Brasil y represión 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 60, No. 21 May 24, 2018 $1 North Carolina Public education workers flood state capital By Stephanie Lormand Raleigh, N.C. Fury over Gaza massacre 3, 11 May 16 — Almost 20,000 teachers and supporters rallied today in North Carolina’s capital to defend pub- lic education. The protest closed more than 42 school districts, affected about 67 percent of the state’s public school students, and canceled classes for more than 1 million students. The North Carolina Association of Educators called for the “March for Students and Rally for Respect” with the #ItsPersonal hashtag, asking teachers to “come to the first day of the General Assembly short session.” Teachers responded by paying $50 for a legally protect- ed “personal day” and mobilizing to get to Raleigh. Though the march permit included sidewalks only, people took to the streets by the thousands. They swarmed the former Capitol building, overwhelming the statues and monuments to the old guards of white supremacy. Their numbers wrapped around both sides of the current legislative building, from the front doors around to the back. The crowd poured through the capital in a sea of red shirts, the emblem of education worker struggles popu- larized by the #RedForEd teachers of Arizona. Preced- ing today’s action were massive education worker strug- gles in West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado and Puerto Rico. Mainstream media focused on the supposed primary motivation of North Carolina’s movement as low teacher salaries. Low pay was certainly a factor, but both liberal and right-wing conservative politicians deliberately nar- rowed the rally into a single-line issue rather than admit- WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE ting the statewide inequities of public school funding. Protesters call for the Philadelphia Orchestra to cancel trip to Israel. These politicians ignored facts like the state spending $2,400 less per pupil than the national average. Fund- ing shortages limit student access to school nurses, counselors and other support staff, while public school WORKERS VS. POVERTY buildings continue to age with mold, termites and other unsafe conditions. Above all, the politicians’ focus on teacher pay eras- Homeless in Philadelphia 5 es the imperative to talk about how increased corporate benefits decrease money available for public education. Poor People’s Campaign 5 North Carolina has lowered the corporate tax rate from 6.9 percent in 2012 to 3 percent. That is the lowest in 6 the country, even before another planned drop to 2.5 Gig economy death percent in 2019. Nearly $3.5 billion in potential revenue will benefit corporate interests instead of education. AT&T strike? 7 North Carolina unites for public education In this “right-to-work” (for less!) state, not so subtle threats have been made against those participating in Continued on page 6 HAITIANS ON THE MOVE For rights in U.S. 4 Subscribe to Workers World 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 For minimum wage in Haiti 8 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/donate

Name ______Editorial: 10 Email ______Phone ______#LongHotSummer

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Statement of Workers World Party Stop war threats against Korea!  In the U.S. May 17 — Workers World Party (U.S.) condemns the eign Affairs of the DPRK, released a statement saying: N. Carolina: Public education workers flood state capitol 1 threatening moves made by the Trump administration “If the Trump administration takes an approach to the WWP: Stop war threats against Korea! ...... 2 and the Pentagon that have deliberately undercut the DPRK-U.S. summit with sincerity for improved DPRK- momentum and planning for a June 12 summit meeting U.S. relations, it will receive a deserved response from ‘Philly, don’t orchestrate apartheid’ ...... 3 between the U.S. and the Democratic People’s Republic us. However, if the U.S. is trying to drive us into a cor- U.S. puts stamp of approval on Israeli murder of Gazans 3 of Korea. It is the U.S. government’s actions and state- ner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will Boston: Haitian Unity Day cheered ...... 4 ments that have called into question the planned dis- no longer be interested in such dialogue and cannot but Boston: Union Women Speak, part 2 ...... 4 cussions to improve relations between the two nuclear reconsider our proceeding to the DPRK-U.S. summit.” Washington, DC: Haitians demand: ‘Trump must go!’ . . 4 powers. In the interests of the people of the U.S. and Korea, we Gentrification drives homeless camp evictions . . . . . 5 At this very moment, the U.S. and South Korea are call on anti-war forces in the U.S. to urgently denounce conducting joint military exercises simulating an inva- this dangerous maneuvering by the reactionary Trump Poor People’s Campaign kicks off across U.S...... 5 sion of the DPRK. Called operation Max Thunder, these administration. Philadelphia: ‘Pablo lives! Death to the gig economy!’ . 6 exercises involve some 100 warplanes, including nucle- We must demand that the U.S. cease its hostile war On the picket line ...... 7 ar-capable B-52 bombers and F-22 Raptor stealth fight- “games,” sign a peace treaty with the DPRK, end its mil- Strike looms at AT&T Midwest ...... 7 er jets. itary occupation of South Korea and bring the troops Detroit ministers host Cuban church leader ...... 9 Last month, similarly threatening U.S.-S.K. military home! Seattle: Soviet victory over Nazis honored ...... 10 operations — Foal Eagle and Key Resolve — took place despite efforts by the DPRK to decrease tensions by Gaza massacre ignites protests ...... 11 meeting with South Korean officials and inviting Presi-  Around the world dent Donald Trump to a summit with Kim Jong Un. Venezuela: Maduro wins election by landslide ...... 8 The U.S. calls its military provocations “defensive.” Expanding Empire There is nothing defensive about them. They are taking The global war drive of big business and the forces Haitian workers march for living wage ...... 8 place thousands of miles away from the U.S., on the very that will stop it Capitalism, Cuba and human rights ...... 9 border of the DPRK, a country the U.S. ravaged from Paris: Railroad workers hold rolling strikes ...... 10 1950 to 1953. While the Pentagon killed millions of Ko- Vince Copeland’s “Expanding Toronto,: After 12 weeks, university still on strike . . . 11 rean people in that war, it could not defeat the revolu- Empire” tells the story of U.S. tionary government that had liberated the north from imperialism from its beginnings in  Editorial Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II. But 1898 up to the Vietnam War. The #LongHotSummer ...... 10 Washington has never agreed to end the formal state of pamphlet was written in 1969 during  Noticias en Español war that continues to exist now, 65 years later. the Vietnam War and became one of Trump’s appointment of John Bolton to national se- Workers World’s most popular titles. It ‘En Brasil recrudeció la represión went through several printings. curity adviser in late March was a sign that the White y vulneración a los derechos’ ...... 12 The purpose of the pamphlet was House was moving toward greater confrontation with to show that the war was not caused the DPRK. Bolton is an unapologetic war hawk who has by any particular politician. Rather it gone on record advocating a pre-emptive strike against was a product of the capitalist system. the DPRK. Bolton has threatened the Koreans with the The same is true today. In the end, it all comes down to fate of Libya if it does not immediately denuclearize, and profits. “Expanding Empire” explains how the capitalists’ insa- Trump has repeated his words. Libya gave up trying to tiable greed for increased profit inevitably produces war. And acquire nuclear weapons on the promise of peace, but it shows how the only way to prevent future wars is to destroy Workers World instead was invaded and dismembered. capitalism at its roots. 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. But the DPRK is not Libya. It is a nuclear power and New York, NY 10011 can retaliate if attacked. Learn more. Find it at: On May 16, Kim Kye Gwan, first vice minister of For- www.workers.org/books Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 60, No. 20 • May 24, 2018 Closing date: May 22, 2018 Join us in the fight Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, for socialism! Kris Balderas Hamel, Monica Moorehead, Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-­ Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with Minnie Bruce Pratt; Web Editor Gary Wilson Leninist party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even make Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; We are a multinational, multigenerational and multigen- it to college. Black and Brown youth and trans people are Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash dered organization that not only aims to abolish capital- gunned down by cops and bigots on a regular basis. Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, ism, but to build a socialist society because it’s the only WWP fights for socialism because the working class Bob McCubbin, Jeff Sorel way forward! produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should re- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of main in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capital- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, the world and the planet itself in the never-ending quest ist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, for ever-greater profits. Capitalism means war and aus- owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guar- Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, terity, racism and repression, joblessness and lack of antee basic human needs. John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, hope for the future. No social problems can be solved Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac under capitalism. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism Andrea Bañuelos, Alberto García, Teresa Gutierrez, has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP Carlos Vargas education or anything else — unless they can pay for it. branch near you. Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp Copyright © 2018 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium National Office Boston Detroit Los Angeles Rockford, Ill. without royalty provided this notice is preserved. 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. 284 Amory St. 5920 Second Ave. 5278 W Pico Blvd. [email protected] Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly New York, NY 10011 Boston, MA 02130 Detroit, MI 48202 Los Angeles, CA 90019 Salt Lake City except the first week of January by WW Publishers, 212.627.2994 617.286.6574 313.459.0777 [email protected] 801.750.0248 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10011. Phone: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 323.306.6240 [email protected] 212.627.2994. Subscriptions: One year: $30; institu- Atlanta Buffalo, N.Y. Durham, N.C. Milwaukee San Antonio, Texas tions: $35. Letters to the editor may be condensed and PO Box 18123 335 Richmond Ave. 804 Old Fayetteville St. [email protected] SanAntonioWWP@ edited. 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‘Philly, don’t orchestrate apartheid’ Activists block street outside, disrupt concert inside

By Betsey Piette sidewalk outside the center. Philadelphia Palestinian voice silences Pro-Palestinian activists who, since ‘Tosca’ performance April 6, have staged weekly demonstra- While police and Kimmel Center man- tions denouncing the Philadelphia Phil- agement focused on the protests out- harmonic Orchestra’s plans to tour Israel side, two activists entered the hall and upped the ante on May 19. They blocked disrupted the orchestra’s performance traffic outside and disrupted the perfor- shortly after it began. In the brief silence mance inside the Kimmel Center. between the initial applause and music Over 100 demonstrators rallied and director Yannick Nézet-Séguin raising distributed fliers to orchestra patrons his baton, a pre-recorded message from and passersby, addressing the massacres Palestinian activist Susan Abulhawa committed by Israeli Defense Forces, suddenly filled the auditorium, broadcast who have murdered over 111 unarmed via a powerful portable speaker. Palestinian protesters in Gaza since Abulhawa’s message: “You’re playing March 30 and intentionally injured over “Tosca,” but you don’t even know what 12,000 more. Concert goers were en- it means. You don’t know what it means couraged to hold up the back page of the to oppose power. You don’t know what it leaflet, reading “Cancel the trip to Israel!” means to be powerless. What it means to during the concert. have no voice in the world. To be slaugh- Many people entering the building tered year after year while everyone just gave the protesters a thumbs up. Rally watches; and then to have the Philadel- WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE organizers asked patrons to take selfies phia Orchestra go and celebrate your The orchestra’s trip to Israel is meant to put a liberal veneer on Israeli apartheid and op- of themselves holding the protest sign ­oppressors. pression of Palestinians. during the performance. Two stops on “Israel has shot over 12,000 human be- stood to denounce the tour. Nézet-Séguin Israeli soldiers, which is world news, yet the planned itinerary include orchestra ings. Do you have any idea what 12,000 then slammed his baton on the podium not one local TV outlet saw fit to cover it.” members performing with Israeli sol- mangled bodies looks like, or what 60 and walked off the stage. As chants from As the protest continued outside, Af- diers at IDF bases. murdered in a single day looks like? Ev- outside of “Free, free Palestine!” could rican National Congress representative Earlier actions by Philly Don’t Orches- ery one of them had a life. They had fam- be heard, some musicians also began to Godfrey Sithole voiced the ANC’s con- trate Apartheid resulted in the removal ily and people who loved them. You are leave, most likely expecting other disrup- sistent support for the Palestinian people of a planned visit with Miri Regev, Is- complicit in this carnage. Every one of tions. Video of the action can be found at struggling against Israeli occupation and raeli minister of Culture and Sport, who you going to play in celebration of Israel vimeo.com/270993383. apartheid. He reminded the crowd that had likened African asylum seekers to “a is complicit. Orchestra co-president Matthew Loden campaigns like this succeeded in defeat- cancer,” then later apologized to cancer “Music does not exempt you from mor- then told the audience that while dissent ing apartheid in South Africa. survivors for the association with Black al responsibility. Music ought to be a matters, “The sanctity of the concert hall Abulhawa concluded the rally by ex- people. She also posted a video of herself moral compass toward justice, not a way should be respected.” (philly.com, May pressing appreciation for the support of with Israeli soccer fans as they shouted to cozy up to power and money. We Pal- 19). But by agreeing to participate in a progressive African and Latin American genocidal chants at Palestinians. estinians didn’t ask you to fight for us. All whitewashing tour of the racist, apart- nations for the Palestinian cause. She Midway through the protests, about we asked is that you do no harm, that you heid state of Israel, financed by the Jew- urged continued solidarity for struggles 60 demonstrators took over South Broad don’t whitewash Israeli apartheid. If you ish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, a against white supremacy and state brutal- Street, fully blocking it for a while. Even think your collaboration with that mur- longtime proponent of Israeli Zionism, ity, whether in Jerusalem or Philadelphia. after police cleared one lane, demon- derous gangster state will blow over, then the orchestra no longer deserves respect. Activists gave notice they will contin- strators continued to block southbound you sorely underestimate our pain; you Coverage of the action appeared on- ue calling out the outrageous refusal of traffic throughout the rest of the protest. underestimate our love for each other line in the Philadelphia Inquirer, but Joe the Philadelphia Orchestra to respect the They held a 75-foot-long scroll with pic- and our anger and resolve.” Piette, who handles media outreach for global cultural boycott of Israel when it tures, names and ages of dozens of Pales- One protester who got inside report- the PDOA coalition, noted that during returns home. Iftar food was then served tinians, including an 8-month-old child, ed that Nézet-Séguin then put his fin- seven weeks of actions, not one television to those wishing to break their Rama- murdered since March 30. Several activ- gers in his ears, saying “la-la-la-la.” The station covered the boycott campaign. dan fast together. For more information, ists staged a “die-in,” lying on the street, demonstrator who played the recording “These actions are linked to the brutal visit phillydontorchestrateapartheid on while others chalked body images on the was escorted from the hall, but another massacres weekly being carried out by ­Facebook. U.S. puts stamp of approval on Israeli murder of Gazans

By Chris Fry At least 62 Gazans were killed on May tear gas, water cannons and other nonle- introduced in a dozen more states and 14 — one day before the anniversary of thal measures — can protect Israel from in the U.S. Senate. Israel trains thou- Two side-by-side photos from May the Nakba, or the Catastrophe, when being overrun.” sands of U.S. police each year for hun- 14 were splashed across the front pages Palestinians were forcibly expelled from dreds of local departments — from big Myth of U.S. ‘neutrality’ of newspapers around the globe and all their homes by Zionist forces in 1948. cities, universities and state cop shops forms of social media. The dead this time included six children Of course, Washington has never been to small towns and rural counties. It’s no One showed Ivanka Trump, daugh- and an eight-month-old baby named “neutral” toward Israel. As of five years wonder that U.S. corporate news media ter of the U.S. president, unveiling a Layla Ghaben. More than 2,700 Palestin- ago, it gave the settler state more than portrayed the latest Israeli massacre as a plaque at the newly opened U.S. Embas- ians have been wounded, half from snip- $234 billion in aid, mostly military aid bizarre act of self-defense at Israel’s bor- sy in Jerusalem. Present were a cham- er fire, since the protests began in Gaza to purchase U.S. weapons, thus arming ders, as though the gun line around the pagne-glass-clinking gaggle of right- on March 30, according to the Palestin- Israel to the teeth while at the same time world’s largest concentration camp, pop- wing Israeli politicians, U.S. officials and ian Health Ministry. filling the coffers of the U.S. war machine. ulation 2 million, were an international fanatical Christian evangelicals. The last In moving the embassy to Jerusalem, (Haaretz, March 20, 2013) Democratic frontier.” (May 17) group explained the move to Jerusalem the strategists for U.S. imperialism are and Republican politicians are unified But now, the Trump regime has as the glorious prelude to the “second far more interested in profits than they behind their support of Israel. Nearly all dropped any pretense of total support coming,” when all non-Christians — are in theology. They are somewhat leery repeat the Zionist argument that the bru- for Israeli atrocities by moving its em- Jews included — will be annihilated and of openly endorsing Israeli atrocities, tal killing of unarmed protesters in Gaza bassy to Jerusalem and cancelling the then consigned to eternal damnation. which have sparked objections among is necessary so that the racist settler state Iran treaty. It is hoping that brute force The medieval Inquisition had nothing some organs of the corporate media. A “can protect its borders.” will break any resistance to U.S. imperi- on these guys. May 14 editorial in the New York Times Black Agenda Report points out: “No alism’s exploitation of the vast wealth in The other photo showed heroic medi- opined: “Mr. Trump’s announcement that fewer than 24 states have enacted bipar- the region. cal workers rescuing injured, unarmed he was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s tisan legislation to publicly identify and The Netanyahu government had Palestinian protesters from murderous capital, and moving the embassy from blacklist individuals or corporations that chimed in its support for the Pentagon on Israeli sniper fire and massive gas clouds Tel Aviv, swept aside 70 years of Ameri- do business with individuals and enti- April 30 by launching a massive missile along the illegal fence that the Zionist can neutrality.” It added that Israeli offi- ties publicly identified as BDS-friend- attack against Syria. The Assad govern- state has erected to imprison nearly 2 cials “are unconvincing when they argue ly [the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions million people in Gaza. that only live ammunition — rather than movement]. Similar legislation has been Continued on page 11 Page 4 May 24, 2018 workers.org

Haitian Unity Day cheered Boston

By Workers World Boston bureau began in Mattapan Square, long a cultural and so- cial hub of Boston’s Haitian community, and contin- Boston held its annual Haitian Unity Day Parade ued along Blue Hill Avenue, where the community on May 20, celebrating the victory of the 1804 Haitian cheered and danced from their porches. Revolution. This great uprising against settler-colo- Workers World Party-Boston attended as part of nial chattel slavery led to the establishment of the first a contingent organized by the Boston School Bus Black-led republic in the Western Hemisphere. Drivers Union, which will soon enter contract nego- Thousands of Haitians, Haitian-Americans and tiations. Union President Andre François, address- their supporters marched, along with a wide range ing the crowd from a sound truck, said: “We are here of groups that included Haitian workers, students, marching against deportations, mass incarceration Fanmi Lavalas Boston and United Steelworkers and racism! You have already earned your perma- Local 8751, Boston School Bus Drivers. The march nent residence, come out and claim it!”

WW PHOTO: STEVAN KIRSCHBAUM Union women speak Part 2 Organizing to keep TPS Learn more. Available online at: www.workers.org/books

By Phebe Eckfeldt and Sam Ordóñez who don’t have any docu- duras has the worst economy. This Boston ments to be together with has to be so, if they are coming to us, so that we can grow the States to work for $1 a day! This is Part 2 of an April 28 conversation between Workers World and two union and take to the streets WW: What would Trump’s organizers who are leaders in a Harvard University coalition to save the now-threat- and fight. They’re also ending of TPS mean for you per- ened Temporary Protected Status for immigrants. Both migrated to the U.S. from El immigrant families just sonally? Salvador. like us that have children Doris: It would be a huge im- Doris is a leader in Service Employees Union 32BJ, representing custodians, and born here. They have the right to watch pact. It’s even already affecting my fam- Marta is a leader in UNITE HERE Local 26, representing dining hall workers. The their families grow up just like us. And ily deeply because I have an 11-year-old Harvard TPS Coalition is made up of members of UNITE HERE Local 26; SEIU the DACA kids ... many of their parents daughter who calls me every morning to 32BJ; the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers, AFSCME Local 3650; are undocumented. So I think that it’s make sure I got to work, and every after- the Harvard Graduate Student Union; and faculty and students. very important that we work on all three noon asking if I made it back. Because cases together so that we can all be in this she hasn’t understood that there isn’t any WW: As you know, DACA (Deferred having TPS hasn’t made us legal in this country together. What we’re fighting for risk yet, but in her mind there already is. Action for Childhood Arrivals) has giv- country, it’s temporary and so is DACA. is that there should be no separated fam- The effect on my family has been trauma- en 800,000 young immigrants, brought And those [undocumented] who are still ilies. tizing, my daughter is being traumatized. to the U.S. as children, the right to stay, behind us, still in the shadows, they can’t WW: Trump announced on May 4 She’s even been discriminated against at study and work in the U.S. without speak. … We try always to say TPS, DACA that 90,000 Hondurans will no longer school. … So — not just me but also my threat of deportation. They have became and all the undocumented, so that our be protected by TPS, put in place for that children. This country doesn’t realize known as “Dreamers.” In September voice can be stronger and so that our country after Hurricane Mitch struck in how it’s hurting these kids, who are U.S. 2017, Trump and the right wing ordered co-workers will say: “OK, they’re not just 1998. They have 18 months to leave or citizens, its own citizens and it doesn’t an end to DACA. Why do you link TPS, fighting for one thing. They’re fighting for make other arrangements to stay. What even care. DACA and all undocumented workers in everyone, for there to be a just immigra- do you think about this? WW: There’s a new WWP pamphlet, your literature, speeches, signs? Why is tion reform.” Doris: This is the worst, terrible. They “Every Struggle is a Woman’s Struggle.” this important? Doris: I think also that we are in a face the same issues as we do. They face What do you think of that title? Marta: I have always found that difficult moment and what matters the murders and violence back home. Their Marta: If a woman is suffering, we [those] three things — TPS, DACA, and most is unity. We can’t win this battle if families are in limbo. Hondurans come share her same pain. If a woman is the undocumented, who don’t have any- we’re only going with TPS. We need also to the States [to work]; they are paid $1 a abused, we feel it. Because a woman’s the people with DACA and the people day, which is a lot of money for them. Hon- thing — we’re on the same level because Continued on page 5 Haitians demand: ‘Trump must go!’

By Steve Millies lyn Bridge to a Trump building on Wall Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Street. Among the demands of the 1804 co- Haitians and their supporters rallied alition are that Trump apologize to the in front of the White House on May 19 to countries he so grossly insulted; perma- protest Trump’s racism and deportations, nent residency for all TPS holders; U.S. despite a Secret Service attempt to shut and U.N. reparations to Haiti; and a stop the rally down. to police terror against Black and Brown The protest in Washington’s Lafayette communities. The coalition also de- Park was called by the 1804 Movement nounced the U.S., Israeli and Saudi war for All Immigrants, a coalition of many and aggression against Iran and Syria. different organizations and individuals. Buses came to the Washington ral- 1804 refers to the year Haiti declared in- ly from both Brooklyn and New Jersey. dependence. Co-chairing the rally were Ray Laforest, a The Trump administration is stripping union organizer, and Kerbie Joseph from temporary protected status (TPS) from the Party for Socialism and Liberation. hundreds of thousands of immigrants Speaking across from the White House who have fled disasters in Haiti, El Salva- built by enslaved people, Marie Paule WW PHOTO: SHARON BLACK Gross insults and threats of deportation have inflamed the Haitian community. dor, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Su- Florestal challenged Trump’s racism and dan. Mass deportations are threatened. bigotry. Florestal, a teacher and union Calling Trump “just a human toilet and New York City attended the event. On Jan. 11, the eve of the eighth anni- activist, was a key organizer of the event. spewing hate,” Lee Patterson from Work- Even though the 1804 coalition had a versary of the devastating Haitian earth- Other speakers included longtime Hai- ers World Party-Baltimore demanded permit, Secret Service agents cleared La- quake, Trump, in a burst of disgusting tian activists Florence Jean-Joseph and freedom for political prisoner Mumia fayette Park toward the end of the rally, imperialist malice, referred to Haiti, El Georgette Delinois, as well as a represen- Abu-Jamal. He pointed out that the ral- suppressing the group’s First Amend- Salvador and some African nations as tative of the United African Congress and ly was being held on “the birthday of the ment rights. “shithole” countries. Kim Ives of Haïtí Liberté newspaper. great revolutionary leader Malcolm X — The power of the people forced the The 1804 coalition was immediately Eugene Puryear of PSL described how assassinated by COINTELPRO and the park to be reopened and the rally re- organized and called a demonstration Haitians not only fought for their own CIA.” sumed. Berthony Dupont, editor of Haïtí in New York City on Jan. 19. Despite liberation from slavery, but also aided Patterson also called for freeing the Liberté, was the final speaker. the freezing weather, more than a thou- Simón Bolívar to liberate much of Latin MOVE 9 and Leonard Peltier. WWP Stop the deportations! Reparations for sand people marched across the Brook- America. members from Baltimore, Washington Haiti! workers.org May 24, 2018 Page 5 Gentrification drives homeless camp evictions

By Princess Harmony “home” they have. This won’t save everyone, yet it means 6 to 8 p.m. and May 30 from 8 to 10 a.m. Philadelphia Many question the timing and real that some may live another day. That Demands include halting the evictions; purpose behind the evictions. Philadel- next day might be the day they decide to making CBH explain how they’ve spent The U.S. opioid epidemic doesn’t just phia last evicted people from a homeless turn away from drugs and get help. money received for addiction treatment; take over lives. It takes over neighbor- camp in 2017 when they attacked El Cam- Meanwhile, the city’s proposed safe having the city open up more respite hoods, as the Kensington section of Phil- pamento, located along Conrail tracks in injection site, not fully planned out and beds; and getting CBH to allow more adelphia can attest. The area has become the city’s Fairhill area. When everyone with no timeline for when it might open, people to enter treatment. a magnet for opioid addicts up and down was evicted and the camp cleared, a de- is already facing opposition. The city gov- Until the city can provide real resident the East Coast because of its potent hero- veloper announced plans to turn the area ernment is again promising to house and and treatment alternatives, the camps in and now fentanyl. into luxury condos. treat addicts from the camps, but people must be defended. The camps are popu- A mark of this epidemic — compound- Is gentrification again propelling Phil- aren’t falling for that again. When they lated by people so beaten down by capi- ed by unfair evictions and gentrification adelphia officials’ sudden concern about attacked El Campamento last year, there talism that they turn to a life of drugged pricing people out of their homes — has drugs? Within walking distance of the weren’t enough treatment or respite beds fantasy. They don’t want to be there, but been camps of heroin and other drug camps are luxury suites with rent up to for people displaced from the camp. they can’t imagine having lives that won’t users along railroad tracks and under $1,500 a month. The problem will only The 80 respite beds available in the lead them back to that place. bridges. These camps act as homes, safe get worse as more condos are built and city are already filled with people seek- We have to defeat the attacks on the injection sites and gathering places for more “blighted” properties are flipped. ing help. If the planned May 30 eviction camp and defeat the gentrifying forc- the homeless, addicted and downtrodden These camps are more important than takes place, 187 more people will need es pushing more people out onto the of the city. people realize. They serve as a home of help. Even now, people looking for a bed streets. This is true not just in Kensing- Along with homeless people who gath- sorts for those who must eke out an ex- are being turned down for treatment, de- ton, but from coast to coast. Defend your er at those locations, many Delaware Val- istence working odd jobs or begging to spite the city paying Community Behav- local homeless camps, bring people the ley drug addicts congregate around the support their addictions and their lives. ioral Health billions for it. supplies they need to survive, and show camps, making it easier for groups like People don’t have homes to return to, but People have called protests against the them that they’re in the position they’re Angels in Motion to provide them with they have the camps, where they watch city’s planned evictions on May 28 from in because capitalism is at a dead end. basic necessities like food and water. The out for each other’s things and for the camps also make it easier to search for most part care for each other. They have missing Delaware Valley addicts. Many developed a comradeship worth respect- times they can be found there. ing. If the camps are destroyed, all of that is destroyed. City gives one-month eviction notice But what does comradeship among The city posted notices at camps on drug addicts mean? It means that we stay Poor People’s Campaign April 30 giving one month for residents alive another day. In general, it was drug to leave. Why is Philadelphia so interest- users who pioneered harm reduction, al- ed in eliminating these camps? On paper, lowing people to use drugs with less of a kicks off across U.S. it’s all about public health. The needles, chance of dying due to addiction. empty baggies and other drug parapher- The camps offer safety. When a bad nalia strewn about are a serious problem batch of heroin turns up hot with fentan- that needs to be addressed. Yet camp yl, people warn each other. residents ask why this can’t be addressed The camps also provide a place to ad- without throwing them out of the only minister Narcan to people who overdose. Organizing to keep TPS Continued from page 4 of men as well, so every problem in the work is like a double work. We are moth- world is our problem. We can’t just say: WW PHOTO Protesters in Lansing, ers, wives, workers, activists, and we’re “Oh well, that’s a problem for men,” be- Mich., May 14. reaching a level where we do the same cause we’re also mothers of men. So ev- work that men do. I work in a kitchen ery problem that there is in the world, One thousand people were arrested May 14 in civil disobedience actions at 39 state where I am the only woman. When I ap- like the wars in Syria and Yemen, which I capitols across the United States. It was the kickoff to the Poor People’s Campaign, ini- plied, the chef said to me, “I don’t know was hearing about on the radio, the prob- tiated by Rev. William Barber II. In Michigan, several hundred protesters from across if you can work here. We carry heavy lems here in this country, what’s happen- the state joined a rally in Lansing and then blocked streets in front of the State Capitol things.” I told him, “Look, you do your ing in Palestine. All these problems are for several hours. The rally linked struggles for a living wage and against evictions, work, I’ll do mine.” Two years later, he my problems because they affect me, in water shutoffs, Medicaid cutbacks and the myriad of other attacks on the poor. apologized and said I do a better job than the sense of the psychological trauma — Workers World Detroit bureau him. … we’re living through. … I see the work that men do, and I say I We can work, we even work twice as can do better than that. So when I dedi- hard because what our spouses do is cate myself and say I can do it, I feel like work, come home and sleep, but we have we women are moving forward togeth- to work and take care of the kids. We HONOR ALL WORKERS IN MAY! er, following the example of other wom- take them to the doctor. We go to work en before us and being examples for the even if we were up all night. So I think women behind us, and we’re moving for- that the woman has grown a lot in these ward together. times, and now we’re reaching a level that Build Workers World! Doris: As women, we are mothers I would even say is above that of men. We marched on May 1, International support to grow the paper from a modest

WW PHOTO: STEVAN KIRSCHBAUM Workers’ Day, to: 12-page printed weekly edition, with dai- Harvard TPS Coalition • Honor workers all over the globe ly web updates, into a robust paper with marches on May Day. • Invite all workers to come out of the color photos, widespread national distri- shadows bution and greater online capability. • Celebrate workers’ myriad contribu- We established the Workers World tions to our lives Supporter Program 41 years ago so read- • Unite in the struggle for our rights ers could help promote working-class • Claim our right to freedom from op- truth needed to make revolutionary pression and exploitation change. Members receive a year’s sub- • Say that capitalist greed, austerity scription to WW, a monthly letter about and misery must be banished forever, timely issues and five free subscriptions along with the racism, sexism and to give others for a donation of $75 a year. anti-LGBTQ bigotry that the bosses For $100 you also get a new publication use to divide us or book from World View Forum. For • Affirm the need for a revolutionary $300 ($25 a month) or more, you get your socialist future pick of five books. If this is your vision, then join Workers Write checks to Workers World and World newspaper in creating that future. mail them, with your name and address, Join us as we continue to build a strong, to 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Floor, New York, independent voice that speaks loud and NY 10011. Or donate online at workers. clear for the workers and oppressed org/donate/; it’s easy to set up monthly around the world. We need your financial deductions. Page 6 May 24, 2018 workers.org ‘Pablo lives! Death to the gig economy!’

By Joe Piette conditions on May 12, hoping to take ad- Philadelphia vantage of the higher pay per delivery. About two hundred friends, co-work- Avendano’s comrades are demanding ers and family members rallied here on that Caviar pay for all travel and funeral May 19 to celebrate the life of Pablo Av- expenses for his family; reclassify riders endano. Despite persistent rain, speakers as employees, not independent contrac- climbed onto a pickup truck parked near tors; pay its workers a living wage, start- the site where he was killed at 10th Street ing at $20 an hour with health benefits, and Spring Garden. They talked about hazard pay and bike repair-and-mainte- why he was so loved in Philadelphia’s pro- nance reimbursement; and respect the gressive activist community. workers’ right to organize a union. Avendano, 34, was riding a bike for Avendano’s partner, Anna Marie Dro- food-delivery service Caviar on May 12 let, told the gathering: “Pablo cared about when he was struck by a car and then run what was happening in the world. He died over by another one during a heavy eve- because he was bringing food to people ning rainstorm. Pablo worked full time with money who were too lazy to go out to for Sparrow, a courier service, but was get their own.” also working a night shift at Caviar to Area activist George Ciccariello-Maher help make ends meet. said, “Pablo was a wage slave who died While some media and newspaper arti- because the rich make more money by not cles have made this tragedy into an issue WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE paying higher wages and benefits. He was about the need for protected bicycle lanes Memorial for Pablo Avenando, run over on his bike while delivering food. nothing to them.” in the most-biked city in the U.S., others Friends have set up a fundraiser to help have raised the gig economy as the real Most of the new jobs that President dent contractors” and are forced to accept pay his death expenses at gofundme.com/ cause of the Argentine immigrant’s death. Trump brags he’s been creating are “gig,” piecework, low wages and few benefits in all-out-for-pablito. Avendano was one of millions of work- precarious or “sharing” jobs, which do often dangerous conditions while wealthy A press release signed by “Comrades ers earning a substandard income from not provide livable wages. Even though executives and owners profit handsomely. and friends of Pablo Avendano” ends precarious employment. Trapped in a vi- the companies might employ thousands When it’s raining, freezing or otherwise with: “Pablo was a lover of life, and a pas- cious circle, they are forced to moonlight of these workers, they are not entitled too dangerous to be on the roads is when sionate fighter for workers’ rights as well using Uber, rent out their homes via Airb- to weekly wages and benefits or covered many people are ordering food deliveries. as racial and economic equality. We hon- nb, or deliver food and other commodi- by safety and other regulations. On the Because fewer cyclists are willing to make or his memory by upholding his commit- ties using their own cars, bikes or homes books of accountants and government deliveries at these times, Caviar gives pay ment to making the world a better place in order to make ends meet. regulators, they are treated as “indepen- incentives. Avendano worked in dark, wet by taking up his struggle as our own.” North Carolina education workers flood capital

majority of teachers are white while half as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper found $7 al influence that powers privatization, re- Continued from page 1 the children in their classrooms are stu- million to increase the number of “school segregation and re-creation of racist Jim today’s action by calling it “union-like ac- dents of color. (publicschoolreview.com/ resource officers,” aka cops, despite da- Crow government, hidden under the guise tivity.” Rep. Mark Brody referred to edu- north-carolina) ta-driven reports showing police bias in of “school choice.” cators who choose to pay to exercise their For the past 10 years in North Caro- classrooms is the same as police bias in Organizations funded by Pope’s foun- First Amendment rights as “union teach- lina, a series of anti-public-school bills the streets. dation publish misleading and faulty er thugs.” have been introduced and passed, de- The power of an educated, inclusive analyses that offer privatization and Indeed, even before the educators, cus- signed to destroy free public education student population who learn about the “school choice” as a cost savings. But this todians, bus drivers, city workers, parents and produce uneducated workers. This weaponized oppression of capitalism research is funded by the obscenely rich and students from the towns of Manteo to legislation includes the existing private threatens the very root of “democrat- to justify their raiding programs created Murphy County walked Raleigh’s streets, school voucher program that funnels ic” politics. The power of those students for the common good. they looked after their own. money out of public schools. A bill in- graduating to be workers threatens the Pope campaign donations funded the A network of educators and support- troduced in 2017 would actually move foundations of capitalism itself. election of people like Sen. Phil Berger and ers — across the political spectrum and public money for a student into a parent’s Rep. Tim Moore, men who direct their re- from religious conservatives to atheists — savings account. But it’s mostly corpora- Art Pope and Koch brothers vs. spective legislative bodies to serve capital- formed a community. They collected and tions that benefit from for-profit charter public education ism and corporate interests, not the needs distributed meals and organized child schools in a state heavily influenced by The attacks on public education should of working people, families and children. care options for their districts’ children efforts to privatize public education. be no surprise, considering the deep in- But on May 16, despite the polarizing in preparation for the May 16 action. An advisory committee to the Univer- volvement of Art Pope in North Carolina tactics and hateful rhetoric, teachers and Personal donations went to groups for sity of North Carolina system was stacked politics. Pope is the CEO and board chair- public education workers shared a com- grants to support those from less wealthy in 2015 with right-wing extremists, man of Variety Wholesalers Inc. This is the mon goal and came together in what’s counties — both children and educators whose efforts seemed designed to resur- parent company of low-wage, low-end re- being called “the largest act of organized — so they could travel to their legislators rect the white supremacist education pol- tail stores found in rural towns across the teacher political action in North Carolina in Raleigh. icies that maintained school segregation state. In 2013, Pope wriggled into a role history.” And though an all-white state legisla- in North Carolina for more than 20 years as budget director to former Duke Energy Keeping up the mass, militant pressure ture in 1959 banned public sector collec- after the original 1954 Brown v. Board of CEO, turned anti-LGBTQ governor, Pat — uniting workers and community — is tive bargaining, May 16 was absolutely a Education decision of the Supreme Court. McCrory. But long before that, he founded imperative. In both Oklahoma and Arizo- union-like activity. Then, this February at the state Capitol, a the John William Pope Foundation. na, where there were many days of public The NCAE is an educator union, one joint legislative committee began issuing From this foundation, Art Pope funds education protests, right-wing legisla- of the many state branches of the 3-mil- proposals to “break up” school districts, hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to tures are reversing already-won gains by lion-member National Association of seen as a precursor to resegregation. think tanks like the John Locke Founda- repealing tax-funding measures or using Educators. The North Carolina state law The reason for these attacks isn’t com- tion and the Heritage Foundation to wage state-funding tricks to deny raises. against collective bargaining in no way plicated, based as they are on the old a privatization war on public institutions. Education workers are teaching workers prevents North Carolina’s public workers “divide-and-conquer” tactics used to Pope’s personal wealth buys a seat everywhere that mass actions are possible from organizing and unionizing. keep workers oppressed and divided. In at the billionaires’ table. His ties to the and necessary to every worker, every com- the 150 years since the Civil War ended, right-wing Koch brothers create addition- munity, in every industry, in every state. Resegregation in education — for profit North Carolina has increased wages from The North Carolina Legislature is Re- the $0 paid to enslaved Black laborers to New pamphlet – from the pages of Workers World publican-dominated, but there is bipar- a meager state minimum wage of $7.25 newspaper now available free online tisan support for capitalist schools-for- an hour, with most workers of color still profit. That means teachers need to look earning significantly less. Class War in W.Va.: deeper into why a “democratic” govern- In 2013, right-wing legislators repealed ment seeks to prevent adequate education migrant worker protections. In 2017 Re- Education Workers Strike, Win of children — a question nearly silenced publican legislators used transphobia In West Virginia, famous for pitched battles between by “This is what democracy looks like!” to hide the fact that they were repealing union miners and the coal barons, class war is raging. chants during the day. anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ This time it’s teachers and all school employees on one The significantly quieter “Black Lives workers through HB2. Poverty wages side and right-wing capitalist politicians on the other. To Matter!” chants from a largely white for female-dominated professions, such crowd also raise the critical need for an as public education at all levels, are con- quote the old labor song, “Which Side Are You On?” — examination of racism and power in sidered to be “on the right track.” The “there are no neutrals.” North Carolina public schools, where the school-to-prison pipeline is flourishing workers.org/book/class-war-in-west-virginia-education-workers-strike-and-win workers.org May 24, 2018 Page 7 Strike looms at AT&T Midwest

By Alex Bolchi and Sue Davis

Historic strike victory for Colorado teachers A momentous, 900-strong teachers’ strike in an already historic year for teachers’ strikes ended May 13 with a win. Teachers targeted the Pueblo City Schools District 60 (D60) Board of Education with demands for a 2 percent retroactive pay increase, better benefits and step increases for paraprofessionals. Last year Pueblo annual teacher pay averaged $47,617 — not only below average teacher pay in Colorado ($52,728), but national averages as well ($59,660). (Denver Post, May 7) After a neutral, third-party factfinder recommended a raise, the teachers and the Pueblo Teachers Association rejected an initial, nonretroactive offer by the D60 Board and struck on May 5. In an interview with NBC News, teachers spoke of crumbing infrastructure and classrooms without computers. Chants of “Education is our right, that is why we have to fight!” rang out at rallies. Pueblo high school teacher Julie Cain said that though Colorado is a wealthy state, it’s one of the most starved for education funding, allotting only $822 million annually. After a week of striking, the teachers voted 495 to 62 to accept a two-year agreement with the 2 percent retroactive increase, better WW PHOTO health care benefits and full pay for three strike days. They raised as Workers picket AT&T headquarters in Detroit, May 19. inspiration the solidarity they felt from epic teacher strikes and walk- outs in West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Arizona. By Kris Balderas Hamel primary employer after leaving school. However, in approximately 2010, AT&T be- Chicago Tribune workers unionize May 21 — The Communications Workers ex- gan a second, lower-tier wage scale for custom- ecutive board authorized a strike on May 11 of er service workers. Instead of paying them $32 Contrary to the 171-year history of the anti-union Chicago Tri- 14,000 workers covered by AT&T’s Midwest and an hour and above ($34.70 in 2018), the starting bune, owner Tronc agreed on May 6 to cooperate with its newsroom Legacy T contracts. The AT&T Midwest contract pay was $10 per hour, with a maximum of $20 workers after 85 percent signed cards to be represented by the Chi- covers workers in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indi- an hour after six years on the job. While some cago Tribune Guild, an affiliate of The News Guild-Communication ana and Wisconsin, while the Legacy T workers sales commissions were added to the base wage, Workers. The CTG will have three bargaining units: Tribune workers, are nationwide. The workers involved include it was nowhere near what the seniority workers staff at six regional papers, and the design and production studio. both technicians and call center customer ser- were being paid. (ABC7Chicago, May 6) vice employees. The strike authorization means Because workers hired prior to 2004 were This amazing turnaround happened very quickly after an April 12 workers can walk out at any time. guaranteed the higher wage for their lifetime, article in the Tribune announced that its newsroom staff had organ- Issues include job security, health care and re- the company began a campaign to drive out the zied to win regular raises, advancement opportunities, better parental tirement. A report issued by the CWA on April seniority workers. They made their jobs miser- leave policies, a more diverse newsroom and a voice in the newsroom. 25, titled “AT&T Jobs,” notes that AT&T reaped able, limiting calls to Port Huron to “retention” One reporter stated that the workers had experienced downsizing and profits of $29.5 billion in 2017, compared to calls — the last calls by angry customers deter- erratic corporate practices causing “chaos.” According to its website, $13 billion the previous year. (tinyurl.com/yb- mined to switch to another company. Not only the CTG is now in a “status quo” period, so that Tronc “cannot uni- kemtu5) This massive increase resulted from a did the workers have to deal with irate customers laterally alter any work conditions without first negotiating with our $20 billion boost from Trump’s Tax Cuts and Job all day long, but they were written up if they did bargaining units.” Though TNG-CWA lawyers say they’ve never seen Cuts Act of 2017, with an additional $3 billion not sell them new products. such quick recognition of a union, CTG believes Tronc bosses didn’t jump in profits anticipated in 2018. On-the-job harassment for these seniority want to “waste time and money” contesting a union election. (chicag- Despite this massive tax bonanza, AT&T an- workers became so miserable that many began otribuneguild.com, May 6) Way to go CTG! Stay tuned. nounced plans to spend just $1 billion in capital suffering from stress-related ailments. When projects and pay a paltry bonus of $1,000 to its they were forced to use the Family Medical Leave #TimesUp for sexual harassment in the sky workers. That amounts to a one-time $200 mil- Act to survive and maintain their jobs and men- More than 3,500 flight attendants from 29 U.S. airlines partici- lion expenditure or 7 percent of the company’s tal health, management initiated a policy of tar- pated in a survey between Feb. 27 and March 26 of this year, with 68 annual tax bonanza. geting FMLA users to run them out of AT&T, in percent reporting sexual harassment during their career. One in three According to the report, AT&T has closed 44 violation of federal law. experienced verbal abuse — from nasty to crude — while one in five call centers and laid off thousands of workers Many of these workers, despite knowing they reported physical abuse — from groping to humping. Only 7 percent since 2011, leading to the destruction of 16,000 would never again earn a comparable wage, took had reported abuse to the airline. call center jobs nationwide. In Ohio, Michigan, early retirement, were terminated or just plain “The time when flight attendants were objectified in airline mar- Wisconsin and Illinois, the company has laid off resigned because they no longer could stand keting and people joked about ‘coffee, tea or me’ needs to be perma- 2,300 workers over the last three years. Much of management’s job pressure. nently grounded. #TimesUp for the industry to put an end to its sexist the customer service work has been outsourced to The Port Huron call center went from approxi- past,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Atten- low-wage contract workers, many outside the U.S. mately 600 workers in 2009-10 — the largest em- dants-Communication Workers, which conducted the survey. One of In Michigan and Ohio, AT&T closed four call ployer in the city — to 50 workers in 2017 when the the primary reasons, Nelson stressed, is that flight attendants are first centers in the past two years. In 2011, over 1,000 center was finally shut down. The remaining 50 responders, whose authority is undermined in emergencies if “they people worked at these centers, located in De- workers who stuck it out were transferred to De- are belittled and harassed.” The union is calling for the entire indus- troit and Port Huron, Mich., and Cleveland and troit, where the call center was shuttered this year. try “to step up to combat harassment and recognize the impact it has Columbus, Ohio. The bourgeois media might sometimes cover on safety,” while also demanding adequate staffing levels that protect The story of the Port Huron call center speaks the just and long overdue struggles of low-wage both workers and passengers. (afacwa.org, May 10) volumes about the treatment by corporations workers, but the mistreatment and driving out of like AT&T of workers who were once employed older workers, formerly in decent-paying union Support Maria Isabel Vasquez regulation in decent-paying union jobs. jobs, is an often overlooked aspect of the introduc- The customer service workers at Port Huron, tion of low-wage capitalism across the country. to prevent heat illness who had been employed in the call center before If a strike occurs, the AT&T workers need and The United Farm Workers is asking for help in remembering Maria 2004, were paid a living wage of over $32 an deserve the solidarity of the entire working class Isabel Vasquez, a migrant worker from Oaxaca, Mexico, who was two hour. Many were women with high school diplo- against this huge, rich, horrendous multination- months pregnant when she died of heat exhaustion in 2008. May 14 mas. AT&T and its predecessors had been their al corporation. marked the 10th anniversary of her death while tying grape vines in nearly 100-degree heat at West Coast Farms east of Stockton, Calif. The workers said the strict foreman didn’t allow them a long enough Capitalism break to get a drink from a water cooler 10 minutes away. (NPR, June Fred Goldstein utiliza las at a Dead End leyes de la acumulación 8, 2008) Weeks after her death, her aunt, uncle and fiancé organized Job destruction, overproduction capitalista de Marx, y la tasa a four-day pilgrimage to the state capitol in Sacramento and even- decreciente de ganancia, and crisis in the high-tech era tually helped pass the Heat Illness Prevention Regulation. Now, the para demostrar por qué For more information on these books UFW is asking you to sign a petition to rename the HIPR the “Maria el capitalismo global ha and other writings by the author, Fred Isabel Vasquez Jimenez Heat Illness Prevention Regulation.” Help llegado finalmente a un Goldstein, go to memorialize a fallen young worker; enshrine her name into law: punto de inflexión. LowWageCapitalism.com workers.org/book/class-war-in-west-virginia-education-workers-strike-and-win ufw.org/10thannivmivj/. Available at all major online booksellers. Page 8 May 24, 2018 workers.org VENEZUELA Maduro wins election by landslide

By Andrew Mayton and John Catalinotto and electoral fraud, Brazil’s and Para- guay’s from a judicial coup, and Mexico’s With an overwhelming 68 percent of from open electoral fraud. the votes cast, President Nicolás Maduro was re-elected president of Venezuela on Solidarity with Venezuela May 20 for a six-year term, starting at the From the other side of the class barri- end of the year. cades, TeleSur reported that Cuban Presi- Despite Maduro’s clear and clean elec- dent Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said in tion, Venezuela and its Boliviarian govern- a letter to Maduro: “The Bolivarian and ment were immediately denounced by U.S. Chavista community has demonstrated imperialism and its reactionary allies in once again its determination in defending Latin America and Europe. On the other the legacy of Chavez, who you represent side, the Cuban, Bolivian and Salvadoran worthily.” Diaz-Canel added that the Cu- governments congratulated Maduro, and ban government will be supportive and the Chinese and Russian governments offered solidarity regarding any new chal- recognized Maduro’s victory and called for lenges faced by Maduro’s government in no intervention against his government. the new six-year presidential term. Speaking from the balcony of the Mira- Former President and Cuban Commu- flores Palace, Maduro said, “It has been a nist Party chief Raúl Castro Ruz also con- heroic, beautiful, popular victory forged gratulated Maduro. in the struggle.” Bolivian President Evo Morales tweet- “I’m the president of all the Venezu- ed: “The sovereign Venezuelan people elans,” he added. “I call for a dialogue WW PHOTO: ANDREW MAYTON have triumphed again before the coup process. Permanent dialogue is what The real problem the U.S. imperialists have with Venezuela’s election is that it empowered plotters and interventionism of the workers, like these people checking IDs at the polls. ­Venezuela needs.” North American empire. The free peo- “The revolution is here to stay!” Mad- and learn all about the electoral process. ezuela and anti-Maduro propaganda that ples will never submit. Congratulations uro later told the crowd, promising to Among the many organizations invited the U.S. ruling class will push, and be to brother Nicolás Maduro and the brave prioritize the country’s economy and so- was Workers World Party. prepared to bring your solidarity for the people of Venezuela.” cioeconomic development during his new “The National Electoral Council (Con- Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela to the “The parties involved must respect the term and fight off imperialism — the -ex sejo Nacional Electoral or CNE) took this streets. U.S. hands off Venezuela!” decision of the Venezuelan people,” said ternal forces that tried to derail the coun- delegation to see the assembly, program- Even before the voting took place, U.S. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu try’s election. (TeleSur, May 20) ming, quality check and shipping of the imperialism showed its hostility by de- Kang at a press conference in Beijing. electronic voting machines. The CNE claring the election illegitimate and re- Alexánder Schetinin, director of the Report from Caracas gave presentations on electoral law and fusing to recognize its results. All sectors Latin American Department of the Rus- Reporting from Caracas on May 20, how it has changed since the 1999 consti- of the U.S. corporate media denounced sian Foreign Ministry, said: “We regret- Workers World correspondent Andrew tution. Then the delegation visited sever- Maduro’s election as fraudulent — with- tably have to note that in these elections, Mayton wrote: “We are in the midst of al polling centers all over Venezuela. out any evidence. in addition to the two traditional partic- the Venezuelan presidential elections, “The electoral process is completely A New York Times article on May 21, ipants, that is, the Venezuelan people, and working people all over the world are transparent and accountable, far more for example, called attention to the admit- the electors, on the one hand, and on the on the edge of their seats waiting for the than what we have in the United States. tedly low turnout without mentioning that other the candidates who presented their results. The U.S. ruling class has already Perhaps just as important, polling cen- Maduro still received a significantly higher programs ... there was a third partici- declared they will not recognize the re- ters are more accessible than ever, often percentage of the total eligible voters than pant, the governments that openly called sults, and the State Department is look- located right within everyone’s neighbor- either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton for a boycott of the vote.” ing to implement oil sanctions. hoods — there are over 34,000 polling got in the last U.S. presidential election. Schetinin also added that Russia is often “The U.S. ruling class wants to paint centers for the over 20 million registered Other countries whose regimes also accused of meddling in other countries’ the election as illegitimate. But to the Venezuelan voters. refused to recognize the Venezuelan elections, but in Venezuela’s case, some contrary, the Venezuelan government “Polling centers are overseen and au- election include Peru, Argentina, Brazil, countries have meddled indiscriminately. has invited delegates from all over the dited by representatives of any and all of Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Santa Lucia, Mayton and Mundo Obrero/WW edi- world — the U.S., Canada, several Latin the political parties that are participating Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Costa Rica tor Berta Joubert-Ceci were in Venezu- American countries, Syria, Palestine and in the election. and Guatemala. The irony is that Hondu- ela observing the elections as part of an many more — to observe the elections “Be prepared for the wave of anti-Ven- ras’ regime resulted from a military coup international delegation. MAY DAY Haitian workers march for living wage

By G. Dunkel needs of all workers in Haiti. The orga- ple’s victory, President Thomas Jefferson nizing spilled over into Flag Day, May imposed a blockade on Haiti that lasted Inflation is a cruel blow in Hai- 18, when unions marched with their until 1862 — when the U.S. finally recog- ti, where the per capita income is own demands, despite the govern- nized the nation. U.S. Marines later occu- $350 a year ($409 in urban areas), ment’s promotion of patriotic fervor. pied Haiti from 1915 to 1934. and the daily minimum wage is Two significant incidents marked U.S. interference didn’t leave with the only $2.50 for workers in the tex- the previous week. In Cap Haitien, Marines. In 2011, WikiLeaks and Haï- tile industry. Workers through- Haiti’s second-largest city, someone ti Liberté exposed how intensely the out Haiti know that life is getting set off tear gas during a “conference/ U.S. manipulated Haiti’s internal affairs harder, and it’s difficult just to debate” over corruption at the Café in 2009, when the Haitian Parliament feed themselves and their kids. Garment workers in Trio Cultural Center. One person died unanimously passed a bill raising the On May Day, workers organized Haiti, whose minimum and many were injured in the crush to daily minimum wage to $5. a panopoly of protests through- wage is only $2.50 a day. avoid asphyxiation. In Bleck, a small This caused great consternation among out the country: marches, confer- PHOTO: ISABEAU DOUCET town in the far southeast, 14 cops U.S. corporations like the Gap, Disney ences, sit-ins and town-hall-style mous Center of Haitian Workers orga- showed up with a local landlord to kick and Old Navy and companies from Hong meetings. They not only demanded an in- nized a symposium on the critical issues farmers off land they and their ancestors Kong, South Korea and Macao, which had crease in the daily minimum wage to $15, of social security and social protections. had lived on for 200 years. A brawl broke invested in Haiti’s garment industry to but brought up vital issues that must be A coalition of labor unions, farmers’ out after a young boy was killed. The cops supply U.S. brands. Under the direction addressed — transportation, social secu- associations, religious youth and others had to flee when the people seized their of then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, rity, flagrant corruption, and the dignity marched for two hours through Ouana- weapons and burned their cars. the U.S. State Department quickly and and rights of women. minthe, a major city on the Dominican aggressively pressured the Haitian gov- Unions held a big march to Champ de border. Stopping at every public office Washington plays nefarious role ernment to lower textile workers’ daily Mars in the heart of Port-au-Prince, the and institution, they loudly demanded an U.S. interference in Haiti’s internal minimum wages to $2.50. capital city, where the government was increase in the minimum wage and im- affairs started before it gained indepen- This year’s May Day activism showed holding a festival of “labor and agricul- provements in social security, health care dence from French colonialism in 1804. that the Haitian people continue to op- ture.” Festivals honoring workers were and transportation. Under orders of President George Wash- pose U.S. imperialism’s interference in organized in many locations, especially in Only a small proportion of Haitian ington, the U.S. delivered “foreign aid” their political and economic affairs, as Jacmel, where it has become a tradition. workers have a steady job. Their unions to the slave masters attempting to crush they demand a living wage and other im- On the road to Pétionville, the Autono- took to the streets on May 1 to support the the Haitian Revolution. After the peo- provements in their standard of living. workers.org May 24, 2018 Page 9 Capitalism, Cuba and human rights

By Cheryl LaBash Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Paril- The State Department’s report claims confusing voter registration issues to re- la emphasizes how far Cuba’s socialist that the U.S. “promotes and defends” the strict access to the ballot in Cuba. Every- Scarcely one month apart, the U.S. revolution has come in just 60 years. He inalienable rights with which every per- one is automatically registered when they and Cuba each released a review of hu- contrasts living conditions today to those son is endowed. However, these rights are become 16 years old. man rights. endured from 1898 until 1959, the year defined under capitalist legal systems. Even after hundreds of years of colo- On April 20, the U.S. State Department the Cuban Revolution toppled the U.S.- As the great novelist and master of nial exploitation and slavery, followed released its “Country Reports on Human backed Batista dictatorship: irony Anatole France once wrote: “The by decades of U.S. domination, Cuba’s Rights Practices.” This is the U.S. gov- “From the time of the U.S. military law, in all its majestic equality, forbids human rights achievements in the last ernment’s take on human rights in other occupation, which severed our inde- the rich as well as the poor to sleep un- 60 years are noteworthy. Yet the Cubans countries — many of them devastated by pendence, under the governments it der bridges, to beg in the streets, and to themselves say they are not perfect and U.S.-instigated, regime-change chaos, imposed, 45 percent of children did not steal bread.” Now, of course, according to have much more to strive for and achieve. bombardments or economic sanctions. attend schools; 85 percent of the people the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens In the report Cuban Foreign Minister The report doesn’t mention any of this lacked running water; farmers lived in United ruling, corporations have those Rodriguez Parilla writes: “The strength- country’s well-known internal and ex- abject poverty without ever owning the “inalienable” rights, too. ening of the economic, commercial and ternal human rights violations, pointing land they tilled and immigrants were financial blockade imposed by the United only at those in countries it deems foes. brutally exploited. Redefining ‘human rights’ States against Cuba, and its extraterrito- The report unsurprisingly singles out “In Cuba, workers and farmers had In contrast, the recent election of the rial implementation, causes deprivations Russia, China, the Democratic People’s no rights. Extrajudicial execution, en- new Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and continues to be the main obstacle to Republic of Korea and Iran. forced disappearances and torture were Bermudez demonstrated that an election the economic and social development of Cuba submitted to the U.N. a thorough recurrent. Discrimination based on the process without capitalist domination is the country.” overview on May 16 documenting its ad- color of the skin was brutal; poverty was not only possible, but profoundly demo- Tragically illustrating his point was vances in, and defense of, human rights. rampant; and women and girls were even cratic. the May 18 crash of the Boeing 737 air- This is Cuba’s third such review since more excluded. The dignity of Cubans There was input and institutional rep- craft at Havana’s Jose Marti Internation- the 2006 formation of the U.N. Human was tarnished and Cuba’s national cul- resentation from all of Cuban society al Airport. The ongoing U.S. blockade is Rights Council’s country-by-country pe- ture was trampled upon. — unions, small farmers, women, stu- without a doubt responsible for the loss riodic review. “The Cuban Revolution led by Com- dents. There were no advertisements or of the 111 lives. For nearly 60 years, the U.S. has vio- mander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz trans- campaign contributions, no special sta- Because of the blockade, Cuba is barred lated the human rights of the Cuban peo- formed that reality and continues to tus awarded to those elected. What they from directly buying anything made by ple, including through the ongoing geno- strive to improve the quality of life, well- receive is extra work at the same pay as a U.S. corporation or containing U.S.- cidal U.S. economic, commercial and being and social justice for all of our peo- their regular job, with accountability to owned or made components. To obtain financial blockade of Cuba. Since 1992, ple, thus implementing all human rights. their mobilized constituency. what is needed for national transporta- the majority of the globe’s countries have “That willingness to protect human What about the right to a free educa- tion, Cuba must go through third parties opposed this violation of Cuba’s rights dignity, provide equal opportunities and tion and universal, quality health care or to lease aircraft. Not only is this at great through U.N. General Assembly votes. In ‘conquer all the justice’ has remained to be secure in your home without fear additional expense, but it also means 2017 the vote was 191 to 2, with only the unchanged and unswerving until today.” that a landlord or bank will evict you? that Cuba does not have ultimate control U.S. and Israel supporting the blockade. (www.minrex.gob.cu) Those are not rights under capitalism, over engineering or safety aspects. A look at how human rights are de- where getting so many of life’s necessities This recent tragedy is yet another ex- Capitalism promises, socialism delivers fended and implemented in Cuba reveals depends on the ability to pay, to have to ample of how the U.S. blockade of Cuba What Cuba’s recent report to the U.N. how thoroughly U.S. capitalist propa- scramble and fight for them. is more than unjust — it is deadly. It’s shows is that socialism, even in an under- ganda trumpets “human rights” as a po- But free education and universal another reason for people in the U.S. to developed and blockaded country, can litically loaded code phrase, usually as a health care are rights in Cuba, guaran- raise our voices and demand the end of deliver what capitalism only promises. pretext for U.S. domination, intervention teed and accessed by all — as is the right the U.S. blockade. In the report’s introduction Cuban and aggression. to vote. There are no gerrymandering or Detroit ministers host Cuban church leader

By Tyler Vosgerchian havioral Health. At the Detroit meeting the benefits for both Cuba and Detroit The Rev. Joel Ortega Dopico, presi- of lifting the U.S. block- dent of the Cuban Council of Churches, ade of Cuba were dis- and Gail Walker, executive director of the cussed. ­Council mem- Interreligious Foundation for Communi- ber Sheffield agreed to ty Organization/Pastors for Peace, met work with U.S. grad- with political and religious leaders here uates from the Latin on May 15. American School of IFCO has been a progressive voice in Medicine (ELAM) and the religious community for 50 years. Doctors4Detroit about In 1988, its founding director, the late encouraging young De- Rev. Lucius Walker Jr., founded Pastors troiters to apply to Cu- for Peace a day after Walker survived a ba’s free medical school. first-hand terrorist attack by Nicaraguan The last stop on the WW PHOTO contra forces. Gail Walker; Rev. Joel Ortega Dopico; Mike Shane, Moratorium tour was a public meet- Pastors for Peace Friendship Caravans NOW; Tyler Vosgerchian; Rev. JoAnn Watson and Cheryl LaBash ing at St. Matthew’s and began in 1992 to confront the U.S. block- with Detroit City Council Testimonial Resolution welcoming St. Joseph’s Episcopal ade of Cuba, educating U.S. grassroots Cuban Council of Churches representative. Church, where Father communities about the brutality of U.S. Kenneth Near intro- policy through action. Now, that work ing of the Council of Baptist Ministers of duced Rev. Ortega Dopico to a crowd is continued by Walker’s daughter, Gail, Detroit at the invitation of Bishop Lar- of Detroit activists. The pastor gave a who arranged for Rev. Ortega Dopico to ry London. There, he rubbed shoulders speech addressing local conditions, testi- come to the U.S. and visit with religious with Democratic hopefuls seeking the fying that the only solution to the prob- communities across the country. endorsement of the influential ministers. lems plaguing Detroit is Cuban-style so- Rev. Ortega Dopico was born in 1971 in Rev. Ortega Dopico made sure that both cialism. To him, the Christian message is Cárdenas City in the province of Matan- politicians and preachers heard his mes- inseparable from the message of national zas, Cuba. He studied at the Evangelical sage of social and economic liberation. and economic liberation. (See the full Theological Seminary of Matanzas and Later, at City Hall, Gail Walker and speech at tinyurl.com/yca46lex/.) became a Presbyterian pastor in 1997. Rev. Ortega Dopico met with the Rev. IFCO/Pastors for Peace will be return- From 2004 until 2012, he served as head Horace Sheffield Jr. and his daughter, De- ing to Detroit in June as part of their an- of the seminary. troit City Council President Pro Tempore nual Friendship Caravan to Cuba, which He became vice president of the Cu- Mary Sheffield, who, with her staff, pre- activists from Detroit and Grand Rapids ban Council of Churches in 2008 and its sented a declaration from the City Coun- will be joining. Gail Walker will speak and president in 2018, playing an important cil to the visitors. Also attending were “Dare to Dream,” a documentary about role in the steps toward normal relations former council member the Rev. JoAnn U.S. students at ELAM, will be shown on between the U.S. and Cuba. Watson and Felix Sharpe, former direc- June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Horace L. Sheffield Rev. Ortega Dopico spoke at a meet- tor of the Michigan Department of Be- Jr. Center, 12048 Grand River, Detroit. Page 10 May 24, 2018 workers.org Railroad workers hold rolling strikes #LongHotSummer Paris, France

Let’s make this a long, hot summer for eral patients, many poor women of color. the bigots and the bourgeoisie. We could go on and on with the list of This is the summer for strikes, for mass attacks — on poor people, LGBTQ people, demonstrations, for making the bank people with disabilities, people in unions. buildings and paid-for legislative offices But the essential question is: How do too hot to hold the financiers and the pol- we stop the attacks? iticians who are wrecking our lives. The only method of change the system It’s not only their blowhard bluster and offers is “vote.” racist rhetoric. Yes, Trump said some- But the so-called “democratic” vot- thing horrifying, once again, actually ing process is endlessly manipulated, calling im/migrant people “animals” and short-circuited, withheld and bought out- thereby invoking, yet again, centuries right to serve the purposes of Big Bank- when enslaving human beings of color ing, Big Business and Big Guns. Electing was supposedly justified by that word. candidates from either of the corporate Such words are the distillation of rul- parties is ultimately ineffective. Mean- ing-class actions, orders, laws. All over while, problems facing workers multiply. the U.S. in the last few weeks, Immigra- Instead, working people have the abil- tion and Customs Enforcement has ar- ity to exercise actual power. They can rested and jailed hundreds of immigrant bring a company, an institution — or the Striking railroad workers at protest outside Gare de l’Est. (At center, WW managing editor workers for the “illegal” act of trying to entire economic system — to a halt. John Catalinotto.) feed themselves and their families. And Workers can win real concessions the the administration’s planned revocation way the striking teachers and school By John Catalinotto is, those employed by the government. of temporary protective status would ex- workers have done all spring — walk out Paris Among them are the railroad workers, or pel 300,000 legal immigrants, some af- and refuse to work. The bigger the num- cheminots, and they are fighting back. ter having been in the U.S. for 30 years. bers and the longer the walkout, the more May 14 — At 4 a.m., railroad workers At the current time the unions’ tactics Overwhelmingly, this administration likely concessions can be wrung out of who have been on strike since early April are to strike two days and then go back is targeting Black and Brown people to the system. began a day-long demonstration at the to work for three days. This is open end- “purge” from the U.S. in an act parallel- But note this: In Oklahoma, after Gare de l’Est — one of the main long-dis- ed and disrupts train traffic, which is es- ing Ku Klux Klan campaigns of the 1920s the education workers went back to the tance train stations here — to punctuate sential to travel in France much more so to “clean up the nation.” schools and classrooms, the legislators their demands. than in the U. S. Let’s remember that the Klan also po- simply reversed their vote and canceled The government of President Emman- Today’s demonstration saw some hun- liced women, beating and whipping those some of the wins. uel Macron, a banker at the top of the dreds of workers, accompanied by smoke who tried to lead independent lives. This We need to win change that cannot be French state, has been waging a fierce devices and lots of noise, gather and week’s misogynist verbal battering came taken away with the next bought-and- attack against the rights of all workers, march around the large station in Paris. from the Texas lieutenant governor, who paid-for legislative vote or the next racist, mainly protections for their jobs. Past Guarding the station were some riot po- blamed the mass-shooting deaths at a anti-woman or anti-LGBTQ campaign workers’ struggles have made it difficult lice, wearing armor and carrying shields school there on women having abortions. designed to split the solidarity of workers for French capitalists to fire workers. as if ready for a big battle. Never mind the contradiction that and oppressed peoples. As in nearly all the imperialist coun- This Workers World reporter met with a most of the shooters involved in these There is a difference between winning tries — the U.S., Western Europe and group of railroad workers who were friends U.S. massacres are white men, young and concessions and overturning oppression. Japan especially — conditions for the of the group Pole for the Renaissance of old — including the recent Texas shooter Let’s make this a long, hot summer for working class have deteriorated since Communism in France. They were opti- — who have a history of domestic abuse, the bigots and the bourgeoisie. A sum- the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 mistic about the struggle. “I think we are stalking and hatred toward women. mer when they hope longingly for the and the globalization of the economy. A going to win,” said one and all. The attacks on women continue as the end — and instead see the foreshadowing smaller part of the working class is in The workers greeted Workers World Trump administration advances new of their own end, as everywhere masses unions, and many of the old manufac- Party’s presence because of the letter of “gag” rules to exclude Planned Parent- of working and oppressed peoples build turing plants have closed as they became support that WWP’s unionized workers hood from federal family planning. This connections and lay a foundation for last- less profitable than factories in low- had sent last month, which was read to service group provides care for more ing social revolution in our time. er-wage countries. workers’ meetings. International solidar- than 40 percent of 4 million Title X fed- Macron’s attacks are directed especial- ity is an important part of all struggle in ly at the workers in the public sector, that this globalized economy. Soviet victory over Nazis honored

By Sam Shipman front of the crowd with a line of Soviet Seattle hammer-and-sickle flags to pay tribute to the socialist struggle against fascism. For the third year in a row, at least 500 The crowd sang iconic wartime songs like marchers took to the streets here on May “Katyusha” and “The Red Army Is the 6 to celebrate the anniversary of the So- Strongest.” viet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany on The march came to an end at Seattle May 9, 1945. Center, next to the Space Needle, where The event started with a rally at which people gathered, took photos and thanked Soviet war veterans spoke about the need the war heroes. A concert featured tradi- to remember the contributions of the tional Russian folk music and dances. 27 million Soviet citizens killed in the Victory Day in Seattle showed the war and the country’s heroic resistance feelings of pride and sorrow with which to German fascism. They then walked Russian-Americans remember the sac- through the crowd alongside old Soviet rifices made by their families in defeat- GAZ-67s (jeep-type vehicles), receiving ing the fascist threat. It also combated red carnations along the way. Over half the liberal narrative and fearmongering the crowd held photos of their ancestors that establishment politicians in both the with the words “World War 2 Hero.” Democratic and Republican parties are The song “The Sacred War” played as a trying to build against Russia and Rus- woman dressed in a Soviet officer’s uni- sian-Americans. form called out the battle cry “Ura, tova- One example of this hostile environ- rishchi!” through a megaphone and the ment came on March 26 when the Trump

WW PHOTO crowd responded “Ura.” administration expelled 60 Russian dip- North Carolina school workers and community unite to fight right-wing legislation and Members of Workers World Party in lomats and closed the Russian Consulate demand economic justice, May 16, Raleigh. Federal Way, Wash., marched near the in Seattle. workers.org May 24, 2018 Page 11

Toronto, Canada After 12 weeks, university still on strike

By G. Dunkel ever, is that the provincial legislature Toronto, Canada passes a bill forcing the workers to return to work. In this case, it is unclear wheth- Over 3,000 contract instructors at er such a return-to-work bill would pass, York University in Toronto, Canada, have as Ontario’s parliament is currently dis- been walking picket lines since early solved because elections are scheduled March. Their strike affects nearly 50,000 for early June. students. The Canadian corporate media em- Up to half of all courses offered are phasize the problems this strike is caus- taught by contract instructors, the Cana- ing for York students. They report how dian term for adjuncts. The university ad- students are losing time and money, put- ministration made a decision to continue ting their lives on hold because they can’t as many courses as possible despite the finish their degrees. Media propaganda walkout. But being short just one credit against the strike has so far failed to take can keep a student from graduating. hold and the public blames management. The Canadian Union of Public Employ- For example, the York University Fac- ees 3903, which represents the striking ulty Association, which struck for seven contract instructors and teaching as- weeks in 1997 over pension reforms and sistants, has charged the York adminis- pay equity, issued a press release May 2: tration with being unwilling to bargain. “Since last week, non-confidence [with York’s administration insists on binding the administration] votes have passed WW PHOTO: G. DUNKEL arbitration — submitting disputes to a at council meetings at Glendon College, On strike since March, contract instructors want job security. third party that makes a final decision the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of — which the union has rejected. Over- Environmental Studies, the Faculty of was quoted as saying: “Without a doubt, the administration.” whelming majorities of the union have Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, the these votes reflect a growing sense of As shown by video clips on CUPE also voted down contract proposals, York University Graduate Students’ As- frustration with York’s approach to la- 3903’s website, student groups march- which York insisted had to be voted on. sociation, and a number of departments bor relations during the current strike.” ing in support of their teachers have Including the current dispute, York has and student associations.” He added: “In all my time at York, I have raised the demand for free public higher had five strikes over the last two decades, Richard Wellen, YUFA’s president, never seen so much public opposition to education. with both CUPE 3903 and York’s faculty union walking out. While there is some dispute over pay, this is not the focus. Contract instructors Gaza massacre ignites protests at York make an average of $7,665 Cana- dian ($5,994 U.S. dollars) a course, ac- Worldwide demonstrations erupted the Great March of Return in Gaza. The tion — Intifada, revolution!” cording to the Higher Education Quality after the Israeli massacre of unarmed protest was also part of the Day of Rage The action, uniting Palestinians, an- Council of Ontario. This is much higher Palestinian protesters in Gaza on May 14. against President Donald Trump’s reloca- ti-Zionist Jews and people of many na- than the average adjunct pay at public Palestinians were asserting their right to tion of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in tionalities, encouraged people to come universities in the United States. return to their homeland and have been violation of international law. out for a mass protest on May 18 begin- The basic issue in this strike is that trying to breach the Israeli apartheid The action took on an emergency char- ning at 3 p.m. at Times Square, Seventh contract instructors have no job securi- walls that confine 1.8 million Palestin- acter in response to the Israeli massacre Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan. ty. They are hired semester by semester. ians to a small strip of land under the of more than 60 protesters in Gaza earli- — Photo and report Greg Butterfield According to the April 15 Globe and Mail, most intolerable conditions. Here are a er in the day. the number of contract instructors rose few reports of protests: Community members came out with by 135 percent between 2003 and 2013, their whole families, and solidarity ac- New York: Palestinians say, ‘We will while the number of tenure appointments tivists came from across New York City. never surrender our right to return’ — posts with job security — increased by Palestinian flags were hung from many only 20 percent. Hundreds of Palestinians and sup- homes and businesses in a show of sup- Canadian public employees have the porters joined a May 14 rally and march port. The demonstration was called by right to strike. What generally happens through the Arab-American community Philadelphia the NY4Palestine coalition. during a lengthy strike in Ontario, how- of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, in solidarity with New York City Solidarity with Great March of Return Hundreds of people rallied and marched May 14 in solidarity with the U.S. puts stamp of approval Palestinian Great March of Return. Pro- testers advanced from Thomas Paine on Israeli murder of Gazans Plaza, past City Hall, and ended at the Kimmel Center, home of the Philadelphia Continued from page 3 ers blocked the roads in the center of Tel Orchestra, which plans to perform in Is- ment’s “crime”? Enlisting Iranian sup- Aviv for more than two hours. “Artwork At the opening rally Nerdeen Kiswani rael in June. The seventh weekly “Don’t port against U.S.-backed rebels trying to created by some students at the Bezalel of Within Our Lifetime said, “We, the Orchestrate Apartheid” protest of that carry out regime change in Syria. Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusa- Palestinian people, will never surren- tour took place May 19 at South Broad lem was banned from being displayed at der our right to return to the lands and and Spruce Street. World condemnation of Gaza murders an international science conference by an homes stolen from us 70 years ago” when — Photo and report Joe Piette Around the world, voices loud and Israeli minister after the students showed the Zionist settler state of Israel was cre- clear supported the Palestinian people. support for Palestinian protesters killed ated. Several Palestinians spoke of the From New York to Cape Town; from Al- on the Gaza border.” (Newsweek, May 17) pain their families experienced when bany, N.Y., to Detroit; from Brussels to Other governments denounced both driven from their homes during the Nak- Halifax, thousands marched in protest the embassy move and the Gaza atroc- ba, or the Catastrophe, and of their deter- of the Israeli atrocities and Trump’s com- ities. South Africa, with the infamous mination to end Israeli occupation. plicit support. apartheid regime’s 1960 Sharpeville Bill Dores of the International Action Young Jews from the group IfNotNow Massacre burned into its memory, re- Center reminded the crowd: “Every tank, blocked traffic in front of the Trump In- moved its ambassador to Israel. The au- every sniper rifle, every gas canister used Paris ternational Hotel in Washington, D.C., tocratic Erdogan government in Turkey, by the Israeli occupation forces is paid for for two hours on May 14 as they erected which Trump has showered with praise, by U.S. imperialism. That means we have a International support for Palestine an “Embassy of Freedom” to protest the withdrew its ambassadors from both Is- great responsibility.” Expressing the unity In France, people are demonstrating embassy move. Rebecca Hornstein, a rab- rael and the U.S. Even the brutal Saudi of the Filipino and Palestinian struggles, solidarity with the Palestinians as part binical school student from Philadelphia, Arabian monarchy, immersed in a devas- Mike Legaspi of Bayan-USA declared: of the wave of worldwide support for the said, “Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jeru- tating Pentagon-supported war against “Solidarity is our greatest weapon.” Great March of Return. Some hundreds salem puts the U.S. stamp of approval on the people of Yemen, denounced Trump’s Dozens of Palestinian flags flew during of people came out on May 15 to the the ongoing evictions and dispossession embassy move and Israeli attacks. the 2.5-hour march through the com- square at St. Philippe du Roule in central of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the Trump and Netanyahu are counting munity. Signs declared, “Jerusalem is Paris to protest the Israeli massacre. A ongoing violence directed at Palestinians on the storm of worldwide protest dying the capital of Palestine” and “Stop the larger demonstration was held on May 16 in Gaza and the West Bank — all of which down in short order so they will be able U.S.-Israeli war against Palestinians.” at the Place de la Republique. are counter to Jewish values.” (mondo- to carry out their lethal program of con- Marchers chanted, “Not another nickel, — Photo and report John Catalinotto weiss.net, May 14) quest and oppression. We must not let not another dime, no more money for Is- For more on the current Palestinian In Israel itself, more than 600 protest- that happen. rael’s crimes” and “There is only one solu- struggle, see tinyurl.com/y8vfhpcn/. Venezuela Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 60 Núm. 21 24 de mayo 2018 $1 VENEZUELANALYSIS.COM PHOTO:

El 20 de mayo Nicolás Maduro fue reelecto presidente Entrevista a Rosa Marques de Venezuela con 68 por ciento del voto. ‘En Brasil recrudeció la represión y vulneración a los derechos’ la estructura de costos en la contratación Por Jorge Marchini complejo el entendimiento de lo que es el crecimiento de las exportaciones, es, por aparato represivo actual del Estado en el lo tanto, frágil y no suficiente para garan- de fuerza de trabajo. Ello porque, en gen- Colaborador del Centro Latinoamericano eral, la justicia acababa por imponer el de Análisis Estratégico (CLAE)/Rebelión país, de su extensión y transfiguración. tizar una recuperación. En ese marco, la prisión de Lula era cumplimiento de la ley, lo que generaba Jorge Marchini.- Medidas drásticas, un pasivo laboral de valor muchas veces Rosa Maria Marques, es profesora necesaria y previsible. Se trata de la judi- cialización de la política. El gran capital, como las reformas laboral y previsional, imprevisible. A partir de la reforma, el titular del Departamento de Economía son defendidas por buena parte del es- costo de la fuerza de trabajo es calcula- y del Programa de Estudios de Pos- principal articulador del golpe de 2016, no promovió la retirada de Dilma para tablishment como necesarias “luego de ble, pudiendo ser estimado de antemano. graduados en Economía Política de años de populismo”. ¿Qué opina? Y el nivel de ese costo, con la aplicación la Universidad Católica de Sao Paulo ver a Lula volver al Palacio da Alvorada (sede presidencial). del conjunto de cambios, y sin considerar (PUCSP) y ex presidenta de la Sociedad Rosa Marques.- Para responder a esas Condenado sin pruebas, está atrapado el pasivo laboral, tiende a ser menor que Brasileña de Economía Política (SEP) y cuestiones, hay que recordar que, en en celda aislada y no puede comunicarse el actual. Este será el resultado, entre de la Asociación Brasileña de Economia Brasil, el gran capital ya estaba libre de con nadie, con la excepción de sus famil- otros, de la introducción de la suprem- de la Salud (ABrES). El fuente original obstáculos y se beneficiaba de total liber- iares y abogado. A cualquier otra persona acía de lo acordado en forma particular del artículo es Tiempo de Crisis. tad incluso antes del golpe de 2016. Esa se la ha negado la autorización de visita: en relación a lo legislado y de la creación (tiempodecrisis.org) libertad fue principalmente resultado de incluso a personalidades como Pérez Es- de diversas modalidades de vínculos, medidas realizadas durante el gobierno Jorge Marchini.- ¿Cómo está la quivel, Leonardo Boff y la propia Dilma de las cuales la más perversa es, cierta- Fernando Henrique Cardoso, pero que situación de Brasil luego de la prisión de Rousseff, y hasta a su médico personal. mente, la del trabajo intermitente. En no fueron revertidas en los gobiernos de Lula? A pesar de estar incomunicado, él términos de gestión de la fuerza de tra- Lula y Dilma que, en algunas áreas, hasta sigue frente a las encuestas en relación bajo, lo que veremos es que las empresas Rosa Marques.- Si observamos lo que se profundizaron, tal como ocurrió con la a cualquier otro carrera para la carre- tenderán a mantener un núcleo duro de viene sucediendo desde el golpe de 2016 salud. A pesar de todo, había un mercado ra hacia las elecciones presidenciales trabajadores y, en caso de que la deman- con la destitución de Dilma Rousseff, la que no tenía, hasta entonces característi- en octubre próximo. Sin embargo, no se da por sus productos aumente, contratar prisión del Lula constituye sólo un mo- cas adaptadas a las condiciones de la re- sabe si Lula podrá ser candidato. En el a nuevos empleados valiéndose de las mento más del avance de la derecha en producción del capitalismo globalizado y escenario político, y paralelo al marco diferentes formas de contratación re- Brasil. Desde entonces hemos visto no “financiarizado”. de recrudecimiento de la represión y de frendadas por la reforma. sólo congelar el presupuesto del gobierno Este era el mercado de trabajo. Su leg- la vulneración a los derechos democráti- Otro aspecto de la reforma, que es muy federal por veinte años, la eliminación de islación, que definía las condiciones de la cos y civiles, se ensaya el lanzamiento de importante, se ha aprobado que la tercer- derechos de los trabajadores y la puesta fuerza de trabajo y los trabajadores del varios candidatos. ización pueda ocurrir en cualquier activi- a la venta de lo que aún quedaba de pa- mercado formal, no estaba de acuerdo Nadie puede, con certeza, decir qué dad, del sector privado y público, sea ella trimonio estatal, destacándose los de em- con aquella defendida y practicada (cuan- pasará. En el lado de la extrema derecha, medio o fin. En el caso específico del sec- presas clave como Petrobrás y Eletrobrás, do no enfrentaba la resistencia de los Bolsonaro registra significativo apoyo y, tor público, ese cambio viene al encuen- así también una escalada de la violencia y movimientos organizados) por las empre- hasta el momento no parece afirmarse tro del objetivo de reducir el Estado. En de todas las formas de intolerancia. sas internacionalizadas. De este modo, el una candidatura más “al centro”. La el plano de las alcaldías, ya ha ocurrido El asesinato de Marielle Franco (con- conjunto de leyes que garantizan los dere- novedad, en términos de pre-candida- la contratación de empresas mediante cejal del PSOL de la ciudad de Río de chos de los trabajadores, llamado Con- tura, queda con el PSOL, que presenta al licitacíón principalmente en el área de la Janeiro, el 14 de marzo) y su chofer, An- solidación de las Leyes Laborales (CLT), líder del Movimiento de los Trabajadores educación. derson Gomes, llevó a las calles a dece- pasó a ser considerado un obstáculo para Sin Techo (MTST), Guillherme Boulos, y La reforma de la seguridad social, nas miles de personas en luto y lucha. la integración al mercado internacional. Sonia Guajajara, indígena que representa como todo el mundo sabe, está en espera, La conmoción fue de tal magnitud que Al analizarse desde el punto de vista del a varias etnias organizadas. pero seguramente entrará nuevamente las manifestaciones que siguieron a su gran capital, asociado o no al capital inter- La presencia de Sonia introduce la en la agenda del Congreso después de las muerte pueden ser comparadas con las nacional, era completamente insuficiente discusión del ecosocialismo en el debate elecciones y/o en 2019. La aplicación de del primer semestre de 2017. A pesar permitir el libre acceso a la producción y de los presidenciables, con una crítica la propuesta inicial del gobierno tenía cu- de ello, la violencia y las expresiones de circulación de mercancías y del capital: profunda a la experiencia de los gobier- atro objetivos básicos: a) el de “armoni- intolerancia de todos los tipos parecen era necesario que ello fuera acompañado nos Lula y Dilma, tanto en el trato de las zar” los regímenes previsionales entre los haber recrudecido. Es como si la muerte por la alteración de las condiciones de su tierras indígenas, como en la postura con servidores públicos en los tres niveles de de Marielle hubiera sido un momento de reproducción, lo que necesariamente im- relación a los agronegocios y al desarrol- gobierno y el de los trabajadores del mer- clivaje, de punto sin retorno, que pusiera plicaba la gestión de la fuerza de trabajo. lo de grandes proyectos, como la usina de cado formal privados sean estos rurales al descubierto los últimos velos que man- En ese contexto, asume importancia im- Belo Monte, en el estado de Pará. o urbanos; b) exigir como criterio para la tenían el odio no totalmente revelado. par la reforma laboral promovida por el jubilación la edad; c) aumentar significa- Los ejemplos de este recrudecimiento Jorge Marchini.- ¿Realmente ha gobierno Temer y su propuesta de refor- tivamente el tiempo de contribución; y d) no faltan: las ejecuciones que ocurren en comenzado la recuperación de la ma de la seguridad social. el reducir el valor de la jubilación. las periferias, en las favelas y en los lu- economía brasileña luego de años de La reforma laboral se llevó a cabo con Esa propuesta enfrentó amplio re- gares del campo donde el conflicto por caída? el fin de conceder seguridad para el cap- chazo, pues rápidamente la población en- la tierra es más agudo, resultando en la ital en general, pero principalmente al tendió de qué forma afectaría su condi- muerte de trabajadores e indígenas; los Rosa Marques.- En las últimas se- extranjero. Es para el capital que está ción de vida tanto en la vida activa como ataques a la caravana de Lula, en el sur manas el mercado ha revisado hacia la interesado en comprar o participar en cuando fuera jubilado. Por eso mismo, del país, que no se han restringido solo baja la previsión de crecimiento de la áreas públicas ahora puestas la venta esa propuesta fue modificada a lo largo a huevos y piedras, en tanto los proto- economía brasileña en 2018. En ese mo- mediante procesos de privatización o de del tiempo en que permaneció en trata- fascistas hicieron uso de explosivos para mento, se prevé algo en torno al 2,7 por levantamiento de prohibiciones legal- miento del Congreso. A pesar de ello, su bloquear su paso y dirigieron balas a sus ciento. Necesitamos ver lo que sucederá es existentes. Así, el sentido general de pilar permanece en la última versión: el vehículos; los actos de intolerancia man- hasta octubre, pues, al tratarse de un año la reforma laboral es conceder garantía de introducir la edad como criterio de la ifestados en las calles, antes dirigidos a electoral, puede haber mucha inestabili- jurídica para que el gran capital interna- jubilación y el de reducir el valor del ben- lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transexuales dad. De cualquier forma, no hay nada que cional, principalmente el financiero, pero eficio. Es innecesario decir que la pro- (LGBT) y negros, ahora son también con- indique que estamos viviendo un nuevo asociado al capital industrial y comercial, puesta de reforma de la seguridad social tra inmigrantes. ciclo de expansión. complete la integración de la economía es uno de los aspectos de la aplicación del Más recientemente, vimos con qué Los principales indicadores de la brasileña a la economía mundial. De nuevo régimen fiscal vigente en el país. brutalidad los manifestantes de la edu- economía siguen presentando pésimo esta forma, el costo del trabajo estará Jorge Marchini es profesor titular de cación infantil de Belo Horizonte fueron desempeño: bajo nivel de la inversión controlado, de modo que el capital aquí Economía de la Universidad de Buenos tratados, así como los estudiantes de la privada y caída continua de la inversión instalado pueda competir con el de otras Aires. Universidad Nacional de Brasilia. Po- pública; un elevado nivel de desempleo economías en las que es muy reducido. MO/WW ha publicado este artículo dríamos seguir la lista. (13,6 por ciento) y una caída del ingreso Los cambios introducidos por la refor- con el permiso del autor mediante una En el ejercicio de esta violencia, se en- medio de los trabajadores. El crecimiento ma acaban con garantías laborales. Este licencia de Creative Commons, res- cuentran grupos de individuos, milicias y esperado, provocado especialmente por siempre fue un problema para los empre- petando su libertad para publicarlo en fuerzas policiales regulares, haciendo más el aumento de la producción agrícola y el sarios, ya que afirmaban que dificultaba otras fuentes.