--------------- AUSTRALIA $3.00 · CANADA $2.50 · FRANCE 1.60 EUROS · ICELAND KR200 · NEW ZEALAND $3.00 · SWEDEN KR15 · UK £1.00 · U.S. $1.50 INSIDE New, expanded edition of 'Malcolm X Talks to Young People' THE -PAGES8-9 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 66/NO. 46 DECEMBER 9, 2002 UK firefighters strike as U.S., British planes starl gov't torpedoes pay deal daily raids Labour prime minister mobilizes troops as strikebreakers against Iraq BY CAROL BALL GLASGOW-More than 1,000 BY BRIAN WILLIAMS firefighters rallied in Glasgow's St. Enoch In the last half of November Washington Square November 23, demonstrating their and London have increased the pace of their determination to resist government attacks bombings of Iraq from weekly to almost and press home their case for a wage raise daily. The stepped-up attacks on defense and that would defend their living standards. communications facilities occur as foreign The unionists have pushed ahead with "weapons inspectors" have begun operations their campaign of rolling strikes, pickets, on Iraqi territory. The "inspections" are de­ and rallies in face of the government's mo­ signed to provide a justification, under United bilization of almost 19,000 troops. The sol­ Nations cover, for launching the invasion that diers operate as strikebreakers alongside po­ Washington has been marching toward. lice now using modem red fire engines as On November 22 U.S. and British aircraft well as the aging "Green Goddess" fire fired at a communications facility near AI trucks. Amarah, 165 miles southeast of Baghdad, The Glasgow rally came on day two of in the sixth day of bombardments in a week. an eight-day strike by more than 50,000 The attacks take place in the southern re­ firefighters across the United Kingdom, the gion of the country, where since the 1990- second stoppage in the current campaign of 91 Gulfwar, Washington-together with its industrial action by the Fire Brigades Union junior British partner-has declared its pre­ (FBU). The union plans two further eight­ rogative to control Iraqi airspace, barring day strikes in the weeks leading up to the flights by Iraqi military aircraft and bomb­ Christmas holiday. ing any defense facility it sees fit. Imperial­ Firefighters from all over Scotland-from ist forces have imposed a similar "no-fly" Highlands and Islands and Grampian in the Firefighters rally in Glasgow, Scotland, during second strike. The unionists oppose moves zone in the northern region of Iraq. north, to Dumfries and Galloway in the that would lead to cuts in jobs and firefighting services, and are demanding a raise. The Iraqi News Agency reported that the south-joined the rally. A number of work­ aircraft flew 59 sorties, dropping their ord­ ers brought banners. Throughout the day, from Pollock in Glasgow. "The more we're ment in stepping in at the last minute to nance on civilian and service facilities. As every fire station was simultaneously pick­ mucked about, the stronger we get," said scuttle a deal reached between union offi­ usual, the U.S. Central Command claimed eted by other members of the 6,839-strong David Bennett. The 18-year firefighter from cials and the Local GovemmentAssociation the assault was in self-defense, asserting it FBU in Scotland. the Crewe Toll station in Edinburgh was re­ (LOA) employers just a few hours before Continued on Page 2 "We're digging in," said a participant ferring to the action by the Labour govern- Continued on Page 11 In New England, revolutionary leader Bosses stiff speaks on truth about Cuba and Africa retirees as BY MAGGIE TROWE Dreke's honor, attended by two dozen pro­ from Casa Latina greeted the Cuban guests. pension fund BOSTON-More than 250 people came fessors and students. In welcoming Dreke, Prou explained that to hear Victor Dreke, a longtime leader of Prof. Robert Johnson, chair of the at the nearby John F. Kennedy Library, the Cuban Revolution and internationalist Africana Studies Department, welcomed the which holds the former president's papers, combatant, during a two-day visit to this audience and introduced fellow Africana "we hear voices from the U.S. point of view. losses mount area. Speaking on "Cuba and Africa: From Studies professor Marc Prou, who moder­ This time we have voices from Cuba." BY MAURICE WILLIAMS 1959 to Today," he addressed audiences at ated the event. Riche Zamor Jr., head of the Prou spoke about Dreke 's record of revo­ In recent months a number of state pen­ the University of Massachusetts in Boston Black Student Center, and Maria Moreno Continued on Page 6 sion funds and some of the largest U.S. cor­ and at Brown University in Providence, porations have reported underfunded pen­ Rhode Island, as well as several other gath­ sion programs and massive losses due to erings. Ana Morales, a doctor who has led falling stock prices. Like a slow-moving several Cuban medical missions in Africa, Police in Argentina storm occupied hurricane, the losses have demolished the joined him on the platforms. retirement savings ofhundreds of thousands The University of Massachusetts (UMB) garment plant, workers take it back of workers and large sections of the middle meeting was sponsored by a broad range of class over the past couple of years. faculty and students-the Africana Studies BY MARTIN KOPPEL Within an hour, hundreds of people from State governments and companies have Department, the College of Public and Com­ Early on Sunday, November 24, more around the city-other workers and mem­ speculated in the stock market with em­ munity Service, Students Arts and Events than 200 heavily armed cops stormed the bers of the unemployed organizations, popu­ ployees' pension funds, at a time when Council, Trotter Institute, Black Student Brukman sewing factory in Buenos Aires, lar assemblies, and radical political parties the markets have suffered their deepest Center, Casa Latina, and the Feminist Ma­ which has been occupied by some 50 work­ in the workers movement-had responded Continued on Page 5 jority, as well as the July 26 Coalition, a ers for the past 11 months. Arriving with a to an appeal for help and poured into the Cuba solidarity organization in Boston. court order to evict the occupants, they ar­ street in front of the plant, denouncing the Prior to the meeting, the Black Student rested six workers on guard duty and a nine­ cop action. Later that morning, the same Center hosted a lunch and reception in year-old girl, the daughter of a worker. judge who had issued the eviction notice Also Inside ordered the cops to withdraw. Chanting Students in Iran protest cop "Brukman belongs to the workers," the gar­ ment workers re-occupied the building and attacks; government weakens 3 At Havana meeting, youth discuss by the next day had resumed production. Brukman remains a focal point oflabor re­ U.S., French imperialists battle Che Guevara's revolutionary ideas sistance in Argentina. In July this reporter in­ to pillage Ivory Coast cocoa 4 terviewed workers at the plant who described BY ROGER CALERO ing place here as part of an international how in December 2001 the sewers, mostly 'Homeland security' law HAVANA-A seminar to discuss the rel­ meeting to discuss opposition to the Free women, occupied the plant to oppose the Trade Area of the Americas (see accompa­ accelerates gov't spying on evance of the ideas of communist leader bosses'plans to close the facility and lay them private records of millions 4 Ernesto Che Guevara for youth today took nying article). The participants were wel­ off, and to demand payment of back wages. place here November 23. More than 70 comed by Juan Carlos Marsan, secretary for In face of the employers' bankruptcy Papua New Guinea students, international relations for the UJC. young Cuban leaders met along with inter­ claims, the workers are demanding the Ar­ workers protest cop brutality national guests from student and youth or­ The meeting was addressed by Aleida gentine government take over the factory to and attacks on land rights 10 ganizations in Australia, Costa Rica, Guevara, from the Center for the Study of guarantee their jobs and wages. They have Canada, El Salvador, and the United States. Che and daughter of the revolutionary been running the plant themselves, produc­ 1975 N.Y. 'budget crisis,' The Union ofYoung Communists (UJC) leader; Brig. Gen. Harry Villegas, a com­ ing high-quality men's suits. Large banners of Cuba sponsored the event, held at the batant of the Cuban Revolution who fought draped over the front of the six-story build­ like today's, was excuse to UJC's Julio Antonio Mella leadership alongside Guevara in Cuba's revolutionary ing declare, "Jobs for all: not one more un- attack pensions, services 13 school. It was one of several activities tak- Continued on Page 15 Continued on Page 5 U.S., UK planes now bomb Iraq almost daily Continued from front page immediate compliance" with this demand. was in response to Iraq's movement of mo­ They also approved a U.S. proposal to bile radar equipment into the "no-fly" zone. establish, over the next four years, a NATO Truckers in France block roads Over the preceding days, U.S. planes rapid reaction force with the ability to bombed eight different targets. Twelve swiftly intervene around the world. planes dropped 20 bombs on three separate The NATO representatives stopped short in fight for pay and pensions communications facilities used by the Iraqi of endorsing military action against Iraq Integrated Air Defense network. These in­ because of opposition expressed by Berlin.