Women of the World CUPE vs CUPE: Struggle Chinese workers need Day laborers fight for Unite : International over concessions, pension solidarity and win their rights Women’s Day 3 5 7 9

IndustrialO f f i c i a l n e w s p a p e r o f the iNdustri Workera l w o r k e r s o f t h e w o r l d April 2007 #1694 Vol. 104 No. 4 $1.00 / 75p Amersino reinstates two in NYC warehouse Third worker plans appeal, IWW warehouse workers keep fighting

By Diane Krauthamer to discuss the situation. Twenty workers signed IWW membership cards, after In a legal battle that has lasted for which they marched on the warehouse more than a year, two fired union work- to inform Wang that they had joined ers are finally returning to the job with the union and demand that he comply thousands of dollars in back wages. with minimum wage and overtime laws On February 27, 2007, the National and reinstate Lopez and Pulidos. Wang Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ordered refused, and a picket followed that same that warehouse owner Henry Wang, morning. Within 45 minutes of the of Brooklyn-based Amersino Market- picket being set up, Wang capitulated ing Group, reinstate Manuel Lopez and and agreed to all of the union’s demands. Juan Antonio Rodriguez, pay full back During the week of their demand for rec- wages, and cease and desist all illegal ognition, the workers waged two more measures against the union. Wang fired brief work stoppages in order to combat five workers for organizing with the the company’s attacks and harassment. Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Both were successful and IWW organiz- in the spring of 2006, thus violating two ers filed for an NLRB election. sections of the NLRB Act. Soon after publicly declaring their Michael Rosas, an NLRB administra- IWW membership, at a shop meeting tive law judge (ALJ), found that Wang workers noticed unusual reductions in violated two sections of the National their paychecks. On the morning of April Warehouse workers walk the picket line in New York City with signs saying “Justice Now.” Labor Relations Act during the IWW 10, fifteen Amersino workers, along with IU 460/640 Food and Allied Workers Randel and other supporters, held a Union’s organizing drive at Amersino in picket to demand that Wang “pay what the spring of 2006. he owed.” Wang came out of his office to Colorado to replace Union representatives were pleased confront the demonstrators and accused with the reinstatement of Lopez and Ro- the IWW of “brainwashing” his employ- immigrants with prisoners driguez. However, they expressed regret ees and “holding his company hostage.” that Rosas failed to include a third fired According to the NLRB ruling, he also Produce aisles in grocery stores reportedly the first of its kind. worker, Eliezer Maca Gallardo, in the de- said: “Over my dead body there will be a across America may soon be filled with “The reason this [program] started cision. The union plans to file an appeal union in this plant.” Despite his hostility, the fruits of prison labor. is to make sure the agricultural industry with New York City labor attorney Stuart when faced with the prospect of a strike, Since passing draconian immigration wouldn’t go out of business,” state Rep. Lichten and keep up pressure on the Wang backed down and promised to laws last summer, the state of Colorado Dorothy Butcher told the Los Angeles streets in order to win Maca Gallardo’s resolve the pay issues. has suffered from a shortage of farm Times. After the mass exodus of immi- reinstatement. On the days leading up to the workers, as many undocumented immi- grants following last year’s crackdown, “I think we have a really strong case NLRB election, the company attempted grants left the state. crops were left to rot in the field. Now here,” Lichten said, referring to the (unsuccessfully) to bribe workers to Colorado now hopes to solve this prisoners who are considered a low secu- union’s plans to appeal. “I can’t un- not vote, and used a common strategy crisis by replacing immigrants with rity risk will have the option of working derstand why [Maca Gallardo] wasn’t of “padding” the Excelsior list of voters prisoners. in the fields under the watchful eye of reinstated. The factual findings were to include non-workers. Eliezer Maca The state Department of Corrections armed guards—for 60 cents a day. correct, but the judge just came to the Gallardo, the IWW’s sole observer of the announced in late February that they Immigration rights advocates were wrong conclusion.” election, knew who did and who did not hope to launch a new program whereby stunned by the proposal. work for the company, and challenged 13 the Department will provide over a “Are we going to pull in inmates What happened ballots. Wang’s observer challenged an dozen farms with inmates to pick pep- to work in the service industry too?” Shortly after Amersino workers additional 9 ballots. pers, onions and melons. The program is Continued on 3 began to unionize with the IWW in On April 29, workers walked out February 2006, attorneys from Make in solidarity, when Wang fired both the Road by Walking and the Urban Gallardo and Rodriguez. Wang imme- UK ‘super-union’ forming on May Day Justice Center began taking affidavits diately brought in scabs, locking out British union members recently vot- Amicus leader Derek Simpson said from the workers to build a back wage all union workers. A three-day strike ed to merge two major unions into what the merger would unleash “the greatest and overtime wage case. On March 18, ensued, including a widely attended May is being called a ‘super-union’ number- campaigning force on behalf of ordinary Wang terminated Manuel Lopez and Day picket. On May 2, union workers ing nearly two million workers. people that has ever existed.” Simpson Rene Pulidos for union activity. On the returned, but Lezama, Maca Gallardo, The Transport & General Workers’ added that the union was a “precursor” morning of March 20 Amersino workers Rodriguez, Pulidos and Lopez were not Union (T&G) represents 777,000 work- to a “single global trade union move- met with IWW organizers Bert Picard allowed back in. ers across many industries and Amicus ment capable of challenging the might of and Billy Randel in a nearby coffee shop Continued on 6 represents 1.2 million manufacturing multinationals who seek to play work- workers in the United Kingdom. An- forces and governments off against each Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage other big general union, the GMB, with other to reduce jobs and hard won pay PO Box 13476 PAID 575,000 members, decided against join- and conditions.” Philadelphia, PA 19101 ing at its conference last year. In 2005, the merger talks prompted Philadelphia, PA and additional Both Amicus and T&G are staunch concern by the Trades Union Congress ISSN 0019-8870 mailing offices supporters of the Labour Party govern- (TUC) that it may lose its role as the ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED ment and critics of Prime Minister Tony single voice of the British trade union Blair’s efforts to sideline the voice of movement. unions within the party. The only union However, the new union – which that rivals the merged union in size will has no name yet – is more inclined to be another general union, UNISON, with confront the TUC, rather than abandon 1.3 million members. it. The T&G’s Woodley promised to “take Both unions are heralding the merg- the TUC by the scruff of the neck and er with feisty rhetoric. T&G secretary turn it into an agent for campaigning Tony Woodley promised that the merged change” during a December 2006 speech union would be a “progressive, organis- in Birmingham. ing, fighting back industrial giant.” About 27 per cent of T&G and Am- Subscribers: The number (top line of label ) reflects the last issue due on your subscription. icus members voted on the merger. Page  • Industrial Worker • April 2007 Letters Welcome! Fighting oppression on all fronts: Send your letters to: The IWW Women’s Caucus call for action [email protected] with “Letter” in the subject. By Diane Krauthamer At the IWW General Assembly in sexism are negatively affecting our ev- eryday union work, and thus negatively Mailing addresses: September 2006, approximately ten Thank you for a great article by Erik women joined together for a Women’s affecting organizing as a whole. Davis on raising a working-class culture. Caucus meeting. At this meeting, we Many of us become alienated when Radical and wobbly parents are often IW, POB 13476, agreed to propose that the IWW adopt we feel that we have little or no voice. overlooked and ignored. Great article, Philadelphia PA 19101 USA the Edmonton GMB’s Anti-Harassment Sometimes it can take a lot of stamina to great subject, thanks. Policy, and we also discussed how we continue working with people who you could help make the union more gender- feel are not respecting your judgment or fellow worker traci IW, PO Box 52003, equal. Some of the ideas we discussed opinions. Providence, Rhode Island 298 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON included making the IWW more ap- Part of this has to do with men being K1N 1S0 Canada pealing to women and GLBTQ folks threatened when they feel that women worldwide, but many of these ideas were are taking on their leadership roles, thus subsequently never pursued, as those of assuming a certain level of power and IWW endorses Gran Paro Americano us who spoke at this meeting live on op- authority that they are otherwise not posite sides of the world. granted. For a man, it can take a lot of to support immigrant rights in the US The Anti-Harassment Policy is in- strength to simply allow a woman to do tended to create a system of accountabil- a task that affects organizing as a whole ity for situations in which discrimination and it can be even more difficult to sit The General Executive Board of the IWW on March 8 endorsed the second has reached the absolute rock-bottom down and listen to concerns that ques- “Gran Paro Americano” (Great American Boycott), a general strike and day of ac- within the IWW. It does not address the tion or challenge internalized under- tion for immigrant rights in the United States to be held on May 1, International institutionalized sexism that many of us standings of who you are and how you Workers Day. feel everyday, at work and in our daily relate to others. Momentum is building and organizers hope to match or surpass last year’s lives. In particular, it does not address However, men and women alike are enormously successful “Paro”. The IWW endorsed the first Gran Paro Americano some of the concerns that women have discussing ways to deal with such issues and many wobblies participated in marches, job actions and other activities in in fighting for social change. in informal discussions and over the response to the call for action. IWW officers are urging all members, branches and While many of us do believe that in- internet. supporters to get involved in this important movement and demonstrate our soli- dustrial solidarity, union democracy and The Women’s Caucus invites all darity with the millions of immigrant workers who are under attack on so many organizing workplaces ultimately will women workers of the world to join this discussion by subscribing to our email fronts right now. lead to an end to all forms of domination and oppression, some of us tend to find list-serve: http://lists.iww.org/listinfo/ For more information visit www.mayday2007.org in our interactions that issues such as womenscaucus Industrial Worker IWW directory The Voice of Revolutionary Australia United States Iowa City: Seamus Mulryan, del., 319-248-3589. Ohio Industrial Unionism IWW Regional Organising Committee: M. Payne, Arizona [email protected] Ohio Valley GMB: PO Box 42233, Cincinnati Secretary, PO Box 1866, Albany W.A. [email protected], 45242. IU 660: PO Box 317741, Cincinnati 45231, Phoenix GMB: 1205 E. Hubbell, 85006-1758. 602- Maine Organization www.iww.org.au [email protected]. 254-4057. Aaron Rothenburger, del., 480-303-9580. Norumbega: Barry Rodrigue, del., PO Box 57, Bath education Sydney: PO Box 241, Surry Hills. [email protected] Arkansas 04530. Oklahoma emancipation Melbourne: PO Box 145, Moreland 3058. melb@ Tulsa: Karl Howeth, P. O. Box 213 Medicine Park Fayetteville: PO Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859, Maryland iww.org.au 73557, 580-529-3360. Official newspaper of the [email protected]. Baltimore IWW: c/o Red Emmaís, 800 St. Paul St., British Isles California 21202, 410-230-0450, [email protected]. Oregon Industrial Workers IWW Regional Organising Committee: PO Box Los Angeles GMB: PO Box 65822, 90065. Lane County: 541-953-3741. of the World 1158, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE99 4XL UK, rocsec@ Massachusetts North Coast GMB: PO Box 844, Eureka 95502-0844. www.eugeneiww.org Post Office Box 23085 iww.org.uk, www.iww.org.uk Boston Area GMB: PO Box 391724, Cambridge 707-725-8090. BST Angie Hart: [email protected] 02139. 617-469-5162. Portland Industrial District Council: 311 N. Ivy St., Cincinnati OH 45223 USA IWW London: c/o Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel 97227, 503-231-5488. [email protected] Oakland: Evergreen Printing, 2335 Valley Street, Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW, 513.591.1905 • [email protected] High Street, London E1 7QX. [email protected] Oakland, CA 94612. 510-835-0254 [email protected] Po Box 1581, Northampton 01061. Pennsylvania www.iww.org Leicestershire: PO Box 7903, LE3 0WT. klas-batalo@ aol.com www.leicestershire-iww.org.uk San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Western Massachusetts GMB: 43 Taylor Hill Rd., Lancaster GMB: PO Box 796, 17608. membership@ Buyback IU 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain IU Montague 01351. 413-367-9356. LancasterIWW.org, http://LancasterIWW.org General Secretary-Treasurer: Manchester: www.iww-manchester.org.uk 660 Job Shop) PO Box 11412, Berkeley 94712. 510- Philadelphia GMB: PO Box 42777, 19101. 215- Mark Damron Michigan Scotland 845-0540. Meetings first Thursdays at 7 p.m. (2022 222-1905. [email protected] Union Hall: 4530 Detroit GMB: PO Box 08161, 48208. [email protected] General Executive Board: Clydeside GMB: iwwclydeside.mahost.org. Blake St., Berkeley) Baltimore Ave., 19143. Grand Rapids GMB: PO Box 6629, 49516. Cole Mike Bell, Patrick Brenner, Edinburgh IWW: c/o 17 W. Montgomery Place, EH7 San Jose: Adam Welch, del. 408-795-9672. email: Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: papercrane- Dorsey, secretary, 616-881-5263. Kevin Farkas, Adam Lincoln, SHA. [email protected] [email protected], 610-358-9496. Bryan Roberts, Scott Satter- Central Michigan: David Finet, 5007 W. Columbia Canada Santa Barbara GMB: PO Box 23008, 93121. 805- Pittsburgh GMB : PO Box 90315, 15224. white, Richard Seymour 689-3086, [email protected] Rd., Mason 48854. 517-676-9446, happyhippie66@ Alberta hotmail.com [email protected] Edmonton GMB: PO Box 75175, T6E 6K1. edmon- Colorado Texas Co-Editors: Denver GMB: c/o P&L Printing Job Shop: 2298 Clay, Minnesota [email protected], http://edmonton.iww.ca. Twin Cities GMB: PO Box 14111, Minneapolis 55414. Austin GMB: PO Box 650011, 78765. waterloowob@ Peter Moore & Mike Pesa Denver 80211. 303-433-1852. British Columbia 612- 339-1266. [email protected] monkeywrenchbooks.org, 512-320-8427. [email protected] Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT): delegate: 970-903- Vancouver IWW: PO Box 4755, Stn. Terminal, V6B 8721. [email protected] Missouri Utah 4A4. 604-682-3269 x8493. [email protected] Contributions welcome. Kansas City GMB: c/o 5506 Holmes St., 64110. Salt Lake City GMB: PO Box 520835, 84152-0835. http://vancouver.iww.ca. Florida Next deadline is April 6. 816-523-3995. [email protected]. Gainesville GMB: 1021 W. University, 32601. 352- Manitoba 246-2240, [email protected] Montana Washington US IW address: Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, PO Box 1, R3C 2G1. Bellingham: P.O. Box 1793, 98227. BellinghamI- Pensacola GMB: PO Box 2662, Pensacola, FL Construction Workers IU 330: Dennis Georg, del. POB 13476, Philadelphia [email protected]. Garth Hardy, del., garth. 406-490-3869, [email protected] [email protected] 360-920-6240. [email protected]. 32513-2662. 840-437-1323, iwwpensacola@ PA 19101 USA yahoo.com, www.angelfire.com/fl5/iww Industrial Transportation Project: Arthur J Miller, New Jersey PO Box 5464, Tacoma 98415-0464. Ontario Hobe Sound: Peter Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, Central New Jersey GMB: PO Box: 10021, New Canada IW address: Ottawa-Outaouais GMB: PO Box 52003, 298 33455-6608, 772-545-9591, okiedogg2002@yahoo. Brunswick 08904. 732-979-9973 xaninjurytoallx@ Olympia GMB: PO Box 2775, 98507. 360-956-9256. PO Box 52003, 298 Dalhousie St, Dalhousie St. K1N 1S0, 613-225-9655 Fax: 613- com yahoo.com [email protected] 274-0819, [email protected] French-language del: Ottawa, ON K1N 1S0 Northern New Jersey GMB: PO Box 844, Saddle Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934. Mathieu Brule [email protected]. Georgia 877-815-5684, www.seattleiww.org. ISSN 0019-8870 Atlanta: Keith Mercer, del., 404-992-7240, iw- Brook 07663. 201-873-6215. [email protected] Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H 3L7, Spokane: Tim Hill, 509-218-9622. Periodicals postage 705-749-9694, [email protected] [email protected] New Mexico Wisconsin paid Philadelphia PA. Toronto GMB: c/o Libra Knowledge & Information Hawaiíi Albuquerque: 202 Harvard SE, 87106-5505. 505- Madison GMB: PO Box 2442, 53703-2442. www. Svcs Co-op, PO Box 353 Stn. A, M5W 1C2. 416-925- Honolulu: Tony Donnes, del., 808-547-2042. 331-6132, [email protected]. Postmaster: Send address madisoniww.info. Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 7250. [email protected] [email protected] New York changes to IW, Post Office Box 1334 Williamson, 53703. 608-255-1800. www. Finland Illinois NYC GMB: PO Box 7430, JAF Station, New York City lakesidepress.org. Madison Infoshop Job Shop: 1019 23085, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA Helsinki: Reko Ravela, Otto Brandtintie 11 B 25, Chicago GMB: PO Box 18387, 3750 N. Kedzie, 60618. 10116, [email protected]. Jim Crutchfield, I.U. Williamson St. #B, 53703. 608-262-9036. 00650. [email protected] phone: 312-638-9155. 650, [email protected]. Two Degrees Coffeeshop Job Shop: 307 W. Johnson SUBSCRIPTIONS Carbondale: Jason Leonard, Southern Illinois Starbucks Campaign 347 Maujer St. Apt. #C, St., 53703. 608-257-7888. Just Coffee Job Shop: Individual Subscriptions: $15 Germany delegate. [email protected]. Brooklyn, NY 11206 Daniel Gross: 917-577-1110 www.justcoffee.net. Library Subs: $20/year IWW Kontakts: Lutz Getzschmann, IWW c/o RMB- Tomer Malchi: 646-753-1167 GDC Local #4:P.O. Box 811, 53701. 608-262-9036. Union dues includes subscription. Infoladen, Hamburger Allee 35, 60486 Frankfurt am Central Ill.: PO Box 841, Charleston 61920. 217- Main. [email protected] 356-8247 [email protected] Railroad Workers IU 520: Ron Kaminkow,PO Box Published eleven times per year. Frankfurt: [email protected]. Champaign: David Johnson, 217-356-8247. Upstate NY GMB: PO Box 235, Albany 12207, 3010, Madison 53704, 608-358-5771.eugene_v_ Articles not so designated do not 518-833-6853 or 861-5627. www.upstate-nyiww. [email protected]. reflect the IWW’s official position. Koeln: [email protected]. Waukegan IWW: PO Box 274, 60079. org. [email protected], Rochelle Semel, Milwaukee GMB: PO Box 070632, 53207. 414- Munich: [email protected] Iowa Press Date: March 18, 2007 del, PO Box 172, Fly Creek 13337, 607-293-6489, 481-3557. Cedar Rapids: Drew Robertson, del., 206-290-9072. [email protected]. April 2007 • Industrial Worker • Page  International Women’s Day Attacks Inequality March 8, 2007, marked the ninety- to observe the occasion. seventh annual observation of Inter- • Britain: Scottish public service national Women’s Day (IWD). The workers launched a “Time to Get Equal” holiday was first observed in 1909 by campaign, lobbying Parliament and bill- the Socialist Party of America, although ing the Scottish executive for money to earlier dates cited by some include a protest unequal pay for women in public 1908 march of 15,000 women in New service. Also, on March 10th, prominent York City and an 1857 demonstration of unionists from several countries, includ- women garment workers in New York ing the leaders of Zimbabwe’s Congress against deplorable working conditions. of Trade Unions, spoke at a “Rally for IWD went international for the first Dignity” on March 10th in London’s time at a Women’s Conference in Copen- Trafalgar Square. hagen, Demark in 1910. Since then it has • Vietnam: Several unions and grown into a global day of awareness and nonprofit organizations sponsored an support for women’s rights and to honor exhibit of over 200 photos and items the contributions of women. The defense that told the stories of mothers who of women’s economic and workplace overcame serious barriers to raise their rights has long been an important com- children. ponent of the IWD and this year was no • Australia: On the eve of Interna- exception. tional Women’s Day a group of Mel- Marches, rallies, conferences and bourne cleaners joined Australia Coun- other actions took place around the cil of Trade Unions president Sharan world on March 8th. Here are just a few Burrow outside 121 Exhibition St, a examples: prominent city building, to publicize • Brazil: 20,000 people dem- that impact of the Howard government’s onstrated in São Paulo, in defense of workplace laws on working women. women and in opposition to the pres- • Canada: SEIU Canada and other ence of George Bush. Similar rallies took unions participated in several events place throughout Latin America. across Canada, including a conference • Ghana: The Trades Union Con- in Saskatoon, a protest march in Halifax gress (TUC) hosted an IWD seminar and and two Women’s Fairs in Ontario called an aggressive affirmative action program to “give women equal repre- The struggle continues... sentation at all levels in the workplace”. Despite the aura of celebration, Meanwhile, the Organization of African much sobering news has surfaced about Trades Union Unity held a celebration the plight of women. Journalists around titled “Generation of Women Moving the world are reporting the persistence History Forward”, and declared in a of pay inequality and workplace dis- press release that International Wom- Graphic by Ned Powell crimination against women on a mas- en’s Day “should spark a new interest, ¡Ya basta! sive scale. The group Reporters Without ensure maximum promotion of Inter- Borders issued a new study for Inter- national Labour Standards and women • Nepal: The General Federation of gender based discrimination, ratifica- national Women’s Day citing an alarm- workers’ rights for increased productiv- of Nepalese Trade Unions and the Trade tion of ILO conventions No. 156, 183 and ing increase in violence against women ity and wealth creation that will result in Union Committee for Gender Equality 177 and one third women participation journalists. reduced poverty levels in a sustainable and Promotion held a mass demonstra- in all sectors of employment,” as report- “More and more women journalists manner for a friendlier socio-economic tion and rally in Kathmandu “demand- ed on GEFONT’s website. The Nepalese are the victims of murder, arrest, threats environment” ing equal pay for equal value of jobs, end government gave all women paid leave or intimidation,” said the report. Women unionists and human rights defenders Preamble of the IWW Constitution are frequently intimidated, beaten, raped The working class and the employing Join the IWW Today and even murdered for their activities. class have nothing in common. There can he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the As we celebrate the gains of women be no peace so long as hunger and want job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions let us keep in mind that we still have a are found among millions of working T today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and long way to go before we achieve gender people and the few, who make up the em- distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire popu- equality. An injury to one is an injury to ploying class, have all the good things of lation, not merely a handful of exploiters. all, and radical unionists of all genders life. Between these two classes a struggle We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially must realize that every attack on wom- must go on until the workers of the world ­– that is to say, we organize all workers on the job into one union, rather than divid- en’s rights is a serious stumbling block organize as a class, take possession of the ing workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. on the road to revolution. means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a truly system, and live in harmony with the international union movement in order to confront the global power of the bosses earth. and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fellow Colorado prison We find that the centering of the man- workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. agement of industries into fewer and fewer We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have labor for farm work hands makes the trade unions unable to representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- Continued from 1 cope with the ever-growing power of the nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition employing class. The trade unions foster asked Ricardo Martinez of the Denver but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes a state of affairs which allows one set of immigrant rights group Padres Unidos this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with workers to be pitted against another set asked. “You won’t have enough inmates of workers in the same industry, thereby an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. -- unless you start importing them from helping defeat one another in wage wars. Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific Texas.” Moreover, the trade unions aid the employ- workplace, or across an industry. Even anti-immigration groups are ing class to mislead the workers into the Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what issues skeptical. belief that the working class have interests to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. “If they can’t get slaves from Mexico, in common with their employers. TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation and they want them from the jails,” said These conditions can be changed and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 23085, Cincinnati OH Mark Krikorian of the right-wing Center the interest of the working class upheld 45223, USA. for Immigration Studies in Washington. only by an organization formed in such Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated ac- The current plan calls for prisoners to a way that all its members in any one in- voluntarily choose to participate. How- dustry, or all industries if necessary, cease cording to your income. If your monthly income is under $1,000, dues are ever, the US constitution provides for work whenever a strike or lockout is on in $6 a month. If your monthly income is between $1,000 - $2,000, dues are any department thereof, thus making an $12 a month. If your monthly income is over $2,000 a month, dues are $18 the possibility of forced convict labor, injury to one an injury to all. a month. which has been used in the past. The 13th Amendment, passed after the Civil Instead of the conservative motto, “A o I affirm that I am a worker, and that I am not an employer fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we War, abolishes slavery and involuntary must inscribe on our banner the revolu- o I agree to abide by the IWW constitution servitude “except as a punishment for tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage o I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. crime whereof the party shall have been system.” duly convicted.” It is the historic mission of the work- Name:______While immigrants are increasingly ing class to do away with capitalism. The Address:______spurned and most American workers are army of production must be organized, City, State, Zip, Country:______unwilling to take these hard and low- not only for the everyday struggle with paying jobs, the prison population in capitalists, but also to carry on production Occupation:______America continues to rise. when capitalism shall have been over- Phone:______E-mail:______The U.S. currently has the highest thrown. By organizing industrially we are Amount Enclosed:______number of incarcerated people in the forming the structure of the new society world: 2,186,230 in 2005, according to Industrial Worker within the shell of the old. Membership includes a subscription to the . Department of Justice statistics. Page  • Industrial Worker • April 2007 Union on-line petition backfires Lesson learned: Don’t promise 1 million signatures if the rank-and-file are not on-board

That having been said, why have workplaces and mobilize actual workers 99.9% of ETUC members not signed up is debatable. to the campaign? Why are they some- If it sounds like I’m trashing the You know that the technology of In- close to reaching it. thing like 70 months away from achiev- ETUC, I’m not. It’s a commendable ternet-based campaigning has matured But there are other lessons to be ing their target? effort and it’s great to see the huge when even the European Trade Union learned as well, and some of them reflect I think part of the reason might be investment in multilingual campaigning. Confederation (ETUC) starts using it. well on the ETUC. For example, the the very nature of groups like the ETUC And getting nearly 60,000 people to sign A group like the ETUC is almost by campaign is available online in twenty itself. Workers tend to feel closest to up to an online trade union campaign is definition going to be the very last to languages. These are not all the languag- their local union, and somewhat close no mean thing. LabourStart, which has adopt cutting edge technology. Founded es spoken in Europe, but it’s a lot more (perhaps) to their national union, but been at this for several years now, has more than 30 years ago, the ETUC rep- languages than you find on most union they are unlikely to know much about never done a campaign that got more resents 81 national trade union centers websites – even global union websites. their national trade union center. than 8,000 signatories. in 31 different European countries, And they reaching out beyond the I’ve never forgotten the response I hope that the ETUC is collecting representing some 60 million work- borders of the European Union – even if given to me by a maintenance worker those 60,000 email addresses. If they ers. Keeping in mind that dozens of the petition is addressed to the Euro- in a New York City apartment building. are, the next time they campaign, they’ll languages are spoken by those workers, pean Commission. For example, one of When asked what union he belonged be able to write directly to 60,000 activ- it is understandable that it took a while the twenty languages is Norwegian, and to, he said “32BJ”. And that was all he ists rather than only to 81 union officials, for the Confederation to get around to Norway is not a part of the European knew. He didn’t know the name of the and the next campaign will be bigger online campaigning. Union. The Norwegians still participate national union (the SEIU), nor the na- than this. But in November 2006 the ETUC in the ETUC. tional trade union center that union was If that’s the case, the ETUC cam- embraced web-based campaigns in a big The petition is brief and to the point, affiliated to (Change to Win). paign may fail to get the million sig- way, launching an initiative to support and signing up requires only a name and The ETUC is a federation of national natures it was hoping for, but could be “high quality public services available email address (some union campaigns trade union centers, each one of which the beginning of something much more to all.” And they announced the goal of ask for all kinds of useless information (like the AFL-CIO or Change to Win) is important: the online mobilization of getting one million signatures on their – the ETUC does not.) in turn a federation of national unions. trade unionists in dozens of countries in petition within a few short months. And they’ve offered an off-line The ETUC doesn’t really have support of a common cause. It’s now mid-March – nearly four version as well, which is critical to get 60,000,000 members – it has 81 mem- The petition is available online here: months have passed – and the online pe- beyond the core group of those who par- bers. Whether those members are able http://www.petitionpublicservice.eu/ tition has gotten just 56,000 signatures. ticipate in online campaigns. to mobilize At that rate, it will take another six years They have created a special domain their af- or so to reach the ETUC’s goal. A lesson name for the campaign and they’ve pre- filiates, and all unions should learn from this is to pared printer-reader versions of cam- whether never announce a numeric goal for an paign posters and logos. those af- online campaign that you are probably All this demonstrates a seriousness filiates are not going to reach – or if you do so, don’t about online campaigning which is wor- able to reach make public the fact that you’re nowhere thy of praise. down to the Australians need direct action, not elections

Direct Action Editorial, IWW Australia

The Australian Council of Trade It is disappointing to see so many Union (ACTU) bureaucrats have sold workers mobilised out in the streets, out all of the workers they claim to be willing and wanting to fight for their serving. rights achieve so little. Being told to sit The ACTU led tight and vote in a campaign against year or so is very the Liberal disempowering. Party’s Industrial A few important Relations (IR) questions arise from reforms, is noth- this course of action. ing more than an What if Labour election campaign doesn’t win the next for the Labour election? Even if Party. they do, will they Opposition to keep their promises? IR is widespread. Why put your faith There have been in politicians to look hundreds of thou- after your rights and sands of workers those of your work- all over the coun- mates? try protesting on There are other the so-called days of action organised options available to workers. The fight by the ACTU. Workers who take the can begin now. We do not need to, nor morning or day of work off - losing pay should we wait for the ALP to save us all. in the process - in order to show their It is likely to never happen. opposition to IR are tragically subjected It is time for us to use direct action to long, boring speeches from politicians as our main weapon against IR and the and trade union bureaucrats. bosses. Our workplace rights were won The speeches, although coming from by workers before us struggling and em- different mouths all reek of the same ploying direct action, not by voting and foul odor. One after the other we are told politicians. that we are going to fight these laws ‘till The battle against IR is important they are just a bad memory. but it should not be seen as our ultimate This is all well and good but the only goal. The defeat of IR should be seen solution given by the speakers is to vote as just one battle in the Class War. The Labour at the next Federal Election. The destruction of the wage system, hierar- slogan for the campaign has even been chy and capitalism should be seen as the changed from “worth fighting for” to ultimate goal of the working class. We “worth voting for”; this is a particularly look forward to fighting along side you grotesque abuse of workers’ struggle for against all the employing class. political gains. Solidarity Forever. April 2007 • Industrial Worker • Page  CUPE vs CUPE: Who’s the boss of this union?

The national staff of the Canadian On March 6, CUPE Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are staffers shut down all fighting their own national executive national offices. Three committee on the issue of who controls days later, all staff the union’s pension fund. The battle for members in Ontario control started in January 2006 when shut down their of- the union’s executive committee piled fices. Ottawa picketers concessions onto the contract negotiat- persuaded construc- ing table. The move shocked the staff tion workers to cease negotiators as CUPE had held a “no work at the building concessions” line in negotiations with site of CUPE’s new all other employers. “Special measures $20 million office. will be taken to ensure that any group CUPE staff went of CUPE members faced with contract on strike on March concessions, or under attack by govern- 16, less than a day ment legislation, has the full, mobilized after the union bosses support of CUPE,” said the union’s nego- finally agreed to return tiating newsletter, Tabletalk 2004. to the negotiating CUPE staff were in a legal strike table. A tentative deal position as of March 3. The staff workers was negotiated but have used escalating tactics to get the the membership must executive back to the bargaining table. now vote to ratify or “They want to show they’re in con- reject it. trol,” said picketer Corina Crawley, to About 25 IWWs at- explain CUPE’s policy contradictions. tending the Canadian “They talk like a union, but act like a IWW assembly in Ot- boss.” tawa joined the CUPE Picketers report that most of the picket line in Ottawa concessions were swept from the table on March 10. Wobbly over the past 15 months. However, singers Smokey Dym- management is now refusing to use the ny and Vicki Guzman FWs Vicki Guzman (right) and Smokey Dymny (guitar) sing “no concessions” with CUPE pickets in Ottawa staff pension fund surplus to improve belted out sing-along songs including CUPE members have responded to would expect our employers to give us!” benefits. “No concessions” (see page 8 for lyrics). the strike by expressing support for the said Kathryn Farr, president of CUPE “Who controls the pension? Is it the The picket buzzed with laughter, cheers staff. At least 109 CUPE locals wrote let- Local 441. workers or the management?” said Mar- and whistle blasts. Ottawa wobbly John ters of support demanding the executive The executive committee and staff garet Evans as she picketed the Ottawa Hollingsworth led the group in a round negotiate with staff and avoid a strike. dispute is happening while three CUPE office. Benefits, not wages, was the key of “Aristocracy Forever”, a biting satire “I find what is happening, no matter locals, at the University of Toronto issue in the dispute. The staff workers about union bureaucracy. what the issues are, to be an embarrass- Press, City of Cornwall paramedics and have used escalating tactics to get the “That song really touched me,” said ment for all unionized workers. End this care workers in Regina, are on strike. executive committee back to the bargain- one picketer, smiling. dispute and give the staff that we rely on CUPE is Canada’s largest union with ing table. the respect they deserve and what you 500,000 members.

Rail Strike Exposes Teamster Raid IWW members in Edmonton picket- ing in solidarity with UTU members on A 16-day strike at Canadian National CN took its cue from the UTU Inter- lunch breaks. The ITU International said strike said they saw Teamsters organiz- railway in February has exposed a deep national and complained to the Cana- this agreement was a stop-gap measure, ers on the picket line signing certifica- division between Canadian and United dian Industrial Relations Board that the meant to provide the union time to “re- tion cards and advertising meetings States railroad union leaders that played strike was illegal. The company refused group” and renegotiate a longer term where UTU members could sign up with into the hands of the employer, a pro- to negotiate, leaving the rank-and-file on contract. Yet the UTU may never get the them. business government and the Teamsters. the picket line for nine winter days. The chance. UTU International president Paul On February 10, conductors, switch board ruled on February 19 that it was a On March 1 the Teamsters filed a Thompson said he had heard of Team- workers, and yard service workers of the legal strike according to Canadian labor certification application for 2,500 UTU ster raiding plans early in 2006 and con- Canadian wing of the United Transpor- law. members in Canada. “They will finally vened a meeting in August to discuss it. tation Union went on strike. The United The UTU International, faced with have the ability to regain control of their In response to the raid rumours, he had Transportation Union, headquartered in a declared legal strike moved in to take union,” said Teamster rail President Dan proposed transferring the Canadian UTU Cleveland, Ohio, objected to the strike, control. It suspended four members of Shewchuk, citing “decisions made by members to their ally, the Steelwork- saying that only the International’s the Canadian bargaining team includ- the UTU’s officers in the United States” ers. The Canadian UTU is subsidized by president could authorize the strike ing chief negotiator, Rex Beatty, and as a motivating factor. The Teamsters the UTU International by up to US$1.3 action. The Canadian negotiators found for “self-serving treachery” to help the represent 1,750 locomotive engineers at million per year. Despite the meeting, no that this check on their ability to strike Teamsters Canada Rail Conference raid Canadian National. action was taken to discipline Beatty. significantly weakened their bargaining the UTU Canada members. power. As a result, organizers declared, Suspended chief negotiator Rex Be- the CN “has not, in our view, started get- atty responded by saying the allegations Canadian IWWs talk organizing ting serious about negotiating with us.” against him were untrue, characterizing In a February 9 letter, the four Thompson’s criticism as “deplorable” Nearly 30 IWW members from the Canadian UTU negotiators pleaded and an “obvious act of desperation.” He provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario with the International’s president, Paul said he intended to pursue legal action and Quebec met in Ottawa to discuss Thompson, to support the strike, citing against Thompson for libel. regional and industrial organizing in a membership vote of 96.6 percent in fa- The ruling in favor of the union also Canada on March 10-11. vor and the unanimous support of every denied the Conservative government It was the first time in recent mem- local’s chair. Thompson replied that the an easy exit from heavy pressure to end ory that IWWs in Canada had gathered UTU constitution tied his hands and that the strike by business lobbyists such as together to improve communications he had warned them beforehand that the Canadian Manufacturers & Export- and coordination. Wobblies came from the International has the sole power to ers, the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Edmonton, Winnipeg, Windsor, Peter- authorize a strike if negotiations fail. Association and its own Canadian Wheat borough, Guelph, Toronto, Ottawa and “[N]one of your General Committees Board. The government introduced draft Montréal. have the authority as required under back-to-work legislation enforced by The meeting addressed many ap- the Constitution to strike the Canadian binding arbitration on February 23. proaches, from organizing the unorga- National Railroad,” he said in a letter In response, CN and the UTU Inter- nized and unemployed to dual carder February 9. “The choice is yours if you national signed a tentative agreement strategies to addressing barriers to or- do not desire the assistance of my office. the next day, under the twin threats of ganizing, such as labor law, racism, clas- Jeff Pilancinski of the IWW Organizing Department I cannot force that upon you.” direct government arbitration and a sism, and sexism. People spoke frankly Public Employees staffers who are in The strike started the next day. In potential Teamsters raid of the Cana- and critically throughout the meeting. a showdown with their own union’s response, the UTU International sus- dian UTU. The government’s promise of Jeff Pilancinski (photo) from the executive committee in negotiations for pended four members of the Canadian binding arbitration now hangs over the IWW’s new Organizing Department their next contract. bargaining team including chief negotia- heads of UTU members who must return joined the meeting and facilitated two Wobblies also discussed found- tor, Rex Beatty, and refused to disburse their ratification postal ballots by March sessions on organizing. ing a Canadian internal bulletin for strike pay because the strike violated the 26, 2007. “We want people to be in a position improved communications, identifying UTU constitution. Canadian union mem- The new contract would give a three to help themselves,” he said, emphasiz- potential industrial campaigns, and bers also claim that the International’s percent pay increase and a $1,000 ing the need to organize workers and forming a regional organization of the action was “self-serving treachery” to signing bonus. However, it did not deal build their skills and confidence. IWW that would help coordinate logis- help the Teamsters Canada Rail Confer- with the driving issues of disciplinary The assembly took time out to offer tics, translation of IWW materials into ence raid the UTU Canada members. procedures, working conditions and picket support to Canadian Union of French and campaigning. Page  • Industrial Worker • April 2007

So I got these folks together and we spent some time talkin’ about griev- Tightline Johnson and the SWU: ances, strategy, and so forth. We decided that the first step was to let all the other workers know what we was thinkin’. We Building the insurrection knew that some stool would run right FICTION row, and forever. So yeah, I could have awhile is more likely to command the re- to management and fill ‘em in on all the PART 2 made a bit more money out in a lumber spect of his fellows. Lastly, if every good lurid details of our insidious red plot, but camp but so long as there’s strength in organizer riles up five or ten other good we also knew that for every stool there’d By Joseph Lapp II my arm I’ll use it for the O.B.U. There’s organizers then, my friends, we’ll own more folks who’d stand with us. It’s some that’ll argue that you gotta orga- the whole damn world in no time! always amazin’ to me how many workers In the March Industrial Worker, nize the job you’re at, and there ain’t I picked out a few likely candidates, outwardly seem to be good and willing Tightline Johnson returned to Seattle nothin’ wrong with that philosophy, but and set about talking to them about what little slaves until a union is bein’ got to- after a long stint in Alaska. Discovering there ain’t nothin’ wrong with doin’ a pissed ‘em off about the job and what gether and then they turn into the most the current Starbucks organizing cam- little carpet bagging neither. they thought should be improved. It militant agitators. I don’t blame ‘em, paign, he decides to “salt” and organize So after I was trained up they doesn’t take long on any job to figure out they’re just sidin’ with the folks most on the job. A corporate jargon-happy put me out there on the floor. I guess I what bothers the workers, and generally likely to get ‘em better pay. As each of us manager unwittingly gives Tightline should take a minute to describe what everybody’s got the same list—they just knows, playin’ friendly with the bosses a job at the coffee giant. This story is it was like out on that floor. There was never thought to talk about it before. can get you taken care of on the job, but based on a character created by Wobbly three brands of people in the shop at On this job people was angry about pay, not near as well as union solidarity can! writer Ralph Winstead. any given time: worker, manager, and they was upset about erratic and non- Sure enough, when my new buddies and customer. Now the managers could be sensical schedulin’, and they was upset I started spreadin’ the word on what we I started work the next day. Now, counted upon to do one of two things, about the fact that the bosses never had in mind we found that all but a few when I say I started workin’, that’s not either run around like idiots and ac- had enough folks workin’ to keep from of our fellow workers were willin’ and exactly true. See, Starbucks has this complish nothing other than aggravatin’ havin’ to run at a breakneck pace. I was able to lend their support. whole damn system of brainwashin’ and the workers or else be sittin’ around familiar with all these troubles. These’re After a while, we invited all inter- indoctrinatin’ new workers that they doin’ nothing at all (which also did a lot the same ones we’ve been fightin’ over ested fellow workers to a meeting to call “training”. I guess I learned a thing towards aggravatin’ the workers). My since this whole capitalism thing began. officially put together a list of demands or two about coffee making, but mostly co-workers were a motley group. Some Modern folks sometimes have trouble to send management’s way and to vote they spent the time treatin’ me to a ser- seemed to think they was somehow connectin’ with past labor struggles, but on an organizing committee. We had a mon on the great goodness of Starbucks profiting themselves by running around ask any factory girl in Lawrence in 1912 pretty good turnout. I stood up and did and how they was gonna take care of me like all the slave drivers of Egypt was and you’d likely get a very similar list of a little speechifyin’ on the IWW and in and in so doing take care of the whole at their backs. Another group seemed grievances. particular the Starbucks Workers Union darn world of coffee growers, drinkers, pretty darn unhappy to be there and It can take time to get people’s since they was already set up to help makers, sellers, and buyers. According worked only just fast enough to avoid confidence. You may find it hard to get out with our fight. We voted on it, and to them this Starbucks is the best thing gettin’ hollered at by the managers. Then people together after work to talk issues, the workers was all willin’ to contact the that ever happened to the world! Now there were ones at various stages ‘tween but you’ll rarely find a worker who’d IWW for support. We also voted up three I’ve always been of the opinion that the the two. The third group, the customers, decline the offer of a drink of some kind folks to be on the organizin’ committee. Industrial Workers of the World is the was of all sorts. Some were decent folks, after you get done with work for the day. These folks, we decided would deliver greatest thing on Earth, but I didn’t want but some deserved nothin’ better than That’s the method I used, and it worked our demands to old Scissor Bill the man- to tip my hat to management quite yet so to be knocked on their unproductive like a charm. I took out the workers who ager first thing. I just kept my peace. backsides! seemed like promisin’ pre-Wobs and The key to this sort of thing is to try I guess I didn’t mind the “training” I spent my first couple of days talked ‘em up on the issues. I didn’t get to keep everybody as fired up as you can all that much. I was gettin’ full wages for there gettin’ to know the ropes of the right in on IWW this and Wobbly that; get ‘em and to build up a spirit of togeth- my time after all, but I was eager as a coffee makin’ business and makin’ some guys’ll go that route, but it just erness so the workers will support each hungry hobo to get onto that shop floor. friends with the workers, feelin’ out ain’t me. My first trick for organizin’ a other in the coming struggle. If there’s Maybe there’s some of you readin’ this which ones would be receptive to the job is to get folks to see that they’ve all one thing I’ve learned it’s that bosses who can’t understand a man taking a gospel I was gonna be preachin’. I was got the exact same list of things that rarely give up a single cent at first. Ev- low payin’ job for no other reason than especially lookin’ for some leaders. Any just tick ‘em right off, and from there it erything the working class has ever got to cause some problems in the name good organizer knows that the first and ain’t hard to get ‘em to see that the only has been got through struggle, sweat, of the working class, but it’s long been most important job you got is tryin’ to way anything’s ever gonna change is to and blood. We ain’t never been handed my belief that there are only two good replace yourself. It’s the only occupation work together. Now that, my friends, is nothin’, ‘cept low wages and pink slips. and righteous activities to do upon this where the goal is to work yourself out of a union, and you can get it together with- Well friends, we’d just have to see Earth and that’s workin’ and organizin’. a job, reason being that organizers have out ever mentioning the IWW once. Get how management took the news of our There’s only one way to make a real and a one in five shot of gettin’ the can for the dialogue goin’, get folks talkin’ about glorious little insurrection. Worry not lasting difference in this capitalist world their efforts. They can get some of us; we change and organization, and then bring your pretty little heads, though, for your and that’s gettin’ our class together and just got to make sure they don’t ever get ‘em up to speed on the Wobbly cause. Fellow Worker Johnson has a trick or ruinin’ every capitalist’s today, tomor- us all. Also a worker who has been there two for convincin’ bosses of the wisdom of givin’ up the goods! NYC warehouse workers fight on Read Tightline’s story next month... Continued from 1 Demanding justice in courts, streets community throughout the city, told the IWW that it San Fran IWWs raise While the recent NLRB ruling comes group Make would no longer be doing business with as a victory for all of the IWW Food and the Road by Sunrise Plus. At Columbia University, funds for NYC Allied Workers Union, 460/640, it is just Walking / Se Students for Economic and Environ- one step in a long struggle. Hace Camino mental Justice (SEEJ) are calling for a “The employers can’t turn back the Al Andar, boycott of Tomo Sushi and Columbia clock,” Randel said, referring to the 22 hundreds of Cottage which also purchase from Sun- total illegal firings at five warehouses. workers and rise Plus. This, he said, is a “direct assault on their support- workers’ rights.” ers marched Fundraising The NLRB is still investigating com- IWW Bay Area assessment stamp for hours on Meanwhile, IWW branches through- plaints filed by the IWW against Sunrise the morn- out the U.S. continue fundraising efforts Plus (formerly EZ Supply), Handyfat ing of February 19 to declare solidarity to support the workers. The Twin Cities, Trading Company, Top City Produce, with those who were fired. On the brisk Providence and New York City GMBs and Giant Big Apple Beer over the illegal February morning, marchers started recently held benefit concerts and events firings at Handyfat and Sunrise Plus, as at Sunrise Plus, stopped and jeered for the fired workers. Additionally, the well as unlawful reprisals against the at Amersino, and picketed Handyfat. Bay Area GMB is selling assessment workers at the latter two shops, with The march concluded with a picket of stamps which read “I support fired New the possibility of immediate, injunctive Associated Supermarket – organized York warehouse workers” (see graphic, relief. Additionally, the Justice Depart- by Make the Road and the UFCW-affili- left). ment is opening an investigation against ated Retail, Wholesale and Department As public attention increases, orga- both Handyfat and Sunrise Plus that the Store Union—where owners engaged in nizers and workers intend to keep the companies illegally applied the Immigra- systematic wage violations that include pressure on the companies legally and tion Reform and Control Act to crush failure to pay minimum wage and over- financially. “We want to show the bosses union activity. Top City’s members are time while having other workers paid that we won’t stop fighting,” Randel said. represented by the Attorney General’s only in tips. Due to the protest presence, Support the campaign by sending Heather Gardner, Secretary of the office in their back wage/overtime case. the two striked warehouses shut down financial contributions to New York San Francisco Bay Area GMB points to start The federal court lawsuits against four their business that day, resulting in an Industrial Workers of the World, P.O. of local fundraising efforts. of the five shops are also proceeding to estimated $30,000 loss per company. Box 8266, J.A.F. Station, New York, NY deposition stage wherein the companies In addition, the IWW has been pres- 10116. You can contribute on-line, too, Members of the San Francisco will be forced to defend their illegal suring restaurants in Manhattan who through PayPal by paying to iww-nyc@ Bay Area branch are working on retaliation and open their books. purchase supplies from EZ Supplies/ iww.org, at www.paypal.com for one fund-raising for the New York City While workers await the court Sunrise Plus to buy elsewhere. Due to donation or a monthly, automatic pay- food workers who are currently fired decisions, support grows from labor consistent weekend fliering at peak busi- ment in any amount that’s manageable or laid-off from their jobs because of unions, community groups, students and ness hours outside of the stores asking for you. their organizing with the IWW. We activists. With the help of rank-and-file for customers to boycott, Baluchi’s, an Alex Van Schaick, Tom Howard and have made it our informal goal to raise labor unions, Million Worker March and upscale Indian restaurant with locations Billy Randel contributed to this article. $1,000 to send to them by May Day. April 2007 • Industrial Worker • Page  Worker Resistance in China Needs Support By Jason Fults

As most Western workers are keenly former SREs were an essential staple of largely from its ability to deliver the tional trade union expressing solidarity aware, China has experienced tremen- the pre-reform economy. They provided goods in the form of an increasing stan- with the Chinese workers in fighting for dous economic growth in recent decades, workers with not only secure employ- dard of living for the citizenry. At the better labour rights by denouncing or averaging more than 9 per cent annu- ment and a meaningful, well-respected same time that it is facing growing, dan- condemning the foreign business bodies ally for nearly the past 30 years. What role in Chinese society, but also basic gerous levels of unrest, the CCP is also in publicly.” So we must speak out where has this rapid growth meant for Chinese amenities such as housing and health a weaker position in terms of its control others cannot in order to advance both workers? care. In both instances the ACFTU’s fre- over the economy—thanks largely to the our interests. Since the late 1970s, China has been quent silence on issues of worker wellbe- very reform policies it has adopted in the At the same time, it is important to restructuring its economy: privatizing ing while instead “educating” workers to name of economic growth. To address recognize that the Chinese government state-owned enterprises, opening up support the government’s reforms has these concerns, the government has is not a monolithic whole and that there to foreign capital, and dismantling the highlighted where the union’s true ac- sought to upgrade its existing labor laws are factions which are speaking out welfare state. This restructuring has led countability lies. and to strengthen the role of the ACFTU ever more loudly on behalf of workers to unprecedented economic opportunity With few other options open to in the nation’s workplaces. Recent devel- from within the system. Some observers for some, but has been accompanied by express optimism that these advocates, deterioration of job security and basic coupled with the reforms underway, will economic rights, staggering income in fact better the situation of Chinese inequality, and dangerous levels of pol- Workers in both industrialized nations workers. lution. In addition, Chinese factories and elsewhere must strengthen and unify Anita Chan, a labor scholar at the have become synonymous with sweat- our struggles against the bosses, who are Australian National University, suggests shops, and independent investigations that the ACFTU is struggling to re-define have routinely uncovered 90+ hour working ever harder to realize their own its role within an economy and society work-weeks, abusive management, economic vision not only at home, but that is dramatically different from the below-subsistence wages, wage arrears, one in which it was created. She warns and exposure to occupational diseases also abroad. that any strategy which further isolates such as silicosis experienced by Chinese the ACFTU will only undermine genu- jewelry workers. ine efforts to improve the livelihood of Under this new model, factory them, these groups of workers have opments on these fronts are instructive. Chinese workers and that international owners can rely upon lax enforcement resorted to the same strategy as belea- In a move last summer that took unions should instead work with the of existing labor laws at the local level, guered workers elsewhere: direct action, many by surprise, Wal-Mart’s China di- ACFTU to help build its capacity. and have done their part to undermine and at a startling rate. According to vision announced that it would facilitate Yet perhaps our most efficacious worker solidarity and evade closer official government statistics, 3.76 mil- the establishment of ACFTU branches avenue for building solidarity with scrutiny. Commonly-cited company lion Chinese took part in 74,000 “mass at each of its 60 stores, covering around Chinese workers lies in forming relation- tactics include hiring workers through incidents of unrest” in 2004, rising to 30,000 “associates.” Why would a ships with the NGOs and independent employment agencies, pitting workers 87,000 “incidents” in 2005. That’s 200+ company that is internationally-recog- workers’ organizations who are striving from different regions or ethnic groups demonstrations per day, and a six-fold nized for its labor rights violations and to advance workers’ rights. Many of the against one another, targeting potential increase over the number recorded in aggressive union-busting voluntarily more “radical” of these organizations militants, imposing fines, illegally with- 1993. The motivations behind such unionize all of its stores? One of China’s have apparently found it conducive to holding wages, and falsifying records. protests vary widely, including environ- many under-enforced labor laws states locate their offices in Hong Kong; due to Under such conditions, one would mental injustices and local government that if even a single employee expresses the “one country, two systems” approach hope that workers, especially workers corruption, but many of them are in an interest in being a member of the that the CCP agreed to upon reclaim- long-inculcated with a Marxist analysis direct response to employer abuses and union, then a branch must be set up in ing Hong Kong from the UK, there is of capitalism, might have recourse in other economic concerns. that workplace. In what some consider significantly greater freedom of expres- the form of a fighting union. Unfortu- One factory in Dongguan, which had an opening bid to unionize all foreign- sion there. Most of these organizations nately, such is not the case. China’s sole been criticized by China Labor Watch owned companies, the government also have operations on the mainland union, the All-China Federation of Trade since at least 2001, was recently “vic- apparently decided that the time was and monitor developments there quite Unions (ACFTU), is largely viewed as tim” to this worker outrage. Tired of right to begin enforcing this law. Despite closely, produce regular and informa- ineffectual and pro-management, and forced-overtime and below-subsistence long-standing attempts to resist union- tive publications, and even organize most private sector workers are not even wages, these workers decided that their ization, Wal-Mart quickly embraced campaigns against particular corpora- represented. To make matters worse, livelihood was more important than ACFTU officials as soon as the company tions or on behalf of workers in specific neither independent labor organizing the Happy Meal toys they were produc- caught wind of the new policy. Notably, industries. These organizations not only nor the right to strike is protected under ing and took to the streets. In the open the changes apply only to Wal-Mart’s need our expressions of solidarity and Chinese law and both have been bru- conflict that followed, more than 1,000 retail employees and not the Chinese participation in their campaigns, but due tally repressed. A few Hong Kong-based workers clashed with security personnel manufacturing companies that make up to the severe lack of an NGO-infrastruc- pro-labor NGOs have maintained on-line and destroyed company property until 80 per cent of Wal-Mart’s suppliers. ture they also need more direct support. listings of dozens of Chinese activists riot police regained control of the fac- In another much-publicized develop- China is without a doubt a nation who are currently incarcerated (some for tory. A separate incident in a Xianyang ment, China’s National People’s Con- on the rise, and what happens within its 20 years to life) for organizing outside textile factory in 2004 involved as many gress has recently drafted new legislation borders will have profound implications the confines of the ACFTU. as 7,000 former SRE workers. These which will affect important issues such for the entire planet for generations to workers took pre-emptive action when as the ACFTU’s collective bargaining come. While no one can predict exactly Reeling from economic “reform” a new majority shareholder of their fac- rights and job security, among others. what the outcome will be, a growing It appears that many Chinese work- tory proposed changes that would affect Further, the draft legislation could raise number of academics, politicians, and ers are caught in an ever-tightening vise wages, seniority rights, and working con- the stakes significantly for companies bosses are watching the numbers and grip between unsympathetic and repres- ditions. After their initial efforts to form that continue to violate the country’s hedging their bets. People who hold sive elements within their own govern- a worker-run branch of the ACFTU were labor laws. This aspect of the legislation genuine concern for our planet and its ment, a weak and unrepresentative rejected by union officials they waged a is crucial and underlies long-standing inhabitants have no such luxury, how- official union, and the forces of interna- six-week, 24-hour a day picket line. This difficulties in enforcing central govern- ever. For us, the path is clear, and we tional economics. Two groups of Chinese action brought them into direct conflict ment policies—especially those related must heed the simple yet sage advice of workers have borne the brunt of this as- with local authorities who attempted to to labor and environment—that may be Gandhi: “The future depends on what we sault perhaps more fully than most: mi- forcibly break the strike and arrest its perceived as inhibiting economic growth. do in the present.” grant laborers (disproportionately young leadership. During the period of writing and women) and workers who have retired Such large-scale and highly-charged The way forward researching this article IWW member or been laid off from formerly State-Run direct actions present an apparent There are differing opinions amongst Jason Fults was a Thomas J. Watson Enterprises (SREs). As foreign invest- paradox with the notion of an authori- labor scholars as to whether the barriers fellow based in South Asia. To obtain a ment has flooded China’s manufacturing tarian society. Yet it has been observed to a true workers’ movement in China list of works cited or sources for further sector and privately-owned workplaces that some Chinese authorities exhibit are insurmountable, at least for the im- information or constructive criticism, he have replaced the socialist danwei, or significant “class consciousness” in mediate future. Clearly though, workers can be reached at [email protected]. work unit model of production, up to their responses to worker unrest. For need and deserve a greater degree of 200 million rural Chinese have migrated instance, protests by retired and unem- political freedom in order to collectively to the cities in search of employment ployed workers are treated more deli- advance their interests, and either re- Subscribe to the and a better way of life. Many of these cately than those which actually threaten claim or replace existing structures that Industrial Worker today workers haven’t been provided with to halt production. In addition, authori- have failed them. It is shameful though Subscriptions are $15 per year. legally-required labor contracts by their ties seem much more willing to tolerate sadly unsurprising that there has not Enclosed: $15 for 1 year bosses and aren’t officially registered in unrest when it involves only one factory been greater pressure from the West for $_____ donation to IW Sustaining Fund their new residences; hence they have or industrial sector, but respond with China to “open up” to more than just $15, bundle of 5 for 6 issues been more susceptible to abuse and less brutal efficiency if these actions begin to foreign capital flows. Yet this strategic (ask about special IWW member rates or non-US able to seek recourse or access public draw wider support from the public or inaction reminds us that workers in both subscription rates) services. other sectors. industrialized nations and elsewhere Meanwhile, nearly 40 million former must strengthen and unify our struggles Name: ______SRE workers had been laid off by 2001, Turning tide? against the bosses, who are working ever Address:______often leaving them with only a meager The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) harder to realize their own economic City/State:______and temporary unemployment compen- has genuine cause for concern. The vision not only at home, but also abroad. sation package. The dismantling of the CCP’s legitimacy as a tightly-controlled, As noted in a recent issue of Asian Postal Code: danwei system and its impact on these monopolistic ruling party that suppos- Labour Update: “[T]here is virtually no send to: Industrial Worker Distribution workers cannot be understated, as the edly represents workers’ interests stems voice on this issue from any interna- PO Box 23085, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA Page  • Industrial Worker • April 2007 Iraqi cabinet New Australia IWW pamphlet approves oil a laugh and a song The Australian IWW’s Corrosive privatization Press launched a new pamphlet this week. The U.S.-backed Iraqi national and unions will Its title “Fanning Discontent’s cabinet approved controversial new become vulner- Flames: Australian Wobbly Poems, legislation on February 26 that will turn able to the power Scurrilous Doggerel and Song 1914 over two thirds of the country’s rich oil of multinational - 2007” sums up the general drift of reserves to foreign corporations. corporations. the thing. It works surprisingly well. Now that the 3-member Cabinet has On February 8, Here we find working people express- given the policy its OK, Iraq’s Parlia- several unions ing their views upon what is happen- ment is expected to ratify. However, as sent a letter to ing around them, their hopes for the we go to press, Parliament is only seeing Iraqi President future, their loyalty to their union. the draft document for the first time. Jalal Talbani urg- There is humour everywhere, Prior to the Cabinet’s approval, the only ing him to oppose much exasperation at the “boneheads” people to see the proposed law were the the legislation. of their own class who are the real drafting committee, nine international “Production-shar- reason capitalism continues and pain oil companies, the British and the U.S. ing agreements at the suppression of their union and governments and the International Mon- are a relic of the the jailing of the twelve leaders. etary Fund, according to a report from 1960s,” said the Together they succeed in creating the Inter Press Service News Agency letter, as quoted radicalgraphics.org a picture of what a vibrant, militant, (IPS). by IPS. “They will re- undogmatic and rebellious workers Iraqi officials are praising the imprison the Iraqi economy and impinge movement looks like. proposed law, arguing that it is an on Iraq’s sovereignty since they only pre- Most of the old favourites are important step forward for the war-torn serve the interests of foreign companies. there such Bill Casey’s “Bump Me Into country. “This law will guarantee for We warn against falling into this trap.” Parliament” or Jack O’Neill’s “Bill Iraqis, not just now but for future gen- Some critics also predict that this Magee”. whimsy while others do not hesitate to erations too, complete national control law—which will be enforced by the But there are many that have not become the raw proletarian. Surpris- over this natural wealth,” Oil Minister military power of occupying U.S. and been seen and read for many a long year ingly this does not matter too much as Hussain al-Shahristani has reportedly coalition forces—will provide the United such as Mrs Cow’s lamentation of how the compilation comes together into said. Proponents point out that the oil States with an excuse to prolong the she, like other workers, had been milked something much more than the sum of revenues would be distributed by popu- occupation, under the pretext that a con- and slaughtered by sectional unionism. its parts. lation size to all 18 provinces of Iraq and tinued troop presence will be necessary Nor does the volume stop back in “Fanning Discontent’s Flames” is an that the legislation provides for a degree to protect the property and personnel of the days of World War One and horse A5 pamphlet of 44 pages. of regional autonomy in negotiating con- American oil companies. They also warn drawn aeroplanes. Some are drawn from Members of the IWW in Australia tracts with international oil companies, that the turning over of oil resources the organisations that Wobblies used to will, as usual, get their copy with the helping to prevent further escalation of to American corporations will further try to beat their “unlawful associations” February mail-out of the Australian inter-regional conflicts. Supporters of inflame the already explosive politi- status, some from the relaunching of Members’ Bulletin. the legislation also insist that the Iraqi cal situation in Iraq and lead to more Direct Action in the late 1920’s and quite Anyone else can get one for $2 plus people will still own the nation’s oil re- violence and instability. Ewa Jasiewicz, a reasonable selection from later incar- postage ($1 in Australia) from Corrosive sources—they just won’t manage them. a researcher at PLATFORM, a British nations of the IWW spirit in much more Press, Post Office Box 1866, Albany, However, the bill is facing wide- human rights and environmental group recent times and publications. Western Australia 6331. Contact Corro- spread criticism and indignation from that opposes the bill, told IPS that the Some of the writers had or have a sive at [email protected] for details many sources, perhaps the most notable policy “will be viewed by most Iraqis as real talent for words and language, oth- of bulk orders. being Iraq’s oil worker unions. Union not just illegitimate, but a war crime”. ers less so. Some soar on wings of poetic leaders, who were not consulted at all The proposed law, if passed, will during the drafting of the bill, are ex- make Iraq unique among major oil- pressing grave concern that this decision producing countries in the Middle East. A song for the picket line... will put the country on a path toward Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Kuwait all retain total privatization of the oil industry, public control over their oil resources, which has been in the public sector for entertaining only individual technical No More Concessions over thirty years. With proposed con- service contracts for specific services tract lengths of 15 years or more and such as building a refinery or laying an Tune: So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Yuh” by Woody Guthrie. provisions exempting foreign oil cor- oil pipeline. None of these countries al- New words: Glenn R. Plummer, 1984 with Canadian lyrics by porations from the authority of Iraqi low for the kind of sweeping long-term Smokey. courts, unionists and others argue that contracts that the Iraqi Cabinet has put there are no safeguards in place to hold forth. “It’s a form of privatisation and Chorus these companies accountable for their that’s why those countries haven’t signed There’ll be no more, no more concessions, actions. The likely result, they say, is that these because it’s not in their interests”, No more, no more concessions, workers rights will further deteriorate explains Jasiewicz. No more, no more concessions, We’ve got to take back what they’ve taken away, Film Review There’ll be no more concessions today!

The Take inspires resistance I’ll tell you a story, it makes my blood boil By Joseph Lapp II This movement is known by a So listen, you workers, who labour and toil number of names: the movement of There’s something that’s happening, a blind man can see There is no film that I know of more recovered factories, “autogestion”, and They call it concessions, but it’s robbery to me... (chorus) important to the promotion of the ideas workers without bosses. In many of of the IWW than the 2004 documentary these businesses there are no bosses First I went to my Boss and asked “Please tell me why, The Take by Canadian radicals Avi Lewis or managers, all decisions are made by Your salary and bonuses must be so high. and Naomi Klein. It was filmed in Argen- democratic consensus, and workers earn You eat but three meals and just sleep in one bed.” tina in 2003 and documents the struggle the same amount. These three ideas But he wasn’t impressed, so I stepped up and said: (chorus) of a group of factory workers to re-open should seem familiar as they are exactly as a cooperative their plant which had what our union has fought for since I wrote to the Premier, he’s such a nice man been shut down by its owners. its founding in 1905. A world without Said “Listen here, Dalton, are things like you planned? The documentary takes place after bosses, the establishment of industrial “They’ve made lots of changes since you came to town, the 2001 financial collapse in Argentina democracy, and the abolition of the wage “But while profits are up, workers’ wages are down.” (chorus) which resulted from government policies system. A new world is being built within of unrestricted globalization. After the the shell of the old down in Argentina. So, it’s up to our unions ‘cause that’s what they’re for, collapse, many factories and businesses The Take is a well-made documen- We must take a stand now, before we’re all poor. closed their doors and large portion of tary by two first-time filmmakers. It truly We’ve made some concessions and pulled our belts tight, the population faced unemployment and captures the emotion and the determina- But enough is enough, now we stand up and fight... (chorus) starvation. tion of the workers as they fight against Rather than sit back and watch their the police, the system of law, and the families go hungry, a movement arose capitalist class—which, once the workers policy of the WTO was implemented world without bosses or wages should be to take back the jobs which rampant make the businesses profitable—decide there all at once and the country, which shown this film as an example of what capitalism had taken away. The motto that they want to take back what they was nearly on level with the first world, we’re all fighting for. and rallying cry of this movement is once abandoned. collapsed almost overnight. This movement should be studied “Occupy! Resist! Produce!” which is Beyond its relevance as effective pro- Every reader of the Industrial Work- closely by our union in order to find les- precisely what the workers set out to do. paganda it also serves as a crash course er should see this film. If you’ve grown sons and methods to apply to our own They occupied the factories, resisted any in the problems of globalization. Argen- disenchanted after years of defeats, the struggle, for “Occupy! Resist! Produce!” efforts to remove them from the prem- tina was the great experiment in these events in Argentina will inspire you. New can surely stand proudly beside our own ises, and restarted production. ideas. Every single business-friendly IWW members who are not yet familiar revolutionary slogan of “Abolish the with our ideas and cannot conceive of a wage system!” April 2007 • Industrial Worker • Page  The Railroad Industry Needs One Big Union By Rail Falcon, X341189 – grain, coal, fertilizer, feed, forest the “Empire Builder” to his knees. The It is in this context—the long and products and paper, chemicals, iron ore strike ended in near total victory for militant tradition of railroaders; the Since the mid-1990s, the major US (taconite), finished steel, automobiles, the workers. The power of industrial experience of industrial unionism, railroads (“Class Is”) have been steadily heavy machinery, etc. In addition, the unionism had been proven. Just a few Eugene Debs and the ARU; the colorful hiring new trainmen to staff the nation’s fast growing sector of railway goods car- short months later, the ARU took on the history of direct action; and the glar- freight trains. Passenger carriers such as ried in the last decade or so is contain- Pullman Company. In solidarity with the ing short-comings of craft unionism at Amtrak as well as various metropolitan ers. Many main lines criss-crossing the striking workers at the Pullman Works its absolute worst—that the ideas of the commuter railroads in cities like New U.S. see regular shipments of “stack” just south of Chicago, the ARU called IWW are more vital and relevant than York, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago trains laden with 200 or more contain- for a boycott of handling Pullman cars. ever on the railroad. The Wobblies’ are also regularly seeking employees. ers. Many of these come off of ships ARU members refused to handle them shunning of electoral politics, reliance This offers an invaluable opportunity for and eventually end up on trucks to their in their trains. This direct action was on self-help and direct action, the notion young activists to hire out in an indus- final destination, so effective that the of the industrial union, the concept of trial setting and make some money, all hence the term strike was sure to be “an injury to one is an injury to all”, the the while: “inter-modal”. All members of the IWW won. In response, the general strike—all this plays well among • learning about the transportation In the 1860s who are looking for work carriers, Pullman and workers on the nation’s railroads. Rail- industry; and 1870s, the the U.S. Government roaders today are looking for answers • working under and understanding various crafts should consider joining conspired to break beyond the narrow confines of their own a union contract; on the railroad the struggle and hire out the strike, destroy the increasingly irrelevant craft union. They • learning the great history of—and began to organize ARU and arrest and want an organization with strength and participating in—the class struggle on into “brother- on the railroad. imprison its leaders. power, one capable of taking on the huge the railway; hoods”. These or- With the ARU corporations, the modern day “robber • joining with your fellow workers to ganizations came decimated, the car- barons.” build the One Big Union in a key sector into existence riers turned their at- Corporate profits on the railroad to- of the economy. initially to assist their members in time tention to negotiating with the brother- day are at record levels. Yet the Carriers The new hire usually begins work of hardship. Railroading was—and still hoods. While most of the robber barons are pushing for expanded use of Remote as a “brakeman” or “conductor trainee”. is—an extremely dangerous and difficult would have preferred to operate in a Control Operations and single-employee After a specified period of time and the job, and the brotherhoods pooled the strictly non-union environment, they be- operation of through freight. They are requisite tests, the new hire is promoted resources of their memberships to assist gan to see the advantages of dealing with making outrageous concessionary de- to Conductor. Then at some point in the members and their widows in times of the fractured and divided craft unions mands at the bargaining table in wages future, depending upon seniority and the disaster. They quickly evolved into fight- of the day. By 1926, the Railway Labor and benefits. The craft unions are not “needs of the carrier”, the conductor may ing organizations to defend their mem- Act was signed into law with the support able to stand up effectively to this bully- be selected to attend engine school. Fol- bers’ rights, safety and health, wages, of both craft unions and carriers. The ing and harassment that the carriers are lowing an extended (6 months to a year) benefits and conditions of employment. Act institutionalized labor-management meting out, not just at the bargaining on-the-job training, s/he will be promot- However, their fragmented nature and relations on the railroad and remains the table, but on a day-to-day basis on the ed to licensed locomotive engineer. narrow vision limited their effectiveness. model in use to this day. properties of the nation’s Class I carriers. If “train and engine” is not your Eugene V. Debs, a leader of the Brother- Through mergers and affiliations, the All members of the IWW who are scene, the railroads are also hiring—al- hood of Locomotive Firemen (BLF) and myriad craft unions on the railroad have looking for work should consider joining though not as regularly—track maintain- other railroaders soon realized the short- now been pared down to “only” nine or the struggle and hire out on the railroad. ers, train dispatchers, signal maintain- comings of the railroad craft unions, ten. Some are affiliated with the AFL- The major Class I carriers are hiring ers, car inspectors, clerks, electricians and proposed a new form of union—the CIO while others are now part of the trainmen and others regularly at most and machinists. “industrial union.” In 1893, they set Change-to-Win Coalition. The in-fight- rail terminals all across the country. To All “train and engine” (T&E) jobs about the task of building the nation’s ing and backstabbing, union scabbing learn more about hiring out, check out are union jobs, paying between $30,000 first such union—one based upon inclu- and sweetheart deal-making continues, the Railroad Retirement Board Website and $100,000 per year with full benefits. sion of all members of all crafts into its alternating between periods of truce, at http://www.rrb.gov/. Click on “Poli- Union membership is obligatory upon ranks—the American Railway Union merger or attempted merger of the vari- cies & Links”, then “Railroad Industry successful completion of a probation- (ARU). This inclusion stopped at the ous organizations. In this environment, & Railroad Union websites click here” ary period of usually 60-90 days upon color line—blacks were excluded from it is extremely common to hear talk for a complete listing of all major Class “marking up”. The T&E employee has the industry and its unions. among rank-and-filers of the need for I railroad websites where you can apply a choice of joining the Brotherhood of Within a year, the ranks of the One Big Union, one union of all crafts, for a position. Current jobs are listed on Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen ARU had swelled to hundreds of thou- one union to represent all railroaders. each site with directions of how to sub- (descendent of the oldest craft union in sands. Members were joining at the Even the leadership will invoke such mit your application and resume on-line. the U.S.) or the United Transportation rate of 2,000 per week. In its first test sentiment (between their name-calling, For more information about the railroad, Union (UTU), an amalgamation of four of strength, the new union took on the bashing, scabbery, and back-stabbing) rail unions, the movement for rail labor old craft unions that merged in 1969— Great Northern Railway and the power- from time to time: the UTU’s “Power unity, hiring out, training, please write the Switchmen (SUNA), Trainmen ful railroad tycoon, James J. Hill (whose of One” slogan during the attempted to [email protected]. (BRT), Conductors (OCA) and Firemen name is forever immortalized in the song merger with the BLE in 2000-2001; the The author is a certified locomotive (BLF). Dues usually range between $70 Hallelujah I’m a Bum—“That’s why I’m IBT’s Jimmy Hoffa with the “Teamster engineer, currently a member of the and $120 per month. Most Locals (UTU) a boomin’ down Jim Hill’s mainline”). Umbrella” notion, and the rhetoric of a BLET, and a long-time member of the and Divisions (BLET) hold regular Within two weeks, the ARU had brought “seamless union in transportation.” IWW. monthly membership meetings. Railroad workers have a proud and militant tradition. National rail strikes Pensacola GMB calls for support of Wobbly with Multiple Sclerosis have rocked the US include: 1877, the country’s first nationwide and general “Purest Kind of Guy” on unpaid leave since December diagnosis strike; 1894, the Pullman Strike and By Scott Satterwhite contributions was with solidarity food to show their thanks to a good friend, boycott led by Eugene V. Debs and the rations. In 2005, Winfrey was respon- and a good Wob. American Railway Union; 1924, the Na- There is a Paul Robeson song en- sible for having food rations given to To help out, the Pensacola GMB tional Shopmen’s Strike; 1946, the post titled “The Purest Kind of a Guy.” When help support immigrant workers after a is asking the union’s membership for WWII national strike, which together I hear that song, I think of one person: successful wildcat strike, led by a Fellow contributions, whether you know Steve, with the miners, briefly brought the na- Fellow Worker Steven Winfrey. Worker from the Dominican Republic know people who have had the bad luck tion to a standstill. In addition, countless On March 30, 2007, the Pensacola with several co-workers from Mexico of having MS or have been in similar other smaller strikes on a single carrier GMB will hold a benefit concert for one that were living and working under ex- circumstances yourself. and/or by a single craft have taken place of its founding members, Steven Win- treme conditions. If you or your GMB would like to over the last 150 years. frey. Winfrey was recently diagnosed Shortly afterwards, Winfrey helped help out a good Wob who was given the The nation’s railroads are integral to with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that with more food rations to be delivered to short end of the stick, any and all contri- the national economy. While a smaller affects the nervous system. Winfrey, dozens of striking Pensacola Amalgam- butions will be greatly appreciated. percentage of the total freight shipped prior to his diagnosis, worked at a chain ated Transit Union members, weekly, in To date, the GMB has collected now moves by rail, the actual gross ton- grocery store in Pensacola who joined an act of solidarity during the 3 months money from Fellow Workers in the area nage shipped on the railroad is greater the IWW after a failed organizing drive that they were on strike from November and as far away as Boston, from mem- than ever before. With the introduction by the UFCW at his store in 2001. 2005 to February 2006. bers of the Amalgamated Transit Union, of new technologies—radio, computer, Afterwards, Winfrey pushed to Since Winfrey’s diagnosis in Decem- local members of Veterans for Peace, sensors, satellite, microprocessors, organize here in Pensacola, not with ber, he has been on an unpaid leave of and others in the local activist/punk/ etc—and the elimination of thousands of the UFCW, but with the One Big Union. absence. He is now not only struggling anarchist community. The March 30th jobs, US railroaders are now by far the Winfrey was not only one of the found- with this new condition, but also fighting benefit will be the second event the GMB most “efficient” railway workers in the ing members, but was the person with disability, company, medical and has organized to help out FW Winfrey. world on a basis of “ton-miles” per em- primarily responsible for the Pensacola insurance bureaucracies, all the while ployee. Chicago is the rail center of the GMB being formed in the first place. trying to pay his bills, support his kids, Donations can be sent to: world, moving more tonnage through its Within the GMB, he helped keep the and keep his dignity. city limits than any other. All large U.S, union going after a massive hurricane In recognition of this situation, the IWW Pensacola GMB, Steve Winfrey cities and many smaller ones have large hit Pensacola in 2004 leaving most of Pensacola GMB has organized a benefit MS Fund, PO Box 2662, Pensacola, FL rail terminals located somewhere in the the union (and the city) out of work for concert to help their Fellow Worker out. 32513-2662. greater metro area. months. The event will be hosted by Sluggo’s Railroads move most bulk commodi- After the GMB was chartered in Vegetarian Restaurant and will feature Checks can be made payable to the ties that are more easily and/or inexpen- 2004, Winfrey helped build the union several bands and musicians who have Pensacola IWW with “Steve Winfrey MS sively shipped by other transport modes in various ways. One of his most notable known Winfrey over the years and want Fund” written in the memo blank. Page 10 • Industrial Worker • April 2007 April 2007 • Industrial Worker • Page 11 Day laborers fight for their rights—and win

By Brad Thomson, Chicago General These workers are members of San ask for a pay raise and holiday pay. chant and before long, the police came. A Defence Committee Lucas Workers Center, an organization Getting off the bus, we were met supportive priest said a prayer before we comprised of workers and day laborers, by other workers and supporters, over left a letter for Melk and departed. On February 21, dozens of people which has consistently demanded for 50 of us in all. We were led by the fired Although she wasn’t home at the joined a group of workers fired for better pay and working conditions from workers as we approached the luxurious time, Melk clearly got the message, as organizing to demand their jobs back. employers and day labor agencies in home of Cindy Melk, described by the two days later H20+ met with the work- Just days before, seven day laborers had Chicago. H20+ website as the “visionary, founder ers and re-hired all those who had been been fired from H20+, a company that On the bus ride from the Work- and CEO” of the company. As the fired unjustly fired. In addition, the workers manufactures and sells high-end beauty ers Center to the action, several of the workers approached the front door, the won a raise, holiday pay and vacation products, headquartered in Chicago. fired workers told their story, several of rest of us anxiously waited. pay. The firings, along with threats the them describing how they had worked at When a light came on in the house, “This is a true success for all of us. company made against other workers, H20+ for as long as eight or nine years we instantly revealed our picket signs The president himself came to shake my were an act of retaliation against the without holding permanent positions. and burst into chants. The babysitter hand and welcome me back,” said San workers for organizing for better pay and Lacking job security, they were termi- came to the door. We chanted for her to Lucas worker-leader Maria Luz Sosa. treatment. nated after meeting with management to call Melk, while hundreds of flyers were The courage of these workers was distributed to passersby and to the mail- incredibly inspiring and the victory was boxes of the neighbors. We continued to a powerful reminder of what we already Mexican miners remember know: Direct Action Gets the Goods! Pasta de Conchos disaster Miners and other workers across merit or not. The two factions Mexico observed a one day strike Febru- remain in conflict with each ary 19 in remembrance of last year’s other, with national officers Pasta de Conchos mine disaster and in following Morales Hernández protest of the continuing lack of safety and many local leaders sup- standards and accountability on the part porting Gómez Urrutia. of Mexican mining companies. In addition to the recent On February 19, 2006, around 65 symbolic strike, the one-year coal miners were buried alive by a mine anniversary of the Pasta explosion at Pasta de Conchos, in the de Conchos explosion also Mexcian state of Coahuila. There were witnessed a delegation from no survivors and only two of the bodies the US/Canadian United were recovered. The mines were run by Steel Workers (USW), who Grupo México, the largest mining com- joined with Mexican workers pany in Mexico. Miners and unionists to urge Mexican President accused the company of having permit- Felipe Calderon to resolve the ted the tragedy to occur by not enforcing conflict. “Until this govern- safety precautions. ment decides to respect the Shortly after the disaster, National right of workers to elect their Mining and Metal Workers Union union leaders and democrati- (SNTMMSRM) General Secretary cally govern their unions, Napleón Gómez Urrutia was mysteri- Mexico will be the focus of ously removed from his position by the international condemnation,” Mexican government and replaced with declared Ken Neumann, his opponent Elías Morales Hernán- USW National Director for dez, who is reportedly backed by Grupo Canada. México. In response, from March 1-3, Meanwhile, relatives of the dead 2006, 250,000 miners and steelworkers miners gathered for memorial ceremo- struck 70 companies, demanding Gómez nies at the mine and to protest the con- Urrutia’s reinstatement and also bet- tinued lack of safety standards. “We’re Massachusetts latest ter safety standards. This wildcat strike asking for more resources from mining was one of the largest industrial actions companies and the federal government in recent Mexican history. Since then, because safety conditions at the mines in immigration raids a faction of SNTMMSRM has remained have not improved,” said Bishop Alonso loyal to Gómez Urrutia, who issues Garza of Piedras Negras. Family mem- directives to his supporters from exile in bers also demanded that the government 350 of 500 workers detained British Columbia, Canada. The banished recover the remains of their loved ones, leader has been accused of corruption a task that has been held up for a year by Less than three months after was temporarily held after Governor Pat- and embezzlement, though it is currently the presence of methane gas. last December’s devastating nationwide rick made repeated calls to Homeland unclear whether these charges have any immigration sweep at Swift and Co., Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Although Homeland Security As- (ICE) has launched another major raid, sistant Secretary Julie Myers said that Palestinian unions want this time in the quiet New England town precautions had been taken to protect of New Bedford, Massachusetts. the immigrants’ children, at least one se- boycott of Israel On Tuesday, March 6, 300 ICE rious case has been identified. A mother agents descended on a leather manufac- of a 7-month-old infant was unable to On February 11, Palestinian unions Specifically, the groups called for an turing plant owned by Michael Bianco, nurse her child because she was being and grassroots organizations called for end to the occupation of Palestinian ter- Inc, a company that had contracts with held by immigration authorities, Mas- a boycott of Israel for its human rights ritories, self-determination, the Right of the U.S. military for leather backpacks sachusetts Department of Social Services violations. Return for refugees, “social justice”, and and survival vests. The agents arrested spokeswoman Denise Monteiro told the Several Pales- an independent Pales- the company’s owner and three manag- Associated Press. As a result the baby tinian unions and tinain state with Jeru- ers on charges of hiring undocumented had to be hospitalized for dehydration. federations— in- salem as its capital, as workers. The agents also detained up to Even then, the woman was not released cluding the well as an end to “racism 350 of the factory’s 500 workers, largely until the night of March 8th, more than Palestinian Gen- against our people inside Guatemalan and Salvadoran immi- two days after the raid. Bigby said. eral Federation of the Green Line.” grants. Some of the workers fled when “We have no idea how many… [chil- Trade Unions and The document, which agents stormed the building, but most dren] went home with no one there,” the General Union has been circulated over were tracked down by helicopters. said JudyAnn Bigby, secretary of Health of Palestinian the internet and through The workers were taken to Fort and Human Services. Workers—along other media, states that Devens for “processing,” said officials. Federal investigators are now accus- with the grass- this is the beginning of Within two days, ICE transported 90 of ing Bianco’s owner, Francesco Insolia, of roots Palestinian a worldwide union-led the detained immigrants by plane from subjecting his employees to sweatshop Anti-Apartheid movement for “Boycott, Fort Devens to a detention center in conditions. Workers had to operate in a Wall Campaign Divestment and Sanc- Texas and another 116 to Albuquerque, filthy environment and were fined $20 and over 170 Pal- tions” with the aim of New Mexico, presumably to expedite for trivial “offenses” like talking at work estinian organiza- radicalgraphics.org winning justice for the their deportation. or spending more than two minutes in tions, joined the call. people of Palestine. Massachussetts Governor Deval the bathroom. Nonetheless, with over They urged labor unions in the Arab Recalling a long list of grievances Patrick on March 8 urged authorities not 70 per cent of the factory’s workforce nations and around the world to divest and indignities, the signers urge unions to move any more workers until their in custody, with many under threat of from the state of Israel until that nation around the world to support divestment children can be located and arrange- deportation, it is difficult to see how this “stops its crimes against our people and campaigns that already exist, organize ments made for their care, according raid could be construed to benefit the implements international law safeguard- their own boycotts, and coordinate inter- to the Associated Press. By the 8th, two workers. ing human rights for all.” nationally to strategically implement the planes had already left but a third plane divestment movement. Page 12 • Industrial Worker • April 2007 Colombian workers feel flowers’ thorns By Alexandra Early the union’s legal registration with the Colombian government, and refusing Every year on Valentine’s Day, mil- to reinstate fired union leaders despite lions of Americans head to their local court orders to do so.” The IWW formed the International pendent Union have been arrested and florist or supermarket to buy flowers Moreover, Dole recently announced Solidarity Commission to help the union detained for violating a government ban for a friend or family member. Most are the closing of its Splendor plantation, build the worker-to-worker solidarity on independent unions. mainly concerned about getting the flow- blaming the layoff of one-third of its Co- that can lead to effective action against The ISC wrote a letter to Vietnam- ers to the recipient on time. Few ever lombian workforce on lower-wage com- the bosses of the world.To contact the ese officials in February demanding the ask where the flowers come from or who petition from Africa and Asia. Within ISC, email [email protected]. immediate release of the jailed union- helped grow and pick them. a decade, most roses will be “Made in ists and the end of repression against I never thought much about the China” because that nation is gearing IWW needs contacts for unions and farm workers. The letter also human beings behind the bouquets up to undercut exporters in Ecuador, Mexican border project condemned “the efforts of corrupt local either—until I traveled to Colombia last Kenya, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well officials to confiscate the land of farmers year and talked with a group of “floricul- as Colombia. Solidaridad, the IWW’s new Span- for their own…purposes.” ture” workers in a village near Bogota. On China’s new flower farms, work- ish-language newsletter, recently re- I learned that our domestic expressions ers are already clipping roses in giant ceived a request from an IWW supporter Iranian Transport Workers need of affection— which reach their largest greenhouses, taking them to huge sheds in Mexico City, for contact information solidarity - sign the petition volume on Valentine’s Day and Mothers’ to remove the thorns, and then wrapping of IWW members, branches and allies Day—require painful, low-paid labor by them in paper and plastic for shipment that are engaged or interested in immi- The ISC signed onto a petition in a global workforce that’s largely female. to Los Angeles or Moscow. Without any grant solidarity issues. support of transportation workers in America’s main supplier is Colombia, job rights or union protection, young This information will be used to help Iran. About 50 employees of Tehran and the second-largest exporter of fresh-cut women earning $25 per month face the organize a border camp in November. If Suburbs Bus Company for supporting flowers next to the Netherlands. More same occupational safety and health you or your branch is interested in this the actions of their union, Syndicate of than 100,000 workers help grow, sort, problems as their South American coun- project or if you have information about Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus and package the nearly $1 billion worth ter parts. other relevant groups, contact the ISC at Company. of flowers produced there each year. Human-rights and labor solidarity [email protected]. More recently, half of these work- Originally spurred by tariff incentives groups like Witness for Peace, Global Please indicate if there are any ers received a letter of dismissal from designed to induce farmers to switch Exchange, the Colombia Support Net- Spanish speakers (native or otherwise) the Labour Ministry. Iran’s government from coca cultivation, the industry is work, and US Labor Education Project in in your branch. These contacts will be still does not fully recognize the union now dominated by big local plantation the Americas have all taken up the cause forwarded on to our compañeras and and the company has refused to sign a owners and multinational corporations of the displaced Splendor workers. compañeros in Mexico. collective bargaining agreement with the like Dole Food. None of these activists are trying to workers. The Colombian flower workers I met cast a pall over Valentine’s Day. They Vietnamese government arrests The ISC is calling upon the govern- received little love or appreciation from just want more consumers to choose independent union leaders ment of Iran to rectify the situation and management—on Valentine’s Day or any flowers that have been certified as restore the rights of the workers. Read- other. During a visit by a delegation of “VeriFlora” products. VeriFlora grow- As reported in the previous issue of ers can sign the petition online at http:// American labor and student activists, ers don’t use the pesticides that sicken the Industrial Worker, several leaders of www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/iranpeti- members of a union called Sintrasplen- flower workers and they agree to respect Vietnam’s United Workers and Farmers tion.cfm/formbuilder/38/p/1. dor described the many occupational local labor rights and environmental Association and the Vietnamese Inde- hazards they face. regulations. Unfortunately, only two Whether young or old, they com- flower-sellers in the United States— plained about the lack of protective Freshblooms in New Jersey and Organic equipment and clothing, which leaves Bouquet in California—have embraced Steelworkers launch website to them exposed to pesticides in the fields this higher standard. and to the fungicides that flowers are A few years ago, American jew- coordinate actions against ExxonMobil dipped in prior to shipment. They say elry buyers were still being offered the the chemicals cause widespread head- The United Steelworkers product of illegal trafficking in precious aches, asthma, nausea, and impaired launched a website, workersatexx- stones—the “blood diamonds” mined vision. The repetitive tasks and long onmobil.usw.org, on March 12 so by child laborers in strife-torn Africa. It hours in assembly-line jobs have also left workers at ExxonMobil sites across took years of international campaigning many flower workers with painful carpal the world can learn about each before public awareness was raised and tunnel injuries. other’s struggle and coordinate importation of this tainted merchandise Like Coca Cola and other foreign actions. was sharply curtailed. If the abundant firms in Colombia, Dole has taken ad- The site—published in Eng- thorns in the global flower trade begin to vantage of the country’s weak labor laws lish, Spanish, French, Russian prick a few consumer consciences, “flori- and climate of repression. When work- and Japanese—is meant to help culture” abuses may someday be cen- ers at Dole-owned Splendor Flowers workers enforce global labor and sured as well. If enough of us question tried to organize two years ago to win human rights standards, stop the and complain, more flower importers better pay and conditions, management out-sourcing of jobs and increase in this country will begin using suppli- conducted an aggressive anti-union job security worldwide, according ers certified as socially responsible and campaign. According to the Interna- to the web site. worker-friendly. tional Labor Rights Fund (ILRF), this Twenty-seven unions across Alexandra Early is a student at “included bringing in a company-backed the world are representing or at- Wesleyan University in Connecticut. union, firing union leaders, challenging tempting to organize ExxonMobil workers, despite the company’s long anti-union history. Zimbabwe teachers attacked “ExxonMobil has a long history Immediately after declaring a ban Aeneas Chigwedere tried to justify the of issues being raised relative to radicalgraphics.org on protests, police assaulted teachers in attacks, arguing that the strike was de- its questionable concern for the needs of front of their students at several schools signed to serve a “political agenda.” workers and the communities in which it States and includes representatives from near the capital city of Harare February “It’s nonsensical for anyone to say operates,” said Jim Pannell, the chair of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America/Ca- 21, forcing some of them to eat chalk, the teachers’ action is a political issue,” the Global Network. ribbean, North America, and the Com- according to independent news agency said PTUZ secretary-general Raymond The network’s steering committee is monwealth of Independent States (a ZimOnline. The attacks came after a Majongwe. “It’s a matter of life and chaired by Gary Beevers of the United group of former Soviet Republics). weekend of clashes between police and death because surely one cannot survive opposition Movement for Democratic on a monthly salary of Zimbabwean Change supporters who had gathered for $84,000.” Due to runaway inflation, the India a legally permitted rally. In their crack- poverty threshold for an average fam- down on political dissent, police targeted ily of five is presently Z$460,000 per Tirupur tailors strike for higher wages teachers because of the recent announce- month. ment of the 96,000 member Zimbabwe Rather than attempting to address About 10,000 “power table” workers Tirupur Baniyan Stitching Section Own- Teacher’s Association (ZIMTA) that they the needs of his country’s civil servants, in Tirupur, India, struck on February 26 ers Association. will soon join the smaller, more militant President Robert Mugabe—who turned and remain on the picket line. Thus far, negotiations between man- Progressive Teacher’s Union of Zimba- 83 on February 22—and his cabinet are The workers, who stitch bani- agers and workers have failed to yield an bwe (PTUZ) in their strike for livable threatening to hire replacement work- yans and undergarments for domestic agreement. wages. A major economic, political and ers or to dock the salaries of striking brands, are demanding a 30 per cent The workers say the wage/cost social crisis has exploded in Zimbabwe teachers. Despite the threats and actual pay increase to keep up with the cost of imbalance is the fault of several North over the past few months. physical assaults, ZITMA president Ten- sewing supplies, rent, utilities and other Indian companies that have neglected to Armed police stormed Shiriyedenga, dai Chikowore told ZimOnline that the charges. make any rate adjustments over the past Ruvheneko and Chembira schools in the union remains undeterred. “The action The tailors observed a one day fast four years. dense suburb of Glen Norah, beating up is countrywide and we won’t stop until organized by their organization, the teachers and causing schoolchildren to government comes up with something flee for their safety. Education Minister better.”