------. AUSTRALIA $2.50 . BELGIUM BF60 . CANADA $2.50 · FRANCE FF1 0 · ICELAND KR200 · NEW ZEALAND $2.50 · SWEDEN KR15 · UK £1.00 · U.S. $1.50 INSIDE Socialist candidates follow trail of labor struggles TH£ -PAGES A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 64/NO. 33 AUGUST 28, 2000
Ultrarightist Telephone strikers Buchanan mobilize for a contract captures 86,000 workers fight for union rights, ·decent job conditions Reform Party BY MAURICE WILLIAMS BY JACOB PERASSO In his August 12 acceptance speech for NEW YORK-"C-W-A, C-W-A, C-W the Reform Party presidential nomination, A," chanted a sea of 8,000 red-shirted strik ultrarightist politician Patrick Buchanan ers bearing banners and signs in a militant declared, "What are we fighting for? To save and spirited mobilization here outside the our country from being sold down the river national headquarters of Verizon Commu into some godless New World Order.... nications August 10. That's what this Gideon's Army is fighting "It was beautiful. We saw that whole sea for." of red, then the banners. When I saw those Buchanan consolidated his grip over the banners come down the street, that was party leading up to the Long Beach, Cali when I knew how strong this union was," fornia, national convention. There, he said Tyrone Noyte, a field technician on named Ezola Foster, an African American strike. woman who is a member of the ultraright The show of force in New York has been John Birch Society, as his vice-presidential backed up by hundreds of picket lines at running mate. She had served as a co-chair Verizon facilities across 12 states and the in Buchanan's 1996 presidential bid and in District of Columbia. A total of 86,000 late April the ultrarightist candidate named workers walked off the job August 6 after her as a national co-chair ofhis current cam their contract expired and negotiations be paign. tween the union and the bosses were not able "She has stood up for flag and family, to resolve the dispute. There are 72,000 God and country her whole life," said workers represented by the Communication Buchanan. "And when I left [the Republi Workers of America (CWA) and 14,700 by can Party] to go to the Reform Party, she the International Brotherhood of Electrical came with me," he added, citing her loy Workers. alty. Verizon was formed when Bell Atlantic Two days before the national convention, acquired GTE Wireless Communications. It which began August l 0, the Reform Party is now the largest provider oflocal and wire held a closed-door national committee meet less telephone service in the United States. ing. Buchanan's opponents, many of whom The company has· 260,000 employees and were supporters of Reform Party founder provides wireless service in 50 states and Ross Perot, backed John Hagelin for the local service in 31 states. The wireless part party's presidential ticket. Hagelin, a physi of the company is for the most part not cist who was a two-time presidential candi unionized. Militant/Angel Lariscy date on the Natural Law Party ticket, as The strike has received extensive cover Some 8,000 phone workers turned out for a feisty strike rally in New York August 10 serted that he was the true Reform Party age in the big-business newspapers where candidate. concern has been voiced over the effect the Local cops were called when a shoving strike will have on the rest of the telephone Megan Matos, a striking CWA dispatcher the strike right now is the company's desire · Continued on Page 12 industry, given the issues being posed in the who has worked at Verizon for nine years, for mandatory overtime, which was rejected conflict. Among them are the intensification said that the wireless workers "should be by workers interviewed at the rally. of work, lengthening of the workweek, and able to join the union if they want." She also "The main issues are job security, health unionization of the wireless division. said that one of the main sticking points in Continued on Page 3 .Socialists Minnesota meat packers visit Teamster pickets hold Active BY TOM FISHER bottling plant here. things when you started and how did you ST. PAUL, Minnesota-"How did you She wanted to know about their strike look at things now? How do you feel?" prepare for your strike?" asked Angelina "because we may have to prepare ourselves Castro, who works in Dakota Premium's Workers Castro, who works at Dakota Premium to do the same thing. What kinds of things boning department, was one of seven work Foods in nearby South St. Paul, to a group did you have to do? How much money are ers from that meatpacking plant who vis ofTeamsters on strike against the Pepsi-Cola you taking home? How did you look at ited the Teamsters picket line here August Conference 12 to, offer solidarity with their struggle and find out more about how each group of fight BY STEVE CLARK The Working ing workers can advance their struggles. Her AND GREG McCARTAN N E W ! question indicated the fact that a growing OBERLIN, Ohio--"Something new has Class a. the number of workers at Dakota, who recently begun. The merger in action and leadership Transformation voted in United Food and Commercial responsibility of a nucleus of communist of Learning Workers (UFCW) Local 789 and are now workers with a fighting vanguard of work - taking the next steps to establish the union, ers and farmers we can see and touch-to The Fraud of are thinking about the need for another strike day!-a vanguard of what will become a against the company. class-struggle leadership of the working Education Reform The packinghouse bosses have given ev class movement," said Socialist Workers under Capitalism ery reason for workers to conclude that such Party national secretary Jack Barnes in a action will be necessary. At a meeting called summary presentation at the Active Work a, Jack Barnes by the company August 10, a few hours ers Conference here. "Until society is reorganized so before a well-publicized union meeting, This shift in working-class politics, that education is a human · company manager Steve Cortinas dismissed Barnes noted, was registered at the confer activity from the time we are all the workers' complaints and ridiculed the ence itself. The gathering, sponsored by the very young until the. time we strength of the union, according to workers Socialist Workers Party and the Young So die, there will be no education who attended. "The union is planning a cialists, was held July 27-30 on the Oberlin strike," Cortinas stated. "That won't accom- College campus. worthy of working, creating plish anything." · The degree to which socialist workers and humanity. That is the historic The manager was quick to organize that youth are an integral part of the upturn in truth." $3 meeting because a rumor had been going strikes and struggles by working people in around the plant about the need for another city and countryside was a palpable part of strike. every conference session, class, and infor Available from bookstores "This came from an informal discussion mal event. listed on page 12. among workers about how to deal with the In the course of these struggles, commu Continued on Page 3 Cqntinued on Page 6 Debate over teaching evolution in schools heats up - page 4 Louisiana fabrication workers win union BY JACQUIE HENDERSON On August 2, the Operating Engineers AMELIA, Louisiana-"Respect" is what union released a list of the "Top 10" rea workers are seeking in organizing a union, sons why workers wanted to unionize: said Recko Mills, a fitter at the J. Ray "No voice for the working person. Com McDermott fabrication yard here. plaints of racial discrimination. Favoritism After months of an intense opposition between bosses and their friends to the det campaign by the company, workers at the riment of workers. Large pay and benefit McDermott yard, which builds huge off differences between office personnel and shore structures for the petroleum industry, hourly workers. Seniority and qualifications voted 404-319 on August 10 to join Inter have no meaning. When work lessens, the national Union of Operating Engineers Lo worker suffers through pay cuts, reduced cal 406. The yard employs around 1,500 workweeks, unemployment, and furloughs. workers, many of whom work for contrac Wage increases are not given equally across tors hired by McDermott. the board. Retirees need better insurance Recko, who has worked at McDermott coverage and benefits. Better sanitation fa for more than nine years, is one of the hun cilities are needed. Termination of injured dreds of contract workers in the yard. He workers after six months." and other workers talked with Militant re The company organized a campaign of Workers at McDermott fabrication yard in Amelia, Louisiana, celebrate union organiz porters as they left work August 11 and re persuasion, intimidation, media propaganda, ing success with jambalaya cookout, greeting day-shift workers after the vote. Bosses counted incident after incident where and community pressure. Quoted in the July fear victory will boost organizing drives among refinery and other workers in the area. McDermott showed their disregard for 12 issue of the Courier of the nearby town of workers' basic human dignity. They cited Houma, Gerald Ellender, president of a pro workers who expressed their support for the yard. We worked way up on scaffoldings that common incidents of discrimination and boss outfit called "Concerned Citizens for the union. A few expressed opposition and some weren't secured. A lot of people got hurt. favoritism. Community," declared, "We're going to as others said they would "wait and see." Sev The company didn't care." sist and make all of our resources available eral workers who are Black or Asian, wear There are other signs of union organiz Bosses worry example will spread to McDermott." Robert Alario, president of ing union T-shirts, stopped to discuss with ing in the area. The Gulf Coast Mariners The vote at McDermott comes at a time the Offshore Marine Service Association, also pride their efforts to organize the union. Association, an AFL-CIO affiliate formed when several union-organizing efforts in this joined the antiunion campaign. After the August 10 vote, workers orga more than a year ago, has organized activi oil-rich region among refinery workers, The company pressed hard for a no vote nized a jambalaya cookout and barbecue ties highlighting the problems facing work mariners, and others are gaining ground. among the workers. They held meetings across the road from the company property ers in the offshore oil and gas industry, in The union victory took employers in the with workers on the alleged dangers of to greet the day shift coming off work. Com cluding an informational picket in New Or area by surprise and made them nervous. unionism, gave out antiunion material, and pany security efforts to get them to leave leans at the 1999 International Workboat Prior to the vote, company spokespeople had painted signs throughout the yard opposing failed, as more and more workers joined the Show. Last April they organized a forum in expressed confidence that the union would unions. One of the signs read, "Our posi celebration. While they had not yet heard Larose, Louisiana, that included mariners' be defeated. tion: We are 100 percent against the Inter the results of the vote, the support for the union representatives from several coun Timothy Matte, mayor of nearby Morgan national Union of Operating Engineers or union was evident as workers honked in tries. The forum highlighted the unsafe City, was quoted in the August 11 Daily any other union getting into our operation. support of "Union Yes" signs, giving working conditions facing Louisiana mari Review as saying, regarding the union vote We are convinced that having this union or thumbs-up signs of support. ners. at McDermott, "We are certainly con any other union in Morgan City would not Many stopped to join the barbecue and The union organizing centered in the cerned .... We're a little unsure of what the be in the best interest of our employees, our talk about how they had brought the union South Louisiana oil patch is part of broader impact will be because this entire area, the customers, or our company." in, reported Mills, who took part in the cel organizing efforts. On August 4, oil workers oil field, has not been subjected to union ebration. at Citgo's refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, throughout its history." Company unable to divide workers Waiting there for the vote results, work voted 236 to 14 in favor ofjoining the Paper, State Senator Butch Gautreaux, a Demo "We won because everybody stuck to ers began a chant adapted from a popular Allied-Industrial, Chemical, and Energy crat from Morgan City, said, "I was disap gether," said Ronald Wilson, 45, a welder. rap song. "Who let the union in! Whoo! Workers Union (PACE). Previously they pointed .... One of the marketing tools we He said the company was not successful in Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!" they chanted only had a "Citgo employee federation." have at our disposal for economic develop its attempts to divide workers of different repeatedly. Brandon Scott, an oil worker involved in ment is that until today we have not had sig nationalities and colors in the yard. The impact of the workers' victory at the a refinery organizing drive at a nearby re nificant penetration by unions." The workforce at McDermott is about 40 McDermott yard is already being felt at the finery in Belle Chasse, saw the vote at St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Presi percent Black, and 10 to 15 percent Viet Litton Avondale Industries shipyard near McDermott as significant for his fight, "I dent Emile Babin said the Council of Bayou namese, according to union officials quoted New Orleans, the state's largest private in tell my co-workers that now all eyes are on Chambers has taken a stand opposing union in the local press. Militant reporters speak dustrial employer, where workers won rec us, on our work to bring the union in." ization of any major manufacturer in the ing with workers coming out the yard Au ognition for their union last year after a long Scott says he learned a lot about how area. gust 11 metAsian, Black, Latino, and white struggle and are still fighting for their first workers can stand together and take on the contract. Workers at that shipyard spoke to companies from "seeing the example of the Militant reporters August 12 of their need Kaiser picket line. Seeing, for almost two for a union. years, Black and white workers standing Several reported that .as a result of the side by side against the company." Avondale bosses' speedup, three workers Scott now pickets in solidarity at the Kai THE MILITANT were killed over the past three months when ser plant. He is working on a public debate they fell from scaffolding that was improp- · with the company on the question of union · erly attached to the ship hull. and has invited Kaiser union members to Ronald Dumas, a locked-out worker at participate. RightistBuchanqn i~ .. q.tffr~q~ lf!.ffl:fJ~(Jf Kaiser Aluminum's Gramercy, Louisiana, "From the Gulf in Texas, where they plant, greeted the news of the union victory voted in the union at Citgo," said Scott, Patritk Buchanan's taiuiover of at McDermott with enthusiasm. He had pre "across the Louisiana oil patch and up the the Reform Party. is anot,e:rstep viously worked at both the Avondale and Mississippi-from Monroe to Natchez in the developuient ofan ingipient McDermott yards. "I worked there as a this is what is happening. We've got to push structural fitter," he said in an interview as this on through." American fascist movement.. ~from he picketed at the Kaiser gate August 11. the very beginning, the 'JV'ilitant' "But it was too unsafe. The company had Jacquie Henderson is a sewing machine has taken seriously and explained us pulling everything ourselves, all over the operator in Houston. the character ofBuchananism, ·its
threat to workingpeople, and how Asia: send $80 drawn on a U.S. bank to above to fight it. Don 't miss an issue. The Militant address. Canada: Send Canadian $75 for one-year Vol. 64/No.33 subscription to Militant, 4613 St. Laurent, Closing news date: August 16,2000 Montreal, Quebec H2T 1R2. Editor: MARTiN KOPPEL Britain, Ireland: £36 for one year by check Business Manager: MAURICE WILLIAMS or international money order made out to Mili SUBSCRIBE. TODAY! Editorial. Staff: Hilda Cuzco, Greg McCartan, tant Distribution, 4 7 The Cut, London, SE I 8LL, Brian Williams, and Maurice Williams. England. Continental Europe, Africa, Middle Young Socialists column editor: ELENA TATE East: £40 for one year by check or international money order made out to Militant Distribution NEW READERS Published weekly except for two weeks in Au at above address. gust and one week in December by the Militant France: Send FF420 for one-year subscrip NAME (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 West St., New York, NY tion to Militant, Centre MBE 175, 23 rue 0 $10 for 12 issues 10014. Telephone: (212) 243-6392; Fax (212) Lecourbe, 75015 Paris; cheque postale: 40 134 924-6040. 34 U. Belgium: BF 2,400 for one year on ac RENEWAL ADDRESS count no. 000-1543112-36 of lMei Fonds/ E-mail: [email protected] Fonds du I mai, 2140 Antwerp. The Militant website is: www.themilitant.com Iceland: Send 5,800 Icelandic kronur for CITY STATE ZIP Correspondence concerning subscriptions or one-year subscription to Militant, P.O. Box 233, 0 $15 for 12 weeks changes of address should be addressed to The 121 Reykjavik. Sweden, Finland, Norway, Militant Business Office, 41 OWest St., New York, Denmark: 550 Swedish kronor for one year. UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION PHONE NY 10014. Pay to Militant Swedish giro no. 451-32-09-9. 0 $27 for 6 months Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. New Zealand: Send New Zealand $75 to P.O. CLIP AND MAIL TO THE MILITANT. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Box 3025, Auckland, New Zealand. Australia: 410WESTST, NEW YORK, NY 10014. Militant, 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. Send Australian $75 to P.O. Box K879, Haymarket, NSW 1240, Australia. Pacific Is 0 $45 for 1 year Subscriptions: United States: for one-year lands: Send New Zealand $75 to P.O. Box 3025, subscription send $45 to above address. Auckland, New Zealand. Latin America, Caribbean: for one-year sub Signed articles by contributors do not nec scription send $65, drawn on a U.S. bank, to essarily represent the Militant's views. These above address. By first-class (airmail), send $80. are expressed in editorials.
2 The Militant August 28, 2000 St. Paul meat packers visit Teamster strikers
Continued from front page union's bilingual factory newsletter, j line speed, and one of his snitches ran up to The Workers' Voice. tell him," explained Miguel Olvera, one of The company's stance was the pro-union workers. "But this shows the quickly challenged, however. "The company is afraid of what we can do." election was fair," stated Miguel Workers at Dakota Premium first struck Olvera, a worker in the boning de the company for seven hours June 1 to pro partment, who stood up and rebut test the line speed and to oppose the ted the manager at his own meeting. company's practice of forcing meat pack "I was a monitor and I saw every ers to continue working while they were thing that went on. I assure you that injured, among other issues. They were able the election was fa:ir. The union won to win some concessions, and launched a a clear majority. We won the union!" campaign to win a union in the plant. Al Another worker, Samuel Farley, though the company fought the union-or who also works in the boning de ganizing drive with lies, firings, provoca partment, stated, "I back everything tions, and other attacks, workers convinced that Miguel Olvera just said. It was each other of the need to be united and won a fair election." a union representation vote on July 21 by a He then asked for translation of 112-71 margin. his remarks into Spanish, the lan The company has filed a challenge to the guage of the big majority of the election with the National Labor Relations workers. Cortinas offered to trans Board (NLRB). late himself. Farley declined the of More than 200 meat packers work at the fer. Dakota Premium slaughterhouse. The big Farley, one of the few workers in majority are Spanish-speaking immigrants. the plant who is Black and a leader Dakota Premium is owned by Rosen's Di of the union's in-plant leadership versified Inc. The corporation's beef slaugh committee, has continued to face tering operations make it one of the top 10 special discrimination and harass Packinghouse workers from Dakota Premium Foods in St. Paul, who are members of UFCW beef producers in the United States. ment from the bosses. Local 789, exchange experiences with Teamsters picket (far right) at Pepsi-Cola bottling plant. Even though Farley is now much Workers challenge company assertions faster than his trainer on the line, supervisors commission would be composed of union including the rights of immigrants during At the August 10 company meeting, are constantly harassing him because of his members who travel to other meatpacking the organizing drive. It explained that the Cortinas claimed that the July 21 union elec support for the union. The company has a plants in the area to link up with workers corporation's only goal is to slow down the tion was a fraud. He asserted that the line history of discrimination against Black work who face similar problems and arrange for process of negotiations. speed remained the same, at 95 heads of ers, going back to the previous attempt to mutual support. The NLRB has set a hearing for August cattle per hour, although workers in the plant organize a union. A first effort will be to join up with workc 29 to determine the validity of the com have calculated the speed to be above 115 ers at Long Prairie Packing, the sister plant pany's allegations. per hour. "The work seems heavier because Union meeting of Dakota Premium, located 100 miles the cattle are bigger," he stated, a false alle The mood at the union meeting a few hours northwest of the Twin Cities. 'The union is us' gation, according to workers on the line. later was serious, according to workers who Workers also discussed the importance of One worker, a leader of the union-orga The plant manager also repeated his were there. This was the first general meet fighting against the attempt by Rosen's Di nizing fight, addressed a remark to the presi claim that two workers had been fired be ing since the July 21 victory in the union elec versified to overturn the democracy of the dent ofUFCW Local 789, William Pearson. cause their work permits were not in order, tion. About half of the workers in the boning vote. The multimillion-dollar corporation "You said you were going to get us a con not because they were supporters of the and packaging departments attended. filed a complaint with the NLRB challeng tract by October. Well, the clock is ticking," union. "If a worker does not have his immi The main business was to discuss the need ing the validity of the election. The com he said. According to workers who were gration papers in order, we have to send him for a leadership structure of the union in pany claims the union offered $10,000 to present, Pearson replied calmly and clearly, home," Cortinas declared. But this assertion side the plant. A proposal was put forward, each worker and that it threatened workers saying, "The company shows no respect for was belied by the fact that one of the work discussed, and adopted for the election of with calling the immigration cops. the workers with this challenge, and we must ers was brought back the day after he was . shop stewards. Nominations were taken. The union has answered these allegations continue with the important process of elec dismissed, due to pressure generated by the A proposal for a "Traveling Commission" as ridiculous and pointed to the record of tions that is starting at this meeting today." union in publicizing these cases in the was presented, discussed, and adopted. This the union informing workers of their rights, Miguel Olvera, another leader of the lead ership committee, also addressed this ques: tion by saying, "The union is not these walls or offices. The union is in the plant. It is our Striking telephone workers mobilize own strength. A strong contract will be won with our efforts." Continued from front page Other workers joined the discussion. Jose benefit copayments, working conditions, Mateo, another leader who works in the bon and opening up the union to the wireless ing department, proposed at the meeting that phone workers," said Dexter Martin, a tech workers organize a petition demanding the nician at Verizon for more than two years. company respect the validity of the vote. "Right now in customer service, if you have "They are telling me that my vote is not to go to the bathroom you have to raise your worth anything. We do not need another hand or put a cup up on top of your work election. We already won. With a petition area and wait for permission." Workers are ·we can register the will of the majority again, striking over "respect for CWA workers and I want the NLRB to see it," he said in a across America," he said. tone of outrage. The issue of "job security" has come up A brief discussion took place after the because Verizon wants the power to trans union meeting on the importance of reach fer a certain percentage of workers from one ing out to the strikers at Pepsi. The union area to another, including into the unorga ists at the Pepsi Bottling Group plant have nized wireless division, or to fire those who been out on strike since June 11 and are fac refuse. Workers here say the company ing many of the same challenges as the shouldn't be able to force anyone to move. workers at Dakota Premium. At both plants, Workers are also striking against the the work is destructive to the body and the company's attempt to subcontract work to bosses have been unyielding in their posi outside companies. Verizon would like to tion. outsource a wide range ofjobs, from instal Workers at Pepsi, members ofTeamsters lation and repair to customer service. Local 792, are demanding a wage increase above the 2.7 percent yearly raise offered Violence baiting by the company, and the possibility of early Verizon is continuing its campaign of vio retirement after 30 years of employment. lence baiting against the strike, aided by the Strikers have been very active, mounting siz major dailies in the city. The New York 1imes able pickets in the afternoons, organizing reported as fact that "acts of vandalism have leafleting brigades to public events to get taken thousands of phone lines out of ser out the word about their boycott of Pepsi vice," without substantiating the claim. products, and deploying members to follow Striking union member Martin said, "There scab trucks to their delivery destinations to are thousands of lines down and Verizon is set up picket lines. trying to blame it on us. Thousands oflines A number of Dakota Premium workers go down all the time, especially in the rain. expressed interest in going to the Pepsi strike The union did not tell anyone to go out and Militant/Angel Lariscy lines that Saturday. Seven workers partici do anything like that." August 10 rally in New York. Phone strikers surprised bosses with militant picket lines. pated in the event. "They weren't ready for the rains," he "The striking Teamsters were very im said. Rains knock out phone lines, especially tic territory sign cards to join the union the since 1998," explained Martin, when they pressed with our show of solidarity," stated in low lying flood areas. company would allow a "card check" rather staged a two-day strike over similar issues. Francisco Picado, a full-time union orga CWA member Noyte said Verizon bosses than a union representation election to de "We knew we'd strike if they didn't come nizer for UFCW Local 789 who was part of "mood was, 'Oh there's not going to be a termine union recognition. This concession with what we wanted," he added. the visit. "They ate it up. The meat packers strike.' But we surprised them." was reported on August 11 , a day after the Martin explained that although the work in turn were very impressed with the After the first week of the walkout the 8,000-strong rally. ers didn't expect the strike to go this long, strength of the fight against Pepsi. They were company has reportedly agreed to measures As we go to press, no agreement has been they had all saved money and began prepar struck by the fact that only one union mem that would make it easier for workers in the reached on any of the other major issues, ing for a possible showdown. He said strik ber has been crossing the picket line. They wireless division to join the union. Accord including subcontracting, mandatory over ers will start receiving unemployment ben wanted to know how to prepare a strike like ing to press reports and discussions on the time, benefit copayments, job security, and efits September 29, that they are receiving this." picket line, Verizon agreed that if a major working conditions. strike benefits, and a strike relief fund has ity of workers within the former BellAtlan- "We've been talking about this strike been set up to allow strikers to pay some bills. Leonard Miller contributed to this article. August 28, 2000 The Militant 3 The battle over teaching evolution heats up BY BRIAN WILLIAMS speech, and other assaults on the rights of and the modem class struggle. In his attack on Gould's materialist view The battle over the teaching of evolution working people. Today, the attack on Darwinian evolution point, Wright argues that the evolution of or creationism in the public schools was at Thomas DeLay, a prominent Republican is moving from the fringes on the right wing advanced life was likely from the start. "The the center of a nationally profiled local elec congressman, argued last year that the into the pages of established bourgeois fates of particular species may depend on tion for state Board of Education seats in shootings in high schools in Colorado and magazines through some of its "supporters," the luck of the draw," he writes. "But the Kansas. In the August 1 vote, two incum Georgia were linked to the "culture of abor who give evolution a teleological explana properties they embody were in the cards bent candidates in the Republican primaries tion and the teaching of evolution." tion-that is, the idea this process has an at least in the sense that the deck was stacked who in August 1999 had voted to remove Major capitalist politicians have bent to the ultimate goal. heavily in their favor." evolution as an explanation for the origin rightist assault on science. "A year ago, when Such unscientific arguments, like other of species from the state's science curricu the Kansas school board removed evolution Attack on evolution by 'supporters' forms of mystification, are ultimately aimed lum were defeated. Another Republican can from the state's science standards, the nation's Robert Wright, for example, has pub at convincing working people that we are didate who supported the curriculum was leading politicians barely responded," re lished a book entitled Nonzero: The Logic the objects, not the subjects, of history; that also defeated. ported the Washington Post in an August 4 ofHuman Destiny, which argues that there there must be a plan, a creator, to whose As a result, after the November elections editorial. "John McCain and Elizabeth Dole is apurpose and directionality to the c ,·olu goals we should submit rather than through the new board will have a majority com declared that such judgments were a matter tion of life. An article based on two chap our actions being capable of taking control mitted to overturning the antievolution poli for the states; George W. Bush announced ters of his book appeared in the December of our destiny. The fight for a scientific un cies currently in place. he was positively in favor of teaching cre 13 issue of The New Yorker magazine, en derstanding of the world is vital for work The Kansas Board of Education's deci ationism alongside evolution .... AI Gore, in titled "The accidental creationist: Why ers and farmers to have the tools necessary sion in a 6-4 vote last year did not formally other contexts a vigorous advocate of science Stephen Jay Gould is bad for evolution." to transform it through a social revolution. ban the teaching of evolution, although it education, initially refused to criticize Kan left the option of what to teach in the hands sas and then did so reluctantly." of local school boards by removing evolu tion from state tests that evaluate students' Latest round in assault on science Chicago food workers end strike performance. But by effectively removing Until the late 1960s, several states for from school curriculum the teaching of evo bade the teaching of evolution at all. In a lution as the sole explanation for the origin 1925 trial in Tennessee, John Scopes, a of species, the board gave freer rein to pro young high school biology teacher, was con moting antiscientific doctrines of creation victed of violating that state's law against ism in the public schools. The board also teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. removed from the curriculum the big bang While his conviction was later overturned theory of the origin of the universe, which on a technicality, the trial had a big impact guides modem astronomy and physics. on the nation's public school system. Creationism is the myth-repackaged in Throughout the 1930s references to "Dar the framework of"scientific" teaching-that win" or "evolution" were not to be found in a supernatural being created humans and most biology textbooks. other species. Evolution, based on scientific In 1968 the Supreme Court ruled that investigation offossils, anatomy, and genetic banning the teaching of evolution is uncon evidence, shows how species come into be stitutional on First Amendment grounds ing and evolve over long periods of time ' a victory resulting from the democratic gains through a process of natural selection. 'of the civil rights movement. The campaign against the teaching of In a second offensive in the late 1970s, evolution in the schools has heated up in the governments of Arkansas and Louisi recent years. It is one front in the "culture ana required that if evolution was taught, war" spearheaded by rightist forces, which "equal time" must be granted to teaching scapegoat sections of the population, foster the creation story, dubbed "creation sci irrational ideas, and mobilize emotional ence." Those pushing this antiscientific ap energy around the "decadence" of society proach falsely argued that state and local in order to promote reactionary "solutions" school boards should play down the impor to the social crisis caused by the capitalist tance of evolution by presenting it, along system. Promoting obscurantism is used to with creationism, as unproven explanations. undermine hard-won democratic rights such A Supreme Court ruling in 1987 rejected as the separation of church and state and to those laws. attack the scientific materialist understand The latest tactic, used in Kansas, is to sim ing of the world that working people need ply delete, but not formally ban, evolution to be able to change it. from school tests and allow instruction in Antievolution forces have sought to make the biblical "alternative" as a choice for lo inroads in a number of other states besides cal school boards. Kansas. Last October state officials in Ken Ultrarightist politician Patrick Buchanan, tucky eliminated the word "evolution" from who has long railed against the teaching of Militant/Betsey Stone the school curriculum. In Alabama and evolution in the schools, ·has sometimes Members of Laborers Local 681 picket Appetizers and Inc. during strike. Contract Oklahoma, authorities ordered that text couched his reactionary position as a ques approved in July 26 vote included concessions, but workers say that striking and taking books carry a disclaimer about the certainty tion to be decided "democratically" on the a stand for their rights strengthened them in ongoing struggle with the company. of evolution. local level. Asked in a "Meet the Press" tele Officials in New Hampshire, Ohio~ Ten vision interview last October whether cre BY ELIZABETH STONE confident than before the strike. Ana nessee, Texas, Washington, and other states ationism or evolution should be taught in AND ARRIN HAWKINS Serrano, a worker on second shift, spoke of considered, but defeated, proposals by op · the schools, he replied, "That should be de CHICAGO-Members of Laborers Inter the "strong women" who kept the picket ponents of evolution. Last fall the New cided at the local level by the school itself. I national Union Local681 voted overwhelm lines large and militant. Mexico government barred creationism in would prefer that children have voluntarily ingly to return to work July 26 after more On the afternoon of July 31, the day they the schools and endorsed the teaching of the right to be taught the Bible in public than two weeks on strike against Appetiz went back, first-shift workers gathered out evolution in the science curriculum. school or the Torah or anything as long as ers and Inc. side Appetizers as those on second shift The rightist advocates of creationism in it's voluntary.... Let it be decided there by As workers lined up across from the plant walked in. Maria Soberanis, a line worker, the schools have been emboldened by the majority rule" to vote, none of those interviewed by the explained that workers are continuing to reactionary policies of Democratic andRe Forcing creationism into the curriculum Militant spoke favorably ofthe contract of fight inside the plant. Another line worker publican politicians, such as attacks on a on an equal footing with evolution makes a fer. Nonetheless, s9me workers said they noted that there is tighter security inside the woman's right to abortion, efforts to search mockery out of scientific education. As were glad they took a stand. "It's better to plant, with two additional security guards youth with metal detectors and cops in the Stephen Jay Gould, a leading defender of fight for something than not to fight at all," walking around the line. Other workers ex schools, attempts to censor freedom of Darwinian evolution, put it, teaching biol Ana Serrano remarked. plained that when they returned to work, ogy without evolution is "like teaching En On a major issue of the strike--extend they found they had been assigned to an glish but making grammar optional." ing the workweek to Saturdays and Sun other job, some at lower pay. The materialist explanation of the evolu days-the new contract states that although Nino Resto, a shop steward on the after fru'"~~r tion of biological species was first outlined workers hired before July 2000 will not noon shift, reported that 20 positions were Tile Origins of Materialism by Charles Darwin in 1859 in a book en work weekends, new hires will be forced to "stripped" or permanently replaced by titled "On the Origin of Species." At the time work these days. The company will use this newly hired workers. Most workers were GEORGE Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, founding setup to divide newly hired workers from unhappy with this, and four quit. The union NOVACK leaders of the modem communist workers those witb more seniority. has taken this grievance to the National La On the rise of a movement, hailed Darwin's discovery. In a Quality control workers and mechanics bor Relations Board. scientific world letter to Engels, Marx wrote, "This is the can be assigned to do Saturday and Sunday On their first day back, temporary work outlook in book which contains the basis in natural work, but for no more than 30 days and at a ers continued to be bused in and out of the ancient Greece, history for our view" of the development of $1.50 per hour pay increase. plant. Resto stated that temporary workers and the develop human history. Line workers, the majority of whom make have been a mainstay of Appetizer's ment of agricul Engels, too, noted the revolutionary char close to minimum wage, got a small raise workforce since before the strike, something ture, manufactur acter ofDarwin's study, which views nature averaging about 13 cents an hour. Workers that made it easier to use them as scabs. The ing, and trade in both materialist and dialectical, dynamic with more than five years seniority suc company has started a petition campaign to that prepared the terms. He pointed out that Darwin opened ceeded in keeping seniority pay, which the decertify the union. way for it. $19.95 the way for a new view of nature where "all company wanted to take away. But no such Many workers explained that the fight rigidity was dissolved, all fixity pay will be offered to workers hired after will continue inside the plant. Nino Resto Understanding History dissipated ... the whole of nature [was] shown the signing of the new contract as they gain stated, "We're strong in there still. We be as moving in eternal flux." seniority. came like a family out there on the picket How did capitalism arise? Why and The battle today over the teaching of evo Why did workers vote to return? Despite line. When the rain came, who came with when did this exploitative system lution is one expression of how, in times of the strong picket lines throughout the almost the umbrella to keep you dry? After three exhaust its once revolutionary role? mounting social crisis, the capitalist rulers three-week strike, the company brought in weeks, you know who you can count on. Why is revolutionary change funda seek to blunt rising class consciousness by temporary workers. Strikers were worried You know exactly who has got your back mental to human progress? $15.99 promoting religious and other antiscientific that this would become permanent and they covered." Available from bookstores, includ notions. These false ideas fetishize existing would lose their jobs and the union. ing those listed on page 12 class relations and obfuscate an understand Despite the inadequate contract terms, Arrin Hawkins is a member ofthe Chicago ing of the development of human society many workers are returning more proud and chapter of the Young Socialists. 4 The Militant August 28, 2000 Trowe follows the trail of labor struggles in Louisiana, Mississippi
BY JACQUIE HENDERSON union-organizing battles. Sixteen people HOUSTON-Socialist Workers vice purchased the Militant and five signed up presidential candidate Margaret Trowe to support the campaign. joined workers organizing and defending unions in Louisiana and Mississippi, and AVONDALE, Louisiana, August 12. Texas during a four-day visit in mid-August. "Where have you been?" a shipyard worker The following notes were taken while trav asked when socialist workers met him as he eling with the working-class candidate at got out of his car to go to work early Satur factory gates, picket lines, and meetings in day morning. "You haven't been here in a that region. while," he said, buying a copy of the Mili tant. AMELIA, Louisiana, August 11. Mar Last year the union finally won the right garetTrowe and socialist campaign support to sign up members at this shipyard, the ers went to the J. Ray McDermott fabrica state's largest employer. The workers signed tion yard, which makes giant platforms for up for the union but the company has yet to offshore oil rigs. We had learned, on our way agree to a contract. "Is this about the union?" to another campaign stop, that workers here asked two workers pulling up to talk to Trowe. They told of three deaths at the yard had voted in a union yesterday. We turned Militant/Jacquie Henderson south from our planned route and headed caused by company negligence. They were Socialist Workers Party vice-presidential candidate Margaret Trowe campaigns near through the bayous to this small town near glad to hear about the Socialist Workers McDermott fabrication yard in Louisiana. The day before, the workers had voted in a Morgan City, on the Gulf Coast. campaign and took copies of Perspectiva union. Workers told Trowe of several union-organizing drives in "oil patch" region. Trowe and David Ferguson, Socialist Mundial. Workers congressional candidate from "Thank you for coming. Please come Houston, introduced themselves to a worker back more often," another shipyard worker locked out by Kaiser Aluminum. drive by workers to defend ourselves. near the yard. Trowe explained that they said. "Why does racism exist? Is it in the in wanted to talk with workers about their With the help of a second team, the cam GRAMERCY, Louisiana. At the picket terests of white workers?" "Do workers ev union victory the day before. The worker, a paigners met close to 100 workers, who took shack outside the Kaiser Aluminum plant erywhere have the same interests?" "What fitter, introduced himself as part of the or socialist campaign literature including 14 here, workers were keenly interested in what about farmers?" "How do we win?" "What ganizing effort. papers and one Pathfinder book. we had found along the road about labor resp<;msibility do workers in struggle have The candidates spent some time talking struggles. We started out talking with a few to other workers?" "What about workers in with the fitter, who described some of his NATCHEZ, Mississippi. On the way to workers and were soon joined by half a other countries?" "How do we win?" These experiences in the fight for dignity and safe meet with workers locked out by Titan Tire, dozen more. Many added their own experi were some of the questions discussed. working conditions at McDermott. Trowe we noticed a new growth industry along the ences, listing more union-organizing drives One worker described the capitalists as outlined what her campaign stands for and highway-prisons. - they knew of in the area. "vultures-they try to divide us up and pick, showed her campaign paper, the Militant. Besides the large number of long-estab Some have been thinking ahead to the pick, pick at us. But they're not finding it The unionist said, "Well, you're for the lished prisons in the area, we sa':" half a expected end to the lockout, about how to such easy pickings anymore," he added. He working person. I'm for you. I'll help any dozen new, sprawling, windowless cement strengthen the union's power in the plant picked up a copy of The Changing Face of way I can." constructions surrounded by barbed wire once they have returned to work. U.S. Politics: Working-Class Politics and the Hundreds of workers began driving out and security guards. Some of us continued the discussion at a Trade Unions, by Jack Barnes, to study. of the yard while others went in to work. In Natchez we got a warm welcome at restaurant. Union fighters and socialist cam Those of us from Houston promised to Over 'the course of an hour, close to 100 the Steelworkers union hall. The walls are paigners from Texas and Minnesota mixed come back in a few days. Then we headed workers stopped to talk to the socialist can covered with pictures of visits the strikers it up with a locked-out Kaiser worker and back to Texas to get a few hours sleep be didates and took campaign brochures to have made in solidarity with other union two young workers fighting against racist fore an early-morning stop to meet workers read. A small number returned the literature ists and in rallies to strengthen their owp discrimination and for unions. The discus going into Quietflex, a Houston company after hearing that the campaign is pro-union. fight. Strikers pointed out Trowe in several sion ranged from the nature of the capital where Mexican-born workers are continu "James Harris and I support your union pictures. ists' drive against our class to the necessary ing to lead an effort to unionize the plant. drive. What you have done here is very im We stayed for hours, meeting many of the portant for other workers too," Trowe told union fighters who came and went during workers. the course of that Saturday afternoon. Work Harris joins pickets in New England "Packinghouse workers at Dakota Pre ers handed each other copies of the cam mium Foods in Minnesota will be happy to paign flyer on presidential candidate James BY MARTIN BOYERS lesbian couples to establish a legal status. know you are organizing the way they are," Harris and Trowe, and asked Trowe ques BOSTON-Socialist Workers presiden Opponents of gay rights have begun a cam said Trowe, citing one of several current tions. The vice-presidential candidate asked tial candidate James Harris toured New En paign to repeal that law. The August 9 meet questions in return and expressed her views gland August 6-9. He spent time discuss ing to defend the law drew 80 people. Har on what to do about the situation we are ing politics with workers, farmers, and youth ris and the two farm activists joined the confronting as working people. involved in resistance to union busting, the meeting in progress and pledged their sup One topic of discussion back and forth farm crisis, and political reaction. -port to the fight to end discrimination and was whether cops are workers, whether there Harris joined a picket line of striking harassment of gays. are bad ones and good ones. In Detroit, one members of the International Brotherhood striker said, the cops went easier on their of Electrical Workers and the Communica Martin Boyers is a member ofthe Union of demonstration because they were unionists tions Workers ofAmerica at Verizon 's down Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Em too. town headquarters here. Hundreds of tele ployees. "In my opinion a police union is not a phone workers picketed several entrances union, " Trowe said. "They aren't part of of the building. the working class. Their job is to serve and The next day, he visited the picket line at protect Titan Tire and the other capitalists. Revere Copper in New Bedford, Massachu Not to serve and protect us, working setts, where 82 members of the UnitedAuto Campaigning to get Harris people." Strikers had experiences to back Workers have been on strike since May 1. and Trowe on the ballot up that fact. The discussions with strikers there ranged Another hot topic was the 300 accidents from the state of the union movement to the Colorado caused by Firestone tires that have only just example that the Cuban revolution provides been recalled. Most of the workers are tire for working people. Minnesota builders, and they had strong opinions on Harris had dinner with two farm activists New Jersey the ways the companies cut comers that from the organization Rural Vermont. They endanger safety-both in the building of the discussed how working farmers are caught Washington State tires and in the product itself. One worker, in the crunch between their growing pro Florida a tire inspector, highlighted one safety prob duction cost~ and the falling prices that capi Iowa lem-that the company had cut back on in talist processors pay farmers. spections and virtually eliminated them. One of the farm activists described the Mississippi Trowe added, 'That is the nature of capi growing international competition that farm New York talism. It's the lawful workings of capital ers face for their products. Harris replied that ism. Capitalists like the Titan bosses are farmers and workers have to look at the so Utah driven to increase their rate of profit. They lutions to their problems on a world scale, Washington, D.C. can do that only by driving down our work based on working people from different ing conditions and wages, by putting our countries closing ranks against their com Louisiana lives at risk. That's why the treads come off mon class enemy. This means rejecting the Rhode Island the tires and why so many of us get hurt on bosses' trap ofAmerican nationalism, which Tennessee the job. Workers want to make a product that pits working people from different countries is safe, but the company blocks our efforts against each other. They discussed the posi Vermont for the sake of profit. This is an important tive impact that immigration has on Wisconsin union question." strengthening the fighting experience of the We started to leave, but a few more work working class in the United States. ers wanted to ask Trowe some questions. One of the farm activists told the social On ballot One worker wanted more campaign bro ist candidate about a organizing meeting chures to take with him to church. taking place at that moment. It had been Petitioning completed We left an hour later, heading back to called by defenders of Vermont's "civil Still petitioning Gramercy, Louisiana, where Trowe has been unions" law. Earlier this year, Vermont was invited to the picket line of Steelworkers the first state to pass a law allowing gay and August 28, 2000 The Militant 5 REPORT ON ACTIVE WORKERS CONFERENCE Socialist workers, youth register growing integration in struggles of working people 'We are structuring the revolutionary party through tnass work' Continued from front page SWP national secretary Jack Barnes; In a Friday afternoon presentation on the "Once the company agreed to meet with nist workers and fellow fighters are discuss • a drive to win new subscribers to the second day of the conference, SWP leader the committee elected by those engaged in ing the program and strategy of the revolu Militant and Perspectiva Mundial among Jack Barnes outlined the central political that sit-down strike, the workers had the tionary workers movement-the lessons of fighting workers and farmers, as well as ideas and strategic perspectives being re union if they didn't stop fighting." worker and farmer resistance to exploitation other working people and youth attracted flected in the panels of active workers at the What is happening in South St. Paul can and oppression earned in struggle over the to these struggles and repelled by the bru gathering. Barnes drew on concrete experi change the real perspectives in packing past 150 years. Fighting workers and farm tality of capitalist society; ences of socialist workers over the last sev houses throughout the Upper Midwest and ers are feeling a greater need to read and eral months, and raised a number of issues beyond, Barnes said. In Omaha, Nebraska, • support for the Socialist Workers 2000 discuss the Militant, its Spanish-lang~age that were discussed over the next day and where the UFCW has initiated an organiz monthly sister publication Perspectiva ticket of James Harris for president of the half at a second panel, from the floor, at ing drive, "all it takes is for workers inside Mundial, the Marxist magazine New Inter United States and Margaret Trowe for vice classes, and informally. one of the big packinghouses to decide, national, and books and pamphlets pub president; and "Some day, if people hold tough," 'Let's do it like they did at Dakota!"' When lished by Pathfinder Press. • a fund drive to raise $125,000 by No- Barnes said, "an example emerges that not something like that happens, then-after The effect of this work months of collecting signa could be seen in the spirit, en tures on union cards, and ef ergy, political voice-and fi forts by young people volun nancial contributions-of teering their services-the those participating in the con prospects for actually winning ference. a union can begin to be trans In attendance were some formed overnight." 450 people-members of the Socialist Workers Party and its Capacity of workers sister communist organiza The evening before tions in other. countries; Young Barnes's talk, the conference Socialists members; organized had been opened by Roberta supporters of the communist Niles, a member of the Young movement; and other workers, Socialists who works at an farmers, and youth interested other St. Paul meatpacking in learning more about the plant, and Norton Sandler struggles unfolding within the from San Francisco, who is proletarian movement, as well the organizer of the party's as learning more about the YS Trade Union Committee. and SWP. Seventy five were "The struggle at Dakota under the age of 30, and some showed me what workers are 60 were 25 or younger. Work Photo: Courtesy of UFCW Local 789 capable of," Niles said, "and ers and youth came from Aus On eve of July 21 union vote at Dakota Premium Foods in St. Paul, Minnesota, workers rally in UFCW Loca1789 gave me a sense that this is the tralia, Canada, Iceland, New union hall. "Fifty-one days between a sit-down strike and union victory in a major factory is, to put it mildly, future of the working class." Zealand, Sweden, and the unusual today," said SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes. It can have an impact throughout the Upper Midwest. "I also want my co-work United Kingdom, as well as "All it takes is for workers in one of the big packinghouses to decide, 'Let's do it like they did at Dakota!'" ers to be awakened to the pos from France, Greece, Italy, sibilities of a socialist future" Korea, and Puerto Rico. vember 13 to finance the production and only inspires but shocks-shocks-the through reading publications like the Mili In response to the increased resistance by distribution of the Militant and PM. thinking working-class world into a change, tant and PM and getting involved in labor working people, participants in the Active Supporters of the communist movement seemingly slight at first, in the focus of their and other social struggles going on today, Workers Conference came out of the gath who are organizing the Pathfinder Reprint creative work and even the very pattern of Niles remarked. ering better prepared to increase the politi Project-through which volunteers around their daily lives. Sandler called attention to the words cal striking power of the communist move the world are working to turn every Path the guidelines--on the large banners that ment, and on a sounder footing to carry out finder title into digital files ready to be pro Packinghouse workers struggle had been painted by volunteers and hung campaigns over the rest of the summer and duced on the modern computer-to-plate "The sit-down strike and rapid union vic behind the podium in the hall where the fall: equipment in the publisher's printshop tory at the Dakota Premium packinghouse main conference sessions were held. The • an international effort to expand the sales announced their plans for the coming year is such an event. It shocked the officers of central banner read "jSi se puede!" the af of Pathfinder literature to workers and at the conference, as well. They aim to have the local union. It shocked many working firmation of confidence and strength-Yes, youth, focusing on the new pamphlet, The fully half of Pathfinder's booklist in digital people throughout the Midwest. And it we can!-that has been taken as the battle Working Class and the Transformation of form by May Day 2001. · shocked our party and the Young Socialists;' cry by the Dakota workers and many other Learning: the Fraud ofEducation Reform The party's supporters also announced an he said. working people. under Capitalism and the book effort to raise the level of their monthly fi Workers at Dakota Premium Foods in That banner was flanked by two others Capitalism 's World Disorder: Working nancial contributions to the party to a total South St. Paul, Minnesota, staged a seven that read: ''Following natural lines of resis Class Politics at the Millennium, both by of $250,000 annually by December 31. hour sit-down strike June 1, demanding the tance in the working class" and "Structure bosses address immediate concerns such as the revolutionary party through mass work." the brutal line speed, the company's prac Those watchwords, Sandler said, described tice of putting injured workers back on the the course the SWP and YS had set out on job, and schemes to cut pay. By the end of at anActive Workers Conference held in July that day, management agreed to meet with 1998 in Pittsburgh, where the socialists as a delegation elected by the workers and sessed their initial experiences in respond granted concessions on line speed and other ing to the new resistance of working people issues. On July 21 workers at Dakota Pre to the offensive by the employers and their mium, organized by United Food and Com government. mercial Workers Local 789, won a union The Pittsburgh gathering had been fol representation election by a decisive 112- lowed by a joint party-YS conference in Los 71 margin. Angeles in December 1998, held concur "Fifty-one days between a sit-down strike rent with a YS national convention. Partici and union victory in a major factory is, to pants there had discussed the perspectives put it mildly, unusual today," Barnes said. summarized in a talk by Barnes on "A Sea "The decisive moment was that morning Change in Working-Class Politics," which when wm;kers sat down in the cafeteria; was subsequently edited for publication as when they would not work; when they the opening chapter of the book would not be cowed, bought off, or divided," Capitalism 's World Disorder. he added. "That's when the bosses broke and Since those two gatherings, and an Ac said, 'We will meet with you,'-and 'you' tive Workers Conference in Ohio a year ear had become plural not singular; not just as lier, Sandler said, the party has established an individual 'Dakota employee,' but with branch organizing committees in six-usu a delegation chosen by the workers them ally small-towns and cities in the centers selves. of the coal mining, textile and garment, auto, "A great moment in the American class and meatpacking industries, and closer to struggle occurred that day, and the first steps farmers struggles. across a bridge were taken," Barnes said. Sandler reported that socialists will be "Once the workers came into the plant, establishing a new branch organizing com punched the time clock, and then sat down mittee in Tampa, Florida, in late August. It in the cafeteria and refused to work, ·they is an outgrowth of the Miami branch reach were challenging the sanctity of private ing out to farmers and industrial workers in property. 'We refuse any longer to be treated central Florida and-together with party and "Fighting workers will always respond to those who help show the way in which the like cattle, not human beings,' they said. 'We YS units in Atlanta and Birmingham unions can be transformed into revolutionary instruments of struggle," Jack Barnes said. refuse any longer to be brutalized on the reaching up to the triangle of northern "There are no limits beforehand on how far this process can go." line.' Florida, southern Georgia, and western Ala-
6 The Militant August 28, 2000 REPORT ON ACTIVE WORKERS CONFERENCE bama. Although he had initially planned the trip In addition, Sandler said, substantial with two other socialist workers, Wilson said progress has been made in revitalizing the that at the last minute neither could join the activity of socialist workers in the industrial team. "But we had an obligation not only to unions in the United States, who work col the workers in Kemmerer but to two fellow lectively together in plants, mines, and mills fighters to go ahead with the trip," he said. across the country. There has been growth When the three members of the new team and renewal of the party's work in the gar met, they discussed their common goals. ment and textile industries organized by the Wilson said his fellow miner-who consid Union ofNeedletrades, Industrial and Tex ers the Militant "to be the only newspaper tile Employees (UNITE); the meatpacking that told the truth" about an earlier UMWA industry, organized by the UFCW; and coal strike by his own local-decided to help mines organized by the United Mine Work introduce the Militant to strikers they met. ers of America (UMWA). The team was a real success in what they In addition, the conference marked a turn learned about the strike, the coverage writ ing point in how socialists in the auto, rail, ten for the Militant and PM, and contacts airport and aerospace, and steel industries made for the ongoing struggle of miners in are working to build local union fractions the West and throughout the country. In the in their areas. Above all, this will accelerate process, five strikers bought Militant sub the convergence of the course of these frac scriptions, and numerous single issues were tions with that of the party in UNITE, the sold. UMWA, and the UFCW. Coming out of the conference, socialists Working together with fighters in the United Transportation Union (UTU), "Working together like this with fighters United Steelworkers of America (USWA), engaged in various battles is something we and IntemationalAssociation of Machinists should start to expect," Wilson said. "It comes out of consistent, steady work with (lAM) planned national meetings inAugust Militant/Mark Friedman with the primary aim of reorganizing so they militants with whom we increasingly con Striking UMWA members and supporters rally July 26 in Denver at P&M's national can work together in local units in the same verge. The Militant becomes a natural part headquarters. Miners in Wyoming and New Mexico beat back bosses' demands for 12- plants or worksites. In many cases, this in of what we and other workers are doing." hour days. At conference, coal miner Danny Wilson described the solidarity work so volves changing jobs or moving to new parts Also speaking on a conference panel was cialists had been organizing jointly with fellow miners for the P&M strikes. of the country where fights are taking place Samuel Farley, a worker who took part in or are brewing. the June 1 sit-down at Dakota Premium At the conference session Saturday night, Foods and a leader of the organizing drive fought for this, there is no possibility of find mine, since he had a commitment to a fel Ellen Berkeley, a worker in a UAW-orga there. Farley said the struggle for the union ing a way to overthrow capitalism, a road low miner, another fighting unionist, and nized auto parts plant in Detroit, explained and a contract at Dakota gave him "a real toward the socialist revolution," Barnes said. other workers. how party members in the UAW had decided feel for the battalions of working people that "The goal is not to tum the unions into a "Workers assumed we would be there. At this spring to get out of situations where they will lead and be a part of the transformation revolutionary party, not to turn the unions into that moment, there was no decision to make. were working in plants by themselves, and of the unions. When you consider the com a revolutionary army, or into some kind of "What they did was a model. Because to get into workplaces with other party mem position of the workers--overwhelmingly 'pure' union in the imagination of some so with the size and geographic spread of party bers. Working alone "made it impossible to immigrants-and the conditions they face cial reformer-no matter how "red" or what units today, we cannot respond rapidly as have a feel for what was going on in the on the job, you realize that what we did can ever. The goal is to tum the unions into ef fights break out and deepen unless we find union and industry," she said. and will be repeated elsewhere." fective, fighting, instruments of the working other workers to join in and do it with us. At a national fraction meeting at the end The Workers' Voice, produced by pro class that take the moral high ground, think And we will be better politically as we do ofApril, socialists in the UAW had voted to union meat packers in the plant, has been socially, and act politically. Instruments that so." end all one-person job situations by June an essential tool in answering each of the over time can organize the working class to Communist workers also have to concen 15, a deadline that was met. Since then, antiunion moves by the company, Farley be politically independent," he said. trate our striking power where our forces Berkeley said, "we have a new fraction of said. The paper helped cut across divisions "There are no limits beforehand on how and our propaganda weapons have the great imposed by management between workers far this process can go. It opens the oppor est leverage in the class struggle, Barnes in different departments and from different tunity to organize tens of millions of work said, "where the fights and prospects for backgrounds, and "explained what the union ers in the'unions." fights are the greatest. Where we are part of larger forces-a yeast, one of the levers is and the need for our own organization. Speed, leverage, timeliness "We have worked from the start to have a within these forces." leadership from the various key production Three words, Barnes said, summarize the When the developments in South St. Paul areas, such as the kill floor, the cut, and challenge facing communist workers in face happened in June, for example, the Young packaging," he said. Getting jobs at the cen of this new situation in the labor movement: Socialists set an example by putting aside a ter of production is crucial not only in speed, leverage, and timeliness. prior plan for summer activity and getting a meatpacking but in other industries, Farley During a retreat in the labor movement substantial number ofYS members into the said, since that is where the bosses are im such as the one that marked much of the Twin Cities and elsewhere in the Midwest posing speedup and conditions that propel 1990s, he said, "a small organization like to strengthen the energy of workers inside workers to resist and in the process forge a ours learns that what we don't do or pre packing plants. leadership. pare on Tuesday can often be done on Party branches more than ever must carry "We are also learning that solidarity is not Wednesday or Thursday or even later with out rounded political campaigns, Barnes just something you receive, but something out big negative consequences." said, reaching out as broadly as possible to you have to give in order to advance your But this changes when working people working people and youth in their localities struggle. We are now preparing for the even begin depending more and more on what and regions. They must reach out to work tuality of a strike to get a contract," he said. each other do in a common fight. Then the ing people and youth deeply involved in the Amy Roberts, another leader in the orga speed of response time becomes decisive. intense, minute-to-minute, and eventually nizing drive at Dakota Premium, spoke on "The truth is," Barnes said, "that Danny had if left solely to their own logic-narrowing the second conference panel during the day no choice but to make a quick decision to union and factory struggles. Saturday. She explained that "women have go ahead with the team to the Kemmerer Continued on Page 8 been stepping forward, distributing The Workers' Voice, and going to union meet ings." In one case they forced the company Militant/Susan Zarate to ask a supervisor, known for screaming at Ryan Lewis, chief web press operator in women workers, to resign after he tried to Pathfinder's printshop, at work. "Five fire a worker. Young Socialists are taking on major lead Being part of the union battle, Roberts Capitalism's World ·Disorder ership responsibilities in the shop," YS explained, helped her and others "to learn WORKING-CLASS POLITICS AT THE MILLENNIUM leader Olympia Newton told conference. real discipline and gain experience doing JackBames mass work as part of a broader vanguard. If The social devastation, financial panics, political turmoil, three in an auto parts plant in Detroit, which you vote to do something," she said, "your police brutality, and military assaults accelerating all around is a first step to put us on the road to re co-workers e~pect you to carry it out and building a national UAW fraction." want to know why if you didn't." us are the inevitable forces unleashed by capitalism. But In working-class struggles such as these, the future capitalism has in store for us can be changed by Linking up with fellow fighters said Barnes during his Friday afternoon pre timely solidarity, courageous action, and united struggle As the Active Workers Conference was sentation, the gauge of victory or defeat, of \AU\rko:o.rc and farmers conscious of their power to trans taking place, UMWA coal miners in New setbacks or advances, continues to be that the. world. Also available in French and Spanish. used by Karl Marx some 150 years ago. In Mexico and Wyoming were on strike against Special offer $20 Regular price: $23.95 the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Co. (P &M), the Communist Manifesto, Marx wrote: owned by Chevron. By holding firm and "Now and again the workers are victorious, reaching out for labor solidarity, the work but only for a time. The real fruit of their "na face of U.S. 'Politics TI-E CHANGING FACE ers at both mines beat back the energy battles lies, not in the immediate result, but OF US. POLITICS POLITICS ANOTHE TRADE UNIONS ~ .. P<"''"'" ..... -- giant's demand for 12-hour workdays and in the ever-expanding union of the workers." other concessions, winning contracts in The great product of working-class Jack Barnes> .·····.. ·.. ·.. •· .•.•..•.•••... ···••··<··· .. · ·.··•···... ·.·····•··.··· .. ·•····· . ·•· .. ·.· ..• early August. struggles "is the ever-greater union of work A handbook fott~~ fle1\IV t;J~~er~ti~n c~minQ into the facto- As part of the first conference panel, ing people and example of workers' ries, mines, and mill~ ~~<~hey r~aqtto to~ uncertain life, Danny Wilson, a coal miner who works at a struggles," Barnes said. "This includes de ceaseless turmoil, andbrtrtalitV.ofqapitaiismtoday.lt shows surface mine in the West, reported on soli veloping a vanguard of our class that gains how millions of workillgpe
August 28, 2000 The Militant 7 REPORT ON ACTIVE WORKERS CONFERENCE
Continued from page 7 in union fractions-demonstrating At the same time, he said, the branches the capacity to lead, in an undiffer and branch organizing committees, union entiated way, comrades from genera fractions, and cadres of the party now must tions older than themselves-who also focus one-sided attention on particular will be the political leaders of an ex plants, mines, and mills and often on par panding communist youth organiza ticular workers districts in cities where they tion as well. are located. "That's been the record with ev The importance of timeliness, Barnes ery youth organization in the history said, is underlined by the way workers at of the communist movement," Dakota Premium are using The Workers ' Barnes said. He pointed to the grow Voice to respond point by point to the probes, ing weight ofYS members in orga attacks, and lies of management. nizing the leadership of production "Under these conditions, it's not only how and training in the Pathfinder quickly you counterpunch, but precisely printshop as one ofthe places where when and how," Barnes said. "That's a ques this process is already most advanced tion of political habits, and a concrete feel in the communist movement today. for the laws of the class struggle. That's where timeliness comes in." Working-class space Barnes noted that among workers Developing Young Socialists cadres and within working-class organiza Following up on the comments by tions and communities, communist Sandler on the steps being taken to build workers have virtually unlimited functioning union fractions, Barnes pointed space to discuss political ideas, dis to the participation of a substantial number tribute socialist books and newspa of Young Socialists in these efforts. This pers, and join together in common common fraction-building experience by struggles. "For a Marxist," he said, Militant/Eric Simpson party veterans and YS members occupies a "this is one of the most decisive tests Representatives of the Central Organization of Cuban Workers (from left) Manuel Montero uniquely important place in prospects for that the resistance we're describing and Olga Rosa Gomez, on a speaking tour of several U.S. cities, participated in conference strengthening the Young Socialists, he said. in the working class is real, not just panel with their interpreter, Edison Brown, and SWP leader Norton Sandler. "A communist youth organization never what we want to see happen." grows rapidly except during a period of This reality can't be confused, however, "They have diverted us from using to the what Cuban revolutionists refuse to do." massive action," Barnes said, "usually so with the notion that working people have fullest what the rulers cannot touch-work The irreplaceability of communists in the cial protest demonstrations of one kind or expanding space on the rulers' own turf or ing-class space," Barnes said. Recognizing United States within the interconnected another-like the Black rights marches, that revolutionary-minded workers and and acting on the expanding opportunities class-struggle developments here and in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, and rise farmers can act as if they have guaranteed among working people to discuss a social Cuba was registered in their response to the of the women's liberation movement in the rights in bourgeois society. "Working people ist perspective, while avoiding ultraleft ad April 22 raid in Miami by federal immigra I960s and I970s. This is when the energies have fought for rights over more than two ventures that invite victimization by the tion cops during which Cuban six-year-old of broad layers of young people in the centuries," Barnes said. "And millions of state, is a crucial part of advancing the Elian Gonzalez was seized. streets-high school and college students, workers believe the bosses and government party's work, he said. Focusing on the basic class questions in as well as young workers and farmers should honor what's contained in the Bill volved, communist workers explained both place their stamp on the class struggle, and of Rights and press to make the rulers do Cuba and the U.S. class struggle why defense of Cuban sovereignty was at an organization such as the Young Social so." At the opening session of the Active stake in demanding that Washington return ists can take off." But if anything, the exploiters and their Workers Conference on Thursday evening, the child to his homeland, and why the com A precondition to building a truly com various repressive apparatuses are even Mary-Alice Waters, SWP leader and editor mando-style raid was a blow to the work munist youth organization, however, Barnes more on the prod during a period of rising of the Marxist magazine New International, ing class-a blow .dealt by the U.S. rulers said, is that the Young Socialists develop a worker and farmer resistance. Class politi gave a feature talk on Cuba and the U.S. to reinforce the arbitrary and semimilitary self-confident political cadre, educated in cal polarization increases. class struggle. She began by highlighting powers of the hated migra and strengthen Marxism and experienced in proletarian Especially in small towns, on college two important working-class actions that the prerogatives of the executive branch. had taken place the day before, on July 26. Waters also drew attention to several in In Colorado, I 00 striking coal miners dications of the growing confidence among from New Mexico and Wyoming and their working people in Cuba as they emerge supporters had rallied outside the P&M from the worst years of the retreat of the headquarters near Denver. 1990s and begin to deepen their revolution That same day, more than I million ary course, as part of an international van people marched through the streets of Ha guard that converges with what is changing vana, Cuba, celebrating the anniversary of in the United States as well. the I953 assault on the Moncada army bar racks in Santiago--the action that launched Garment and textile workers the revolutionary armed struggle that Socialist workers and youth described a brought down the hated U.S.-backed Batista range of other experiences during the Fri dictatorship in January 1959. day and Saturday panels, and from the floor The big-business press noted with con of the conference during the discussion pe cern that Havana that morning was awash riod. in red-and-black flags-the flag of the July Alyson Kennedy, organizer of the steer 26 Movement, which under the leadership ing committee of the UNITE national frac of Fidel Castro led the workers and farmers tion, pointed to some of the shop floor and to victory in Cuba. What worries the impe strike struggles going on among garment rialist powers, Waters remarked, is what and textile workers today. These include the these colors show about the living revolu recent strike at Tartan Textiles near Miami tionary continuity still deeply rooted among and organizing efforts by industrial laundry Cuban working people, and the ongoing workers in Chicago. efforts by the leadership to win the new gen Some socialist garment and textile work erations to a proletarian course. ers are in unorganized plants, Kennedy ex The UMWA rally in Denver and the plained. "The union question comes to the "March of the Fighting People" in Havana fore more and more in these plants," she may seem vastly disproportionate given said. "As battles pick up, more and more Militant/Linda Joyce their respective sizes, Waters said, but they workers will tum to the established unions. Supporters of communist movement at one of several Pathfinder Reprint Project work have something much more significant in How we conduct ourselves will have an shops on each stage of converting books to digital files. Their efforts are helping keep common. They underscore the growing impact on whether there is a victory or de Pathfinder's arsenal of 350 books in print, ensuring lessons of working-class move interconnections of the fight to strengthen feat." ment are accessible to fighters. From left, volunteers Marla Puziss, Jim Rogers, Nick the working-class resistance in the United A big majority of the UNITE fraction Gruenberg, and Ruth Cheney, who also spoke at Saturday evening session. States and the workers state in Cuba. members are now sewing machine opera "They register the most important devel tors, Kennedy noted, a key component of opments in the world class struggle today the industry at the center of production. The politics. The progress of the YS today has campuses, or in front of factories or mines the growing confidence of working people, fraction and its leadership have been able to be gauged by its success in doing this, (when sharp union issues are posed, above both in Cuba and the United States," she to function on a nationwide basis and take not in terms of immediate quantitative re all), working people can open themselves said. up questions at the center of communist sults in recruitment, he said. up to unnecessary victimization as a result Waters noted that in recent weeks there work in the union because there are several "That's why the flexibility shown by of insufficient political preparation to sell have been maneuvers in Congress around local fractions of two or more socialists young socialists in going to where work papers, set up book tables, or carry out po several bills or amendments to bills that working together in the same plant. ing-class struggles are sharpest right now is litical activity. Willful ignorance of what would modify the terms of the U.S. eco "This gives us the opportunity to collec indispensable not only to building stronger we're walking into, smart-aleck mouthing nomic embargo against Cuba. The frame tively work tog~ther, respond to what is hap party-YS fractions in the industrial unions," off, or other traits of petty-bourgeois rather work of the current debate around these pro pening on the job, and carry out party cam Barnes emphasized. "These YS members, than proletarian functioning can rapidly re posals, she pointed out, remains how best paigns among co-workers," she said. Build many of them at the same time young party sult in a citation or sununons by the police to intensify the economic, political, and dip ing this kind of fraction in production jobs members, are also building the kind of cadre and sometimes much worse consequences lomatic war against Cuba and overturn the is "crucial before the bigger struggles break that can take advantage of what will open at the hands ofcops, private company goons, socialist revolution. out. Co-workers will get to know us as trust when a wave of social protests begin in re or right-wingers in league with the bosses. "The problem for the capitalist politicians worthy and serious people they can depend sponse to the brutality and inhumanity of "Even thou£h the cops may not win in on all sides of this debate," Waters said, "is on." the imperialist system and the prerogatives court, or the citation may be dropped," that all of them insist that anything they Kennedy explained several experiences of the capitalist rulers." Barnes said, "they've still diverted us from consider real trade concessions must be fraction members had learned from of how What's more, Barnes added, it will be carrying out political activity. They succeed accompanied by real political concessions ultraleft functioning cuts across this ap those YS cadres who have shouldered lead for a while in tying us up in red tape, drain by Cuba on its proletarian and internation proach. In one plant, the local fraction ex ership responsibility in party branches and ing our energy and resources," Barnes said. alist revolutionary course. And that's exactly aggerated how far a contract fight had deep-
8 The Militant August 28, 2000 REPORT ON ACTIVE WORKERS CONFERENCE
ened and began acting as though the union officials were more of a problem than the boss. In another case, a fraction member became unnecessarily vulnerable by start ing to distribute widely the Militant and. Perspectiva Mundial in a plant before get ting to know other workers and the situa tion there. "An ultraleft course can weaken our class in relation to the boss and damage a fight," Kennedy said. "When workers take their fire off the boss and put it on the union officials, it diverts the struggle and the longer-range possibilities to transform the union itself." During the Saturday panel, Frank Forrestal, a member of the UMWA in west em Pennsylvania, described the conditions both union and nonunion miners face, and struggles in the mining regions against cut backs in health care, pensions, safety in the mines, and control over the length of the workweek. Over the past year there has been a noticeable increase in the number of pro tests, meetings, rallies, and strike actions in the coalfields, signaling the emergence of a social movement resisting the consequences of the offensive by the coal operators and the government. Forrestal said the mine where he works has been cited for 343 violations in the past year. Two workers have been permanently SWP leader Mary-Alice Waters (inset) spoke on intertwining of class struggle in Cuba and the U.S. Above, 1 million people march in disabled and there have been four rock falls. Havana July 26 to celebrate 47th anniversary of assault on Moncada barracks, which launched the revolutionary struggle that over The ventilation went down recently and threw U.S.-backed tyranny. This action and UMWA rally in Denver same day (see page 7 photo) "register the most important develop workers were not notified for more than 30 ments in the world class struggle today-the growing confidence of working people, in Cuba and the United States," said Waters. minutes, creating a dangerous potential for buildup of explosive methane gas. These are the conditions miners are resisting. Olympia Newton, a member of the Young what we do. We learn we need discipline The petitioning drive to get Socialist The socialist coal miner explained that Socialists National Executive Committee without compulsion, which is the basis for Workers Party candidates in the 2000 elec the party branch in Pittsburgh is stepping and a worker at Pathfinder's printshop in proletarian functioning in the Young Social tions on the ballot in New York, reported up its efforts to build both fractions of coal New York, participated in the second con ists arid the party as well." Paul Pederson, is part of defending politi miners and of garment workers. Doing so ference panel. The Young Socialists organized a meet cal space within the working class and the will mean the socialist movement is much ing for all YS-age youth at the conclusion legality of the party in the eyes of working Young Socialists provide leadership more in touch with political developments of the conference to discuss these perspec people. Pederson, the organizer of the and actions by working people in the area. "Five Young Socialists are taking on ma tives and map out plans for the summer and Brooklyn branch of the party and one of the They are organizing regular portal sales at jor responsibilities in the shop and are lead fall (see article in last issue). party's candidates for U.S. Congress in New coal mines, including where Forrestal and ing across the several generations of social Sherman Martin, from Los Angeles, York, said the drive to collect 30,000 signa another socialist work There is plenty of ist workers there to produce what the p;trty spoke the final evening on how "members tures was being carried out in record time. political space open to communist workers needs and to maintain the kind of printing of the Young Socialists in high school and This is partly due to reconquering the to act together with fellow fighters in operation that makes it possible to continue college have strengthened the YS. "In Los importance of winning ballot status, he said. struggle and to advance the knowledge and these publishing efforts," she said. Angeles we had four members who were "The exploiters use the electoral arena to understanding of Marxism through distrib As lead operator on the folder, Newton students last year. We participated in events justify their rule, which makes it harder for uting the Militant, Pathfinder, and New In has trained three other workers to run the around the janitors' strike and actions to them to simply deny a workers' party a place ternational, he noted. machine. Other YS members head up the.-, defend immigrant rights," he said. on the ballot, even if they erect all kinds of Willie Evans, a leader of the USWA mem web press crew, the probation committee Martin, who had just received his high legal obstacles to make doing so difficult." bers on strike against Titan Tire in Natchez, responsible for the initial orientation and school diploma, also addressed from his Workers and farmers have no immutable Mississippi, explained the current stage of training of new workers, and the mainte own experience one of the political chal rights under capitalism, he explained, and their nearly two-year fight against union nance of the computer and phone systems lenges facing a good number of young so getting on the ballot undercuts the ability busting. The National- Labor Relations in the Pathfinder Building. cialists as they get deeply involved in po of the employers and their government to Board (NLRB) recently ruled in favor of the "We are making progress both in build litical activity. He explained why he had portray the party and its activities as illegal. union on its claims that the company has ing the shop as a factory and the YS as a decided to complete high school, "because "The kind of response we are getting to engaged in unfair labor practices, a ruling proletarian youth organization;' she said. "In graduating was a political task. We need a the campaign is a good indication of the the company is appealing. the process we have taken more leadership diploma to get jobs in order to be in the number of workers and youth we can meet The unionists at Titan Tire are planning a responsibility in the YS and the party. We middle of struggles such as we have been over the coming months through the social rally September 13 to mark the second an learn in the shop to take responsibility for discussing at the conference." ist campaign," Pederson said. niversary of the struggle and encouraged ·Danger of ultraleftism in unions broad union participation in it. Panelists and other conference participants responded by Seven classes at the conference were the pledging to be there and bring others with AVAILABLE FROM PATHFINDER scene oflively discussions. They were titled, them. "The working class and the transformation John Stivers, a packinghouse worker and Revolutionary Continuity: of learning," "Organizational principles of UFCW member from Toronto, explained a Birth of the Communist Movement. 1918-1922 the SWP," "The danger of ultraleftism in the successful effort by co-workers to build soli labor movement," "Death penalty: weapon darity with the struggle at Dakota Premium. Marxist Leadership in the United States of capitalist class rule," "Class struggle road · Some 85 workers signed a message of sup Farrell Dobbs to women's liberation," "Lessons from the port and turned it over to the union officials How successive generations of fighters took part in the struggles of the battle at Crown Oil," and "The 1979 Iranian to send off to their brothers and sisters in revolution and the class struggle in Iran to U.S. labor movement. seeking to build a leadership that could advance day." Minnesota. Meat packers' struggles are oc the class interests of workers and small farmers and link up with fellow curring in many parts of Canada, other par Joel Williams, a meat packer and leader ticipants reported. Several were familiar toilers around the world. $16.95 2 vols. of the SWP in Chicago, presented a class with union-organizing efforts and workers' and spoke on a panel on the destructive logic resistance to company assaults in Alberta; of ultraleft currents in the labor movement. others are involved in Vancouver, British "If you start going after the union offi Columbia. cials and not the bosses you're going to set Lisa Potash, a sewing machine operator and a fighting so back the struggle," Williams said. "Class conscious workers are the enemy of any in a large plant in Chicago, described a by a central leader of union-organizing drive and strike for rec anti-bureaucracy effort. We lead other work on the Teamster-led ers and unionists to take care of our own ognition by laundry workers there, report that helped pave ing that 95 percent of the workers signed house as a byproduct of the struggle against cards. toward independent the bosses." Siggi Herald, a Young Socialist in Iceland, Williams pointed to several examples in described a recent strike by bus drivers that the UAW and mine workers unions where he said "helped the YS become a more pro some veterans of struggles, in the name of letarian organization. We saw a disciplined The Struggle for a Proletarian Party fighting bureaucracy, have sought to tum workers away from the unions. This often strike of workers and made contact with James P. Cannon them. One strike leader spoke at a forum bookstores. comes after protracted struggles against an including In this companion Trotsky's In Defense of Marxism. Can we organized." employer where the fight gets dissipated and those listed non and other leaders of the Socialist Workers Party frequently wrapped up in the red tape of the Jack Ward, who has been a miner in on page 12, or southern Illinois, reported on a visit he made defend the centrality of proletarianization within the courts and National Labor Relations Board. write Communist workers must discuss these to the strikers in Wyoming against P&M. Pathfinder. political and organizational principles of Marxism in a "There is a new organization there called polemic against a petty-bourgeois current in the party. questions with fighters, Williams said. "We 410 West St., function on a pro-union, pro-workers-unity Miners' Backbone," he said. "It is more than New York, NY The debate unfolded on the eve of World War II. axis. We start with the fact that the mem what we often think of as a women's auxil 10014. Fax: $19.95 iary. They have organized picketing and (212) 727- bers are the union. The union is ours, in other actions that have had an impact on the 0150. cluding the union hall and all its members, effectiveness and morale of the strike." including the officers. That will be the road Continued on page 10
August 28, 2000 The Militant 9 REPORT ON ACTIVE WORKERS CONFERENCE
Continued from page 9 invitation of the National Association of self-financing character of the project. threats and aggression by Washington in a everywhere to transforming the unions into Small Farmers (ANAP). A special report was also given by Sara "spirit of combat and struggle. We are go fighting instruments." "All farmers in the United States are at Gates, a party supporter from Seattle who ing into a new stage of the revolution now, risk of being foreclosed," he said. "In Cuba organizes the monthly contributions of sup which is part of a tremendous struggle of Cuban union leaders participate we saw how the revolution makes it pos porters across the country. They surpassed ideas worldwide," he said. "The revolution The interrelationship of the class struggle sible for farmers to have use of the land, the goal set last year of$200,000 in annual is not going to change, and the people are in the United States and Cuba was a politi rather than losing it to the bankers who hold , contributions, and launched a drive to in not going to give up. cal thread that nin throughout the_ confer the title over our heads. crease the total to $250,000 a year. "Maybe they expect us to cry 'Uncle!"' ence. This was reinforced by the participa "Many of us came back and started to Participants bought $7,648 worth of Garcia said. "But we are now ready not only tion of two special guests to the conference, discuss how can we make this revolution in books, with many carrying bags and boxes to defend our independence, our homeland, leaders of the Central Organization of Cu our own country," Butts said. "We need it." full back home with them. The new Path and the accomplishments of the revolution, ban Workers (CTC), Olga Rosa Gomez and "With the revolution in Cuba," Montero finder pamphlet The Working Class and the but to reinitiate, on more solid foundations, Manuel Montero, on a speaking tour of the responded, "farmers were not only able to Transformation ofLearning by Jack Barnes the construction of socialism in Cuba." United States through mid-August. use the land and earn a living, they elimi was purchased by 109 participants. Written greetings were received from Gomez is the general secretary of the nated the oppressive system and the army A total of 566 of the newly digitized Puerto Rican independence leader Rafael Cultural Workers Union and a deputy in and rural police who would bum crops, bum books and pamphlets were purchased, with Cancel Miranda, who spent a quarter cen Cuba's National Assembly. Montero is the homes, and murder peasants. With the revo the highest sellers being The Struggle for a tury in U.S. prisons for his actions oppos head of the CTC's international relations for lution all these abuses were ended." Proletarian Party by James P. Cannon, ing Washington's colonial rule. "What is North America. The unionists joined the In his presentation later that afternoon, founding leader of the SWP; Teamster Poli happening in the meatpacking industry in conference during its first full day. SWP leader Jack Barnes welcomed the CTC tics and Teamster Rebellion by Farrell the Midwest, in the miners' strikes in the After listening to presentations at the Fri leaders, as well as Fernando Garcia Bielsa, Dobbs, leader of the Teamster organizing West, in the protests against the criminal day morning panel and having a chance to first secretary of the Cuban Interests Sec drives in the 1930s who became the SWP's death penalty and against police violence speak over breakfast with a number of con tion to the United States in Washington, national secretary; and The Transitional the developments in each of our countries ference participants, Gomez opened her re D.C., who spoke to conference participants Program for Socialist Revolution and In affect us all," he wrote. "If we are able to marks to the gathering by saying how much at the evening session on Saturday. Defense of Marxism by Leon Trotsky, a liberate Puerto Rico from the bloody claws the CTC leaders appreciated the opportu- "The most decisive convergence between leader of the Bolshevik-led Russian Revo of Anglo imperialism-then we will all be lution. A total of 226 slightly damaged stronger! Because a defeat for the enemy of books were bought at bargain prices, all is a victory for each one of us." grabbed up especially by young socialists The Movement of Landless Rural Work at the gathering. ers in Brazil (MST) sent a message of soli darity "with the struggle of workers and Final day of conference farmers in the United States and the world Three concurrent activities were orga against the neoliberal policies imposed on nized on Sunday, the final day of the Active our peoples." The greetings described the Workers Conference. ongoing mobilizations for land and union Socialists who are members of the steer rights in Brazil and against recent murders ing committees of the party's national trade of peasant activists and police attacks on union fractions met to discuss further imple protests. mentation of the course discussed at the In his presentation summarizing the con conference. ference, Barnes pointed out that "the 'pro The Young Socialists organized a meet ductivity miracle,' the 'new economy,' the ing of all YS-age young people who at U.S. rulers boast of is not built on computer tended the gathering to discuss their politi technology, as they claim. It's not something cal perspectives and activity for the rest of magic." the summer and fall. Their so-called productivity boom, And the steering committee of the Path Barnes explained, is built on what finder Reprint Project held a series of work Washington's top banker, Federal Reserve shops on each stage of the digital produc chairman Alan Greenspan, euphemistically tion line. Some 60 people attended, many refers to as "labor force flexibility." of whom are new volunteers. In other words, Barnes said, "It is built A few days after the conference, Joanne on you and millions of others like you-on Murphy, a party supporter from Iowa, wrote the life and limb of workers and farmers. a letter to Jack Barnes saying how much she It's built on speedup, on a longer and longer had appreciated the gathering politically, workweek, on more temporary workers, on including the proofreading workshop she had participated in. Militant/John Naubert In his reply to Murphy, Barnes pointed Farm-workers march August 6 in Washington State to demand legal residency for un to a decisive aspect of the political contri documented workers and wage increase for apple pickers. The capitalists "produce the bution party supporters are making that is gravediggers of their system," said Barnes, "creating a new U.S. working class by bring often not thought about. "In addition to ing into the factories and fields millions of workers from beyond the U.S. borders." meeting the goals of putting in digital form every book, pamphlet, and education bulle tin produced by our movement," he said, "a nity to meet and hear from rank-and-file revolutionary-minded workers and farmers much bigger accomplishment is being pre U.S. workers involved in struggles. She said in Cuba and the United States," Barnes said, ~ar~ . she was struck by the number of young faces "is their shared conviction about what makes "Together with the shop, they are help she had seen, as well. such a life worth living. It is the conviction ing put in place, for the first time in his "After hearing about how you develop among those fighting for a new world in tory," Barnes said, "an irreplaceable, web your work and how many obstacles you each country that when we ask for solidar based infrastructure of digital propaganda face," Gomez said, she was "amazed at what ity, we will get it without conditions and with production, decentralized so that no matter workers in the United States have to do to no strings attached, as each of us has in the what financial, security, or other conditions get a union and then go on to get a con past. We will collaborate as equals, as fel may confront the communist party in the tract." Washington and its supporters claim low fighters. decades ahead, the progiam and legacy of that workers in Cuba have no trade union "That's the ultimate convergence be the modem revolutionary workers move freedom, Gomez said, a proposition she re tween the 100 in Denver, the workers in ment can be prepared outside any physical jects from her own experience and that of South St. Paul, and the million in Havana 'brick-and-mortar' apparatus and then other Cuban workers. But after hearing from waving the red and black." printed on presses wherever they can be conference participants, she remarked, "I "jUnidos venceremos!" said Barnes in found and whenever they can be paid for. don't know what kind of trade union free concluding his talk. Together we will win. "What the Bolsheviks would have given dom they are talking about right here." "jCuba si, yanqui no!" for that!" The Cuban union leader described some The displays at the back of the meeting "A hundred fighting people in the United of the steps working people have taken since hall prepared by the Pathfinder Reprint States means a lot to the people of Cuba," the early 1990s to reverse the dramatic short Project volunteers and by the Young Social said Fernando Garcia Bielsa in his remarks fall in production precipitated by the col ists attracted great interest from participants, to the Saturday evening session, referring lapse of aid and favorable trade relations as did the Pathfinder book tables. to the Denver UMWA solidarity action men with the former Soviet Union. "We have Since February 1998 the reprint project tioned by Mary-Alice Waters in her open been making extraordinary efforts to seek · volunteers have been instrumental in get ing conference report. "It means a lot be ways and alternatives to reverse the impact ting 95 books converted to digital files and cause they are doing it here-as Jose Marti Militant/Eric Simpson of this crisis on the daily lives of Cubans," back in print, often in dramatically improved said-inside the belly of the beast." Florida farmer Karl Butts speaks during she said, pointing to the progress made so editions. "This conference has been all about discussion at conference panel session. All far. why," said Ruth Cheney, a member of the Construction of socialism in Cuba farmers "are at risk of being foreclosed," Gomez said the U.S. embargo against project's steering committee based in San The first secretary of the Cuban Interests he said. "We need a revolution." Cuba is "aimed at destroying the revolution, Francisco, to the session Saturday night. Section to the United States in Washington, which is why it has been maintained and re Those 95 titles were on special display D.C., brought greetings from the Central differential treatment, on driving down our inforced over the past decade." Montero and sale, so fighters attending the confer Committee of the Cuban Communist Party. wages and basic social protections." pointed to the "workers parliaments" and ence could either expand their libraries or Referring to the large celebrations in Cuba At the same time, Barnes added, there has other ways that working people in Cuba have stock up on new printings with more read earlier in the week marking the 47th anni been an increase in cop brutality and state brought their weight to bear in the "social, able type, and sometimes with new prefaces versary of the attack on the Moncada garri terror at every level. "The death penalty political, and economic life of the country." or other material. son, Garcia said that those involved in the whether the slow death on a plant floor or a Outlining the supporters' goal of making 1953 action "were mostly working-class quick one at the hands of the hated Ia migra 'We need to make a revolution' 50 percent of Pathfinder's titles digital by people, humble people, trained through their along the U.S. border, whether inflicted by Karl Butts, a vegetable farmer from cen May 1, 2001, Cheney noted that in June of own efforts." a cop on the streets or in a prison death tral Florida, was one of the speakers from this year 125 individuals participated in the The revolutionary government "created chamber-goes hand in hand with the the floor during the Friday morning panel. project, the highest of any month yet. The a new system of values and social justice," bosses' 'productivity miracle."' He described a trip to Cuba he took earlier volunteers, she said, also plan to increase he said, "including that of internationalism." Just read the copies ofThe Workers' Voice this year with other fighting farmers at the their monthly contributions, advancing the The Cuban people have faced unrelenting Continued on page 14
10 The Militant August 28,2000 Socialists in Machinists union discuss steps to go where workers are engaged in struggle BY BETSEY STONE selves and their families at clinics on the other packinghouse workers around the "Eastern strikers had a goal-to prevent AND JOEL WILLIAMS impoverished Navajo reservation. country. "This includes forging ties with Frank Lorenzo, Eastern's notorious union CHICAGO-Airline and aerospace Stone also cited the current strike by workers beginning to tum toward UFCW busting CEO, from creating a nonunion workers from six cities who are members 86,000 phone workers on the East Coast organizing efforts in nonunion plants in the empire at airports around the country." It was of the Socialist Workers Party and are ac against Verizon, as well as a demonstration Omaha, Nebraska, area," Stone emphasized. a fight to last "one day longer" than tive in the International Association ofMa in New York City this spring at which work Lorenzo--"and they did," said Stone. "That chinists met here August 12-13. ers from various unions joined together for Being part of the fights put all airline workers on a stronger footing It was the most important discussion the a common rally, each carrying a giant in Joel Williams, a Chicago packinghouse to resist employer attacks." party's "lAM fraction" has had in many flatable rat representing the companies they worker and member of the SWP National "Since the early 1990s," Stone pointed years, focusing on a new vanguard being are fighting. Committee, attended the meeting on behalf out, "more years of attacks have gone by forged by workers fighting back against the During the discussion, participants noted of the party's trade union leadership. attacks that have brutalized some layers of employers' speed-up, praised in the daily other struggles by workers in their areas. The changing situation in the unions, the working class more than others. The press as a "productivity drive." Central to Scott Breen, who works at a Boeing aero Williams said, is increasing the likelihood capitalists are fueling their economic boom the discussion was the example being set space plant in Seattle, pointed to fights by that socialist workers will be involved in on the backs of workers, who are being for other unionists by workers in the United meat packers, farm workers, and immigrant resistance in plants where they work. Build- forced to work faster resulting in more in Mine Workers of America (UMWA), the juries. We are working longer hours with United Food and Commercial Workers fewer days off and less vacation time," she union (UFCW), and the Union of said, "and all the while our wages stagnate." Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Em Having defeated. Lorenzo's antiunion ployees (UNITE). drive in 1991, the Eastern workers them The fraction meeting also voted to take selves had to take other jobs. That strike on a campaign to sell the new Pathfinder ended up marking the end of an upswing in pamphlet, The Working-Class and the Trans labor fights that had begun in the latter formation of Learning: The Fraud of Edu 1980s. It was not the product of a sea change cation Reform Under Capitalism by Jack in working-class politics, such as we're now Barnes, the party's national secretary. in the midst of. Adopting a goal of selling 35 copies of the Today, Stone said, more and more work pamphlet by October 1, participants in the ers are open to finding an explanation of meeting hoped to encourage the party's what is propelling the employers' speed-up other union fractions and branch units to also offensive. This is generating interest in read discuss and adopt goals. The pamphlet is ing publications, such as the Militant, available in English, Spanish, and French. Perspectiva Mundial, and Pathfinder books and pamphlets, which clearly explain the Transforming fraction functioning roots of these attacks in the intensifying The meeting opened with a report by competition for profits at the heart of the Betsey Stone, a United Airlines cleaner at dog-eat-dog capitalist system. Chicago's O'Hare airport. Stone empha-_ sized the necessity for socialist workers in Resistance in the airlines the lAM to restructure and transform the As the meeting convened, newspaper functioning of their local union fractions, headlines were filled with news of the can so they can more effectively be part of de cellations of United Airlines flights due to veloping labor struggles, and so their day Militant/Scott Breen the refusal of the company's pilots to work to-day activity converges with that of other Machinists march to Alaska Airlines offices in June 1999, protesting the firing of six overtime and the refusal ofitsmechanics to vanguard workers in the mines and mining workers. Socialist workers active in the union decided on steps to transform their func violate safety rules. Amid a hue and cry from communities, meatpacking plants, and gar tioning in order to participate more effectively in labor struggles unfolding today. the airlines, United pilots are explaining that ment and textile factories. the source of the problem is the company's Among the most far-reaching examples carpenters in central and eastern Washing ing labor solidarity-unions supporting refusal to hire an adequate number of pilots of the developing workers resistance, Stone ton. John Studer, a work~r at USAir in Phila each other, sending money, speakers, walk to staff its flight schedule. Meeting partici said, is the seven-hour sit-down strike June delphia, described the ongoing unionization !ng each others' picket lines-is part of do pants noted that many United baggage han 1 by packinghouse workers at Dakota Pre effort in that area by mushroom workers. mgso. dlers and aircraft cleaners are growing im mium Foods in South St. Paul, Minnesota, "The fights at Dakota Premium, in West "But we will be taken off course," Will patient with working under the expired lAM who 51 days later voted to be represented em coal, and elsewhere are being fueled by iams said, "if we approach solidarity activ contract. by the UFCW and are now fighting for a the employers' unrelenting attacks on work ity as a strategy. It is not an alternative to Among other important examples of re contract. This battle is setting an example ers and our unions," Stone said. the strategic course of communist workers, sistance by airport workers noted at the for labor in the Twin Cities and for pack "The United Mine Workers at P&M are which is to get jobs where fights are under meeting were the work stoppage ofDineAir inghouse workers resisting speedup both celebrating their victory and position way or where the assaults by the employers workers at the Oakland airport; the organiz throughout the Upper Midwest. ing themselves to help strengthen other are creating conditions we know will lead ing drives at the San Francisco airport by Stone pointed to two recently concluded fights coming up in Western coal," she said. to fights, sooner rather than later." workers at Ogden Aviation and by food ser strikes of Western coal miners at Pittsburg Stone noted that contracts expire August 31 There is no lack of centrist, middle-class vice workers; and the successful union or and Midway (P&M) mines in New Mexico at the Kayenta and Black Mesa mines inAri organizations that operate in and around the ganizing drive by baggage screeners and and Wyoming. These unionists successfully zona, both owned by Peabody Coal. unions with a "labor solidarity" strategy, he · terminal cleaners employed by Argenbright fought off a company attempt to impose a To advance their battle for a contract, said. at the Los Angeles airport. 12-hour day. In addition, the New Mexico workers at Dakota Premium Foods will need "We should be getting into skirmishes as Participants in the meeting discussed the miners beat back company efforts to force to join with workers at the company's sister they develop where we are, and looking for fact that socialists in the lAM have not them to get medical treatment for them- plant in Long Prairie, Minnesota, and with jobs where they've begun or are likely to thrown themselves into all these struggles develop," said Williams. "These skirmishes in the same way. Some of the most signifi will lead us to the next steps in strengthen cant actions-such as at DineAir in Oak ing and transforming our unions, including land, where nonunion workers carried out a Pathfinder supporters in UK reaching out for mutual solidarity to other work stoppage-were never drawn to the fighters and to their struggles." attention of the Militant newspaper's edi That is happening already at Dakota Pre tor, so regular coverage could be carried. get sales campaign under way mium Foods, Williams noted. He also Participants in the meeting concluded that pointed to the example of the P&M strikers the retreat of the labor movement in the BY TONY HUNT Further appointments have already been who took their struggle to workers in the 1990s, under the blows of the employers' LONDON-Promoters of Pathfinder in booked with several stores over the next oil industry in California, Utah, and Colo offensive, had had a deep impact on van London and Manchester secured orders for week. rado. That was a natural extension of their guard workers in the lAM, including those nearly 100 books fro_m visits to four To prepare for this campaign, volunteers fight to win a contract from P&M, which is who are socialists. As time passed, they re bookshops in the opening days of a sales have organized refresher training sessions a subsidiary of the energy giant Chevron. sponded in less and less timely ways as the campaign here. . to ensure they meet Pathfinder's high pro- . Williams emphasized that it's hard to situation changed, as a new layer of work The goal of this effort is to increase sales fessional standards as they carry out the break out of old habits on the job. If you ers-less affected by past union setbacks of Pathfinder titles to commercial retail out work. have been spmewhere a long time, and you began to resist the employers and reach out lets and campus bookshops. Supporters of "We took advantage of the fact that so haven't been involved in the developing re for allies. A new vanguard, largely drawn these books around the world are engaged many titles were published or printed so far sistance in your plant, then it's harder to start from fresh forces, is being forged and be in the same campaign. this year," said Pathfinder sales volunteer doing it now. "It's better to get a fresh start, ginning to puts its stamp on struggles. Other The Pathfinder sales volunteers went to Paul Davies. He secured big orders from two to get into a new fraction somewhere else," workers looking for a road forward seek to "High Street" shops, as they are referred to major Central London stores that serve the he said. emulate these fights. here, the main place in London where work University of London as well as working John Studer also addressed this point. The Most participants in the meeting were the ers and young people buy their books. Sales people in the area and tourists. struggle at Dakota Premium is not unique, only members of the Socialist Workers Party included six copies of Che Guevara Talks "The book buyers I saw were attracted he said. "Similar struggles can and will in their workplaces, both in the airlines and to Young People, four ofCapitalism's World by the quality of the new reprints," Davies break out elsewhere. If this were not true, in aerospace. Disorder by Jack Barnes, and five of The noted. "It's another way of understanding the fighters in St. Paul would be in trouble. They noted that working alone reinforces Bolivian Diary ofErnesto Che Guevara. the importance of Pathfinder's reprint pro This can happen where we are working." conservatizing-and, worse, depoliticizing The buyer at a bookshop that serves gram. I was also able to point out the differ In her opening report, Stone contrasted -habits in their work that came out of the Manchester University expressed interest in ence in quality between Pathfinder's edition the situation today with the experience of retreat of the early 1990s. Only by chang the newly published pamphlet The Working of The Bolivian Diary--with its glossary, socialist workers in the 686-day Eastern ing this situation, they decided, could the Class and the Transformation ofLearning by maps, notes, and other explanatory mate Airlines strike that ended in early 1991. party's union fractions in the airlines or aero Barnes. This buyer wanted to take time to rial-and a recently published competing "That strike was a giant effort where we space begin to converge with the militant study the catalog before placing an order. edition that is prominent in bookshops at worked with others to reach out for solidar spirit of the fractions socialist workers are Teams ofPathfinder sales volunteers have the moment. Buyers were able to notice that ity," she said. "Workers at other airlines building today in the UMWA, UFCW, and begun to visit 15-20 major outlets in order the Pathfinder edition is much more useful, regularly marched on the Eastern workers' UNITE. to reverse a decline in sales over recent especially for those just learning about the picket lines, and Eastern workers in tum Those present at the meeting voted \ffiani months and relaunch consistent sales work. subject." came to our rallies and picket lines. Continued on Page 14 August 28, 2000 The Militant 11 Buchanan captures the Reform Party
Continued from front page capitalist third parties. "While still techni picks unqualified Black woman as running rights organizations to the Confederate and shouting match broke out. Buchanan's cally alive, the Reform movement is suffer mate," the organization stated on its web site. battle flag being displayed prominently at opponents, about one-quarter of the 120 ing the fate of every third party established "If we lose them, then I say good-bye, government buildings, she remarked, "The delegates attending, stormed out and held in the United States since the Republican I'm not interested in them," said Angela Confederate flag .. .is to be honored as part their own national committee session, then Party was founded in 1860," wrote Los An Buchanan, chief campaign strategist for the of our history.... It's not a racial issue." a convention, two blocks away. geles Times reporter Cathleen Decker. Its ultrarightist politician, referring to reaction In his acceptance speech, Buchanan fo When they tried to explain their version "decline was predictable." ary forces uneasy with Foster on the Reform cused heavily on American nationalist of the meeting to reporters and camera The opposite, however, is the case. 'The Party national ticket. themes, claiming the World Trade Organi crews, Buchananites drowned them out, Reform Party.. .is here to stay if we are on zation and International Monetary Fund chanting: "Go Pat go! Go Pat go!" When the ballot," said Buchanan on the August 6 Chauvinist appeal to Blacks institutions dominated by U.S. imperial Buchanan's opponents shouted back, "Go, "Fox News Sunday" television show. "This By naming Foster as his running mate ism-violate U.S. sovereignty. His message John, go!" Buchanan remarked, "You don't is the one reason I've joined it, to make it a Buchanan aims to blunt accusations of rac tries to get workers thinking of themselves know this peasant army." One opponent, Jim permanent institution in America." That ism against his campaign, while pitching his as "Americans" first, rather than part of an Mangia, who was the party's national sec same day he said on "Face the Nation," an "America First" appeal. Her candidacy exploited international class with interests retary, accused Buchanan's supporters of other TV program, "We are building a new complements Buchanan's assault on affir diametrically opposed to those of the capi "brown shirt tactics" that included physical populist, conservative, traditionalist Reform mative action and immigrant rights as he talist dass. "I will personally tell [UN sec assaults. Party." attempts to foster divisions among working retary-general] Kofi Annan: Your UN lease On the first day of the convention, In 1992 the Reform Party presidential can people. has run out; you will be moving out of the Hagelin's supporters announced they had didate Ross Perot won 19 percent of the vote, "She'll be an ambassador to America for United States, and if you are ri.ot gone by filed a complaint with the Federal Election appealing to economically insecure and dis what this party is all about. This shows that year's end, I will send you ten thousand Commission. Both groups claim the Reform contented layers of the middle classes. He we are a party that is open to everybody," Marines to help you pack your bags." Party mantle and are battling for $12.6 mil promised to bring economic security with an said Buchanan. "It is Black Americans-and "When I become President all U.S. troops lion in federal campaign funds due to the iron will and clean out waste and fraud in the especially many of those in California will come home from Kosovo, Kuwait, and Reform Party's presidential candidate. In government. After Perot declined to take the who are the ones who have to go through Korea," Buchanan said, driving home his addition, the party is listed as the Reform helm of the party this past year, his allies ferocious competition for jobs in factories anti-worker, anti-immigrant speech, "and I Party in half the states, and Hagelin allies urged Buchanan to join them and seek the and 7-11 s and things from huge numbers will put them on the borders of Arizona, vowed to contest Buchanan for the ballot slot. Reform Party nomination. of illegal aliens coming in." Texas, and California, and we will start put Meanwhile, the right-wing candidate Perot's reactionary demagogy paved the Foster, no novice at reactionary dema ting America first." stepped up his demagogic appeals at the road for the incipienffascist politician, who gogy, served 33 years as a teacher and Long Beach convention, lacing his remarks unlike Perot is not primarily concerned with school administrator in the California school with anticapitalist, national socialist rheto electoral success. Buchanan easily defeated system. She has run for California state as ric. "I began my campaign, 18 months ago, Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura in a fight sembly twice, losing both times. Foster cam -MILITANT in a tiny steel town in West Virginia called to control the national party, and dealt blows paigned vigorously for California's Propo Weirton," Buchanan said. "The workers of to rightist Lenora Fulani, a leader of the New sition 187, the 1994 ballot initiative that LABOR Weirton and their families were being be York Reform Party, after a temporary alli would have banned undocumented immi trayed by Bill Clinton and sacrificed to the ance helped him secure his domination of grants from receiving public services. FORUMS- gods of the Global economy." Buchanan, the organization. Echoing Buchanan's immigrant-bashing, who blurs class issues and takes the fire off A third party with ballot,status and fed she stated, "We are concerned about our ILLINOIS the bosses where workers are engaged in eral funding has been captured by an American children and our American Chicago struggle, said, "I told those steel workers we ultrarightist. This marks a departure in U.S. schools. We are concerned about our Ameri Report from the Western Coalfields. Speaker: would stand with them ... working together, politics. Buchanan, who has one foot in capi can workers." During a hearing of the Con Lisa Potash, member of UNITE. Fri., Aug. 25, the Buchanan Brigades, the Reform Party, talist electoral politics and the other in forg gressional Subcommittee on Immigration 7:00p.m. 1212 N. Ashland, Suite 201. Dona and the union folks of Weirton." ing a cadre that is preparing to fight in the and Claims, Foster called for putting the tion: $4. Tel: (773) 342-1780. streets against picket lines and mobilizations U.S. military "on the border of Mexico to 'A new, populist, conservative party' of working people, appeals to better off lay insure domestic tranquillity." WASHINGTON, D.C. Many bourgeois commentators and other ers in the working class and to middle-class . A staunch advocate for cops, Foster de Speak Out Against Police Brutality. Speaker: media pundits treated the Reform Party con people who anticipate economic difficulties fended the widely-known police assault on Sam Manuel, activist in Coalition to Build the vention as a sideshow. Noting the split in and social conflict down the road. Rodney King. In a 1993 interview with the August 26 anti-police brutality march, also So the organization and the tussle over millions A political regroupment of ultrarightist Chicago Tribune, she asserted, "They Were cialist Workers candidate for D.C. delegate to the in federal funds, they have written off the forces has begun within the Reform Party, acting according to the training they re House, and member of the United Transporta tion Union. Sat., Aug. 19, 7:30p.m. 3541 14th organization as "dying the usual death" of which now includes members of the John ceived from the police department. They St. NW. Donation: $5. Tel: (202) 722-6221. Birch Society and supporters of the Spot were acting in the line of duty." light newspaper. Buchanan's campaign has Currently president of Americans for previously attracted white supremacists, Family Values and past president of the Cali BRITAIN MARCH right-wing militia groups, and anti-Semitic fornia chapter of the John Birch Society, London against police brutality elements. The overtly racist Council of Con Foster stands firmly in defense of her reac Why the 'Name and Shame' Campaign is an August 26 servative Citizens, however, has distanced tionary positions. She went on a speakers Attack on Democratic Rights. Fri., Aug. 25, itself from Buchanan for picking a Black tour for the John Birch Society in 1998. 7:00p.m. 47, The Cut. Donation: £2. Tel: 020- person as his running mate. "Buchanan When asked about the opposition of Black 7928-7993. Washington, D.C. 12Noon Lincoln Memorial -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP Where to find Pathfinder books and 2500. E-mail: [email protected] BRITAIN The march will commemorate the 37th distributors of the Militant, Perspectiva NEW JERSEY: Newark: 237Washington. London: 4 7 The Cut. Postal code: SE 1 8LL. anniversary of the 1963 civil rights Mundial, New International, Nouvelle St. (near Market St.) Suite 305. Mailing Tel: 020-7928-7993. march led by Martin Luther King. Internationale, Nueva Internacional and address: Riverfront Plaza, P.O. Box 200117. E-mail: 101515 [email protected] Ny International. Zip: 07102-0302. Tel: (973) 643-3341. Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal E-mail: [email protected] For more information, call (877) 9-REDEEM code: M4 4AA. Tel: 0161-839-1766. UNITED STATES NEWYORK: Brooklyn: 1068 Fulton St., E-mail: [email protected] 3rd floor. Mailing address: PMB 197, 655 ALABAMA: Birmingham: 2232 CANADA Fulton St. Zip: 11217. Tel: (718) 398-7850. Magnolia Ave. Zip 35205. Tel: (205) 323- E-mail: [email protected] Garment Montreal: 4613 St. Laurent. Postal code: -CALENDAR- 3079. E-mail: [email protected] District, 545 8th Ave. Mailing address: P.O. H2T IR2. Tel: (514) 284-7369. E-mail: NORTH CAROLINA CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. Box 30. Zip:10018. Tel: (212) 695-7358. E [email protected] Charlotte Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460. mail: [email protected]; Upper Manhattan: 540 Toronto: 851 Bloor St. West. Postal code: E-mail: [email protected] W. 165 St. Tel: (212) 740-4611. E-mail: M6G 1M3. Tel: (416) 533-4324. Labor Day Parade. Mon., Sept. 4. Assemble E-mail: [email protected] 9:30a.m. at 6th and N. Tryon. March at II a.m. San Francisco: 3926 Mission St. Zip: 94112. [email protected]; Pathfinder Mural Rally, Noon to 5 p.m. at Independence Park at Tel: (415) 584-2135. Bookstore: 67 Charles St. Zip: 10014. Tel: Vancouver: 4321 Fraser. Postal code: V5V 7th and Independence. For more information, E-mail: [email protected] (212)366-1973. 4G4. Tel: (604) 872-8343. E-mail: call (704) 483-3060. FLORIDA: Miami: 4582 N.E. 2nd Ave. OHIO: Cleveland: 7535 Broadway. Zip: I [email protected] Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 573-3355. E-mail: 44105. Tel: (216) 641-9405. E-mail: FRANCE 103171.167 [email protected] [email protected] OHIO Paris: Centre MBE 175, 23 rue Lecourbe. Mansfield GEORGIA: Atlanta: 465 Boulevard, Suite PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 711 E. Postal code: 75015. Tel: (01) 47-26-58-21. E One Year of Solidarity. Join the locked-out mem 214. Zip: 30312. Tel: (404) 622-8917. PassyunkAve. (Two blocks south of South St. mail: [email protected] bers ofUnited Steelworkers ofAmerica Local169 E-mail: [email protected] at 5th St.). Zip: 19147. Tel: (215) 627-1237. at a rally to mark: "One Year of Solidarity" stand ILLINOIS: Chicago: 1212 N. Ashland E-mail: [email protected] ICELAND ing up against AK Steel's corporate greed. Sat., Suite 201. Zip: 60622. Tel: (773) 342-1780. Pittsburgh: 1003 E. Carson-St. Zip 15203. Reykjavik: Klapparstig 26. Mailing Sept. 9, 12 Noon. Town Square of Mansfield. E-mail: I 04077.511 @compuserve.com Tel: (412) 381-9785. address: P. Box 0233, IS 121 Reykjavik. Tel: Speakers, food, and refreshments. For more in E-mail: [email protected] 552 5502. E-mail: [email protected] IOWA: Des Moines: 3720 6th Ave. Zip: formation, call Loca/169, (419) 522-9375. TEXAS: Houston: 619 West 8th St. Zip: 50313. Tel: (515) 288-2970. E-mail: 77007. Tel: (713) 869-6550. E-mail: NEW ZEALAND 104107 [email protected] I 02527.2271 @compuserve.com Auckland: La Gonda Arcade, 203 NEW ZEALAND MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 683 WASHINGTON,D.C.:354114thSt.N.W. Karangahape Road. Postal address: P.O. Box Hear .Margaret Trowe, .Socialist Workers Washington St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 702. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 722-6221. E-mail: 3025. Tel: (9) 379-3075. candidate for U.S. vice president: Zip: 02124. Tel: (617) 282-2254. E-mail: 75407 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] I [email protected] Auckland WASHINGTON: Seattle: 2533 16th Ave. Christchurch: Gloucester Arcade, 129 Sun., Aug. 27,4:00 p.m. A supper and $0~ MICHIGAN: Detroit: 7414 Woodward South. Zip: 98144. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Gloucester St. Postal address: P.O. Box 13- cial to follow ~e meeting. La Gonda Ar Ave. Zip: 48202.Tel: (313) 875-0100. E-niail: [email protected] 969. Tel: (3) 365-6055. E-mail: 104127 [email protected] E-mail: 100250.1511 @compuserve.com cade, 203 Karangahape Rd. For more in AUSTRALIA formation, calt{9)379-3075. MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 1569 Sherburne SWEDEN Christchurch Sydney: 1st Fir, 176 Redfern St., Redfern Ave. W., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (651) 644- NSW 2016. Mailing address: P.O. Box K879, Stockholm: Vikingagatan I 0 (T-hana St Fri., Sept. 1,7:00 p.m. Gloucester Arcade, 6325. E-mail: [email protected] 129 Gloucester St. For more information, Haymarket Post Office, NSW 1240. Tel: 02- Eriksplan). Postal code: S-113 42. Tel: (08) ca/l.(3) 365·6055. MISSOURI: St. Louis: Box 19166,2910 9690-1533. 316933. Meramec Street. Zip 63118. Tel: (314) 924- E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] 12 The Militant August 28, 2000 -GREAT SOCIE1Y------Salute to freedom-"Washing Virtue's reward-According to edly, he was in line with 650 fired accusing a state-run home for re be thawing frozen chicken patties. ton-Her name is Freedom, but she Chuck Shepherd's internet column, employees to collect unemploy tarded adults of violations that in The affected employee, they specu was cast in bronze by slaves imd "News of the Weird," Douglas ment insurance. clude the overdose death of a 33- lated, was allergic to the liquid. Ivester pocketed a retirement pack year-old man, the mysterious poi age of$20 million in February, af What capitalist greed?-"In soning of a 40-year-old woman, and He means there might be ter laying off 6,000 employees. And the first of a series of oil industry the staff's use of a stun gun on a money in it?-With recent acqui John McCoy left Bank One in reports likely to rekindle consumer young man. The state Department sitions, media mogul Ted Turner March with a $13 million retire charges of profiteering, Occidental of Health Services has issued at now owns 1. 7 million acres ofWest ment bundle after laying off 5, 100 Petroleum Corp. said its profits least 15 citations since January ern land-more than any other in employees. surged to a record high. against the Sonoma Development dividual. Asserting his concern for Occidental. .. said the operating Center."-News item. the environment, Turner takes um 'Waste not, want not'·--Chuck profit for its second quarter rose to brage with rancher critics who say Shepherd says he also has a report $343 million, compared with only KFC?-In Orono, Maine, 20 he's gobbling up the land simply for hoisted atop the Capitol by slaves .... that Sidney Kosann, former top dog $4 million in the year-ago pe postal workers and 20 employees at the prestige. Declares the nation's [who also helped erect] the Capitol at Shelby Yarn in Shelby, North riod."-News item. a neighboring business were evacu biggest landholder: "I've got close itself. They were never paid and, Carolina, lives in a $500,000 pad ated after a postal worker had a bad to $500 million invested in this. until now, never recognized for their and was knocking down $300,000 Tender, loving care-"State reaction to a package oozing liquid. That'd be a pretty expensive work."-News item. a year until the plant folded. Report- [California] health inspectors are A bomb squad X ray showed it to hobby." Lenin on ultraleftism in the trade unions Printed below is an excerpt from Revo many, Great Britain, and Holland. lutionary Continuity-Birth of the Com "It is far more difficult-and far more munist Movement, 1918-1922 by Farrell precious-to be a revolutionary when the Dobbs. The author was a leader of the conditions for direct, open, really mass and 1934 Teamster strikes, the national sec really revolutionary struggle do not yet ex retary of the Socialist Workers Party from ist," he wrote in the booklet, "to be able to 1953 to 1972, and the party's candidate champion the interests of the revolution (by for U.S. president in 1948, 1952, 1956, propaganda, agitation, and organisation) in 1960. This excerpt, dealing with the po non-revolutionary bodies, and quite often litical leadership played by V.I. Lenin and in dowmigh~ reactionary bodies, in a non the Bolsheviks in the early years of the revolutionary situation, among the masses world communist movement, following who are incapable of immediately appreci the October 1917 Russian Revolution, ating the need for revolutionary methods of can be found on pages 172-176 of the action. book. Copyright © 1983 by Pathfinder "To be able to seek, find and correctly Press, reprinted by permission. Subhead determine the specific path or the particular ings are by the Militant. turn of events that will lead the masses to real, decisive and finally revolutionary BY FARRELL DOBBS struggle-that is the main objective of com Along with guiding an intransigent fight munism in Western Europe and in America against opportunism, the Russian leaders today." The massive postwar influx of radicalizing workers into the trade unions, Lenin said, confirmed "that class-conscious BOOK OF ness and the desire for organisation are growing among the proletarian masses, among the rank and file, among the back THE WEEK ward elements. Millions of workers in Great . Britain, France and Germany are for the first Militant/Scott Breen also had to cope with problems of time passing from a complete lack of Steelworkers locked out by Kaiser Aluminum at rally in October 1999 in Spokane, ultraleftism inside the communist move organisation to the elementary, low~st, sim Washington. Communist workers have sought to draw in fellow unionists in solidarity ment. Whereas the struggle against oppor plest and ... mosteasily comprehensible form with these militants. Dobbs writes that communists participate in the unions as they tunism necessitated a break with bureau of organisation, namely, the trade unions." exist to "cooperate directly with the workers in their struggles and experiences." cratic and careerist individuals corrupted by In that volatile situation, the main aim of their relatively privileged social position, the the reformist hacks who dominated the trade principle' (heaven preserve us from such off from them with artificial and childishly Bolsheviks hoped that the disease of union officialdom in the capitalist countries 'principles'!), or like some of the revolu 'Left' slogans." ultraleftism could be cured and its propo was to preserve their bureaucratic control tionaries in the American Industrial Work To be effective, communist policy re nents saved for the revolutionary workers' over the workers in order to perpetuate class ers of the World advocate quitting the reac quired that party cadres participate in the movement. collaborationist policies. Their central ob tionary trade unions and refusing to work unions as they currently existed. Only in that The self-proclaimed "left" advocated jectives were to confine union demands to in them." way could they cooperate directly with the policies marked by adaptation to syndical limited economic and social improvements To the contrary, Lenin explained, "The workers in their struggles and experiences, ist practices. Its views reflected several ma within the .capitalist system; to maintain a task devolving on Communists is to con using that close relationship to guide them jor weaknesses: inadequate knowledge of formally "neutral" attitude on political ques vince the backward elements, to work toward adoption of revolutionary the historical experiences of the workers' tions that amounted to support for ruling among them, and not to fence themselves perspectives. movement; lack of experience in applying class policy; and to ensure that trade-union a Marxist program; sectarian excesses in try action did not move toward challenging ing to counter social reformism; no concept bourgeois political power. -25 AND 50 YEARS AGO-- of the transitional method and program, or The "leftists" were impervious to the of necessary alliances; and efforts to bypass growing opportunities for communists to the initial stages through which the masses take on these class-collaborationist perspec pass on their way to revolutionary con tives in the unions and win workers to their THE MILITANT THE MILITANT PUaLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE scwusness. views. They repudiated the established trade NEW YORK, N_Y FIVE (5) f:E;.ITS Ultraleftism, the Russians patiently ex unions unconditionally, calling for new, plained, could only isolate the vanguard, revolutionary unions. September 5, 1975 August 28, 1950 instead ofdeepening its integration as a lead FRESNO, Calif-More than 2,000 del ing component of the working class. The Working in the existing unions egates, members, and supporters gathered American imperialism is waging a bar communists had to learn how to function Lenin quoted a pamphlet of the German here for the second biannual convention of baric war of utmost brutality against the among large numbers of workers just awak "left-wing communists" on this question. "A the United Farm Workers of America, Au whole Korean people. Wholesale atrocities ening to political life. Their aim should be Workers' Union, based on factory organiza gust 15-17. are being committed upon civilians, with to lead them forward and help them make a tions, should be the rallying point for all revo It was not a typical union convention. A out regard for age or sex. Little distinction transition to revolutionary perspectives. To lutionary elements," the pamphlet said. "This festive, rally, atmosphere marked the pro is made between North and South Kore accomplish that, however, the workers them should unite all workers who follow the slo ceedings. Farm workers and their support ans-all are treated as actual or potential selves had to go through political experi gan: 'Get out of the trade unions!' It is here ers assembled here were enthusiastic about enemies. As for genuine combatants, most ences. These experiences would have to be that the militant proletariat musters its ranks the big fight shaping up in the fields this captured North Korean soldiers or guerril shared by the members of the Communist for battle. Recognition of the class struggle, fall. California's new law providing for farm las are murdered on the spot, many of them Party, who would only then be in a position of the Soviet system and of the dictatorship union elections goes into effect August 28. after frightful torture. to help the workers analyze the lessons of should be sufficient for emollment." The convention came at the peak of a new These facts about Truman's "police ac their ongoing struggles. Only in that way Such a course, which puts an ultimatum upsurge in UFW activity, which began with tion" in Korea have emerged piecemeal up could the treacherous role of reformists and to the masses of workers, could only lead to a demonstration of 10,000 in Modesto, to now from bits and hints slipped into re centrists in the labor movement be system disaster, Lenin said. home of Gallo, the scab wine company. The ports by American war correspondents. Now atically exposed for all to see and the way "This is so unpardonable a blunder," he UFW organized a "1,000-mile march" this Life magazine in a report by John Osborne opened for development of revolutionary wrote, "that it is tantamount to the greatest summer from the Mexican border north has pieced revealing bits together to give us leaderships in the mass organizations of the service Communists could render the bour through California's agricultural centers. a picture of how Korea is being "liberated." proletariat. geoisie .... Led by UFW Director Cesar Chavez, the The U.S. is trying to win the war in Korea Lenin took the initiative in spelling out "To refuse to work in the reactionary trade marchers have talked with field hands along "by military means alone," Osborne ex the strategy and tactics required by commu unions means leaving the insufficiently de the route, explaining the terms of the new plains. "This means not the usual, inevitable nists in the revolutionary situation prevail veloped or backward masses of workers law. In several key farm worker centers, the savagery of combat in the field but savagery ing in Europe. His views were presented in under the influence of the reactionary lead marchers have stopped to hold rallies, some in detail-the blotting out of villages where "Left-Wing" Communism~An Infantile Dis ers, the agents ofthe bourgeoisie, the labour of them quite large. the enemy MAY be hiding; the shooting and order. This small book, published in June aristocrats." The convention drew many campesino shelling of refugees who MAY include 1920, was distributed the following month "There can be no doubt," Lenin contin families. There were also hundreds of young North Koreans, or who MAY be screening to the delegates at the Comintern's second ued, that the union bureaucrats of all nations boycott activists, whose presence reflected an enemy march upon our positions, or who world congress. It dealt chiefly with the per "are very grateful to those 'Left' revolution an increase in the activity in support of the MAY be carrying broken-down rifles or spectives of ultraleft Communists in Ger- aries who, like the German opposition 'on boycott ofnon-UFW products in the cities. ammunition clips." August 28, 2000 The Militant 13 Socialist conference -EDITORIAL------Continued from page 10 on the web site ofUFCW Local789, Barnes said. "You'll find out that Dakota Premium management before the June 1 sit-down went from moving 450 head of cattle through March on Washington August 26 the plant in 10 hours to 700 head in less than eight hours. That's the source of their great boom," Barnes said. The August 26 national march on Washington will bring killed." Cops graduate from this training only when they "And this is true not just in meatpacking, but through together thousands who want to fight against the daily learn the correct reaction to all such cases: shoot to kill. out other industries and across North America. brutalization of working people by the police. Buses are The killing of Diallo was a result of the city ''As workers start resisting-as they push the line speed filling up with reservations from Boston to Birmingham. governinent's "quality of life" campaign. The rulers of back from 700 head to 450---then we'll begin seeing a For workers and others involved in struggles for jus this country seek to convince us to accept such cop vio 'reverse productivity miracle,"' said the SWP leader. "Be tice, this demonstration is an arena to link up with other lence in exchange for "lower crime rates." More "anti cause 'the miracle' is built on the blows the employers fighters. They will meet others like themselves from crime" measures mean more killings by police, more have dealt to the working class and unions for more than around the country who face similar experiences with the frame-ups, more incarcerations, and more executions both a decade. And that's what's beginning to change. endemic brutality of the cops and are seeking ways to in the state death chamber and on the street, with workers "Their miracle needs you as silent martyrs. When the combat it. The action will offer an opportunity to discuss who are Black or Latino a special target. All these are part silence ends, the miracle evaporates." and explain the cause of police violence and put the fight of the normal functioning of the cops and the capitalist against it into the broader picture. 'justice" system, under Democrats and Republicans alike. Produce their own gravediggers The function oft}le police in capitalist society is to pro Both Albert Gore and George W. Bush have a long record It is this reality, Barnes said, that underlines the recog tect the property rights and interests of the wealthy ruling of enforcing that system. nition by class-conscious workers that what produces class. The problem is not a question of"rogue cops." The Whenever cops commit violence against anyone, we "class battles and revolutionary struggles in this country problem is cops -doing their job. That job is to mete out should demand they be put behind bars-it's the only way and worldwide is what the bourgeoisie and other proper punishment on the spot in order to keep working people to push them back and win justice for those victimized by tied classes do in relation to the toilers. It's the conse in line-whether terrorizing Black youth on the street or the gangsters with badges. It was mass protest actions that quences of what Fidel Castro aptly calls the 'dog-eat-dog' arresting strikers on the picket line. forced the New York authorities to jail the cops who tor heart of capitalism. The slaughter of Amadou Diallo in a barrage of 41 bul tured Haitian immigrant Abner Louima. "It's not how capitalism doesn't work," Barnes said, lets---just to take one example-was not an aberration. The To end cop brutalization for good, it will require forg "but how capitalism does work-its 'miracles,' not its fail cops are trained like rats in behavioral experiments. The ing a mass revolutionary movement of working people ures-that produce the horrors, the conditions oflife and New York cops who killed Diallo explained how they un that takes power out of the hands of the ruling capitalist labor that lead working people to resist and rebel." derwent training in the "funhouse," an apartment building minority that cops protect, and creating a government of The capitalist rulers truly "produce the gravediggers of filled with gunmen and other false dangers to train them to workers and farmers. That is the perspective that support their system," he said. "They, not we, are creating a new react to noise and surprises. When asked whether the train ers of the Socialist Workers candidates for president and U.S. working class by bringing into the factories and the ing included learning to distinguish between guns and harm vice president, James Harris and Margaret Trowe, are ex fields millions of workers from beyond the U.S. borders, less objects, one of the cops said: "The only objects they plaining as they campaign among working-class fighters with their experiences and traditions of struggle from ever pulled on us were firearms. In every incident we were and farmers. Join with them! throughout the Americas and the world." This is what the capitalists are compelled to do by the laws of their own system, by intensifying interimperialist competition for markets and profits. And they always be lieve that in doing so they are solving their problems. Socialist workers in Machinists union meet "But they miss the point, as the employing class has Continued from page 11 part of the effort to bring together in action workers at done throughout its history," Barnes said. "What they do mously to reaffirm the course charted by the party in the Northwest-both those in the lAM and those inAMFA to working people breeds rebellion. The intensification late 1970s, and reaffirmed several times t;ince, that frac to fight company attempts to impose concession contracts. of work, ofline speed, the brutality, the unfairness; being tions of socialist workers be made up of at least two indi In the absence of a substantial organized struggle at treated as objects, as 'factors of production,' instead of viduals working together with the same co-workers in the Northwest, however, meeting participants decided that thinking, fighting human beings-that's what brings the same workplace. . holdingAMFAjobs-which are primarily mechanics po resistance. Participants voted overwhelmingly to set a deadline to sitions-is no longer fraction policy. "It begins around moral questions," Barnes said. "The end all one-person fraction situations. This includes situ It's useful to take a fresh look at the experience ofbuild fight at Dakota Premium, the strikes in the Western mines, ations where two socialists work for the same employer, ing the Teamsters union in Minneapolis and the Upper the developing social movement in coal communities are members of the same large union local (or a different Midwest in the 1930s, commented John Studer of Phila across the country are around moral questions. Read what union), but work in different areas without common co delphia in the discussion. This history is found in the four person after person says in The Workers 'Voice and in the workers. The work to carry out these decisions is the re volume series by Farrell Dobbs available from Pathfinder Militant coverage. 'I cannot accept this any longer, not sponsibility of the leaderships of party units in towns and Press (see ad on page 9) .. only for myself but for my co-workers. I now make my cities where socialists are working lAM jobs. Party "The struggle went from the coal yards, to trucking stand.' That's what the fights we're seeing are over. branches will decide which unions their members will more broadly in Minneapolis, to the over-the-road driv "The capitalists bring on the socialist revolution," work in, as part of effectively participating in the resis ers throughout the region. Key to advancing that struggle Barnes said. "It is the political organization of workers in tance of other working people in their area. was reaching out for solidarity to the wives and families massive numbers when the revolutionary situation arises This effort, several participants remarked, includes re of the strikers, to working farmers, to the unemployed, that decides whether or not it will be victorious." inforcing the steps under way in their branches to build and to other workers in all kinds of situations inspired to fractions in the UMWA, among UFCW packinghouse form unions and use them. Bipartisan assault workers, and in UNITE. A number of longtime airline "The pages of the union's paper, the Northwest Orga Class-conscious workers must not be taken in by the workers in the party have already taken steps to change nizer, addressed the mounting imperialist war threats that election-year bombast of the Republican Party presiden jobs and help build these fractions. culminated in World War II and other pressing social and tial candidates and members of Congress, Barnes said, political issues of the time. It was out of these experi who point to what he called "the almost comical limita Lessons of previous experiences ences that a fighting union was forged and that recruit tions" of the Alaska-based antimissile derense system Other meeting participants pointed to the situation a ment to the revolutionary party developed," Studer said. being proposed by the Democratic White House. Because couple of years ago when the mechanics at Northwest In addition to the effort to sell copies of The Working behind the campaign rhetoric is the deadly serious reality Airlines voted to join the Airline Mechanics Fraternal As Class and the Transformation ofLearning, participants in that the Clinton administration has taken the first steps in sociation (AMFA), an organization that sought to break . the meeting voted to wage a campaign, ending October 1, two of the main strategic but unrealized goals of the so mechanics away from other workers in the lAM. Social to sell to co-workers 12 subscriptions to the Militant news called Reagan Revolution. ist workers actively opposed this course prior to the vote. paper and 4 subscriptions to the Spanish-language monthly Clinton is making the initial move to put in place a Afterwards they did not leave AMFA but instead became Perspectiva Mundial. missile defense system-another step toward a nuclear first-strike capacity for U.S. imperialism-aimed at the Chinese workers state in the first instance. In the 1980s, Reagan ultimately had to back away from anything more than ongoing research expenditures on such a "Star Wars type" system. of pride and to put fear into the bosses. They posted it on women and men, who will make up the most advanced Similarly, Clinton's legislation to "end welfare as we their union web site the day of the vote. political organization in the history of humanity, a com know it" opened the assault on Social Security that Reagan "Then the Militant ran the photo on its front page. And munist party, capable of emulating what our comrades in himself considered too explosive politically to touch dur the Young Socialists decided to make it the centerpiece of Cuba did-make a socialist revolution-so that together ing his own eight years in office. their display at this conference, along with a picture from with working people the world over we can end the degra These and other moves by the Democratic administra the UMWA strike against P&M out West." dation of capitalism once and for all." tion-the aptly-namedAnti-Terrorism and Effective Death The party supporters organizing the Pathfinder Reprint Penalty Act is a prime example-have opened the door Project also used the photograph of the Dakota Premium Martin Koppel, Norton Sandler, and Brian Williams con for deeper assaults on working people at home and abroad, workers as a central opening feature of their conference tributed to this article. no matter which of the two major capitalist parties occu display, Barnes pointed out. The text explained that the pies the White House or holds the majority in Congress. struggles depicted in that and other photos on the display Political polarization is growing as well, Barnes noted, "are the reason we do this work." (Reprint project steer pointing to the capture of the Reform Party by Patrick ing committee member Peggy Brundy later said the vol Buchanan. unteers "had the display all ready to go before the vote Buchanan is leading a regroupment of rightist and and union victory at Dakota. We just added the picture in ultrarightist forces around the Reform Party, Barnes said. with the rest. It fit like a glove!") This will aid Buchanan's forces in keeping one foot in That photograph, Barnes said, "is sort of a 'gut check.' capitalist electoral politics-with ballot access and sub If you like that picture-if you see in it the kind of revo stantial government funding-while regrouping the cad lutionary party and youth organization we're determined res of an incipient fascist movement that will eventually to build-then we're on the same road, were together on take its ultrarightist politics and antilabor thuggery to the the historic line of march of the working class." streets and strike pickets. Barnes said that the communist movement had "never before had a gathering at which the purpose of the Young Convergence of party, YS, supporters Socialists, the purpose of the party's organized support In concluding his remarks, Barnes called attention to ers, and the purpose of the party have converged in the the photograph of workers from the cut floor at Dakota powerful ways we've seen over the past few days. Premium Foods, wearing jSi se puede! T-shirts, at the "We are building the nucleus of a party that will be UFCW Local 789 union hall the night before their vic capable of leading the working class in a mighty revolu tory in the union representation vote. tion against the most violent ruling class that has ever ex "We should remember the origins of that photograph," isted on the face of this earth. Out of the vanguard of fight Barnes sai& "It was organized by the workers, as an act ing workers and farmers we will forge the cadres, the
14 The Militant August 28,2000 'The issue in our campaign is workers can change society'
Reprinted below is an article that ap "Communism is alive and well in, Cuba, peared in theAugust 3 issue ofthe Toronto in small organizations like ours," he says. Star on the carnpaign of John Steele, "What is happening today is that the ob Communist League candidate for mayor stacles to the development of the commu of Toronto. Steele is a meat packer and nist movement are being removed by the member ofthe United Food and Commer development of capitalism itself as it heads cial Workers union. The article in the Star, more and more to another historical period the largest-circulation English-language of fascism and world war." daily in Canada, was headlined, "Noth Which are probably not issues the cur ing to gain but the mayoral chain." rent mayor was planning to discuss much in the campaign for the Nov. 13 vote. BY JIM COYLE Though he will be relieved to know Steele John Steele is, at 59, a small man, soft does not hold him personally accountable. Militant/Jose Lagman spoken, bespectacled. His short hair is wiry "We're not saying [Mayor] Mel Lastman John Steele, left, Communist League candidate for mayor of Toronto, talks with par and flecked with gray. He wore, the night I is the problem. The issue is what capitalism ticipant in protest against cop brutality and frame-up of advocates for the homeless. met him, a sports jacket, blue shirt and tie. is doing to humanity and the need for work You might take him, at a glance, for a col ing people to realize that we can actually for less pay and benefits in order to lower light. He will talk, he says, only about ideas. lege professor. change society. prices and increase profits for a minority. "There are two Torontos, two different Odds are few would peg him as a meat "There are a lot of young people out there "And that," he says, in terms even [pro worlds. One is the Toronto that Mayor packer, fewer still guess that this most un who do not like the values of this society, business Canadian newspaper magnate] Lastman speaks and acts for, a small mi likely class warrior is the Communist can the dog-eat-dog ethic. I'm quite convinced Conrad Black would appreciate, "is the bot nority, the rich. The other Toronto is the vast didate for mayor of Toronto. we'll get a hearing." tom line." majority of people like myself who face tre As always, appearances can be deceiv It was as a young man himself that Steele, Still, given times trumpeted as the very mendous social and economic problems." ing. Which, as it happens, is more or less who's worked in textile plants, cleaned air flowering of capitalism, given the popular For now, Steele's campaign is run from the message Steele wishes to send to those craft and ran once before for mayor, joined ity of the incumbent, some might regard Pathfinder Bookstore on Bloor St. W. On who believe that communism, since the col the Communist League. Steele's mayoral campaign as quixotic in the its shelves rest volumes chronicling lapse of the Soviet Union and its satellites, "Many years ago I concluded that capi extreme. Especially when you consider he struggles through the decades of working has been consigned to history's dustbin. talism has no future for humanity. And one has no entourage, no spin doctors, no swank folk, the oppressed, dispossessed. Oh, you might think so, he admits, if you of the big influences on me was the Cuban office or limo, no campaign funds or orga- "The history of all hitherto existing soci follow only mainstream media. Steele finds revolution." nization to speak of. ~ ety," The Communist Manifesto begins, "is he has to read The Militant to really know There, if perhaps not paradise, is a living Voters might find it refreshing, however, the history of class struggles." what's going on. And, as he sees it, work example ofhuman solidarity at work, he says. to know Steele also has no interest in talk And to John Steele, so it remains. ing folk still have a world to win and noth Elsewhere, most notably here, fewer work ing about his religious views or fitness regi "Why shouldn't somebody other than ing to lose but their chains. ers are asked to produce ever more ever faster men, or in thrusting his family into the spot- people in tuxedos run for mayor?" Cuban trade unionists speak in San Francisco BY DEBORAH LIATOS goods and supplies. care, and the rights enjoyed by workers in gain for a contract." SAN FRANCISCO-In face of a world He added, "We instituted new laws that Cuba," he said. Gonzalez remarked, "We are convinced dominated by imperialist oppression and were discussed by the unions and the people. "I also spoke of what we saw in North that Cuba has been able to accomplish what brutality, "the vast majority of Cubans want The farmers discussed what measures to Carolina, where immigrants have their vi we've accomplished through solidarity with to change the world. They believe that it's take. The neighborhood organizations dis sas and passports taken away. We went to the people." Socialism is necessary, he said. possible to change the world and that this is cussed it. Eight million people out of Cuba's other states where workers don't have the In confronting the effects of the world capi possible only through the struggles of the population of 11 million discussed this. right to a union and can be fired or laid off talist market, "we know the dangers, but workers and the people," said Leonel Then and only then did the National Assem at any time. we're c:onfident that after 40 years, we've Gonzalez, a leader of the Central Organiza bly pass them. There were things to which "When we see the opulence ofLasVegas raised the level of education and culture, tion of Cuban Workers (CTC). workers said no and these were not carried and come back to San Francisco, where so information and political culture of our Gonzalez and two other CTC leaders, on out. For example, taxes on workers' wages many people don't have jobs; where work people. Our people know about MumiaAbu a U.S. speaking tour, described the accom were not approved." ers get sprayed with pesticides as they work, Jamal. They know about the importance of plishments of Cuban workers in defending Gonzalez noted that the Cuban trade where immigrant workers receive less than the struggle in [the Puerto Rican island of] their revolution and contrasted it with the unionists had been invited to attend a West the minimum wage, pay a lot of money to Vieques. We are confident in taking on the situation facing workers in the capitalist Coast meeting ofAFL-CIO officials held in be allowed to work, and are threatened with challenges and not allowing ourselves to be world, including some of the conditions they Las Vegas. "It was interesting to tell them deportation-this is a society that doesn't defeated in our principles." had already encountered themselves. what women have been able to accomplish convince us," said Gomez. "We have learned Gonzalez, CTC secretary of international in Cuba and have not accomplished in the how difficult it is to organize a union in the Deborah Liatos is a member of the United relations and a member of Cuba's National United States, what we've won in infant United States, and then to collectively bar- Food and Commercial Workers union. Assembly, was joined by Olga Rosa Gomez, general secretary of the National Union of Cultural Workers and also a National As sembly deputy, and Manuel Montero, direc Chicago laundry workers win union recognition tor for the Americas in the CTC's interna tional relations department. BY LISA POTASH Most workers interviewed by the Militant terms than what the workers had before win The Cuban trade unionists spoke at an AND LISA-MARIE ROTTACH favored the new contract, saying it is a step ning a union. August 4labor reception of 100 people, held CHICAGO-Workers have returned to forward. One young worker, wearing a One worker interviewed said she felt there at the Union ofNeedletrades, Industrial and their jobs after a six-week strike against Five UNITE T-shirt as she headed into the plant, was more "division" on the job now and that Textile Employees (UNITE) hall here, and Star Laundry, winning union recognition said that getting in the union and a contract it would have been better to bring in the at a community event at the Mission Cul and a contract. Five Star is an industrial laun is a start that they can build on. She also Production Workers Union, favored by the tural Center for the Latino Arts the next day. dry used by some of the largest hotels in reported that the boss has been writing up company during the strike. The national tour was organized by the Chicago. more of the workers since the strike ended, U.S.-Cuba Labor Exchange. The local tour Prior to the strike 90 percent of the work and that tensions on the laundry plant floor Lisa Potash and Lisa-Marie Rottach are committee here was made up of several ers had signed cards to join the Union of between the company and the workers are sewing machine operators and members of union officials including Walter Johnson, Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Em sharper now. UNITE in Chicago. Potash is also the So secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco ployees (UNITE). With the settlement of the Two young workers, originally from cialist Workers candidate for U.S. Congress Labor Council; Dolores Huerta, co-founder strike, all 100 workers in the plant now have Mexico, saicj the contract provided better in the 5th District. of the United Farm Workers union; and union recognition, joining nearly 2,000 Brian McWilliams, president of the Inter other laundry workers in the Chicago area national Longshoremen's and Warehouse who are also members of UNITE. They -LETTERS------men's Union. voted to ratify a three-year contract by a Gonzalez explained how Cuba had decisive margin. A paper that tells the truth the Palestinian struggle for justice and free weathered the worst effects of the economic Before the strike, workers started at $6.50 As a reader of the Militant, I want to con dom. It is really good to have a paper that crisis in the early 1990s after suddenly be an hour, with most topping off at $7.25. The gratulate you for the excellent work that you pumps the truth into our brains. ing thrust into the capitalist market follow agreement includes two wage increases of do. In my eyes, the Militant is essential to Vive le Quebec Libre! [Long live free ing the collapse of favorable trade relations 35 cents each in the first year of the con be able to understand the world today. I was Quebec] with the Soviet Union. "In Cuba the tract, and approximately 5 percent the sub reading Le Solei!, a daily in the region of Vive l'independance du Quebec! [Long economy shrank by 35 percent in one year. sequent two years, The contract provides for Quebec, and I found an interesting article live Quebec independence] If the U.S. economy fell by 2 percent Wall an additional holiday, some paid sick-day [about police spying on antimilitarist groups Dmitris Fasfalis Street might sink. Why did this not happen coverage, improved health insurance, and a in Canada]. I think that you should talk Sainte-Fay, Quebec in Cuba? Because every measure we took pension. about it somewhere in the Militant. It might was with the full participation of the people," The contract also stipulates that Five Star give a better idea of the nature of the Cana The letters column is an open forum for he stated. must notify UNITE if the Immigration and dian state to other readers accustomed to all viewpoints on subjects of interest to Gonzalez was referring to measures taken Naturalization Service police has contacted think that the Canadian state is all about working people. to boost food production, get industry go the company, and that workers submitting peacekeeping and liberty. Please keep your letters brief. Where ing again, and improve efficiency, includ new information to the company after ob Finally, I want to thank you for the cov necessary they will be abridged. Please ing the development of tourism and other taining legal residence papers cannot be erage of the struggle in the Dakota Premium indicate if you prefer that your initials sources of hard currency to purchase needed fired. meatpacking plant and the articles covering be used rather than your full name. August 28, 2000 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT Behind the outcry over 'war diamonds' Washington, London intervene in Sierra Leone, seek greater influence in Africa BY T.J. FIGUEROA mercenaries to fight alongside RUF rebels PRETORIA, South Africa-In July, pro in Sierra Leone against UN troops. fessing concern over wars in several Afri Virginia Republican congressman Frank can nations, the United Nations Security Wolf, a sponsor of the measure before the Council, at the behest of Washington and House of Representatives on banning cer London, decreed a global ban on diamond tain African diamonds from the United exports from Sierra Leone. A similar mea States, declared that "until the link between sure had been taken in 1998 against so diamonds and war is severed, these African called illegal diamonds from Angola. · wars will not end." The moves- to stamp out trade in "con The sermons about diamonds bankrolling flict" gems were ostensibly aimed at the "African wars" are a smoke screen for the operations of the Revolutionary United imperialist scramble to loot and politically Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone and the Na dominate hunks of the continent. tional Union for the Total Independence of The reactionary UNITA outfit, for ex Angola (UNITA), antigovernment guerrilla ample, was long financed and organized by organizations. Legislation is also being the U.S. government and the apartheid re drafted in the U.S. Congress to require Cus gime in SouthAfrica. As the Angolan people toms to enforce a bati on stones from ·won their independence from Portugal in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the 1975, UNITA launched acivil war-backed Congo, Angola, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, by Washington and Pretoria-to prevent the and those from Sierra Leone that do not coming to power of a government led by carry an official government certificate. the Popular Movement for the Liberation On August 9, the UN Security Council ofAngola (MPLA). Successive attempts to gave its nod to a plan by the Sierra Leonean overturn the MPLA government-includ government to establish a procedure to cer UK foreign secretary Robin Cook visits British troops in Sierra Leone in June ing armed invasions by apartheid's troops tify the origin ofdiamonds, clearing the way were smashed with the decisive assistance for the imperialist powers to allow the Afri nopoly position by giving up its traditional Washington and London are building up ofCuban internationalist troops, who fought can nation to export its gems again-under role of 'buyer of last resort' of every stone "conflict diamonds" as an issue to bolster alongside the Angolan army. Today, the watchful eye of a UN-appointed "sanc on the market," the Financial Tzmes stated their ability to intervene-militarily and oth UNITA's uses have dwindled and Washing tions committee." in July. "The buyer-of-last-resort strategy erwise-in a range of African countries, ton has withdrawn its most overt support. The De Beers diamond cartel, which con worked brilliantly in times of high inflation from Sierra Leone to the Congo. In Sierra Leone, mining "legitimate" dia trols two-thirds of the $7 billion yearly trade when diamond prices were high and the monds means mining under imperialis~ con in uncut diamonds and owns half the pro value of the stockpile rose. But low infla U.S. and British intervention in Africa trol. A colony of Britain until 1961, the ducing mines, has joined the chorus against tion and the emergence of new players have The imperialist powers, posturing as de country is rich in mineral resources, includ what are sanctimoniously called "blood dia taken a heavy toll on the group. De Beers fenders of peace, take full political advan ing diamonds and gold. Its major trading monds," claiming it will not buy such stones spent billions ofdollars accumulating a large tage of the brutal conduct of forces such as partners are Britain and the United States. and urging that all diamonds sold worldwide stockpile of diamonds that were never sold." the RUF of Sierra Leone and its ally, the In 1930, when diamonds were discovered, be attached to certificates of origin. De Beers has used its stockpile to absorb regime of Liberian president Charles Tay the British colonial government tried to seal A number ofliberal groups, most promi diamonds on the market that might lower lor, to press their interests in the region. off the region and made diamond mining nently Global Witness in London, have the price of the stone. Its new strategy is to Those interests include having unfettered illegal except for government-sponsored helped shape this campaign against the trade buy up more mines, particularly in Austra access to mineral resources and establish private monopolies and a few small licens in "illegally" mined gems, which they say lia and Canada, and to become the "supplier ing stable, pliant regimes. ing schemes, with the vast majority of the fuels wars on the African continent. of choice"-meaning that it will aim to con Earlier this year, British and other troops wealth leaving the country. A closer look, however, demonstrates that tinue dominating diamond sales through its under the UN banner deepened their inter In the resource-rich Democratic Repub this hullabaloo is not about halting wars and brand. By promoting itself as a seller of vention in Sierra Leone when the imperial lic of Congo, fighting between rebel forces other conflicts inAfrica-many of which the "clean" diamonds, the cartel aims to rein ist-backed regime there made an effort to and the regime of Laurent Kabila is also un U.S., British, and French governments are force its monopoly, not to end it. seize control of the diamond fields under settling the imperialist powers. For this rea deeply involved in. It. is about advancing "Having spent hundreds of millions of RUF control. son the UN Security Council has voted to imperialist interests on the continent-and dollars on advertising this product, De Beers On July 31, Washington's UN ambassa support a troop deployment in that country. protecting the De Beers diamond cartel. is deeply concerned about anything that dor, Richard Holbrooke, compared the De Beers may sing the praises of"legiti could damase the image of diamonds as a Liberian president, who has backed the RUF, macy", · or even the "love, beauty and pu De Beers: pillar of apartheid rule symbol oflove, beauty, and purity;' the com- - to Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, rity" of its diamonds today, but these were De Beers, based in South Africa and the pany said in U.S. Congressional testimony. evoking the specter of the U.S. military in- not its concerns as it mined in apartheid United Kingdom, has dominated the world . tervention against Yugoslavia. "Taylor is South Africa, apartheid-ruled Namibia, or diamond trade for more than a century. Its Diamond cartel control slips in Africa Milosevic in Africa with diamonds," colonial Angola, Congo, and Sierra Leone. ownership structures are closely bound up In recent years the cartel has lost control Holbrooke told the New York Tzmes. "He is Nor were Washington, London, Paris, and with those of the Anglo American Corp., the of diamonds produced in several African threatening to destabilize western Africa." Brussels upset by these activities, which vast South African conglomerate, of which countries. It is the weakening of its grip that That same.day,-British diplomat Stephen made huge fortunes in the imperialist capi it owns about 40 percent. prompts De Beers to support quarantining Pattison told a UN hearing on "conflict tals. But apartheid and colonial rule have Both companies raked in massive profits diamonds it does not control. If the cartel is gems" that, in return for diamonds, Burkina been overturned in Africa-and a diamond from the labor o,f superexploited Africans broken, the price ofdiamonds will nosedive. Faso president Blaise Compaore has sent cartel is not forever. driven off their land and into the mines, start Last year De Beers withdrew from Ango ing at the end of the 19th century. Later this la, which holds 10 percent ofknown diamond brutal system was codified under apartheid reserves. After Washington began to with U.S. military 'trainers' to Nigeria, Ghana white-minority rule. Both companies were draw visible support from UNITA in the early bastions of support for the racist regime. 1990s, De Beers 'business there became more BY PATRICK O'NEILL African government, headed a regional in Diamonds were discovered in 1867 near ofa liability, especially when it came to light Increasing its military presence in West tervention force that retook Freetown, Si Kimberley, SouthAfrica, which became the that it was buying diamonds produced in Africa, Washington has announced plans to erra Leone, in early 1999 and imposed a source of the De Beers empire. It was no UNITA-controlled areas to protect the mar send several hundred U.S. soldiers to Nige shaky cease-fire, but later withdrew. It was coincidence that Kimberley was also the ket price. It was also losing control over more ria and Ghana to train "peacekeeping replaced by a weaker UN-led force that un birthplace in 1876 ofSouthAfrica's notori and more of Angolan production. troops" to intervene in the war in Sierra raveled in May when RUF troops took hos ous pass laws-and mass trials of Africans In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Leone. tage hundreds of UN soldiers, later freed by for violating them-as De Beers and other site of8 percent ofknown diamond reserves, The soldiers will join an initial group of a UN "rescue mission." mining capitalists sought to brand labor in control has also spun away from the cartel. 40 U.S. troops stationed in Nigeria They In response, the Clinton administration a black skin as rightless. In Sierra Leone, production from RUF -con will train and equip three Nigerian battal offered $20 million to beef up the UN oc . De Beers was founded by Cecil Rhodes, trolled areas eludes the De Beers. buying ions comprising 4,000 troops, which are part cupation force, including the U.S. "trainers." the infamous British colonizer. By the open operation. Last December the company of a 13,000-strong occupation force in Si In early August the UN Security Coun ing of the 20th century, De Beers controlled closed its purchasing offices in West and erra Leone under the United Nations aegis. cil-dominated by Washington, London, 90 percent ofthe international diamond trade. Central Africa. They will also train soldiers from Ghana, and Paris-adopted a British resolution di In response to falling prices during the de The company is also fighting to hold onto and possibly Mali and Senegal. recting UN forces to act more aggressively pression ofthe 1930s, the company initiated its monopoly rights to distribute diamonds The UN-sponsored force, together with in Sierra Leone. a policy of buying up virtually all diamonds produced in Russia, which holds 26 percent British ground and naval troops, are back Later inAugust the Security Council will mined worldwide and bolstering its fortunes of known reserves. . ing the government of President Ahmed vote on a U.S. resolution to set up a tribunal through monopoly pricing of the rock, which "De Beers' strategy on conflict diamonds Tejan Kabbah against the Revolutionary to try antigovernment forces accused of is mostly sold as a luxury jewelry item. De is motivated by more than just fears of a United Front [RUF]. The British and U.S. atrocities. Beers today dominates the diamond trade not consumer boycott. Critics say the company rulers have their eyes_ on Sierra Leone's lu The new deployment of U.S. soldiers, only through mining, but through its Dia has deftly turned the issue from a potential crative mineral wealth as well as the strate presently stationed in Fort Bragg, North mond Trading Company, until recently called public relations disaster into a strategy to gic position of the region. Carolina, will represent Washington's big the Central Selling Organization, which con retain its market dominance," stated a Fi Washington, seeking to establish itself as gest military commitment inAfrica in nearly trols most of world output. nancial Tzmes article. "They argue that if the dominant imperialist power on the Afri a decade. U.S. president Clinton plans to Today, with much fanfare, the big-busi De Beers can position itself as a producer can continent, has been cautious about di travel to Nigeria at the end ofAugust, in an ness press is proclaiming that De Beers is and distributor of 'clean diamonds,' it will rect military involvement in Sierra Leone, effort to bolster U.S. influence on the conti changing how it operates. "The South Afri keep a tight grip on the market without the relying so far on British and Nigerian forces. nent at the expense of its imperialist rivals can mining group is surrendering its mo- expense of maintaining a stockpile." The Nigerian regime, the strongest West in London and Paris.
16 The Militant August 28,2000