INSIDE Bosnia war prompts growing crisis for imperialist powers — PAGE 5

VOL. 58/NO. 44 DECEMBER 12, 1994

Unionists stage ‘march Castro: Cuba will never for justice’ go back to capitalism BY JOSÉ ALVARADO AND MARTIN DUNNE SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — Members and supporters o f the United Auto Workers World solidarity conference meets in Havana (UAW ) on strike against Caterpillar, BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS United Paperworkers International Union AND MARY-ALICE WATERS (UPIU) members locked out by the A.E. H A V A N A , Cuba — “ A tireless Staley Co., and members o f the United struggle against the root cause of Rubber Workers (URW ) on strike against poverty is necessary," said Cuban Bridgestone/Firestone gathered at the De­ president Fidel Castro at the closing catur, Illinois, civic center at 8:00 a.m. No­ of the World Meeting in Solidarity vember 29 to begin a 43-mile march to the with Cuba on November 25. state capitol in Springfield. In all. 30 “An uncompromising struggle unionists and supporters made the entire against capitalism, against neoliber­ march. Some 90 supporters were on hand alism, against imperialism is neces­ for the send-off rally. sary,” he emphasized, “ until the day About a dozen members of U AW Local when we can no longer speak o f b il­ 974 from Peoria came down for the rally, lions o f human beings who go hun­ sonic of whom joined the march. gry, who don’t have schools, who Dan Lane, a locked-out Staley worker, don’t have access to hospitals, who Continued on Page 12 don’t have jobs, who don’t have a roof over their heads, who can’t even count on the most elementary living necessities. Youth build “The church talks about options for the poor, which seems like a fine Cuba brigade idea to us,” Castro said. “ But in to­ day’s world we need something BY MARTIN KOPPEL more than options. We need strug­ “ There are a lot o f myths about Cuba in gle, an unceasing and tenacious the media,” said Nojan Emad, 18, a student struggle that can change the condi­ “An uncompromising struggle against capitalism, against neoliberalism, against imperialism at Central Technical School in Toronto, tions of life for the earth’s poor.” is necessary,’’ Fidel Castro told delegates at world solidarity meeting in Havana. explaining why he is working hard to raise Referring to recent U.S. military money to go on an international youth interventions in Yugoslavia, Haiti, brigade to Cuba in January. and Somalia, the Cuban president de­ the world’s resources. deny that the root o f all these problems is “I want to see for myself how young nounced these “ humanitarian missions” or “ And what’s the root of all these prob­ capitalism? We must be very conscious o f people and workers in Cuba are defending "peace-keeping operations,” terms used by lems?” Castro asked. “ Can anyone perhaps this reality,” the Cuban leader said, “ no Washington and other capitalist powers to deny that the root o f these problems is neo­ their revolution. It’s the only socialist revo­ Continued on Page 8 lution in the world.” justify their competing efforts to dominate colonialism, imperialism? Can anyone Emad w ill be traveling to Cuba as a re­ porter for Now, a weekly alternative news­ paper in Toronto. “ That paper has a lot of young readers. I plan on writing some arti­ cles on what I saw in Cuba so people can get a different view from what they usually read,” he said in a phone interview. Emad w ill be joining a group o f students and young workers from several countries on the brigade, which is projected for Jan­ uary 6-20, according to Jack W illey, who is helping to work on the trip. “ We arc in contact with young people in the United States, Canada, Britain, Iceland, and Swe­ den who are interested in going,” he said. “They will all be reporting for different media — campus newspapers, radio sta­ tions, community magazines, and union papers.” Ken Riley, another volunteer who is working on the trip, reported that brigade members “ w ill spend a week in the coun­ tryside in Havana province. They'll meet Cuban youth from high schools, colleges, and factories who arc working in the fields to increase food production in the coun­ try.” This is a major part of the current ef­ forts by Cuban working people to defend their revolution. “They will also visit high schools and factories in the province,” Riley said. “ Then they’ll spend five days in Havana, visiting an AIDS sanatorium, the new farmers markets, the Museum o f the Revo­ lution, and other places. They’ ll exchange experiences with members of the UJC [Union o f Young Communists] and other youth. Throughout January the UJC is or­ ganizing all kinds of political activities around the 100th anniversary o f the death o f José M arti," Cuba’s national hero. “ I ’ve been raising money for the initial deposit on the brigade,” Emad said. The total cost o f the trip is $1,000-$ 1,200, and Continued on Page 4

USAir demands more concessions from workers — page 10 Nicaraguan lawmakers free profits for four to six years back property rights and duty-free imports of equip­ ment. U.S. businessmen domi­ The Nicaraguan Parliament nated the list o f foreign investors, approved constitutional amend­ with plans to pump $599 million ments November 22 that guaran­ into the country. tee property rights and forbid asylum for anyone declared an in­ IB M loses in Germany ternational terrorist. Other pro­ posed reforms to be voted on in­ Members o f the German trade clude cutting presidential and union IG Metall won a court deci­ legislative terms from six years to sion November 24 defending five years, banning consecutive their 36-hour workweek. An in­ terms for presidents, and prevent­ dustrial tribunal ruled that an ing relatives o f a sitting president IBM subsidiary could not unilat­ from seeking that office. The erally force IG Metall members in government of President Violeta the company’s 15,000-strong ser­ Chamorro is currently issuing vice sector to work an extra two bonds to property owners whose hours a week with no extra pay. real estate was expropriated by IBM tried to impose a contract it the former Sandinista National had signed with DAG, a white Liberation Front (FSLN) govern­ collar workers’ union, on the ser­ ment. vice workers who belong to IG Among the more than 1,000 Metall. immigrants granted citizenship Paris suspends students by the Sandinistas before handing Brazilian soldiers frisk schoolchildren in Rio de Janeiro. Heavily armed troops occupied shanty­ over power to Chamorro in 1990 towns beginning November 19 on the orders of President Itam ar Franco. The government deployed A t least 45 students have been was Alessio Casimirri o f Italy, the army in tanks and helicopters, allegedly to combat drug trafficking. suspended from school in three who was sentenced in absentia to cities in France for wearing head multiple life terms for his alleged scarves. A t the start o f the school role in the 1978 kidnap and mur­ year, the French government der of Italian politician Aldo Moro. Rally in Taiwan protests nukes back to rural areas. banned what it called “ostentatious” reli­ Beijing officials announced regulations Chamorro is seeking to strip Casimirri of Some 15,000 people rallied in Taipei gious symbols in classrooms. The govern­ that would require institutions hiring any­ ment’s anti-immigrant campaign targets his citizenship. The case is pending before November 26 against construction of Tai­ the Supreme Court. wan’s fourth nuclear power plant. A county one from outside Beijing to pay registra­ the more than 5 m illion residents o f France tion fees starting at almost $6,000. Opposi­ referendum on approval o f the $4 billion who come from countries where Islamic U.S.-Latin air routes thrive project was scheduled for the next day. tion from business owners and some cen­ religions are practiced. School officials tral government officials, however, has said 17 girls were suspended in L ille and For the first time since World War II, air Government officials say the vote is not forced city authorities to back down from routes outside o f Europe carried the high­ binding because it lacks parliamentary 12 in Mantes-La-Jolie November 24-25. est number o f passengers. The Interna­ consent. Voters will also decide whether some o f their plans. Sixteen students were suspended in Stras­ tional A ir Transport Association said U.S. four ruling National Party officials should bourg the week before. airlines flew 15.8 m illion passengers to and S. Korea rally demands justice be forced to run in new elections since they Spanish airlines to lay off 5,000 from Latin America, knocking Europe — reneged on campaign pledges to vote A demonstration of 12,000 in Daejon with 15.6 m illion passengers — from the against the nuclear power plant. November 26 demanded the indictment o f Iberia, the national airline o f Spain, an­ top spot. The profitability o f Latin Ameri­ former South Korean presidents Chun nounced November 23 that it would lay o ff can flights is prompting U.S. carriers to Beijing restricts hiring Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo for engineer­ 5,000 union workers, sell assets, and take ing a 1979 military coup. While still gen­ add routes in the region and increase the The Chinese government recently an­ further measures to cut costs. Airline number of flights on existing ones. nounced temporary restrictions on the hir­ erals, Chun and Roh established a junta unions rejected a company “ viability plan” and ruled the country under martial law ing o f migrant laborers. More than 80 m il­ that included a 15 percent pay cut. The air­ following the death o f President Park More banks fail in Brazil lion peasants have traveled to urban areas line employs some 24,500 workers and Chung-hee. W ith the support o f the U.S. Brazil’s Central Bank liquidated the looking for work. Most have ended up liv ­ layoffs are to begin immediately. government, the junta sent paratroopers Bancorp o f Rio de Janeiro in late Novem­ ing and working under deplorable condi­ — PAT SMITH ber. This was the fourth small bank to fail tions. The State Council declared it illegal and tanks to brutally crush a May 1980 stu­ dent demonstration in Kwangju demanding in the country in less than a week and the to hire new migrant workers after the Chi­ an end to martial law and Chun’s resigna­ seventh financial institution to close since nese New Year, which falls on January 31. tion. Angered at the government’s sav­ the government introduced a new currency, O fficials in Shenzhen conducted sweeps the real, on July 1. earlier this year and sent 230,000 workers agery, hundreds o f thousands joined protests, drove the army out o f the city, and controlled Kwangju for five days. A t least 500 people were killed and nearly 1,000 were reported missing as a result of the army’s actions. A year-long government investigation that concluded last month determined that the former presidents had engineered the military revolt, but should not be prose­ cuted because to do so would threaten “ national unity.” Manila approves investments The Philippine government approved $13.87 billion o f investments from abroad in the first 10 months o f this year — a more than five-fold jump from the previous year. The companies are entitled to tax-

2 The Militant December 12,1994 PLO loses support over Gaza killings BY MARTIN KOPPEL Hamas has garnered support, particu­ The Islamic Resistance Movement, larly in Gaza, by posing as a more consis­ known as Hamas, held a rally o f 20,000 in tent champion of Palestinian national Gaza City November 26 in a show of op­ rights than the PLO, which it accuses of position to the self-rule government led by selling out to Tel Aviv. A t the same time, the Palestine Liberation Organization it advocates a rightist program, including (PLO). It was one o f the largest demonstra­ the expulsion o f Jews from Palestine. Ha­ tions in the Gaza Strip since the PLO mas also calls for second-class status for signed an accord with the Israeli govern­ women and promotes anticommunist ment in September 1993 establishing lim ­ views. ited Palestinian autonomy in Gaza and the While top PLO officials were based in West Bank city of Jericho. exile in Tunis for many years, far from the Hamas has capitalized on the wide­ daily battles o f the Palestinian intifada, or spread outrage among Palestinians, includ­ uprising, Hamas built up a network of clin­ ing PLO supporters, over a deadly Novem­ ics, schools, day-care centers, mosques, ber 18 attack in which Palestine National and small factories, and set up a welfare Authority (PNA) police fired on demon­ system for widows, orphans, and handi­ strators, many o f whom were supporters o f capped veterans o f the intifada. Hamas or the group Islamic Jihad. The shooting, which left 12 dead and 200 PLO pleads for infusion of aid wounded, sparked a wave o f rioting. The W ith the signing o f the autonomy ac­ next day Hamas and the PNA publicly cord, Tel Aviv handed the PLO responsi­ Palestinians chant slogans against PLO chairman Yasir Arafat outside Shifa Hospital agreed to a truce. bility for the social crisis in Gaza, which in Gaza after the Palestine National Authority police fired on demonstration Novem­ PLO chairman Yasir Arafat has lost was left with little infrastructure such as ber 18. At least 12 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 wounded. much of his popular support as a result of roads, sewers, and telephones. O f Gaza’s the shooting. “ Arafat is a killer,” cried M o­ 850,000 inhabitants, some 640,000 are hammed Kanan at the burial o f his son Ata, refugees. More than half of them live in ex­ ment to strengthen Arafat’s hand so he can November 25 in a day-long gun battle at 25, one o f the 12 victims. “ Instead o f treme poverty in camps built decades ago effectively keep Palestinians in line. the largest Palestinian refugee camp in shooting at Israelis, he is shooting at our as temporary housing. Unemployment, at “ Arafat is the only one who can keep it to­ Lebanon, near the southern port o f Tyre. sons.” more than 50 percent, is aggravated every gether at this point,” an unnamed Fighting reportedly broke out when 400 PLO officials have further lost credibil­ time Israeli authorities punitively close off “ Western” diplomat told the New York pro-Arafat guerrillas seized six military ity by denying responsibility for the shoot­ the border, blocking thousands o f Pales­ Times. posts manned by 200 supporters o f Lt. Col. ing, claiming — without evidence — that tinian workers from reaching their jobs in “ Israel and the West now have to think a M unir Maqdah, leader o f a dissident Fatah PLO opponents provoked the incident by Israel and depriving them o f $1 million a bit about what to do if Hamas continues to grouping. Maqdah, former m ilitary head o f firing at the police. day in wages. gain ground on the PLO in the territories,” Fatah, was dismissed last year after he “ The Palestine Authority says that Ha­ Meanwhile, little if any o f the promised a Wall Street Journal editorial counseled. called for Arafat’s resignation as PLO mas killed its own people,” said a speaker foreign economic aid and investment has “ There is one answer: Hold elections.” The chairman over the accord with Tel Aviv. at the November 26 rally, held in one o f the come into Gaza and Jericho. In response to Times lectured Arafat: “His police must Many refugees oppose the accord because city’s most impoverished neighborhoods. the latest conflicts with Hamas, the PLO become more aggressive against terrorism it leaves their situation unresolved. “ Did we do that?” leadership has increased its pleas for a and less aggressive against political dis­ The Syrian government, which supports “ No!” the crowd roared in response. rapid infusion of aid. sent.” certain PLO factions based in Lebanon, The rally also honored Imad Akel, a 24- The U.S. capitalist media, concerned Meanwhile, divisions are deepening in has also criticized the PLO-Tel A viv ac­ year-old Hamas supporter shot to death a about the growing turmoil in Gaza and the PLO itself, including within Arafat’s cord as a way to undercut Arafat and ad­ year ago by Israeli undercover cops. Jericho, has called on the Israeli govern­ Fatah faction. Eight people were killed vance its own interests. Immigrant rights debated in South Africa

BY GREG ROSENBERG As a component of the apartheid organi­ have condemned the measures advanced and subsequent apartheid rule, millions of When two M ilita n t reporters caught a zation of labor, large capitalist farms, by Buthelezi. Blacks as well as whites speak Afrikaans. taxi in Johannesburg a couple of months mines, and factories drew in workers from COSATU spokesperson Neil Coleman “ Apartheid politics wanted to keep the ago, the discussion turned to the economic throughout southern Africa to increase called Buthelezi’s proposals “ narrow chau­ language for itself, because it would not devastation affecting millions of working profits. vinism” and accused the minister o f want­ accept Afrikaans speakers o f another color people in South Africa. After a few min­ As a result of capitalist economic de­ ing to make South A frica “ an island o f as social and political equals,” Mandela utes o f conversation the driver, who was pression conditions throughout sub-Saha­ prosper ty in a sea o f want.” said. “ Afrikaans must rediscover itself in Black, slammed on the brakes and turned ran Africa, large numbers moved to South ANC member of parliament Rob Davies its totality....so that it does not have to around to exclaim, “ It ’s the Ghanians! Africa in the 1980s. This process acceler­ told the Weekly M ail & Guardian that he show any fear in a situation of nonracial­ They are coming here to steal our jobs and ated as wars waged by apartheid’s rulers was opposed to “ xenophobia” and “ pop­ ism and equal rights,” Mandela said. wreck our economy!” against newly independent countries in the ulism” when it came to immigration. Da­ A comment like that might seem strange region, as well as open economic sabotage vies said that while there was a need to de­ in a country living through a democratic o f their economies, brought massive num­ tect and process immigrants, they were revolution that just buried the apartheid bers o f immigrant laborers into South owed full protection under the constitution regime. M illions are today engaged in a Africa. and any controls should meet what the battle to bust apart apartheid’s legacy, Weekly M ail called “ international norms.” from carrying out a real land reform to Apartheid organization of labor He said he was “ bitterly opposed” to lethal eradicating racist practices on the job. Tens o f thousands, if not hundreds o f power levels in electrified fences. Police But South A frica’s capitalist class, with thousands, o f workers from other countries officials have proposed extending these rightist political forces like the Inkatha are employed in South Africa’s gold, plat­ fences along the borders o f Zimbabwe, Freedom Party in the lead, is on a cam­ inum, and diamond mines today. Mozambique, and Botswana. paign to blame immigrant workers for the In the forestry plantations o f the Eastern According to a report in the November economic wasteland bequeathed by the Transvaal province, there are as many as 11 New Nation, a pro-ANC newspaper, former apartheid rulers. 20,000 workers from Mozambique alone. COSATU general secretary Sam Shilowa “ South Africa can no longer afford to Members o f the Paper, Printing Wood and told a recent labor conference that while in tinker with the problem o f illegal aliens,” Allied Workers’ Union, which has a sub­ his view tighter border controls were nec­ chided the September 9 Financial Mail, a stantial membership in the industry, ex­ essary, South Africa should not rely on this big-business weekly. “ Illegals now make plain that conditions in some areas are so alone to keep out illegal immigrants. He up five percent to eight percent o f our pop­ bad that talking during work amounts to an called for regional economic development. ulation...and their number is growing at a “ offense,” punishable by a pay cut, denial One resolution tabled at the conference rate o f one every 10 minutes.” o f rations, or an assault by the boss. called for a southern African economic Claiming that undocumented workers The employers’ campaign is winning union, which would allow the free move­ would ruin the Reconstruction and Devel­ support from the middle class, including a ment o f labor across national borders. opment Program (RDP) put forward by the growing component that is Black. With un­ African National Congress (ANC), the arti­ employment at 50 percent, 7 m illion peo­ National Party and Afrikaans cle stated, “ This year alone it could cost ple living in squatter camps, and Meanwhile, another controversial issue more than R210 m illion [3.5R=US$1] — a widespread landlessness, some working is being advanced by the National Party, tenth o f the entire amount budgeted for the people have also been won over. which claims there is growing discrimina­ RDP — just to house, educate, police, and In 1993, the National Party government tion against speakers o f the Afrikaans lan­ give medical care to only one sector o f the expelled some 96,000 people from the guage. It cites as proof a decision by South problem: the illegal Mozambicans.” Blam­ country. Current minister for home affairs African television to narrow the number of ing immigrant workers for violence, drug Mangosuthu Buthelezi, head of Inkatha, is hours it reserves for Afrikaans-language trafficking, car theft, and armed robbery, calling for a crackdown on immigrant television and radio programming. the influential newsmagazine calls for “a workers. Inkatha’s publicity secretary The ANC championed the fight to estab­ complete réévaluation of the law concern­ stated, “ There is no work in South Africa lish the 11 official languages now recog­ ing illegals and refugees.” because o f them and we call for employers nized in the South African constitution and One wealthy farmer, cautioning those who take on immigrants to be punished.” has rejected any charge o f language dis­ who would take the anti-immigrant cam­ In September, Inkatha said it would crimination. paign too far, complained to the Financial “march against illegal immigrants, and In a November 2 statement. South M ail that he would be forced out of busi­ physical actions [w ill] be applied if drastic African president Nelson Mandela noted ness if he couldn’t hire Zimbabweans to steps arc not taken.” that the Afrikaans language was not the work in the fields. Those workers earn less Leaders o f the ANC and Congress o f sole preserve o f whites and Afrikaners. As than $70 a month. South African Trade Unions (COSATU) a result of the colonization o f South Africa

December 12, 1994 The M ilitant 3 YS boosts travel fund This column is written and edited by pledges to the fund, building campus meet­ the Young Socialists, an international ings and public forums for YS members to organization of young workers, stu­ speak, and joining in other fundraising ac­ dents, and other youth fighting for so­ tivities. cialism. For more information about the YS or to join write: Young Socialists, Socialist youth speaks in P.O. Box 2396, New York, NY 10009, or Minnesota on immigrant rights call (212) 475-6482. BY LISA ROTTACH MINNEAPOLIS — YS member Gloria BY JACK W IL L E Y del Cid recently concluded a speaking tour NEW YORK — The Young Socialists in Minnesota organized by Young Social­ International Travel Fund is beginning to ists here. get o ff the ground. More than $1,400 was The 19-year-old socialist from Los An­ raised in the last week through forums, geles spoke to more than 150 young peo­ video showings, and parties. There is still ple, students, and unionists about the anti­ a long way to go, however, to meet the immigrant Proposition 187, adopted in the challenge o f completing the $ 16,000 fund recent elections in California. The measure by the end o f December. denies most social services to undocu­ Thanksgiving was a booming success mented workers and their children. for YS members in San Francisco, who Del Cid, a student at Santa Monica Col­ held a dinner and raffle that raised $1,200. lege and native o f Guatemala who helped Javier Aravena, who recently returned build protests in Los Angeles against from a YS recruitment tour to Puerto Rico, Proposition 187, spoke at student meetings Militant/Lisa Rottach gave a report on his trip. The International at the University o f Minnesota, Macalester YS member Gloria del Cid speaking to high school students during tour of Minnesota Travel Fund w ill help cover trips like those College, St. O laf College, and North High described in this week’s column, along School in Minneapolis. nomic system knows no races and knows Young Socialists recruit with other expenses o f the Young Social­ She also talked with several members of no borders. There are ruling capitalists o f ists internationally. the International Association o f Machinists every creed, sex, ethnicity. What they have during Toronto youth tour The Los Angeles chapter held a fund­ at Northwest Airlines at a breakfast orga­ in common is the drive for profit. This is a BY NOJAN EMAD raising video showing on Cuban revolu­ nized by union members, and with United class issue. By using racist tactics, they di­ TORONTO — Jason Coughlin, a mem­ tionary leader Ernesto Che Guevara and Transportation Union members at the St. vide the working class and weaken our col­ ber o f the Young Socialists from Boston, will be showing another Cuban movie and Paul terminal o f the Canadian Pacific- lective strength. completed a tour o f Canada at a M ilitant hosting a dance in the next two weeks. owned Soo Line railroad as a member o f a “ I urge you,” del Cid told her audiences, Labor Forum here on November 26. YS members in Salt Lake City, Utah, M ilitant newspaper sales team. “ to join the fight to defend immigrant Coughlin explained to those attending the held a Thanksgiving dinner and are making Del Cid showed a powerful 15-minute workers, and the battle to overthrow a de­ forum, “ as capitalism sinks deeper into cri­ buttons to raise money toward their goal. video made by Los Angeles Young Social­ caying capitalist system that w ill continue sis we can expect increased resistance. On December 3, they w ill be raffling pic­ ists throughout the day at various high to attack our rights. The fight o f unionists “ This resistance w ill be uneven, often tures taken by Calvin Jolley at a labor rally school walkouts. “ Who makes the pillows? and youth, in the streets, the plants, and the spontaneous, and unpredictable. Young in Decatur, Illinois, October 15. Roger Who makes the clothes?” demands one schools of Los Angeles shows the way for­ Socialists jum p into the struggles. The vic­ Calero, a YS member from Los Angeles, Latino student shown in the video, refer­ ward.” tories that come about through this resis­ w ill be speaking in Salt Lake City Decem­ ring to southern California’s garment in­ tance are important in themselves, but as ber 10 on Proposition 187 and the demon­ dustry, which is shouldered almost entirely Youth in Puerto Rico express the Communist Manifesto explained, ‘the strations he took part in against the anti­ by immigrant workers. “ We didn’t cross interest in brigade to Cuba real fruit o f the battle lies, not in the imme­ immigrant measure. the border, the border crossed us!” shouts BY MARIANA REYES diate results, but in the ever-expanding The New York Young Socialists have another student in reference to California SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico— Javier Ar­ union of the workers.’ Young Socialists already sold out o f their “ U.S. Hands O ff governor Pete W ilson’s scapegoating plat­ avena, a member o f the Young Socialists around the world are building an organiza­ Cuba” buttons and hosted a Thanksgiving form. from San Francisco, recently made a trip tion to act as a catalyst in this process.” dinner in Brooklyn. They are getting Del Cid said that immigrant bashing is here to help build the YS. On his first day During the Ontario leg of Coughlin’s pledges from supporters o f the YS to meet not restricted to the United States, but is "a he and five other members in Puerto Rico tour, he spoke at meetings at York Univer­ their goal. Now is the time to put our fund­ worldwide aggression being employed in participated in a march o f 80 people in sol­ sity in Toronto, McMaster University in raising efforts into high gear and set up every capitalist country as the economy de­ idarity with Cuba in the streets o f Old San Hamilton, and the University o f Western events to go over the top. A ll supporters of teriorates on a global scale. We see it ev­ Juan. The Young Socialists set up a table Ontario in London. At York University, the Young Socialists can help by making erywhere, from Mexico, where they blame with YS literature and books from daily tables were organized leading up to Guatemalan workers, to France, where fe­ Pathfinder. the meeting. A t the meeting there was a big male Muslim students are not permitted to Aravena met with two youth groups, the discussion about how Cuba can continue to wear their head scarves." Federation of Pro-Independence Univer­ survive in a world where no ascending so­ One student at North High School, a sity Students and the Union o f Young So­ cialist revolutions are taking place. After young woman wearing a head scarf, imme­ cialists, to discuss an upcoming youth the meeting, two people expressed interest diately identified with this attack and brigade to Cuba. Members o f both groups in joining the Young Socialists. leaned over to a friend to further explain expressed interest in participating in the Coughlin met with a student from El this oppression o f immigrant Arabs. trip. Salvador who joined the YS during the A number o f youth saw Proposition 187 The Young Socialist also spoke at a course o f the tour. When asked why he de­ as a racist action taken to further the inter­ meeting at the University o f Puerto Rico cided to become a socialist, the student ests o f the rich. “ I don’t know how to on Proposition 187 and the fight to defend said, “ it is the only way to be fully human.” phrase this without offending anyone, but I immigrant rights. About 20 students at­ He brought two friends who are origi­ believe this to be another example of the tended the meeting. nally from El Salvador and Ecuador to the white man exploiting for profit,” said a stu­ On the last day o f Aravena’s trip the YS M ilitant Labor Forum the following night. dent from Adelante, the Latino student or­ set up a table at a cultural event called La The Young Socialists here are also part of ganization at Macalester College. Fiesta de la Nacionalidad where they met a coalition to organize a one-day protest Del Cid agreed that capitalism is based two people who decided to join the Young against the government’s cuts to education on profit, but explained that “ this eco­ Socialists. and social services. Youth build international brigade to Cuba

Continued from front page ested in joining the brigade, including a re­ Cuba in the media, and I thought, why not the first $250 payment must be in New porter for another university paper.” go down there and get my own account?” York by December 6. Now, he explained, “ we’re also starting Ramos related in an interview. In contrast “ W e’re kind of behind in organizing for to plan some speaking engagements on with governments calling themselves so­ the brigade here, but we’ve been working campuses after my return to get the truth cialist in Russia and Eastern Europe, which real hard in the past week,” added the high out about the Cuban revolution.” crumbled, “ Cuba is the only place that’s re­ school student, a member of the Toronto Riley pointed out that supporters of the ally standing up,” he noted. chapter o f the Young Socialists. Cuban revolution who are not actually Now, the New Jersey student said, the “There’s a Young Socialists club at joining the brigade can be a big help to challenge is to nail down all the particulars York University here that’s building the those youth who want to go but don’t have for the trip, such as getting his journalist brigade. We approached the campus news­ enough saved up. “ For example,” he said, assignment and obtaining a passport in paper, Excalibur, and the editorial board “ the Young Socialists chapter in Los Ange­ time to apply for a Cuban visa. The visa and staff were glad to hear about a brigade les recently hosted a showing o f a movie alone may take more than two weeks. going to Cuba. They ran a free ad publiciz­ on Che Guevara, and one o f the people Riley, who just returned from an interna­ ing the brigade and said they’ll consider who attended made a $100 donation to tional solidarity conference in Havana, de­ sending one of their reporters on it. help others go on the brigade.” scribed a speech given there by Cuban “We’ve organized two fund-raisers so Defenders of the Cuban revolution in president Fidel Castro, who explained in far. We plan a fund-raising dinner and are Boston are making a broad effort to publi­ strong terms that capitalism holds no hope trying to organize a dance,” he said. cize the January youth brigade. The local for humanity and that Cuba w ill continue “ Last night we went to a forum on Latin July 26 Coalition decided to build the to maintain its socialist principles. “Fidel’s America at a meeting place called the Har­ brigade and is sending out a mailing on it speech made a big impression on me,” he bor Front," Emad continued. “ A professor to its supporters. said. “ That’s the kind o f perspective and from Nicaragua talked about the need for In Newark, New Jersey, Victor Ramos, the type o f fighters that young people who his country to approach the IM F [Inter­ a student at Bergen County Community go on the brigade w ill have a chance to en­ national Monetary Fund]. I spoke during College, also plans to go on the brigade, counter firsthand.” the discussion and said we should look to which he heard about at a November 12 To learn more about the brigade, call Cuba, not the IM F, and then I presented the demonstration in Washington, D.C., (212) 677-4356 or write: Cuba Youth brigade. After the meeting, two people against the U.S. embargo o f Cuba. Brigade, P.O. Box 1801, New York, NY came up to me and said they were inter­ “ You hear a lot o f negative things about 10009. Bosnia war sparks crisis for imperialists

BY GREG ROSENBERG "British and French, and primarily the Military advances by rightist Serb forces British,” responsible. and allied groups in Bosnia have provoked British defense secretary Malcolm a sharp crisis for U.S. foreign policy and a Rifkind said U.S. officials were "behaving growing feud with the governments of disgracefully.” He said, “ When we have France and Britain. The Clinton adminis­ thousands o f brave British soldiers" in tration can no longer count on the appear­ Bosnia, "it ill becomes people in the coun­ ance of unified military action or diplo­ tries that have not provided a single soldier matic initiatives to fight for Washington’s on the ground to make that kind o f c riti­ interests in the region. Tens of thousands cism.” Britain and France have some have been killed in fighting throughout the 10,000 troops in Bosnia. former Yugoslavia since the disintegration On November 26, three U.S. Navy war­ of the Stalinist regime in Belgrade. More ships carrying 2,000 marines headed to­ than 600,000 Bosnians alone have been ward the Adriatic, a move the Pentagon made refugees in the last two years. termed “ strictly precautionary,” in re­ Rightist Serb forces from Croatia, fight­ sponse to expanded fighting around Bihac. ing under the command of Milan Martic, Muslim soldiers led by businessman Fikret Abdic have joined rightist Serbs from are working hand in hand with troops loyal Worries over NATO Croatia and Bosnia in assault on Bihac and drive to grab piece of former Yugoslavia. to Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. Worried over continued instability in the Martic’s forces have been joined in as­ former Soviet republics, and with no saulting the Bosnian region of Bihac by a prospect o f a reliable regime surfacing in the ageing Atlantic Alliance," adding, “ It is “ this middle o f the night wandering around group of Muslims who support business­ Russia, the Clinton administration wants to too late to save Bosnia.” by a few NATO pilots, jerked in and out of man Fikret Abdic. Located in a northwest­ keep some semblance o f m ilitary unity “ Give serious bombing a chance,” wrote action by a discredited UN commander. ern pocket of Bosnia, Bihac had been de­ through NATO, which relies overwhelm­ New York Times columnist William Safire Let’s see what sustained destruction of clared a so-called safe area by the United ingly on the U.S. arsenal. November 28. Calling British UN com­ bridges and roads, ammunition dumps, oil Nations. A Financial Times editorial, headlined mander Michael Rose “ the reincarnation of supplies and barracks, political gatherings On November 29, UN officials threat­ “ Save the alliance,” warns that the row Neville Chamberlain,” and stating, “The and small factories can do to send the ened to withdraw their forces from Bosnia over Bosnia “ threatens] a death blow to UN is worthless,” Safire argued against Serbs a message.” if an immediate cease-fire was not reached. The threat met with a contemptuous rebuff from Karadzic, who refused to even show up for a meeting with UN secretary- Congress moves ahead on GATT accord general Boutros Boutros-Ghali. BY GREG ROSENBERG G A T T is a complex patchwork o f trade negotiated in trade talks would tie the U.S. Karadzic’s forces, allied with the regime The Uruguay Round of the General deals that evolved out of the post-World capitalists’ hands in the brawl for markets in Belgrade, now control 70 percent of Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) War II domination of the world economy and profits. Bosnia. Under a plan pushed by the Con­ appears headed fo r ratification by the U.S. by the main imperialist powers. The agree­ "In the W orld Trade Organization, es­ tact Group — Washington, London, Paris, Congress after the House of Representa­ ment by 124 governments would lower tablished by GATT, America surrenders Bonn, and Moscow — they would be al­ tives approved the accord November 29 by many tariffs on imports, and open some her national sovereignty, her freedom of lowed to keep 51 percent of the territory, a bipartisan 2-1 margin. The Senate is ex­ hitherto protected markets. The most pow­ action to defend her own economic vital leaving 49 percent for the Bosnian govern­ pected to follow suit. erful capitalist governments would still interests from the job pillagers o f Tokyo ment. Karadzic is not satisfied w ith the o f­ A debate has unfolded in U.S. ruling cir­ have a boatload of protectionist devices at and Beijing," wrote Buchanan in an Octo­ fer, nor does he want a cease-fire at the cles in the last several weeks over whether their disposal to support individual indus­ ber syndicated column excoriating “ the present time. And the Bosnian regime of Washington should jeopardize seven years tries against competition. corporate elite" for backing the deal. “ We Alija Izctbegovic rejected Bhoutros- of trade negotiations in favor of demanding give up our freedom — to faceless foreign Ghali’s demand for an open-ended truce, more concessions from its capitalist rivals U.S. ‘sovereignty’ bureaucrats who will assume authority which would help cement Karadzic’s terri­ abroad. International ratification of the Uruguay over America’s commerce.” torial advantage. But the swell o f opposition to G A T T ran Round of GATT would establish a new In response to such criticism. Sen. Dole aground November 23 when Senate Re­ World Trade Organization (WTO) to ad­ won an agreement from Clinton stipulating Dole calls for more air strikes publican leader Bob Dole announced he minister agreements. The proposed WTO a “ trigger mechanism” in the WTO. The On a trip to London, Senate Republican would support ratification after obtaining has been vehemently attacked by a collec­ U.S. Congress would be able to vote to leader Bob Dole called for expanding air some concessions from the Clinton admin­ tion of forces, including right-wing politi­ withdraw from the agreement if it deemed strikes against Serb forces in Bosnia, lift­ istration. A majority of big business favors cian Patrick Buchanan, a minority of man­ U.S. businesses were subject to unfavor­ ing the arms embargo on the Bosnian gov­ the accord, figuring they have more to lose ufacturers, AFL-CIO officials, Ross Perot, able rulings by a newly created court o f in­ ernment, and withdrawing UN troops from if Washington docs not ratify. and Ralph Nader, founder of the liberal ternational trade. Bosnia. Dole, whose position is diverging "G A T T is about Am erica’s position in group Public Citizen. All argue that the Prominent big-business voices backing from recent statements by the Clinton ad­ the world,” crowed former Reagan admin­ WTO would undermine U.S. sovereignty ratification included Caterpillar Inc. and ministration, drew sharp rebukes from istration official Jim Baker at a November and cost jobs in the United States. Boeing Co., which stand to make hefty British and French officials, but won sup­ 28 White House ceremony peddling the Buchanan, the clearest exponent of this profits from lower tariffs in countries they port from former British prime minister trade deal. “ It is not a Republican agree­ opposition to GATT, maintains that the target for export. Business Week wrote, Margaret Thatcher. "I think we have a ment or a Democratic one,” President Bill U.S. government must exercise its military “ Despite the turbulence, business believes complete breakdown of NATO,” Dole said Clinton declared. “ It is an American agree­ and economic might to wrest even more there’s too much at stake for G ATT to November 27, adding that he held the ment.” from its competitors and that regulations fail,” adding that a defeat “ would humiliate the U.S. and send shock waves through world financial markets.” A minority o f manufacturers who would UN sanctions on Iraq have brutal effect face more international competition under the new rules, such as the owners of highly BY GREG ROSENBERG Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambas­ half a government employee’s monthly protected textile plants, opposed the ac­ The effects of Washington’s effort to sador to the United Nations, argued that pay. cord. starve the people o f Iraq are prom pting Iraqi troop movements in October were Children are dying o f diarrhea and pneu­ Testifying before the Senate Foreign Re­ warnings of approaching famine and total reason to maintain the squeeze. Feigning monia in hospitals for lack of medicines. lations Committee in June, Nader, who economic collapse. outrage, Albright displayed satellite pho­ The French newspaper L e M onde writes portrays himself as a “ consumer advocate,” At a November 14 meeting, the United tographs depicting sites where, she alleged. that hospitals “have become places where warned that decisions taken against U.S. Nations Security Council, at the behest o f Iraqi president Saddam Hussein is building people are taken not to live but to die." The manufacturers would "pull down our the U.S. government, decided to maintain 30 palaces for himself and his coterie at a m ortality rate has tripled since the imposi­ higher living standards in key areas.” He economic sanctions on Iraq. The sanctions, cost of $500 million. tion of the embargo four years ago. The stated the ratification o f the Uruguay which were imposed in August 1990 at the rate o f congenital malformations has also Round “ would strengthen and formalize a opening of the Persian Gulf War, prevent Critical food shortage shot up due to malnutrition. world economic government dominated by Baghdad from selling oil to purchase food, That Iraq’s capitalist rulers continue to “ If nothing is done, 600,000 children arc giant corporations” and would mean medicine, and spare parts. live well is hardly a surprise. But the im­ going to swell the ranks of the extremely “ relinquishing U.S. sovereignty.” The Security Council brushed aside a perialist-imposed sanctions are having bru­ vulnerable cases,” stated U N IC E F o fficial “ Under the WTO, the U.S. can be out­ diplomatic concession from the Iraqi gov­ tal repercussions on millions of working Thomas Ikvaal. voted by any two dictatorships,” wrote ernment, which announced it was recogniz­ people in that country. The sanctions block In Basra, the second-largest city in Iraq, Nader in the November 28 Christian Sci­ ing the sovereignty of Kuwait and the bor­ petroleum earnings estimated at $15 billion there is a severe shortage o f drinking wa­ ence Monitor. “The 45,000 people of St. ders affirmed by the United Nations. The a year. ter. The only access to potable water for Kitts and Nevis have the same vote that call for the government in Baghdad to rec­ Food supplies are critically short. Iraq many villages in the south is via tanker 260 million Americans do.” ognize Kuwait was a key stipulation in imported 70 percent of its food before trucks, which regularly break down. public UN pronouncements on why the 1990. In September, the government Some in U.S. ruling-class circles are be­ International competition sanctions were to be maintained. halved the basic rations of sugar, oil, rice, ginning to question whether their four-year While G ATT goes under the banner of Divisions between Washington and and flour that it has distributed to the popu­ effort to starve Iraq into submission out­ “ liberalization o f world trade," it does not London on one side, and Moscow and lation since 1990. The rations met only 70 weighs the political cost. “Three and a half lessen the red-hot competition between the Paris on the other, marked the debate on percent o f basic caloric needs before the years after the Persian Gulf war, it is time U.S. ruling families and their rivals in whether to discontinue or ease the em­ cuts. This year's harvest is down by a third to acknowledge that Washington is not Paris, Bonn, London, and Tokyo. bargo. French capitalists stand to profit on last year’s poor crop. The number of about to overthrow Saddam Hussein,” said The worldwide effort by employers to from renewed trading and investment in cases o f m alnutrition is soaring, as is the a November 28 New York Times editorial. downsize industries, cut costs, and increase Iraq, where they have maintained a long re­ number of children appearing in Baghdad “ Besides, no better successor is in site.” productivity is much farther along in the lationship. hospitals with bloated stomachs. The editors warned that if the Clinton United States than in other imperialist The Russian government wants repay­ Inflation is skyrocketing. Five years ago, administration docs not shift its policy, countries. U.S. manufacturers saw a $530 ment o f an estimated $4 b illio n in arms one Iraqi dinar was worth about $3. Today, “the U.S. may face even more awkward billion increase in shipments between 1987 debts. As a result of the conflicting posi­ although $1 w ill purchase anywhere from problems from Iraq down the road and a and 1992 — a leap o f 21 percent. During tions, the Security Council could not agree 500 to 600 dinars, wages haven’t gone up. breakdown of the allied unity on which the same five-year period employment by on a public statement of its reasons for Two dozen eggs or one kilo of lamb costs containment of Baghdad ultimately de­ U.S. manufacturers fell by 696,000 jobs, maintaining the sanctions. about 1,000 dinars — the equivalent of pends.” while real wages continued to decline.

December 12,1994 The Militant 5 Passage of California’s Proposition 187 stirs political debate and controversy BY HARRY RING o f 187 is finally determined. who undertake legal challenges to the mea­ ganda on the big Latino population in Los LOS ANGELES — The death o f a 12- The most blatantly unconstitutional sure. Glenn Spencer, a leading promoter of Angeles County and nearby areas. year-old boy whose parents delayed get­ clause in 187 bars undocumented children 187 now pushing the recall threat, de­ Data derived from the 1990 census ting medical treatment because they feared from attending public schools. A 1975 clared, “ We have people flooding across showed that 3.3 million Latinos live in Los deportation has sparked a new round of Texas law banning undocumented children our borders with a very high fertility rate Angeles County. They constitute 40 per­ discussion and controversy about Califor­ from public schools was struck down by and a very low educational level.” The day cent o f the local population and a far larger nia’s anti-immigrant Proposition 187. the Supreme Court, which held that all after 187 was approved, the Los Angeles percentage of its workforce. Nearly 1.8 Approved by 59 percent o f the voters in m illion are immigrants. The census esti­ the November 8 elections, Proposition 187 mate is that less than 20 percent are undoc­ denies undocumented workers and their umented. The largest number o f Latino res­ families all but acute emergency care and idents are from Mexico, with many also requires health workers to report “ sus­ coming from El Salvador, and other Cen­ pected” undocumented patients. tral American countries. Immigrant work­ Julio Cano fell ill the day before a fed­ ers — with and without papers — consti­ eral judge issued a temporary restraining tute a powerful social force here. This was order blocking implementation of most demonstrated by the protest actions that provisions o f 187. His parents, undocu­ were organized during the pre-election mented immigrants from Mexico, were not fight against Proposition 187. aware o f the court order. They held o ff get­ 70.000 march for immigrant rights ting care for several days so that the father There was the stunning turnout o f could get his paycheck and have $60 to see 70.000 people, mainly Latino workers and a private doctor. students, for the October 16 “ No on 187” The day after the visit, Julio died of march. It was the largest immigrant rights heart failure. An autopsy disclosed that he demonstration ever and undoubtedly the had acute leukemia. A specialist said the biggest social protest o f any kind that the disease could cause death in a matter of city has seen. months, even weeks. But with medical Building for the demonstration sparked care, there is a recovery rate o f up to 70 massive walkouts by junior high and high percent. school students in the weeks before the Media coverage o f the death evoked vote. On a single day, more than 10,000 strong public concern. Recognizing this, high schoolers left their classrooms to the initiators o f 187 tried to shift the bur­ march and rally against 187. Walkouts by den o f responsibility onto those who had garment workers and protests by truck opposed the proposition. They charged drivers also occurred. misinformation had been spread to incite Since the election, there has been much fear among immigrants. A t the same time, discussion among students and workers former U.S. immigration chief Alan Nel­ about the passage o f 187 and what can be son, a co-author of the anti-immigrant leg­ done to continue the fight against it. islation, bluntly declared: “ 187 w ill make Immediately after the vote was in, sev­ it a lot tougher for illegals to stay here, and eral demonstrations took place. Students at that’s the intent.” the University o f California in Los Angeles Militant/Harry Ring rallied at the campus medical center to de­ Wilson modifies some provisions Teacher at Los Angeles march October 16 protests proposition requiring educators mand that 187 not be enforced. A similar Meanwhile, Gov. Pete Wilson moved to and health workers to report anyone “suspected” of being undocumented immigrant. action occurred at Glendale City College. placate concern that denial o f medical care A demonstration is now set for Decem­ could create a public health crisis. In his children have a right to public education. City Council voted 10-3 to challenge its le­ ber 9 to demand no enforcement of 187. successful bid for reelection, Wilson had In considering 187, the courts w ill weigh gality. W ith the recall threat, the council The action w ill be at 4:30 p.m. at the made immigrant bashing a centerpiece o f the Wilson administration’s plan to draft members folded like the proverbial accor­ downtown federal building. It is being or­ his campaign. W ith the passage o f 187, he implementation regulations, which would, dion, voting 9-5 to seek “clarification” of ganized by the Pro-Immigrant M obiliza­ issued regulations for its implementation, in effect, rewrite legally weak sections of the legislation, as opposed to trying to tion Coalition, a group that has organized including a proviso modifying the stringent the proposition. overturn it. a number of immigrant rights demonstra­ curb on medical care. Obviously contra­ While many immigrant workers from tions during the past several years. It in iti­ dicting the content o f 187, the governor’s Threats to begin recall campaigns Asia and the Pacific islands are equally en­ ated the October 16 march, which was then regulation stipulates that medical services Sponsors o f 187 have threatened to initi­ dangered by 187, supporters o f the propo­ embraced by the broader forces that deemed necessary to ensure public health ate recall petitions against elected officials sition have primarily focused their propa- brought out the huge turnout. shall continue to be available “ independent of citizenship or immigrant status.” This presumably would cover immunization programs and treatment o f contagious dis­ Clinton to end Salvadoran refugee status eases. Since passage o f 187, publicly funded BY BRAD DOWNS to the U.S.” rans who live in the Washington, D.C., clinics have reported a dramatic drop in the WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Clinton An end to temporary status would have area would be affected by the Clinton ad­ number o f patient visits. Some also report administration is preparing to end a pro­ a wide impact on the estimated 1 m illion ministration moves. Many Salvadorans increased visits since the court order was gram that offered a temporary refugee sta­ Salvadorans living in the United States. have lived in the United States for more issued. tus to tens o f thousands o f Salvadorans “ The effects would be immediate and over­ than a decade and their families often in­ who fled their homeland during the 1980s. whelming if all these people are denied le­ clude legal residents and U.S.-born chil­ Capitalist politicians divide During a 10-year civil war, in which gal status,” said Saul Solorzano, director o f dren. Passage o f Proposition 187 has not Washington spent millions propping up a the Washington office o f the Central ended the rift it created within the Republi­ dictatorship, at least half a m illion Sal­ American Refugee Center. Brad Downs is a member of United Auto can Party. Former presidential cabinet vadorans entered the United States. A l­ About 20,000 o f the 100,000 Salvado- Workers Local 239 in Baltimore. members Jack Kemp and W illiam Bennett, though many were fleeing widespread hu­ who had called for a “ no” vote on 187, man rights abuses by the Salvadoran army continue to blast Gov. Wilson on the issue. and U.S.-trained death squads, the vast ma­ Activists in Miami speak out Both are conservative Republicans. They jority o f these refugees were denied politi­ demand that Wilson tone down his anti­ cal asylum. Several lawsuits revealed that immigrant rhetoric, which they see as a the proceedings were biased because of in defense of immigrant rights threat to their party’s future. Lambasting U.S. policies that deliberately understated the governor, Bennett declared, “ He’s the terror o f the Salvadoran military. BY PHOENIX KENDRICK les October 16 and the protest here in scapegoating, dammit, and he should stop Some 200,000 Salvadorans were first M IA M I — “ Let’s make Proposition 187 South Florida on the same day show what doing it.” The problem with 187, Bennett granted “ Temporary Protected Status” in our tool. We must join with others in a na­ we have to do,” said Orlando Yanez o f the argued, is that “ it’s superficially attractive, 1990 under legislation that allowed them to tional demonstration against this law and Farmworker Association of Florida. but it doesn’t solve anything.” remain in the United States and work to defend immigrant rights," urged Herman “ Both the Democratic and Republican Meanwhile, the courts have begun deter­ legally but did not advance them toward Martinez, a Salvadoran immigrant rights Party politicians seek to scapegoat immi­ mining the constitutionality o f 187. This permanent residency as immigrants. The activist at a Militant Labor Forum here re­ grants for the crisis o f capitalism, blaming process was kicked o ff with a lawsuit filed Clinton administration now argues that cently. The meeting drew 35 people. them for ‘stealing jobs’ and undercutting by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Salvadorans no longer need protection in The speakout brought together activists wages. These ideas are aimed at dividing Mexican American Legal Defense and Ed­ the United States because the political situ­ involved in the defense o f immigrant rights workers and driving down the wages o f the ucational Fund, and other opponents o f the ation in their country has stabilized since a and others to discuss the impact o f the new working class as a whole,” added Carlos measure. They won an initial temporary re­ truce in 1992 ended the civil war. California law and how to organize a re­ Rosero o f the Socialist Workers Party. straining order barring enforcement of all A diplomatic cable sent by U.S. em­ sponse to this attack on undocumented Other speakers also addressed the issue the provisions o f 187 except for the one bassy officials in San Salvador last June workers. of blaming immigrants for the economic that stipulates stiffer penalties for those noted that the $840 million in remittances “ If they have it in California today, to­ and social problems that working people convicted o f marketing or using false iden­ sent home by Salvadoran workers in the morrow they w ill try to have it in Florida, face today. Elizardo Bascoy o f the Antonio tity papers. United States is essential income for the then everywhere,” explained Luc Sanon, a Maceo Brigade noted that the aim o f the stability o f the country, far surpassing the Haitian refugee previously interned at the new law was to turn immigrant workers Attempt to bar children from schools sales o f El Salvador’s largest export, cof­ U.S. naval base at Guantanamo in Cuba. and their children into modern-day slaves Federal judge Mariana Pfaelzer is slated fee. The embassy officials argue that be­ Many at the meeting were encouraged by denying them access to education. to decide December 14 if the temporary re­ cause most o f the remittances go to regions by the big turnout at protests against Yanez said, “ It is a challenge for us to straining order is to be replaced by a pre­ devastated by the civil war, a significant Proposition 187 in California and were fight this law. They are trying to turn us liminary injunction. Unless overturned by reduction "would be economically disas­ among those that helped to organize an ac­ into the scapegoats. We need to invite a higher court, such an injunction would trous for these areas. In fact, it would prob­ tion in Florida to defend immigrant rights. Haitians, Cubans, Mexicans, and others to remain in effect until the constitutionality ably lead to increased illegal immigration “ The protest by thousands in Los Ange- join in the struggle.”

6 The Militant December 12,1994 December 12,1994 The Militant 7 ‘Cuba will never return to capitalism’

I — I Mill 1111« II M O — CTO

Continued from front page ers, and artists. They also visited a con­ ther embargo nor blockade. It is war! An revolution,” he stressed. matter how many blows the progressive struction site, a farm, recreational installa­ economic war that is not waged with such These policies o f aggression by Wash­ movement, the revolutionary movement, tions, the University of Havana, and other tenacity against any other country in the ington “ are accompanied by an incessant and the socialist movement have suffered.” places, where they had a chance to ex­ world,” he said. campaign o f lies and slanders against our Cuba “ will never return to capitalism,” change experiences with Cubans. “ The blockade, however, is not the total­ country to justify their crimes,” Castro Castro insisted. “ The [U.S.] blockade became the central ity of the U.S. economic, commercial, and said, “ carried out mainly under the banner “ W e’d rather perish than renounce our point of discussion at the conference,” financial activities” against Cuba, Castro o f human rights.” principles. We’d rather perish than re­ Castro said in his closing speech. “ But, in noted. He pointed to Washington’s illegal The Cuban president took the offensive, nounce socialism!” essence, what is the blockade? It is not just occupation o f the naval station at Guanta­ rejecting Washington’s definition of hu­ Washington’s prohibition of any kind of namo Bay as a dagger aimed at the heart o f man rights and answering the lies about Not everyone agrees trade between the United States and our the revolution. “ The powerful empire is not Cuba. Castro’s sharp condemnation o f capital­ country, be it commerce for technology, just near us, it is inside us,” he said. Castro castigated the racist use of the ism brought several standing ovations and death penalty in the United States, which is repeated applause from most o f the 3,500 imposed mainly on workers who are Black people present. More than a few in the au­ or Latino. He pointed to the recent passage dience were not pleased with his speech, o f the anti-immigrant Proposition 187 in however. Some walked out in the middle California as a violation o f human rights, o f the presentation. “ denying health care and education to the One Cuban participant, who was clearly children and families o f undocumented not happy with Castro’s remarks, told the workers in what once used to be Mexican M ilita nt after the event that the Cuban lands. leader “ did not seem to grasp the kind of “ And what has been the foreign policy audience he was addressing.” record of Washington, of this so-called While everyone who spoke at the meet­ champion o f freedom and human rights?” ing opposed the U.S. economic and trade Castro asked. He then took nearly half an embargo against Cuba, some o f the partici­ hour to detail the history o f U.S. military pants did not agree with the Cuban presi­ interventions in the last half century and dent’s unambiguous defense o f socialism. Washington’s innumerable alliances with Instead, they favored lifting the embargo as “ the most repressive and bloodthirsty a way to rapidly open up the Cuban econ­ regimes that have ever existed on the face omy to the capitalist market. o f the earth. Castro’s speech concluded the five-day international event that began November Can’t ignore Washington’s crimes 21. By the last evening o f the gathering, “ How can we forget the propping up of 3,072 delegates from 109 countries on six a puppet regime in south Vietnam and continents had registered. Washington’s genocidal war against the The conference was a show o f solidarity people o f Vietnam?” Castro asked. “ How with the Cuban revolution, unprecedented can we ignore Hiroshima and Nagasaki since the late 1960s. More than half of the with the totally unnecessary use o f nuclear delegates were members o f local or na­ bombs?... How can we forget the decades- tional Cuba solidarity organizations. Par­ long alliance by the U.S. government with ticipants also included several hundred the apartheid regime in South Africa?” trade unionists and representatives o f polit­ Militant/Argiris Malapanis The Cuban president explained how the ical parties, nearly 150 members o f parlia­ Delegates from many countries at Havana conference in solidarity with Cuba White House orchestrated the overthrow o f ment, and a few dozen other government snapped up books on Pathfinder table. Titles by Che Guevara were in great demand. the government o f Jacobo Arbenz in Gua­ officials. temala in 1954 and the regime headed by Cuban leaders Ricardo Alarcon, presi­ machinery, food, or medicines.” “ We haven’t just had to bear the effects Salvador Allende in Chile nearly 20 years dent o f the country’s National Assembly; The U.S. economic embargo means o f the blockade since the revolution tri­ later. He laid bare the training and financ­ Carlos Lage, executive director of the Washington wields its economic and m ili­ umphed,” Castro said. He detailed U.S.- ing o f the former m ilitary regime in A r­ Council o f Ministers; and Roberto Ro- tary power to exert pressure and make it organized assassination attempts against gentina that was responsible for the disap­ baina, Cuba’s foreign minister, addressed extremely difficult for other governments Cuban leaders, mercenary attacks and sab­ pearance o f at least 15,000 political prison­ the plenary sessions in the first two days and companies to sell anything to Cuba. It otage on Cuban soil, and the introduction ers in the late 1970s. and took part in the discussion. Castro, also results in the virtual cutoff o f any o f chemical and biological viruses that Castro explained the U.S. role in orga­ along with most other members o f the Po­ commercial or financial credits for Cuba, have destroyed crops and affected the nizing the contra war against the N ic­ litical Bureau o f the Communist Party of Castro said, forcing Havana to pay cash in health of thousands o f Cubans. araguan revolution in the 1980s and Wash­ Cuba, were part o f the presiding committee hard currency for any imports. “ There isn’t a single weapon, a single re­ ington’s support to the death squads o f the and participated in the plenary sessions. “They euphemistically call it an em­ source that the U.S. government has not dictatorship in El Salvador during the same Sergio Corrieri, president o f the Cuban bargo, we call it a blockade. But it is nei- used against our country to destroy our period, which took the lives o f tens o f Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), opened the meeting on behalf of the 52 Cuban organizations that called the conference. Pathfinder sales exceed expectations Some 100 delegates took the floor dur­ ing the plenary and spoke about politics BY MICHEL DUGRE held here November 21-25. “ You can be day. and Cuba solidarity activities in their coun­ H A V A N A , Cuba — “ I must have this,” sure this book w ill get around mine work­ In greatest demand were books by Che tries, among other topics. Dozens more ad­ said Petrus, a mine worker from South ers where I live,” Petrus added, “ as w ill the Guevara. Participants bought 20 copies of dressed proposals for coordinated interna­ Africa, picking up a copy of the book other books I ’ve bought this week. I ’ve The Bolivian D iary o f Ernesto Che Gue­ tional actions in defense of Cuba during Teamster Rebellion by Farrell Dobbs. The bought at least one every day.” vara and 13 copies o f the English and three workshops, which took place the book was just about to be packed into In addition to Pathfinder books and Spanish editions o f the issue o f New Inter­ third and fourth days o f the meeting. boxes by the team o f volunteers from Aus­ pamphlets, volunteers sold copies o f the national entitled “ Che Guevara, Cuba, and Delegates met with neighborhood Com­ tralia, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, Marxist magazine New International and the Road to Socialism.” mittees for the Defense o f the Revolution, Sweden, and the United Kingdom who had subscriptions to the M ilitant and its sister Many conference participants spent time with leaders o f the Federation o f Cuban been staffing a book table during the publication in Spanish, Perspectiva Mun­ at the table discussing Guevara’s ideas. Sil­ Women, and with Cuban journalists, w rit­ W orld Meeting in Solidarity with Cuba, dial. berman was invited to give a brief presen­ Petrus was part o f the 29-member dele­ tation, in English and Spanish, on the re­ gation from South Africa. “ We have cently published Bolivian Diary and other started to organize actions in defense o f editorial works o f Pathfinder. The presen­ Cuba," said Khalima, another miner, “ and tation was organized during the lunch we’ve taken the opportunity o f being at this break on the final day in the area that held conference to arrange to visit miners in the dozens o f stands. After Silberman Cuba.” Many in the South African delega­ spoke, participants snapped up the five tion visited the table, buying a variety o f copies o f the Bolivian Diary that remained books. on the book table. There was also considerable interest in Mural draws attention books by Russian revolutionary leader A large number o f conference partici­ Leon Trotsky. Sales included a copy of pants had never before seen any o f the dis­ Pathfinder’s newly published Russian- played literature. A focus o f much discus­ language edition of Trotsky’s History o f sion was a mounted poster o f the Path­ the Russian Revolution. “ I must have that finder Mural, a giant outdoor painting on book,” said a Cuba solidarity activist from the side of the Pathfinder building in New Bulgaria who visited the table many times. York that depicts revolutionary leaders He had first come across Pathfinder books throughout history and around the world, at the European Conference in Solidarity as well as the efforts to get their ideas into with Cuba held in Havana a year ago. “ Last the hands o f fighting workers and youth. year I bought Trotsky’s The Revolution A ll five copies o f the Pathfinder Mural Betrayed and books by Che Guevara. This poster taken to the event were sold the first year I ’m having the History o f the Russian morning. Revolution and Trotsky’s Art and Revolu­ “ Sales were beyond our expectations," tion too,” he said. said Jonathan Silberman, a volunteer from Seven people at the gathering bought Manchester, England, who is a member of subscriptions to Perspectiva Mundial and the Engineers Union. “ We sold over 130 12 to the M ilitant. The new subscriptions books at a value of $ 1,675.” Delegates pur­ will be going to countries in five conti­ chased another 25 books for pesos the last nents, including six to Brazil alone.

8 The Militant December 12,1994 thousands of workers and peasants. Members o f the audience shouted out the names o f more and more countries. “ And what happened in Uruguay?” Castro asked. “ And what happened in Brazil? Who supported the m ilitary regimes that tortured, assassinated, or ‘disappeared’ people? Who intervened in the Dominican Republic during the Caamafiista rebellion in the 1960s? Who invaded Grenada? Who invaded Panama? The ‘champions’ o f free­ dom, the ‘champions’ o f human rights.” In contrast, Cuba never tortured, “ disappeared,” or assassinated a single po­ litical prisoner, Castro said. The convincing indictment of U.S. im­ perialist aggression the world over drew repeated applause from the audience.

Difficulties of ‘special period’ Beginning in 1989, the abrupt end o f aid and trade at preferential prices with the dis­ integrating Soviet bloc regimes triggered a serious economic crisis in Cuba that has in­ cluded plummeting industrial and agricul­ tural production and extreme shortages of M ilitant/Argiris Malapanis food, fuel, and other basic necessities — a Some 3,000 people from more than 100 countries took part in the world solidarity conference in Havana, which called for interna­ time span Cuban revolutionaries refer to as tional coordinated activities in defense of Cuba in 1995. the “ special period.” A t the same time, Washington has intensified its efforts to starve the Cuban revolution into submis­ government of the bourgeoisie, for the bargo as well as a commemoration of José and for a week o f coordinated actions in sion. bourgeoisie, and by the bourgeoisie; not a Marti, Cuba’s national hero, who was defense o f Cuba A pril 1-8. “ We now have to face a different world government o f the capitalists, for the capi­ killed in battle against the Spanish colo­ “ In as many different cities and loca­ from when the revolution triumphed in talists, and by the capitalists,” the Cuban nialists on May 19, 1895. tions as possible, a range o f educational ac­ 1959,” Castro stated. “ We have had to president said to prolonged applause. Delegates called for international coor­ tivities would be organized; forums, teach- adapt to this world and adopt a series o f The working class around the world dinated protest actions in defense of Cuba ins, public speeches, film showings, distri­ measures we consider indispensable to would suffer an immeasurable blow if im­ on October 10, which coincides with the bution o f educational materials, etc.,” said confront this crisis.” perialism succeeded in destroying the anniversary o f the initiation o f the struggle the proposal distributed to all the dele­ Over the last 18 months the Cuban gov­ Cuban revolution, Castro said in conclud­ for Cuban independence from Spain in gates. The week is to culminate with ernment has legalized the possession and ing his speech. 1868. protest actions organized in several cities, use o f U.S. dollars; introduced or raised Addressing himself to the delegates pre­ The conference proclaimed October 10 calling for an end to the U.S. embargo rates on electricity, water, sewage, and sent, Castro reiterated, “ For that reason we as an international day in solidarity with against Cuba. other services; opened up markets for sale expect a lot from the struggle you have de­ Cuba. At that time, the United Nations M ajor elements o f the U.S. proposal o f agricultural goods and some industrial cided to join us in waging to defeat the General Assembly, which has passed reso­ were incorporated in the final program of products at unregulated prices; and signed blockade, to defeat the hostility against our lutions condemning economic sanctions actions and U.S. delegates met following a multitude o f joint ventures to attract capi­ country, to defend hope for humanity.” against Cuba for the last three years, w ill its adoption to discuss its implementation. talist investment in tourism, oil and min­ again be discussing the question o f the “ In the next few days, Cuba, which is ing, and other areas. Solidarity activities U.S. economic embargo. Two o f the work­ blockaded and slandered, w ill be excluded These measures, aimed at combating in­ Before Castro’s speech the delegates shops made proposals for a march at the by the government o f the United States flation and increasing production, have led adopted by acclamation a program of nine United Nations in New York on October from the Miami summit," said the final to growing social inequalities. During the points outlining international activities in 10, with major international contingents declaration the delegates adopted. The special period, phenomena like prostitution defense o f Cuba. Corrieri, president of organized by solidarity organizations from meeting of government representatives and begging by children, which the revolu­ 1CAP, presented the general accord to the around the world. from the Americas is being organized by tion had virtually eliminated, have begun delegates on behalf of the presiding com­ In addition, the U.S. delegation o f nearly Washington in Miami December 9-11. to reappear, Castro said. mittee, as a synthesis o f the proposals that 300 people presented a written proposal “ But this conference,” the declaration “ Yes, unfortunately you can sec some came from the three conference work­ that was discussed at all three workshops. underlined, "where only a tiny portion of cases, or rather some tendencies, develop shops. It called for international participation in the immense wealth o f humanity is repre­ because o f the economic difficulties and The conference proclaimed 1995 an in­ the next Friendshipment caravan o f mate­ sented, demonstrates that Cuba is not the opening o f the country to greater con­ ternational year of struggle against the em- rial aid to Cuba, scheduled for July 1995, alone." tact with the capitalist world; you can see some prostitutes reappear. We don’t deny this,” Castro said. “ But we struggle against this, we don’t tolerate or legalize prostitu­ Cuban-American opponents of revolution tion.” In today’s conditions there is no way to increase agricultural and industrial produc­ meet in Miami over opposition to embargo tion without such economic measures, the Cuban president said. “ We can’t have any BY FRANCISCO PICADO dation, the National Commission of Inde­ crated their previous findings about the d if­ development without capital, technology, M IA M I — Under the theme “ For Cuba, pendent Unions of Cuba, Human Rights in ficulties in having a diverging point of and markets,” Castro emphasized. for change, and for national reconcilia­ Cuba, Civic and Popular Alliance, the view in Miami. “ This is the only city that “ Our goal is to save our independence, tion,” more than 1,000 people took part in Ecologist Movement, and others. has been investigated in the United States,” our revolution — because the revolution is a conference on Cuba here November 19- One o f the keynote speakers was Con­ she said. “ We must work towards making the source o f everything — and the con­ 20. The event was organized by Cuban- gressman Charles Rangel, who recently Miami part o f the rest o f the United States quests o f socialism,” Castro said, “ in order Americans who, although opponents of the sponsored a bill in opposition to the cur­ instead o f the banana republic that it is to­ to move forward in building socialism socialist revolution in Cuba, are also rent U.S. embargo against Cuba. Without day.” when the conditions in the world permit it against the current U.S. policy towards the giving details, Rangel said he had been “ What is the alternative faced by us once again.” country. threatened before coming to the event and Cubans?" asked Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo, These forces believe Washington’s cam­ was forced to request the special assistance president o f Cuban Change. “ Either the ‘We will never capitulate’ paign against Cuba w ill not bring about o f the U.S. Secret Service to assure his necessary changes are made or we run the “ Some people tell us that the blockade “ democratic” changes peacefully, and that safety. “ Why is it that people who have risk o f watching the last great hope to con­ could be lifted if we capitulate, if we re­ it causes hardship for Cubans on both sides been speaking out in Miami, people who struct the new republic. The necessity to nounce our political principles, if we re­ o f the Florida Straits. have been fighting the dictatorship in advance a peaceful revolution on the island nounce socialism and the democratic forms Among the most prominent backers of Cuba, have to become heroes,” Rangel imposes itself.” we chose,” Castro noted. the gathering were Cuban Change (Cambio said. In response to those that support the Gutierrez Menoyo, once a supporter of “ When we helped the revolutionaries in Cubano), an organization that favors a embargo, he said that an “ easier way to get the Cuban revolution, served time in jail in Central America,” he continued, "the peaceful transition to capitalism in Cuba; democracy is to talk with trade, capitalism Cuba after invading the island as part of an North American masters told us they Francisco Gonzalez Aruca, owner of the and trade.” armed counterrevolutionary group. would lift the blockade if we stopped that travel agency Marazul Tours; Marcelino Although the Cuban government has aid, but the idea never even crossed our Miyares, a television producer from New Want right to do business in Cuba taken some important steps, stated Men­ mind. On other occasions, they floated the York; Angel Fernández Varela, a Miami Many speakers, especially those from oyo, “ as a legitimate opposition we aspire, trial balloon that they would consider lift­ based banker; Nicolás Rios, editor of Con­ the professional layers in the Cuban com­ ask for, and demand more.” He proposed ing the blockade if we stopped our aid to trapunto magazine; and Rafael Huguet, a munity in Miami, as well as some capital­ an all-inclusive dialogue that “ recognizes Angola and other African countries, but it businessman also based in Miami. ists, used the platform to demand respect the right to property" in a process that never even crossed our mind to negotiate Practically every major figure associ­ for their democratic right to have different “ could end up at its proper moment in a our relations with other countries. ated with organizing the event has taken opinions about the future o f Cuba. They broad institutional and democratizing tran­ “ While we make changes today, we w ill part in activities in opposition to the Cuban want to have the right to do business in sition.” never renounce our independence and revolution. Many served time in Cuban Cuba and arc opposed to the right-wing Menoyo referred to the so-called Cuban sovereignty,” Castro insisted. jails and some, like Marcelino Miyares, are forces that for many years have used vio­ Democracy Act as a "coward law” that “ We make changes without renouncing publicly known to have been on the C IA ’s lence to control politics in Miami. aims to encourage an uprising and treats the true principle o f a government o f the payroll. Xiomara Almanger-Levy, representing Cuba as a colony. He also called the U.S. people, for the people, and by the people, Sponsoring organizations included the the Cuban American Defense League, said economic embargo "im moral” and "unjust­ which is translated in revolutionary lan­ Support Group for the Reconstruction of it was important to protect first amendment ifiable.” However, he echoed calls to turn guage to a government o f the workers, for Cuba, the Association o f Cuban Profes­ rights. She made reference to a November the embargo into a "bargaining chip” to the workers, and by the workers — not a sionals and Entrepreneurs, Pro-Man Foun- 16 report from America’s Watch that reit- bring about changes in Cuba.

December 12, 1994 The Militant 9 M ark Curtis files new legal challenge to frame-up trial

BY JOHN STUDER guilty o f the crimes, and that she did not DES MOINES, Iowa — On November 7 know that a mistrial would have resulted if union and political activist Mark Curtis she had persisted in her belief that the State filed legal papers with the U.S. Federal had not proven its case. Court o f Appeals in St. Louis challenging “ An alibi instruction could have pro­ his 1988 conviction on frame-up charges vided those jurors with the legal basis for of rape and burglary. maintaining their belief that Petitioner was “ Petitioner Mark Curtis has been ac­ not guilty,” Curtis’s lawyers explain. tively involved with the Socialist Workers The appeal notes that Curtis’s convic­ Party, Young Socialist Alliance, and labor tion violated his constitutional rights be­ union movements,” the appeal begins. It cause he was prevented from presenting was filed by prominent Des Moines attor­ evidence that he was targeted by the cops neys W illiam Kutmus and Jeanne Johnson. for his union and political activity. In addition to the defense campaign Curtis was barred from introducing the M ililant/Stu Singer waged by union members and political ac­ following evidence: M ark Curtis in 1988, exhibiting FBI files on his political activity. During trial later tivists worldwide, Curtis has, from the be­ “ 1. The Petitioner was beaten and suf­ that year, the judge ruled that FBI spying could not be admitted as evidence in C ur­ ginning, challenged his legal conviction. fered serious injuries at the hands of Des tis’s defense. New legal appeal challenges this violation of his democratic rights. This has included filing papers for a new Moines Police Officers W o lf and Dusen- trial and two state appeals, and petitioning berry at the Des Moines City Jail after Peti­ sequently prevailed in a federal civil rights the attorneys, “ Officer Gonzalez admitted for relief on habeas corpus before a federal tioner’s arrest, and that Officers W olf and action, which held that the police officers that he had been suspended for lying in the district court judge. Each of these chal­ Dusenberry called Petitioner a ‘Mexican were liable for injuries Petitioner suffered course of a police matter,” the appeal says. lenges has been rejected. The current ap­ lover, just like you love those coloreds’ at in the beating.” "The jury should have been allowed to peal argues that the most recent federal the time o f the beating, indicating official As for M orris’s attack on the bookstore hear that evidence and use it to weigh the court setback should be thrown out and a knowledge of Petitioner’s activist work; and defense committee office, police credibility of this witness.” hearing ordered to debate the violations of “ 2. The Petitioner and several political records show that Morris “ told police o ffi­ Pointing to these violations of Curtis’s Curtis’s constitutional rights and overturn and activist organizations of which Peti­ cers that he was going to the bookstore to rights, and others that occurred during the his conviction. tioner was a member, had been subjected ‘kick ass’ and the officers took no action,” trial, his lawyers argue that “ said errors de­ In addition to Curtis’s political and legal to surveillance by the Federal Bureau of state Curtis’s attorneys. nied Petitioner’s constitutional rights to a fight to win his freedom, the issues raised Investigation; and The appeal charges that Curtis’s basic fair trial." They ask that the appeals court in his federal appeal address fundamental "3. The alleged victim’s father, Keith rights were violated in the trial because he reverse the ruling o f Judge Charles Wolle political rights — the right to due process, Morris, had attacked and caused signifi­ was prevented from cross-examining the and order a hearing to be held on Curtis’s the right to confront one’s accusers, and cant property damages to the Mark Curtis central state witness against him, arresting challenge to his conviction. the right to defend oneself without undue Defense Committee headquarters at the officer Joseph Gonzalez, about the fact that For more information on the campaign restraint by the courts — that arc o f broad Pathfinder Bookstore, and that the Polk Gonzalez had been disciplined for lying to win Curtis’s freedom, contact the Mark importance. County Attorney declined to prosecute Mr. and manufacturing evidence in a previous Curtis Defense Committee, Box 1048, Des The appeal reviews the facts. Curtis was Morris.” case. Moines, Iowa 50311, or call (515) 246- arrested and brutally beaten by the Des The appeal points out that Curtis “ sub- In a closed session with the judge and 1695. Moines police after he participated in a meeting on the night o f March 4, 1988, to protest the arrest o f 17 o f his coworkers at the M onfort meatpacking plant. Curtis USAir steps up concession demands spoke out “ in Spanish to urge the union to take the lead in defending those arrested,” BY EDWIN FRUIT At one point the Air Line Pilots Associa­ nated for workers hired in these classifica­ Curtis’s lawyers state in the appeal. AND DAVE WELTERS tion (ALPA) proposed that all the unions tions after 1986 and part-timers were The appeal argues that Curtis’s convic­ PITTSBURGH— USAir, the nation’s take a 20 percent wage cut in exchange for forced to pay their own family medical tion violated his constitutional rights be­ sixth largest airline, is demanding $500 a 25 percent stake in the company and coverage. cause the judge presiding over the case re­ m illion a year in concessions from its seats on the board of directors. Fleet service workers get no paid holi­ fused to instruct the jury that they could union workers. The company says this days and a new sick leave and vacation find him not guilty because he had an alibi. means “ permanently reducing employee USAir not in giving mood policy was implemented restricting days Witnesses at the trial showed, without be­ pay and benefits to levels more consistent USAir is not interested in an employee that could be used. On Thanksgiving Day ing challenged by the prosecution, that with the competition.” stock ownership plan and turned the pilots in Pittsburgh a chalk outline of a body was Curtis was in a local bar and restaurant USAir is threatening to take the com­ down. The company has also largely suc­ drawn on the floor o f a baggage area with with them discussing the fight against the pany into bankruptcy if it doesn’t get its ceeded in turning the Association o f Flight "holiday pay” written across it. arrest of their coworkers at the time the at­ way. The airline has lost $2.4 billion since Attendants (AFA), Transport Workers “ I voted union to get back what I lost,” tack allegedly occurred. 1988 and projects a 1994 deficit of more Union (TWU), and International Associa­ a baggage handler said in response to the This is especially important, the brief than $350 m illion. Although USAir has tion of Machinists (IA M ) officials against company’s demands. “We can’t give up states, because the prosecutors presented a significantly higher costs than its competi­ the pilots, instead o f against the conces­ any more.” Others sec the situation as weak case against Curtis. There was no tors, workers’ wages arc comparable to sions. Carol Austin, president o f AFA at hopeless. "W e ’re damned if we do and physical evidence to connect him to any as­ those at Delta, United, and American. USAir, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette damned if we don’t," said another baggage sault. The alleged victim ’s “ initial descrip­ Even so. the company is insisting on steep October 8, “ We say they [the pilots] have handler. " I f we take concessions they can tion o f the height of her assailant (5'6") did wage cuts. an ability to pay and we arc not going to still go under. And if we say no, then we’re not match the Petitioner, who is over six- In an effort to convince workers to follow their formula.” out of a job.” feet tall. She testified that during the as­ tighten their belts, USAir president Frank Workers at USAir arc debating back and sault the Petitioner unbuckled his belt, and Salzonni told a meeting o f employees last forth what to do in response to the com­ Company gets help from friends at the time o f his arrest the Petitioner was summer, "Even if we sell every seat from pany’s takeback demands. A mechanic at The company’s drive to make the work­ not wearing a belt nor was a belt found at now until December 31 we won’t be able the Pittsburgh terminal here with more than ers bail out USAir is getting plenty o f help the scene. to make a profit.” 25 years at the company said. "W e can’t from the big-business press. After the “ The clothing she described the attacker USAir says the only way it can survive really do anything. There’d be no public third-quarter losses of $180 m illion were was wearing was different than the clothing is to save $ I billion a year for the next sev­ support for us if we decided to strike. The announced, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette worn by Petitioner. She testified that the eral years — $500 m illion in givebacks company would just use replacement editorialized against union workers. As floor o f the porch where the assault oc­ from the unions and $500 m illion in re­ workers.” A younger mechanic thought U S A ir’s losses mount the need for em­ curred was dirty with leaves and dog hair, structuring and other cost-saving measures. differently. " I ’m not giving them anything. ployee concessions becomes clearer, the and that she and her assailant wrestled Following the USAir crash outside Pitts­ A ll they’ll do is come back for more,” he paper said. “ For either side to remain in­ around on the floor. Traces o f dirt, debris burgh September 8 that killed 132 people, said. In discussions on the job many me­ transigent in the face of this latest deficit and dog hair were found on [her] clothing, management demanded the unions quicken chanics, who are among the higher-paid statement would be recklessly irresponsi­ but no such debris or dog hair was found the pace for negotiating concession pack­ workers at USAir and are covered by a ble.” on Petitioner’s clothing.” The young ages. “ no-layoff’ clause that supposedly makes Union officials at U SAir are telling woman “ also testified that her assailant had The severity o f the Pittsburgh crash, their jobs secure, have expressed more members that concessions are necessary to smoker’s breath, and Petitioner was not a which followed closely another USAir ac­ willingness to make concessions. keep the airline from going under. smoker.” cident in Charlotte, North Carolina, last Because o f concessions accepted by the Earlier in the fall, USAir got the agree­ The jury deliberated for three days. An July, has focused media attention on the unions in previous contracts cleaners hired ment o f British A ir and Warren Buffet, two affidavit presented after the trial showed company’s safety record. A number o f cap­ since 1993 start at $3.40 an hour less than of its primary investors, to accept delayed that four jurors were not convinced Curtis italist papers have published articles spot­ previous new hires. Any reduction in pay payment for preferred stock. This was with was proven guilty beyond a reasonable lighting blatant safety violations at the air­ and benefits puts them at half the salary of the understanding that USAir could wring doubt. One juror stated in the affidavit that line and questioning whether the safety coworkers doing the same job. “ I can’t af­ substantial concessions from its workers. “she did not believe that petitioner was problems at USAir arc linked to cost- ford a 20 percent pay cut when I’m barely Speaking at a District 141 airline confer­ cutting measures. There is also concern making $8 an hour,” one said. "What guar­ ence this past October, IA M international among travelers that the company is short- antee do we have that the company won’t president George Kourpias said, "We circuiting safety for the sake of profits. declare bankruptcy anyway and then I'll don’t want to be in the business o f owning USAir has launched a multimillion dol­ have to give up even more." companies. But we’ll do whatever is neces­ lar advertising campaign to assure travelers Fleet service workers, baggage handlers, sary to save jobs.” that it runs a safe airline. and caterers recently voted to join the The IAM has called special membership For the most part, top officials who head IAM, increasing the membership from meetings for early December to discuss the various unions at USAir that represent 8,000 to nearly 16,000 at USAir. But the proposed changes in the union contract. mechanics, flight attendants, cleaners, company has yet to sign a contract that ramp workers, and food service workers covers these workers and they have suf­ Edwin Fruit and Dave Welters are mem­ and the pilots association are going along fered sonic of the hardest blows in the past bers of ¡AM Local 1976 at USAir in Pitts­ with the company’s concession demands. three years. Full-time positions were elimi- burgh.

10 The Militant December 12,1994 Kmart workers walk out in N. Carolina BY ROBERT DEES not miss more than eight hours for virtually AND M.J. RAHN any reason. Now, even after making proba­ GREENSBORO, North Carolina — tion no employee can miss more than 40 “No contract, no peace!” roared several hours in a year. Hundreds have been fired hundred members o f the Amalgamated under this policy. Clothing and Textile Workers Union Kmart floated rumors threatening to shut (AC TW U ) Local 2603 at a mass picket the center and arbitrarily fired several outside the Kmart distribution center here union supporters when the organizing November 22. Third shift workers walked drive began. These tactics failed to intim i­ out of the plant together chanting, with date the workers. Supervisors then inti­ most joining the picket line. mated that a $2-an-hour wage increase “ M y boyfriend and I sat up all night dis­ would be in the offing if workers voted cussing what to do today. I said I can’t af­ against the union. Nevertheless, the union ford to miss work. He asked me could 1 af­ carried the vote by a two-to-one margin in ford to keep working for these wages? I September 1993. didn’t know until I got here what I was go­ “ The company and the union have been ing to do,” remarked one new employee as at the bargaining table for over a year and she signed a union card and joined the have reached no agreement on contract picket line. language or economic benefits. Instead, the The union is maintaining picket lines 24 company has chosen a campaign o f harass­ hours a day. Before the strike 50-60 truck­ ment,” said Ernest Bennett, AC TW U ’s as­ loads o f merchandise were shipped out ev­ sistant regional director. ery day. The first two days o f the strike, Leading up to the strike, a number of in- several dozen trucks were seen coming and plant activities were organized. “On going. In reality, however, many of these Militant/Jane Roland Wednesday we had a ‘prayer meeting’ ” in trucks were empty, as production was ef­ Members of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union on strike at the break room, said Joe Craddock, who fectively crippled by the strike. Workers Km art in Greensboro, North Carolina, have turned away truckers at the picket line. works in maintenance. “ Several shifts who crossed the picket line at first, but then came in at the same time and we just stayed joined the strike, report that only one truck there. It was a right long prayer, too.” In was loaded during second shift the first day people with cameras.” merchandising. “ They don’t want to deal the final weeks before the strike a majority o f the walkout and none on the second day. “ One guy was fired for ‘lack o f job per­ with you as the union.” o f the first and second shifts in the shipping “ Workers are being fired unjustly; work­ formance’ but it was really because he was Bad working conditions, low pay, and a department was won to the union. ers are being harassed,” said striker Gover­ a union man,” said Larry Lawson, a mem­ severe attendance policy resulted in such a “ A lot o f the temps stayed out,” said nor Spencer on the picket line. “ They sin­ ber o f the union’s Justice Committee, high turnover that the company had to hire striker B illy Key. “ They stopped, we gle out certain employees and just get on which organizes the local’s activities. 1,400 workers to keep 450 jobs filled in talked to them, and they stayed out. And a them and get on them,” said Mike Hassell. “ They want to deal with you on a one-to- the first two years after the facility opened lot o f the temps who went in sympathize “ They have even been monitoring certain one basis,” added a woman who works in in March 1992. Originally, workers could with us. They don’t like the conditions in there either.” One way Kmart tries to divide the work­ force is by hiring large numbers o f tempo­ Some GEC-Alsthom strikes settled in France rary workers. Union members estimate that BY DEREK JEFFERS GEC-Alsthom accepted the proposal struggle, workers marched into the 80 percent o f the workforce respected the PARIS — Workers lifted their month­ “ despite its unreasonable character.” The Bourogne gas turbine plant in a disciplined picket line the first day o f the strike. Some long occupations o f GEC-Alsthom plants three unions representing production fashion with heads high, right where the o f the workers who crossed the picket line in Bourogne and Belfort November 24-25 workers — the General Confederation of conflict began October 24. Work is to re­ reported to strikers that the mood inside is after a controversial vote organized by Labor (CGT), the French Democratic Con­ sume at the Belfort factories November 28. glum. Hourly wages at the facility range union officials. The two plants employ federation o f Labor (CFDT), and Workers Meanwhile, workers in other GEC-Al­ from $6.75 to $8.50, considerably lower 7,400 workers. Force (FO) — organized a vote on the con­ sthom plants in France are continuing their than the $10 to $13.65 an hour Kmart pays Meanwhile, the strike for higher wages tract by the entire workforce, including en­ struggles. At Petit-Quevilly workers are at distribution centers in Georgia and by 200 workers at the Franco-British com­ gineers and executives, on November 23. blocking access to the plant by all trucks, Kansas. The union is pressing for a sub­ pany’s transformer plant in Petit-Quevilly, The proposal was approved by 54 percent night and day. They have collected nearly stantial raise. After some 15 months o f ne­ near Rouen, entered its third week. Strike o f those voting. However, a large majority $10,000 from workers in nearby factories gotiations, the company made an outra­ actions over demands for higher pay are o f the production workers, who had carried to aid their fight. geous wage offer — a 5-cent raise. Only also taking place in several other Alsthom the strike, voted against it. The 600 workers at the GEC-Alsthom workers with more than two years on the factories throughout France. In this confusing situation the strike plant in Creusot occupied their plant No­ job would be eligible. A government-appointed mediator sub­ pickets refused to leave the gates for two vember 22 to demand a monthly wage in­ According to ACTWU officials, the mitted a “ final” proposal to management days. One young picket explained on na­ crease o f $140. A t Tarbes, in the Pyrenees Teamsters union has pledged to honor the and the unions November 19. Earlier in the tional television, “The vote was clear. A mountains, workers at an Alsthom plant o f picket line here. A delegation from Team­ day 10,000 unionists and their supporters majority wants to continue the strike. You 1,100 began turning away all trucks sters Local 391, which organizes UPS and held a spirited demonstration in support of can’t count the votes of executives, who November 24. According to news reports, other drivers in this area, joined the picket the strike in Belfort. The workers were de­ earn between $3,000 and $30,000 a month, both these strikes were lifted November 25 line for several hours the first day o f the manding a $280 (US$1“ 5.35FF) monthly on whether to end a strike over wages.” when management agreed to negotiate. walkout. “ People are keeping a close eye” raise for all workers, no wages under But the fact that the ballot, as it was or­ However, a walkout at the Macon plant in on the strike, said Hassell. “ I f we can break $1,400 a month, and that all temporary ganized by the union officials, produced a Burgundy was growing. Actions are also Kmart, a major corporation, it will open a contract workers be hired as permanent vote for a return to work, broke the mo­ being taken by workers at GEC-Alsthom lot o f eyes and ears. This w ill be a employees. Alsthom bosses proposed rais­ mentum of the strike. The numbers of plants in La Courneuve, Le Havre, Saint stepping-stone, a breakthrough.” ing the wages of only the 650 lowest-paid workers in favor of continuing the fight Ouen, and Aytre. workers by $40-$60 per month, a one-time quickly dwindled. The strikers decided to Robert Dees is a member o f ACTWU in a bonus o f $95-$280, and hiring one-third of end the occupation of the factories Novem­ Derek Jeffers is a member o f the CGT and textile m ill in North Carolina. M.J. Rahn is the temporary workers. They then broke ber 24. The following day, although many works at the GEC-Alsthom transformer a member o f ACTWU Local 2603 on strike o ff negotiations. were embittered by the outcome o f their plant in Saint Ouen. against Kmart. The mediator proposed a $95 monthly wage increase for the 150 workers earning less then $1,300; $75 for the 500 earning Cops face off against rubber workers’ rally less than $ 1,400; $40 for the 2,500 workers receiving under $1,600 a month; and $20 BY RUTH NEBBIA The protest began as a drive-by demon­ husband to go back [to work] but not 12 for the 1,000 workers with monthly wages DES MOINES, Iowa — Members of the stration organized to coincide with the time hours a day, 6 days a week,” she said. under $1,775. This covers a large majority Iron Workers Union, International Asso­ that replacement workers leave the plant. A A worker who is a member of UAW Lo­ of production workers. Other employees ciation of Machinists, Communication similar event had brought traffic around cal 450 at the John Deere plant outside of would receive no wage increase. A ll work­ Workers of America, United Auto Work­ the factory to a near standstill the previous town said that recent tire shipments from ers would receive a one-time bonus of ers (UAW ), and others joined striking Friday. This time police and sheriff’s Firestone have been o f poor quality and $280-$375. A profit-sharing plan would be members of United Rubber Workers Local deputies from Des Moines and bordering that Deere had recently rejected 87 tires negotiated for future years. 310 at a rally here November 23. towns blocked access to the road in front o f worth $600 each. the plant, allowing replacement workers to Harry, who has worked at Firestone for drive out. 27 years, noted that this was a bad time of About 45 strikers and their families year to be out o f work. “ People are getting lined the north gate, shouting at replace­ angry and frustrated,” he added. ment workers as they exited the plant. Oth­ A former Firestone worker who left after ers stood on both sides o f the street and the 18 years was at the convenience store as road median at the main gate down the the police moved in. “ The cops are agitat­ street. “ There’s a lot o f kids who aren’t go­ ing people into a confrontation,” he said. ing to have Christmas because of you,” a As she watched the cops surround the few shouted. Some replacement workers store parking lot. Norm Thilo, who has five drove out waving their paychecks. years at Firestone and is from Thailand, Police in riot gear faced o ff against the added, “ I ’ve never seen anything like this.” strikers and their supporters for about 40 Some strikers tried to talk to the police minutes, forcing them into the parking lot in an effort to appeal to them as unionists. o f a convenience store across from the Area unions have organized collections plant. "Union, Union” and “ Scabs out, for the strikers, including at the John Deere Union in!" the more than 200 people gath­ plant where $3,200 was collected, at May­ ered there chanted. tag where $1,000 was collected, and at Paula Gomez said that her father worked Fawn Engineering. A ll three plants are or­ at the plant for 27 years and got cancer ganized by the UAW . “ from working with the stuff in there.” Her brother has 21 years at the plant and her Ruth Nebbia is a member o f United Food husband had been working 50-70 hours a and Commercial Workers Local 431 in week there before the strike. “ I want my Des Moines.

December 12, 1994 The Militant 11 Unionists stage march

Continued from front page explained that the event aimed “ to demon­ strate the continued determination and willingness to fight for justice" in the face o f the bosses’ and Decatur city govern­ ment’s attempts to bust the unions. The union members used the march to bring at­ tention to their demands for the right to maintain picket shelters at struck plants. B ill Casstevens, U AW Secretary-Trea- surer, greeted the marchers as they reached Illiopolis, Illinois, the midway point from Decatur to Springfield. In Peoria the day before, Casstevens announced that a judge had recently ruled against Caterpillar on the first four of 107 unfair labor practice complaints issued by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The judge ruled that the company had violated the law in 25 o f his 31 findings, and ordered Caterpillar to “ cease and de­ sist from discharging, suspending, or oth­ erwise discriminating against employees because they engage in union activity.’’ He also ordered the company to pay back wages to 23 workers who were illegally suspended in York, Pennsylvania, and to reinstate Denny Rohrbaugh with back pay. Rohrbaugh was fired for distributing union literature at the York plant. After further proceedings a three-person panel w ill vote on the judge’s findings. The NLRB must go to the United States Court o f Appeals to have its decision enforced. Caterpillar is appealing the ruling. Forum discusses: Myth of race, Unionists discuss strategy a response to the ‘Bell Curve’ In Illiopolis, marchers and supporters set up a campsite to discuss plans for the next stage o f the fight. Local residents donated fuel for heating and lighting the area. The heated parish hall was also made available to marchers. UAW member Gary Shewhart, who marched the entire 43 miles, said he joined the protest because, “ Union and nonunion workers deserve a decent living.” “ The longer we sit stagnant, the more people get depressed,” Rodger James Walker, a striking rubber worker from De­ catur, said. “ The more we stay active and fight, the stronger we are. Even if we do something wrong, we have to do some­ thing. Marching to Springfield shows we are still determined people who are not willing to roll over.” Marchers were met by two busloads of auto workers and supporters from Peoria who joined the last stages o f the event with a banner that said, “ Union busting doesn’t Militant/Floyd Fowler play in Peoria.” In addition, Peoria union­ Forty-five people participated in a discussion of Charles Murray and Richard ists loaded into 20 cars and vans to make H errnstein’s book The Bell Curve at a Militant Labor Forum in Atlanta Novem­ the trip to Springfield. ber 20. The forum attracted students from Atlanta University, Emory Univer­ Strikers were also joined by members of sity, and Georgia State University; workers from the Ford assembly plant here; the American Federation o f State, County, and others who saw publicity for the event. and Municipal Employees, many on their lunch break; members o f the Service Em­ ployees International Union; Teamsters on strike against Overland; members o f the United Mine Workers of America; as well as students and other activists. The now more than 500 demonstrators went right into the Capitol rotunda. Art Dhermy , a member o f the bargaining committee for the Staley workers, opened the rally. “ We arc here for justice, for fair and equal treatment,” he said. “ Pickcters get arrested for lawful action, while com­ panies commit murder and get a slap on the hand.... That’s a crime. W e’re here today to fight crime.” Dhermy was continually interrupted by boisterous chants of “ Solidarity!” and “ No justice, no peace!” To loud chants o f “ Injury to one, injury to all. Victory to one, victory to a ll!” those that had marched the 43 miles were asked to come to the front. In addition to union speakers, Jesse Jackson addressed the rally. State representative Monique Davis also spoke at the event. Following the speeches, partici­ pants— chanting “Workers united will never be defeated!” — marched to the sec­ ond floor to demand to see Gov. Jim Edgar. They were refused entry to his of­ fice. They then held an impromptu rally outside. Some workers then went to the third floor Senate and House chambers. Sitting in the balcony, they continued to chant "We want Edgar” and “ We are the people, we arc the leaders.” More than 50 workers camped out at the capitol over­ night, demanding to sec the governor in the morning. Some o f them were arrested but arc now out on bail.

12 The Militant December 12,1994 Good he reminded us — migrant to Greece complained to claim that its Kudos Granola bar is Costa County, officials are propos­ Pennsylvania, Boston University, “ We’re not operating the Ritz Carl­ the local mayor about the city “ lower in fat than ever,” neglecting ing that welfare applicants take and Amber University drew the top ton,” declared a Texas prison dumping garbage in a neighbor­ to mention that it has been shrunk mental tests. wage among college presidents, board member, commenting on the hood park. The mayor told him not in size and has more fat than other Those who flunk, they assert, “ earning” a combined total o f $2 board’s decision to ban smoking in to fret, that in America they build leading bars. A company spokes­ would not be disqualified, but million. state prisons. That apparently in- parks on top o f garbage dumps. man responded, "I think we are ex­ would be offered psychological Small can be beautiful — In Also, the mayor suggested, if he actly following the guidelines.” help. Those who decline to submit case you wondered, Amber U ni­ wanted the park cleaned, he should to the test would be denied welfare versity occupies a two-story build­ His very first? — Fighting a do it himself. for up to six months ing in Dallas, Texas. It offers busi­ corruption indictment which could ness and counseling courses, week Try this one on your local put him behind bars, ex-Congress And these are the good times nights and Saturdays. An official dealer — Looking for a piece o f member Dan Rostenkowski says — “ Business is booming all across said the prexy’s fat paycheck is in the action in developing a Chinese he’s exhausted a $1 million cam­ the major industrial centers o f the lieu o f a pension. market for “ people’s cars,” a Ford paign fund, and still owes lawyers Midwest....companies are running company spokesman declared: half a million. In fact, after serving at top speed, hiring temporary And hire your own teachers? workers, demanding overtime of — Three campuses in the Univer­ eludes a last smoke for death row “ From the beginning Ford has ad­ 18 terms in the House, the Chicago employees and straining to meet sity o f California system said they inmates. hered to the vision o f serving Democrat asserts that he’s looking working people.” for a job. deliveries.” — News item. will require freshmen to provide The mayor’s from New York? their own computers. This w ill add — In a letter to an English- Could well be — The feds are How about one for officials? Life in the ivory tow er — Last up to $1,500 to bone-crunching tu­ language Athens paper, a U.S. im­ looking into M &M ’s advertising — In northern California’s Contra year, the chiefs at the University of ition fees. Black conference discusses ‘state of the race’ BY SAM MANUEL A central theme presented at the confer­ take our issues,” said one presenter in the sion and action on the workshop proposals. AND KEN MORGAN ence was the importance o f business in the workshop on independent political action. A draft declaration prepared by the con­ BALTIMORE— A “Town Meeting” “ economic development” o f the Black “ We are for family values and against ference steering committee was read by attended by some 500 people opened the community. “ In these times o f economic killing babies,” he added. Daniels at the closing session but was National State o f the Race Conference held crisis we must provide for our survival. We Parroting the growing scapegoating never voted on. He said the steering com­ here November 17-20. must be able to build homes, produce food, campaign against immigrants, Black mittee would organize a broader confer­ Conference organizer Ron Daniels ex­ and provide health care,” said Joan Watson United Fund leader Conrad W orrill com- ence early next year. plained that the gathering was called by of the Detroit NAACP. When asked by a plained, “ There is a crisis when many o f the participants in the African young woman what Blacks in the United you have 800 Arab-owned stores, American Leadership Summits held in Bal­ States could do for South Africa, Watson and Korean and Chinese stores timore over the summer. The meetings, at­ answered, “ Claim it and own it!’’ She gave abound in our community.” tended by prominent Black political fig ­ the example o f a Black businessman who A sharp discussion ensued on ures, were initiated by former NAACP ex­ had invested several m illion dollars in a the fight for equality for Black ecutive director Benjamin Chavis. South African cable company. women. While many defended the Several Democratic Party politicians, in­ “ We need real, corporate economic de­ view that the Black liberation cluding Jesse Jackson, California con­ velopment,” said B ill Merritt o f the Black movement must champion equal­ gresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congres­ United Fund. The fund has successfully ity for Black women, others ar­ sional Black Caucus head Kweisi Mfume, challenged the often exclusive access of gued that the “ feminist” move­ who were scheduled to speak at the confer­ United Way to employee check-off contri­ ment divides women and men and ence, did not attend. Nation o f Islam leader butions at large corporations. M erritt en­ that equality for the race must Louis Farrakhan also did not attend, sup­ couraged those attending to ask their em­ come first. posedly on the advice o f his “ security ployer to check off a donation from their Brief reports were made from aides.” paycheck to the Black United Fund. the 17 conference workshops. The conference plenary and workshops “ We have a solution to the crime b ill and They advocated opposition to the consisted mostly o f panel presentations. the other problems we face — strong death penalty and the crime bill; Throughout the conference, participants Black entrepreneurship!” a woman from challenged the dumping o f toxic complained that little time was left for dis­ the audience said. waste in Black communities; cussion. Many presentations focused on called for protests against Interna­ crime and youth violence, and the need to Crime and youth violence tional Monetary Fund and World develop Black businesses for economic de­ Some 200 young people, mostly from Bank exploitation of African and velopment. Black college campuses around the coun­ Third World countries; defended try, attended the conference. For many it affirmative action and expanded Republican victories was their first national political meeting. health care; and called for with­ Former NAACP executive director Benjamin Several o f the panelists made reference While many expressed criticisms o f the drawal of U.S. troops from Haiti. Chavis addressed Baltimore meeting, which fo­ to the recent Republican election victories. conference, most thought it was important No time was allotted for discus- cused on crime and developing Black businesses. “ Some say that nothing has changed with to have attended. the Republican victory,” Daniels said in his “ There wasn’t enough discussion on the opening address to the conference. “ But issues and there was no clear plan for fo l­ our people know that there is a crisis.” low up,” one young woman from New Jer­ “The election results were a wake-up sey said. “ I thought the conference was blood as Allied troops sought to consoli­ call,” exclaimed Maryland state legislator positive but there should have been more date the counterrevolution in Greece. Salima Siler Marriott. interaction between the youth and adults,” A hail o f machine-gun bullets was the Several speakers felt compelled to take said another. “ I didn’t expect liberation in Allied reply to protests o f the Greek people a stance in support of forming an indepen­ a weekend,” a young man from Detroit against disarming o f the resistance forces dent Black political party, but no proposals said. who had fought Nazi occupation and paved were made for a step in that direction. Though a workshop on youth was sched­ the way for the landing o f Allied troops. Chavis was introduced to rousing ap­ uled, many young people organized and Incipient civil war was provoked by the plause. “ Disunity” is the main impediment participated in a youth caucus, which met Papandreou puppet government backed by to Black liberation, he said. “ We let out­ concurrently with the conference. the armed might o f the British armies o f SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Despite siders dictate who our leaders are,” he Most o f the presentations on youth fo­ occupation. added, in a reference to his ouster as head cused on crime, youth violence, weakening heavy rains and a government-created at­ Defying a ban o f Premier Papandreou, of the NAACP. Chavis announced that the o f the family, and the declining educational mosphere o f repression, some 40,000 inde- the workers o f Athens staged a mass African American Leadership Summit opportunities for Black youth. pendentistas participated in the first na­ demonstration against the counterrevolu­ would reconvene in Chicago, Illinois, De­ A workshop called “ From gang banging tional antidraft march held in Puerto Rico. tionary policies being foisted upon them. cember 9-11. to Black liberation” was presented by The march, held Nov. 23, was sponsored Eye-witnesses give a graphic description young gang members who reported on by all pro-independence groups. o f what happened on Dec. 3: their efforts to reduce gang violence. Puerto Rico, a U.S. colony since 1898, “ We have got to get our youth to return has suffered compulsory military service in Several thousand persons marched into to our traditional values,” said Rev. Calvin the yankee armed forces since 1917, when Constitution Square. “ The crowd, carrying Butts of Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist U.S. citizenship was imposed on all Puerto flags, was peaceful and was absolutely un­ Church in New York. Butts recently led a Ricans, one month before the U.S. entered armed. Many carried babies in their arms. campaign to ban what he called “jack­ World War I. Puerto Rican opposition to Women and children were numerous.” As legged” rap singers from the radio waves. the draft started during World War II, con­ this procession marched into the trap, there tinued during the Korean conflict, but re­ were shouts, “ Long live Roosevelt,” ac­ Shift to the right ally gained momentum with the Vietnam cording to the press. War. Hundreds of Puerto Rican youths Several speakers talked about the impor­ Then as if at a signal, “Greek govern­ have been indicted; and one has been sen­ tance o f the older generation o f political ment police opened fire with machine guns tenced to a one-year prison term and his activists. “Wc can’t make a meaningful and tommy guns....Crouching behind low case is being appealed. contribution to the liberation of our people walls, lodged on flat roofs and on second The Nov. 23 march is viewed by inde- without the elders who went before us,” floor balconies, police poured thousands o f pendentista leaders is a major step forward said the reporter for the youth workshop. rounds of small arms ammunition into the in Puerto Rico’s antidraft movement; it is On several occasions young people asked massed demonstrators.... permission o f the older activists in the the first time that all seven independentista “ As a second body o f EAM [National organizations have battled jointly against a room before beginning their remarks. Liberation Front] demonstrators came specific form o f imperialist oppression. Presentations and comments by many at down the street, police increased the inten­ the conference reflected the growing hear­ sity and range o f their fire, using heavier ing that rightist demagogues get among weapons, probably mortars and light anti­ middle-class Blacks. Members of a rightist tank guns....” group headed by Lyndon LaRouche staffed When the police ceased their “ wild and a prominent literature display throughout savage” firing, 23 dead lay in the streets. the conference. December 9,1944 More than 150 were wounded. Most o f the “ We should not let the right-wingers The streets o f Athens ran with workers’ victims were boys and girls under 18.

December 12,1994 The Militant 13 Behind the debate over ‘Islamic Defense of Cuba is our fight fundamentalism ’ Fidel Castro spoke the truth when at a Havana confer­ ship remains committed to its course of defending the in­ Max Monclair is right on the mark in his letter, printed ence he stated, “ The root o f all these problems is capital­ terests of working people. on the opposite page, replying to reader I.H.Y, on the ism.” The U.S. capitalist rulers, far from following an irra­ controversy over the French government’s expulsion of In his November 25 speech to an international meeting tional or misguided policy, maintain the embargo because students who wear Islamic head scarves. A few other in solidarity with Cuba, Castro described a world where it is in their class interests to try to crush the Cuban revo­ points are worth adding. billions today go hungry and lack jobs, schools, hospitals, lution. They know that the revolution itself, far and above I.H.Y., whose letter was printed in the November 28 and even a roof over their heads; a world where Washing­ social advances like free health care and education, is a issue, mistakenly equates high school students who hold ton and other imperialist powers intervene militarily powerful example of working people transforming them­ around the globe to protect the profits o f the rich. To selves and developing a communist political conscious­ change this, he said, "an uncompromising struggle ness based on class solidarity and internationalism. against capitalism, against neoliberalism, against imperi­ For workers and farmers in the United States and other alism is necessary.” As for Cuba, he stressed, “ W e’d countries, defense o f the Cuban revolution is our fight. In DISCUSSION WITH rather perish than renounce socialism!” defending their socialist conquests, Cuban workers and This realistic internationalist perspective of struggle is farmers are fighting for the future of humanity. “ For that OUR READERS what makes the Cuban revolution attractive to Fighting reason we expect a lot from the struggle you have decided workers, farmers, and young people. And it’s why the rul­ to join us in waging to defeat the blockade, to defeat the Muslim religious beliefs with a range of political group­ ing billionaires in the United States and elsewhere remain hostility against our country, to defend hope for human­ ings that are labeled "Islamic fundamentalist,” which in irreconcilably hostile toward the Cuban government led ity,” Castro told the 3,000 delegates at the world solidar­ turn are all equated with neo-Nazis. by Castro. ity conference. As Monclair correctly indicates, the French govern­ “ Some people tell us that the blockade could be lifted This gives special importance to every opportunity to ment has no right to tell students what to wear or not to if we capitulate,” the Cuban president remarked, “ if we organize broad actions against U.S. policy toward Cuba. wear to school — whether a head scarf, cross, yarmulke, renounce socialism and the democratic forms we chose.” U.S. delegates at the Havana conference, for example, button, T-shirt, or anything else that doesn’t threaten the That’s the nub o f the issue. I f Cuba began to make the proposed a week of coordinated protest and educational rights of others. kinds o f political and economic concessions being made activities April 1-8. Is the Islamic head scarf a symbol o f the second-class by the Stalinist regimes in China and Vietnam, Washing­ Another important activity deserving support right now status o f women? Yes. But the government ban doesn’t ton might be w illing to lift its embargo and open trade is a January youth brigade to Cuba. Such political activi­ advance women’s rights. It only punishes women for with Cuba. ties are crucial in answering the billionaires’ lies about their beliefs, feeds the reactionary campaign to blame But Wall Street knows the Cuban government is not Cuba and winning more workers and students to the un­ immigrants for all social problems — from unemploy­ about to embark on such a road; the revolutionary leader­ derstanding that the Cuban revolution is their own. ment to violence — and emboldens right-wing forces, like the neo-Nazis, that assault and terrorize immigrants.

No world ‘Islamic fundamentalist’ movement W orking class gets stronger Moreover, there is no such thing as a worldwide “ Islamic fundamentalist” movement. There are a variety of political currents and individuals who identify their From California to Washington, D.C., from South The anti-immigrant venom coming out of the mouths beliefs with the Islamic faith. Africa to Greece, capitalist forces are scapegoating immi­ o f capitalist politicians is not primarily intended to stop In many countries there are thousands o f individual grants for the economic and social problems generated by immigration. The aim is to keep undocumented workers workers and farmers who are Muslim — or Christian, capitalist depression conditions. Rightist demagogues are fearful and intimidated, so that their level of wages and Hindu, or Jewish — and who, despite their religious seizing on this campaign to promote chauvinist laws like working conditions can be kept low. In turn those low views, are engaged in struggles against imperialist op­ Proposition 187 and other measures against workers born wages are a dampener on other workers’ demands for pression and for national liberation. Some, in fact, can in other countries. This immigrant bashing by the bosses, higher pay. In other words, employers want immigration. and will be won to communism. with its divide-and-conquer strategy, should be strenu­ That is why even major conservative figures in the Re­ There are also a multitude of bourgeois political par­ ously opposed by working-class fighters. publican Party have spoken out against Proposition 187 ties, some holding governmental power, that use Islamic The growing internationalization of the working class in California, fearing that campaign can go too far and verbiage to justify their pro-capitalist course. They are within all the industrialized countries is unprecedented in threaten the setup that benefits agribusiness and other em­ not much different from other capitalist parties — like modern history. More immigrants have come into the ployers so handsomely. the ruling parties in France — that use “ secular” argu­ United States over the past decade than ever before, more Workers in the United States, or France, or Canada, or ments to divert workers from a class-struggle course and even than during the decade prior to World War I. There South Africa have to get together with workers from to justify their anti-working-class policies. In addition, has also been massive growth o f immigrant populations other countries and organize ourselves to defend our in­ there arc some organizations that, using religious dema­ throughout Western Europe in recent decades. These are terests as a class. Labor must not support policies that gogy, carry out physical assaults and assassinations to historic changes propelled by economic necessities. bolster our common class enemy, the employers. That is advance their reactionary political aims. Capitalism itself is driving the wave of immigration the only answer to the anti-immigrant campaign. The The approach to all these parties and currents must be and the resulting changes in the composition o f the work­ rightists w ill win every debate posed in “ national” terms determined on the basis of their political actions and ing class. The “ miracle" o f the market is forcing the dis­ because “ America First” is their framework. course. Calling all reactionary groups “ fascist” only pre­ possession o f rural toilers throughout Latin America and The internationalization o f the working class has vents clarity. For example, working people should op­ the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the M id­ strengthened workers’ ability to fight against capitalism. pose government bans on Nazi groups — because the dle East. It is being accelerated by the worsening eco­ The more multinational our class becomes, the harder it employers can use those measures to go after working- nomic and social conditions for the majority o f peasants is for the capitalist class to pit one group of workers class fighters. We don’t, o f course, go out of our way to and workers in these regions of the world. against another. defend those thug outfits. Rightists can talk all they want about building trenches As immigrant workers pour across the border, the However, it is in the interests of the labor movement and beefing up border posts, about mass roundups and unions should open their arms and organize these m il­ to defend other victims of government repression, in­ deportations, even about gunning down unarmed workers lions o f fellow fighters and potential leaders into a cluding Islamic groups and others that hold ideas with trying to cross frontiers. But immigration is not going to stronger army o f labor. which socialists disagree. Supporters o f the Palestinian stop. Democratic and Republican politicians can promote The possibilities to fight battles as an international struggle, for example, have rightly campaigned to win laws to curb and control the immigration flow — but class are greater today than at any other time in history. the release o f all Palestinian political prisoners from Is­ nothing w ill stop the swelling numbers o f workers who And that means the prospects for taking on the bosses and raeli jails, including members o f the Islamic Resistance w ill continue to enter the United States and other imperi­ their inhuman system o f capitalism — and winning — Movement, or Hamas. At the same time, Hamas, which alist countries. are in our favor. advances a pro-capitalist program but nonetheless at­ tracts the sympathy o f many Palestinian fighters looking for leadership, must be combated politically by present­ ing a working-class and internationalist perspective.

GATT: a dispute among bosses What Washington hates about Iran A ll the talk in the bourgeois media and liberal public Like most trade agreements, the General Agreement on "liberalization” of world trade. But like all trade agree­ opinion about the danger of "Islamic fundamentalism” is Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is a deal worked out among ments it contains a multitude of protectionist measures capitalists. Governments negotiated for their own inter­ and contains the seeds o f future trade wars between hypocritical and selective. The U.S. government is a close ally o f the monarchy in Saudi Arabia, which uses ests and workers had no say in the debate. GATT reflects Washington and its competitors in Europe and Asia. Islam to justify its reactionary rule. In contrast, Washing­ the relative economic, military, and political weight of Rightist politician Patrick Buchanan was the clearest ton raises a hue and cry about the “ Islamic regime” of the various capitalist classes in the world. It will benefit voice o f the anti-GATT forces, directing his appeal to Iran, accusing it o f sundry sins. Iran has a capitalist gov­ the strongest capitalists and the dominant industrial pow­ bosses and workers alike. U.S. capitalists, Buchanan ar­ ernment that is not much different from many others in ers. gued, should use their muscle to force even more conces­ its attacks on democratic rights and other policies. What Supporters and opponents of Congressional ratifica­ sions from competitors in Europe and Asia. the U.S. rulers hate about Iran, however, is that workers tion argued that G ATT would either create or destroy Buchanan also directed a demagogic appeal to workers and peasants there, despite their pro-capitalist leadership, jobs in the United States. But the agreement itself w ill do and the middle class. "Where did all those jobs go that dealt a powerful blow to imperialism by overthrowing neither. The owners o f the Big Three auto companies, oil once made America’s men of brawn — the boilermakers, the hated Shah. Imperialism w ill never forgive the Ira­ barons, mine owners, grain monopolies, and other bosses packers, steelers, etc. — the envy of working people the nian people for their 1979 revolution, which raised the are the ones who hire and fire workers. Even during the world over?” he asks in an October 15 New York Post political self-confidence and expectations of millions of current upturn in the economy, industry is being restruc­ column that feigns concern for the poor. Buchanan points the exploited throughout the Middle East. tured to squeeze the most from workers' blood and bone. his finger at “ free trade ideology” as the culprit, because G ATT has the support o f a majority o f the U.S. em­ it opened the door to Japanese and European companies. Today, the U.S. rulers continue to face a big headache ploying class because it is to their competitive benefit, Liberal opposition to GATT was draped in the same regarding Iran. On one hand, the Iranian capitalists, who pure and simple. Some proponents o f the trade deal, like nationalist cloth. Ralph Nader echoed the right-wing cry came out stronger in the Persian G ulf War, are rivals of the New York Times, made the absurd claim that the to defend the United States — the world’s strongest im­ U.S. corporate profiteers in their bid for resources and agreement “ w ill raise living standards in the U.S. by perialist power — against a supposed threat to its markets in the region. On the other hand, Washington $1,000 or more per fam ily.” But the families that w ill sovereignty. Pro- and anti-GATT voices claimed they must rely on the bourgeois regime in Tehran to try to profit directly from the trade deal have names like Rocke­ wanted to protect so-called American jobs. But the only suppress — using all its Islamic rhetoric — the struggles feller and Kennedy. They w ill make a bit more than the solution to fighting for jobs is for workers in the United o f working people there for land, democratic rights, and Times predicts. States to join with fellow workers from Europe to Latin better living standards. These struggles are growing to­ President B ill Clinton promoted the deal as a great America, Asia, and Africa in a common struggle. day in Iran, and deserve close attention and support from workers around the world. — MARTÍN KOPPEL

14 The Militant December 12,1994 Montreal flour strikers build solidarity

BY ROGER ANNIS true story,” Gauthier said. compared to the $15 an AND VICKY MERCIER Ogilvie strikers are sending a larger del­ hour union members MONTREAL — Striking workers at the egation to Decatur to continue to pressure were paid. Ogilvie flour m ill here report that they are the company to negotiate. As one striker ex­ reaching out to unionists in the United “ The only way forward for us is to reach plained, “ They want to States to wage a common struggle. out internationally,” Gauthier said. “ A ll of be treated like human be­ A delegation o f two strikers and one us involved in this struggle, here or in De­ ings. Even though they union representative traveled to Decatur, catur, are part of the same fight. Only are scabs they should be Illinois, November 19 to meet with work­ through active solidarity w ill we be able to treated fairly.” ers there who are locked out or on strike at win.” Another worker with the Caterpillar, Bridgestone/Firestone, and 30 years o f seniority said Ogilvie workers are also keeping up the A.E. Staley companies. A t a November 22 the morale o f strikers re­ pressure locally. Delegations are traveling press conference in Decatur, attended by mains strong. He cited to regions in Quebec to build solidarity and the presidents o f all four union locals, the the fact that a recent set­ win support for their fight. The strikers unions announced they would hold further tlement offer from the also held a demonstration in front of the joint actions. company was turned struck mill November 16. They were The five Ogilvie flour mills in Canada down by a higher margin joined by hundreds of delegates to a con­ were purchased by Archer-Danicls-Mid- than a previous vote. vention o f the Montreal council o f CSN land Corporation (A D M ) in 1992. AD M is unions. based in Decatur and is part owner o f the Roger Annis is a member Staley corn-processing mill. Staley work­ Strikers at the demonstration explained o f the Communications, ers were locked out in June 1993 and re­ that six replacement workers were recently Energy, and Paperwork- placed by scab workers. They accuse fired from the m ill for demanding better ers Union in Montreal; A D M , a huge multinational with 13,500 conditions. The workers are forced to put Vicky Mercier is a mem­ employees worldwide, of being a key in eight-hour shifts with only a single half- ber o f the Young Social­ Militant/Monica Jones player in the conflict. hour break and are paid only $10 an hour, ists in Montreal. Striking Ogilvie workers walk picket lines last August David Watts, president o f United Paper- workers International Union Local 7837 at Staley, told the press conference, “ Our Canadian brothers and sisters are here to­ ‘Everything they gave us, they want back’ day to expose the myth o f AD M as a labor- friendly corporation. BY JON HILLSON ers in August. They later joined three car­ the yard,” Domino added. “ For the past two years,” he said, “ AD M WINNIPEG, Manitoba— Barry Dom­ loads o f unionists and their spouses, in­ The CP Rail wage and benefit package, has tried to paint itself as neutral in the Sta­ ino, local chairman of the United Trans­ cluding UTU Local 751 president John including paid guarantees for furloughed ley dispute. But over the past few days, we portation Union (UTU) here, says that the Colburn, at a benefit in Minneapolis. workers and terms for early retirement, are have learned once again that AD M is no Canadian Pacific Railroad (CP Rail) has a Unionists getting to and leaving work at all relatively better than the current na­ friend of labor and we arc preparing to join simple bargaining strategy for its 10,000 the Winnipeg terminal here were hungry tional U.S. rail contract and the PEB 225 our Canadian brothers and sisters in the UTU-organized employees from Vancou­ for information about the status of the Soo recommendations. ver to Montreal. “ Everything they gave us, Line fight. Many offered solidarity to their struggle.” One element o f the last contract that the they want back,” the road-freight conduc­ U.S. coworkers. “ Y ou’re up against one employers want to extend “ is the use o f Ogilvie workers take strike action tor says. mean corporation,” a switchperson said. what amounts to seasonal workers, people This is a reference to perks, buyouts, and “They may talk nice, but they’re not AD M forced a strike at the Montreal who aren’t protected, who get laid off “ protections” the giant Montreal-based stupid.” Ogilvie m ill in June over many o f the same when the busy season ends, and then get carrier offered workers in 1991 in ex­ The CP sought concessions from the issues that workers at Staley are called back a few months later,” Domino change for slashing road crews from an en­ Soo Line workers, including reduction to confronting — elimination of seniority said. and job security provisions, job reductions gineer, conductor, and brakeperson, to an conductor-only crews in all jobs, increased This concessions campaign against the through greater use of contracted-out la­ engineer and conductor only. “ Even with pay divisions between different genera­ UTU is not driven by a poor showing by bor, attacks on the right o f union represen­ all that, the vote was very close,” Domino tions o f workers, and exemptions o f work CP Rail, Domino explained. “This last tation in the workplace, and other issues. said o f the 1991 referendum, “ Fifty-two rules for “ special customers.” quarter was the best in their history. They Both companies also imposed grueling 12- percent to 48 percent. The Winnipeg local Recently, Presidential Emergency Board always want more.” hour shifts and a seven-day-a-week opera­ voted it down.” (PEB) 225, appointed by President Bill tion. That contract expired Jan. 1, 1994. Clinton when the strike ended, issued rec­ The Canadian UTU members stressed The 116 Ogilvie workers here, members Unionists here knew about the 46-day ommendations for a new contract favoring the need fo r greater contact between CP o f the Confederation o f National Trade strike this summer on the Soo Line, the rail bosses. UTU members are now voting workers on both sides o f the border. The Unions (CSN), have been replaced by ninth-largest U.S. railroad, which is owned on a tentative agreement reached by union CP bosses play on the lack o f information scabs. The company has used injunctions by the Canadian Pacific. They also knew officials and Canadian Pacific. among its Canadian and U.S. workers on and aggressive police and security guard UTU workers on the CP-Soo had a sub­ the situations they face, Denning said. patrols to restrict union picketing. standard contract compared to other U.S. Impose concessions in Canada “ The thing they [CP] fear most is educa­ “ We went down to Decatur just to check rail workers, noted Stephen Denning, a “ What CP Rail wants to do in Canada is tion. We’re all in this thing together, we’re things out,” explained Yvon Gauthier, a conductor/engineer who is the U TU ’s road impose Soo Line wages and working con­ in the same basket. But they play us against striking worker at Ogilvie and a member of local chairman. ditions on us. The Soo Line strike was a each other if we’re ignorant. We have to be the delegation to Decatur. “ We were over­ “ We felt the Soo was the weak link in testing ground. They wanted to sec what informed about what we’re doing. We have whelmed by what we learned. The trip ex­ the union,” he said. “ But we were com­ they could get down there and bring it up to do things together, or else when that bas­ ceeded our wildest expectations. pletely uninformed about the issues of the here,” Domino said. ket falls apart, we all pay for it.” “ In negotiations with ADM, they always strike.” Domino and Denning took the ini­ “ They want to take o ff all the restrictions tell us, ‘This is how things are done in the tiative to learn more about the struggle by on conductor-only jobs in the last con­ Jon Hillson is a member of UTU Local United States and so this is how we w ill do attending a picnic and rally in northern tract,” said Denning. 1882 at the CP-Soo Line in St. Paul, M in­ it here.’ We had no way o f knowing the Minnesota supporting the Soo Line work- “ And they want to go conductor-only in nesota.

Islamic head scarves neo-Nazis, or the Christian cussion by reporting that he had Coalition. Anti-working-class been in contact with students I would like to respond to the ideas need to be answered in from Georgetown University letter by M ilitant reader I.H.Y. in debate, not by shouting them and the Claremont Colleges, the Nov. 28, 1994, issue (“ Islamic down or banning them. When who were also beginning to or­ Fundamentalism”). I think it is those movements begin to take ganize. He suggested the poten­ wrong to assume that because the action against the working tial for a national student move­ M ilita nt correctly opposes the class, then sanctions against ment against 187, including si­ French government’s ban on Is­ those actions become appropri­ multaneous protest rallies in lamic head scarves in schools that ate. Sacramento and other major stu­ it is “ falling into the line o f defend- I.H.Y. is correct in pointing dent centers on December 10. ing—Islamic fundamentalism.” out that governments that em­ The newly formed Coalition These are two different issues. brace Islamic rule, like those in Against Xenophobia arrived at a The heart o f the French govern­ Afghanistan and Iran, arc thor­ platform statement. They de­ ment’s overall “ anti-Islamic” cam­ oughly capitalist, and even pro- clared their opposition to Propo­ paign is an effort to scapegoat im­ imperialist. sition 187 on the grounds that it migrants, particularly those from This is not a function o f Is­ is inhumane and counter-pro­ predominantly Islamic countries, lam, though. Groups like the ductive. They denounced “all for the current social and economic Mujahadeen in Afghanistan and forms o f racism, scapegoating, crisis there. the Islamic Salvation Front in and xenophobia” and identified This is a feature o f every imperi­ Algeria use religious demagogy themselves as a “ multi-ethnic, alist nation’s attempts to grapple to mask a reactionary agenda in international, and non-exclu- with the decaying systems they order to convince working peo­ sionary” group o f students. govern. In France, the government ple and the middle class to go Coalition Against Xenophobia has targeted Muslims especially along with their plan. They are Swarthmore College because o f the specter o f “ Islamic fighting a cultural war there, as Swarthmore. Pennsylvania fundamentalist terrorism.” are rightist forces in the United banning head scarves or reac­ nia Proposition 187, approxi­ Wearing head scarves poses no States. tionary organizations, is the only mately 35 concerned Swarthmore The letters column is an open threat to anyone, and not every The task o f working people and way to defend the working class. students gathered to discuss their forum for all viewpoints on sub­ Muslim woman or girl who wears their organizations is to expose and Max Monclair options for action against the jects of general interest to our one is necessarily a fundamentalist. answer the right-wing agenda hid­ Omaha. Nebraska proposition and other concerns readers. Please keep your letters If a group or current wishes to ex­ ing behind the religious facade, over “ the tide o f xenophobia” in brief. Where necessary they will press a point o f view, that, in and and to confront those actions National anti-187 actions the United States. Kevin Keenan, be abridged. Please indicate if of itself, is not a threat, whether which these currents carry out On November 15, following an president o f the Swarthmore C ivil you prefer that your initials be they are Islamic fundamentalists, against the working class. This, not open discussion panel on Califor­ Liberties Society, initiated the dis­ used rather than your full name.

December 12,1994 The Militant 15 Quebec gov’t halts hydro project

BY ROGER ANNIS ment o f the project for the same reasons. M O NTREAL — Many o f the Cree and Many of the environmental conse­ Inuit Indian people who live in northern quences o f Great Whale are too complex Quebec are celebrating a provincial gov­ for scientists to accurately predict. Two ernment decision to postpone indefinitely a days before the postponement was an­ hydroelectric project along the Great nounced, a government panel set up to re­ Whale and Little Great Whale rivers. view Hydro-Quebec’s assessment o f the “ The project is on ice for quite a long environmental impact o f the project con­ time,” said Quebec premier Jacques cluded that the u tility ’s studies were inade­ Parizeau, leader o f the Parti Québécois quate in almost all areas. Hydro-Quebec (PQ) government, at a news conference has already spent more than $250 million November 19. on the project. “ It’s certainly a great victory for the en­ vironment, for common sense, and for the Racist campaign Crees,” said B ill Namagoose, executive di­ The Parti Québécois government also rector o f the Grand Council o f the Crees. found it politically useful to postpone the “ Now that the threat to the land has been project. It sought to cut short growing d iffi­ alleviated, it’s time for the Crees’ right to culties it faced in its quest for a self-determination.” Some 12,000 Cree “ sovereign” Quebec. The PQ wants a new, and 6,000 Inuits live in the region. pro-capitalist constitutional arrangement Parizeau said the previous government with the rest o f Canada that would give had overestimated the demand for electric­ greater powers to the Quebec government. ity in coming years. Hydro-Quebec, the The Cree campaign became a political em­ government-owned utility that was to un­ barrassment because it pointed to the dertake the $13 b illion project, does not hypocrisy of pro-sovereignty forces who have a market for the 3,000 additional refuse the right o f self-determination to Children at 1991 protest opposing Quebec government’s plans to build hydroelectric megawatts o f electricity that it would pro­ Native people. facility along the Great Whale and Little Great Whale rivers in northern Quebec. duce. To help recoup his government’s politi­ The decision to indefinitely postpone cal losses, Parizeau kicked o ff a new round the project is a political defeat for capital­ company and Hydro-Quebec. Great Whale project when it was first an­ o f attacks on the Cree at his news confer­ ence. Commenting on a speech by Cree ists in Quebec, although most big-business The Cree used the experience o f an ear­ nounced. A lot of Cree leaders and busi­ spokespeople favored the decision. lier hydroelectric project in their territory nessmen wanted to go along with it, he re­ leader Matthew Coon Come at an aca­ A pillar of their economic strategy has along the La Grande River during the calls. “ But it was the people who said no.” demic conference in Washington, D.C., the been the development o f huge electricity 1970s and 1980s as a powerful argument They didn’t want a repeat o f the La Grande previous day, Parizeau said, “ I deeply de­ projects to give energy-hungry indus­ against the new project. The La Grande, or experience. plore the fact that M r. Coon Come has cho­ tries — like aluminum and manganese James Bay I , project left a legacy o f unem­ sen to insult me and all o f Quebec.... This smelting — low costs and a competitive ployment and deep social problems in the Cree appeal for support campaign of systematic denigration of advantage. The power plants have also area. The Cree decided not to focus opposi­ Quebec, most times unjust, and sometimes been able to reap big profits through sell­ The new project would involve the con­ tion to the project in the courts. Instead, frankly harmful, must stop.” ing electricity surpluses to markets in the struction o f a series o f dams along the they appealed to people in Quebec and the Parizeau was responding to a speech United States. Great Whale and Little Whale rivers, United States, where the electricity would where Coon Come condemned the policy which flow into James Bay. The dams be sold, to help them stop it. They spear­ o f successive Quebec governments for us­ Market slows for electric power would flood close to 1,500 square miles of headed an international fight that won sup­ ing “racist double standards” in its treat­ ment of Natives. “The notion of extin­ However, as a result o f the depression in land. port from environmental groups, human the capitalist economy and the growing As happened at La Grande, the flooding rights organizations, and from many work­ guishment of aboriginal rights now stands condemned as an outdated colonial and availability o f cheaper sources o f energy, would destroy the habitat and migratory ing people. markets for electricity are not expanding. patterns o f bird, animal, and fish species Even groups that did not support the racist practice,” Coon Come said. In 1992, the New York Power Authority and would poison the waters with mercury campaign were influenced to question the The premier’s cue was picked up by capitalist figures across Quebec, who have canceled a multi-year $13 billion contract by leaching ethyl mercury into the flood- project. Officials of the Quebec Federation with Hydro-Quebec for these reasons. waters — a natural process whenever rock o f Labour, for example, who supported the intensified race-baiting attacks on the Cree A t the same time, the strategy o f provid­ formations such as those in northern Que­ Great Whale project from its inception in and on Native people in general. Bernard ing below-cost electricity to capitalists in bec are permanently flooded. The Cree and 1989, failed in their attempt to have a reso­ Landry, deputy prime minister o f Quebec, called on the Canadian government to con­ certain industries has taken some blows. In Inuit earn their livelihood from hunting, lution in favor o f the project adopted at the 1992, manganese producers in the United fishing, trapping for furs, and tourism. organization’s convention in 1992. Dele­ duct an inquiry against Coon Come and States successfully sued for s tiff import du­ Robert Mainville, a lawyer who worked gates pointed to the environmental impact possibly lay criminal charges. ties against one manganese producer in with the Cree throughout the Great Whale and the huge cost. Responding to the attack, Coon Come Quebec, Norwegian-owned Norsk Hydro. battle, told the Montreal Gazette he was The Confederation of National Trade said, “ Insinuating that I consider him, and The Cree exposed a secret sweetheart con­ “ absolutely taken aback” by the depth of Unions, the second-largest union federa­ by extension all Québécois people, as tract for cheap electricity between that opposition among ordinary Cree to the tion in Quebec, welcomed the postpone- racist, M r. Parizeau is sidestepping the real issue, which is the policy o f discrimination against us. He is trying to pit the people of Quebec against Native people.” In recent years, some Native leaders Workers take strike action in Greece; have undermined the self-determination struggle of Native people by opposing the right of the Québécois to freely decide union tops push anti-immigrant views their own future, including sovereignty, and siding more and more openly with the Canadian government in its drive against BY GEORGES MEHRABIAN tion to press for a 35 percent wage increase older worker. “Throw them all out!” such rights. Cree leaders have often been in ATHENS, Greece — Several strikes hit over the next three years. A small crowd began to gather around the forefront of this reactionary stance. Greece recently as the government of Construction workers called a 24-hour the discussion. “ You can’t just go in and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou pre­ strike November 24. Some 500 construc­ beat them up,” one construction worker Fight will continue pared to announce the 1995 austerity bud­ tion workers marched to the Parliament said. “ We should call the police to remove Cree and Inuit opponents o f Great get and plans to restructure some state in­ building behind a banner that said, whoever is illegal.” Whale will continue their fight in the com­ dustries. These skirmishes take place as la­ “European contractors want to import “ You guys are just doing the boss’s bid­ ing months because the environmental re­ bor actions in Greece are at their lowest Asian labor and impose Taiwan conditions ding,” interjected a younger worker. view process, which is a legal precondition level in recent years. in Greece.” The union is demanding lower “ These people are not to blame. The for any hydroelectric project, has not been More than 600 Olympic Airways work­ real estate taxes, subsidies for mortgages, bosses are just trying to divide workers.” canceled. Parizeau did not rule out the pos­ ers occupied the runway o f the Athens air­ and a clampdown on foreign undocu­ “ The Albanians and the others are being sibility o f restarting the project in coming port for several hours November 22. mented workers. Immigrant workers now treated here just like Greeks were treated in years. O lym pic’s management, the government, constitute a large portion o f the workforce Germany in the past. So we should under­ Louis Egeren o f the Grand Council of and the European Commission are on the in the industry. The president o f the Con­ stand the situation and not allow this to the Crees said, “ In the past, Hydro-Quebec verge o f implementing a restructuring plan struction Workers Union o f Athens gave a happen to them,” added another construc­ has used the environmental review studies to make the airline profitable at the ex­ speech at the demonstration attacking im­ tion worker. to get around potential opposition to their pense o f the workers. The program calls migrant workers. Others also joined in the discussion. projects by conducting them many years in for wage freezes and cuts in the workforce. “ What if we demanded that all workers be advance o f actual construction. That way Inflation in Greece is more than 11 percent Debate takes place on immigrants legalized and given equal rights?” asked a they can receive permission to build before a year. In discussions during the rally many of member o f the Refugee Solidarity Move­ real opposition has a chance to develop. The civil service union organized a 24- the workers echoed the anti-immigrant ar­ ment, who was participating in the discus­ “The Great Whale project will only be hour strike two days later, demanding a 17 guments o f the union officials who orga­ sion. dead when the environmental review pro­ percent wage increase. Several hundred nized the action. “ Look, I’m not a racist,” “ Then these workers could not be as eas­ cess is ended.” union members rallied in Constitution said one worker. “ But we want to prevent ily super-exploited and used as cheap la­ Square in central Athens to publicize their foreign Asians from taking our jobs.” bor. Wouldn’t that make it harder for the Roger Annis is a member o f Communica­ demands. Some 2,000 state technical col­ “ Why just pick on the Asians? You got bosses to use immigrants to drive down tions, Energy and Paperworkers Union lege professors have also taken strike ac­ Poles, Turks, and Albanians,” added an wages for everyone?” Local 841 in Montreal.

16 The Militant December 12,1994