Vote Socialist Workers in 2004!
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AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · FRANCE 1.00 EURO · ICELAND KR100 · NEW ZEALAND $2.00 · SWEDEN KR10 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE FBI raids union hall of striking water workers in Puerto Rico — PAGE 4 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 68/NO. 41 NOV. 9, 2004 It’s not who you’re against, but what you’re for! Vote Socialist Workers in 2004! • Organize! Use union power to resist bosses’ attacks; for a labor party, based on the unions, that fights in the interests of workers and farmers • U.S. troops out of Iraq! Back right of semicolonial countries to get sources of energy they need, including nuclear energy, for economic development SWP presidential candidate in L.A., on last stretch of U.S. campaign tour BY NAOMI CRAINE said. “But it’s the LOS ANGELES—“I hope you do some- bosses who threw thing good for us,” a worker coming out of out the contracts the Farmer John meatpacking plant said and are cutting October 19 as he shook the hand of Róger wages, saying Calero, Socialist Workers Party candidate they need it for the company’s survival. The Róger Calero for President court, whose job Arrin Hawkins for Vice President is to preserve See list of all 44 SWP candidates, page 7 the capital of the ruling families, went along. If we for president, who was on the last stretch of mobilize union his campaign tour across the country. power to focus “The question is what we’re going to our fire on the do together,” Calero replied. The SWP bosses it’s not for Militant/Nick Castle campaign, he said, champions the need of sure they’ll go ahead with the cuts. And if Róger Calero (above, left), SWP candidate for president, campaigns October 19 out- workers to organize unions and make the they say they’ll carry out their threats to shut side Farmer John pork slaughterhouse near Los Angeles. Calero’s running mate Arrin existing unions more effective so that work- down, as some will, we should say that if a Hawkins (inset) campaigns October 15 at Sterlingwear garment plant in Boston. ers can fi ght the bosses’ attacks on wages company can’t provide decent wages, ben- and working conditions. efi ts, and safety then it doesn’t deserve to In discussions at the plant gate, Calero stay in business.” pointed to the tearing up of union contracts If these companies move anywhere in UMWA strikes Utah miners fight by US Airways four days earlier. The em- the country, or anywhere in the world, ployers try to fool workers by pointing to Calero said, the union should collaborate W. Virginia mine to reverse firing a bankruptcy court ruling backing US Air- with workers there to organize and fi ght the ways’ request to void the contracts, Calero Continued on Page 7 to maintain union of UMWA militant BY JAY RESSLER BY GUILLERMO ESQUIVEL Sunday, October 31 New York City SMITHERS, West Virginia—The United HUNTINGTON, Utah—“I had a two- Mine Workers of America (UMWA) called hour meeting with the company, and the a strike at the Cannelton mine near here bosses insisted that I was fi red because I Before the Vote: The Real Results of the October 7. Picket lines went up beginning refused orders from a foreman,” said Celso October 18. Panduro, a coal miner at the Co-Op mine 2004 U.S. Election Campaign Coal miners said they are fi ghting to here, after an October 21 meeting with the Speakers win their jobs back and to keep their union employers. “I never refused orders and the when the mine reopens. company union is not defending me at these JACK BARNES, Socialist Workers Party National Secretary Horizon Natural Resources owned grievance meetings.” The hidden centrality of the “union question”: the transformation this mine, along with the Starfi re mine Panduro is one of the stalwarts of the ef- in Hazard, Kentucky. The company shut fort at Co-Op to win representation by the of the working-class vanguard that has begun and the political down the two mines September 27, after United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), challenges before us declaring bankruptcy. Massey Energy has which, he says, is the real reason behind his The ongoing transformation of U.S. imperialism’s global military since bought both of them as part of the fi ring. The company union he was referring posture and political world strategy that will advance regardless of bankruptcy settlement and says it plans to to is the so-called International Association which party wins control of the White House or Congress reopen them with a workforce of its choos- of United Workers Union (IAUWU), which ing after January 1. All of Massey’s mines miners say is run and controlled by the The slow but steady politicization and factionalization of the offi cer Continued on Page 4 Kingston family, the mine’s owners. corps of the U.S. armed forces “The IAUWU president at the mine is Continued on Page 4 The implications for workers and farmers of the continued U.S. forces, Iraqi gov’t coarsening of bourgeois politics and militarization of the “homeland” The employers’ continuing progress in pushing down wages, make progress in push stretching out the workday, speeding up the line, and further to take control of Also Inside: weakening the unions—their answer to intensifi ed interimperialist 10,000 rally in Atlantic City competition and the opening stages of a world depression Fallujah, as U.S. planes to back striking casino workers 2 The undermining of Social Security, the never-ending assault on keep pounding militias Florida SWP campaign: ‘No’ on social solidarity, and the bosses’ drive to throw the young and the BY SAM MANUEL parental notifi cation measure, old of the working classes to the dogs U.S. troops and the Iraqi interim govern- ‘Yes’ to minimum wage increase 7 ment headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi ROBERTO VILLANUEVA, on new stage of the Utah Co-Op miners’ battle for a are making progress in their campaign to Arrin Hawkins addresses teachers union, and the political fi ght against the mine owner’s harassment lawsuit bring Fallujah under the control of the Al- lawi administration. The military action on strike, students in Iceland 7 CELEBRATE the reopening of the fi rebombed there, which has included sustained pound- Socialist Workers campaign headquarters in Hazleton, Pennsylvania ing of militia positions by U.S. warplanes Firebombed SWP campaign hall and tanks since October 15, is expected to in Pennsylvania refurbished, Reception 1 p.m. Program 2 p.m. Refreshments afterward be the toughest in the campaign to bring grand reopening held 9 about 30 Iraqi cities—where militias op- — 307 West 36th Street, 10th fl oor, Manhattan — posed to the U.S.-backed regime have Cuba said no to UN ‘inspections’ Sponsored by the Socialist Workers Party National Committee and Young Socialists been operating openly—under Baghdad’s in October 1962 ‘missile’ crisis 10 Hosted by the Socialist Workers Party in New York (212-629-6649) and Newark (973-481-0077) authority before elections scheduled for Continued on Page 10 For more information, call or go to www.themilitant.com Strikers at Atlantic City casinos and hotels hold solidarity rally of 10,000 BY ABBY TILSNER is having an effect on services, shutting AND HILDA CUZCO down some restaurants and forcing others ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey—In a to use paper plates and plastic utensils. In mass labor demonstration here, more than order to prevent a strike, the casino own- 10,000 striking casino workers and their ers at Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts supporters marched and rallied October 16 agreed to a three-year contract in Septem- to voice their determination to stay on the ber. Sands Casino Hotel announced they picket lines to win their fi ght for a decent would also sign a three-year deal. Borgata contract. Wearing T-shirts with union col- Casino & Spa already signed a similar deal ors and waving signs, they marched down last year. Pacific Avenue towards the boardwalk, At the rally, union leaders reported that slowing traffi c. the companies have been sending letters to Delegations from the Transportation union members begging them to quit the Workers Union, Service Employees In- union and return to work. The union reports Militant/Michael Ortega ternational Union, Laborers Union, Yale about 300 workers have crossed the picket Union members on strike at casinos rally October 16 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. workers unions, and others participated line. The casino owners claim the number in the event. Many arrived on buses from is closer to 1,000. Boston, New York, Las Vegas, Washington, “Even though I would like to go back to him down, and handcuffed and detained use of only the sidewalks for the march, D.C., West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Balti- work, I won’t do it. I support the union,” him. Peña fi led assault charges against the and this was enforced by police offi cers more, and northern New Jersey. said Theresa McNair, a cleaner at the goons. The casino bosses fi led a counter on foot and in patrol cars. Police chief Ar- The strikers are members of UNITE Hilton casino fl oor. “All of us are sticking complaint alleging criminal mischief. thur Snellbaker claimed that union leaders HERE Local 54. They are employed as together. Although some have crossed the Peña and one of his co-workers, Santos were responsible for keeping the marchers food and beverage servers, cooks, cleaners, line, the majority are still out.” DeJesus, were fired for “strike-related strictly on the sidewalk, but had led some and housekeepers by Harrah’s Showboat, The strikers have begun to face attacks misconduct.” onto the streets.