WINTER 2018 #1782 VOLUME 115 NO. 1 $4 (U.S. IWW members) / $6 (U.S. non-members) / $7 (International)

Wobblies and Workers in the Arts

Mujer con Frutero a la Cabeza / Bowl of Fruit on Woman's Head (fruit vendor) Alfredo Ramos Martinez, 1943 The Alfredo Ramos Martinez Research Project colored oil pastels (casein) on newsprint 2 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 IWW DIRECTORY IWW Contract Shops Europe Cymru/Wales GMB: caerdydd@iww. Hermosillo: [email protected] iww.org [email protected] org.uk California European Regional Administration Nogales: [email protected] Maryland Asheville/Appalachia: iww.avl@gmail. Dorset: [email protected] com San Francisco Bay Area GMB: P.O. Box (ERA): P.O. Box 7593, Glasgow, G42 2EX; Tucson: 408-314-8574, voyager640@ Baltimore GMB: P.O. Box 33350, 21218; 11412, Berkeley, 94712; 510-845-0540, 0800 998 9149, www.iww.org.uk Edinburgh GMB: edinburgh@iww. gmail.com [email protected] North Dakota [email protected]; Contact for: Berkeley Belgium org.uk Arkansas Massachusetts Fargo: [email protected] Ecology Center (Curbside) Recycling – IU Belgium IWW: [email protected] Tyne & Wear GMB: tyneandwear@ Northwest Arkansas IWW: P.O. Box Boston Area GMB: P.O. Box 391724, Ohio 670 IWW Shop; Community Conserva- German Language Area iww.org.uk 4062, Fayetteville, 72702-4062; Cambridge, 02139; 617-863-7920, Bradford GMB: [email protected] [email protected] Northeast Ohio GMB: P.O. Box 1096, tion Centers (Buyback) Recycling – IU IWW German Language Area Regional www.IWWBoston.org, iww.boston@ Cleveland, 44114; 440-941-0999 670 – IWW Shop; Stone Mountain & Organizing Committee (GLAMROC): Leeds GMB: IWW, Ebor Court, Cooper California riseup.net Daughters Fabrics - IU 410 IWW Shop; Gate, Leeds; [email protected] Ohio Valley GMB: P.O. Box 6042, www.wobblies.org, glamroc@wob- Los Angeles GMB: P.O. Box 74344, Holyoke: [email protected] Cincinnati, 45206; 513- 510-1486, Embarcadero Center Cinemas – IU 630 blies.org. Liverpool: [email protected] 90004; 323-374-3499, losangeles@ Southeastern Massachusetts: the- IWW Shop [email protected] Austria (Vienna): http://www.iww. Manchester GMB: manchester@iww. iww.org [email protected] Oregon Sweet Patches Screenprinting: or.at/, www.facebook.com/pages/IWW- org.uk Sacramento IWW: 916-672-8881, sacra- Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 [email protected] Portland GMB: 2249 E Burnside St., Wien/381153168710911, iwwaustria@ [email protected] Branch: IWW, P.O. Box 1581, Northamp- Milton Keynes-Northampton: Oklahoma 97214; 503-893-2382, portlandiww.org, gmail.com, [email protected] [email protected] IWW San Diego GMB: Contact for San ton, 01061 [email protected]; Contact for: Oklahoma IWW: 539-664-6769, Berlin: Offenes Treffen jeden 2. Sheffield GMB: IWW Office 2, SYAC, Diego Public Service Workers I.U. 650, Michigan Janus Youth Shelters Montag im Monat im Cafe Commune, P.O. Box 882226, San Diego, 92168-2226; [email protected] Reichenberger Str. 157, 10999 Berlin, 120 Wicker, Sheffield S3 8JD (0114 223 Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Washington 2100); [email protected] 619-630-5537, [email protected] Rd., Mason, 48854; 517-676-9446, Oregon 18 Uhr, (U-Bahnhof Kottbusser Tor); San Francisco Bay Area GMB: P.O. Box Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142 Postadresse: IWW Berlin, c/o Rotes Norwich Bar and Hospitality Workers IUB [email protected] Corvallis IWW: 541-316-0254 Seattle, WA 98122-3934; 206-429-5285, 640: [email protected] 11412, Berkeley, 94712; 510-845-0540, Detroit GMB: P.O. Box 32236, 48232; [email protected] Antiquariat, Rungestr. 20, 10179 Berlin, [email protected] [email protected]; Contact for: Germany; [email protected] 313-437-3404, [email protected] Lane GMB: Delegate: 541-743-5681, Central Co-op Nottingham GMB: [email protected] San Jose: www.facebook.com/SJSV, Grand Rapids GMB: P.O. Box 6629, 49516; [email protected], www.iwwlane.org Bochum/Ruhrgebiet: bochum@ West Midlands GMB: IWW, Bike IWW, [email protected] IWW Shop Cards wobblies.org Foundry, 1539 Pershore Rd, Birmingham 616-881-5263, [email protected] Portland GMB: 2249 E Burnside St., Anarpsy-Mental Health Services – Bremen: www.iww-bremen.org, B30 2JH (0121 459 7276); westmids@ Colorado Ypsilanti: [email protected] 97214; 503-893-2382, portlandiww.org, Piraeus, Greece: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] iww.org.uk Denver GMB: IWW, P.O. Box 12451, Den- Minnesota Baltimore Bicycle Works: 1813 Falls Bristol GMB: [email protected] ver, 80212; 814-758-7761, denvergmb Pennsylvania Cologne/Köln GMB: c/o Allerweltshaus, @iww.org Central MN IWW: P.O. Box 583, St. Cloud, Road, Baltimore, MD 21201; www. Koernerstr. 77-79, 50823 Koeln, Pittsburgh GMB: P.O. Box 5912, 15210; baltimorebicycleworks.com/about Reading GMB: [email protected] 56302; Facebook.com/centralMin- Germany; www.iwwcologne.wordpress. Connecticut nesotaIWW 412-438-3499, [email protected] Daniel J. Fornika Scientific Consulting: com, [email protected]. London GMB: [email protected] Connecticut: Delegate: 914-258-0941, Duluth IWW: P.O. Box 3232, 55803; Philadelphia: [email protected] [email protected] North America [email protected] Frankfurt a.M. GMB: http://Frankfurt. [email protected] Northeast Pennsylvania: 570-478-3499, Evergreen Printing: 2412 Palmetto Wobblies.org, [email protected] Canada DC Twin Cities GMB: 2 E. Franklin Ave Ste. [email protected] Street, Oakland, CA; 510-482-4547, Hamburg-Waterkant: hamburg@ IWW Canadian Regional Organizing Washington DC GMB: P.O. Box 1303, [email protected] 1, Minneapolis, 55406; twincities@ South Dakota wobblies.org Committee (CANROC): c/o Toronto GMB, 20013; 202-630-9620, www.dciww.org, iww.org Lakeside Printing Cooperative: 1334 P.O. Box 45 Toronto P, Toronto ON, M5S Sioux Falls: [email protected] Jura-Alpen-Mittelland: jam@wobblies. www.facebook.com/dciww, dc.iww. Missouri Williamson Street, Madison, WI; 608- org 2S6; [email protected] [email protected] Rhode Island 255-1800, www.lakesidepress.org Greater Kansas City IWW: P.O. Box Kassel: IWW, Naumburger Str. 20a, Alberta Florida Providence GMB: P.O. Box 23067, 02903; MoonDog’s Edibles: 54 East 200 North, 414304, Kansas City, 64141; 816-866- 34127 Kassel; www.wobblies-kassel.de, Edmonton GMB: P.O. Box 4197, T6E 4T2; Daytona Beach: DaytonaBeachIWW@ 3808, [email protected] 401-484-8523, [email protected] Salt Lake City, UT [email protected] edmonton.iww.ca, edmontongmb@ gmx.com iww.org St. Louis IWW: P.O. Box 63142, 63163; Tennessee North Country Food Alliance: 2 E. Leipzig: [email protected] Gainesville GMB: c/o Civic Media Center, Franklin Ave, Suite #1 Minneapolis, MN Secretary: stl.iww.secretary@gmail. Clarksville: Delegate: 218 S 3rd St. Apt. Munich: [email protected] British Columbia 433 S. Main St., 32601; gainesvilleiww@ com, Treasurer: stl.iww.treasurer@ 7-6, 37040; 931-220-9665 55404; 612-568-4585, northcountry- Vancouver GMB: IWW Vancouver, c/o gmail.com foodalliance.org Rostock: iwwrostock.blogsport.eu, gmail.com Trenton: Delegate: 221 Milan Hwy, Spartacus Books, 3378 Findlay Street, Hobe Sound: Delegate, 8274 SE Pine P & L Printing: 2727 W. 27th Ave., [email protected] V5N 4E7; www.vancouveriww.com, Montana 38382; 731-613-3067, mbutler429@ Circle, 33455-6608; 772-545-9591, yahoo.com Denver, CO; [email protected] Switzerland: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Construction Workers IU 330: Delegate: 406-490-3869, [email protected] Texas Paper Crane Press: 2 New Rd, Aston, PA; Greece Vancouver Island GMB: Box 297 St. A, Orlando: Delegate: 978-424-8758, 610-358-9496, www.papercranepress. Greece IWW: [email protected] Nanaimo BC, V9R 5K9, [email protected] Missoula IWW: Delegate: 406-529- Denton: [email protected] Facebook: OrlandoIWW, orlandoiww@ 6404, [email protected] com, [email protected] Iceland: Heimssamband Verkafólks/ Manitoba gmail.com Houston: Delegate: Facebook: Houston Pedal Power Press: P.O. Box 3232 Duluth, IWW Iceland, Reykjavíkurakademíunni Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, P.O. South Florida GMB: P.O. Box 370457, Nebraska IWW, houston iww.org MN 55802; www.pedalpowerpress.com 516, Hringbraut 121,107 Reykjavík Box 1, R3C 2G1; 204-299-5042, win- 33137; 305-894-6515, http://iwwmi- Nebraska GMB: P.O. Box 27811, Ralston, Rio Grande Valley, South Texas IWW: Phoenix Health PLC: FW Jeffrey Shea Lithuania: [email protected] [email protected] ami.wordpress.com, Facebook: Miami 68127; www.nebraskaiww.org, P.O. Box 5456, McAllen, Texas 78502; [email protected] Jones #102, 3237 Hennepin Ave S, Min- Netherlands: [email protected] New Brunswick IWW, [email protected] Delegate: 956-278-5235 or 979-436- neapolis, MN; 612-501-6897 St Augustine: staugustineiww@ Nevada 3719, www.facebook.com/IWWRGV, Norway IWW: 004793656014; http:// Fredericton: frederictoniww.wordpress. [email protected] Primal Screens Screen Printing: 1127 SE www.iwwnorge.org, www.facebook. com gmail.com Carson City and Douglas County: 10th Ave #160, Portland, OR; 503-267- com/iwwnorge, Twitter: @IWWnorge, Ontario Tallahassee: www.facebook.com/ [email protected] San Antonio: sanantonioiww@gmail. 1372, [email protected] [email protected] IwwTallahassee Las Vegas and Southern Nevada: com Professional Roofcare: 708 13th Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local WISERA Organisation Contacts 6: 1106 Wellington St., P.O. Box 36042, Tampa: [email protected] iwwlasvegas@ gmail.com Utah Bellingham, WA 98225; 360-734-9743, Reno GMB: P.O. Box 12173, 89510; Salt Lake City: Delegate: 801-891-5706, [email protected] Access Facilitator: [email protected] Ottawa, K1Y 4V3; [email protected], Georgia [email protected] Delegate: 775-513-7523, palan80@ [email protected], iwwmoondog@ Red Emma’s Bookstore Co-op: 30 W. Central England Organiser: central@ Atlanta GMB: P.O. Box 5390, 31107; 678- iww.org.uk Ottawa Panhandlers Union: Delegate: 964-5169, [email protected], hotmail.com gmail.com North Avenue, Baltimore, MD; 410-230- IU 520 Railroad Workers: Delegate: P.O. 0450, [email protected] Communications Department, com- [email protected] Idaho Vermont Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. Box 2131, Reno, 89505; 608-358-5771, Burlington: Delegate: 802-540-2561 Red Lion Press - British Columbia, [email protected] Boise: Delegate: P.O. Box 453, 83701; [email protected] Cymru/Wales Organiser: Trefnydd #17, K9H 3L7; 705-749-9694, Delegate: 208-371-9752, [email protected] Virginia Canada: [email protected] 705-775-0663, [email protected] New Hampshire Cymru, [email protected] Illinois Richmond IWW: P.O. Box 7055, 23221; Sweet Patches Screenprinting: sweet- Toronto GMB: P.O. Box 45, Toronto P, M5S Eastern New Hampshire: newhamp- [email protected] East of Scotland Organiser: eastscot- Chicago: Delegate: 470-326-6531, 804-496-1568, www.richmondiww.org, [email protected] 2S6; 647-741-4998, www.torontoiww. [email protected] [email protected] Worth’s Lawn Care and More: 2 Sandal- org, [email protected] [email protected] Legal Officer: [email protected] New Jersey Washington wood Dr., Davenport, FL; npwandsons@ Windsor GMB: c/o WWAC, 328 Pelissier Central Illinois: davidjohnson1451@ aol.com comcast.net Central New Jersey GMB: P.O. Box 10021, Membership Administrator: member- St., N9A 4K7; 519-564-8036, http:// New Brunswick, 08906; 732-692-3491, Everett IWW: [email protected] IWW Branches & [email protected] windsoriww.wordpress.com, wind- Indiana www.newjerseyiww.org, info@newjer- Olympia: [email protected], Local/Regional Contacts Merchandise Committee: merchan- [email protected] Michiana GMB: Delegate: 574-245-0605, seyiww.org, Delegate: 908-285-5426 Delegate, [email protected] [email protected] Asia Québec [email protected] New Mexico Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142 98122- Northern Regional Organiser: north@ Taiwan Montreal GMB: cp 60124, Montréal, QC, Iowa Albuquerque GMB: [email protected] 3934; 206-429-5285, seattleiww@ iww.org.uk H2J 4E1; 514-268-3394, iww_quebec@ gmail.com Taiwan IWW: c/o David Temple, 4 Floor, Eastern Iowa IWW: 319-333-2476, New York Organising Department: organising@ riseup.net [email protected] Spokane: P.O. Box 30222, 99223; No. 3, Ln. 67, Shujing St., Beitun Dist., iww.org.uk New York City GMB: 45-02 23rd Street, Taichung City 40641 Taiwan; 098-937- United States Kansas [email protected] Research and Survey Department: Suite #2, Long Island City, 11101; www. 7029. [email protected] Alabama Kansas City: 816-875-6060 wobblycity.org, nyc-iww@wobblycity. Whatcom-Skagit GMB: www. [email protected] bellinghamiww.com, Facebook: Australia Birmingham: lolas_powerpop@ Wichita: Delegate: 316-633-0591, org Secretary: [email protected] mail.com Whatcom-Skagit IWW, skagitiww@ New South Wales [email protected] Syracuse IWW: [email protected] gmail.com, IWWBellingham@gmail. Southern England Organiser: south@ Huntsville: [email protected] Sydney GMB: IWW-Sydney-gmb@ iww.org.uk Kentucky Upstate NY GMB: P.O. Box 77, Altamont, com iww.org.au Mobile: Delegate: P.O. Box 160073, Kentucky GMB: Secretary-Treasurer: 12009; 518-861-5627, ggwob56@ Wisconsin Tech Committee: [email protected] 36616; [email protected] yahoo.com Queensland 502-658-0299, papamick.iww@ Madison GMB: P.O. Box 2442, 53701- Training Department: training@iww. Tuscaloosa: Delegate: 205-245-4622, gmail.com Utica IWW: Delegate: uticaiww@riseup. Brisbane GMB: P.O. Box 5842, West End, org.uk 2442 Qld 4101; Delegate, happyanarchy@ [email protected] Louisiana net, 315-570-9668 riseup.net Treasurer: [email protected] Madison Infoshop (I.U. 620): c/o Alaska Louisiana IWW: Delegate: wogodm1@ North Carolina Rainbow Bookstore, 426 W Gilman, Victoria West of Scotland Organiser: westscot- Fairbanks GMB: P. O. Box 80101, 99708; yahoo.com, https://www.facebook. Raleigh-Durham: rdiwwgmb@gmail. [email protected] 53703; 608-260-0900, madinfoshop. Melbourne GMB: P.O. Box 145, More- Delegate: 907-457-2543, Facebook: com/groups/iwwofnwlouisiana/ com wordpress.com/ Women’s Officer: [email protected] IWW Fairbanks, [email protected] land, VIC 3058; melbournewobblies@ Maine Greenville/Eastern NC: pittcountyiww@ Milwaukee GMB: P.O. Box 342294, gmail.com WISERA Branches Arizona Maine IWW: 207-619-0842, www. iww.org 53234; 630-415-7315, iww.milwaukee@ Clydeside GMB: [email protected] Flagstaff: [email protected] southernmaineiww.org, maine@ Charlotte/Salisbury Area: gmail.com

3 IWW DIRECTORY Contents Wobblies and Workers in the Arts IWW News •IWOC organizational announcement 4–5 Longtime•Solidarity request Wobfor Fellow- Workers in need

TV, Film, and Workers •Television sitcoms and workers’ issues 6–11 •Rock that cradle •Workers’ films

Workers and their art •The inspiration of art and the IWW 14–15 •Workers’ art

International News •Lost in translation: strike at Amazon 18–19 in Italia

Industrial Worker Editor & Designer Postmaster: Send address changes to IW, Roberta McNair P.O. Box 180195, Chicago, IL 60618 USA [email protected]

The Voice of Revolutionary Industrial Unionism Graphics Assistance Subscriptions Chris Erlich Electronic subscription for IWW members: Free Annual print subscription rate: Official periodical of the Proofreader • U.S. IWW Members: $16 USD Kathryn Baughman Industrial Workers of the World • Regular U.S. Subscriptions: $20 USD Post Office Box 180195 Printer • ALL International Subscriptions: $28 USD Chicago, IL 60618 USA Sommers and Fahrenbach, Inc. (773) 728-0996 • [email protected] Chicago, IL Annual bundle subscription of 5 copies (20 total) www.iww.org • U.S. Subscriptions: $60 USD Next Submission Deadline • International Subscriptions: $80 USD March 30, 2018 IWW General Secretary-Treasurer Published quarterly in the winter, spring, Travis Erickson U.S. IW Mailing Address Industrial Worker summer, and fall. Post Office Box 180195, IWW General Executive Board Chicago, IL 60618 Articles not so designated do not reflect the IWW’s Cole Dorsey, Amanie El-Hajj, Anthony Kaled, official position. Tai Maag, Jesse Onland, Brianna Peril, and ISSN 0019-8870 David Tucker Periodicals postage paid Chicago, IL Press Date: January 19, 2018 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 4 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 Longtime Wobbly in Need of Solidarity MWA–IWW/IWOC statement Revolutionary greetings, fellow revolutionary concepts but fall far short would be in becoming an IWW branch, workers: of actual revolutionary movement. with the prospect of seeking membership On behalf of “Mandingo Warriors & (The Tribe has been “burned” by such for the entirety of the Tribe and promote Associates—IWW/IWOC,” we would “revolutionary organizations” before, IWW/IWOC’s agenda throughout like to express our most sincere gratitude wherein “they talk a good game,” but the state prison system (the Tribe has a and appreciation regarding the community/village present at practically valuable time, efforts, and sacrifices every prison in the state). that you, along with the entire Before the closing of our meeting, it IWW/IWOC revolutionary family was determined, declared, and resolved of this struggle, have put into this that IWW/IWOC is “the real thing!” We difficult and complex “dilemma” moved to include the Tribe as a whole to of pursuing the necessary steps the membership base of IWW/IWOC required to “effectively” assist in the and promote its/our agenda throughout organizing of those of us who are the state prison system. Therefore, incarcerated within the numerous because of this resolution, a motion was “business corporations” disguised presented to change the name of our as “reformative institutions” (a.k.a. IWW/IWOC Branch to MWA–IWW/ prisons), around unifying principles IWOC (although MWs account for the and a universal philosophy that is majority and significant portion of our inclusive of all of humanity (this IWW/IWOC membership base at the is definitely a struggle rooted in IWW Branch, we’re not all MW. Hence, equality for all of humanity and not “A” for “Associates”: some are Moors, of just the few and wealthy!). the Moorish Science Temple of America, We shall hope and pray that all and of course there will be others of our comrades in the “semi-free who will join with no organizational society” are doing well and are enjoying when the “heat” is turned up they are affiliation). The motion passed the best of health possible. Your most nowhere to be found.) unanimously. We are aware that the GEB recent communication (dated: 10/20/’17) However, after a few of our elder/senior reserves the right to “regulate the name was well received, and we look forward Tribal members expounded upon the true of the body.” However, we request that to receiving future communications from significance of the “Statement on Prison due consideration be given and at the any and all IWW/IWOC members (with Abolition Adopted by IWW at 2017 least, the initials “MWA-IWW/IWOC” a robust invitation to the African People’s Convention,” specifically its wide margin be accepted as an official name. We must Caucus) in the near future. of success (51 in favor) and coupled continue to honor those fallen comrades Before we/I begin to address your with the consistent efforts by you guys, who gave their life in order that the most recent letter, comrade, it is our our comrades within IWW/IWOC, revolutionary movement continues with responsibility to inform and make you in organizing campaigns in support the Tribe moving forward. IW guys aware of the latest developments of prisoners and assisting with the concerning the movement of our Branch. actual organizing of You guys will have no doubt noticed prisoners themselves, the change in name/title to “Mandingo the statement declared Warriors & Associates–IWW/IWOC” by IWW is profound (MWA–IWW/IWOC) from the previous and proclaims name. revolutionary A meeting was held on 10/27/17 in movement far more response to your letter and concerning reaching than IWW/IWOC’s agenda in general. we would have Among the few issues that were expected—at least discussed and resolved was included from “armchair” the uncertainty of some as to whether revolutionaries. IWW/IWOC represents the realities of Our initial true revolutionary movement, or will the agreement, regarding Tribe (another name used to describe the partnering with the entirety of the MW organization) as IWW/IWOC, a revolutionary organization in and of consisted of a project itself be bound by mutual agreement to that was narrowly honor, respect, uphold, and abide by the tailored and confined Constitution, By-Laws, Principles, and to a specific single General Philosophy (whenever related to prison, in order IWW affairs) of a bunch of “armchair” to evaluate how revolutionaries, who pontificate upon successful the project

5 Longtime Wobbly in Need of Solidarity Longtime Wobbly in need of solidarity By New York City General Defense 10-month hospital stay, she was finally appointments. FW Mike estimates, Committee able to return home, although she still “Even in a best-case scenario, Heidi’s Mike Pesa is a longtime member of requires extensive care. Due to her injury, recovery is going to take years, and she the Industrial Workers of the World, Heidi’s mobility and functionality have will likely need some type of care or currently belonging to the Baltimore been limited, necessitating 24-hour assistance for the rest of her life.” General Membership Branch and supervision, not to mention physical, It should come as no surprise to us, as previously the New York City anti-capitalists, that the insurance GMB. Describing Fellow Worker company supposedly obligated to Mike, FW Daniel Gross of the cover the cost of Heidi’s healthcare NYC GMB says, “Mike is one of is shirking its responsibility. As anti- the greatest Wobblies and human capitalists, we know that insurance beings out there, an extremely companies will abandon us for a hard worker for the union . . . buck, but also that we will always a humble, generous spirit and support each other. consistent Wobbly for years In the spirit of solidarity, we ask and years.” Being a committed that you support FW Mike through Wobbly, Fellow Worker Mike this tragic ordeal. If you are able should be able to rely on the to make a financial contribution, IWW and our comrades around please donate to Heidi’s healthcare the world during his time of fund through this GoFundMe need. page: https://www.gofundme.com/ In February of 2017, FW helping-hands-for-heidi#. If you Mike’s wife, Heidi, a former Heidi Pesa cannot give financially, please help kindergarten teacher, suffered a brain occupational, and speech therapy, as well share this appeal as widely as possible. injury, putting her in a coma for months. medication, medical equipment, and Solidarity Forever, Following an undoubtedly difficult supplies, and transportation to and from NYC GDC IW

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 6 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 Television sitcoms and workers’ issues By Raymond S. Solomon driver, is frustrated with his working- the United States’ post-World War II eco- How often are workers’ issues shown class station in life and continually nomic boom, which benefited eighty per on television situation comedies (sit- attempts to get above his situation with cent of the population. The strength of coms)? To what extent are the charac- “get rich quick” schemes. All of these ef- unions, and the post-World War II labor ters’ problems, struggles, lives, realities, forts fail. His best friend Ed Norton is a struggles between 1946 and 1948 greatly aspirations, and abilities presented on TV municipal sewer worker. Norton is happy contributed to the prosperity. The basic sitcoms, and to what extent are the lives with his work and his life, but he joins few effective weapons that workers have of workers and their families distorted or Ralph in his schemes anyway. Whereas include the threat of a strike, a strike, ignored on situation comedies? the Riley family lived in a suburban and labor solidarity. But a strike can The Life of Riley and The home, the Kramdens and Nortons live in result in hardship. During a strike at the Honeymooners two-room apartments—designed to look factory where Archie works, Archie and Television sitcoms of the 1950s did not like the apartment building in which Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) get down usually deal with workers’ lives. The Life Gleason grew up. to their last few hundred dollars. They of Riley, which showed the post-World take aid from neighbors, and the War II prosperous suburban factory strike eventually is settled. But worker’s life, was an exception. In fact, many middle class viewers got “the life of Riley” became a cliché for their first glimpses of the hard- a carefree life. But the frustrations of ship workers undergo during a this wing riveter are also shown in the strike. popular TV show. Actor William Bendix In another episode, a friend of played Riley in a radio show in the 1940s Michael Stivic, Archie’s live-in and a television series (1953–1958) as a son-in-law and political an- good-natured, blue-collar family man. tagonist, is coming to visit Gloria Chester A. Riley is a blundering guy who (Archie’s daughter) and Michael frequently exclaims, “What a revoltin’ The Honeymooners and stay for supper. The friend development this is!” when a bad idea Ralph takes his frustration out on is visiting from Canada, where he went from his friend and co-worker Gillis gets both Norton and wife Alice. Norton’s in order to avoid the draft during the Riley into trouble. However, his friend easy-going nature irritates Ralph, who Vietnam War. Archie is worried about “Digger” O’Dell (an undertaker) would hurls verbal abuse at him. Alice returns the FBI finding out, and he has a dislike provide him with information that would Ralph’s insults with sarcasm, which for people he considered draft dodgers. “help him out of a hole” reinforcing a ultimately defuses his anger. The kind of But the major problem is that Archie’s blue-collar stereotype that presents work- love shown between Ralph and Alice was World War II army buddy is also coming ers as simple, non-intellectual people unique of television, where couples might for supper, and Archie worries about his bicker but rarely exhibit the possibility of reaction to a draft dodger. It turns out actual physical violence. Ralph threatens, that Archie’s army friend’s son was killed “One of these days . . . one of these days . in Vietnam, and the friend is sorry that . . pow! right in the kisser!” frequently, he didn’t tell his son to go to Canada. but the domestic violence implied in the The underlying issue is that during the threat never manifests. Though Ralph Vietnam War, rich and middle-class never hits her, this kind of interplay be- young men could often employ legal tween husband and wife was not usually means of avoiding the draft—including shown on American television. When college deferments, teaching, and psy- the Kramdens hit harder-than-usual chiatrists’ letters. Young men from poor economic times, Alice gets a job, but or working-class backgrounds usually did because employers preferred to employ not have these options. The Life of Riley single women, Alice needed to lie about The working-class Edith is also the her marital status. Saying she lived with conscience of the show, and in her own Jackie Gleason’s The Honeymooners her brother created a comedic situation, innocent way, the wise one. Lionel Jeffer- presents the other side of the story that but it also pointed out a prejudice in the son (Mike Evans), the son in an African- was shown in The Life of Riley. The Hon- era against hiring married women. American family who recently moved eymooners was the first television comedy The Bunkers, the Stivics, and the wis- into the Bunkers’ neighborhood, explains to deal with the non-idyllic aspects of dom of Edith in one episode to Michael why he slightly American families. He purposely wanted All in the Family presents a working- favors Edith as a friend over Michael. to portray the lives of poor Brooklynites, class family, headed by the “lovable This is because Edith, a working-class which was never shown on television. bigot” Archie Bunker. All in the Family person through and through, has treated Ralph Kramden, a New York City bus debuted in 1971, during the last years of him well, but not as a member of his

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race, in undergoes heart bypass surgery, her daughter is contrast to concerned that insurance will not pay for Rose’s Michael who physical therapy. Blanche tells her that that is why is nice to “houses have mortgages.” Rose’s daughter is sur- Lionel, but prised that Blanche “would do that,” and changes first sees and her attitude towards her mother’s housemates. A treats Lionel as There is elder neglect at an underfunded nurs- a member of ing home, where one of Sophia’s friends lives. Spider’s his race. One Blanche decides not to have plastic surgery on her World time, Edith breasts, but to use that money so Sophia’s friend explains to can go to a better nursing home than Rose found Michael why for her. But the Golden Girls lament all the other By Duane Morrison Archie yells at people who live in nursing homes they can’t help. him, and why Dorothy works as a substitute teacher, but at The spider can he, Michael, one point, she becomes sick and doctors can’t afford yells at Archie. diagnoses her illness. So they give her a psychiat- to wait Archie yells at ric label. In real life women are much more likely All in the Family Michael, Edith to get a psychiatric diagnoses than are men when no mirage there says, because doctors can’t figure out what illness they have. it’s simply he will never have the opportunities that Michael Eventually, a virologist explains that Dorothy has dinner has; and Michael yells at Archie, Edith says, be- chronic fatigue syndrome. or lunch cause he knows he will never be able repay Archie Always just getting by, the women infiltrate a as time for what he has done for him: After all, Michael homeless shelter in the hope of recovering a coat allows and Gloria are living in Archie’s and Edith’s with a winning lottery ticket in its pocket. In this house while Michael is finishing college. shelter Sophia meets an old friend. She explains to but The Golden Girls and real-life crises Sophia that getting old is not free, as she thought. one could Most sitcoms of the 1950s and 1960s presented For example medicines are expensive. Sophia says assume that an idyllic America through such programs as that good people will not let these conditions there is little Ozzie and Harriet, Leave it to Beaver, Father continue. But they still continue. Another home- misunderstanding Knows Best, The Patty Duke Show, and The Dick less resident tells Rose that people are not eager about roles van Dyke Show. These shows took place in the to hire an unemployed Black hotel porter who is in his suburbs, the husbands had good jobs, and the over 55. A young white professor suffers from al- game wives were stay-at-home moms. Paying bills did coholism. They find the ticket, but finally donate not seem to be a problem. the ticket to the shelter and hand it to the priest only one By the 1980s, the post-World War II prosper- who operates the shelter. The theme song for that will do ity was starting to crumble. This new situation episode was “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” the eating that workers suffered is shown in The Golden Girls, which ran from 1985 to 1992. In many of the capturing its episodes, it clearly shows working-class issues, is over especially those of older people and of women. the feast Sophia Petrillo was a poor Sicilian immigrant begins child. Sophia, like Blanche and Rose Nylund, is a widow. Sophia’s daughter Dorothy had placed her and only the in an ill-equipped nursing home, after Sophia’s outsider can stroke, but she left the home after a fire. The only see that one of the four Golden Girls who is not from a it is the working class background is Blanche Devereux, structure whose house they all share. of the spider’s Along with many very funny episodes, work- The Golden Girls world that allows ing-class issues are also presented, especially those Blanche’s house, for which the other women for the of women and older people. They all have ups and pay rent, has a bad roof that needs fixing but they killing downs over the course of the series’ seven years. can’t afford a proper repair. Dorothy’s uncle Rose loses her late husband’s pension when the Angelo can’t find a place to live that he can company goes bankrupt and has to find a job, afford. One Christmas, the women volunteer to then she loses a job and fears she may become serve homeless people at a church, and Dorothy’s homeless. Rose is deliberately overworked in a job ex-husband Stanley turns out to be one of the she finds at a TV station—a job she almost didn’t homeless. At one point Sophia praises the Chi- get because of her age. And Rose has to explain nese for venerating their old people, as distinct to her daughter that her estate is so small because from our culture were old people are discarded. her husband, though a great person, was not the The Golden Girls make a covenant that they will super-successful insurance salesman she has led take care of one another in case any one of them her children and grandchildren to believe but gets sick and/or poor. That’s what many of us instead was a horseshoe salesman. And after Rose might want to do. IW

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 8 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 Rock that cradle By Ellie Sawyer in 2016—it was down significantly that with him from his parents’ home to a It is 2018, and we are watching a year, and his response reflected that he rented room after coming to blows over century-old conflict play out, one that did not care, so long as his constituents his family’s support of Benito Mussolini. has been playing out in the developed felt fear). Donald Trump and his cronies His children ask him if they will lose world since the Bolsheviks overthrew the play that tune now, using stereotypes to their room, and they tell him of a child Cossacks, and imperialists realized a new divide and strike fear within our heart they knew whose employed father fear: the labor movement. Long has the with such rhetoric as “Haitians have could not pay rent anymore. The child world’s elite required the sheer manpower AIDS” and “Mexicans are drug dealers, subsequently could not attend school the working class has offered, and it has criminals, and rapists.” anymore, a cause for concern for Silvano, done its best to ensure we are divided In the 1999 movie, Cradle Will Rock, who is himself uncertain about his enough to never realize the power we set in the 1930s and based on actual children’s future. could potentially possess should we people and events, we see this struggle Olive Stanton, a homeless stagehand at band together. Undermining education between capitalist elitism and the the FTP, tells the theater’s union leader, and turning it into a commodity, labor movement. Though the movie John Adair, that she knows very little much like what Betsy DeVos seeks itself centers on the playwright, Marc of the world, when he tries to discuss to do with her plan for private school Blitzstein, who wrote the musical The politics and world news with her, saying vouchers and “school choice,” taking Cradle Will Rock, the script broadens that she has been too focused on being away money from public schools, where out to speak of a larger scope—the hungry to care about the state of the so many low-income students received struggle of the WPA’s Federal Theater world or to find herself education. Even an already imperiled education (thank Project (FTP). Its task was to make in the ritzy home of Gray Mathers, you, President Reagan, for your famous literature and theater more accessible to a steel mogul, his wife Countess line, “the state should not subsidize the common man and thereby educate Constance La Grange laments at how intellectual curiosity” and stigmatizing through exposure to new thoughts and he does not tell her anything or speak of critical thinking) has done part of the cultures, which are then normalized and important matters to her, in which he trick. become acceptable. We are exposed to brushes her off, saying that she would Fear mongering and stirring up the nuances of this struggle, the subtle not understand. Despite her insistence suspicion of each other—encouraging ways the labor movement is sabotaged that she would, he refuses throughout divisive attitudes against people who and undermined, and the revolt of the the movie to involve her in his important are different—have also played a part in working class to reclaim their right to a business deals. It is a feedback loop of preventing unity amongst the workers seat at the table. sorts: One is easy to control when one of the world. People like Newt Gingrich There are many instances in this film is uneducated, and one is easy to keep have been caught on tape using this in which education becomes a topic of uneducated when one is under someone tactic, making statements like “the discussion, even if it is often brief. Aldo else’s control. average American . . . does not think that Silvano (based on the actor Howard Da We see the inverse of this in the crime is down, does not think they are Silva), an Italian-American actor in the friction-filled relationship between safer” (Gingrich said this when he was FTP struggling to support his growing Nelson Rockefeller and Diego Rivera: corrected on his stance that crime was up family, has taken his wife and children Rivera is incredibly intelligent, and as

Diego Rivera’s “Man, Controller of the Universe,” his revision of “Man at the Crossroads.”

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production readily available for public consumption of The Cradle because of the FTP’s ideals for social Will Rock is egalitarianism. also stalled—a Despite the machinations of the day before capitalist elite, most of us now enjoy their opening. a minimum wage, forty-hour weeks, Unions for overtime pay, and many public utilities, both the actors such as municipal electricity, water, and musicians libraries, and in some more progressive tell their areas of the country, Internet service— members that something that may catch on if the if they perform repeal of net neutrality holds. Oh, and Rivera’s Moguls Hearst, Rockefeller, and Mathers in fancy “Man at the dress at a society gala. Crossroads” Rockefeller attempts to force Rivera was to paint a mural in Rockefeller Center ultimately that is to the young socialite’s liking, recreated— Rivera only revolts more, painting the albeit on likeness of the communist, Lenin, and a smaller syphilis cells directly above a depiction scale—and of a society gala. This, of course, renamed infuriates the young Rockefeller, and “Man, while Rivera is still paid for his work— Controller albeit forcefully and accompanied with of the an armed guard escorting him off the Universe.” premises—the mural is immediately Hallie Flanagan and WPA and Federal Theater Project staff head to Congress 2017 was, destroyed. Rockefeller will not risk for their hearing with Congressman Dies. undoubtedly, a being perceived as a supporter of social hard year full egalitarianism. on a stage, they will be out of the job. of long struggles, and as we progress, we Hallie Flanagan, head of the Federal Out of fear, all the actors and musicians find that our adversaries—the CEOs, the Theater Project, is also seen as a threat tell each other that they will not perform, Wall Street bigwigs, and the corporate to the status quo and is punished even after a new theater and piano are fat cats—are more than capable of for her worldviews. When the FTP acquired for the non-union Blitzstein to adapting to new rules and regulations to faces congressional investigation and perform alone. John Adair, an actor and protect the common worker. The other subsequent slashes in funding, Flanagan the union steward for Orson Welles’s mogul in the film, William Randolph barrels full-steam ahead into her hearing theater, is especially set on doing exactly Hearst, advises Gray Mathers in the face with Congressman Martin Dies, at the union dictates: While the actors of political pressure to allow his steel confident that she will prevail. She is, and musicians are all decided on at least company to unionize: “Killing strikers instead, put under fire over her own attending Blitzstein’s performance, Adair doesn’t play to the public. You’ve got to theatrical education and for attempting leaves, telling Olive that if she wants a find a way to give them a dollar—and to expose young children to the same place to stay, she will leave as well, trying take two!” They would not concede the sort of education. This leads to the to control her through her own fears of battle to hoard as much money at the other tactic: Though she is not called a destitution. expense of as many people as they could. Communist outright, Dies consistently Ultimately, progress prevails, and But there always beats the hard-earned directs the hearing to make frequent in our contemporary settings, we drum of hope—we will always find a way inferences about Flanagan’s loyalties, must remember that. The actors and to flourish and fight back against those based on a few months spent studying musicians still put on their play, using with power. If watching Cradle Will Rock Russian theater, on plays that she has a technicality in their union contract taught this writer anything, it is that approved for FTP production that have barring them from using a stage. hope is truly the thing with feathers, and unionist overtones, and on the egalitarian Countess La Grange finally sticks it as long as we have it, we will out-soar ideals that she spreads both orally and to her husband, giving financial aid anything—even in our darkest hour. through the written word. He does so to Orson Welles and his production Ellie Sawyer graduated from Montana to play on fears of Communist and even instead of acting as the dutiful and silent State University in 2016, with a degree anarchist infiltrations in the FTP—and wife. Olive Stanton becomes able to in Fish and Wildlife Ecology. She plans largely succeeds in discrediting her and feed and clothe herself, and be part of on getting a Master’s degree in Wildlife the FTP. Flanagan and her companions a meaningful and thought-provoking, Biology/Ecology and working as a research leave the hearing feeling largely defeated, pro-union play. The FTP set out to make professor. In the meantime, she works at despite that the ideals of the FTP will theater more accessible to low-income Home Depot, where she continues to learn never truly be forgotten. citizens, and though it did not last more about the ongoing struggle between workers Once the FTP funds are slashed, and than a decade, through many different and bosses. IW all current productions are frozen, the types of organizations, theater is more

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 10 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 Workers’ films By Sean Morrison his art and imagination. What he lands the Molotov–Ribbentrop pact in 1939. The Great Depression and the years is a boring job in a huge room with small He spoke his philosophy of life loudly that led up to it were fertile ground for desks and piles of “in” and “out” boxes. through his early films noirs: Brute Force, films about workers that understood He meets a young woman, they fall in The Naked City, and Thieves’ Highway. the meaning of “work.” Many writers, love, marry, and have a child, but John The 1949 Thieves’ Highway—his last directors, and actors weren’t far from never realizes his dreams—at least not in film before he left for Europe—has a their own experience of a working documentary feel to it, and the class, many of them immigrants actors, including Richard Conte or first-generation Americans, as and Lee J. Cobb, have the grittiness well as from families that were that suited the realism of the film. marginalized. So it’s not surprising Conte plays a WWII vet who that many movies in the first few comes home to find his truck-driver decades of cinema were reflections father crippled by a beating from of a director’s (or producer’s or a corrupt produce dealer in San actor’s) working-class birth. But Francisco’s burgeoning produce the studio system that sprung up market. Conte’s character decides in the mid-1920s started to change to strike back, after he tries with that. The movies, becoming big little success to revive his father’s business, moved from the tiny business. The scenes in the produce nickelodeons of the 1910s to markets of San Francisco, at the huge movie palaces through the farms of the Central Valley, and silent era. A cartoon of the time on the road were all shot with real depicted the lavish decoration of workers. Film noir-themed movies, these palaces with a film onscreen produced from the ’30s through of a man roasting a sausage over the ’50s, were often ripe for social a campfire. The two seemingly commentary, with a dark view of a divergent styles—realism and dark period in American politics. fantasy—heralded two of the most Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp prepares to eat his shoe HUAC drove Harlem-raised Dassin horrific decades for working people in on the screen of an ornate movie theater. out of Hollywood to France, where he the US: the growing economic disparity revived his career. between workers and management of the the way that he has dreamt them. One of Japan’s post-WWII film industry was ’20s to the complete economic disruption the most striking images is of John and plagued by the American occupation’s of the ’30s. The dialectics of socialism his then-girlfriend seeing a sandwich- censorship and a lack of production permeated everything from comedies and board sign walker dressed as a clown. funds. But out of that period, one of musicals to drama and action films. They laugh good-naturedly at him but Japan’s most famous film directors, Akira Did that die on the vine as the there is an edge of fear in John’s face that Kurosawa, managed to fashion several transnational world stage became he could well end up in a job like that. near-noir films that starred his leading dominated by huge conglomerates and Vidor was born in Galveston Texas, the man Toshiro Mifune—who Kurosawa took over theaters, then television, and son of a lumberman, his grandfather a went on to work with in 15 films. In now the Internet? It didn’t die, but it refugee of the Hungarian Revolution of Drunken Angel and Red Beard, Kurosawa has morphed as the decades have rolled the mid-1800s. He worked his way up as glorified doctors fighting for the dignity on. It also was reinterpreted far from a newsreel cameraman and projectionist. of their poor patients. Both films are Hollywood in the American independent He had a fine feel for the rhythms of masterpieces, but his independently cinema and in every country of the ordinary life and small heroics. The produced 1949 movie Stray Dog world, despite those countries’ political Crowd is considered his masterpiece, demonstrates the wide-ranging eye of a leadership. Five neglected films that though he went on to direct films until director who loves the common man. got it right—King Vidor’s The Crowd, the ’70s. However, despite his love of Mifune plays an army veteran, now a Jules Dassin’s Thieves’ Highway, Akira the common man and his enlightened police detective, who early in the film has Kurosawa’s Stray Dog, Charles Burnett’s (for the times) ideas about race, Vidor his gun stolen—a tool so highly valued Killer of Sheep, and Paul Schrader’s Blue joined the Motion Picture Alliance for in post-war times that armed police Collar—are excellent examples of the fire the Preservation of American Ideals, the were personally responsible for their being kept lit in the most unusual places organization that aided the blacklisting replacement or retrieval. In Mifune’s King Vidor’s 1928 silent film The of many people in the film industry wide ranging hunt for his gun, we are Crowd reads like a multigenerational by the House Un-American Activities exposed to a cross-section of a Tokyo epic, but it’s told in a modest way about Committee (HUAC) on charges of their barely recovering from a crippling a modest family, the Simses. John Sims being part of the Communist conspiracy. defeat, where starvation is common and loses his mother at an early age, but his Jules Dassin was influenced by his dispossessed vets have turned to crime. idealism stands him in good stead and Ukranian and Polish–Jewish background Unlike other police procedurals, Stray eventually draws him to the big city, and became a member of the Communist Dog makes you feel the sweat and dirt of determined to make a good living with Party in the 1930s, but he left it after the policeman’s world. Violence

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scenes on the killing In 1978, a year after Burnett released floor are brief and Killer of Sheep, Paul Schrader, coming purposely disjointed, off his success as the screenwriter of Taxi Killer of Sheep is one Driver, directed and wrote Blue Collar. of the strongest films Starring Harvey Keitel, Richard Pryor, made that captures and Yaphet Kotto, it was filmed in the the everyday life of a Checker Cab plant, and it captures what working-class family it is like on the production line. Pryor of any color. Its rough walks a tightrope between a comedic editing and use of a loudmouth and a frustrated worker wide range of Black who is loyal to his union. The film was music—from Paul sold as a crime drama, but it really isn’t. Robeson to Dinah There is attempted robbery, a cover-up, Washington— corruption, and a murder, but Schrader punctuating short, seemed more concerned in his script with punchy scenes draws depicting the lives and friendships of the you into the life of three principals. King Vidor’s aerial opening shot of New York city narrows down Watts and the struggles A creepy character, played by Cliff to John Sims at his one desk among hundreds of other desks. for survival of its residents. DeYoung, is an FBI informant trying The child actors (all his damnedest to alienate workers from may be endemic, but it plays out as the amateurs, as were the adults) provide a their union. Schrader had a mental result of a failed society. There are no fantastic counterpoint to the grown-ups, breakdown on the set, mainly because clear good guys or bad guys. Although and many of the scenes with the children the three starring actors didn’t get along, Kurosawa came from a samurai family stand on their own with the strongest and Richard Pryor at one point pulled a on his father’s side and a merchant family dramatic scenes. Burnett made the film gun on Schrader. Their real-life tension, on his mother’s side, he had a spiritual in 1970 and released it in 1977 to little however, makes the film’s characters all awakening from the 1923 earthquake acclaim, but it has been rediscovered the more volatile and believable. At a that devastated Tokyo, the suicide death and dubbed a generational masterpiece. budget of 1.7 million, Blue Collar was a of his favorite brother, and then the war. low-budget indie. A painter by preference and Large theater a member of the Proletarian chains didn’t pick Artist’s League, Kurosawa it up because of moved into the film industry its union-friendly when he saw that painting politics, but the couldn’t fulfill his political new industry of ideals. His protagonists—even independent art in his samurai films—are houses embraced it. down-to-earth professionals The rise of possessed of strong wills and documentaries as love of life. popular art-house Charles Burnett was a child fare in the last 15 of Watts, the largely African- years in particular American neighborhood of has camouflaged South Los Angeles. He was 21 many narrative when Watts erupted in racial films that address violence in 1965 that killed 34 important labor people, injured a thousand, and working-class and destroyed much of the issues. That’s a area. Burnett had a strong shame, particularly desire for a career and studied when we have to be an electrician, but he got so many ways of sidetracked by a writing class, seeing a film now. Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura, as cop partners, find their way through which led him to the UCLA Film post-war Tokyo’s underworld in the search for Mifune’s gun in Stray Dog. The information streams School. At that time the UCLA Film are many. Among more School was wide open, essentially giving In Burnett’s words, “That’s one of the recent films, The Florida Project should be students cameras and saying, “Go forth!” reasons why we haven’t made social must-see viewing. And mining the past Burnett’s thesis film was Killer of Sheep, progress. We don’t use film as a means can turn up eye-opening archaeological written, directed, and edited by him. It’s to confront real issues that over time will finds—among them Charlie Chaplin’s an amazing, unique record of a Watts create a better society.” Milestone Films The Kid and Woman of Paris and William family whose patriarch has a job he hates has restored the film and re-released it. Wellman’s Heroes for Sale and Wild Boys in a meat-packing plant, where he kills It’s not an easy film to watch, but it’s a of the Road. Seek, and ye shall find. IW sheep and butchers them. Although the necessary film for anyone to see.

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 12 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 The “vicious but brilliant exploitation” that drives right-wing economics By Hamilton Nolan create racial and other divisions within together, and are part of a single package. Splinter, Jan. 4, 2018 the working class. And that’s been The kind of corporate dominated This month [January 2018], Thea Lee remarkably successful, unfortunately. globalization that the United States took over as president of the Economic It’s an age-old thing, and we’ve seen has engaged in over the past couple of Policy Institute, America’s premier left- historically that when the working decades, through both Democratic and wing economic think tank. We spoke to class is divided amongst itself and set Republican administrations, is a key part her about Trumponomics and the fight to squabbling between immigrants and of that—a key part of undermining the for equality. native-born, and black and white, and bargaining power of workers by giving Lee spent two decades as an economist Latino and Asian, that’s something that multinational corporations massive at the AFL-CIO, America’s largest never benefits workers in the long run. mobility, massive flexibility, and political federation of unions, before taking over And that’s something that we’re seeing power, and leaving workers stranded. . . . as head of EPI—a group that produces now in a really grotesque version. Splinter: Is it really possible for a group some damn good charts.* She will have Splinter: Who’s driving that like EPI to get your message heard widely her work cut out for her. exploitation? Is it just the investor class at a time when the media environment is Splinter: What do you think are the trying to enrich itself, or is there more to so polarized politically? root causes of the decline of unions and it? Lee: All we can do is to stay strong and organized labor in America, over the past Lee: At the end of the day, if you look at to stay true to our voices and what we several decades? who the big beneficiaries are of the recent believe, and hope that people recognize Thea Lee:There’s probably not a single tax reform bill, it does feel like the after a while that there are lies that are cause. But I think that I would start with investor class not just tolerated Donald told over and over again and have never the pretty concerted attack on unions Trump, but was complicit in that trend come true. Taxes are one of the biggest and workers by the right. And it’s been a because they saw that there was a areas. You start with Ronald Reagan, successful attack. They identified unions personal and class benefit. . . . and George W. Bush, and Kansas, and as the biggest threat to consolidation of Splinter: How much of the rise of every other time that this same phony power by the wealthy and corporations, inequality in America is a result of a narrative has been put forward: that if in terms of electoral impact. And they we cut taxes, then business were right. Unions are a successful will be so successful, and organizing force, both in elections and in they’ll bring jobs home, and the political debate. they’ll pay their workers That concerted attack happened at the more. There has not been a state level and the national level. We’ve time in history where that been decades and decades without any has worked out as promised. modernization or strengthening of our At some point maybe people labor laws, as the world has changed will stop falling for the same around us. For labor it becomes a vicious cheap rhetoric. cycle, where you’re small and you’re Splinter: Is there anything weak so you don’t have enough political you’re hopeful about in the power to change the laws to make union near term, or are we just in organizing easier and fairer, and then you for three bad years? become smaller and weaker and you lose Lee: I think there’s a lot power. of room for progressives to Splinter: Are there any realistic ways for put forward a powerful set labor to break out of that vicious cycle of pro-worker policies that you describe? will be attractive and that Lee: That is the question, isn’t it? Is there are needed and wanted right a turning point, a point at which you now. We’ve had a year of hit bottom? Sometimes it feels like we’re the Trump administration’s at that turning point right now. Things broken promises and fake have become so bleak and grim in terms populism. It really has failed of the political landscape, and there’s on so many different fronts. been so much overreach on the part of political agenda, and how much of it is This is our opportunity to show what Republicans in Congress, that maybe us being at the mercy of broader global international solidarity looks like, what a that has created the opportunity for both trends like technological change and non-racist, non-xenophobic, non-sexist, political change and cultural change and globalization? non-divisive real populism looks like. institutional change. And we need all of Lee: I think it’s definitely the outcome There’s a hunger for it. them. . . . of a very clear political agenda of *EPI’s charts are at http://www.epi.org/ Splinter: Do you think the rise in disempowering and undermining publication/top-charts-of-2017-12-charts- economic inequality is at the heart of our workers. Through the attacks on unions, that-show-the-real-problems-policies-must- current political insanity? “right to work” in Wisconsin and tackle-not-the-made-up-ones/ Lee: I think it is. What’s happened Michigan and other key states, failure Find the article at https://splinternews.com/ is there has been a really vicious but to increase the minimum wage, taxes the-vicious-but-brilliant-exploitation-that- brilliant exploitation of that inequality to and so on. That’s real. Things have gone drives-ri-1821740882 IW

13 I was not protected from Harvey Weinstein. It’s time for institutional change By Mia Kirshner procedures should their members file The Globe and Mail, Oct. 13, 2017 complaints. That needs to change now. I could waste this precious space on And change does not mean publishing Harvey Weinstein by describing my own another well-meaning brochure or e-mail ordeal with him. An ordeal in a hotel blast about anti-harassment policies. room where he attempted to treat me like Statements pledging support for survivors chattel that could be purchased with the of sexual harassment and assault are not promise of work in exchange for being going to cut it. his disposable orifice. So, how can the unions support their But I’m not giving that man, a newly members in a more meaningful and crowned figurehead of sexual abuse, the tangible way? privilege of more ink. There are broader First of all, can we agree that no more cannot afford costly, long-term therapy. and more urgent issues to address. And meetings for anything related to work be And finding free psychological support is if we don’t address them now, I fear held in hotel rooms? That would be up to extremely difficult, especially with that when the headlines about Harvey the unions to firmly enforce. exploding wait-lists. The toll of being Weinstein fade, what will remain is a Second, the unions need a new without mental care is enormous, disease in my own industry. system for investigating allegations of eventually affecting all areas of life. The disease is the act of turning a wrongdoing. So what now? blind eye to sexual harassment and abuse Currently, if a SAG member launches My industry, filled with vital talent, carried out by those who wield power a complaint, the union writes a letter shares my desire for overhauling the in the film industry. Fear of speaking and asks that the production house or current system. As a proud Canadian, out has become malignant, silencing the studio involved conduct an internal I would like to see my union, ACTRA, majority of the community. In my case, I investigation of the alleged abuse. You create the gold standard for how was encouraged by former managers and can imagine its effectiveness. An in-house complaints of sexual harassment and agents to forget about what happened to investigation by the very nature of being abuse are handled in the workplace. me. People in Mr. Weinstein’s position in-house does not cultivate impartiality. It can do it. Dedicated and smart have the power to make or break careers, Especially when the person being people work within this union. We to blacklist someone who protests investigated runs or owns the studio. need the unions to be mighty with against their advances. In turn, my own Complaints about these matters that are strength in creating radical new policies representatives at the time did nothing. raised within our unions should trigger and procedures, which will make it Their silence spoke volumes about power an independent third-party investigation. impossible for members to work with and fear within the film industry. And Third, what do the unions do to proven sexual predators. I was far too quiet myself. All I did was protect a member should they be In doing this, I hope that the unions tell my peers what happened to me and blacklisted by the alleged perpetrator will not work in isolation, but in warn them about this dangerous man. after speaking out? Again, very little. concert with all of the unions and major In turn, both my unions—the Screen ACTRA, for example, has no system stakeholders in the industry, speaking Actors’ Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of or database that monitors missed work with one firm voice. Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio opportunities of those who launched Beyond film-industry stakeholders, Artists (ACTRA)—offered inadequate a complaint. If an actor is never hired lawmakers need to act. Stronger laws and protection should I have launched a by the alleged perpetrator again, what punishments are needed to curb sexual complaint. penalties are in place by the union? If impropriety. In a business climate like this, what an industry member is found to have This will not be easy, but we cannot recourse does an actor have if they a pattern of blacklisting an individual go back to the status quo. We have had experience sexual harassment or abuse? who launched a complaint against them, enough. Very little. This goes to the heart of why what will the union do? Will it continue Speaking out is powerful, and cathartic so many actors probably remained silent. to allow the member to work with other but it won’t change the status quo. . . . There is little comfort in being union members? Any effort to blacklist Don’t give us another brochure or met with silence. There is shame, rage, an actor who refuses sexual advances (by hotline to call. Please don’t release a and isolation. Should an actor buck the a producer, director, etc.) should trigger statement about how the union supports system by speaking out, the fear of seeing real consequences against the offender. its own. It’s not enough. Protect us. your career destroyed is real—especially But again, how can the unions produce Change this ineffective system. if you are not yet well established in the evidence of blacklisting if no monitoring Men and women need to look within industry. Actors may fear that speaking is in place? their own workplace cultures and out could cost them their ability to pay Fourth, better mental-health supports demand immediate change. And if bills and support their families. should be put in place to treat the we don’t, all of us are complicit in our That is why, in spite of the current psychological impact of sexual abuse. silence and indifference. And if that groundswell, it is still not safe to speak Yes, the unions do have a health-care happens, the disease will continue to against sexual harassment and abuse in plan that covers therapy, but the allotted spread. the film industry as of today. SAG and amount will cover only a handful of Mia Kirshner is a Canadian actor, writer, ACTRA do not have holistic policies and sessions. That is not enough. Most actors and social activist. IW

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 14 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 The inspiration of art and the IWW By John Kaniecki of individuals from my own life. The Some never die and some never live Any movement first begins with combination is a book I assembled to So songs of revolution will always persist an idea. This is true with anything, inspire the average person and tell the For unto themselves my songs give including the IWW. When the “One stories of working-class heroes. Big Union” was formed, its concept was In addition to poetry and song lyrics, So open your eyes and organize revolutionary. The idea was based on the I write fiction. In my stories I also Never give in to their lies and organize truth that the workers did all the work. incorporate my working class ideas Do not hate and despise but organize If only those who labored united, they along with a myriad of others. It is the Raise your voice in mighty cries and could control the world. job of the storyteller to keep a person organize Of course, things don’t change entertained, and I feel challenging people overnight. There is struggle in life, and with new ideas and making them think Joe slurped the last of his tea class warfare is part of that fight. On one helps fulfill that calling. To teach new And bid me a final farewell hand you have the worker, just trying to things, many times the subtle approach is Above all fight to be free stay alive on their meager wages. On the more effective than the blatant. You’ll get heaven when you give them other hand, you have the boss, who wants I close with my award-winning poem, hell to accumulate more, despite his already “Tea with Joe Hill” from Poet to the Poor. fantastic riches. As a result, when the FW John worker wants to claim their fair share, Tea with Joe Hill Kaniecki he is met with resistance, sometimes volunteers violent and deadly. History is full of these Joe Hill and I had tea in his clashes. It is the job of the artist to tell He let his biscuits soak community, the brave deeds of the working class. They say America is free is active There is a fine line between art and Man how they love to joke with New propaganda. I don’t write to move people. Ask Sacco and Vanzetti Jersey Peace Rather I am moved to write. I look at all Ask Red Cloud and Crazy Horse Action, and the brave people in history who fought And the way I see advocates for the common person and a feeling Is things are getting worse for the touches my heart and soul. I take this mentally ill. shared flame and through my artistic gift I said “Joe why ain’t you dead?” You can I write words of inspiration. In my book Righteousness is like Love my friend find John’s Poet to the Poor: Poems of Hope for the Laughed Joe as he shook his head poetry and Bottom One Percent, I have poems about Spirits never die and never end writing at Joe Hill, Pete Seeger, Mumia Abu Jamal, A thousand tyrants and all their force http://johnkaniecki.blogspot.com/ as well as Fred Hampton, Chief Joseph, Jesus, In truth could never compete http://amzn.to/2wIoX7G. John is open to the Haymarket Leaders, Mother Jones, With the Love that is the source hearing from composers who’d like to set his and others. This list of recognizable Of one of my melodies sweet poetry to music. IW names is mixed with unknown stories You see death and life they coexist

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15 Workers’ art By Craig Bledsoe and accuracy. It was a reaction against for violence, war, and nationalism and “The work of art is a scream of monarchy and the bourgeoisie—and maintained political affinities with freedom.”—Christo against the rarefied institutions and the radical left. Their art took form in When we talk about workers’ art, what academies that dictated the definition sculpture, painting, poetry, performing do we mean? Is it art depicting the lives of art. The Realists developed a new arts, photography, and collage. of working-class people? Is it art created form of painting, using earthy colors The Surrealist artistic and cultural by working-class people themselves? Is in their palettes to accurately portray movement developed out of Dada and it art about the lives and circumstances the a society changed by political and was strongly influenced by the work of of the working-class produced by the cultural developments. With the advent Sigmund Freud. Surrealism affected working-class? The likely answer would of photography, Realism took workers’ the visual arts, literature, film, and be all of these. art to a different level. music, as well as political thought and Is art an essential component of Tramp art was a world-wide art practice, philosophy, and social theory. resistance to fascism, capitalism, movement dating from the 1870s into Surrealist André Breton asserted that and other manifestations of tyranny, the 1940s; above all Surrealism was a revolutionary oppression, coercion, and slavery? Is however, it movement. The Surrealists’ split with it essential because art is “a scream of was created Dada can be seen as a split between freedom,” as the artist Christo asserted? primarily in communists and anarchists, with the Is it “propaganda of the deed”? Is the the United Surrealists supporting Trotsky. production of art, as an expression of States. Over The Works Progress Administration humanity, fundamental to freedom? fifty (WPA), established in 1935 at the height Can true freedom manifest and endure different of the Depression, was part of the U.S. without art? ethnic government’s New Deal program. Surely, workers’ art must include what groups have It was renamed the Work Projects is commonly referred to as “folk art.” been Administration in 1939. It employed And although the terms “worker” and documented large numbers of unskilled men to carry “working-class” didn’t really come into as having out public works projects, such as the common use until the advent of the made tramp construction of public buildings and Industrial Revolution, art produced by art. roads. Another aspect of the WPA was common people prior to then should Sometimes known as Federal Project Number One, be considered workers’ art. Even the referred to as a “democratic” art form, it which employed musicians, writers, ancient peoples of prehistory, the hunter- was practiced at home by farmers, people actors, directors, and artists to produce gatherers, who had no “bourgeois” class who worked in factories, and laborers theater, media, and literacy projects. lording over them during their time from many different trades and Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Willem de must have worked hard, and worked occupations. The art produced was Kooning, and Mark Rothko, best known very hard indeed, to create the “wealth” utilitarian in nature, with picture frames as pioneers of Abstract Expressionism, of their subsistence. We should regard and boxes being the most popular types were among the thousands of artists and their cave-paintings, carvings, and other of art produced. Materials used for other creatives employed by the WPA artistic creations, no matter the purpose, construction were scavenged from during the years of 1935 and 1943. as workers’ art. commonly available items of the time, Although these painters were able to All in all, there is quite a lot to such as cigar boxes and wooden crates. create their own art during this period, consider when undertaking such an They were often carved and layered into their designated jobs were to create examination, and that examination intricate geometric patterns to achieve illustrations and posters for the other goes hand in hand with the history of the desired effect. Simple tools, such as projects under the WPA, to provide art the working class. And although a lot is pocket knives and the like, were used to classes to communities, and establish art certainly encompassed within the history do the work. Although some hobos and centers around the country. of workers’ art and music prior to the tramps made some tramp art, the name Workers’ art is still present in our Industrial Revolution, for the purposes “tramp art” was not associated with the society, reacting against the same things of this article, the Industrial Revolution movement until a much later time than as the Realists, Dadaists, and Surrealists. can be seen as the real beginnings what when it was being practiced. Tramp art The visual arts, film, and television— we call the working class of today and, truly was a form of workers’ art, because especially with the advent of on-demand therefore, workers’ art. most of folks who participated in media—create historical and fictional Realism was an artistic movement producing tramp art were working-class presentations of workers’ struggles. originating in France during the 1840s people with a home-based life. Graphic artists create comics, posters, that rejected idealist images in favor Dadaism (Dada) was an early 20th and anarchist graffiti and street art. of more realistic depictions of day-to- century avant-garde art movement that Music has developed beyond the “folk” day life. The Enlightenment and the arose as a reaction to World War I in music of the people, into Country, Rock, Industrial Revolution influenced this 1916 and rejected the logic, reason, Punk, and beyond with the common reaction against traditional art and aestheticism, and nationalism of modern theme of celebrating working people. literature. Realism did not shy away capitalist society. It expressed, among There is much more, but I leave that for from the unpleasant or sordid aspects of other sentiments, anti-bourgeois protest. another article. IW life, seeking to portray them with truth Dadaist artists expressed their disdain

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 16 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 Washington’s L&I begins enforcement of sick leave State agency provides a variety of • Washington is the first in the nation services for workers to adopt rules that encompass Jan. 11, 2018 emerging telecommunications New Year’s Day in Washington State technology. Cell-tower deaths are began with a higher minimum wage and increasing nationally: For tower enforcement of new paid sick leave for climbers, the death rate is 10 times workers statewide. the average for construction workers. It’s the role of the state Department of While there are no federal standards, Labor & Industries to enforce those laws. wage increases. For 2018, the minimum L&I’s rules are expected to serve as But that’s only part of what the agency wage is now $11.50 per hour. a model for OSHA and other state does for workers. Making workplaces safe Previously, the state’s minimum wage plans. is the top goal, besides helping injured was pegged to the Consumer Price Index It’s worth noting one of every six workers heal and return to work, and for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical claims to L&I for which benefits are helping honest workers, businesses, and Workers (CPI-W). With passage of paid is a sprain or strain of the back medical providers by cracking down on the initiative, the minimum wage will from overexertion or repetitive motion— dishonest ones. increase to $13.50 by 2020. L&I will making it the most commonly reported More resources for workers can then resume calculating the minimum workplace injury. A lack of fall protection be found at www.Lni.wa.gov/ wage for calendar years 2021 and beyond or protective equipment is among the workplacerights. This includes using the CPI-W. most frequently cited hazards. filing wage complaints online, In fiscal year 2017, L&I investigated rights of farm workers, and teen- 5,895 wage complaints and collected worker safety. $3.5 million in wages owed to workers. Sick leave Since the state’s Wage Payment Act Mandatory sick leave for workers took took effect in 2006, which is the law effect Jan. 1, 2018. Under the new paid that sets the agency’s responsibilities sick-leave law, employees earn at least for investigating and citing, L&I has one hour of paid sick leave for every returned more than $27 million in 40 hours worked. The law also requires unpaid wages to more than 22,000 employers to carry over up to 40 hours of state workers. The agency investigates an employee’s unused sick leave from one all wage payment complaints it year to the next. receives, as required by state law. Make workplaces safe Washington State already is a leader in the effort to make workplaces safe. Washington’s worker fatality rate is one-third lower than the national average. Among the agency accomplishments: In fiscal year 2016, workers’ comp • Washington had the lowest covered 2.8 million workers in the state, construction fatality rate in the and the agency received 110,490 claims. nation in 2015 (most recent data Eighty-five percent of the claims were available). This occurred even while accepted. “Paid sick leave is important for all construction in the state is booming Help injured workers heal and return of us. No one wants employees to come and continues to be a high-risk to work to work sick. It’s bad for them, their industry. Overall, Washington’s L&I is recognized as a national leader coworkers, and customers,” said L&I fatality rate was third lowest in the in innovative return-to-work programs Director Joel Sacks. “The new law allows nation. and incentives. employees to take care of themselves, or • The agency’s Division of L&I has several initiatives underway their family members, when they’re sick. Occupational Safety and Health that are lowering costs by focusing on It makes our state a better place to work.” (DOSH) received a 2017 award for better outcomes for injured workers. Washington is the seventh state to Onsite Consultation Achievement Some examples include promoting have a paid sick leave law. Others include Recognition from the federal workplace safety, ensuring injured California, Oregon, Connecticut, Occupational Safety and Health workers receive quality health care, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Arizona, as Administration. The award providing vocational services to workers, well as the District of Columbia. acknowledges DOSH’s safety and supporting employers who want to What the specific regulations outreach efforts to the agricultural keep injured workers on a job. cover can be found at www.Lni. industry, a new pocket guide for In the last four years, these and wa.gov/Sickleave. agriculture industry safety and other improvements have resulted in Higher minimum wage health, and a certification program a more than $1.7 billion reduction in Initiative 1433, approved in November taught in both English and Spanish projected long-term costs for the workers’ 2016, also instituted a series of minimum —unique in the U.S. compensation system.

17

Both workers and employers pay into Preface to “The Ragged-Trousered the system to help cover the cost of providing wage and disability benefits, as Philanthropists” by Robert Tressell well as medical treatment of injuries and From the Editor: The author of The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists rejected his illnesses. The agency is working to keep upbringing and an income from absentee landlordism to make his own way on his own premium rates steady and predictable. In terms. He was born to Mary Noonan in Dublin, Ireland, in 1870, the illegitimate son fact, the 2018 rate dropped 2.5 percent, of a married man, Samuel Croker. Robert went by Croker and then by his stepfather the first decline in the hourly rate since Sebastian Zumbühl’s name until, when he was 16, his burgeoning radical political 2007. In the last five years, the average consciousness caused him to leave middle-class safety and make his own way in annual workers’ compensation rate the world. He took his mother’s maiden name as his surname, but the name he is increase has been under 1 percent. remembered by is his pen name, Robert Tressell. His short life was a sad but inspiring Also in recent years, L&I has been one, worth learning about. But for now, read his own words about why he wrote his one providing vocational support and and only book, The Ragged-Trousered Philantropists, published in 1914, which is still a assistance much earlier in claims. This relevant piece of art for workers today. is helping reduce long-term disability In writing this book my intention was to present, in the and improving return-to-work results form of an interesting story, a faithful picture of working- for those hurt on the job. The agency’s class life—more especially of those engaged in the Building Stay at Work Program is also making trades—in a small town in the south of England. a difference, providing employers more I wished to describe the relations existing between the than $58 million to help keep more than workmen and their employers, the attitude and feelings of 25,000 workers on light duty while they these two classes towards each other; their circumstances heal. when at work and when out of employment; their pleasures, In all, there have been great gains made their intellectual outlook, their religious and political opinions in helping injured workers return to the and ideals. job and avoid long-term disability. In The action of the story covers a period of only a little fact, the long-term disability rate is down over twelve months, but in order that the picture might be 19 percent since 2012 — that equals complete it was necessary to describe how the workers are more than 800 workers annually who circumstanced at all periods of their lives, from the cradle to the grave. Therefore don’t become disabled. the characters include women and children, a young boy—the apprentice—some Help honest workers, businesses improvers, journeymen in the prime of life, and worn-out old men. Through its investigations, I designed to show the conditions relating from poverty and unemployment: to prosecutions, and audits, L&I is expose the futility of the measures taken to deal with them and to indicate what I achieving its goal to help honest workers, believe to be the only real remedy, namely—Socialism. I intended to explain what businesses, and medical providers by Socialists understand by the word “poverty”: to define the Socialist theory of the cracking down on the dishonest ones. causes of poverty, and to explain how Socialists propose to abolish poverty. The list of these sorts of cases It may be objected that, considering the number of books dealing with these is lengthy: subjects already existing, such a work as this was uncalled for. The answer is that not •A Kent landscaper with a only are the majority of people opposed to Socialism, but a very brief conversation history of illegal contracting with an average anti-socialist is sufficient to show that he does not know what charged in consumer scams; Socialism means. The same is true of all the anti-socialist writers and the “great •A former insurance agent statesmen” who make anti-socialist speeches: unless we believe that they are deliberate jailed in a $233,000 workers’ liars and imposters, who to serve their own interests labour to mislead other people, comp scam; we must conclude that they do not understand Socialism. There is no other possible •Fines against a firm for explanation of the extraordinary things they write and say. The thing they cry out violating conditions in hiring against is not Socialism but a phantom of their own imagining. ag workers Another answer is that The Philanthropists is not a treatise or essay, but a novel. My —just to name a few. main object was to write a readable story full of human interest and based on the In fact, for every dollar spent happenings of everyday life, the subject of Socialism being treated incidentally. on Workers’ Compensation fraud This was the task I set myself. To what extent I have succeeded is for others to say; prevention, $11.45 was returned to the but whatever their verdict, the work possesses at least one merit—that of being true. state. And the agency has been focusing I have invented nothing. There are no scenes or incidents in the story that I have more on late premium payments, fines, not either witnessed myself or had conclusive evidence of. As far as I dared I let the and penalties while reducing its operating characters express themselves in their own sort of language and consequently some costs. passages may be considered objectionable. At the same time I believe that—because it There is more the agency does to is true—the book is not without its humorous side. protect workers, of course. L&I last The scenes and characters are typical of every town in the South of England year provided nearly 250,000 electrical and they will be readily recognized by those concerned. If the book is published inspections and pursued non-licensed I think it will appeal to a very large number of readers. Because it is true it will contractors doing unpermitted work. probably be denounced as a libel on the working classes and their employers, and The agency also has boiler and elevator upon the religious-professing section of the community. But I believe it will be inspectors, who hold owners accountable acknowledged as true by most of those who are compelled to spend their lives amid for safety testing and maintenance. IW the surroundings it describes, and it will be evident that no attack is made upon sincere religion. IW

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 18 Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 Lost in translation—strike at Amazon in Italia By Peter Olney (CISL and UIL) in the late ’40s. The Even though there is no employer associations in different sectors Thanksgiving in Italy, the lack meet with the unions and establish a of a “Giorno di Ringraziamento” national contract that regulates basic [Thanksgiving Day] does not mean wages and conditions for all the workers that there is no Black Friday. In in a particular industry. Such is true for fact, for many years now Italian warehousing and logistics, and Amazon merchants have celebrated the last is not exempt from such basic provisions, Friday in November with discounts even if not one Amazon worker is a that fill their stores with the same member of one of the unions in that bargain-hungry masses as in the sector. Our US system, of course, is United States. So Black Friday this enterprise based, and it is a ferocious year was the day that the three struggle particularly in the private Italian trade union Federations The strike, of course, received sector to win a union in one location chose as a strategic day to strike Amazon’s widespread coverage in the world business and apply the basic terms of a contract. million square foot distribution center press. In the United States an excellent It can often take years and much grief in Castel San Giovanni near Piacenza in article from the left daily Il Manifesto and heartbreak for a union to prevail, Northern Italy. This was the first strike by Massimo Franchi was translated and even with the support of 100% of the in Amazon’s history in Italy. There have circulated in progressive labor circles. workforce. Conceptually the idea of been some job actions at Amazon in The issues that led to the strike are sectoral bargaining resonates with many Germany. Italy is a growth market for certainly universal: pay, health and safety, American trade unionists looking for a Amazon and two more warehouses have and arbitrary treatment. It is estimated way out of the isolation and powerlessness opened in Northern Italy in Vercelli that Amazon workers walk about 20 of company-specific organization. The (mid-way between Milan and Turin) and kilometers on average per day without Italian sectoral agreements apply to 85% Passo Corese in the region of Lazio in coffee breaks and with a miserable of all Italian workers in companies large Central Italy. 30-minute lunch break that is consumed and small. Our private-sector contracts The warehouse in San Giovanni is by travel time from one’s work post to the only cover 6.7% of the workforce, the size of 11 football/soccer fields. The cafeteria: often about 8 minutes. What down from 35% in 1955. Such sectoral facility opened in 2015. At 5 AM on gets lost in translation are the differences agreements, of course, don’t come out of a Friday, November 24, about 50% of the in the industrial relations systems in the “good idea” or “an enterprising thought”; 1,600 “Blue Badge” permanent employees two countries. these agreements and this system are the stayed off of work and struck. There Three labor federations with their product of some of the most violent and are however another 2,000 temporary particular sectoral affiliates all calling militant struggle in the Western world. “Green Badge,” short-term and seasonal and leading a strike of their members in Thinking doesn’t make it so . . . employees, most all of whom came to one company? Striking without winning However the Italians, while repre- work. Amazon spokespersons insisted certified majority support among the senting most of the workforce in their that the strike was only 10% of the workers? What, are we on the moon national agreements, only have 30% of workforce because, of course, they were here? Italy in the aftermath of WWII the workforce signed up as members (all 3 factoring in the temporary employees. and mandated by Article 39 of the Federations). This is not good news as the Amazon had agreed to sit down with Constitution has a national the unions on the Monday following the system of sectoral negotiations strike (November 27) but subsequently coupled with a very detailed canceled that meeting and unilaterally and complicated system of moved it to January 18th. The unions labor jurisprudence. Labor is warned that if there were not substantive even sanctified in Article 1 of face-to-face discussions by December the post-WWII Constitution 6th that there would be more actions. that states: “L’Italia e’ una Amazon on December 5 agreed to meet Repubblica democratica fondata on December 11th! On December 6th sul lavoro” [Italy is a democratic the pressure on Amazon was heightened republic founded on labor]! by a ruling by AGCOM (Autoria’ per Le Sectoral bargaining happens Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni [Authority because of the historical power for Guarantees in Communications]) the of the largely Communist-led Italian authority charged with regulating labor movement (coming out all communications. AGCOM ruled of the anti-fascist struggle for that the operations of Amazon were liberation), which included Industries under AGCOM authority substantially similar to Le Poste Italiane large-scale strikes against the Nazi and therefore Amazon was warned Fascists. Originally in 1947 there was Amazon case illustrates. The unions are that within 15 days they would have to one labor federation, but the interests free to demand meetings with Amazon to comply with the collective labor contract of the Christian Democrats and the discuss improving on the national agree- negotiated for Italian postal workers! Talk Western-capital led to the founding of ment. Such improvements are needed. about tightening the noose . . .! an additional two major federations For instance, Amazon has basically insti-

19 basically instituted a permanent Sunday shift. The national agreement calls for a 5% shift premium, but given that this The gravedigger is a permanent shift not an occasional knows where he interference with the Sabbath, the unions are demanding a 40% differential for fits . . . those who regularly work that day. But Amazon feels no compulsion to meet, let alone agree to, such conditions unless the workers can flex their muscles in strikes, slowdowns, etc. So when the Piacenza facility first opened about three years ago, Fiefdom there were initially 23 members of the CGIL. Through patient organizing meet- By Vince Veritas ings at work and away from work, etc.— Some Americans have come to believe all tactics American organizers would Life would be great in a fiefdom recognize—the membership has grown Where the lords have their way with fetching ladies and the strike can go forward. The Ver- Have bloodhounds and servants to feed them celli warehouse has just opened, and there are only a handful of members among the A fiefdom needs a fearsome leader 500 employees and there is no capacity to Who can raise an army when he needs to strike, but the organizing continues there So the lords are safe to feast and conspire and at Passo Corese. As their mounds of gold grow ever higher Italian law does not permit the firing And the peasant knows where he fits or “permanent replacement” of strikers The soldier knows where he fits that US law allows in many situations, And they all get just enough so to fear but nevertheless on-the-job retaliation They could lose what little bits they’ve got and favoritism are not unheard of, even The castle has walls thick and tall for employees who have “permanent” And a moat deep and wide employment under Italian labor law. The drawbridge can go up and down For instance, often employees prefer to Unless they’re too scared to let a stranger inside pay their union fees on a monthly basis direct to the union rather than having the The Black Death is ever a threat employer deduct them from their checks. And the priests say it’s ever god’s will This is protective anonymity in work- The mead is sweet and helps one to forget places where the union is still nascent and And the serf falls into debt to pay his bill struggling to build power. And the scullery drudge knows where she fits Amazon has become a symbol of the The midwife knows where she fits new economy in Italy, and the unions are And they all get just enough so to fear determined to make these new work- They could lose what little bits they’ve got places union fortresses. While the Italian system has many advantages and repre- Some Americans have come to believe sents a far more developed system than Life would be great in a fiefdom our own, patient worker-based organizing Where the lords can lie about anything remains the fundamental building block And the peasants are keen to believe them of any “sectoral strategy.” When the Black Death takes its toll Stay tuned, negotiations and maybe They burn a witch or two at the stake more strikes and job actions to come, The priests say it’s ever god’s will good organizing permitting . . .. The lords giveth and the lords take This article was first published under the And the jester knows where he fits name “Saggio da San Frediano # 8 – Lost The gravedigger knows where he fits in Translation – Strike at Amazon in Ita- And they all get just enough so to fear lia” on December 10, 2017, in The Stans- They could lose what little bits they’ve got bury Forum. You can find the original of this article at http://stansburyforum.com/ When the serfs are steeped in misery saggio-da-san-frediano-8-lost-in-transla- They find a dead horse to beat on tion-strike-at-amazon-in-italia/. Peter Ol- Like a dog barking up the wrong tree ney is one of the operators of The Stansbury That’s life in the fiefdom Forum, which features regular discussion by But we live in Canada writers, activists, and scholars on the topics And as Frank Zappa said, “it can’t happen here” that Jeff Stansbury focused his life on: labor, This is Canada immigration, the environment, politics, and Don’t want a fiefdom ’round here world affairs. IW Watch “Fiefdom” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3SFJLvtTcs

Industrial Worker • Winter 2018 Industrial Worker PO Box 180195 Periodicals Postage Chicago, IL 60618 USA PAID ISSN 0019-8870 Chicago, IL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Preamble to the IWW Constitution The working class and the employing class have nothing in com- mon. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people, and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life. Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the work- ers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth. We find that the centering of the management of industries into fewer and fewer hands makes the trade unions unable to cope with the ever-growing power of the employing class. The trade unions foster a state of affairs that allows one set of workers to be pitted against another set of workers in the same industry, thereby helping defeat one another in wage wars. Moreover, the trade unions aid the employing class to mislead the workers into the belief that the work- ing class has interests in common with their employers. These conditions can be changed and the interest of the working class upheld only by an organization formed in such a way that all its members in any one industry, or in all industries if necessary, cease work whenever a strike or lockout is on in any department thereof, thus making an injury to one an injury to all. Instead of the conservative motto, “A fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary watch- word, “Abolition of the wage system.” It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with capitalism. The army of production must be organized, not only for everyday struggle with capitalists, but also to carry on production when capitalism shall have been overthrown. By organizing industri- ally we are forming the structure of the new society within the shell of the old.