 revealed Anti-immigrant measure passes in California BY PAUL MAILHOT Media pundits are working overtime to BY LAURA ANDERSON dissect the meaning o f the 1994 elections. AND JOHN EVEN H U IS Reams are being written on what is being LOS ANGELES — In the week preced­ called a tsunami, a tidal wave o f change re­ ing the November 8 elections, high school flected in the Republican victory at the students organized virtually daily walkouts polls. The Republican Party now has a ma­ throughout southern California to protest jority in the U.S. Senate and House o f Rep­ Proposition 187. Spanish-speaking gar­ resentatives, and control o f the state legis­ ment workers and truckers also carried out latures in 7 o f the 8 biggest states in the job actions here in opposition to the mea­ country. sure. But the election results do not signal a Proposition 187, which would legally change for the working class. The 1994 bar undocumented immigrants from public elections simply registered the continuing education, health care, and social services, bipartisan shift to the right o f capitalist pol­ was approved at the polls by a substantial itics in the United States. A t the same time, 59 percent margin. Incumbent Republican the elections did not demonstrate a right­ governor Pete Wilson, who handily won ward move in attitudes in the working reelection over Democrat Kathleen Brown, class. Workers continue to bear the brunt had actively campaigned for the proposal. of capitalist depression conditions, and The day after the approval o f the initia­ most see no way out o f the crisis other than tive, some o f its provisions were blocked to vote for someone different, or in big by federal and state judges. Several law­ numbers not to vote at all. suits were filed challenging its constitu­ ■Summing up the results o f a survey of tionality. 5,260 voters leaving the polls. New York Some 2,000 garment workers stopped Times writer Richard Berke surmised, work here November 7, the day before the “ Though the newly elected class o f House elections, and took to the streets to oppose and Senate Republicans has a conservative Proposition 187. tilt, it does not appear to reflect an ideolog­ ical shift among the voters.” The walkout began in the morning in a Militant/Harry King couple o f nonunion garment shops with a High school students rally on steps of Los Angeles City Hall November 7 to oppose W ith no sustained working-class fight- small group o f workers who marched to the anti-immigrant Proposition 187, which voters approved the next day by a 3-2 margin. back against the consequences o f defla­ downtown garment district, which has tionary pressures on jobs, real wages, and dozens o f shops. The marchers stopped pe­ economic security, the political vacuum riodically along the way, chanting to work­ Later on November 7, hundreds of truck Latin American Truck Drivers Association keeps getting filled by the rightward march ers in other factories to join them. The drivers drove their big-rigs, with horns (LA TA ), which represents the nonunion o f the dominant capitalist parties and the crowd of mostly Mexican workers contin­ blaring and hand-lettered banners draped drivers, mostly Mexicans and Chicanos, government. The middle class especially, ued to grow as it snaked through the gar­ over them, in a convoy that began at the who serve the railways and the Port o f Los and large numbers in the working class, are ment district. Many other workers watched Port o f Los Angeles and ended at city hall. Angeles daily with shipments. Along with frightened by a present and future that from windows. The marchers then headed Some 70 big trucks slowed traffic on the banners opposing Proposition 187 in the Continued on Page 4 to city hall, followed by police and televi­ freeways and in the downtown area. convoy, others declared “ Stop police bru- sion helicopters. The demonstration was organized by the Continued on Page 12 Antiabortion terrorist guilty of murder Defenders of BY MAGGIE McCRAW threatening phone calls. tional Organization for Women (NOW), Cuba protest MIAMI — A Pensacola, Florida, jury Prior to the July 29 shooting, Paul H ill and Eleanor Smeal, president o f Feminist found antiabortion terrorist Paul H ill guilty openly defended the actions o f Michael Majority Foundation, both advocates of November 2 of two counts of first-degree G riffin, who was convicted o f the March abortion rights, spoke against the death rightist attack murder and one count o f attempted first- 1993 murder o f Dr. David Gunn outside penalty. “ Paul H ill is a menace to society, degree murder. the other Pensacola clinic that provides but his execution would only serve to in Miami Last July, Hill opened fire with a 12- abortions. H ill regularly marched in front cheapen humanity and add to the already gauge shotgun outside The Ladies Center o f The Ladies Center with a huge sign pervasive climate of violence,” said Ire­ BY ERNIE MAILHOT clinic in Pensacola, killing Dr. John Brit­ reading, “Execute Murderers, Abortion­ land. M IA M I — In one o f the most serious at­ ton and volunteer escort James Barrett. ists, Accessories.” Spokespeople for anti-abortion rights tacks on activists here who oppose the U.S. H ill wounded Barrett’s wife, June, who During his first trial H ill was convicted groups expressed different views. Flip embargo of Cuba, four rightists attacked also volunteered to shield patients from an­ on federal charges o f interfering with and Benham, head o f Operation Rescue Na­ the offices and warehouse o f the Alliance tiabortion protesters and to drive doctors to injuring those involved in the delivery of tional, said H ill “ must forfeit his own” life o f Workers o f the Cuban Community and from the clinics. reproductive services. These charges were for killing Britton and Barrett, because (ATC) November 2. The jury unanimously recommended the first ever filed under the recently en­ “ that is God’s way.” Three o f the attackers — Sixto Reinaldo two death sentences for H ill. Judge Frank acted Freedom of Access to Clinic En­ Other anti-abortion rights leaders who Aquit, 55; Miguel Angel Suarez, 50; and Bell will decide whether to side with the trances (FACE) law. H ill faces a possible visited H ill during the recent trials likened Jorge Luis Valdes, 54; were captured by jury and send H ill to the electric chair or life sentence on these charges also. him to “a soldier dying in a war for his the police at around 10:00 p.m. as they sentence him to life in prison. In both trials H ill requested to use country” and a martyr who “ would be more broke a window to the ATC office. They Three U.S. doctors who perform abor­ “justifiable homicide” as a defense, argu­ powerful dead than alive.” were armed with 10 gallons o f gas, fuses, tions have been shot in the past 18 months, ing that the murder o f abortion providers is A Miami Herald editorial on November and a fully loaded semiautomatic handgun. two fatally. A doctor in Canada who per­ justified to prevent “ the killing of innocent 7 called for the death penalty, claiming it The ATC warehouse contained more forms abortions has also been shot re­ babies.” Judges in both trials rejected this w ill send a message to those who might than 10 tons o f medical supplies. Less than cently. Vancouver physician Dr. Garson defense on the grounds that abortion is a emulate H ill. a half hour before the terrorist attack sev­ Romalis was shot in his kitchen November legal medical procedure. H ill acted as his In her nationally syndicated column, eral Cuba solidarity activists had been in 8 by a sniper using an assault rifle. He took own attorney, offering no testimony or de­ Ellen Goodman says that Paul H ill himself the warehouse labeling and packing these one bullet through the thigh and lost a large fense. is “ proof of the absurdity o f believing in supplies to be donated to Cuba on the up­ amount o f blood. Romalis was taken to a the death penalty as a deterrent.” She coming U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment cara­ hospital where he is in serious but stable Debate over death penalty points out that H ill was a “ diligent student” van. condition. On the heels o f the verdict a debate has o f the “ moderate” antiabortion movement According to the Miami Herald, the Antiabortion forces had previously broken out over whether Hill should be and cautions abortion rights supporters F B I’s Terrorism Task Force had learned demonstrated in front o f Romalis’s house sentenced to death and whether such a sen­ against thinking that H ill “ was just another that the ATC headquarters was to be fire- and office, throwing roofing nails on his tence w ill deter other anti-abortion rights sick, disaffected loner with no one to re­ bombed and moved to capture the men. driveway and harassing him at Vancouver fanatics. place him on the picket line.” They were charged with attempted arson. General Hospital. His family also received Patricia Ireland, president o f the Na- Continued on Page 12 Continued on Page 12

Strikers fight Caterpillar’s legal attacks— page 10 Palestinian death sparks protest 1990. Angry street protests by Palestinians took place November 3 in several West Fare hike protests in Guatemala Bank towns and in East Jerusalem, sparked Bus drivers went on strike and demon­ by a car bomb explosion the day before strators barricaded key bus routes to down­ that killed Hani Abed, a leader o f the group town Guatemala City November 2 and 3 to Islamic Holy War. In the West Bank town protest the doubling o f public bus fares. o f Nablus, Palestinians threw rocks at Is­ The protests against the fare hikes para­ raeli soldiers, who shot at demonstrators lyzed public transportation in the capital. and wounded four. Thousands of Palestini­ The government of President Ramiro de ans marched in Gaza City November 4. León Carpió took a hardnose stance, vow­ Many Palestinians accused the Israeli ing to break the strike. government o f planting the bomb that killed Abed. Mourners at a funeral cere­ Stock market decline mony, led by supporters of Islamic Holy Despite the seemingly strong financial War, shoved Palestine Liberation Organi­ picture indicated over the last several zation leader Yasir Arafat out o f a mosque months by the Dow Jones Industrial Aver­ when he tried to join the service. They age, a commonly used formula based on shouted “ Arafat is a collaborator,” blaming stock prices of 30 major U.S. industrial the Israeli government’s continuing anti- companies, a look at the two main Wall Palestinian violence on the PLO’s signing Street stock exchanges reveals a dramati­ o f an agreement with Tel Aviv. cally different — and more accurate — Workers shovel petroleum sludge from ruptured pipeline in the Russian Arctic. picture. Phil Rettew, a vice president at the The oil spill, which began August 12, could be as large as 2 million barrels. The Indonesian unionist jailed M errill Lynch brokerage firm , reports that, rupture was caused by corroded and poorly maintained conduits. Amosi Talambanua, an Indonesian trade as o f the end o f October, 98 percent of the union leader, was given a 15-month prison stocks on the New York Stock Exchange sentence for “ inciting” protests by more were down 10 percent from their peaks, than 50,000 workers in the Medan area, Oil town retaken in Angola wages due at the end of October, a planned reached in the period from Jan. 1, 1993, to northwest o f the capital city o f Jakarta. The Angolan government troops recaptured wage cut averaging 15 percent over the March 31, 1994. And almost half were workers were demanding a minimum-wage the oil-producing town o f Soyo November next two years, and the elimination o f down 30 percent, while more than 10 per­ increase and the right to organize their own 1 from the right-wing National Union for 2,100 jobs. The airline was forced to can­ cent were chopped in half or worse. union. the Total Independence o f Angola cel its international flights on routes cov­ The other big U.S. stock exchange, ered by other airlines and 70 percent o f its NASDAQ, fared even worse. W hile 98 Tokyo to pay A-bomb victims (UNITA).The town was retaken less than 24 hours after the two parties reached an domestic flights. Unionists plan a second percent o f those shares were down 10 per­ The Japanese government agreed to pay accord to declare a cease-fire beginning strike November 11 against Iberia, which cent, 51 percent had dropped in value by compensation to families of the victims of November 17. could lose $352 m illion this year. 40 percent or more. And one-third of these the atomic bombs that U.S. forces dropped Negotiations between government and stocks had diminished by half or more. on the civilian populations of Hiroshima U N IT A forces are being held in Lusaka, Pension scandal in Britain and Nagasaki in 1945. The payments, Zambia. According to a proposed agree­ Workers in the United Kingdom have Affirmative action program cut $1,000 to each o f 280,000 families, are ment, the U.S., Portuguese, and Russian been burned in a pension ripoff that has af­ A federal appeals court in Richmond, much less than what organizations of governments, which are sponsoring the fected almost 1.5 m illion in the last six Virginia, ruled October 27 that an affirma­ bombing survivors have demanded for talks, are to contribute troops to the 7,000- years. Scores o f workers were convinced to tive action scholarship program for Black years. Families of Japanese citizens killed member “ peacekeeping” force in Angola switch from company pension plans to pri­ students, used at the University o f Mary­ by conventional weapons during World under the United Nations banner. Since the vate plans run by insurance companies that land, was unconstitutional. In November War II are not included in the plan. The moment it won independence from Portu­ lost money after plundering workers’ pen­ 1993 a U.S. court in Baltimore ruled that agreement also excludes the thousands of gal in 1975, Angola has been devastated by sion funds. Former British prime minister the scholarship program was constitutional victims kidnapped from Korea and else­ a war waged by UNITA, with backing Margaret Thatcher actively promoted the because the school had a poor reputation where and forced to work in Japanese fac­ from Washington and the former apartheid “ personal pension” scheme in 1988. for recruiting Black students, who were un­ tories. regime of South Africa, that has left The pension fiasco could cost the British derrepresented at the school. The univer­ insurance business an estimated $3.3 b il­ First national strike in Taiwan 600,000 people dead. sity announced October 29 it would appeal lion, adding another element o f instability the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. About 20,000 workers walked off their Strikers cripple airline in Spain to the British economy. According to the The latest ruling follows a trend o f several jobs for one hour throughout Taiwan to Airline workers in Spain organized a 24- lawyer o f a coal miner who was bilked out court rulings restricting affirmative action protest an increase in health-insurance pay­ hour strike November 2 against Iberia, the of his union-backed pension program, programs. ments. The island-wide strike was said to government-run airline. The workers are there is no guarantee workers w ill get ade­ be the first in Taiwan’s history. protesting the carrier’s refusal to pay back- quate compensation for the money they Nuke tests conducted on 23,000 lost. A panel appointed by the Clinton admin­ Menem defends ‘dirty war’ istration released a report in late October stating that more than 23,000 people in the Argentine president Carlos Menem has United States were deliberately exposed to provoked widespread outrage by publicly radioactive substances in experiments from praising the country’s military for its “dirty 1944 to 1975. The experiments involved war” o f repression, in which — in the 1,400 government-sponsored tests, 400 of name of fighting terrorism — tens of thou­ which are fully documented. People were sands o f unionists, students, and others often exposed without their knowledge, the were tortured and murdered during the m il­ report said. W hile at least 23,000 people itary dictatorships o f 1976-82. have now been identified as radiation “ Thanks to the armed forces, we tri­ guinea pigs, that figure does not include umphed in that dirty war that pushed our tests sponsored by the Department o f De­ community to the brink o f disintegration,” fense or the Department o f Energy, which said Menem to 500 army officials during a could add thousands more, according to ceremony. Several military officers were Ruth Faden, chairperson o f the panel. previously tried and given life sentences but Menem formally pardoned them in —MAURICE WILLIAMS

2 The Militant November 21, 1994 Capitalists demand privatization in Haiti

BY MAURICE WILLIAMS ence o f heavily armed right-wing death With thousands o f U.S. troops still occu­ squads terrorizing Haitian workers and pying Haiti, officials from imperialist fi­ peasants, U.S. national security adviser nancial institutions are meeting in early Anthony Lake told a November 3 news November in that Caribbean country to conference in Port-au-Prince, “ We cannot discuss prospects for profitable capitalist set as a goal the disarmament o f Haiti. It’s investment there. Representatives from the not realistic.” World Bank, The International Monetary Some 400 prisoners, many o f them at­ Fund, the Inter-American Development tachés and former cops, organized a mas­ Bank, and the United National Develop­ sive jailbreak between October 15 and Oc­ ment Program have mapped out plans to tober 30. A t one prison, U.S. authorities reorganize the Haitian economy. found guards casually commingling with First of all, they call for privatizing inmates hanging around outside their cells. state-owned enterprises such as the flour Haitian workers and peasants have m ill, cement company, port authority, tele­ launched a number o f struggles to press for phone company, electric utility, and air­ their rights. Recently about 250 workers port. International investors also want to from the Haitian American Sugar Com­ eliminate about half o f the 45,000 jobs of pany demonstrated outside the national public employees. palace demanding back wages and their Third, they propose eliminating protec­ jobs back. tive tariffs and resuming debt payments to The workers, who were laid off by the imperialist creditors. Mevs fam ily in 1992, said they would In addition, the plan calls for breaking protest outside the presidential scat until an up the private monopolies of Haitian capi­ official heard their complaints. They held talist families to increase penetration by Workers from Haitian American Sugar Co., protest at National Palace in Port-au- up signs saying “ There is no democracy imperialist corporations in agriculture and Prince. The laid-off workers were demanding back wages and their jobs back. without work.” in industries such as the manufacture o f On October 27, 1,500 people attended a baseballs, garments, and electrical appli- church service and protest to commemo­ ances.The wealthy Mevs family, thought to rupt trade unions throughout Latin Amer­ ambassador to Guyana was dumped when rate those killed under the military regime be H a iti’s largest employer, has 14,000 ica. AIFLD chief W illiam Doherty and Guyanese president Cheddi Jagan exposed and to demand justice for the victims o f the workers at 20 companies that sew base­ George Exceus, the Haiti representative for his role in the CIA-sponsored operation 1991 coup.The demonstration, held in the balls, assemble shoes, make soap, and re­ AIFLD , attended the meeting. that led to his defeat in the 1963 elections. town o f Grand Goave, also protested the fine sugar. Another Haitian ruling family, Doherty’s recent appointment as U.S. Meanwhile, despite the continued pres- U.S. m ilitary protection o f the attachés. the Brandts, dominate coffee and other agricultural markets. USAID projects in Haiti Workers occupy apartments in S. Africa To keep workers and farmers in check, the imperialist governments want to con­ BY PRENAVIN PILLAY “The city council has contributed a great now occupies a bachelor flat with her three solidate a reliable police force and stable JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — deal to the inner city decay. They should children. The apartment has electricity and capitalist institutions. More than 40 families broke open a metal see to it that they do something about it running water. “ We have problems but we The United States Agency for Interna­ gate and occupied a block of apartments in soon,” he said. Mashoeshoc has also ac­ are prepared to fix all that-is broken. For tional Development (USAID) has outlined central Johannesburg October 29. The cused the government of leaving the imple­ instance, we do not have hot water, the a $7.5 million “ Local Governance” project block o f 40 flats had been lying vacant for mentation o f the Reconstruction and De­ doors do not lock and the toilet does not to fund pro-government community groups the last four years. velopment Program in the hands of indi­ flush. ^ and undermine independent peasant and la­ The new residents, many of whom have vidual landlords and businessmen. “ This is one way o f showing the govern­ bor organizations. been living on the streets or with friends Inner city residents are exploited by ment how bad the problem o f housing is A $20 million “Elections Assistance” and relatives in overcrowded dwellings, landlords and estate agents who charge and how urgently they need to address the program is projected to create an electoral are members of the Johannesburg Tenants high rents and ignore the maintenance o f problems faced by inner city residents.” council and build up bourgeois political Association (JOTA). The group has been their buildings. JOTA is demanding legis­ she said. parties. Elections for more than 2,000 par­ campaigning for a flat rate o f R250 rent lation that w ill protect urban tenants from JOTA is currently searching for the liamentary, regional, and local seats are per month for low-income city residents such abuse. It is also fighting for the repeal owner o f the block o f apartments to negoti­ scheduled for January but no date has been (1R=US$0.28). JOTA has currently identi­ of the racist Sectional Title Act, which ate the payment o f R250 rent per month by set. fied six other vacant buildings for occupa­ makes it difficult for Blacks to buy homes the new residents. On October 12, a delegation from the tion by homeless workers in Johannesburg. in the city. Due to a moratorium on evictions held American Institute for Free Labor Devel­ JOTA spokesman Moses Mashoeshoe On October 30, families were eagerly by the provincial government, the Johan­ opment (AIFLD ) met in Haiti to step up its said the organization would continue to oc­ cleaning their new apartments and corri­ nesburg City Council, while condemning activities there. A IFLD is notorious for its cupy more units until the city council and dors. Some were moving their furniture in. the fiat occupation, is prohibited from involvement in CIA-funded efforts to dis- government responded to its demands. Gertrude Ntaba, one of the new residents, evicting the new residents. The morato­ rium on evictions was called earlier this year by the African National Congress- dominated regional government in Toronto socialists defend immigrants Pretoria-Witswatersrand-Vereeniging after the Johannesburg City Council demolished shacks built during a land invasion on the BY GEORGE ROSE crs who are exploited by capitalism around in raising our voices against this frame- coldest night o f the year. TORONTO — In the final days before the world “ w ill continue to come here, with up,” Berman declared. the municipal elections here, the Commu­ or without papers, because they have to. Berman added that in her discussions nist League candidates have campaigned to Canada’s rulers know that, and they are not with miners about the Cuban revolution, a defend the Cuban revolution and to build out to stop it. What they aim to do is create number o f these veteran fighters replied ‘Militant’ available the November 12 demonstration in Wash­ huge pools o f cheap labor — workers with that “ the press lied to people in Canada ington, D.C. At a November 5 campaign no legal rights who can be scapegoated and about our strike, they’re lying to people on Peacenet meeting. Communist League mayoral can­ exploited.” about Roger Warren, and maybe they are The M ilita n t is now available via didate John Steele urged his listeners to Earlier that day, Steele and many cam­ lying to us about Cuba and what people computer. All articles, columns, and “ get on the bus to Washington” along with paign supporters participated in a demon­ there arc fighting for.” editorials can be picked up on the so­ coworkers, classmates, and as many others stration o f 250 people through downtown Janet Fisher, Communist League candi­ cialist paper’s new Peacenet confer­ as possible. to protest the anti-immigrant restrictions. date for city council in Ward 2, told the au­ ence by midday each Friday. Readers Steele lambasted as hypocrisy the talk The Communist League candidate and dience about her visit to picket lines and w ill need an account with Peacenet, by the capitalist candidates about a “ new his supporters distributed an open letter demonstrations of striking Caterpillar which is part o f the Institute for Global vision” for Toronto. “ There can be no about his campaign to his coworkers at workers in the United States. She has con­ Communications and has affiliates in common vision for Toronto because there Ford Electronics after management there veyed the Caterpillar fight to 330 striking many countries. In the United States it is a division, a class division, in Toronto, prohibited him from giving campaign liter­ members o f the Canadian Auto Workers at can be reached at (415) 442-0220. The across Canada, and around the world,” ature to another worker during lunch Alcatel in Toronto, as well as to demon­ M ilita nt's conference name is: m ili- Steele said, “ between those who own the break. strators against social service cutbacks and tant.news. wealth, and those who work to produce the Hundreds of workers took copies of the to her coworkers. To get articles from the M ilita nt wealth.” open letter, which was passed out at the Steele arid Fisher have participated in conference (type enter after each factory gate and at a union meeting o f the several all-candidates debates, including a step): First dial into Peacenet or its af­ Socialist opposes police brutality International Association of Machinists. major meeting sponsored by the St. filiate and type your account name and The employers’ “ new vision” includes Nojan Emad addressed the November 5 Lawrence Forum. password. Pick “ c” for conference. increased police violence against working campaign event on behalf of the Young So­ One o f those at the socialist campaign A t “ conf?” type: g militant.news people, Steele said. None o f the big- cialists. He urged students and workers meeting was Tom Browning, a student at The screen w ill ask “ conf?” again. business candidates has opposed the police alike to join a November 16 national McMaster University in Hamilton, On­ Type “ i” for index. Type the number murder in late September o f Albert Moses, demonstration in Ottawa against education tario. Browning learned o f the Communist o f the article you want to read. To a Black bakery worker. Steele and support­ cutbacks. League campaign just a few days earlier print the article type “ c” for capture at ers o f the socialist campaign were part of Also speaking was Susan Berman, who when campaigners set up a table on cam­ the “conf?" prompt. Type “d” for the protests against the racist killing. had returned from Yellowknife, in the pus. download and “ t” for topic. Then pick The Communist League candidate de­ Northwest Territories, site o f a major strike Browning said in an interview that he is your modem protocol (at the M ilitant nounced the government’s anti-immigrant by gold miners in 1992-93. Berman re­ one o f about 20 McMaster students who we use z-modem). campaign. The Liberal Party government ported on the frame-up o f gold miner recently formed a group called the Com­ Pick a file name. To read or print o f Canada has announced restrictive new Roger Warren, now on trial for murder. munist Organization. “ W e’re not tied to another article, type its number. I f you policies against immigrants, and the news Cops and prosecutors at the service of any particular doctrine,” he said. “ There don’t remember it, you can always media and capitalist politicians of all par­ Royal Oak Mines charge that Warren are lots of social issue groups on campus, type “ i” for index. To exit Peacenet, ties are trying to whip up a hysteria blam­ planted a bomb that killed nine replace­ but no one making the connections be­ type "q ” for quit and then type “ bye.” ing crime and other social problems on im­ ment workers in the mine on Sept. 18, tween the issues.” Racism, sexism, and en­ The articles w ill be in the directory migrants and refugees. 1992. vironmental destruction, he said, “ are all where you saved them. The aim o f the restrictions, Steele ex­ “Every miner, every unionist, every symptoms of the same thing. We want to plained, is not to stop immigration. Work- young fighter against injustice has a stake address these on a more political level.”

November 21, 1994 The Militant 3 $30,000 left to collect $125,000 Pathfinder Fund to surpass fund goal! BY CHRISTOPHER HOEPPNER needs to be collected to go over the “The bourgeoisie tries to appropriate all $125,000 goal for the Pathfinder Fund. In culture, to buy it, but it means nothing to the past week rallies in several cities them, to their lives or their wealth. Culture boosted-the collection by $16,592. means everything to the working class,” The November 12 march on Wash­ Mary-Alice Waters, editor o f The Bolivian ington, D.C. affords a big opportunity to Diary of Ernesto Che Guevara, told sell Pathfinder literature and raise funds for participants at a rally in Seattle to raise the fund. A special offer o f the Bolivian money for the Pathfinder Fund. Seventy Diary and a subscription to the M ilitant for people attended the event. “ We must make $23 w ill be especially attractive to people the highest achievements o f humanity our getting on buses or driving down in vans. own or we cannot replace the current A contributor of $100 from Mexico ruling class with a different ruling class writes, “ The long, arduous task o f seeing capable of advancing humanity. This through the transformation of society from capacity does not come automatically. capitalism to socialism requires the With the tremendous pressure o f daily life theoretical and historical foundation that in bourgeois society, we have neither a Pathfinder Press helps to lay. I was quiet room nor time to study in, so we have especially moved by Mary-Alice Waters’s to work at it consciously. There is no other introduction to Che Guevara’s Bolivian way to understand the sweep o f the world D iary." and where our struggles fit in,” Waters “Our Pathfinder Fund event in Man­ said. “ This is the perspective o f Pathfinder chester was extremely successful,” Celia in publishing the D iary. We need a Pugh writes from London. “ We raised perspective o f history.” some $669.” Pathfinder supporters in Pathfinder supporters in Seattle London, are organizing a major round of surpassed their goal o f $5,000 by building phone calling to follow up on a large fund an event with a broad panel o f speakers. mailing. Detailed attention is necessary in Ned Dmytryshyn, a member of the the last week in order to successfully International Association of Machinists in complete the drive in each area. Vancouver, British Columbia, reported on Libby Lindsay, a coal miner and M ilitant and Pathfinder sales teams to member o f the United Mine Workers of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, which America from West Virginia, wrote to has been the scene o f a two-year battle Pathfinder Fund supporters in Pittsburgh. between striking miners and the mine “ I ’ve been reading Pathfinder books as owners and government. “ Miners have well as the M ilita nt for at least 12 years bought more than $400 worth o f Pathfinder now. A ll have been interesting, infor­ Books,” Dmytryshyn reported. "The last mative, and thought-provoking. They give team sold $100 in books as well as 14 me a unique political perspective on why M ilitant subscriptions.” things are the way they are and what’s “ I have been teaching in inner city necessary to change them. I salute schools for 30 years and find Pathfinder Pathfinder Press and offer my continuing the most reliable source o f information for support.” She included a $50 contribution. educating students,” Michelle Jacobson, a To be counted in the final scoreboard, high school teacher and Cuba solidarity final payments need to arrive in New York activist, told meeting participants. no later than 12 noon EST on Wednesday, With one week left to go some $30,000 November 15. What the November 8 U.S. elections revealed

Continued from front page ter the elections, Clinton stressed the need dent of Smith Barney Shearson Asset Man­ the propertied coupon-clippers in the seem increasingly out of control. Newt to continue to work together to make it agement. United States are already sending a warn­ Gingrich, the Republican from Georgia more possible to pursue military options in In fact, prominent voices for the ing message t© their political spokesper­ who w ill likely be the new Speaker o f the meeting U.S. capitalism’s foreign policy wealthy bondholders and financial inter­ sons, not just in the White House but on House o f Representatives, expressed the needs. “ We must also take more steps to ests are openly skeptical about the cam­ both sides o f the aisles in Congress as well. demagogic appeal packaged in various restore the people’s faith in our political in­ paign promises o f politicians in both the ways by both Republicans and Democrats stitutions and agree that, further, in the best Republican or Democratic parties. Many Far right is big loser during the recent elections: “ Middle-class tradition of our own foreign policy that on Wall Street believe that not enough o f The big losers in this year’s elections Americans want a neighborhood where politics w ill continue to stop at the water’s these politicians are yet ready to take on were the most strident rightists, like Oliver their children are safe, a school where they edge,” he said. the kind of sweeping assaults on govern­ North, the Republican Party candidate for actually learn, an .opportunity to work, a In answer to those who predict ment social spending needed to help fuel a U.S. Senate from Virginia. The ideologues chance to save much o f what they earn, the “ gridlock” now that President Clinton is sustained increase in capital accumulation o f the “ cultural war” and the “ crusade for right to spend it themselves,” he stated. faced with a majority-Republican like the one the U.S. rulers enjoyed follow ­ family values” reached too hard and were The Democrats had a harder time mak­ Congress, Gingrich spoke about working ing their victory in World War II. pushed back for now by the dominant ing the message stick, since their party has in a bipartisan spirit. He especially pointed On the day after the election, for exam­ forces in capitalist politics. North, who been in office and is held responsible for out the meeting o f the minds over plans to ple, the New York Times reported that “ Mr. wrapped himself in the flag of tfee Confed­ the deteriorating conditions and insecurity gut welfare programs and cut the deficit. Gingrich shrugged o ff the contention by eracy and spent $18 m illion to win a Sen­ of a growing majority. President B ill Clin­ The financial markets didn’t react to the The Wall Street Journal that the tax cuts in ate seat, was beaten by Charles Robb, who ton’s attempt to pull off an “ October sur­ election results with much agitation either. [the Republicans’ “Contract with Amer­ one political analyst, surprised by the re­ prise” against the Saddam Hussein regime After a several-minute surge in the stock ica] would cost the Government some sults, described as a “ damaged liberal in Iraq by launching a war that could be a market the morning after the election, capi­ $200 billion over five years. He said that Democrat, beholden to President Clinton.” rallying point for the commander in chief talist investors slowed things down and the all entitlements would be on the table ex­ North’s defeat showed the limits o f the and his party never developed. Washington market ended up just about where it had cept Social Security.” “cultural war" demagogues who seek to ran up against too many obstacles with started. “ What happens in the political In its issue just prior to election day, the exploit the mounting economic and social other capitalist governments in Europe, the arena and events o f the day, unless they are leading Wall Street weekly Barron's sug­ crisis to target decisive aspects o f the gains regime in Moscow, and the weakened a total surprise like the Iran-Iraq war, well, gested that the “ bond market’s Man o f the of the labor movement, civil rights strug­ , bourgeois rulers in the G ulf region. the markets tend to do what they arc going Year” award be given to Swedish insur­ gles, and women’s rights fights o f the past In his appeal to the Republican Party af- to do anyhow,” said Hcrsh Cohen, presi- ance magnate Bjoern Wolrath. Wolrath half century and more. Without the kind of had announced a few days earlier that his workers’ struggles that begin to threaten company wouldn’t buy a single govern­ the designs o f the capitalist rulers to boost ment bond until the politicians in Stock­ their profits and stabilize their rule, the Cubans protest at Guantánamo, holm got serious about slashing social owners o f industry arc not ready to let spending and taxes. Wall Street’s powerful rightist forces such as North take the initia­ some demand to return home M oody’s Investors Service got in on the tive and prematurely deepen the political act, announcing it was putting Swedish polarization in the country. BY SARA LOBMAN Cuban territory. Another 46 detainees were government bonds under review for a pos­ Particularly rankling to prevailing bour­ Growing numbers o f the 32,000 Cubans captured by U.S. troops and returned to the sible downgrading. geois public opinion was North’s criticism forcefully detained at the U.S. naval base base. O f the 23,000 Cubans being held in Sweden’s newly elected Social Demo­ o f President C linton’s plans to launch m ili­ in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in Panama, Guantanamo, at least 1,000 have asked to cratic cabinet quickly clicked their heels tary action against Iraq. When North was are protesting the miserable conditions at return to Cuba. and stood at attention. asked if he would support the Clinton ad­ the bases, demanding U.S. visas, or asking At one o f the U.S. camps in Panama, “ Imagine for a moment if the chief ex­ m inistration’s decision in the event that to be returned to Cuba. The Cubans arc several hundred Cuban detainees charged ecutive of New York Life or Prudential In­ U.S. soldiers went into action in the Per­ among the tens o f thousands who left Cuba U.S. soldiers October 29 and began surance declared the U.S. to be an unwor­ sian Gulf, the right-wing politician and for­ in August and September on rafts in the rocking a bus carrying journalists thy creditor, a potential deadbeat,” Bar­ mer lieutenant colonel responded that Clin­ hope of making it to the United States. The following a visit by baseball player José ron's crowed. “The Clinton White House ton is “ not my Commander in Chief.” U.S. government has refused to allow them Canseco. They demanded their freedom is smart enough to know that activist gov­ in. and visas to enter the United States. The ernment is impossible if more bondholders North denounced as unpatriotic Thirty-nine Cubans escaped from the following day, between 50 and 75 of the around the world get worried and follow Prominent play was given to vice- Guantanamo base on November 7, after Cubans threw stones at the U.S. troops and Bjoern Wolrath’s example.” prcsicfent A l Gore’s rebuttal calling breaking down several fences, jumping o ff destroyed part of the camp. Five soldiers In fact, as shown by the months-long a 40-foot c liff, and swimming a mile to and three of the Cubans were injured. slide in the price o f U.S. Treasury bonds. Continued on Page 14

4 The Militant November 21, 1994 Sales teams narrow the gap BY SARA LOBMAN In the final two weeks o f the campaign to win new readers to the socialist press, supporters from New Jersey to New Zealand are organizing to close in on the international goals. Distributors report that getting out the M ilitant, Perspectiva Mundial, and New In ­ ternational has gone hand-in-hand with building the November 12 march ip Washington, D.C., against U.S. government aggres­ sion toward the Cuban revolution. Johanna Ryan reports that sup­ porters in Chicago, who have been substantially behind schedule for most o f the drive, had their best week yet. A ll told 33 subscriptions to the M ilitant were sold. The high point of the week was a two-day team to Indiana University in Bloomington. Eleven students bought subscriptions to the M ili­ Militant/John Naubert tant and five of them decided to M ilita n t supporters in downtown Brooklyn, New York, sell the so­ travel to Washington, D.C., for the cialist press while soapboxing for Socialist Workers candidates. November 12 demonstration. In the wake o f this success, several other Chicago distributors are Edison, New Jersey, 3 workers South Africa, and “ The Opening making plans to take o ff work for bought subscriptions to the M ili­ Guns of WWIII: Washington’s a few days to participate in other tant, 1 picked up a subsciption to Assault on Iraq.” regional teams. Perspectiva Mundial, 13 got sin­ “ We won seven new readers to From Minneapolis-St. Paul, gle copies o f the M ilitant and 2 the M ilitant from among members Minnesota, Jon Hillson reports bought copies of Perspectiva of two striking locals of the Amal­ that several supporters have been Mundial. gamated Clothing and Textile giving slide shows and presenta­ Distributors face a challenge in Workers Union,” Floyd Fowler tions on Cuba at area campuses. meeting goals for the Marxist reports from Atlanta. “ In addition So far they’ve visited the Univer­ magazine New International, but to joining the picket line, we were sity o f Minnesota, St. O laf Col­ are finding that time spent in po­ able to attend a mass meeting in lege, and Macalester College, as litical discussion is well worth the support of the strike. Before I well as the University of Wiscon­ effort among workers and young knew what was happening, a M ili­ sin at LaCrossc. They’ve sold six people. Railroad workers in tant was pulled out o f my hand M ilitant subscriptions, a handful Boston sold three M ilitant sub­ and passed around. I sent a sub­ o f single copies o f the paper, and scriptions and four copies o f New scription card along after it and Pathfinder pamphlets and books. International on the job last pretty soon it was passed back, all Several people have decided to week. One engineer told distribu­ filled out, with dollar bills coming participate in the November 12 tors that having socialists on the along after it. I didn’t have a march and more than 40 people job helped bring information and chance to say a word!” have signed up to get more infor­ broaden the scope o f discussion The final chart for the circula­ mation on the January youth among workers there. He re­ tion campaign w ill appear in the brigade to Cuba. newed his M ilitant subscription, M ilitant that is published on The final week o f the socialist and proceeded to purchase four Wednesday, November 23. A ll election campaign in the United issues of New International, in­ subscriptions that arrive in the States also helped pick up the pace cluding those featuring articles on business office before 12 noon on o f sales. the working-class fight for peace, Tuesday, November 22 EST w ill A t the Ford assembly plant in the democratic revolution in be counted. Cuba book campaign builds march

BY MAURICE WILLIAMS Workers union in Houston, said a Many defenders o f the Cuban coworker looked for her after re­ revolution who are campaigning ceiving a flyer on the Socialist to promote the Pathfinder book Workers campaign. Lee stated, To Speak the Truth: Why Wash­ “ My coworker was attracted to our ington's 'Cold War' Against campaign because o f its defense of Cuba Doesn’t End are participat­ the Cuban revolution. He bought a ing in the national demonstration subscription to the M ilitant and in Washington, D.C., November the next day gave me $10 for To 12. Many young people who have Speak the Truth.” read the book are attending the Lee continued, “ I find that peo­ march. ple who buy the M ilitant and the As o f press time, 593 people books are reading them. And we have bought copies o f ■ this have found total open-mindedness book — barely seven shy o f the toward the Cuban revolution. I tell campaign’s goal of 600! By people the book contains public November 12, this goal should speeches given [by Cuban leaders] easily be surpassed. at the United Nations. It explains One activist in Philadelphia re­ why they made the revolution and ports that 24 people have recently what they accomplished. Workers purchased the book through this want to know this. Workers want campaign. A high school student to know why the U.S. government at a rally against the death penalty hates this tiny country.” bought a subscription to the M ili­ A student from Mexico who at­ tant and a copy of To Speak the tends Houston Community Col­ Truth. lege bought a subscription and a “ He was reading slanders membership to the Pathfinder against the Cuban revolution by Readers Club, which offers dis­ ACTWU-Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union; AEEU- some other radical newspaper,” counts on Pathfinder titles. She Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Workers Union; AFMEU- the activist said. “ After reading bought two Pathfinder books in­ Automotive, Food, Metals and Engineering Union; CAW-Canadian Auto To Speak the Truth, he came back cluding To Speak the Truth. She Workers; EU-Engineers Union; FPU-Food Preservers' Union; IAM- to me and said, ‘you were right was politically active in Mexico International Assocciation of Machinists; ILGWU-lnternational Indies' Garment Workers' Union; MWU-Meat Workers Union; NUM-National about Cuba.’ ” The student plans and told Lee she wants to get in­ Union of Mineworkers; NUW-Union of Workers; OCAW-Oil, Chemical to go to the march November 12 volved in political activities with and Atomic Workers; RMT-National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Trans­ and wants to participate in a four- the supporters o f Pathfinder. port Workers; TGWU-Transport and General Workers Union; UAW- part class series socialists are or­ The final scoreboard for the United Auto Workers; UFBGWU-United Food, Beverage and General ganizing in Philadelphia. campaign to sell this book w ill be Workers Union; UFCW-United Food and Commercial Workers; UMWA- Sandi Lee, a member o f the printed in the next issue. By then, United Mine Workers o f America; USWA-United Steelworkers of Amer­ ica; UTU-United Transportation Union. United Food and Commercial we can go well over the goal. Minnesota socialists get wide hearing

BY DOUG JENNESS bate in which they were on equal footing Damon Tinnon, a national leader o f the We need a revolution in this country that ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Excluded by with the major-party candidates. Himelgrin Young Socialists and the Socialist W or­ can replace capitalism and join in the the organizers from the first televised de­ posted long documents about the need for kers candidate for Minnesota secretary o f worldwide Fight for socialism.” bate in the Minnesota U.S. Senate race, worker solidarity and an end to U.S. fo­ state, spoke with Himelgrin before five Both Hillson and Himelgrin gave nume­ supporters o f Marca Himelgrin, the Socia­ reign involvements.” classes o f seniors at Harding High School rous press interviews, participated in radio list Workers candidate, organized a picket “ The questions are o f the same old tired in St. Paul. Tinnon presented the different talk shows, and each taped brief statements line outside K T C A -T V here as the pro­ how-are-you-going-to-cut-taxes variety,” campaigns the Young Socialists are orga­ that were presented several times on M in­ gram was being aired. said Jon Hillson, Socialist Workers candi­ nizing in solidarity with the Cuban revolu­ nesota Public Radio. Statements by the While six candidates have gained ballot date for governor of Minnesota, “but a tion. He told the students, “ The axis o f my candidates appeared in guides o f the Lea­ status in the Senate race through collecting number of youth are participating in this election campaign is to present the idea gue o f Women Voters the Star-Tribune, the required 2,000 signatures on nomina­ forum and it was a new way to reach them that we need to do what the Cubans did. and the Macalester College paper. ting petitions, the organizers o f all the ma­ with socialist solutions to the crisis that we jo r television and radio debates are inviting face.” As a result, several people called the only Democratic-Farmer Labor and Inde­ socialist campaign headquarters for more pendent Republican candidates to partici­ information. pate. An October 15 candidates forum in A l­ Speaking to the press outside the televi­ bert Lea, Minnesota, with all the senatorial sed debate, Himelgrin blasted this criterion candidates who were being excluded from as unfair and undemocratic. “ I ’m a mem­ TV and radio debates, drew more than 100 ber o f the Steelworkers union and we dis­ people. Himelgrin was invited to partici­ cussed this exclusion at my last union mee­ pate and did so. ting,” Himelgrin told the media representa­ In response to several references to re­ tives on hand. “ My coworkers asked, ‘Who cent nationwide polls that indicate many do these people think they are, deciding people would support an alternative to the which candidates we have a right to hear Democrats and Republicans, the socialist from and which we don’t?” ’ candidate raised that what working people Also organizing a picket line outside the need isn’t “ another capitalist party, but a TV debate was Dean Barkley, who is the party that represents our own interests. Independence Party candidate for the U.S. Only the Socialist Workers campaign is of­ Senate seat and is backed by Ross Perot’s fering a working-class alternative in this United We Stand America organization in years elections,” she said. Minnesota. Barkley’s campaign had obtai­ Himelgrin pointed to the bipartisan bac­ ned a copy o f the questions being posed to king for U.S. war moves in the Persian the candidates inside and he challenged H i­ G u lf and explained that “ We don’t need melgrin to debate the issues. With a volun­ another party that w ill send working peo­ teer acting as moderator, Himelgrin con­ ple to die for oil company profits.” trasted her working-class and communist Militant/Jim Kendrick views to the pro-capitalist stands o f the De­ Socialists back Cuba The Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Senate from Florida, Ernie Mailhot, campaigns at October 15 demonstration in M iam i marking return of Haitian mocratic and Republican party candidates Hillson, who traveled to Cuba earlier president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Maiihot said that “ Washington is out to pro­ inside, as well as Barkley’s. this year as part o f the Freedom to Travel tect the interests of the ruling rich in Haiti and those in the United States who Challenge, gave seven slide-shows on Exclusion becomes topic of debate profit from the exploitation of H aiti’s workers.” Cuba at area campuses over the course of The protest outside the televised debate the campaign. received widespread media coverage. The exclusion of all but Democratic and Repu­ blican candidates from debates in the gu­ bernatorial and senatorial races has be­ ‘Our campaign tells truth about Cuba’ come a hotly contested issue in local edito­ rial pages and radio talk shows. BY AL DUNCAN the article in the M ilitant that exposed the As this was the last weekend before the The only debates that included all the BROOKLYN, New York — “Hi, I’m French government’s racist campaign elections supporters o f the capitalist candi­ candidates were the ones that took place Eleanor García, the Socialist Workers can­ against Middle Eastern and African wo­ dates were out campaigning, too. Suppor­ via computer. The Democrats and Republi­ didate for Congress.” These were the men students who wear headscarves in ters o f Nydia Velazquez, a local liberal po­ cans and several o f the other candidates for words that greeted shoppers and others on France. litician, accused the Socialist Workers U.S. Senate and governor took part. The Fifth Avenue, in the Sunset Park area of Many workers reacted positively to the campaigners o f sounding like preachers project was sponsored by the Minnesota Brooklyn. What they saw and heard was campaign’s stands on Cuba, the fight and undercutting a “ progressive” candi­ Electronic Democracy Project. Three García and others soapboxing for the So­ against police brutality, and the demand to date by being in the area. questions were posed to each candidate cialist Workers campaign. This was the shorten the workweek with no cut in pay as “ I disagree with you,” García said in res­ over a five-day period. first time that th^campaign had done soap- a way to provide jobs. ponse to these charges. “ We are speaking Candidates posted their prepared res­ boxing in this heavily working-class and to the concerns that are on the minds of the ponses to an on-line forum, where ever­ immigrant community. But not all agree working people in this area. It is our cam­ yone with Internet access could read the “ Our campaign opposes making immi­ There were also a few passersby who paign that tells the truth about Cuba, that responses and follow-up rebuttals. In addi­ grant workers the scapegoats for the pro­ opposed what the campaigners were saying opposes police brutality and joins in the tion, participants were encouraged to dis­ blems o f this country,” García explained. and were quite vocal about it. “ Why don’t fight against it.” cuss the debate as it occurred on another “ We believe that working people have to you speak English,” one young person ye­ Socialist campaign supporter Marty An­ on-line forum. As the first election cam­ unite against our common enemy — the lled out in a very hostile tone to one soap­ derson who, after working all night, joined paign debate on the Internet, the event at­ capitalist class, whose system is the source boxer campaigning in Spanish. “ I can’t un­ the campaign team, said, “ This is the way tracted international press coverage. A rti­ o f the problems we face.” derstand you!” to do campaign tables in New York.” cles were written on the debate in the local “ We need to all be in Washington, D.C., papers. The New York Times did a story on November 12 as a way of showing our and the German news service, Deutsche support for the Cuban revolution,” said Scores of L.A. students turn Presse-Agentur, covered the event. John Naubert, another campaign soap­ boxer, referring to the national march in ‘Need for worker solidarity’ defense o f Cuba. “ There working people out to hear partisan of Cuba The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, while are in charge.” noting that the Democratic and Republican Passersby responded to the views ex­ BY MARK FRIEDMAN nure as the central leader o f the Cuban re­ candidates for U.S. Senate had angered pressed by the socialist candidate and sup­ AND JOHN EVENHUIS volution. Another asked, ‘‘what about the many participants in the debate by the lack porters who took a crack at soapboxing LOS ANGELES — Working on two- age of the leadership?” wondering if that of substance in their statements, went on to and to the literature at a nearby campaign weeks notice, the Coalition in Solidarity was a problem. note: “ Meanwhile, Independence Party table. with Cuba organized a six-day visit by An­ Gómez welcomed the questions and said candidate Dean Barkley and Socialist One young worker from France agreed drés Gómez, a longtime leader o f the Anto­ that Castro’s continuing leadership of the Workers Party candidate Marea Himelgrin with the socialist campaigners’ stance on nio Maceo Brigade..The brigade is a revolution reflected the w ill o f the Cuban relished the fact that this was the first de­ the issue o f immigrant workers. He liked Miami-based organization of Cuban- people who value his exceptional qualities. Americans who are partisans o f the Cuban And, he emphasized, “ it’s not a one-man revolution. During the course o f his tour show. There is a collective leadership.” He Gómez spoke to and held discussions with also noted that the Cuban revolution had students at five area campuses. been led by young men and* women and, At Glendale College, he spoke to Pro­ with its history, youth continued to lead to­ fessor Carlos Ugalde’s class on Central day. As a result o f a conscious policy since America and the Caribbean. After the the 1980s, young people have come into class, he met with members o f the Associa­ the highest levels o f leadership in the go­ tion o f Latin American Students. The vernment and in the Communist Party, sta­ group had convened to map out activities ted Gómez. in the fight against the anti-immigrant Pro­ The Cuban-American activist pointed position 187. A t Cal State Los Angeles, out that with the outcome o f the last elec­ Gómez spoke to a freshman Latin Ameri­ tion, 83 percent o f Cuba’s National Assem­ can history class. bly are first-time members many o f whom Some 30 students and several faculty arc young. Thirty-eight percent o f the As­ members at Claremont College, some o f sembly are women. whom have been involved in organizing The visit by Gómez came during the travel projects to Cuba and in a study first days o f the massive student walkouts group on the Cuban revolution, heard his in opposition to Proposition 187. He talk. La Raza Student Association organi­ warmly applauded this development and zed a meeting o f 40 to hear Gómez at Cal stressed its importance as an example in re­ State Long Beach. sisting the attacks by the U.S. rulers. One student at the Cal State meeting as­ ked Gómez about Fidel Castro’s long te- Sandra Pucci contributed to this article.

6 The-Militant November 21,1994 -YOUNG SOCIALISTS AROUND THE WORLD ------New York students march against education cuts

BY BROCK SATTER College. NEW YORK— Three hundred stu­ On the way back to city hall, students dents protested outside city hall here continued chanting. Many passersby and November 7 chanting “Cut your checks, workers in shops along the way nodded in not ours,” “Education is a rigfight, ht, agreement. One hospital worker, a member fight, fight,” and “ They say cut back, we o f American Federation o f State, County say fight back.” Students at the Borough of and Municipal Employees District 37, said Manhattan Community College (BMCC) that his union had been fighting cuts are leading a fight against a proposal to against public hospital workers. He said slash $7 million from the City University that he supported the students. A t city hall of New York (CUNY) system. BMCC and another protest was being waged by a so­ five other colleges have been targeted to cial service agency against the budget cuts bear the brunt o f these cuts. and their affect on AIDS services. The measure would result in 7,000 stu­ At the rally Naomi Craine, member o f dents being turned away at the college the Young Socialists and Socialist W ork­ doors by next semester, the elimination of ers candidate for U.S. Senate from New 1,100 classes, the end o f special services York, spoke. “ We came here to support like English as a Second Language pro­ your fight, just as we support the fight of grams, and the cutting o f fu ll- and part- students who are walking out in California time faculty and staff. The cuts come in the against Proposition 187, which would take midst o f a series o f layoffs and concession away the right o f health and education for contracts forced on city employees by the undocumented immigrants and their chil­ administration of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. dren,” she said. “ We need to cut through “There’s something wrong when every all this racism, sexism, and anti-immigrant publication, every institution, every person sentiment that is used by Republicans and in the world says we need an education and Democrats alike to keep working people they try to take it away,” explained Alex divided. One o f the things we are helping Acevedo, a 25-year-old BMCC student. to build is a demonstration on November Acevedo was part of a student occupation 12, in Washington, D.C., against the U.S. at Brooklyn College against education cuts economic embargo of Cuba.” in 1990, when he was enrolled there, dur­ Nigesa Scales, 22, a Cuban-American ing a series o f student takeovers of build­ liberal arts major, remarked, “ Cuba has a Militant/Rose Ana Berbeo ings at CUNY campuses involving thou­ 99 percent literacy rate. To have that rate Hundreds of students from City University of New York campuses rallied November sands o f students. in such a poor country makes the U.S. look 7 to protest education cuts that would prevent thousands from attending school. really bad. America is trying to keep the ‘They’re playing with our future’ Cubans down because they are trying to The protest at first was 75 people strong. improve life for their people. After all they marched back to the BMCC campus, her for disorderly conduct. Sampson was The students marched back to BMCC to these years America is trying to keep Cuba a few students and police got into a shov­ the only student arrested during the get even more people to join. They in enslavement.” Scales voiced interest in ing match. In an effort to defuse the situa­ demonstration. marched through the school halls chanting, the November 12 demonstration. tion from developing into a melee, many Camillo explained at the tally, “ We need banging on the walls, and calling the stu­ students urged their peers to keep march­ to come back later in the week and bring dents out o f their classes. Candice Camillo, Disciplined protest ing. One of these students, Ivory Sampson, others from the entire the CUNY system student body president and a leader o f the The students showed self-discipline and was caught in the middle o f the scuffle. student body.” protest, spoke to students in the cafeteria. a willingness to have a peaceful demon­ One student reported that Sampson was “ It is time for you to wake up. They’re stration, successfully deterring numerous jabbed in the stomach by a cop with a ba­ Brock Salter is a member o f the Young So­ playing with your future. They’re planning altercations with the police. However, as ton and knocked down. The police arrested cialists in New York. to increase tuition by $2,000,” Camillo said. “ W ho’s ready to pay $2,000 a semester?” Although the BMCC president urged ‘ Anticrime ’ drive is attack on workers students to return to their classes, they BY MARK CURTIS Galati condemns the racist nature o f the democratic rights and use the whole crim i­ tripled the size o f the march. The protest FORT MADISON, Iowa — In Iowa’s capitalist government’s execution system. nal “justice” system — from cops to parole also included students from LaGuardia gubernatorial election, like other cam­ “ Forty percent o f those awaiting execution — to intimidate working people. Many Community College, another school paigns around the country, the incumbent in the United States are Black,” he said. prisoners here in Fort Madison are repelled marked for cuts, and New York Technical Republican and challenging Democrat The socialist candidate sent a message to by the bipartisan nature o f this drive, re­ tried to outdo each other in proposals to Nebraska governor Ben Nelson demanding flected in the election campaign. “ fight crime,” such as reinstating the death he stop the September 2 execution o f Otey. Young Socialists penalty, building more prisons, and mak­ Galati’s opposition to building more Capitalism is a criminal system $16,000 Travel Fund. ing prisoners serve longer sentences. jails and keeping inmates in them longer Those who hear about socialist worker TTiere is no real debate — just different also contrasts with his two big-business op­ Mike Galati’s campaign see a completely The Young Socialists are embarking on plans on how many new cells to build and ponents. Both Branstad and Campbell de­ counterposed perspective, one that starts an international campaign to defend the Cuban revolution, sending a representative where to build them. Only Socialist W ork­ mand new prisons and longer sentences. from the fact that workers, in and out of to an African National Congress conference ers candidate Mike Galati has campaigned Iowa’s prisons are already overcrowded prison, have the capacity and interest to in South Africa, and sending YS representa­ against the death penalty and for the demo­ with 5,274 inmates, 1,671 over capacity. A fight for a future free o f such brutalities. tives to Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Australia, cratic rights o f working people. big part o f this increase is caused by in­ A combative mass working-class move­ and New Zealand. For the last few years Governor Terry mates being forced to serve more o f their ment w ill reject the “ lock ’em up” solu­ To carry this out the YS has launched a Branstad has used every grisly murder and sentence. For example, the average time tions of the rich. The future lies in fighting $16,000 international travel fund. Send your contributions to the Young Socialists, the outrage against them to promote laws served on “ Class B” felonies, which carry to get rid o f the international system of ex­ P.O. Box 2396. New York. NY, 10009. to bring executions back to Iowa. In this he a 25-year sentence, went from 69 months ploitation, plunder, murder, and other has been helped by President B ill Clinton’s in 1987 to 103 months in 1993. crimes — capitalism — and replacing it campaign for a national "crime” bill that The anticrime hysteria is a national cam­ with a government o f workers and farmers would extend execution for more federal paign by the ruling employers to restrict that can open a real future for humanity. crimes. The last federal execution was car­ ried out in the Iowa State Penitentiary here in 1963. The death penalty was abolished Professors students in Cuba in this state in 1965. , This year two neighboring states restarted their death machinery, executing protest Mark Curtis frame-up Harold “Willie” Otey in Nebraska and John Wayne Gacy in Illinois. In Wisconsin BY JOHN STUDER he was a political activist and fought for his the killing of a policeman is being used by DES MOINES, Iowa — “There is no union,” the Cuban professor wrote Curtis’s capitalist politicians to boost support for a doubt that the case o f Mark Curtis, like the defense committee, “ I cannot stop wonder­ new death penalty law. cases o f Sacco and Vanzetti and so many ing how ‘right’ the U.S. government is in For her part, the Democratic candidate. others, is a blatant cover-up by a system of its eternal cries about human rights.” Attorney General Bonnie Campbell, has police brutality,” begins a letter recently “ What do the local authorities in Iowa stated that she has reservations about the received by the Mark Curtis Defense Com­ fear so much? What kind of adjustment death penalty based on a “ very deep, deep mittee. does such a judicial system need?” she moral objection.” How deep is “ very The letter, from Rosa Maria de Labaye adds. “ Mark Curtis will be ‘vindicated by deep?” You can measure it with your Guerra, a professor at the University of history’ and by us, his peers. It is only fair thumbnail. “ I ’m not w illing to force those Havana, backs the fight for justice for to request and demand his freedom and [beliefs] on everyone,” Campbell adds, Mark Curtis, a union and political activist right to life.” saying, “ I ’d consider it” if the legislature imprisoned in the Iowa State Penitentiary De Labaye acted on her beliefs and cir­ approved the death penalty and there were in Fort Madison, Iowa. Curtis was framed culated a petition to the Iowa State Board "compelling arguments” it helps deter up by Des Moines police in 1988 on o f Parole among many o f her colleagues. crime. charges of rape and burglary. “ The undersigned are strongly in soli­ Curtis was arrested and beaten by the darity with the Mark Curtis case, because Socialist alternative cops while participating in a public cam­ we consider the request for his freedom an Galati, a meatpacker and member of the paign to defend 17 o f his cowork­ act o f justice and honor,” the appeal states. United Food and Commercial Workers ers — workers from Mexico and El It is signed by 79 professors, workers, and union, opposes the death penalty as “ a seri­ Salvador — at the M onfort meatpacking students at the University o f Havana. ous threat to the labor movement” that has plant who had been seized in a federal im­ The petition concludes, “ We ask that he been used as a "weapon o f repression and migration raid on the factory. be exonerated and that his constitutional terror” against working-class fighters who “ Since I learned o f the dirty trap that and human rights be returned. One and a get snared in the cop-court-jail trap. was set for this man for the sole reason that thousand times: freedom for Mark Curtis!”

November 21,1994 The Militant 7 ‘We are patiently preparing for a social revolution that will transform the system’ Excerpts from new edition of ‘The Bolivian Diary of Ernesto Che Guevara’

Ernesto Che Guevara, born in Ar­ avoid providing a pretext; it is in effect a the internationalist spirit that characterizes that a new day would dawn, and that the gentina, was a central leader o f the Cuban show of solidarity with U.S. imperialism the world o f today, and w ill do so even workers would finally become masters of revolution. In 1966-67 he went to Bolivia and its policy o f dominating and enslaving more in the world o f tomorrow.... their own destiny. to forge a fighting movement of workers the world. Also among those who may be inter­ But the workings o f world imperialism and peasants that could win the battle for Cuba is a small country, economically ested in keeping the diary unpublished are have revealed, for those with eyes to see, land and national sovereignty and open the underdeveloped as are all the countries the pseudorevolutionaries, opportunists, that when it comes to social revolution socialist revolution in South America. He dominated and exploited for centuries by and charlatans o f every stripe. These peo­ there arc no halfway solutions. Either all was captured and murdered by the B o li­ colonialism and imperialism. It is located ple call themselves Marxists, Communists, the power is seized, or the advances won vian army in a CIA-organized operation in only ninety miles from the coast o f the and other such titles. They have not hesi­ with so much sacrifice and so much blood October 1967. United States, has a U.S. naval base on its tated, however, to call Che a mistaken ad­ will be lost.... We are patiently preparing Guevara kept a diary in Bolivia that tells territory,1 and faces numerous obstacles in venturer or, when they speak more be­ the country for a deep-going social revolu­ the day-by-day story of that effort. It pro­ attaining socioeconomic development. nignly, an idealist whose death marked the tion that w ill transform the system from top vides insight into the practical activity, Grave dangers have threatened our country swan song of revolutionary armed struggle to bottom.... leadership capacities, and political think­ The working masses should continu­ ing o f one o f the outstanding communist ously bring their pressure to bear against leaders.of the 20th century. the government, since this is a class strug­ The Bolivian D iary o f Ernesto Che gle whose fronts are without limits. Guevara, Pathfinder’s newly translated Wherever he may be, a worker has the edition of this work, long out of print, obligation to fight with all his strength also includes a number o f documents against the common enemy. written by Guevara from Bolivia as well Comrade miner: the guerrillas o f the as accounts by other guerrilla fighters ELN 4 await you with open arms, and in­ who survived. These include Inti Peredo, vite you to join the workers o f the subsoil a Bolivian communist murdered by the already fighting at our side. Here we w ill country’s m ilitary dictatorship in 1969, rebuild the worker-peasant alliance that and Harry Villegas, a Cuban revolution­ was broken by the demagogy o f the an­ ary known in the diary as Pombo. This tipopular forces. Here we w ill convert de­ material sheds additional light on Gue­ feat into victory, and transform the vara’s political thinking and strategic lament of proletarian widows into a hymn plans, and on the political functioning o f of victory. We await you. the guerrilla unit. The passages that follow are taken Message to Fidel Castro by Che from several o f these items, as well as Guevara, July 1967 from Fidel Castro’s "A Necessary Intro­ From eastern Bolivia, where we are duction,” written in 1968 for the first edi­ fighting to duplicate the nation’s strug­ tion of the diary and published the same gles o f the past, we extend our warm and year. They are © 1994 by Pathfinder fraternal greetings. We do so inspired by Press and are reprinted by permission. the modern-day example o f the Cuban revolution, standard-bearer o f the op­ From ‘A Necessary Oruro, Bolivia, 1964. Miners carrying dynamite protest killings of student demonstrators Introduction’ by Fidel Castro pressed peoples o f the world. Our greet­ by police. In the years before and after the guerrilla struggle led by Guevara in 1966-67, ings w ill be joined with those o f millions Bolivia was the scene of mounting political battles by workers, peasants, and youth. The Cuban revolution and its relation of others who consider this date as the to the guerrilla movement are repeatedly opening o f the final stage o f the liberation since the triumph o f the revolution. But im­ in Latin America. “ If Che himself,” they referred to in the diary. Some may interpret o f the Americas. perialism will never make us give in for exclaim, “ the greatest exponent o f these our decision to publish it as an act of We relay to you, your comrades, and these reasons, because the difficulties that ideas and an experienced guerrilla fighter, provocation that w ill give the enemies of your entire people our unreserved devotion flow from a consistently revolutionary line died in the guerrilla struggle and his move­ the revolution — the U.S. imperialists and to the common cause, as well as our con­ o f action are o f no importance to us.... ment failed to liberate Bolivia, it only their allies, the Latin American oligarchs gratulations on completing another year of Che and the extraordinary example he shows how mistaken he was!” How many — ammunition for redoubling their efforts intransigent struggle against U.S. imperial­ set are becoming more and more powerful o f these miserable creatures were happy at to blockade, isolate, and attack Cuba. ism. in the world. His ideas, image, and name Che’s death, not even blushing at the Those who judge the facts this way are banners o f struggle against the injus­ thought that their positions and line o f rea­ should remember that U.S. imperialism has From ‘My Campaign with Che’ tices suffered by the oppressed and ex­ soning coincide completely with those of never needed a pretext to carry out its by Inti Peredo ploited. They evoke impassioned interest imperialism and the most reactionary o li­ crimes anywhere in the world, and that its among students and intellectuals the world garchs!... W ith his usual frankness, Che explained efforts to crush the Cuban revolution began over. Recalling the feat carried out by this that the struggle would have the following as soon as our country passed its first revo­ In the United States itself, the Black handful o f revolutionaries touches one characteristics: it would be long, harsh, and lutionary law. This course stems from the movement and progressive students — deeply. In and o f itself, the struggle against cruel. Therefore, no one should set their obvious and well-known fact that imperial­ both o f which continue to grow in the hostile natural environment in which minds on a “short-term” perspective. He ism is the policeman o f world reaction, the numbers — have made Che’s figure their they operated constitutes an insurmount­ then went on to explain why he had chosen systematic promoter o f counterrevolution, own. In the most militant demonstrations able page of heroism. Never in history has Bolivia as the theater for the war. and the protector o f the most backward and for civil rights and against the aggression so small a number of men set out on such a The choice, he stated, was not an arbi­ inhuman social structures that remain in in Vietnam, his image is brandished as an gigantic task. Their faith and absolute con­ trary one. Bolivia is located in the heart of the world. emblem o f struggle. Few times in viction that the immense revolutionary ca­ the southern cone o f our continent, border­ Cuba’s solidarity with the revolutionary history — perhaps never before — has a pacity of the peoples o f Latin America ing five countries, each with a political and movement may be the pretext, but it w ill figure, a name, an example become a uni­ could be awakened, their confidence in economic situation becoming increasingly never be the real cause o f U.S. aggression. versal symbol so quickly and with such im­ themselves, and the determination with critical. Bolivia’s geographic position thus To refuse solidarity in order to avoid pro­ passioned force. This is because Che em­ which they took on this objective—all makes it a strategic region for extending viding a pretext is a ridiculous, ostrich-like bodies, in its purest and most selfless form, these give us a just measure o f this group the revolutionary struggle to neighboring policy that has nothing to do with the inter­ o f men. countries. nationalist character o f the social revolu­ It must be kept in mind, he went on, that 1. A refemce to the U.S. naval base at Guanta­ tions o f today. To refuse solidarity to the ‘To the Miners of Bolivia,’ Bolivia cannot win its liberation alone, or revolutionary movement not only does not namo Bay in southeastern Cuba. • written by Guevara at least it would be very difficult to do so. in June 1967 Even after the army and the state power are defeated, the triumph of the revolution is Proletarian blood has once more been not assured. The servile governments, led shed in our mines.2 Over many centuries, by imperialism — or imperialism directly, the blood o f enslaved miners has alter­ with the collaboration o f the servile nately been sucked dry, and then shed governments — will try to destroy us. whenever built-up injustice has led to ex­ Nevertheless, if in the course o f the strug­ plosions of protest. This repetitive cycle gle we are faced with the opportunity of has continued without variation for hun­ taking power, we will not hesitate in as­ dreds of years. suming that historic responsibility.... In recent times, the pattern was broken The war in Vietnam, he stated, is one temporarily, and the insurrectionary work­ part — although the most important — of ers were the decisive factor in the victory the worldwide struggle against imperial­ of April 9.' This event gave rise to hopes ism. The war in Vietnam is our own war. Imperialism has converted that heroic 2. A reference to the army’s massacre at Siglo country into a laboratory experiment, so X X mines on June 24, which left 20 dead and that the techniques o f military destruction scores wounded. developed there can later be used against 3. A pril 9, 1952, was the date o f an insurrection the peoples o f our continent. that toppled the Bolivian m ilitary government Continued on next page and installed a new regime led by the Revolu­ tionary Nationalist Movement (MNR). The Bo­ 4. The guerrilla organization led by Guevara in livian trade unions, led by the miners, played a Bolivia was named the National Liberation central role in the uprising Army (ELN) of Bolivia.

8 The Militant November 21,1994 Ambitious plans to promote Che book

BY MAGGIE PUCCI titles on Cuba were the ones that interested Pathfinder Press has shipped out more visitors most,” reports Birgitta Isacsson. than 2,000 copies o f The Bolivian D iary o f Three copies o f the Bolivian Diary were Ernesto Che Guevara since the book was purchased at the fair. published in late October. Distributors of Pathfinder around the world have am­ Book fairs bitious plans for promotion and sales o f the This title w ill also be featured in new book, beginning with a special offer Pathfinder booths at upcoming events such for participants in the national march on as the California Library Association, the Washington, D.C., to demand an end to the Miami International Book Fair, and the U.S. embargo against Cuba (see adve­ Guadalajara International Book Fair, rtisement on opposite page). which takes place in that Mexican city in The effort to distribute this book broadly early December. follows up on the successful campaign to Pathfinder has sent out copies o f the sell 600 copies o f To Speak the Truth: Why book to review journals and mailed 350 Washington’s ‘Cold War’ Against Cuba press releases, with another 100 going out Doesn’t End. Many people who purchased electronically through the Internet. this title w ill be interested in the Bolivian Promotion o f the Bolivian Diary got a Diary. further boost with the production of a full- color poster featuring the book cover and a Students promote book on campus brochure promoting this title as well as a The Pathfinder bookstore in Detroit range o f other titles. features a large color blow-up o f the Marcella FitzGerald from Pathfinder book’s cover in its storefront window. Distribution, Ltd., in London writes, “The Pathfinder Readers Club members at poster w ill be a real asset in promoting the Wayne State University there reserved a book. As well as bookshops, we have display window on campus for one week found that libraries like to do displays in featuring the Bolivian Diary and publicity the foyer....W e also want to ask student for the demonstration. unions to display the poster.” Pathfinder Volunteers from the San Francisco Distribution in London has already Pathfinder bookstore featured the book in received an order for 35 copies from a their booth at the annual San Francisco major British wholesaler. Book Festival, where they sold 10 of the Pathfinder will be mailing the brochure 37 copies they have sold so far. Four to more than 5,000 bookstores, libraries, people bought the book at a special event and university faculty members. for the Pathfinder Fund featuring Mary- Pathfinder has already received a Alice Waters, the book’s editor. request for an examination copy of the Waters also spoke at a Pathfinder Fund book from a professor at the University of rally in Seattle, where seven participants Pittsburgh. “ During the spring semester of bought the book and five joined the the present academic year I w ill be Pathfinder Readers Club. teaching a section o f “ Literature and Ideas” The Bolivian Diary was also among the that is to focus on postcolonial literature of dozens o f titles sold at the Gothenburg Latin America and the Caribbean. I am book fair in Sweden at the end o f October, considering using Che Guevara’s Bolivian attended by 95,000 people “ Pathfinder D iary," the professor wrote. Excerpts of Che’s ‘Bolivian Diary’

Continued from previous page because he felt it was a necessity. In Vietnam one can see clearly how im- Moreover, he himself continuously stud- perialism not only violates a country’s bor- ied the classics. He greatly admired Marx, ders, but erases them entirely, claiming its in particular. In Bolivia the notes from his “ right” to chase after the patriots o f the studies o f Marx and mathematics must armed forces o f the peoples o f Indochina have filled up 15 or 20 notebooks. Che sys- through Cambodia or Laos, bombing vil- tematically studied higher mathematics and lages in these countries, and extending its enjoyed teaching it to everyone. He ex- brutal genocide with impunity. plained that it was the basis for mastering The same thing w ill happen in Latin any science. America, Che explained. Borders are arti- with regard to classes, he established a ficial concepts imposed by imperialism to system whereby he taught some subjects keep the peoples divided. Any people that and utilized instructors for others. He recognizes these borders is condemned to taught history, French, and mathematics, isolation, and their liberation w ill be slow w jth Suarez Gayol and San Luis as instruc- and painful. tors. Aniceto and Pedro (both Bolivians) On the guerrillas’ battle for taught Quechua. culture, by Cuban combatant we Heread> also rotatjng instituted books discussions among a„ the on com. what Harry Villegas (Pombo) rades. In this way we read a very interest- From the time o f our arrival in Bolivia, ‘"g novel with historic and social themes, one o f the first tasks that Che laid out was dealing with an uprising o f women in aimed at preventing a repetition o f what he Cochabamba during the colonial period, considered to be a weakness o f the Cuban There also existed among us a great revolution. This was that the members o f movement with regard to reading. Che was the Rebel Army, its leading cadres, had hot ^ leader >n this, reading The Young Hegel acquired a sufficient educational ground- ar,d Capital. He always carried one or two ing and political level to be able to hold the volumes of Capital in his knapsack, type of leadership responsibilities re- eame to have a good library in Bo- quired. He said that the cadres had to have livia, composed o f 300-400 books. A sys- a cultural and intellectual level that would tern was established whereby each com­ allow them to carry out their tasks without rade carried one or two books in his knap- coniniittin^ barbarities. sack* read them* and then passed them on He later explained, "That must not hap- to others, pen to us. We have to forge in this army The objective Che was pursuing was to what w ill become the backbone o f our fu- raise our cultural level. At the same time, ture government. Because it is from here, he always made us see clearly that even this nucleus, that the cadres w ill arise who though war presented d iffic u lt circum- w ill lead the National Liberation Army o f stances, in which one had to live under this continent.” constant tension, nevertheless we could not For this reason he established compul- let ourselves take an easy-going and con- sory study o f a whole series o f subjects, in- formist attitude that would have us put o ff eluding political economy, history study until later. We had to study right (specially that o f Bolivia), higher mathe- there in the guerrilla camp, he said, with an matics, and languages. He felt it was indis- enthusiasm and determination equal to the pensable for us to be able to speak the way we confronted the vicissitudes and dif- samc language as the inhabitants there, and ficulties we faced. And one o f the biggest for that reason we studied Quechua or Ay- such difficulties to overcome was precisely mara, in addition to French for those who the one he sought to instill; the habit of wanted it. He drove us to systematic study study.

November 21,1994 The Militant 9 4Road Warriors’ take Staley battle to labor nationwide BY BETSY FARLEY “ When I go out to speak, it’s not just AND DAVID MARSHALL union talk, but labor talk,” explained DECATUR, Illino is — When Janey Lorell Patterson, a process support worker M cKinney’s husband was locked out by in the plant since 1990. “ A lot o f people A.E. Staley, a major producer of corn aren’t in unions. This is a struggle not just sweeteners, in June 1993, she said she had for union workers but for all workers. two choices: “ Either lie down and get “ You hear people talk about the walked on or stand up and fight. And I ’ve ‘American Dream,’ ” Patterson continued. never been someone to lie down.” “ But what’s so American about it? Most o f McKinney and her husband Bob joined us come from farm work or other Iow- 150 other locked-out workers and family wage jobs. Sure, you’d like to think you members to become “Road Warriors,” can have a home and a secure retirement. traveling across the country to tell their But that’s just it, a dream. story, reach out for support, and extend “ I t ’s-been only 30 years since they let solidarity to other unions fighting their Black people vote in the South,” Patterson Militant/David Marshall own battles. said. “ Some people think they can’t take Staley “Road Warriors” and supporters at work in their office in Decatur, Illinois. Today with 1,800 members o f the those rights away, but look at this blatant United Auto Workers (UAW) on strike racism by Governor [Pete] Wilson in Cali­ against Caterpillar, another 1,250 members fornia against the immigrants, or this new down to Grayson,” G riffin continued. body did anything. What happened to o f the United Rubber Workers (URW ) on book about Black people having less intel­ “ It was a big plus for us when Caterpillar PATCO in 1981 was tragic, but I can’t go strike against Bridgestone/Firestone, and ligence than whites. The corporations w ill and Firestone went out. This was the ulti­ back and change that, just like I can’t go 762 members o f United Paperworkers In­ take our rights away if we don’t protect mate ignorance o f management, because back and change slavery. What’s important ternational Union (UPIU) locked out at them.” when you’ve got a town out on strike, is what we can do now to support each A.E. Staley, more than 10 percent o f the you’ve got an army. You could see that at other.” industrial working class o f Decatur is on Solidarity with Cook’s Ham workers the October 15 rally. The will of the work­ G riffin added, “ W e’ve gone out coast to the picket lines. Workers from all three lo­ A contingent of Cook’s Ham strikers ers can overcome the companies and police coast, speaking to auto workers, steelwork­ cals, along with unionists from other locals made the trip to Decatur for the October 15 belligerance.” ers, miners, garment workers, government and supporters, get together in weekly rally, where they made contacts and won G riffin reports that Road Warriors have workers, students, civil rights organiza­ meetings to plan solidarity activities. new support for their struggle. Workers at been to every union mine in Illinois. tions, and more.. We have over 20 support “ When 19 members o f the Teamsters Cook’s Ham, a pork processor in Grayson, “ Miners in Illinois and Indiana have really groups in cities across the country. W ith­ union were forced out on strike by Over­ Kentucky, owned by ConAgra, have been embraced our struggle,” he said. Road out a rank-and-file grassroots movement, land Express in Springfield, [Illinois], we involved in a bitter strike battle for more Warrior trips are sometimes organized to­ the labor movement w ill die in this coun­ got more than 150 people from all three than a year. “ I ran into them when I spoke gether with strikers from Caterpillar and try. But what we’ve seen is testimony that unions to go down there and help them at the trades and labor council in Firestone. A group from all three unions is labor is alive and well. It just needs leader­ picket,” explained Frankie Travis, who Louisville,” explained Mike G riffin, one of currently touring Utah at the invitation of ship.” worked at the Staley plant before the lock­ the Road Warriors’ organizers. several unions there. For information on how you can con­ out. “ W e’re planning a caravan on Novem­ “ When we go out we get information tribute to this fight, write: Staley Workers The idea for the Road Warriors came ber 6 to take winter clothing donated by and share it with other people,” Patterson Campaign for Justice, 3080 B Kandy Lane, from Ray Rogers, o f Corporate Campaign members of the UPIU, UAW , and URW said. “ In the 1980s plants went out and no- Decatur, IL 62526; or call (217) 872-2205. Inc., said Gary Lamb, an executive board member o f UPIU Local 7837. “ This was new for our members,” Lamb said. “ We said, ‘We want you, and we want to run the Strikers fig ht Caterpillar legal moves wheels o ff your car, and we’ll pay for the gas.’ BY ANGEL LARISCY The company is now moving to get an Strikers and supporters in Peoria con­ “ We started making calls to other unions PEORIA, Illinois — Members of the injunction against rallies held outside its tinue to discuss ways to reach out and win and sending out mailings. Soon we out­ United Auto Workers (UAW) union on headquarters. Caterpillar claims that new support for the strike. A program grew our office in the union hall and set up strike against Caterpillar continue to orga­ weekly rallies and pickets at their offices, sponsored by the Womens Studies Depart­ the Campaign for Justice office across the nize activities and protests as the company along with 29 other activities that union ment at Bradley University here entitled street.” The campaign office was the orga­ and city officials here step up attempts to members have participated in, violate a “Women in Protest” drew 50 people and nizing center for the October 15 march in curtail strike support actions. 1992 injunction limiting picket lines to no heard women involved in the strike speak Decatur that attracted thousands of union More than 500 striking workers, their more than five people and preventing about its importance. members and supporters from across the_ families, and other trade unionists and sup­ union members from blocking plant gates. Lynn Tolson, a founding member of United States, and some from Canada. porters marched on Caterpillar’s general, Caterpillar attorney Lee Smith said the Families in Solidarity, spoke on the panel “ Some o f our members are available for offices November 7. The rally was orga­ company has a “ pressing need” for the about the experiences in her life that con­ long trips. Others might lose a job and say, nized in conjunction with a visit to Peoria 1992 injunction to be enforced. UAW vinced her to stand up and fight. She de­ ‘I ’ve got two days — fit me in.’ Others by folk singer Charlie King, who came to lawyer Stanley Eisenstein has asked the scribed the impact, as a teenager, o f meet­ help out with a bucket drop in St. Louis or show his support for the strike. In addition judge to throw out the antiunion injunction ing students from Bradley University who Chicago on a weekend,” Lamb added. to strikers from Peoria, a busload o f UAW entirely. A November 11 hearing will de­ were part o f protests against the Vietnam Wayne Carlyle was a process support strikers from the Pontiac, Illinois, plant, termine whether or not the union should be War. “ They told me what was really going worker before the lockout and a member of and a few carloads from Aurora, Illinois, found guilty o f criminal contempt charges on in Vietnam. These were the people that the safety committee. “ W e’re not only go­ who had just held a Family Day rally of and fined. taught me my values,” she said. Tolson be­ ing out asking for help,” he explained. 250, participated in the action. “ Cat does not deserve this injunction,” came involved in the antiwar movement “ W e’re trying to make people understand The mood o f strikers and supporters was said UAW Local 974 member Jim Fisher. and drew the lesson that, “ because of that what’s going on here is going on there, upbeat. Master Rodgers, a member of “ Considering the stakes involved, the protest and getting involved, you can force only at a different stage. The unions we UAW Local 2096 from Pontiac, said of the strike has been very peaceful, very orderly, leaders to do something about injustice.” visit all have their own problems. Whether strike, “ If we lose this battle it w ill affect very disciplined. Maybe we should get an it’s downsizing or the ‘team’ concept, it’s all working people in this country. I ’ve got injunction against Caterpillar. And against Decatur unionists fight victimization all about the same thing.” confidence we’re going to win.” Vance.” Fisher was referring to Vance Se­ In Decatur, Illinois, workers on strike at curity guards hired by the company to ha­ Caterpillar and Bridgestone/Firestone, and rass and intimidate strikers. locked out by A.E. Staley Co., are fighting against attempts to victimize union leaders Caterpillar tries to pin racism on union and deal blows to the unions. Caterpillar has also attempted to sow di­ Staley has asked a judge to impose fines visions among working people in the city and ja il sentences on United Paperworkers and lim it support for the strike by feeding International Union (UPIU) Local 7837 rumors o f racist slurs being yelled at scabs president David Watts and Ray Rogers, a by pickets. consultant working for the union. The In a public relations ploy, Caterpillar’s company claims union leaders have vio­ vice president of human services, Wayne lated a court order that prohibits UPIU Zimmerman, wrote in a letter, “ Those few pickets from blocking Staley gates or employees who engage in such activities streets outside the plant. The charge stems are hereby put on notice that such behavior from the participation o f UPIU members in will result in disciplinary action up to and an October 15 solidarity rally of more than including discharge.” 5,000 strikers, unionists, and supporters, “ We hope these accusations w ill be rec­ who marched through Decatur to show ognized for what they are — another of their support for the labor battles taking Cat’s many attempts to divide UAW mem­ place in that city. bers and a diversionary tactic to get us to The company also used an ordinance forget who our real enemy is aa leaflet they against signs in Decatur to have a $4,000 are handing out. fine levied against the UPIU and to force The union flyer points to the history of Local 7837 to tear down its picket shacks,- Caterpillar and notes, “ Isn’t this the same just as winter is approaching. “The com­ Militant/ Horace Kerr company that had to be pressured by the pany feels they have to make it as hard on Dozens of Caterpillar strikers and other unionists rallied November 1 in front government and Civil Rights Organiza­ workers as they can, hoping we’ll give up,” of the company’s Denver distribution plant, where 130 are on strike. “No one tions to hire and promote wnd waste our said Mike G riffin, a UPIU member. “ But has abandoned the picket line in the last month, while two workers have come energies fighting amongst ourselves,” the mood here is that we’re not giving up. out of the plant to join us,” said UAW Local 1415 president Joe Vasquez. union members responded in omen and mi­ We have to demand what is ours and fight norities in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s?” for it.”

10 The Militant November 21,1994 Kmart workers fight for union contract

BY ROBERT DEES tions, union members organized a se­ GREENSBORO, North Carolina — ries of activities to publicize their Responding to lousy working condi­ fight. In February, they leafletcd and tions and low pay more than 5,000 new demonstrated at dozens of Kmart members have been brought into the stores throughout the Southeast. In southern region o f the Amalgamated April, more than 150 Kmart workers Clothing and Textile Workers Union and ACTWU officials walked into a (ACTW U) through more than a dozen fancy dinner at a Jaycees membership successful organizing drives in the past meeting to present their case directly year and a half. to company officials there. One o f the new ACTW U locals is at the Kmart distribution center here, Union members arrested which opened in March 1992. Manage­ A number of Kmart workers and ment originally provided no bathroom their supporters were also arrested or cafeteria facilities for the workers, during a sit-in at the Kmart Greater who had to go to a nearby Hardees fast Greensboro Open golf tournament. A food restaurant. The workers quickly local group o f Black ministers spon­ dubbed the facility, located on Penry sored a series o f public rallies where Road, the “ Penry Penitentiary.” these workers told their story and won “ They started taking dominion over support. us,” said union leader Arthur Frazer at Four union rallies were held in the a community support rally this spring. warehouse parking lot during the Anyone who missed more than eight summer. A t one o f these protests, hours, for virtually any reason, was Workers celebrate organizing victory at Tultex plant in Martinsville, Virginia, in August. Some while several dozen unionists pick­ fired. “ Y ou’re tardy if you’re one 5,000 garment and textile workers, such as those at Kmart in North Carolina, have organized eted on the driveway, two or three minute late,” said Robin Estes, “ eight themselves into A C TW U in several southeastern states in the last year and a half. other contingents of around 20 work­ tardies, and you lost your job.” These ers marched out o f the facility chant­ conditions caused such high turnover that rassment pending against Kmart. Manage­ facility. Despite ongoing intimidation, in­ ing “ No justice, no peace!” the company had to hire some 1,400 work­ ment has also promoted racism to try to di­ cluding the firing o f several union support­ Many workers wear union buttons and ers the first two years the center was open vide the workers. One white worker re­ ers, the union was voted in 249 to 132 in tee-shirts on the job. Before beginning pro­ to keep 450 jobs filled. ported that his white supervisor said, “ If September 1993. duction work, each department does you join the union, the niggers’ll be telling The company has been dragging out stretching exercises. In at least one depart­ Bosses use sexual harassment, racism you what to do.” contract negotiations for a year now. At ment, while doing the exercises, many When the plant had been in operation Several workers went to the local least eight more workers have been fired workers shout “ ACTW U! ACTW U is in one year, workers from three departments ACTW U offices and began organizing for since the vote for supporting the union. the house!” and “ We want a contract!” shut down production to call manage­ the union in May 1993. “ We started be­ The union recently succeeded in winning The fight at Kmart is the most important ment’s attention to the problems on the cause they treated us less than human,” back the jobs o f five o f these workers. In labor battle taking place in this area. But it job. Frazer explained. addition, Kmart had to pay out some is not the only one. In March, ACTW U lo­ One worker was fired for reporting sex­ When the plant manager first got wind $65,000 in back pay to illegally fired cals waged a three-day strike against ual harassment by her supervisor. The o f the union organizing drive, he threat­ workers. Healthtex plants in this region; success­ union still has several cases o f sexual ha- ened the workers with shutting down the After five months of fruitless negotia- fully repulsing an attempt by Hiland Yam officials to decertify the union. A union ac­ tivist’s firing at the Fieldcrest Cannon plant last year sparked a two-day strike, CP-Soo rail workers express anger which won her job back. Another dozen firings are still being contested at the plant.

Big ACTWU victory at Tultex over Clinton board’s take-away plan Workers at Tultex in Martinsville, Vir­ ginia, a manufacturer of athletic clothing, BY JON HILLSON ported acceptance o f a 1991 presidential aging to both the employees and the Car­ continue to face a stiff fight to win their ST. PAUL — Rail unionists are angry board’s wage package that was imposed on rier,” the Clinton administration board first union contract. The more than 2,000 and disappointed at recommendations by a other carriers after UTU officials ordered threatens, for its proposals not to be ac­ workers at the plant voted in ACTW U by a presidential board on a new contract for strikers back to work. This settlement ex­ cepted. A strike is “ untenable,” and would nearly two to one margin in August, but workers on the Soo Line railroad that back pires Jan. 1, 1995. As part o f the new “possibly require further intervention by three months later management is stone­ the employer’s demands to slash road and board’s proposal, some CP-Soo workers the federal government.” walling negotiations. yard crews to “ conductor only.” The work­ would get a maximum lump sum of $6,747 Congressional legislation prohibiting An in-plant organizing drive began ers, members o f the United Transportation for working seven years without a pay the UTU from resuming its strike until when the company announced wage and Union (UTU), struck three months ago for raise. March 1, 1995, was signed into law by benefit cuts in January. Workers overcame 46 days against this demand by the com­ Explaining this supposedly generous of­ Clinton in October. union officials’ skepticism of the possibil­ pany, which is owned by Canadian Pacific fer, the board states, “ With reduced crews, “ This just shows what government inter­ ity o f success by gathering authorization (CP). “ The crew consist is terrible,” said there are more switches to be thrown by in­ vention is,” explained union member V i­ cards from about 60 percent o f the work­ Rich Vitek, a UTU local vice-chairperson dividual employees and more cars to be tek. “ If the carrier wants people to be cut, force. for road crews working out of the St. Paul climbed, more brakes to be tied, more pins downsized, and slashed, the government, The union drive marked an important terminal. This is a hub for the CP-Soo’s 11 to be pulled, and more ballast and snow to whether Democrat or Republican, sides turnaround, as the union had lost two pre­ Midwestern states operation. “ We lost a lot be traversed. Simply put, there is more with the company. It doesn’t matter who’s vious attempts to organize the plant since on that. Once a precedent is set, there’s no wear and tear on employees.” in office. It just boils down to one 1989. It is A C T W U ’s biggest organizing way to get that worker back. [The PEB] is “ I didn’t go on strike for 46 days for thing — they’re not for the working peo­ victory in the South since the J.P. Stevens just not concerned about safety.” something below parity,” noted Pat Mas- ple. Something drastic has to be done to fight in’ 1974. Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) loski, a veteran railroad switchperson here. tell the government it doesn’t matter what “ It feels great,” W illis Ferguson, who 225 was convened by President B ill Clin­ The government urges a two-tier signing you recommend. W e’re going to have to works in the housekeeping department, ton after UTU officials complied with gov­ bonus of $5,000 for workers with higher stick together and get our power back.” said at the tima o f the union vote. “ We’ll ernment intervention to form ally end the seniority than those who came on during a never get run over again.” CP-Soo strike last August. Union officials huge hiring wave that began in July 1993, Jon Hillson is a switchperson in St. Paul suggested possibly expanding the strike to and $1,000 for nearly 200 workers em­ on the CP-Soo Line and is a member o f Robert Dees is a member o f ACTWU at a other railroads to gain Clinton’s expected ployed since then. UTU Local 1882. textile m ill in North Carolina. back-to-work order under provisions of the antiunion Railway Labor Act. Opposition by newer workers Union officials claimed that the presi­ The PEB offers selective, short-term dent’s appointees would produce a better contractual "protection” to some of these settlement than the crushing concessions hires. This discriminatory treatment is be­ demanded by the CP, the w orld’s 25th ing opposed by some of the newer union largest transportation company, with members. nearly $13 billion in assets. “ I wondered all along how much the PEB contract recommendations are sup­ new guys counted. We weren’t brought up posed to establish “ guidelines” for a new in the press, the media, the news. We round o f negotiations, set here for Novem­ haven’t got a contract proposal yet, so ber 8 and 9. we’ll see.” said Tom Schwartz, a new hire leading this opposition. Workers stunned at sweep of proposal The PEB recommendations allow The Clinton appointees urged "that upon bosses to implement jobs “ outside existing the signing o f an agreement, conductor- rules” to retain special customers; the in­ only operations may be instituted, at the troduction o f a “ utility” worker to respond Carrier’s option, in all classes o f service to the heightened workload o f reduced and at all locations without train length or crew jobs, who “ may work with more than car count restrictions. In through freight one yard or road crew” at a time; and elim­ service there shall be no limitations upon ination of four o f nine “ arbitraries,” extra crews performing work events en route.” wages paid for additional work to senior Workers here were stunned at the sweep employees. o f the recommendation, particularly since The November issue of the union paper, the three board members visited the termi­ UTU News, reported favorably on the pres­ nal and were told by switchmen, conduc­ idential board’s recommendations. tors, and supervisors that conductor-only The Clinton appointees made clear to crews were unworkable, inefficient, and UTU members their recommendations are unsafe. not to be taken lightly. The contract dis­ The board recommended against the pute is “ to be laid to rest.” CP-Soo’s wage-cutting formula and sup- “ It would be most unfortunate and dam-

November 21,1994 The Militant 11 Youth, workers Antiabortion in L.A. protest thug convicted Continued from front page Abortion rights advocates in Miami Proposition 187 have recently stepped up their efforts to de­ Continued from front page fend a woman's right to chose. Several tality in Santa Fe yards!" and “ No justice, groups sponsored a clinic escort and de­ no trains!” referring to the ongoing fight of fense training session November 7. More the truckers to organize a union at Santa Fe than 25 men and women participated in the railroad. event, which featured speakers, videos, The garment workers and truckers and non-violent physical training. Most of joined protesting high school students at those participating were students at the city hall. Hundreds o f students from Bel­ University o f M iam i (U M ) who had not mont High School and nearby schools had faced anti-abortion protesters before. begun a boisterous rally on the steps o f the Athalia Christie, vice president of UM building. NOW, one o f the groups sponsoring the Meanwhile 100 students from Pico event, explained that while clinics in the Rivera left their school and marched 10 Miami area have not faced much harass­ miles to city hall. Their march went from ment, “ it is important to have a trained core one school to another gathering more stu­ o f volunteers who can respond when dents. Police attempted to block them from needed and stand up wherever we need to.” going to one school, but students said they She also described an attempt on cam­ got around them. One student got clubbed pus to censor leaflets promoting the train­ by the cops. ing session. One dorm counselor refused to On November 2, more than 10,000 high post flyers saying they were “ abrasive” for school students walked out o f school, using the word abortion and that it wasn’t marching and holding rallies. This was the an issue that affected students. Abortion largest mobilization yet o f student opposi­ rights activists on campus are planning fu­ tion to the initiative. ture activities to protest the censorship. Nearly one thousand students from Bel­ mont High and Downtown Business High Maggie McCraw is a member of Interna­ School walked out and marched to city tional Association o f Machinists Local 368 hall. Among them was Monica De León, a in Miami. student at Downtown Business Magnet High School, who spoke at a meeting of the city council. “ They said we had 10 min- ’ utes, but the president kept cutting us off,” Rightists attack Cuba activists she said. In her short speech De León Continued from front page rorists actually involved in this crime but stated, “ Even if 187 passes, [immigrants] attempted burglary, and possession o f bur­ all the other right-wing Cuban-American w ill have the same things they have glary tools. In addition, Aquit faces organizations that through their intolerance now — nothing but a cheap job with no charges o f carrying a concealed weapon. and in order to maintain the political con­ health coverage. Proposition 187 is racism The police informed some o f the Cuba sol­ trol of our communities have condoned becoming legal.” idarity activists that those arrested were and supported the use o f violence in our Roger Calero, Socialist Workers candi­ members o f the November 30 Movement city.” date for U.S. Congress, spoke to a class at and the Movement o f Revolutionary Re­ Francisco Picado, Socialist Workers Belmont High School that same day. covery. Both are ultrarightist Cuban- candidate for governor of Florida and an Calero and members o f the Young Social­ American groups. activist in the Miami Coalition to End the ists joined the protest. While in recent years there have been Embargo o f Cuba, denounced this latest at­ Five hundred students from around the fewer attacks on those who oppose the tack as being aimed at all opponents of San Fernando Valley rallied at Van Nuys U.S. embargo of Cuba and those who sup­ U.S. policy toward Cuba. Civic Center. A t a sit-in and speakout o f port the Cuban revolution, the attempted “ W hile the government felt it best to 100 students at Franklin High School in firebombing o f the ATC comes only weeks stop this particular assault on the ATC we Highland Park, students asserted that the after two molotov cocktails were thrown at know that it is the U.S. government that for protest was “ a student-run, student- the Little Havana offices of Réplica, a more than 30 years has trained and finan­ organized” event and refused to allow Art magazine that calls for lifting the embargo cially backed terrorist attacks on Cuba and Torres, a well-known politician, to speak. and supports dialogue with Cuba. against those who defend Cuba in this “ If we don’t speak out for our rights, the In a press statement Andrés Gómez, a country,” said Picado. more they w ill throw at us and the more leader o f the Antonio Maceo Brigade and “This attempt to frighten us will backfire they w ill get away with,” said Aaron Di- editor o f Areito magazine, said; “ The as w ill be seen by the many Miami Cuban- yarza, a student at San Fernando High membership o f the ATC and o f the other Americans and others who w ill be travel­ School who spoke to a group o f youth at organizations involved in these humanitar­ ing to Washington, D.C., on November 12 Pacoima Junior High School. ian campaigns (Miami Coalition To End to protest Washington’s ongoing embargo The massive student protests occurred in the Embargo of Cuba, the Antonio Maceo and attacks on Cuba.” the face of repeated threats and attempts to Brigade, Profesionales y Empresarios prevent students from walking out o f class Cubanoamericanos-PECA, Asociación Ernie M ailhot is a member o f Interna­ by school authorities, police, and city o ffi­ Cubanoamericana y Rescate Cultural- tional Association of Machinists Lodge cials. County supervisor Gloria Molina RECUACU) strongly condemn this terror­ 368 and the Socialist Workers candidate went on television the day o f the protests to ist action and blame not only the three ter- fo r U.S. Senate from Florida. criticize the walkouts and to urge students to remain “ calm.” Other politicians who oppose 187 also condemned the student demonstrations. Some complained about youth carrying Mexican and Salvadoran fla^, arguing that they would provoke a “ backlash.” Sim ilarly, Barbara Coe, chair o f the California Coalition for Immigration Re­ form, which backs 187, declared that the mobilization of thousands of Mexican youth would backfire on opponents o f the measure. “ I f they’ve been like some in the past, if you’re a loyal American and you love your country, they w ill hurt them real bad,” she said. Pro-187 forces have noted that signifi­ cant numbers o f Blacks, Asians, Chícanos, and naturalized Mexican immigrants sup­ ported the proposition. Polls show that more than half o f Asian voters, 28 percent o f Latinos, and 21 percent o f Blacks voted for Wilson, who vigorously campaigned for Proposition 187, arguing that undocu­ mented workers take resources away from “ taxpaying” residents. The day after the approval o f the anti­ immigrant initiative, 150 youth protested in front o f the Ronald Reagan State Build­ ing. The crowd, made up o f Latino, Black, white, and some Asian youth, chanted, “ The people united, no on 187.” Sanghee Kim , 22, said, “ The measure is unfair, it’s racist, and it scapegoats immi­ grants for our economic problems.” Enrique Sánchez, a young worker from a McDonald Douglas aerospace plant, said, “ We have got to make them know that we are here and we’re not going away.”

12 The Militant November 21,1994 -GREAT SOCIETY He was on piecework? — “ He tion (no bad attitude), tremendous 500 deaths and 20,000 illnesses a counter with a Wao, keep calm.... — $5,500 leather jackets, $ 135 T- was a craftsman, like a carpenter, room for advancement, overtime year. The suit claims that the test­ Tell Wao that you are his friend shirts — is marketing bottled water if you like. He took pride in his required, must be able to work un­ ing violates a long-standing policy and, looking at his face, repeat featuring its logo. A t better hotels job, but he wasn’t a callous man. der extreme pressure.” — Mon­ that the disease-bearing E. coli is these words: ‘Waponi, amigo and restaurants, $1.50 a glass. Nobody suffered; he was very treal help-wanted ad. not an adulterant and therefore not Waorani, boto Maxus.’ Fashion designer Donna Karan, quick.” — The widow of Syd subject to regulation. (‘Greetings, Waorani friend, I am best known for outfitting the likes Nonpartisan hatemonger — “I Maxus.’)” — Manual issued by of Barbara Streisand in $1,4000 have no intention o f being the ob­ Don’t strain yourself— From Maxus oil company of Texas for dresses w ill be unveiling her ject o f ‘conquest,’ peaceful or oth­ the other side o f their mouth, the employees who work in Ecuador in private-label water. But don’t fret. Harry erwise, by Latinos, Asians, Blacks, meatpackers argue, cogently, that the area o f the Waorani people. Karan’s supplier bottles the same Arabs or any other group o f indi­ the federal sampling for E. coli is water under the Sierra Gold label. viduals who have claimed my too small to be effective. The pro­ Always read the fine print Available at discount stores, 99 Ring country.” — Ruth Coffey, head of gram calls for 5,000 samples to be — About that northern California cents a quart. Stop Immigration Now and cam­ taken from packinghouses and re­ county offering three hours o f free paigner for California’s immi­ tail outlets each year. That’s al­ psychotherapy to each person turn­ grant-bashing Prop. 187. m o s t'15 samples a day, nation­ ing in a gun — no takers the open­ Thought for the week — “The Demley. He was Britain’s last sur­ fashion world is more rabid and viving hangman. wide. ing day. Now we learn that it’s U nfair — The meat industry is three hours max, no matter how self-involved than any other be­ suing to stop the Agriculture Dept, ‘Great White Father’ is alive many guns you hand over. cause, in the end, none o f it mat­ Just room and board, no program for spot-testing meat for and well — “ A ll contacts with the ters.” — W riter Anthony Lane, in wages — “DATA ENTRY posi­ E. coli contamination. The bacteria Waorani should be avoided. How­ Haute shaft — M ayfield, one a contribution to the New Yorker’s tion, meticulous, pleasant disposi­ is said to be responsible for some ever, if you have an unforeseen en­ o f L .A .’s better clothing stores 248-pagc issue on fashion. Film depicts plight of Cubans held in U.S. jails

BY ROSE ANA BERBEO the Atlanta federal penitentiary. Five thousand Cubans arc being held in Bravo interviews many who say U.S. jails with no charges against them, no they were beaten, used as human right to parole, not knowing whether they guinea pigs in drug experiments, w ill be deported, and deprived o f their civil and otherwise brutally handled. rights. The Excludables, a new film by in­ “They give Thorazine, a seda­ dependent filmmaker Estela Bravo, docu­ tive,” said one man who had been ments the plight o f these prisoners and jailed in Atlanta “ 1 know guys sharply illustrates the U.S. justice system’s they gave it to. I knew them in criminal treatment o f working people, es­ Cuba and they weren’t unbal­ pecially immigrants. anced. With Thorazine, they went The U.S. Immigration and Naturaliza­ crazy.” tion Service (INS) has declared these “ After a beating they took me to Cubans — among 125,000 who came to a hospital, tied me to a bed for 72 the United States in the 1980 Maricl hours, and gave me Thorazine,” boatlift — “ excludable” from the three- said another inmate. “ They abused decade-old policy of granting automatic us every day. A ll our human rights asylum to Cuban immigrants. were taken away.” A third said he This policy was changed earlier this year had been held in handcuffs for 18 after tens o f thousands o f Cubans tried to straight days. The prison doctor, Bolivar Martineau, is interviewed in the film. The majority of Cuban in­ IN REVIEW mates were not “ normal,” he says. “ You had a highly volatile group — Black, low-educated get into the United States by raft. In re­ young males...with little work M ilitary cop grabs Cuban refugee detained at Eglin A ir Force Base in Pensacola, Florida, in sponse, the U.S. government sent out Coast ethics. We called them DDIs May 1980. Some 5,000 Cubans who arrived that year rem ain in U.S. prisons. Guard and navy ships, detained more than — disruptive, disturbed individu­ 30,000 o f the rafters, and is now holding als. The whole prison was a...social labo­ national, Americas Watch, and all their tion camps in the occupied territory o f them in concentration camp conditions at ratory. It was just fabulous.” He assures the “ cousins” who keep an “ ominous silence” Guantanamo and Panama,” the review the U.S. m ilitary base in Guantanamo, interviewer, however, that he has- not con­ when it comes to the plight o f the says. Cuba, and bases in Panama. ducted any experiments. “excludables” “Estela Bravo’s documen­ Bravo’s film tells the story of a number tary is also a bitter reminder for the tens of Rose Ana Berbeo is a member o f the of Cubans who came to the United States A human rights ‘dilemma’ thousands o f Cubans now in the concentra­ Young Socialists. during the 1980 boatlift, were convicted of The conditions at the Atlanta prison petty crimes, served their time, and then prompted a Congressional committee to were subsequently held for years with no publish a report in 1986 calling the indefi­ -2 5 AND 50 YEARS AGO charges until the INS finally decided to de­ nite detainment o f the Cubans a port them. One man, for example, explains “ fundamental human rights dilemma for widespread support among students. An how he was held for 10 years after being the United States." A government decision alliance between FUPI, the university sentenced to six months for driving drunk to resume deportations after a two-year THE student council, and the Puerto Rican without a license. Another was imprisoned suspension led the Cubans and other in­ Workers Organization was recently signed. for 10 years for stealing $43. mates to riot and take over the prison for Members of the union now striking The U.S.-born wife of a Cuban immi­ 12 days in November 1987. Following the MILITANT General Electric in Puerto Rico have asked grant tells how a criminal charge against riots, individual hearings were held for Published in tke Interest of the W orking People FUPI for support, according to [MPI her husband was dropped. But as soon as many o f the prisoners and 60 percent of November 21, 1969 p,icc l0s representative Benjamin] Ortiz. Half the he applied for a work permit, INS agents them were released. circulation o f Ciaridad, M P I’s newspaper, surrounded their house and arrested him. “ I is to workers and 90 percent to people However, many stayed in ja il and the NEW YORK, Nov. II — A meeting to still don’t know why they did this,” she under 30. FUPI has been successful in INS continues to detain others. The build support for the Puerto Rican Pro- said. “ A ll they would say was it was from encouraging men not to serve in the U.S. Cubans from the Mariel boatlift are now Independence Movement (MPI), which 12 years ago.” scattered in 34 federal and state prisons military. Initially, the M arielitos, as they became has recently been the target o f a series of around the country, including the federal attacks, drew o/er 250 people here today. known, were all held in one cell block at prison in Talladega, Alabama, which in­ In the latest attack on Nov. 7, MPI mates took and held for nine days in 1991. THE MILITANT headquarters in Puerto Rico was virtually P UBIISHIO IN IHI INTI tlfTf Of THI WOIKIN6 f lOf II

The Cuban immigrants are supposed to destroyed and members subjected to NF.W YORK. N Y. ______FIVE t5 ) CENTS be granted annual hearings by an INS vicious physical attack by police. panel to determine whether they w ill be re­ The meeting at St. Marks Church on November 18, 1949 leased from prison and given permission to New Y ork’s East Side consisted almost Britain’s class-conscious coal miners, stay in the United States. Wayne Smith, entirely of Puerto Rican youth with a fighting vanguard o f the working class, head of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba handful of black and white supporters as have taken a great step forward in the at the time o f the Mariel boatlift, said many well as some people from other Latin decision, announced in London on hearings never take place, while “ others by countries. Many were members of MPI; November 3, to amalgamate all the mining and large have been kangaroo courts." The others were from the Young Lords, Lucha, trade unions of England, Scotland and authorities routinely deny the release of PR1SA and Unica as well as various Wales into "one big union” to be known as Cuban prisoners. INS spokesman Duke campus groups. the National Union of Mineworkers. Austin says on the film that he would like On Nov. 7, MPI headquarters in San The new union, which w ill have a to deport all o f the “ excludables.” Juan was savagely attacked by a mob o f as membership of 700,000, thus becoming In 1984, at Washington’s insistence, the yet unreported origin protesting the one o f the five largest unions in the British Cuban government agreed to accept the re­ University’s decision to phase out ROTC. Isles, is placing in the forefront o f its turn to Cuba o f 2,746 Mariel immigrants. This decision had been a major victory for program a demand for the expropriation of The U.S. government claims that many FUP1 (Federation of Pro-Independencc the mine-owners and the establishment of were cx-convicts or patients at psychiatric Students), which led the struggle for the “ public ownership and control” o f all hospitals who had been released to go to elimination of ROTC. The mob had mines. the United States. Some 900 have been de­ previously been prevented from entering The coal miners represent the most ported so far. After several weeks in Cuban the campus by a crows o f 5,000 students advanced and militant section of British jails, their cases were reviewed and most lead by FUPI. labor. They were in the vanguard o f the have been released. Independence sentiment among young great General Strike o f 1926 and have been Bravo’s film played on Cuban television people generally, and especially young to the fore in the wave o f renewed in September. An article in the Cuban organized workers, has been growing, and working-class struggle which commenced newspaper Granma blasts Amnesty Inter­ FUPI has been winning increasingly early this year.

November 21,1994 The Militant 13 - EDITORIALS ------What 1994 U.S. elections revealed Continued from Page 4 Why Clinton hates Cuba North’s statements “ despicable” and “ unpatriotic.” Gore said North was “ demeaning the U.S. military at a time when all Americans with the exception of Ollie North are The November 12 march and rally is a good example energy, intelligence, creativity, and w ill to fight and sur­ coming together in support of our commander in chief.” o f the kind o f political activity that is needed to effec­ vive. M ajor figures in the Republican Party came out against tively protest Washington’s policy o f aggression against Washington has been willing to negotiate relations North, including Senator John Warner, the other Repub­ Cuba. and deals with the governments o f China, Vietnam, lican senator from Virginia, who backed another Repub­ For more than 35 years — nine administrations, Eastern Europe, and most other governments. But the lican running for the office. Democratic and Republican alike — the U.S. govern­ U.S. rulers know — because they have tried! — that the The “ cultural war” also failed once again to make op­ ment has followed a single policy: to try to overthrow revolutionary government o f Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, position to abortion rights a rallying cry to galvanize the Cuban revolution. For this purpose, Washington has can’t be pressured, bought, or corrupted to turn away growing influence. Prominent Republican Party politi­ maintained a ruthless economic and trade embargo from its socialist course. cians such as New Jersey governor Christine Todd W hit­ against Cuba. But the U.S. rulers face a giant obstacle to The greatest pressures bearing down on the Cuban man continues to insist on her support for abortion rights, that goal: Cuba’s working people and their leadership, revolution today stem from its relative isolation in the as do other prominent Republicans. And Gingrich, a who year after year have stood up to imperialist attack world because o f the lack o f revolutionary struggles fierce opponent of a women’s right to choose, said he did as they defend their socialist course. The U.S. rulers elsewhere; the demise of the Nicaraguan revolution in not “ think the votes are there” to do anything about it. hate the Cuban workers and peasants exactly because the late 1980s was the biggest blow. World capitalism, The ultraright w ill take the initiative in bourgeois poli­ their internationalist example and socialist conscious­ however, is weaker than ever, as the old imperialist or­ tics in the years ahead, but only as working-class struggle ness is a beacon for fighting workers and youth around der continues to crumble. This makes every struggle by begins to challenge the capitalists’ policies, political par­ the world. working people — and every effort by defenders o f the ties, and government. The incipient Bonapartist and fas­ Cuba’s representatives tell the simple, unadorned Cuban revolution around the world — important in giv­ cist elements w ill carve out space in the capitalist parties truth: capitalism is not a road forward for the peoples of ing Cuban fighters more breathing space. as the crisis deepens, but they w ill also get slapped down the world; it can only offer a future o f exploitation, bru­ Following the November 12 march, opponents of when they leap too far ahead. tality, and war. Cuban foreign minister Roberto Robaina U.S. policy toward Cuba can continue to win more peo­ For now, the steady march o f bourgeois politics to the followed in the finest traditions o f the revolution when ple to this effort by building and organizing a range of right marks something worse for the working class, which he used the platform o f the United Nations in October to activities: local and regional conferences, teach-ins, is being battered without a fight. The capitalist owners of condemn the U.S. invasion and occupation o f Haiti. speaking tours on Cuba, and other public events. industry are downsizing factories and making workers la­ From U.S. intervention in Vietnam to Iraq and Haiti, the Just as important is the systematic reading and study bor harder and longer for less pay. The government con­ Cuban revolution has an unbroken record in defense of o f books such as The Bolivian D iary o f Ernesto Che tinues to chip away at social gains such as money for fighters against imperialist aggression around the world. Guevara and To Speak the Truth: Why Washington’s schools, Medicare and Medicaid programs, pensions, Despite bourgeois commentators’ ceaseless predic­ ‘Cold War' against Cuba Doesn’t End. Through this jobless benefits, and the minimum wage. W ithout any tions that the revolution is about to crumble, the working political activity and education, more workers and pressure from the labor movement to force the capitalists class in Cuba remains strong and determined to defend young people can learn from the example o f Cuba’s rev­ to ease off, the noose gets tighter and tighter. their sovereignty, independence, and the socialist course olution and be persuaded that joining the worldwide The AFL-CIO labor officialdom said nothing during they have chosen. In the face o f huge economic chal­ fight for socialism is the most worthwhile way to devote the recent elections — or before or after — to challenge lenges, they are proving again and again they have the your life’s activity. this framework of capitalist politics or mobilize working people to fight these attacks. Similarly, the middle-class figures who purport to speak in the interests o f Blacks in the United States continue their lockstep with the top The answer to Proposition 187 union officials in trailing after the rightward course o f the employers’ parties.

The only large-scale voice speaking in the interests of drags us into wars against fellow working people for Working class acting in own interests the working class that emerged out o f the November 8 their profits. Aside from the election campaigns run by Socialist U.S. elections was heard in the streets o f California. Our interests lie in taking united action with other Workers candidates in several states across the country, Tens of thousands o f people — above all youth, along­ workers, from Japan to Mexico, to protect and extend the only voice o f the working class in this year’s elections side workers — took action to protest the anti-working the wages and livelihoods of the entire working class, were the thousands o f workers and youth who marched in class Proposition 187, which would deny basic rights to beginning with those who are most exploited. the streets o f Los Angeles and other parts o f California education, health care, and other social services to an The threat to Social Security, employment, and edu­ against the anti-immigrant Proposition 187 on the Cali­ entire section o f the population cation doesn’t come from workers born in other coun­ fornia ballot. In those actions, which involved thousands Proposition 187 passed by a significant 3-2 margin. tries. It comes from the bipartisan government and em­ o f immigrant workers, students, and other workers and Butits approval settles nothing. ployer offensive, which is shifting the burden o f the eco­ youth, the future could be seen o f the working class act­ The forces in the Republican and Democratic parties nomic crisis onto jhe working class and preparing fur­ ing in its own interests. that campaigned for 187 did not resort primarily to bla­ ther inroads on entitlements while cutting costs and driv­ These demonstrations were the only answer to the ef­ tant racism. Instead, they appealed to the middle class ing down the value o f labor power. forts by both big-business parties to scapegoat a section and working class — including Latinos and The California protests show that the working class in o f the working class for the unemployment and deterio­ Blacks — to identify as Americans against undocu­ the United States has become more international than rating schools and health care created by the crisis o f the mented immigrant workers, who were portrayed as a ever, a development that potentially strengthens our capitalist system. The demonstrations showed how a van­ threat to their interests. "Americans,” they claimed, must class. Immigration w ill continue. So w ill the assault on guard layer among working people can fight to unify the unite in the face o f a threat to “ our” jobs and resources. the growing Spanish-speaking section of the population class in the face of attacks by the employers. Democrats who tried to distance themselves from 187 — and so w ill the resistance by immigrants and, in­ The capitalist politicians who managed the successful as the heat grew argued in the same terms. They vocifer­ creasingly, other workers to it. ballot effort did not rely primarily on overtly racist ap­ ously opposed street protests by thousands o f Chicano, In the course o f this battle, more and more youth and peals. Instead, they played on middle-class panic and Mexican, and Central American youth and particularly working people, repelled by the inhumanity, backward­ prejudice, and they organized to get the support o f denounced protesters who carried the flag o f Mexico. ness, and brutality o f capitalism, w ill look for an alterna­ Blacks, Asians, and Latinos for the measure. When Gov. But there is no common group o f “ Americans.” The tive. They will find it in the fight for a socialist Pete Wilson, a major proponent o f 187, gave his victory working class and small farmers have counterposed in­ future — including a world without borders — and the speech November 9, he was surrounded by supporters terests to those o f the class that exploits our labor and communist movement that is engaged in that fight today. who were Black, Asian, and Latino. As he explained that passage o f 187 meant “ your children” w ill not have to give up their future because o f illegal immigration, huge applause rose from the crowd. A number of liberal politicians took their distance from Government aids rail bosses 187 or spoke against it, convinced that attempts to en­ force it would cause the rulers more problems than it would solve right now. These same forces, however, Workers on the Canadian Pacific-owned Soo Line repeated. Workers from different unions hung together, largely looked with horror on the demonstrators, many of face a new challenge handed down by the Clinton ad­ including engineers who defied the treacherous orders whom proudly waved flags from Mexico. This “un- ministration’s Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). o f their union officials to cross picket lines. The union­ American” display of unity with workers from across the The board’s recommendations on a new contract are an ists showed that workers’ only strength lies in our num­ border was not the image the liberals wanted to project. endorsement o f the bosses’ concession demands. bers and capacity to fight. A few prominent conservative bourgeois politicians The board gave its seal o f approval to CP-Soo’s at­ Caterpillar strikers and miners at Yellowknife in such as Jack Kemp and W illiam Bennett, as well as the tempt to cut the size of crews operating freight trains, Canada are finding out that capitalist governments, with editors o f the Wall Street Journal, also opposed 187. thereby setting workers up for increased death and in­ their cops and courts, serve the interests o f the bosses. A However, the most significant development was the shift jury on the job, and threatening the safety o f those who worldwide depression is driving a cost-cutting frenzy, o f other right-wing forces such as the editors o f the Na­ live, work, or travel near railroad yards and lines. The and rougher methods are being used to force workers to tional Review from their prior “ free trader” stance in sup­ PEB also calls for other concessions. A one-time lump accept the consequences on their living standards and port of unrestricted immigration. In California and else­ sum is supposed to sweeten the deal. conditions on the job. where, they argued, it is now more important than ever Clinton’s surrogates threatened more federal inter­ The allies of workers on the CP-Soo in their fight for for “ America” to maintain its “cultural homogeneity” in vention if union members don’t kneel to their demands. a decent contract are Caterpillar strikers, garment work­ face o f a world increasingly in crisis. Congress has already passed legislation prohibiting ers in Los Angeles fighting in defense o f immigrant Working people can only expect continuing attacks on workers from exercising their right to strike until March rights, working farmers organizing to defend their land, our rights and livelihoods as the new statesmen take of­ 1995. and others like them around the world. fice in Washington, D.C. But the possibilities to put up Many rail workers, angered over this course of The rail workers’ fight is not over. Ultimately it will resistance is shown by the mass actions against Proposi­ events, are drawing an important conclusion. Workers be decided by how the unionists are able to organize tion 187; the workers battling Caterpillar, Firestone- are better o ff relying on their own power than facing their union strength, not by the PEB. There are. better Bridgestone, and A.E. Staley; workers and youth in Cuba government intervention. When Washington enters into opportunities for workers today to fight together than in defending their revolution, and those in the United States a “ labor dispute,” it’s always to help the employers. many years. and elsewhere who are speaking and acting in support of The 46-day strike by members o f the United Trans­ That’s the kind of working-class solidarity that can the Cuban revolution; and young people who mobilize to portation Union pointed the way forward for rail work­ help the rail workers in the next stage of their fight with defend abortion clinics against rightist attacks and who ers. This is why the employers don’t want the experience the owners at CP-Soo. protest police brutality, racist assaults, and other evils of the capitalist system. Tremendous political space exists in the working class to break down divisions, struggle for our common class interests, and discuss the ideas work­ ing people w ill need to fight effectively and win.

14 The Militant November 21,1994 Truck assemblers in Washington reject contract This column is devoted to re­ tions. Chemical workers defend porting the resistance by work­ Kenworth announced plans to union in Minnesota ing people to the employers' as­ add a second shift at its Renton sault on their living standards, plant. Twenty-two members o f O il, working conditions, and unions. Chemical and Atomic Workers (OCAW) Local 6-62 are on strike We invite you to contribute San Francisco dailies hit short items to this column as a against CF Industries in Rose- way for other fighting workers by union walkouts mont, Minnesota. CFI, a fertilizer around the world to read about Some 2,600 press operators, pa­ producer, demanded removal of and learn from these important per handlers, drivers, reporters, the union shop clause from the struggles. Jot down a few lines and editors at San Francisco’s two contract, prompting the strike, about what is happening in your major daily newspapers walked o ff which began April 20. O f 1,500 union, at your workplace, or the job November 1 and set up CFI workers nationwide, only the two dozen workers at this plant are unionized. On October 27, a dozen workers from other unions including the ON THE PICKET LINE United Auto Workers, American Federation o f State, County, and other workplaces in your area, picket lines. “ The racks are empty Municipal Employees, and Inter­ including interesting political and the doorsteps are bare, and we national Union of Electronic discussions. think we can keep it that way,” Workers joined the OCAW mem­ said Doug Cuthbertson o f the Con­ bers on the picket line in a show of For the first time in nine years, ference of Newspaper Unions, one support. Police responded with workers at Kenworth’s truck as­ of eight unions negotiating for a two cars from the Rosemont city sembly plants in Seattle and Ren­ contract. police, two from the sheriff’s de­ partment, and two state trooper ton, Washington, rejected the Employees o f the Chronicle and Cops beat strikers from San Francisco’s two daily newspapers, the cars. The unionists decided to re­ company’s contract proposal Oc­ the Examiner have been working Examiner and the Chronicle, November 2. tober 29. They were forced to ac­ without an agreement for a year. turn again the following week. cept the agreement, however, Adele DeCampli-Cirkelis, an offi­ union activities after receiving lit­ down on their demands, including when a separate strike vote failed cial o f Teamsters Local 921, said UMWA miners defeat erature and house calls from the keeping most workers on the pay­ to get a two-thirds majority, as re­ management wants to replace decertification vote miners. roll. Management must pay be­ quired by the International Associ­ union members with “ part-timers The truckers, who haul coal tween $5,000 and $20,000 to the ation of Machinists (IAM) consti­ who get sub-standard wages and United Mine Workers of Amer­ mined by Cyprus Mountain Coal 20 workers who agreed to resign. tution. The joint negotiating com­ no benefits.” Workers are also ica (UM W A) Local 1972 in Sheri­ Co., averaged workdays of 14-16 Workers who stay on w ill get a mittee, made up o f representatives fighting for improved wages. The dan, Wyoming, won an election at hours. If there was lack o f produc­ wage increase. o f the five union locals in the newspaper workers and their sup­ Decker Coal Co. by a 137-115 tion or breakdown at the mine they vote. A group o f nonunion em­ plants, had recommended a “ yes” porters rallied outside the editorial didn’t get paid. They only received MarkAir flight attendants vote. offices the night before the strike. ployees seeking decertification at wages when they hauled the coal. The contract provides the 1,400 They have begun putting out their the company’ s mine in Decker, The workers at Perry Transport vote to jo in union unionists an 85 cent raise the first own paper called The San Fran­ Montana, forced the vote. The 258 Trucking and Chaney Trucking Some 300 flight attendants at year and 40 cents for each of the cisco Free Press and circulating it workers there are covered by a voted by a marging o f 44 to 11 to M arkAir Inc. recently voted to join next two years. The agreement in­ by E-mail. contract between the UM W A and join the UM W A. the Association o f Flight Atten­ cludes an additional holiday, one Angry strikers shouted at super­ the company that expires Jan. 2, dants (AFA) in mail balloting con­ 1995. The union has won four ducted by the National Mediation more unpaid personal day off, re­ visors going into work, “ Get a real Strike settled at New duction in the probationary period jo b !” such votes of confidence over the Board. from 140 calendar days to 112, an past 10 years. York’s Harvard Club The airline workers are based in improved dental plan, and the abil­ Strikers halt publication The 118 striking restaurant Anchorage, Alaska; Denver; and ity to transfer to a different depart­ Coal haulers in Kentucky workers at the Harvard Club in Seattle. “ We’re eager for change,” in British Columbia ment. The company won some join Mine Workers New York City took down their MarkAir attendant Elizabeth work rule changes and reduction in Striking press operators at the picket line in mid-October after Hooper said. She reported that at­ pay grade status for certain jobs. Vancouver Sun and the Province, After United Mine Workers of winning a contract. The workers, tendants there have been working Workers were angered by the daily newspapers in Vancouver, America Local 5890 members at members o f Hotel, Restaurant and long hours at “poverty-level” fact that they are the lowest paid British Columbia, stopped publi­ Cyprus Mountain Coal ratified Club Employees Union Local 6, wages. truck assemblers in the United cation November 2. The company their first contract in May, miners walked out in April after rejecting States. Kenworth’s parent com­ responded by locking out the re­ in eastern Kentucky began orga­ the company’s demand to make Scott Breen, member o f ¡AM Local pany posted its highest sales Quar­ maining 1,200 union employees. nizing truckers who haul coal for copayments on health insurance 289 at Kenworth in Seattle, and ter ever this year and has a higher The press operators went on strike two independent companies. Many and other concessions. The hard- Joe Callahan, member of United profit margin than its competitors. at midnight November 1 after unorganized truckers began at­ fought strike put the ritzy club in Auto Workers Local 879, in St. Workers are also concerned about working almost a year without a tending U M W A Local 5890 meet­ an embarrassing public spotlight Paul, Minnesota, contributed to speedup and brutal working condi­ contract. ings and became active in other and forced the owners to back this week’s column.

- LETTERS No to Proposition 187 In the present day crisis Over the last three margins o f developers. A vigil against the anti­ in Russia and the rest of decades the city o f W ith the Greek economy hit immigrant Proposition 187 was the world, the population Athens has experienced hard by the world capitalist eco­ held in San Diego on October 25. of the ex-Soviet Union is a massive construction nomic depression, prospects are The action was called by the San beginning to realize that boom as the metropoli­ zero for massive investment by the Diego Interfaith Coalition for Im­ capitalism westem-style, tan area has grown from capitalist class and their govern­ migrant Rights. Over 300 enthusi­ such as in Western Eu­ several hundred thou­ ment in a public works project to astic people, young and old, rope and North America, sand inhabitants to more put in place the infrastructure nec­ marched to the state building car­ is not the solution. than 4 million. This has essary to prevent likely disasters rying signs, and at times chanting Maybe capitalism meant incredible profits the next time a heavy rain hits. against 187. with a “ human face?” for land owners, con­ Yet it is precisely what’s Many people, including two city Forget it! struction firms, real es­ needed. Such a massive public bus drivers, honked and waved in Russia today is an tate companies, and gov­ works project would also provide support o f the marchers. A variety open society: there is ernment and municipal work for thousands o f unemployed o f speakers addressed the rally. freedom o f speech, officials who have col­ working people. Such a course In another protest, on October crime, Mafia, prostitu­ lected bribes to give the w ill only be won by the labor 28 hundreds of Hispanic San tion, and other social appropriate permits. movement waging a battle to force Diego-area high school and junior evils are rampant. It is The construction was investment in the infrastructure o f high students left their classes to therefore most likely in , done with no regard for the city. The working farmers dev­ voice their opposition to Proposi­ the not-too-distant future the environment as the astated by the floods need immedi­ tion 187. that the people o f the ex- capitalist class sought to ate massive financial aid that is in­ Soviet Union will join profit from the massive terest free to rebuild their homes, Sylvia Hansen the rest o f the world on need for new housing. replace their equipment and to Santee, California the journey to interna­ “Because, Mr. Westcott, your insurance doesn’t Trees were cut down and hold them over until next season. tional socialism, as this is cover the cost of a hospital room after the soil eroded. Only 10 The thousands o f workers and Collapse of Soviet Union the only way to get out of gall bladder surgery." percent o f Athens’s small store owners in Athens and I have just finished studying this mess. streets have storm other areas also need aid commen­ “The Opening Guns of World War S. A. drains! Most of them surate to the damage caused. A po­ III: Washington’s Assault on Iraq” Montreal, Quebec Government officials were were built in the 1950s, during the litical struggle by working people and wish to congratulate the w rit­ quick to declare it an act o f God. Marshall Plan. is necessary to save us from future ers for an excellent analysis o f the They promised $425 flood relief Both ruling-class parties bear floods. present world situation. Besides Greek floods hurt workers per victim. This paltry sum was responsibility for this crisis. Nei­ Georges Mehrabian other factors, the system in the So­ A large storm front hit Greece seen as an insult by most affected. ther the New Democracy Party nor Athens, Greece viet Union broke down as a result October 21-22. Thirteen people This was not an act o f God or a the social democratic PASOK has o f discontent and the pressure of drowned as a result of torrential natural disaster. This was a disas­ attempted to halt the mad un­ The letters column is an open masses against a corrupt and op­ trains. ter created by the capitalists’ insa­ planned construction bonanza. forum for all viewpoints on sub­ pressive police regime, which was Roads were turned to rivers; tiable greed for money. Rain­ Neither party has tried to put in jects of general interest to our wrongly identified with the teach­ electrical power was shut down; storms o f this type are a natural place the infrastructure that could readers. Please keep your letters ings o f Lenin and Trotsky. phone lines were cut off; schools, part o f the fall and winter season in handle a city o f this size despite brief. Where necessary they will After the collapse of the “ Evil hospitals, and homes were flooded this part of the Mediterranean. As their pledges after each catastro­ be abridged. Please indicate if Empire,” Lenin’s writing desk was in a matter o f hours; and hundreds recency as 25 years ago, this was phe. you prefer that your initials be sold at a garage sale for one ruble! o f people were made homeless. no problem. This would cut into the profit used rather than your full name.

November 21, 1994 The M ilitant 15 Canadian government announces new anti-immigrant restrictions Students, teachers build November 16 march against budget cuts

BY MICHEL DUGRE sions among working people by arguing M ONTREAL — In the latest in a series falsely that immigrants are responsible for o f attacks against working people by the unemployment in Canada. Canadian government in less than a month, Resistance to these attacks has begun. Immigration Minister Sergio Marchi an­ About 200 students demonstrated October nounced November 1 that Ottawa would 13 against Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in introduce new restrictions on immigration. Fredericton, New Brunswick. Another 250 The government official said the quota people marched in Toronto November 5 in of immigrants allowed to come into opposition to Ottawa’s attacks on immi­ Canada would be reduced by 20 percent, grant rights. from 250,000 this year to approximately A projected November 16 demonstra­ 200,000. He presented the proposal as a tion in Ottawa, called by the main student way to reduce government costs. Ottawa organizations in eastern Canada, represents w ill primarily restrict legal immigration by a chance for working people and youth working people who do not speak French across Canada to unite in action against Ot­ or English, arguing that this w ill reduce tawa’s latest measures. The mobilization costs such as language training. has been endorsed by all the main teachers The new policies w ill give greater pref­ unions in Quebec, who w ill pay for the erence to immigrants who are wealthy. transportation to the march. It w ill be the They will give less weight to family reuni­ first common action o f students from Que­ fication, a criterion used by many workers bec and English Canada in several years. to obtain visas for relatives. The govern­ “ W orking people and students have a ment is also considering the imposition of common interest in opposing Ottawa’s at­ bonds on sponsoring families to ensure that tacks on students, immigrants, and other “ the newcomers won’t end up on social as­ working people, whether employed or sistance," according to the Toronto Globe not,” said Zina Edwards, a student at and Mail. Militant/Heidi Rose McGill University and a member of the Immigration will a’lso be restricted by Young Socialists in Montreal. claiming to go after “criminals” and Youth march in June 1993 against racist attacks on immigrants. Ottawa’s attacks on immigrants are part of a broader assault on all working people. “ We must build the November 16 “ abusers o f the immigration system,” as protest in Ottawa as broadly as possible, Marchi put it. After adopting proposals in welfare, and old-age pensions. face declining profit rates. They have lost among all the intended victims o f these at­ June lim iting the right to appeal deporta­ These moves represent the response of ground to their imperialist rivals, in partic­ tacks,” said Edwards. “ We must take ad­ tion orders, Ottawa opened a well- the Canadian rulers to the deepest crisis of ular U.S. capitalists, in terms of productiv­ vantage o f this mobilization to build soli­ publicized escalation o f police searches for their economy since the early 1930s. A ll ity. While currently at its lowest level in darity with those who are resisting the at­ so-called criminal immigrants. capitalist parties in Canada are taking more four years, the official unemployment rate tacks on immigrants from Los Angeles to Toronto; with those who defend their Rightist Reform Party reactionary positions. The Liberal Party in Canada is still above 10 percent. government is implementing the program It is this reality that forces the Liberal unions, from the Caterpillar workers in Illi­ The right-wing Reform Party has be­ the Canadian bosses have been pushing for government to initiate this series of attacks nois to the O gilvie workers in Montreal; come emboldened by these reactionary many years. The failure to implement such against working people. The cutbacks in with those Who fight cop frame-ups, from policies pushed by the major capitalist par­ an agenda led the ruling class to dump the social services are aimed at lowering the Yellowknife miner Roger Warren to Mark ties. On November 2, the Reform Party’s Tory government during last year’s federal social wage of working people. The attacks Curtis in Iowa. immigration critic. Art Hanger, vocally election campaign. on immigrants provide scapegoats for the “The Young Socialists invite everybody complained about the “ cost to be incurred Canada is in the grip o f the worldwide capitalist crisis and pretexts for further cuts to discuss these questions at an open house by admitting tens o f thousands of illiterate depression, despite a temporary upturn in in social services and curbs on democratic that w ill take place at the site o f the immigrants....Do you notice in Toronto the business cycle. Canadian capitalists rights. They are designed to deepen divi- November J 6 demonstration in Ottawa.” there has been increased crime from cer­ tain groups like Jamaicans?” Hanger said. Reform Party leader Preston Manning defended Hanger’s statements, saying that, Gov’t prosecutors fa il to show guilt in as a cop. Hanger had to deal with “ immi­ grant criminals.” Five days after M archi’s press confer­ fram e-up tria l o f Canada gold m iner ence the Reform Party declared it had fig­ ures from the Royal Canadian Mounted BY NED DMYTRYSHYN the strike and break the union. An intense incidents unrelated to the September 18 Police showing extremely high crime rates VANCOUVER, British Columbia — campaign was waged to blame the strikers mine blast, explained to the M ilitant that among refugees. The figures were later The frame-up trial of unionist Roger War­ for an explosion that took place at the mine “ we may be into another stage o f battle shown to be false. ren on nine counts of murder began in Yel­ during the walkout on Sept. 18, 1992. against Royal Oak’s union busting.” At its national convention in mid- lowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, Many miners in Yellowknife believe that it Bettger is out on bail along with CAW October, the Reform Party called for lim it­ October 24. A couple o f weeks into the was the company’s criminal negligence member A1 Shearing, who is also facing ing the number of immigrants in Canada, proceedings, government prosecutors have around mine safety regulations that led to trumped-up charges on incidents unrelated as well as restricting their access to social presented nothing concrete that proves the fatal blast. to the explosion. Their bail conditions are services and e ligibility for Canadian citi­ Warren’s guilt. The government says there extremely restrictive and include a 9:00 zenship. The party also adopted a “ three are tapes o f Warren confessing to the ‘Tapes prove nothing’ p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew, a ban on talking strikes and you’re out” resolution for giv­ crime, but Warren’s defense attorney, Glen “ The tapes they’ve played so far in the to each other, and a ban on visiting the ing life sentences to all individuals con­ Orris, explained in court that any confes­ courtroom prove nothing,” said Kathy union hall or having anything to do with victed three times for serious crimes. sion claimed by the prosecutor is “ false MacPhee, a union supporter who has been union business. and untrue.” Warren has pleaded not attending the trial. “ It came out in court Broader offensive against workers guilty. that the top part o f the ladder o f the Defense Fund organized Ottawa’s new immigration restrictions Warren is a member o f Canadian Auto Akaitcho shaft is broken, which is where Bettger and Shearing have contributed are part o f its broader offensive against Workers (CAW) Local 2304, formerly the the crown (government) claims that War­ $4,000 left over from their defense to a working people. Canadian Association o f Smelter and A l­ ren entered the mine to plant the bomb. fund for Warren’s defense. Warren’s trial On October 6 Human Resources M inis­ lied Workers Local 4, which fought a suc­ This makes it impossible for Warren, who is expected to cost him and his family more ter Lloyd Axworthy introduced plans for cessful 18-month strike against Royal Oak is in ill health, to have climbed down at than $250,000. A Warren Defense Fund is drastic cuts in social services. Ottawa pro­ Mines that ended last December. The gold that point. Two cops aiding each other had organizing support in Yellowknife. posed to reduce unemployment benefits for miners beat back the company’s attempt to to almost perform gymnastic stunts to get The union movement in Canada has a so-called frequent users who have been un­ slash safety inspections, discipline injured into the mine this way. How could Roger considerable stake in defending Warren. employed three times in the last five years. workers, roll back seniority rights, and have done it himself, then proceed to climb According to Bettger and Shearing, War­ The number of these workers has doubled bust their union. As a result of the strikers’ straight down 750 feet. I ’d say it’s impossi­ ren’s case is putting the entire union move­ over the last decade to 40 percent o f those determination, federal mediators imposed ble.” ment on trial, which is why it is important receiving unemployment benefits. an agreement that left the union intact with MacPhee explained that the trial re­ for unionists across Canada to support him Axworthy also intends to cut the budget a contract at the mine. vealed there were two supervisors in the and contribute to the fund. Contributions for post-secondary education, which may During the strike Royal Oak hired re­ mine for at least one hour after the night can be sent to Warren fund c/o CAW local double university tuition fees. He proposed placement workers and used cops, the shift left at 3:00 a.m., September 18. The 2304, PO Box 1628, Yellowknife, NW T to replace student grants with loans, seri­ Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), blast occurred later that morning at 8:45 X IA 2P2 Canada. Tel. 403-873-4528. ously restricting access for youth from and Pinkerton goons against the strike. The a.m., killing nine strikebreakers working at working-class families. heart o f the union-busting drive by Royal the time. Ned Dmytryshyn is a member of Interna­ In addition the federal government is Oak owner Peggy Witte was the use of CAW member Tim Bettger, another tional Association of Machinists Local discussing further massive cuts in health, criminal charges to undermine support for framed-up miner who is facing charges on 692.

16 The Militant November 21,1994