U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger calls THE for death penalty for those convicted of spying - see editorial page 14.

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 49/NO. 24 JUNE 21, 1985 75 CENTS Nicaragua: Salvador unions protest target of border gov't war, austerity provocations BY MARGARET JA YKO The monthlong strike by some 6,000 BY ELLEN KRATKA members of the social security workers MANAGUA, Nicaragua- In the wake union (STISSS) in El Salvador ended June of the successful Sandinista People's Army 6 in a victory for the union when the gov­ (EPS) offensive against U.S.-backed coun­ ernment was forced to free two jailed union terrevolutionaries operating from bases in leaders. Honduras and Costa Rica (see story, page The STISSS officials had been arrested 5), those two countries have created major on J.une 2 when military police and Na­ border provocations. tional Guardsmen stormed 5 hospitals and On May 31, a Costa Rican army patrol 20 clinics across the country in an attempt just across the border from an area where to crush the strike. The strike began on Sandinista units were operating was am­ May 6 and hospital personnel had occupied bushed. They suffered at least one dead their work places. and several wounded. At General Hospital in the capital city of The Costa Rican authorities immediately San Salvador. soldiers landed at 3 a.m. by accused Nicaragua of being responsible for helicopter on the hospital roof, while the attack, without presenting any proof. others stormed in through the emergency Nicaragua denied the charge, showing evi­ room and the basement. Troops totalled dence pointing to the CIA-financed and more than 100 in all . They raced through trained Democril tic Revolutionary Alliance the hospital, ordering patients, as well as (ARDE) as the perpetrators of the attack . doctors, nurses, and technicians, to lie Nicaragua also asked Costa Rica to per­ down on the floor with their hands behind mit an immediate investigation of the them . Many were then tied up. Eventually events by a joint Nicaraguan-Costa Rican all but four of the people were set free , with Union banner in El Salvador's May Day march says, "For a new society." Recent commission or by the Prevention and Con­ the two union leaders among those being strike victories by social security workers and waterworks employees, as well as May trol Commission of the Contadora coun­ detained. 1 march, point to new wave of struggles by Salvadoran labor. tries - Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, One patient died in the operating room and Mexico. during the raid, and four undercover cops Costa Rica refused, deciding instead to were shot to death in the emergency room their jobs while their other demands were stabilization, they lose their social function raise a stink in the Organization of Ameri ~ by their cohorts , in what was apparently an being negotiated. These include lifting the and their credibility with the people," he can States (OAS). After many hours of se­ accident. state of siege and an across-the-board pay said in his June 1 state of the nation ad­ cret negotiations, on June 7 the OAS de­ Two days after the raids, 2,000 workers raise of $75 per month. The current mini­ dress. cided to ask the Contadora nations to look and students marched in San Salvador to mum monthly wage is $125 . In 1984 real The proof that the unions are "infil­ into the incident, precisely as Nicaragua protest the attack and demand freedom for wages dropped by 65 percent and urban trated," according to government mouth­ had requested from the outset. As a face­ the arrested unionists. Cops carrying auto­ public workers have not had a wage in­ pieces, was that in addition to demanding a saving sop to Costa Rica, an OAS official matic weapons were at the scene of the pro­ crease since 1981 . wage increase, these workers - like will accompany the Contadora commis­ test, but didn't attack it, despite the gov­ The military brass praised the hospital thousands of others currently on strike in El sion. ernment's declaration that the march was and clinic raids , saying "We've tried to do Salvador - are demanding the govern­ Meanwhile, the Costa Rican capitalist illegal under the terms of that country's everything with the professionalism that ment resume negotiations with the class and its government is using the inci­ state of siege. This repressive legislation the armed forces now have achieved." Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front dent to whip up a war hysteria. has been in effect since 1980, and was ex­ and the Revolutionary Democratic Front There have been provocative demonstra­ tended once again by the Legislative As­ President Duarte threatens unions (FMLN-FDR), which are waging a popular tions in front of the Nicaraguan embassy in sembly on May 23. El Salvador's president, Jose Napoleon struggle against the U.S.-backed govern- the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, forcing With the release of the two union leaders Duarte, had threatened the unions the day ment. · Nicaraguan authorities to demand that - Jorge Alberto Albeno and Guillermo before the raids. "When the unions are in­ On May 16, Duarte had invoked a de­ Continued on Page 5 Rojas - the workers agreed to return to filtrated and used at the altar of war and de- cree banning strikes by public employees. He also fired 49 leaders of SETANDA, the water workers union, whose 4,000 mem­ bers were on strike against the ANDA Calif. farm workers fight growers, gov't water and sewer works at the time. As Duarte was launching his attack on BY LYNDA JOYCE The four-hour-long march was led by go after us. I started working in the fields at the strikers, communiques were read over WATSONVILLE, Calif.- Waving red Cesar Chavez, president of the UFW. 14 years old when we still had child labor several San Salvador radio stations, signed and black United Farm Workers flags, 500 Along the way enthusiastic marchers called and were forced to use the short-handled by the government-linked death squads, farm workers and their supporters con­ out to their brothers and sisters to join the hoe . The United Farm Workers union ended accusing the strikers of being manipulated ducted a June 9 protest march that took action. One marcher, Robert Gutierrez, a those kinds of abuses," he said. by the FMLN. The rightist terrorists them eight miles past vast fields of straw­ Watsonville cauliflower cutter for West Many of the protesters were children and threatened that if the strikers did not return berries, lettuce, beans, cauliflower, and Coast Farms, succeeded in convincing youth. Twelve-year-old Guillermo Del­ to work, the death squads would begin to celery here in the Salinas Valley. many to join the protest. He explained that, gado and his seven-year-old sister, Marfa "bring them to justice." This march was one of a series of some "this march is a protest against injustice, Cruz, explained that they were marching This was no idle threat. In addition to a 30 marches being organized throughout speed-up, and discrimination on the job. because of the bad treatment their parents wage increase, a key issue in the California this spring and summer. They The government," he said, "is trying to received from the growers. Fifteen-year­ SET ANDA strike was the demand for a are protesting the attacks on farm workers take away our union and they also use the old Jose Arvizu, who remembers marching government investigation into the murders and the United Farm Workers (UFW) by fact that some of us are undocumented to Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 11 growers and the administrations of Reagan ; and George Deukmejian, the governor of California. Marches have already been held in the Napa Valley, Hollister, Parlier, Mass. ACTWU members stand up to boss attack Dinuba, San Ysidro, the Imperial Valley, and Orange County. These marches are BY RICHARD THOMAS holiday, and contract language that would counted. The 2,300 workers at Calvin building toward a three-day march to De­ NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - Four allow the companies much greater control Klein and Cliftex were on strike almost a lano September 6-8 to mark the anniver­ thousand members of the Amalgamated over setting piece rates for individual week. Calvin Klein employees went back sary of the first farm-workers march to that Clothing and Textile Workers Union workers. Most of the workers covered by tci work Friday, June 7, and Cliftex work­ city in 1965, At that time Delano was the (ACTWU) went on strike in three Mas­ the contracts are piece workers. Average ers were supposed to go back to work on center of historic strikes against vineyard sachusetts cities on June I when their con­ wages under the old contract were $6.64 Monday, June 10. growers in the San Joaquin Valley. These tracts expired . Some were part of the na­ per hour. Ed Clark, Joint Board manager for the strikes were the beginning of a five-year tional contract between the union and the In other cities, workers covered by the New Bedford-Fall River region, told the battle to win union contracts for farm Clothing Manufacturers Association. national contract stayed on the job while Militant in a telephone interview that by workers. Others were covered by independent con­ they voted to extend the national contract staying out until the contract-extension vote Jose Luis Hernandez, an unemployed tracts that expired on the same date. All for four months. The vote was 28,000 to was counted, the union had sent a "strong farm worker on the Watsonville march, ex­ make tailored clothing for men. 8,000 in favor of the extension. In this area message to the Clothing Manufacturers As­ pressed the sentiment of many farm work­ Most of the strikers are in New Bedford workers voted against the extension and sociation that we will not accept conces­ ers. "Agricultural workers are not going to and Fall River, Massachusetts, two indus­ were anxious to fight back against the boss­ sions in September." Clark is also a vice­ remain silent," he said. "This is the begin­ trial cities about 45 miles south of Boston. es and their attacks against the union. The president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. ning of our integration into the bigger In both cases union and management disag­ workers in New Bedford and Fall River The five shops with I ,400 workers struggles within the powerful force of labor reed on wages, health-care benefits, mak­ who were covered by the national contract covered by independent contracts remain in this country." ing Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a refused to work until the votes were Continued on Page 7 -SElLING OUR PRESS AT THE PLANT GATE--__:__---~

BY ALVINO CARRILLO three Militants at the plant gate. At ers for a long time, averaging contracts and don't deny they've prints of a Militant article, "The KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Most a recent Leeds sale, the Militant three to six papers a visit. One of made huge profits in 1984. lessons of the U A W [auto] con­ of our plant-gate sales in this area salesperson was badly harassed by the workers there regularly attends Libby workers told us that after tract." We sold two Militants and are to members of the United Auto right-wingers who work at the Militant Forums and went with the expiration of the old contract gave out a lot of the reprints. Workers (UAW). But we are al so plant. Another UA W member, socialist workers on the bus to the in November 1984, the company Many workers wanted extra copies trying to expand our sales to rail who is Black, came to the next April 20 antiwar demonstration in demanded they take a 60 cents an to show to coworkers. workers who work for the Bur­ hour pay cut. The bosses insisted sale and defended the democratic Washington, D.C. Also, another Later at a March Plattsburg, lington Northern and Santa Fe rail­ on a two-tier wage system that right of the Militant salesperson to worker from the same plant spoke Missouri, farm-foreclosure dem­ roads. sell the paper. at a Militant Forum here. would deny new hires receiving onstration, Local 710 was one of At our first Burlington Northern Another plant-gate sale is at the pay parity with older workers. The Another plant we sell at is Allis­ the largest labor contingents at the railyard sale I sold two Militants. Chalmers. Until recently the Libby Corp., which is near the company also unilaterally im­ rally. Their local president spoke First the workers said they had no workers had been on longterm Leeds plant. We began selling posed new work rules on the and they vowed to come back for money. But after seeing the Mili­ layoffs . The plant is organized by there after learning about a lockout workers, ones that had been turned the next foreclosure protest. tant had an article about attacks on the UA W, and when workers were of UAW Local 710 members by down by union negotiators. rail workers, they bought the recalled we started to sell there Libby last January 31. Two sec­ The Libby workers fought back As attacks from the bosses in­ paper. again. We've averaged two Mili­ ond shift auto workers decided to through a series of struggles and crease many workers are coming tants per sale. get up early one Monday morning on January 31 organized a mass to realize that what is needed to GM sales and go talk to these workers about grievance meeting at work. The fight these attacks is solidarity. At the UAW-organized General Procter and Gamble the reasons for the layoff, and to company responded by calling the Solidarity among workers - and Motors Fairfax assembly plant we We also have sales at Procter & introduce them to the Militant . cops and locking out the Local 710 solidarity between workers and average four Militant sales a week Gamble, where there is now a members. small farmers . by selling at both the walk-in and company union. After a long Sales at Libby On February 8 the company laid drive-in gates. struggle, the United Steelworkers Libby is the third largest war in­ off 162 workers and Militant Alvino Carrillo is a member of The Leeds General Motors as­ lost a company-inspired decertifi­ dustry contractor in the Kansas salespeople decided to go back to UAW Local 31 and is an assem­ sembly plant is also organized by cation campaign. We have been City area. The company has been Libby. This time we were armed bler at the General Motors Fairfax the UAW and we regularly sell selling the Militant to these work- bragging about its government not only with the paper but re- plant. Hearings begin in case of 12 sanctuary workers

BY ANDY ENGLISH nun , two priests, a Presbyterian minister, Immigration and Naturalization Service participated in a candlelight march in de­ PHOENIX - Pretrial hearings began and eight other activists. Some of the de­ (INS) to send informers into churches to fense of the activists. On May 22, 250 May 21 in the case of 12 activists indicted fendants face possible penalties of up to 30 spy on and secretly tape record sanctuary people packed Alzona Lutheran Church for last January for "conspiring to smuggle" years in prison. meetings, Bible-study classes attended by a prayer service. It was announced there Central American refugees into the United The pretrial hearings will decide what Salvadorans, and church services. During that the church would become an official States. The 12 activists are members of the type of evidence can be presented in the ac­ their testimony, INS agents admitted spy­ sanctuary for Central American refugees. Sanctuary Movement, a nationwide net­ tual trial , which is scheduled to begin Sep­ ing on rallies held by political groups op­ In an obvious attempt at intimidation, work of over 200 churches that provides tember 17 . U.S. District Court judge Earl posing U.S . military interven~ion in Cen- · the INS rounded up 556 undocumented · shelter to people fleeing U.S. -backed re­ Carroll, who is hearing the case, has dem­ tral America. workers in Phoenix during the week lead­ pression in El Salvador and Guatemala. onstrated his intention to cover-up the On the evening of May 20, 200 people ing up to the hearing. Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, are the crimes of the U.S. government and its starting points for an "underground rail­ police agencies. road" that has transported refugees to The defense attorneys' motions to dis­ sanctuary churches all over the country. mi ss the charges were denied without even U.S. moves to repossess Culebra Originally, 16 sanctuary workers were hearing their witnesses. Carroll justified named in a 71-count federal grand jury in­ this action by stating that the status of BY ANDREA GONZALEZ In the agreement between the U.S. gov­ dictment. Two defendants pleaded guilty human rights in Central America "is not a The U.S. Department of the Interior has ernment and the colonial government of to misdemeanor counts. The charges factual issue to be resolved in these pro­ announced plans to repossess one-third of Puerto Rico, the land was ceded back to against two Catholic nuns were dropped by ceedings." the territory of Culebra from the people of Puerto Rico on the condition that the colo­ the government. Currently facing trial are a The judge also upheld the "ri ght" of the Puerto Rico by June 30. According to a nial government develop it for parks and U.S. government spokesperson, the land recreational facilities . Puerto Rican Secre­ will be sold to private companies at a pub­ tary of Sports and Recreation announced, lic auction unless the Puerto Rican govern­ however, that there is no money for such INS raids target Tongans in Hawaii ment submits a plan to develop it into parks development. by that date. Meanwhile, in the years since the U.S. The Immigration and Naturalization Ser­ documented workers what their rights Culebra is a 7 ,000-acre island town be­ Navy left the island, more and more vice (INS) has stepped up its attacks on were. Toribio reports, "Those arrested felt longing to Puerto Rico. Until 1980, some people, faced with an acute housing shor­ Pacific Islanders, especially Tongans in compelled to sign deportation papers with 2,000 acres were used for bombing and tage, have taken over the land on Culebra Hawaii. In february , INS agents raided no clear know ledge of what they were sign­ strafing target practice by the U.S. Navy. work places and arrested 63 workers in ing. Bail was set at an unusually high and built homes. These people are the Maui. In March the INS organized pre­ amount and legal counsel was not available Throughout the 1970s, Culebra was the target of the U.S. government's attempt to dawn raids of people's homes on the Big to those arrested." focal point of the struggle of the Puerto repossess the land today. Island. Toribio points out that the INS has Rican people against the U.S. govern­ In a letter to the colonial government, targeted Tongans in these raids. Some 90 ment's use of Puerto Rico's national terri­ the U.S. Department of the Interior clearly According to an article entitled "INS tory as a military staging ground against raids Maui and Big Island," by Helen To­ percent of those deported this year were explains this point. "We understand, more­ Tongans. This, Toribio explains, is be­ the workers and farmers of the Caribbean over, that little has been accomplished in ribio that apppeared on the commentary and Latin America. This struggle continues page of the April-May issue of Ka Huliau, cause "the Tongan community is small and solving the problem of land takeovers in has only recently begun to settle and estab­ today on Vieques, another small island be­ Culebra. If you think that you cannot solve a bimonthly newspaper published in longing to Puerto Rico. Hawaii, the INS abused those arrested in lish their roots in Hawaii. They are the these problems .... we recommend that the the raids as if they were "hardened crimi­ easiest group to victimize ... . The INS is For a decade the struggle against the land be returned to the federal govern­ U.S. Navy on Culebra involved tens of nals .... They were handcuffed, finger­ starting with the Tongan community, but it ment." thousands of people in Puerto Rico and the printed and detained .overnight in over­ also plans to broaden its target" to Samoans Culebra spotlights the colonial status of crowded jail cells and forced to sleep on and Filipinos. United States. Finally in 1980, the Puerto Puerto Rico. Only in a colony can a gov­ the floor." Toribio point~ to the importance of de­ Rican people won an important victory - ernment be ordered by the United States to fending the Tongans and all undocumented the U.S. Navy was forced to leave either clear out squatters or have their na­ The INS didn 't explain to the un- workers in the face of this escalated attack. Culebra. tional territory repossessed. The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant news, participating in the struggle. To subscribe That way you'll get facts about Washington's C. -.ing news date: June 12, 1985 war against working people at home and abroad : today, fill out the attached coupon. E ' )r: MALIK MIAH from El Salvador and Nicaragua, to embattled Enclosed i .~ : [l $3 for 12 weeks n $1S forb months M.·.naging editor: workers and farmers in the United States. Read n $24 for 1 year 0 A contribution MARGARET JA YKO our proposals on how to stop the bipartisan U.S. Business Manager: war in Central America and the Caribbean and the Name ------LEE MARTINDALE employer offensive here. Read our ideas on what Address ------­ Editorial Staff: Fred Feldman, Andrea Gonzalez , Pat Grogan, Arthur Hughes, Cindy Jaquith, Tom Leonard, it will take to replace this system of exploitation, City/State/Zip ------­ racism, and sexism with a system that's in the in­ Karen Newton, Harry Ring. terest of working people. Telephone ------­ Published weekly except two weeks in August, the last week of December, and the first week of January by the At the plant gates, picket lines, and unemploy­ Union/Organization ------~-­ Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 14 Charles Lane, New Send to Militant, 14 Char/e.~ Lane, New York , NY 10014 ment lines, the Militant is there, reporting. the York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Office, (212) 929-3486. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Mili­ tant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. ·- Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POST­ MASTER: Send address changes to The Militant, 14 Charles Lane , New York , N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S. $24 .00 a year, outside U. S. $30.00. By first-class mail: U.S ., Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air­ mail rates to all other countries. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily rep­ resent the Militant's views. These are expressed in edito­ ri als.

2 l'be Militant June 21, 1985 British miners fight j ailings, firingS International solidarity is needed

BY PAT GROGAN Llew Smith, Labor member of parlia­ An international campaign of solidarity ment from Southeast Wales, blasted the is under way to aid the British miners in conviction and the sentencing, saying, "It their fight to defend themselves and the was a warning that anyone who decides to miners union against victimization, impris­ take on this government will not be toler­ onment, harsh sentencing, and firings . ated. It is ironic that not a single policeman These measures have come in the aftermath has been on trial for the thousands of acts of the British miners strike. of brutality" they committed during the For 11 112 months, the National Union of strike. Mineworkers (NUM) waged a heroic strike A campaign in Britain is being organized against mine closures and unemployment. by the National Organization for Miners in Their struggle inspired working people Prison and Supporters (NOMPAS) to de­ throughout the world. Massive police violence was used against British miners during strike. Campaign is mand a general amnesty for the strikers The British ruling class was determined under way to demand amnesty for miners jailed and fired, and an end to victimizations. who have been imprisoned and fired, and to defeat the NUM no matter the cost. The to demand an end to all further victimiza­ miners were forced to return to work on tions. As Doreen Humber, a miner's wife March 3, but vowed to continue the fight and a founding member of NOMPAS against mine shutdowns and layoffs. explained, "these are political prisoners Since the day the strike ended, the Con­ N.Y. benefit celebrates ... victims of the Tories' [Conservative servative Party government of Prime Party's ] drive to smash the unions." Minister Margaret Thatcher stepped up its drive to victimize militant miners and deal Many unionists from the United States socialist publications a blow against the NUM. It is set on teach­ traveled to Britain and organized solidarity ing a lesson to all working people by mak­ and financial help for the strike. This in­ ing the miners pay a high price for their cluded coal miners who brought back the BY CAROLINE LUND with the courage to publish some publica­ heroic struggle. lessons of the strike to the United NEW YORK - An impressive benefit tions to tell us the truth. They are in a con­ . During the course of the miners' strike Mineworkers of America and to other event for the Socialist Publication Fund stant struggle to expose to us what must be some 10,000 miners were arrested by unions in this country fighting takebacks was held here June 8. Speakers included done .... police, along with 50 women supporters. and union-busting. Marfa Meneces, a member of the Nicara­ "If you want to read the truth about guan Women's Association {AMNLAE), what's happening in Nicaragua, or to the Five thousand miners were injured on the It is urgent that solidarity and support for picket lines and four have died. More than who is a garment worker in New York; miners in England, or as far away as New the efforts of the miners to defend them­ 700 miners have been fired because of their Joachim Mark, a well-known Grenadian Zealand or Australia, you have to turn to selves and their union be continued. strike activities, and nearly 100 are now community activist who chaired the 1983 Intercontinental Press, the Militant, or serving prison sentences. Messages calling for amnesty for impris­ mass rally at Hunter College where Prime Pathfinder Press. Hundreds more miners will face charges oned miners or those facing trials should be Minister Maurice Bishop spoke; and Mar­ Summing up the message of the fund, he in the next months for their participation in sent to: The Home Secretary, Home Of­ garet Jayko, managing editor of the Mili­ stated, "It takes money to put out these pa­ the strike. Those found guilty are automat­ fice, 50 Queen Ann's Gate, London, SWl, tant. pers and to keep this system of publications ically fired. England .· The fund goes toward financing Path­ alive and well and kicking. Without them it The sentences have been harsh, with finder Press, the Militant, Perspectiva would be extremely difficult to get the Messages calling for the reinstatement Mundial, Intercontinental Press, and New truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the miners being sentenced up to five years for of miners who have been fired should be strike activities. International. The focus of the benefit was truth." sent to: The Chairman, National Coal to celebrate the publication by Pathfinder He urged each person in the audience to In the most serious blow to date, two Board, Head Office, Hobart House, Gros­ miners have been sentenced to life impris­ of Nicaragua: The Sandinista People's tell another person about the Militant, IP, venor Place, London, SWl, England, and Revolution, a 400-page book containing and Pathfinder Press; to show them some onment after having been found guilty of to: The Minister, Department of Energy, murder. The charges flow from an incident the major speeches and writings of Nicara­ back issues so they can see the serious and Thames House South, Millbank, London, gua's Sandinista leadership. Some 80 truthful approach of these papers; and to during the strike when a block of concrete SWl, England. was dropped from a bridge on a taxi bring­ people attended the event. leave with the organizers of the benefit ing workers into the mine . The taxi driver Copies of messages should be sent to: Countering Reagan's claim that the some names and addresses of friends they was accidentally killed. NOMPAS, 5 Caledonian Rd., Kings United States needs to finance and supply think should be approached to subscribe. But in order to sustain a sentence of life Cross, London, Nl, England, and to: Na­ the mercenaries seeking to overturn the Margaret Jayko explained why all the imprisonment the prosecution charged the tional Union of Mineworkers, St. James Nicaraguan revolution because of so-called publications aided by the fund place such two miners with premeditated murder. House, Vicar Lane, Sheffield, England. Soviet intervention, Meneces stated, "Nic­ importance on the struggle in Central The severity of the sentence sent shock A special fund has been set up to aid the aragua was first the victim of U.S. aggres­ America and the Caribbean. It is because waves through the coalfields. Spontaneous imprisoned and fired miners and their sion in 1855, long before the Bolsheviks this region is at the center of the battle of walkouts protesting the sentence occurred families. Contributions may be sent di­ took over. in the Soviet Union, so who our epoch - the battle between the efforts in the two mines where the convicted min­ rectly to: Co-op Bank pic, West Street, could the U.S. blame for its intervention by workers and farmers to establish their ers worked. One thousand miners and their Sheffield, England. Include the following then?" own revolutionary governments in new wives demonstrated in South Wales against information: Sorting code 08.90.75. , Ac­ Mark pointed out that the big-business countries, and the imperialists' determina­ the sentencing. count No. 3000-0009. media "concentrates all its efforts on pre­ tion to prevent this in order to defend their serving big business. When it comes to the private-profit system." business of the people and their concerns She noted that "we put a high priority on and struggles, there is no proper coverage. such things as books of speeches by Fidel "When it is convenient for the big-busi­ and the Sandinistas and on reports from Trial of for01er Solidarity ness media, we hear something about Nicaragua because Central America and Cuba,. or South Africa, or Nicaragua, but the Caribbean are not only where the most the purpose is not to inform but to confuse, important revolutionary action is going on leaders held in Poland to bamboozle, and to make the people in the world today, but also where the most more ignorant than they were before." important thinking about revolutionary BY FRED FELDMAN land suppressed Solidarity - which at its Mark continued, "In the context of this working-class strategy is going on as The trial of three former leaders of the peak had some 10 million members - in massive system of disinformation, confu­ well ." ' • outlawed Solidarity trade union opened in December 1981, because it saw the union's sion, and lies, a few people have come up Continued on Page 12 Gdansk, Poland, on May 23 . struggle for participation by workers and The three are Wladyslaw Frasyniuk, a working farmers in economic planning and bus driver; Bogdan Lis, a mechanic; and decision making as a threat to its substan­ In the March 22 issue of the Militant, we $75,000 Adam Michnik, an historian. tial material privileges. The three were among those seized Feb­ The trial is being carried out in an unde­ launched the Socialist Publication Fund with the ruary 13 when police raided a meeting to mocratic and intimidating manner. For ex­ goal of raising $75,000 by June 15. prepare a 15-minute national strike to pro­ ample, the defendants were not permitted A major purpose of the fund is to help finance Collected: test proposed food-price increases. face-to-face meetings with their attorneys. publication of the Militant and our Spanish-lan­ The meeting was convened by Lech Moreover, the police barred the public guage sister publication Perspectiva Mundial and $74,605 Walesa, the most prominent leader of the from the courtroom, despite earlier claims other socialist publication projects. union before it was suppressed in De­ that the trial would be open. Pledged: cember 1981. The strike was later called According to the Associated Press, Checks should be made out to: Socialist Publica­ off. "police patrolled the streets around the tion Fund, 14 Charles Lane, New York, NY 10014. $104,250 The three are charged with inciting pub­ court building, checked the identity papers lic unrest and participation in an illegal or­ of passers-by, and detained about 10 Enclosed is my contribution to the Socialist Publi- ganization. They face up to five years' im­ people in an apparent attempt to prevent a cation Fund of$ ___ prisonment. crowd from gathering." Among those de­ According to the Polish government's tained, the dispatch reported, were Andrzej I pledge a contribution of $.___ to the Socialist news agency, Lis and Frasyniuk pleaded Gwiazda and Jan Rulewski, both activists Publication Fund to be paid by _____ not guilty to the charges. Michnik repor­ in the Solidarity trade union before its sup­ Name tedly told the court he did not understand pression. the charges. "If they had serious evidence, they Address If the charges are permitted to stand, this would want the public in the courtroom," ______State __ Zip will be a denial of the democratic right of Gwiazda commented. City the Polish workers and working farmers to Defense attorney Jacek Taylor protested protest the decisions of Poland's bureau­ the denial of the defendants' democratic Phone ------­ cratic mis1eaders. rights. He said they "will refuse to testify Organization/Union ------The bureaucratic caste that governs Po- Continued on Page 12

June 21, 1985 The Militant 3 Nicaraguan metal workers: 'We want peace'

BY BUDDY BECK them we want peace. We need spare parts SALT LAKE CITY -While in Nicara­ for our machines and skilled American gua last March, I had the opportunity to workers to help them. "We will defend our tour a machine shop and metal fabrication revolution at all cost." factory, Indus trias Metallurgicas del Pue­ When I returned home, I gave a blo (IMEP), outside Managua. Having slideshow of my trip to my coworkers on worked for six years in the Pittsburgh area lunch break in my department. I talked as a machine operator and tool grinder, this about the gains of the revolution, the war, factory tour made a big impression on me . and how the majority of the workers and The work force of around 250 was or­ farmers supported the Sandinistas. The ganized into the Sandinista Workers Feder­ dozen or so workers who saw all or part of ation (CST). The general secretary of the the show saw the slides of the young deter­ affiliate was a welder and a former San­ mined faces of the armed militia members dinista fighter in the struggle against the at the rally commemorating the fifth an­ former U .S .-backed Somoza dictatorship. niversary of the militias. The manner in which the workers spoke Now my coworkers understand a little . about him showed me he was a well-re­ better· about the revolutionary process in spected leader. Most of our discussion with Nicaragua. It cut through some of the lies these workers concerned the U .S .-backed we are fed daily. Many of my coworkers mercenary war and the conditions in the now know what the young metal workers plant. told me again and again. "We want peace, Around 20 of the workers had been but will fight to the death to defend our free mobilized for the front, and a large number Nicaragua." more were organized into militias. Many were members of or candidates for mem­ Buddy Beck is a member of International bership in the Sandinista National Libera­ Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Militant tion Front (FSLN). They have organized 57 and works at the Gadsby power plant in Workers from IMEP machine shop and metal fabrication factory in Nicaragua with their own in-plant defense and maintain a Salt Lake City. IBEW member Buddy Beck (second from left). 24-hour armed vigilance against counter­ revolutionary attack or sabotage. The dirty war, as it is called there, is having other effects, too. Material short­ ages are common simply because you can't Workers are rebuilding the railroads have equal distribution, since 40 percent of the Gross National Product has to go for BY .LANE SATTERBLOM railbed cannot be considered. us the same message that we heard wherev­ defense. Also, key U.S.-made machinery MANAGUA, Nicaragua- "It was all a Under the Somoza dictatorship no rail er we went: "Our country wants peace and - like two ·cincinnati shears- was down big mess. So the union took the initiative to unions existed. In 1979, only 7 percent of tranquility ." One brother was quite or only partially operational because of the rebuild. Later the government and the San­ all workers were organized. But now more eloquent when he told us, "Our people is lack of spare parts or repair manuals. Be­ dinista Front offered support." With these than 90 percent of all workers are union­ brother to yours, and we do not want to in­ fore the pro-Somoza owner fled the coun­ words, Angel Rufz, a leader of Nicara­ ized with most united in one of the major flict another Vietnam on our brothers." try, he burned all the service manuals to the gua's rail union, summed up a process that mass organizations of Nicaragua, the San­ Mirroring this determination was a young machinery. Also, out of the 29 welding included the 1979 overthrow of the dinista Workers Federation. Rail workers, sister rail worker, a member of the JS-19, machines, only 2 worked. Most of the Lin­ so'moza dictatorship (which had destroyed having fought the dictatorship, were quick the Sandinista Youth. She was dressed in coln SA200 Welders were down simply an important part of the country's rail ca­ to organize their union. fatigues, a volunteer in the local militia. In due to the lack of one spare part, the mag­ pacity), the formation of the first rail The cooperation between the union and addition to her regular job, she has the re­ nita. union, and the passing of control and own­ the revolutionary government has resulted sponsibility of politically organizing and During our tour of the plant, we visited ership of the railroads into the hands of the in substantial gains in the face of the educating the youth of the shop. the engineering ·and design department. revolutionary government. He was speak­ hardships imposed by the Washington-in­ Rail workers in the United States should Many of the men who worked there were ing at this city's main car shop to a tour of spired contra (counterrevolutionary) war. add our voices to those of our Nicaraguan volunteers from West European countries. 17 U.S. unionists who support the Nicara­ Work schedules have been maintained in brothers and sisters by demanding an im­ Several aspects of the department im­ guan revolution. spite of mobilizations of young workers to mediate end to the U.S. government's or­ pressed me. For example, the pride all fight at the northern front. Retired workers Felix Mendoza, a rail worker for 34 ganizing and financing of the mercenaries these workers had in their work. The de­ receive 60 percent of their last pay scale.• years, gave the group a brief history of attempting to overturn the Nicaraguan rev­ signs were simply for basic use function . Nicaragua's railroads. with the remaining 40 percent· being made Thus, the finished equipment would be up by social security - I 00 percent retire- · olution. First construction was begun in 1878. In safe and easy to operate and repair. ment benefits! And above all, the precipit­ An addition to the plant was under con­ 1951 a rail connection was completed be­ ous decline of the railroads has been tween the Pacific coast and Managua with Lane Satterblom is a railway carman on struction, and by year's end 500 workers halted, again through the cooperation of AMTRAK in Chicago and is a member of steamship connection over Lake Managua. will be employed there. The workers were union and government. Transportation Workers Union Local In the absence of roads, this rail link helped proud of the new lathes and other machines The union members we spoke with gave 2014. they received from North Korea and were unify the country economically. The looking forward to the plant expansion and period of 1955-60 saw the introduction of the increased production. Production to the first diesel locomotives and the em­ ployment of 6,000 workers. them was their contribution to the defense Nicaraguans practice civil defense of the revolution . Through imagination and But like everything else in Nicaragua, innovation they work through machine the U.S. Marine-created Somoza dictator­ BY ARACELI MARTINEZ brigades, what tools to have on hand, and breakdown and lack of spare parts to keep ship was bleeding the railroads dry, in this MANAGUA, Nicaragua- As the CIA­ so on . case by using rail workers to work in _production going. sponsored and armed contras (counterrev­ When the drill was over we talked to the Somoza family factories while being paid The workers at IMEP had made a olutionaries) carry on their attacks on Nic­ crowds of people. We met with a group of out of railroad funds, allowing rolling number of big and small gains since the araguans, the workers and farmers here women who said they were from stock and roadbeds to deteriorate. (In the revolution. There was a swimming pool on prepare to defend themselves. AMNLAE, the Sandinista-led women's or­ United States, rail workers - veterans of the plant site that before had only been for While visiting Nicaragua with a group of ganization. They said they were in charge the resource diversions · engineered by the the boss. Now, it is open on the weekends North Americans on a tour sponsored by of giving first-aid to the injured. They told moguls of the Penn Central, Milwaukee to the workers and their families . A Militant/Perspectiva Mundial Tours, Inc., us that the drill had been a success because Road, Rock Island, and too many other cafeteria had been established that pro­ I saw firsthand how the entire Nicaraguan it meant that the people were now capable railroads - will recognize this process.) vided a good meal for about 50 cents. population is preparing for defense. We of protecting themselves in the event of an By the July 19, 1979, victory of the revolu­ Wages and job classifications had been visited Ciudad Sandino, a neighborhood on invasion. standardized. A commissary had been es­ tion, only 700 workers remained along the outskirts of Managua, while the civilian tablished to store hard-to-get supplies that with nine locomotives, one in good shape. population was conducting a civil-defense Looking all around us we could see that would be sold to the workers at cost. These As well, two branch lines were destroyed drill. It was a simulated air attack by U.S. the neighborhood is still a poor one, and gains, although they might seem small to during the insurrection . A continuing prob­ military forces . These drills are being con­ most of the people were dressed very sim­ us, make a world of difference to them and lem is that with so few trains running, ducted throughout Nicaragua in all the ply and looked strictly working class, with set them apart from other workers in Cen­ motorists often fail to stop at crossings, re­ neighborhoods . no type of sophisticated equipment of any tral and South America. sulting in accidents and making a bad situ­ An old house was set on fire to. practice kind. So we asked them if they were afraid A number of these young workers came ation worse. fire fighting. The fire-fighting brigade was of an invasion . They answered, "We do to a party our Militant/Perspectiva Mundial The revolution has brought many made up of very young people. A young feel a certain fear because an invasion is a Tours, Inc. group had at our hotel. We changes for the better, with 220 retired woman told us how proud she was to par­ reality that we certainly consider possible. talked for hours. Before we shook hands workers returning to work to train younger ticipate in the drill. The women of the Every day we see the damages caused by and said goodbye, I asked them what they workers. The production goal for 1985 is neighborhood were the most eager to talk the counterrevolutionaries. And every day wanted me to tell the guys about Nicaragua simply to defend the existing stock and to us when they saw us . They told us of the we hear the threats by the U.S. govern­ when I got back to Utah. They replied, tell roadbed against deterioration and counter­ different brigades they have, each assigned ment. But we cannot let ourselves be over­ revolutionary attack. Next year's goals in­ to a different task. They have the first-aid come by fear. Instead, we live preparing clude the investment of 100,000,000 cor­ brigade, the fire-fighting brigade, and the ourselves to defend our beloved country." dobas (US$2,000,000) to build a new clean-up brigade. Part of the first-aid They welcomed us and told us, "We Sandinistas roadbed and two major bridges . This is brigade is in charge of taking children and want you to deliver a message to the North crucial for the economy because now there old people to safety shelters. The San­ American people. Tell them that we don't Speak is no direct rail link between Managua and dinista Defense Committees organize all want a war with anybody, especially the Speeches, writings, and interviews the major Pacific port of Corinto. Heavy the mass organizations to participate in the people of the United States. We consider by leaders of Nicaragua's revolution freight is being moved by truck over roads civil defense . They use eight-by-ten pam­ them our sister people. Tell them also that by Tomas Borge, Carlos Fonseca not designed for that purpose. Naturally the phlets with hand-drawn illustrations to in­ we know very well that the soldiers who Daniel Ortega, Humberto Ortega, roads are being destroyed, threatening to struct the civilian population on how to will be sent to shed our blood will not be and Jaime Wheelock . leave the country in the pre-1951 transpor­ form civil defense brigades and what the the sons of the rich; they will be the sons of $4.95 + $.75 for postage. 160 pp. tation situation. The made-in-Washington duties of each one are. One pamphlet of the the working people, like ourselves. But if Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street. counterrevolutionary war causes such an series is called, What To Do After an Air they come to shed our blood, we will not be New York, NY 10014 economic drain on Nicaragua's resources Attack. It illustrates in an easy-to-read and waiting for them with a bouquet of flowers that a switch from narrow to wide-gauge easy-to-follow manner the tasks of the in our hand."

4 The Militant June 21, 1985 Nicaragua: target of border provocations

Continued from front page hitting large contra camps just across the Costa Rica carry out its obligation of pro- border. As a result of the artillery duel, re­ tecting diplomatic premises. ,. portedly the contras have been forced to There has also been a tidal wave of jin­ withdraw some of their camps further into goistic and anticommunist propaganda Honduran territory, in the area known as along such themes as, "The Nicaraguan Las Vegas. communist regime wants to also take con­ Given the military situation created on trol of the Costa Ricans" and, "The aggres­ both borders by U.S.-sponsored mercenary sions against the soil of the homeland by forces, Nicaragua has proposed to both the the criminal Sandinista troops are greater Honduran and Costa Rican governments every day." fresh initiatives to reduce tensions. One reason for the ferocious propaganda In the case of Costa Rica, Nicaragua has blitz is to justify the presence in Costa urged the setting up of a demilitarized zone Rican territory of U.S. military forces, along the border supervised by the four which is a violation of Costa Rica's con­ Contadora countries and other nations with stitution, as well as the country's alleged whom both Nicaragua and Costa Rica have neutrality. good relations, such as France. Despite Costa Rica's claims that its Civil The reason for this proposal is that, hid­ Guard does not constitute an army, 20 U.S. ing behind its largely fictional neutral and Army advisers are currently training 400 unarmed status, Costa Rican authorities members of the supposed police force. claim they are powerless to prevent contras Costa Rica has also taken advantage of the from setting up bases in relatively inacce's­ situation it has created to request from the sible parts of their territory. United States fresh shipments of heavy So far, Costa Rica has failed to make an machine guns and other army equipment. official, formal response to the Nicaraguan Even more ominously, Costa Rican proposal. But France has indicated it is president Alberto Monge has threatened to willing to host talks · if both sides agree. request intervention by "friendly coun­ There was a round of bilateral Nicaraguan­ tries" if the outcome of the investigations Costa Rican border talks held in France into the May 31 border incident is not satis­ several months ago. factory to him. Other Costa Rican politi­ With regard to Honduras, the Sandinista cians have raised invoking provisions of government has proposed that direct con­ the Rio Treaty, a late 1940s anticommunist tact be established between the commander military pact designed to uphold U.S. im­ in chief of the Nicaraguan armed forces, perialist control of Latin America. Humberto Ortega, and Gen. Walter LOpez, At the same time as Costa Rican au­ his Honduran countei]Jart. So far the Hon­ thorities were launching their slanderous duran government has rebuffed all such campaign against Nicaragua, the Honduran Nicaraguan requests. Despite the continu­ army of Nicaragua's neighbor to the north ing and escalating provocations on its also initiated a series of provocations. northern and southern frontiers, Nicara­ On June 3, three U.S.-built military guan military leaders have stressed that · Victims of U.S.-backed "contras." As Sandinista army has pushed contra terrorists helicopters invaded Nicaraguan airspace in they will not allow themselves to be back, Honduras and Costa Rica have created border provocations. the northeastern part qf Nueva Segovia blackmailed into surrendering even one Province. The helicopters attacked a Nica- inch of Nicaraguan territory to the merce­ . raguan border observation post at a place nary forces . the southern border. A June 6 com­ tinue their advance in keeping with the known as Arenales. To make this point unambiguously munique reported that Ortega "in direct plans charted by the general staff of the Nicaraguan forces returned the fire, hit­ clear, the Ministry of Defense even took communication with the troops advancing EPS, maintaining at all times absolute re­ ting two of the helicopters. The two craft the unprecedented step of publicizing oper­ along the San Juan River, has warned them spect for [the inviolability] of Costa Rican were able to make it back across the Poteca ational orders given by Minister of Defense about enemy plans for provocations, and territory, which is violated by the mer­ River, which marks the border in that zone, Humberto Ortega to forces operating along reiterated to our troops the order to con- cenaries in keeping with CIA plans." before having to land. On June 4 there was a similar incident, ~ with another helicopter making a forced landing just across the border in Honduras after apparently having been hit by Nicara­ Former contra leader reports terror guan antiaircraft fire . On June 7 there was yet another viola­ BY ELLEN KRATKA aries, called contras. dered the murder of Mondragon's own tion of Nicaraguan airspace in this sector, MANAGUA, Nicaragua- Mass teuor Ten years ago, Mondragon had been re­ brother, for example. this time by an airplane. is the policy of the U.S.-financed and cruited to the National Guard ofthen-Nica­ Mondragon said he once went to Calero The area of the violations is a sensitive trained mercenaries attacking Nicaragua, raguan dictator Anastasio Somoza. Fol­ to see if the terror and mass murders could military zone where significant Sandinista according to a top counterrevolutionary lowing Somoza' s overthrow in 1979, he be "moderated." forces are based, ready to repel any at­ commander who recently defected. joined the ex-guardsmen who regrouped Calero replied, "You're crazy." tempts by the CIA-backed counterrevolu­ Efren Mondragon, who had been com­ and were organized by the CIA into merce­ Mondragon said that thousands of kid­ tionaries to reinfiltrate the country. mander of the Jose Dolores Regional Com­ nary bands. napped peasants, intended for use as can­ In the past several months the Sandinista mand of the Nicaraguan Democratic Force Mondragon planted the explosives that non fodder in the contra bands, have People's Army has been able to drive out (FDN), the main CIA-organized merce­ blew up the Rio Negro bridge in Nicaragua · thrown down their arms and escaped. "The the contra forces that had infiltrated the nary group, returned to Nicaragua May 7. in 1982. This was one of the first major contra forces lack the moral principles to zone to launch deeper raids into Nicaragua. In an extensive interview with Bar:ricada, contra attacks. triumph," he concluded, "above all due to In an attempt to dislodge the Sandinista the daily newspaper of the Sandinista Na­ He watched as hundreds of murdered their abuses, since they are finally earning forces in April, batteries firing from Hon­ tional Liberation Front, he described the Nicaraguan peasants were buried in mass the repudiation of the peasants." duras tried to shell strategic points held by rapes, torture, and assassinations carried graves in Honduras. He saw peasants the Sandinistas. The EPS returned the fire, out by Washington's counterrevolution- burned alive in a gold mine in San Judas, * * * Honduras, that belonged to a contra sym­ Meanwhile the June II New York Times pathizer. He described contra troops play­ reported, "Two Democratic Congressmen Celebrate 6th Anniversary ing cards to win the right to rape each said today that the Government was with­ other's women prisoners. holding a visa for a former Nicaraguan or Nicaragua's Revolution The contras even assassinated those . rebel leader [Mondragon] to influence the within their own ranks who spoke out debate in Congress over aid to the insur­ Tour Nicaragua July 18-August 1 against the terror. Disputes over how to di­ gents." The White House is asking for $27 Visit Managua, Masaya, Esteli, Matagalpa, and Bluefields (Atlantic Coast) vide up the CIA funds flowing to the mer­ million in nonmilitary aid to the contr(\s. cenaries led to more murders. FDN chiefs Mondragon had been scheduled to appear MilitantJPerspectiva Mundi a! Tours, Inc. Adolfo Calero and Enrique Bermudez or- at a June 10 news conference. invites you to join us in celebrating the 6th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution in a tour to Nicaragua. Participants will Sandinista army pushes back contras visit factories and farms, meet with activ­ ists from the unions, women's, and youth BY JOSE G. PEREZ The strength of the Sandinista People's organizations; learn abOut economic plan­ MANAGUA, Nicaragua - The San­ Army campaign appears to have thwarted a ning, health care, education, and culture. dinista People's Army (EPS) is waging threatened offensive by the Nicaraguan what is clearly the largest military cam­ Democratic Force (FDN), the main contra Tour cost: $950 from Mexico City paign yet in the four-year war against U.S.­ group, which was to have begun in June. Tour price includes: roundtrip airfare sponsored counterrevolutionaries. Relying The launching of the coordinated EPS from Mexico City to Managua, all trans­ primarily on its elite Irregular Warfare Bat­ offensive was marked by driving contras talions (BLis), the revolutionary armed fers, three meals daily, hotels, and guide out of the heights north and northeast of forces are carrying out sizable offensives in Ocotal, the capital of Nueva Segovia Prov­ service. A $150 deposit reserves a space three major theaters of operation: in the ince, during the second half of March. with full payment due June 25. Space is north of Nueva Segovia and Jinotega prov­ Following this defeat, the counterrevo­ limited to 20 people. Participants must inces bordering Honduras; in the south of lutionaries tried to reinfiltrate further east. have a passport valid for at least 6 months Rio San Juan Province, bordering Costa There was heavy fighting in the eastern­ after the date of entry into Nicaragua. Rica; and in an extensive but scarcely most tip of Nueva Segovia Province bor­ ·populated region in the center of the coun­ dering Honduras, and further east in Write to: MilitantJPerspectiva Mundial try that includes parts of Jinotega, Jinotega Province. The CIA forcl.';s suf­ Tours, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. Matagalpa, Boaco, Chontales, and Zelaya fered substantial casualties as they tried to 10014. Telephone (212) 929-3486. provinces, several thousand square miles cross into Nicaragua and were surprised by all told. Continued on Page 11

June 21, 1985 The Militant 5 'No dialogue with criminals' Sandinista leader Tomas Borge explains who 'contras' are

The following is an excerpt of a speech with his own Corigress and allied coun­ chief? Adolfo Calero, CIA agent since given by Sandinista Commander Tomas tries? 1961. Borge at an April 26 meeting in Mana­ As far as I know, we do not have sub­ Who is head of its high command? En­ gua to commemorate the fourth anniver­ marines or nuclear missiles, and it is not rique Bermudez, colonel of the former Na­ sary of revolutionary vigilance, the sys­ our intention to invade the United States tional Guard, participant in the imperialist tem of community patrols organized in nor our purpose to cause Reagan mig­ invasion of the Dominican Republic in each neighborhood by the Sandinista raines. Mr. Reagan calmly goes so far as to 1965. From the moment that Colonel Ber­ Defense Committees. compare his counterrevolutionary sons mudez entered the military academy in This section of the speech is entitled, with Simon Bolivar, Lafayette, George 1948 as cadet number 380, he renounced "With these criminals they want us to Washington, and the fighters of the French his right to be Nicaraguan. have a dialogue." It is taken from the resistance. [Bolivar was a leader of the rev­ Seven of the seven members of the high April 28 issue of Barricada, the San­ olutionary upsurge throughout Latin Amer­ command of the FDN are from the Na­ dinista National Liberation Front's ica against Spanish colonialism in the last tional Guards. The person in charge of per­ (FSLN) daily newpaper published in century. Lafayette was a French fighter in sonnel, the person in charge of intelli­ the American revolution against British gence, of operations, of logistics, of trans­ Commander of the Revolution Tomas Managua. The translation is by the Mil­ Borge itant. rule.] poratation, of communications. All of You need guts; you need to be the ar­ them are ex-officers of the Somozaist It is clear that Reagan has proposed to chitect of antihistory to say that CIA agent Guard. They want us to have a dialogue Jose Francisco Rufz Castellon (Renato) enter the annals of history as the Adolfo Calero is the liberator Simon with these people. head of a regional commando unit [of the "peacemaker" of our times. Just like Bolivar of the present epoch! What nerve Until a few weeks ago, the head of-coun­ contras]. Assigned t-o the EEBI since join­ Somoza, the "peacemaker" of Las these imperialist gentlemen have! terintelligence of the FDN was the former ing the National Guard and promoted to Segovias [refers to 1934 massacre of San­ Is there perhaps something in common National Guard officer Ricardo Lau Cas­ lieutenant in 1979 for "services rendered." dino's army] . Everything he touches, does, between Bermudez and George Washing­ tillo, who had to be rapidly replaced when With this torturer they want us to have a and says is preceded by the word "peace." ton? Between General Sucre [one of the it became publicly known that he killed dialogue. The MX missiles are "Peacekeepers." The liberators of South America] and Benito Bishop Amulfo [Oscar] Romero in El Sal­ Roger Francisco Sandino Villagra, head U.S. marines that invaded Lebanon were Bravo [a-former National Guardsman who vador [in 1980] . Now they have replaced of the operations base BL-3 Ariel [a contra presented as a "peace force." He calls the is currently a leader of the contras] . him with ex-major Donald Torres. This is base]. He joined the National Guard in 1966. In 1976 he operated in Waslala zone. plan to undo the revolution and plunge Nic­ What similarities are there between the who they want us to have a dialogue with. He completed a course in military intelli­ aragua into darkness and blood a "peace first president of the United States, who Eight of the nine regional commando gence at the U.S. military base in the plan." fought against the British crown to obtain units of the FDN are led by ex-members of Peace, for Reagan, means death. Peace, independence, and the "cop" LOpez, [Panama] Canal Zone. With this cop they the National Guard, almost all from the want us to have a dialogue. for Reagan, means humiliation, giving up former lieutenant of the National Guard, EEBI [Basic Infantry Training School, an Ramon Bonifacio Castellon Villalobos, sovereignty, political submission, cal­ the chief of the "Federico" patrol that mur­ elite force in Somoza's National Guard], head of a Task Force. He joined that Na­ louses on the knees. dered peasants in the north of the FOUntry? the majority also decorated or promoted in tional Guard in 1967. He took courses in 1979, before their defeat, for their great For the Nicaraguan people, peace means Perhaps if you cannot compare him to the Canal Zone and in El Salvador. He was "exploits" massacring the people for respect for our national dignity; peace sig­ the first president of the United States, you responsible for many murders in the hills of nifies respect; peace signifies stopping the could compare him to that country's last Somoza. This is who they want us to have Bilambf and Varillal Mountain, the Ceiba aggression. We are going to defend this president [Ronald Reagan]. a dialogue with. area north of Jinotega. In 1979, he was peace with our blood, with taut muscles, Reagan wants us to have a dialogue. Pablo Emilio Echaverry, who was in the promoted to captain and they awarded him with eyes open wider than the horizon, That's fine, we also want to have a special services of the command unit of the the medal of merit. With this brother in grasping guns, and conscious. dialogue. But we want to talk with those National Guard and who planned the taking crime of Chigiiin [nickname for Anastasio These are people who do not know the who really can stop the aggression, not to of Jalapa in his operation called "hammer Somoza Portocarrero, son of the dictator], meaning of fear, who have raised their bat­ those who obey their orders. We want to and anvil," and when it failed put into prac­ they want us to have a dialogue. tle flags, whose only slogan is courage and talk to the one who gives the orders, not tice operation "exodus" that involved kid­ Walter Saul Calderon Lopez, head of unwavering defense of their flag, their riv­ those who receive them. napping peasants and the forced recruit­ armaments for tactical operations for the ers, their land, their life, their sun, and They claim that we should talk with the ment to the counterrevolutionary ranks. FDN. He joined the National Guard in their stars. FDN [Nicaraguan Democratic Force, an They want us to have a dialogue with this 1973. Since joining he was assigned to the Those who want to humiliate us and en­ armed counterrevolutionary band], a body murderer. EEBI. In May 1979 he was promoted to slave us will first have to crush us, all our made up of officials of the Somozaist Armando Lopez lbarguen , chief of lieutenant and placed in the General bones, one by one, and spill our blood drop Guard. Despite the costly publicity cam­ logistics of the FDN high command. A Somoza Battalion [an elite battalion of the by drop. paign they initiated in recent weeks, trying member of the National Guard since Au­ National Guard]. to show what cannot be shown - that the gust 1957. He murdered Favio and Laura Felix Alcides Espinoza, also former U.S. imperialists' attacks FDN has nothing to do with the Somozaist Urbina, Alfredo Lumbf and Santos Rufz in lieutenant in the National Guard who led Reagan's attack against the revolution is Guard - the reality of the facts has been 1976. With this heartless one, they want us the massacre at San Francisco del Norte, an all-sided plan that fights the revolution more unassailable and categorical than to have a dialogue. where they murdered 17 peasants and kid­ on all fronts - the military field, the their propaganda. Jose Benito Bravo Centeno, head of are­ napped many others and took them to Hon­ "ideological arena, the economic aspect, the It is true that in the ranks of the FDN gional commando unit [of the contrasf He duras. political plane, and the psychological there are peasants, enrolled by force or per­ joined the National Guard in 1956, and he With criminals there can't be dialogue level. It is like the five fingers of a claw suaded by fraud. But it is undeniable that also participated in the invasion of the crushing what is not to its liking. He has the brain and the spinal cord, the central Dominican Republic. In 1979, while in the With these killers, who are truly respon­ power and sufficient resources to maintain axis of the FDN, is the Somozaist National EEBI, as a reward for his crimes, he re­ sible for the tremendous rivers of blood and the five fronts. Guard. ceived the medal of merit. He was the tears, they want us to have a dialogue. Why will this small, backward, and poor bodyguard of Julio Somoza Portocarrero They want us to sit down and smoke a country cause him such headaches, so Who are the contras? [one of Anatasio Somoza' s sons]. With this peace pipe with them and almost ask us to many sleepless nights, endless meetings Who is the true leader? Ronald Reagan. guardsman they want us to have a share bread and wine with them. with his advisers, and even confrontations Who is the apparent commander-in- dialogue. We are going to talk with them when these gentlemen from COSEP [Executive Council of Private Enterprise] tell us exactly how many grains of sand are in the sea and how many stars there are in the 'IP' on Ghana's fight against imperialism sky, and the day that they finish counting it we will then count two more times and af­ Ghana, the first country in sub­ Ghana also faces serious difficul­ terwards we will think many times before Saharan Africa to win its indepen­ ties: an acute economic crisis, im­ giving them an answer. dence from colonial rul ~, is again perialist pressures, and attacks by What would we talk with these murder­ experiencing major political up­ counterrevolutiona ries. INTERCONTINENTAL ers about when they do not even have their heavals. Ever since a group of anti­ · This issue of IP also includes a PRESS own political blueprint? imperialist and left-wing soldiers major speech by Nicaraguan leader A dialogue with Alfonso Callejas De­ and political activists seized power Tomas Borge to the Sandinista De­ shon, who during Somoza's dictatorship on Dec. 31, 1981, Ghana has been fense Committees. was vice-president of the republic? swept by the most massive popular LEBANON What does Reagan really want when he New says we must have talks with the contras? mobilizations in its history. Intercontinental Press is a biweekly Slaughter The June 24 Intercontinental of Palestinians To talk with them would mean giving that carries more articles, docuc Press begins a three-part series on them a legitimacy that they do not have, ments, and special features on world Attacks by Amal Aid the anti-impe ria list struggle in U.S., Israeli Imperialism recognizing them as a national political politics - from Europe to Oceania force. It would mean that we forget who Ghana today, writte n by managing and from the Middle East to Central editor Ernest Harsch following a they are, that we lose sight of their strategic America - than we have room for visit to that country in March. objective - to destroy the Sandinista in the Militant. Subscribe now. People's Revolution and return Nicaragua The series describes the intole ra­ 'The Revolution Is the People' ble living conditions and intense Enclosed is 0 $7.50 for 3 months. to its neocolonial condition. impe ria li st oppression that have 0 $1 5 for 6 months. 0 $30 for 1 Speech by FSLN's Tomas Borge to If we were to agree to a dialogue, that driven the Ghanaian people to rise year. Sandinista Defense Committees would be the beginning of a series of con­ up. It examines the progressive cessions that would ultimately lead to Name ------­ steps take n by the new gove rn­ Spect.l Feloture: handing over the revolutionary power, the me nt, headed by Flight Lt. je rry Address ------­ World War II and people's power. Rawlings, including foreign policy the Colonial Nations With these J)eople, there is no possible City _ _ State _ _ Zip - . _ measures and the formation of dialogue. They knew what they were mass-based Committees for the Clip and mail to Intercontinental doing, they had plenty of time to reflect Defense of the Revolution. Press, 41 0 West St., New York, NY upon their actions. They even had time to But the revolutionary process in 10014. repent. They chose to subjugate the people, to murder, to oppress. With them there is no possible dialogue.

6 The Militant June 21, 1985 Bosses cry poverty in ILG WU contract talks

BY NAN BAILEY contract talks through informal discussions NEW YORK - Negotiations continue in the shops . The last local membership in the contract talks between International meeting was held March 27, before the Ladies' Garment Workers' Union contract negotiations began. It outlined and (ILGWU) Local 23-25 and the New York approved the demands that the union would Skirt and Sportswear Association and the take into the talks. National Association of Blouse Manufac­ A union information center has been turers. opened in New York's Chinatown to an­ Twenty-six thousand ILGWU 23-25 swer members' questions about progress of members have been working without a the contract talks . A majority of 23-25 contract since May 31 . members are concentrated in Chinatown. Garment bosses have called the union's In a letter to union members announcing demands unreasonable and unrealistic. The formation of the committee, 23-25 man­ union has raised eight demands in the talks: ager-secretary Edgar Romney urged mem­ a wage increase; greater employer contrib­ bers to visit the information center to raise utions to the Health and Welfare Benefits their questions and concerns about the con­ Fund; an additional holiday; additional be­ tract talks. reavement time off; compensation by em­ ployers when workers are on jury duty; Nan Bailey is a sewing machine operator Militant changes in the method of calculating cost­ in New York City and a member of ILGWU ILGWU Local 23-25 members demonstrating during 1982 strike to force garment of-living adjustments; compensation to Local23-25. bosses in Chinatown to sign contract. shop representatives for attending union meetings; and paid sick leave. The 23-25 contract is the first of a series of contracts that will be negotiated between the ILGWU and garment bosses nation­ 1,000 workers arrested in INS raids wide over the next several months. Eli Elias, president of the New York BY PAM BURCHETT tories making everything from door frames . dumped in Tijuana, Mexico, with literally Skirt and Sportswear Association, voiced LOS ANGELES- One thousand work­ to bedspreads, the INS also rounded up only the clothes on their back and the the employers' objections to union de­ ers here were rounded up and arrested the workers at a street comer where workers money they had on them at the time of the mands when contract talks opened April first week of June by the Immigration and who are available for day labor gather. arrest. 20. "Your demands have to be more realis­ Naturalization Service (INS) in a series of Of the thousand arrested, a number were The racist edge to this campaign was ob­ tic," Elias told the union. "I'd like to meet factory raids code named "Operation Em­ released on bail pending a hearing on their vious in both television and newspaper a manufacturer who can afford to give you ployer." status. But the vast majority found them­ coverage of the raids. Light-skinned and another holiday." In addition to raids at nearly a dozen fac- selves detained for I 0 to 20 hours and blond workers were neither stopped nor Many union members are correctly sus­ asked for papers. As one worker put it, picious of the bosses' cry of poverty. Profit "They only ask the 'Mexican-looking' figures for many garment manufacturers ones." One Chicano worker interviewed are hard to come by. However, national in­ ·Far111 workers protest attacks expressed outrage at being arrested despite dustry leader Levi Strauss, for example, re­ his telling the INS agents he was a citizen. ported a 1983 profit (the most recent fig­ · Continued from front page boycott of Chiquita Bananas. Chiquita In one of the major Los Angeles dailies, an ures available) of more than $194 million since he was eight years old, said, "it is Bananas has been targeted because it is the article blaming increased crime in San dollars. This leading sportswear company, necessary to be united so that the growers major product of United Brands, the parent Diego County on "illegal aliens" was run which manufactures blue jeans and other see that we're organized. We'll stop company of Sun World. side by side with accounts of the daily garments, is organized by the ILGWU in marching when the growers listen to us." Although the march occurred without in­ raids. some parts of the country. Levi Strauss cident, the growers did harass the protes­ Details are not yet available on all of the also reported a growth rate of over 32 per­ One young worker explained how the shops raided, but at least one was union or­ growers were attempting to gut the gains ters and attempted to provoke farm workers cent for the period between 1973 and 1983, and supporters. A helicopter spraying pes­ ganized. More than half the workers at making it the number three U.S. manufac­ the UFW had won. He said the growers are Manny Industries, one of the largest gar­ not paying travel time to and from the ticides over the fields buzzed the march turer in the United States in terms of several times. Later as the march ap­ ment shops organized by the International growth rate. fields, stand-by time when machinery Ladies' Garment Workers' Union breaks down, and are not allowing bath­ proached Watsojlville, two huge tractor­ In response to the bosses' stand, the tillers were driven at high speed and reck­ (ILGWU), were hauled off June 6 after ILGWU 23-25 executive council has room breaks. The growers are also cutting dozens of armed INS agerits surrounded the wages by increasing the amount that must lessly close to the marchers. One driver, formed the "Committee to Defend the recognized as a local grower, jumped from factories and sealed off all exits . Union Contract." It is urging local mem­ be picked to make piece rate. A crate of The ILGWU sent its attorney and several broccoli, for example was counted full• the tractor and tried to provoke a fight. In bers to join this committee and be prepared answer to these attacks the marchers business agents to the factory to advise to act to fight the bosses to meet the union's when it was packed to the top of the crate. union members of their rights and accom­ Now growers only count crates as full chanted "Rancheros escucha, el pueblo demands. A similar committee was formed esta de lucha" (growers listen, the people pany the workers to the detention center. by the local during the last contract negoti­ when they are packed eight inches over the According to the INS regional commis­ top. are fighting back.) Cesar Chavez later ations three.years ago. It sponsored a series pointed to these incidents as examples of sioner, Harold Ezell, the purpose of the of mass protests in New York involving Farm workers explained that in addition the hate and racism against the farm work­ week-long factory sweep was to "see that thousands of union members to demand to these attacks and the drastic unemploy­ ers' struggle. jobs now being held by illegal aliens are that New York contractors in Chinatown ment in the fields, many growers are fol­ After the march, Chavez spoke at an out­ made available to citizens." But like the sign a contract with the union. The union lowing the lead of Sun Harvest. This farm door rally at Watsonville High School. He INS "Project Jobs" three years ago that re­ scored a victory in that fight when the con­ closed down last year and then reopened called for support for the UFW's national sulted in the arrest of more than 6,000 tractors were eventually forced to sign. under a new name, Sun World, as a nonun­ table-grape boycott as part of their cam­ workers , the new raids and deportations Union members are awaiting further ion farrri. paign to pressure vineyard growers for de­ will not solve the problems of unemploy­ word from the executive council on plans Former Sun Harvest workers are waging cent contracts and counteract the big at­ ment, nor are they intended to . for the committee's activities. Most mem­ a struggle for the union, including picket­ tacks on the union by California agribusi­ The fact is that certain industries in Los bers are getting word on progress of the ling area supermarkets as part of the UFW ness. Angeles- primarily furniture, electronics, Chavez also aimed his fire at Governor and garment - are consciously based· on Deukmejian and the Agriculture Labor Re­ immigrant labor working in sweatshop lations Board (ALRB). He cited statistics conditions that most U.S. workers are not ·Mass. ACTWU members fight back that showed that the ALRB, formed under ready to accept. The precarious legal status the Agriculture Labor Relations Act in of immigrant workers puts them in a diffi­ Continued from front page mands. From the Portuguese side of the leaf­ 1975 to protect farm workers' collective cult position to protest chronic violations of on strike. The union is demanding a $1 .50 let, "We want a contract that won't vary bargaining rights, was a "fraud and a minimum-wage, health , and safety laws. per hour raise over three years. from day to day and won't tum back wages joke." Seven thousand farm workers, he The employers and the INS have no inten­ The Militant visited the picket lines at and won't allow practices that favor the said, have yet to see a penny of the hundred tion of changing this. Justin Clothi"ng in New Bedford. The 350 bosses." million dollars owed to them by growers in In response to the raids, officials from the ILGWU will appear at a press confer­ workers in the plant make men's suits. On the picket line we were joined by a suits won under the ALRB. These farm ence along with representatives from sev­ About 20 picketers were chanting, "No group of workers who are closely follow­ workers are either simply never paid or be­ eral other local unions, including the contract, no work". The picket line has ing the ACTWU strike. Next door to Jus­ come· tied up in an an endless appeal proc­ American Federation of State, County and been maintained 24 hours a day, and the tin's is Manly Manufacturing, a garment ess in the courts. Municipal Employees, the Steelworkers, plant is completely shut down. Nobody has shop organized by the International Ladies' Chavez ended his speech saying, "they and United Auto Workers, to protest the crossed the line, and members of the Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) and abuse us because we are Mexican. But we INS actions. Representatives of several Teamsters union who work for United Par­ covered by the national outerwear contract, aren't the same as before. They should be Mexican-American rights organizations cel Service and other trucking firms have which also expired on June I. It was lunch­ careful," he stated, "if they really want a and immigrant and refugee groups have refused to make deliveries. time, so the ILGWU members came out to fight, they've got one." also agreed to participate. The press con­ On Sunday, June 2, the workers had au­ talk to the ACTWU strikers and to show thorized the strike by a 265-15 vote. The * * * ference will be followed by a picket line at their solidarity. Gil Andrade, president of the immigration courthouse in downtown workers at Justin are members of ACTWU ILGWU Local 361, told the Milta.nt that Within minutes, socialist workers who Los Angeles. An ongoing coalition to pro­ Local 377. While we were on the picket they had been working on an extension of participated in the farm-workers march test factory raids and deportation is pro­ line, a union staffer delivered the daily their contract, but that a strike vote had sold dozens of Militants and Perspectiva jected. strike bulletin. The bulletin is printed in been set for Wednesday, June 12 . We were Mundials, the Spanish-language biweekly. both English and Portuguese. Union meet­ encouraged to go to that meeting to talk Farm workers were anxious to discuss the Pam Burchett is a member of ILGWU ings are held in both languages, too. The with the ILGWU workers. U.S. -organized mercenary war against workers estimate that 90 percent of the Nicaragua. Several members of the UFW Loca/482 and works at Manny Industries . Nationally the ACTWU and ILGWU workforce is made up of Portuguese immi­ asked about the possibility of going on contracts expiring this summer cover some grants or Portuguese-Americans. tours to Nicaragua. 150,000 workers. These are among the Subscribe to Perspective Mundial, The bulletin is important in maintaining Some farm workers, when told about the lowest paid factory wo~kers in the country. biweekly, Spanish-language sister pub­ contact, since the union is picketing five recent attack on the Socialist Bookstore in lication of the Militant. $3.00 for 6 is­ different plants in two cities. It included The strike bulletin quoted one striker at San Jose, carried out by a group of right­ sues, $8 for 6 months, or $16 for one quotes from various picketers on informa­ the Bradley Scott Plant in Fall River, "We wing Vietnamese thugs, offered to come to year. Write to 408 West St., New York, tion about the national and local negotia­ have worked hard for what we have and we help defend the bookstore from further at­ New York 10014. tions, and a summary of the union's de- are not giving up now ." tacks.

June 21, 1985 The Militant 7 GE contract negotiations: bosses press 13 1l

BY DON GUREWITZ AFL-CIO unions. IUE president William takeback contract. The huge GE plants in Louisville, Ken­ BOSTON - Mid-1985 to mid-1986 is Bywater chairs the CBC Steering Commit­ The profits of GE's owners have tucky, and Schenectady, New York, for in­ the time for major contract negotiations in tee, which also includes the independent climbed every year since at least 1972, in­ stance, have seen their work forces cut al­ the electrical-electronic industry. Negotia­ UE and Teamsters unions. cluding during recessions. In fact, from most in half- at the same time that pro­ tions are currently under way in New York The CBC is an important tool for electri­ 1972 to 1984, GE's profits rose a spectacu­ duction has increased. between the owners of General Electric cal-industry workers. Before it's inception lar 298 percent, reaching $2.28 billion in Co. and the 13 unions that represent in 1966, the electrical companies were able 1984. Profits in 1984 were up 13 percent Factory automation and speedup 75,000 GE workers around the country. to treat the 13 unions with complete con­ from the year before and big-business Factory automation is the other side of Negotiations between these same unions tempt and intransigence because the unions analysts predict 1985 profits will be up at GE's drive to rationalize its operations in - representing 30,000 workers - and were so divided. It took a 101-day strike in least 10 percent. Profits per employee rose order to raise profits. It is developing, Westinghouse Electric Corp. opened June 1969 to force the company to bargain seri­ from $4,000 to $7,000 between 1981 and manufacturing, and marketing com­ 4 near Pittsburgh. Negotiations with ously with the CBC. Today the CBC 1984. puterized factory-automation systems, and Sperry-Rand, RCA, GTE Sylvania, North unions plan joint demands and strategy, al­ Part .of these profits went for salary in­ it is using its own factories as laboratories. American Phillips Lamp Division, and though they still negotiate individually. creases forGE executives. GE board chair­ GE invested $2.5 billion in upgrading White Westinghouse will follow. The IUE and UE conduct the initial pace­ man Jack Welch, for example, was paid a plants and equipment, and another $2.3 Traditionally, the GE contract, which setting negotiations with GE, and the IUE, cool $2,831,000 in 1983; $1,158,000 was billion for research and development in expires June 30, sets the pace for the entire UE, and IBEW do the same with Westing­ his base salary, and the rest was longterm 1984 alone. The result is that direct com­ industry. GE is the largest electrical man­ house, the other industry giant. Collabora­ compensation. In 1984, Welch's base sal­ puter-driven machine tools, robots, and au­ ufacturing company in the world, with tion between unions is maintained by a sys­ ary was raised another 16 percent. tomated paperwork systems have enabled 330,000 employees in 24 countries. tem of joint planning committees and .by No wonder GE workers feel they're enti­ GE to cut jobs drastically and raise produc­ Although GE had made spectacular sitting in on each others' negotiating com­ tled to improvements all across the board. tion in the massive Erie, Pennsylvania, profits over the life of the last contract - mittees. Most workers are apprehensive about locomotive plant and the Louisville appli­ over $9 billion after taxes between 1981 In this year's negotiations, GE is main­ their ability to make gains in these negotia­ ance plants. and 1984 - a barrage of company prop­ taining it's traditional approach of refusing tions. They are aware of the antilabor of­ The company also uses automation to aganda has made it clear that GE has every to make a serious offer until the last week fensive by the bosses and recall that the speed up and crack down on the workers. intention of forcing the most unfavorable of negotiations. 1982-85 contract was negotiated under In the huge Lynn aircraft plant, for in­ terms possible down the throats of its work The IUE's negotiating committee will similar circumstances. While there were no stance, computer hookups to all the force. As the union relations manager at meet July I, one day after the contract ex­ major givebacks then, there were also no machine tools in some areas allow the fore­ GE's Lynn, Massachusetts, plant said in a pires, to make recommendations to the full real gains. Under that contract, GE work­ men to monitor the activities of workers on recent issue of the GE News, "We must be IUE GE Conference Board. The Confer­ ers real wages have eroded somewhat, and a continuous basis while sitting in their careful not to get hung up on catch words ence Board will meet the next day to pre­ GE has been able to pull ahead unham­ booths. When a worker's machine stops, like takeaways .... Both pay and benefits pare recommendations to union locals. The pered in its drive to reduce jobs and speed for example, the computer asks the worker must be periodically adjusted to keep them local members have one week - including up the remaining work force. why, and instantaneously flashes the an­ competitive." Or as GE's chief negotiator the July 4 weekend - to discuss and then swer on a screen in the foreman's booth. William Angel put it in another issue of GE vote on the contract July 9. All members GE's vast empire Recently the Lynn plant got a lot of na­ News, "The wage package [in the last con­ are entitled to vote, but the national tally is GE is a multinational corporation. The tional attention when members of the IUE tract] turned out to be on the high side and counted local by local. Each local's vote is owners have a long history of hostility to local there voted two-to-one to approve has ended our competitive position .... In weighted by its size. trade unions. They are direct descendants work-rule concessions demanded by GE as 1985 negotiations, the impact of the 1982- of the J.P. Morgan fortune. Morgan oper­ a precondition for building an experimen­ 85 contract on our business is a factor that What the unions are demanding ated a war industry during the American tal, fully automated "factory of the future." must be considered." The unions have targeted the protection Civil War that sold obsolete rifles to the The big-business press hailed the agree­ of existing jobs - what they call job secu­ Nothern army at six times their cost. ment as a new sign of union-company 50 percent of work force organized rity - as their number one demand. Be­ Today, GE is affiliated with three of the cooperation in taking U.S. manufacturing GE workers know exactly what this tween 1981 and 1984, GE reduced its world's largest banks, including the Mor­ into the 21st century. Local 201 members company propaganda means. They are worldwide work force from 404,000 to gan Guaranty Trust, First National City saw it differently . Their agreement to con­ anxiously following the negotiations and 330,000 workers . Most of the job losses Bank of New York, and Chase Manhattan. cessions came only after a tremendous discussing out the same issues as workers were in the United States. It ranks number 11 in the world in total as­ pressure and blackmail campaign by GE, in other industries: takebacks, two-tier One reason for the reduction of union sets, with a staggering $24.7 billion - including the threat to build the new plant contracts, plant closings, automation, membership is that: GE has shifted more more than that of many countries. in some nonunion location and to begin. company intransigence, and the weakness and more work to new, smaller, nonunion GE is number one in the world as a pro­ disinvesting in the Lynn plant. of the unions. As the contract deadline ap­ plants- especially in rural areas and in the ducer of lighting products, electric motors, Some union members feel there is not proaches, the discussions will undoubtedly South. steam and gas turbines, drive systems for much to be done to fight concessions until intensify, and they are important for the Other union-leadership goals include mining and oil-well drilling, and medical the Democrats are reelected to the presi­ whole labor movement. major improvements in wages and benefits diagnostic imaging equipment. It is also a dency. But in Massachusetts, Democrats Of GE's 150,000 U.S. workers, just based on GE's high profits in the past few producer of home appliances, plastics, joined Republicans in support of GE. under 50 percent are represented by years. locomotives, and a host of other com­ Michael Dukakis, the Democratic gover­ unions. The largest is the International In particular, the union leaders have modities. It is a world leader in factory au­ nor of Massachusetts, issued GE a special Union of Electronic workers (IUE) with targeted pension plans for major improve­ tomation, and sells not only the hardware commendation when the company suc­ 50,000 GE members. Next is the United ments. They feel that substantially higher but also the software for computerized fac­ ceeded in forcing Local 20 l members in Electrical workers (UE) with about 5,000 pensions and an earlier retirement age tory operations. They also run the largest Lynn to accept a 42-hour workweek and GE workers. The UE is not affiliated to the would help make way for younger work­ diversified finance company in the United other concessions for the "factory of the fu­ AFL-CIO. The remaining GE union mem­ ers. They feel tbat GE is particularly vul­ States. ture." These concessions include: bers belong to the International Associa­ nerable on this issue. There is currently GE's international operations accounted • Workers in the prototype, experimen­ tion of Machinists, United Auto Workers, over $11 billion in the company-controlled for over 27 percent of its 1984 revenues of tal factory will work 12 hours a day, 42 United Steelworkers, International pension fund, and it pays out annually only $27.9 billion . It is one of the top I 0 inter­ hours a week, with no premium pay for Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Fire­ one half the interest to retirees. Some re­ national investors in and benficiaries from Saturdays and Sundays. men and Oilers, Sheet Metal Workers, tirees get as little as $69.00 a month be­ the racist South African apartheid system. • Most job classifications will be elimi­ Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, Carpenters, cause there are no cost-of-living allow­ It was one of the first U.S. corporations to nated and consolidated into two or three Flint Glass Workers, and Allied Industrial ances added to their checks. profit from the CIA's overthrow of the Chi­ classifications in order to force workers to Workers- all affiliated to the AFL-CIO The union leadership's stance is that lean government of Salvador Allende in handle more job operations for less money. -and the independent Teamsters. there will be no concessions to GE, despite 1973 . The Pinochet military dictatorship • For the first time in the Lynn plant, The unions bargain under a system early hints in company propaganda that immediately returned to GE the light-bulb workers being paid on an hourly basis (as known as the Coordinated Bargaining they will demand them - especially in the factory that the Allende government had opposed to piece work) will have to work Council of GE and Westinghouse Unions area of health benefits. GE, union officials taken because of the slave wages and work­ to company-set productivity standards. (CBC). AFL-CIO president Lane Kirkland point out, cannot cry poverty as other cor­ ing conditions GE had imposed on the is the chair of CBC, which includes ll porations have done in order to impose a workers. The GE-Pentagon connection GE is also this country's fourth largest The Lynn plant also exposes another as­ war contractor, with fully 20 percent of its pect of GE's power: its connections with business in military hardware. It makes air­ the Pentagon. Much of the company's au­ craft engines, missile-launch systems, gui­ tomation is funded by tlie Pentagon, which dance systems, and power plants for sub­ pays for a lot of the research and also buys marines. It is deeply involved in the nu­ and leases from GE a high percentage of its clear industry -military and commercial. machinery and tools. And of course, it Some 65,000 GE workers work in war pro­ guarantees GE outrageous profits at tax duction. payers' expense because of padded, multi­ billion-dollar military contracts. · Layoffs and plant closings Because of GE' s ties 1:0 the military, GE has been on an aggressive corporate workers are constantly bombarded by campaign in recent years to reorganize and propaganda extolling the virtues of every rationalize its many businesses in order to new weapons system, while emphasizing squeeze more profits from its work force. "national defense" and the need to stand up Board chairman Welch has set the goal of to the "communist threat." either making GE number one or two in GE is notorious for wrapping itself in the each business it operates, or liquidating the American flag as a cover for its antilabor business. This had led to the sale of over policies at home and abroad. As far back as 155 properties in over 40 businesses- al­ the 1950s, Ronald Reagan was hired by GE most all of them profitable - just in the to tour its plants to give phony, patriotic last three years. It has also led to the shut­ pep talks to workers to try to convince News ting down of over 70 additional plants, them that unionism was un-American. IUE Local 201 shop steward Kris Czarnecki testing robot for new "factory of the future" which helps explain why the GE work GE' s patriotic bluster is not just aimed at in Lynn, Massachusetts. GE used threat to build factory in different area of country to force has declined 17 percent in just three promoting fat military contracts for itself. pressure Local 201 members into accepting major concessions. years. It is also aimed at pressuring workers to

8 The Militant June 21, 1985 1ions lor takebacks vork harder, be more productive, and ac­ Wilmington and Everett, Massachusetts, ept less as part of the effort to "keep plants and again last month at GE's Lynn \merica strong." The truth is that military turbine plant. pending is not intended to protect U.S. Also in Lynn, after months of debate vorkers, but to support the Washington-or­ during which the company tried to manipu­ :anized war ag~inst the workers and farm­ late the vote, IUE Local 201 voted over- :rs of Nicaragua. It is designed to defend . whelmingly to suspend it's involvement in he right of U.S. corporations like GE to GE's Quality Circle (worker-involvement nake superprofits by investing in group) program because it could be used by emicolonial countries with the full back­ the company for propaganda during con­ ng of U.S. governmental and military tract negotiations. tOwer. Recently GE has been hit by a rash of in­ CBC's approach to contract :ictments and investigations for cheating IUE officials are trying to utilize grow­ •n government contracts. The most notori­ ing worker resentment at GE's offensive to •us has been the indictment, and sub­ prepare for the contract fight. Rallies have equent guilty plea by GE, for its Philadel­ been held at all the major IDE-organized •hia ICBM plant having falsified employee GE plants. International union officers, 'in­ ime cards to bilk the government out of cluding president Bywater, have come to .800,000. GE was suspended from bid­ explain their approach to the contract. At ing on new government contracts for three these rallies, Bywater and other national , IUE members protesting against racist apartheid regime in South Africa. General Electric 1eeks, during which time they were district, and local officials have hammered Co. is one of South Africa's largest international investors. warded two new contracts anyway in the away at GE's profits and the union's deter­ arne of "overriding national defense mination to resist takebacks and push for workers are fragmented into 13 different eeds." Many people see these wrist slaps These and other issues are being discussed substantial increases all along the line. unions. The IUE itself has declined in s nothing more than government moves to by GE workers as we approach our contract One of the more militant rallies was at membership some 12 percent in the last onvince the public that the bloated de­ deadline. But if we are to halt takebacks the Lynn plant. It to·ok the form of a two­ two years due to cutbacks. and begin to win some victories, labor ~nse budget is being trimmed as much as hour strike. All 8,500 union members Cooperating with the bosses and relying ossible. But there is another side. GE is needs to develop a fighting strategy based walked off the job and some 2,000 rallied on capitalist politicians in the Democratic sing the phony government crackdown as on uniting all working people against em­ in front of the plant. When they returned to Party to save jobs and living conditions n excuse for a very real crackdown on GE ployer-government attacks. This includes work, spirits and expectations were run­ will not stop or even slow down the attacks 10rkers. reaching out to potential allies in the Black ning quite high on the shop floor. workers are facing. The head of GE' s Aircraft Engine Group and Latino communities, and among work­ It is clear that workers at GE are anxious But IUE workers around the country are ing farmers. 1 Lynn, Brian Rowe, recently wrote a let­ about the contract. We know we deserve showing by anticompany job actions and :r to company employees blaming work­ Should GE try to force a takeb~ck con­ more but are up against a tough company contract-support rallies that they are will­ rs for high costs. The letter warned work­ tract down the throats of the workers, a with powerful antiunion supporters back­ ing to fight for a decent contract. rs "Now we can complain about that ... united response by the 13 unions involved, ing them up in the Pentagon and govern­ When contract negotiations began May r threaten to go on strike ... but that kind backed by the active solidarity of the entire ment. 14, IUE president Bywater made public f reaction just makes the customer mad- union movement and labor's allies, will be ..,r. " The power of our union has been eroding what he called a partial list of union de­ essential to tum back the attack. Such unity since the end of World War II, when 86 mands. It put strong emphasis on the need and solidarity can be organized. .ttacks on workers percent of all GE workers in the United for early retirement, higher pensions, and States were organized in one union. Today other job-security improvements. Also All around the country, GE workers are Don Gurewitz is a machinist at GE' s Lynn less than 50 percent of GE workers in this mentioned were wages, cost of living lan­ !eling the effects of speedup, increased aircraft plant and a member of IUE Local country are unionized, and the organized guage, insurance, and union security. 1anagement harassment, absentee crack­ 201. owns, so-called worker-involvement :oups designed to undermine union .rength, and a host of other antiworker 1easures that GE claims are dictated by Black trade unionists ·meet in Philadelphia 1stomer demands - especially from the entagon. "what we saw in Vietnam." "It's a bad ex­ In Lynn, for example, GE tried to unilat­ BY PRISCILLA SCHENK South African Blacks against the racist ample for others," he said. rally institute an Absence Review Board PHILADELPHIA - Close to 900 mem­ apartheid system. bers and supporters registered here May Buzz Palmer, president of the Black Harrison received a standing ovation for J crack down on absenteeism, even 1ough GE workers receive only two paid 24-27 for the 14th national convention of Press Institute in Chicago, spoke at the expressing the sentiments of the vast ,ck days a year. One worker died and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists South Africa workshop. He told of an im­ majority of convention participants. nother was hospitalized when they gave in (CBTU). Participants came from 26 local portant legal precedent set by anti-apart­ Following Harrison's remarks, William chapters and represented many unions. heid protesters in Chicago last January. Lucy presented a resolution from the J the pressure to come to work despite se­ ere medical problems. Most prominent at the meeting were the After protesters were arrested in front of CBTU Executive Council entitled "Protec­ tion of Black Life." The resolution con­ Of course GE workers are not passively American Federation of State, County and the South Africa consulate, they asked for ccepting the company's offensive. Last Municipal Employees; Communications and received a public, jury trial. demned recent killings of Blacks by New ebruary, for example, 6,000 UA W mem­ Workers; and United Food and Commer­ The jury was 10 whites and 2 Blacks. York City cops and racist vigilante Ber­ nhard Goetz. And in Philadelphia, the res­ ers walked off the job at GE's aircraft cial Workers. Women were a large and The five-day trial heard expert testimony vocal part of the convention. from South African poet and activist Den­ olution said, "an entire city block was de­ !ant in Evandale, Ohio, to protest the stroyed by fire and 11 Black lives, includ­ ompay's farming out of union jobs. Many William Lucy, president of the CBTU, nis Brutus and others on the brutal treat­ ment of Blacks in South Africa: ing four children, were lost when the police .vandale workers felt, however, that opened the convention and gave remarks bombed a row house." tepped-up company harassment following on the problems facing Blacks and working The jury was convinced of the worthi­ The resolution concluded that "this ad­ Pentagon audit, which had found serious people. "The unhappy fact is that we're ness of the protest and the right to resist. ministration and this country must be put roblems in the plant, had brought matters dealing with a crisis," Lucy said. "Not just They decided on a not guilty verdict. One juror even asked to join the next protest. on notice that we, as a people, are commit­ > a boiling point. The UA W's week-long the crisis of a generation of Black youth ted to the protection of Black lives." icket lines were .respected by the I ,000 being carelessly discarded, not just the The main proposal from the CBTU There was informal debate at the con­ -\M members who also work in the plant. crisis of a generation of Black adults who South Africa workshop was to focus on vention on the bombing. Some delegates, In March, 2,800 workers at GE's are victims of earlier hatreds. A crisis that support for a bill before Congress that is often from Philadelphia, continued to de­ ittsfield, Massachusetts, plant staged two goes right down to the roots of what this sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy and fend the bombing, while others, including ;aJkouts protesting management pressure country's supposed to be all about." other Democratic senators. The CBTU en­ others from Philadelphia, were angered n the work force . Walkouts occurred over dorses this bill, titled the Anti-apartheid Lucy pointed to attacks by the Reagan Act of 1985. It would place limited restric­ and spoke out against it. imilar issues in September, 1984, at GE's administration on busing to achieve school tions on U.S. sales and investment in South desegregation, affirmative action, and civil Africa. NBIPP's participation rights. He announced that that the CBTU A second major convention session on Among convention participants was a would be joining the city of Chicago in a political action took up the CBTU's ongo­ delegation from the National Black Inde­ court fight against the government's at­ ing participation and support for the elec­ pendent Political Party. NBIPP members LABOR'S tempt to gut affirmative action quotas in tion campaigns of various Democratic distributed more than 200 copies of a spe­ hiring. The convention also passed a Party politicians. cial edition of the NBIPP newsletter. The strongly worded resolution on the need for newsletter featured a statement protesting GIANT the labor movement to defend affirmative Discussion of Philadelphia bombing the bombing in Philadelphia and also ex­ action. With the convention being held in tended greetings to the convention. Active in Free South Africa Movement Philadelphia, the recent bombing of a "We urge the African-American com­ STEP Black community by the cops here was a munity around the country to lift our voices Lucy also pointed to the very active role big focus of informal discussion. in outrage at the bombing of West Philadel­ by Art Preis the CBTU has played in the efforts of the Philadelphia mayor W. Wilson Goode, phia. Progressive forces must unite and Free South Africa Movement and their who took responsibility for the bombing, protest this outrage." struggle against the policies of the South was a guest speaker the first evening of the The final convention report came from African government. Many CBTU mem­ convention. Goode asked for understand­ the Women's Conference. The convention The story of the rise of the CIO bers have organized and participated in the ing of his actions. His remarks provoked decided to encourage CBTU chapters to and the labor battles of the 1930s and 1940s. demonstrations in front of South African much discussion in the hallways and sponsor educational conferences on issues consulates protesting apartheid and . the 538 pp., $9.f}5 paper elevators that evening. facing Black women. U.S. government's support of the racist The next day, convention speaker Tony A women's executive council was set up South Africa regime. Harrison, political consultant from Wash­ to organize regional committees for re­ Onler lrom Patb&nder Press, 410 West St., An entire convention session was de­ ington, D.C., ended his remarks by saying, gional women's conferences. And a United lew York, I.Y. 10014. Please iDclutle 75 voted to the issue of South Africa. The film "The bomb was dropped on all of us, Nations International Women"s Confer­ cents lor postage amllumdliDg. Generations of Resistance was shown, whether we want to believe it or not." ence paper will be presented il) Nairobi, which documents the long struggle of Hamson compared the bombing with Kenya, under the name of the CBTU.

June 21~ 1985 The Militant 9 'Cancel the debt­ Crisis is political not technical problem' Castro interview on foreign debt

This is the sixth part in a series in the Bracketed material and subheads are Militant in which we reprint the entire text added by the Militant. of Cuban president Fidel Castro's major in­ terview on Latin America's foreign debt. * * * The first five parts can be found in the May (Sixth in a series) 10, May 17 , May 24, June 7, andJune 14 Castro. As a result of all these issues of the Militant. mathematical calculations and moral, his­ torical, political, and economic reflections, The interview with Castro was con­ I have come to the conclusion that the Latin Militant/G.M. Cookson ducted by Regino Diaz on March 21 of this American debt is unpayable and should be British miners fighting mine closures. Unemployment is big question in imperialist year for the Mexican daily Excelsior. It is canceled. It has been said that failure to countries. Castro explains that absorbing debt would create jobs in these countries. entitled, "How Latin America's and the pay the debt would destabilize and sink the Third World's unpayable foreign debt can international financial system. This isn't problem confronting the industrialized and should be canceled and the pressing necessarily so. I sugge11t that the indus­ themselves responsible to their . private countries isn't their domestic public debts need for a new economic order," and has trialized creditor countries can and should banks for the debts of the Latin American or foreign debts. It is rather the scourge of been made available in English in a pam­ make themselves responsible for the debts and other Third World countries, this phlet published by the Cuban government. to their own banks. would imply added increases in their public unemployment, which is steadily increas­ debts. ing in most of the Western countries, with Analyzing the crushing $360 billion for­ As a rule, the public debts of the indus­ figures in the order of 3 million in Britain, eign debt saddled on the Latin American trialized countries increase; it is a historic Cut military expenditures despite its new oil resources; 2.6 million in countries, Castro shows how the im­ fact that they tend to increase. All that the Where could they find the resources with the FRG, a postwar record; 3 million in perialist system works to rob the wealth. industrialized states make themselves re­ which to pay the interest on the increases in France; 2.8 million in Spain; and so on. of the semicolonial, underdeveloped econ­ sponsible for is the interest on their increas­ their debts without affecting their coun­ Solving the problem of the underde­ omies, and how at the cost of human suf­ ing public debts. tries' economies? That's easy: from mili­ veloped countries' foreign debts could be fering and impoverishment, enormous In 205 years the public debt of the tary expenditures - and not all military an important step toward emerging from wealth is taken from these countries to fi­ United States has reached $1 trillion - expenditures, just a small percentage of the prolonged international economic crisis nance the advanced industrialized powers. when I say "trillion," I'm referring to the them: 10 percent or, if interest rates remain -which is far from over, despite the op­ U.S. trillion, which is equal to the English Castro demonstrates that it is impossible as high as they now are, a maximum of 12 timistic forecasts that some would make. billion- a million million. The U.S. pub­ percent. The economy of the European Economic -as well as unjust- to pay the debt. He lic debt reached that figure in 1981; but discusses the social and political impact of With this modest percentage of thejr mil­ Community grew by a mere 2.4 percent in from 1981 to 1984, in just three years, itin­ itary expenditures, the industrialized pow­ 1984, and better results aren't expected this demands by the International Monetary creased by another $650 billion; and it is Fund to impose austerity measures on the ers could make themselves responsible to year. What is growing- constantly- is estimated that it will reach or surpass $2 their own banks for the foreign debts of the unemployment. According to very recent already impoverished and suffering people trillion by 1986. This is almost never men­ of Latin America in order to pay the debt. Latin American and other Third World data, the U.S. economy had growth diffi­ tioned in the United States, however. It countries - and military spending would culties during the first quarter of this year. He points to the social upheavals which doesn't seem to be much cause for con­ must occur in response to the crisis. still be fabulously high and cause for con­ Even though solving the Third World's cern . Rather, it stresses the growth of the cern. foreign debt problem would doubtless pro­ He proposes that the Latin American economy - and, as a matter of fact, the Military spending throughout the world vide relief for many countries, it would fall countries unite to refuse to pay the debt and economy was reported to have grown by now amounts to a million million dollars (a far short of solving the problems of de­ that the industrialized capitalist powers as­ 6.8 percent in 1984. So, if we follow the trillion, according to U.S. nomenclature, velopment. Within a few years, if unequal sume the debt by cutting their military ex­ theories and concepts of official econom­ or a billion in English). And, if the arms terms of trade, protectionist measures, penditures. Castro discusses this as a first ics, we see that the increase in the public race (which world public opinion considers dumping, monetary policies based on the step in breaking the hold of the advanced debt hasn't ruined the economy or impeded absurd and unacceptable in a world . in economic clout of a few countries, exces­ industrialized powers over the underde­ its growth; nor has it hampered the op­ which there are more .than I 00 underde­ sive interest on loans, and the other ele­ veloped and Third World economies. timism with which some U.S. economists veloped countries and billions of people ments in the unjust system of economic re­ Capitalist countries taking on the debt talk about future economic growth and de­ who lack food, health care, housing, and lations and exploitation that is imposed on would be a step towards more just and fair velopment. If the federal government of education) isn't ended, that spending will the countries of the Third World, aren't "new world eco­ economic relations - a the United States, plus the governments of continue increasing until it unleashes a nu­ eliminated once and for all- that is, if a nomic order." other industrialized powers, were to make clear catastrophe, which would be more new world economic order isn't firmly es­ dangerous than the economic catastrophe tablished - the situation would be the from which a large part of humanity is suf­ same as or worse than it is now. fering. If the former were to take place, 'PM': Puerto Ricans oppose U.S. war talking about the latter would make no Question. How should this be lumdled? sense at all. Could the pressure that the creditor banks Some 500 people took part in bring to bear on the countries be somehow the .third national convention of Perspec_Hro Solve problems of underdevelopment turned around so that we can demand that the National Congress for Puerto It would be very sensible and wise if the they take a series of measures to avoid Rican Rights recently held in Mundial reduction in military spending were as­ their own financial crisis? sociated with the beginning of a solution Philadelphia. The antiwar char­ Sindicatos de Ia costura Answer. Because of their political im­ acter of the convention was re­ for international economic problems. All enfrentan codicia patronal economists have stated that with a fraction portance, their political weight in the flected in the extensive discussion :, II world, their enormous debts, their terrible on U.S. intervention in Central of the money now spent for military pur­ poses the problems of underdevelopment economic and social crises and the dangers America. and poverty that beset the world could be of a social upheaval of unforeseeable con­ The NCPRR also spoke out solved. sequences, their deep community of inter­ against the city government's de­ This problem of increased military ests and their potential for joint action, the cision to bomb the Black commu­ spending and the danger it poses to man­ Latin American countries, in my opinion, nity in Philadelphia, which killed kind was the subject of a recent meeting are in a better position than those of any 11 people, and against the cop held in New Delhi, in which individuals of other region in the world to tackle this harassment of Puerto Rican youth such international prestige and authority as problem seriously. Many of their leaders there. have already set forth the premises con­ Fidel Castro habla Rajiv G311dhi, Julius Nyerere, Raul Alfon­ The new issue of Perspectiua sin, Miguel de Ia Madrid, Andreas Papan­ cerning the foreign debt, which would be sobre Ia impagable the first step in that struggle, clearly and Mundial has coverage of this im­ deuda latinoamericana dreou, and Olaf Palme participated. [These portant convention, which focused prime ministers or presidents of India, Tan­ precisely. on the attacks on the rights and zania-, Argentina, Mexico, Greece, and living standards of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. and around the world. Sweden held a Jan. 28, 1985, summit call­ Debtors' club in the United States. jSuscrfbete ahora! ing for a halt to testing of nuclear weapons Yet, it is inconceivable at this stage that Also featured in this issue is the and a ban on development of space the first thing that is proclaimed and sol­ second part of a major interview weapons.] emnly pledged is that the countries of this with Cuban president Fidel Cas­ Subscriptions: $16 for one By issuing 10-year treasury notes and hemisphere that are affected by this situa­ tro, where he describes the desp­ year; ·$8 for six months; Intro­ treasury bonds, the United States could tion will not form a debtors' club - even erate economic situation facing ductory offer, $3.00 for three make itself responsible to its own creditor though the creditor countries are closely the semicolonial countries of the months. banks for all the credits given to the Latin joined in the International Monetary Fund world, analyzes the unpayable American and other Third World coun­ and the Paris Club. A club, a committee, a debt burden imposed on them by D Begin my sub with current trieS. This wouldn't affect U.S. citizens' group, or whatever you want to call it is in­ current contributions to the budget. The imperialism, and proposes solu­ issue. dispensable. Acting on their own, our banks would recover the capital they have tions to this crisis. countries cannot achieve any kind of last­ Name ------­ invested, U.S. export companies would in­ ing solution for our problems; all they can crease their exports and U.S. investors hope for are more palliative formulas that Perspectiua Mundial is the Address ------abroad would increase their profits. only mitigate their difficulties: a brief grace Spanish-language socialist maga­ City/State/Zip ______More important, such a solution would period on the payment of capital or a small zine that every two weeks brings create jobs in all the industrialized coun­ reduction in the percentage of interest paid you the truth about the struggles of Clip and mail to PM, 408 West St., tries; their industries would use a large per­ in addition to the Libor [London interbank] working people and the oppressed New York, NY 10014. centage of their installed capacities, and in­ rate. ternational trade would increase. As I've already said, the problem no It should be kept in mind that the main Continued on next page

10 The Militant June 21, 1985 Salvadoran unions protest austerity, war

Continued from front page or organization. of unionists Francisco Fuentes Ayala and To reduce the turnout for the march , the Mauricio Alcides Diaz, who were shot to army had ordered bus owners in several death on May 2 by soldiers of the Arce Bat­ cities not to transport workers. Armed tali on. forces photographers took pictures of par- , Paramilitary squads assassinated 7 trade ticipants, while a U .S.-supplied Huey unionists and kidnapped 15 in the first four helicopter flew low over the crowd . months of this year. FENASTRAS May 1 message SETANDA's eight-day strike also ended in a significant victory, with the 49 fired In a May Day message to the "workers unionists being reinstated and the workers and people of El Salvador" from Hector winning a wage increase. In addition, two Bernabe Recinos, the exiled secretary gen­ corrupt managers were fired and others eral of FENASTRAS, declared, "We can­ were transferred at the insistence of the not continue to support with hands folded union. On May 20, the day before the the war imposed on us by the Salvadoran strike ended, the workers had organized a oligarchy and the Reagan administration; I ,500-strong protest march against the fir­ we cannot permit the presence of the North ings. American advisors in our nation; we cannot The police had cordoned off the water­ remain indiffere11t before the astronomic works the day after the strike began. In re­ economic and military aid which is used to sponse to this attack, the FMLN's radio kiJI people and deny the right of our people to a future of liberty, while it should have station, Radio Venceremos, broadcast a been used to build factories, to raise the s.tatement denouncing the police action and standard of health, housing, and education. backing the strike. "This is the govern­ ment's reply : more repression , more "Compaiieros. on this First of May, in threats , and more intransigence inthe face freedom to continue the struggle, we greet our brother workers of the world, extend­ of the workers' demands. The puppet army has already killed two ANDA workers and ing our profound gratitude and invite them Thousands of workers protesting government austerity in San Salvador earlier this to support the dialogue and negotiations." one is missing. Far from dealing with the year. urgent demand for wage increases and far from imparting justice in the case of those killed, the government has taken off its mask and has replied like all gorillas, like Castro interview on foreign debt all the dictatorships that have tried to sub­ jugate the working class . However, they Continued from previous page to be feared . I don't believe that any self­ which, as I said, we have 85 percent of our have been unable to do this in the past and longer concerns just the payment of capi­ respecting Latin American government foreign trade. Between 1981 and I984 our they will be unable to achieve their objec­ tal. Even if a four-, six-, eight- or ten-year would be capable of betrayin~ the feelings Gross Social Product increased by 24.8 tive now," said the statement. grace period of and a similar - or longer and interests of the Latin American family percent, and the per capita GSP grew by -period after that for payment of the total in these critical circumstances. In any cir­ 22 .6 percent; our economic and social de­ May Day debt are granted, the problem would still cumstances, the dissenters would never be velopment programs for the next fifteen The most dramatic indication of the in­ get worse and worse. The current renegoti­ anything more than individual cases or iso­ years are guaranteed - something that is a creased level of fightback by El Salvador's ations will solve absolutely nothing. The lated groups. Cuba would be willing to ex­ privilege for any country at a time like this . labor movement was this year's May Day problem resides in the enormous amounts clude itself from those activities if this If it weren't for the priniciples of the march. More than 15,000 workers of interest that must be paid each year, re­ were advisable, if the other countries didn't new economic order which we have at­ marched through the streets of San Sal­ ligiously and punctually, accompanied by want to displease the United States, as is vador behind a banner that read, "For a inapplicable political measures; exagger­ already traditional. But I don't think it tained with the rest of the socialist commu­ new society." Many other workers who ated, unrealistic goals related to inflation; would be good tactics, in this situation, to nity, as I explained, our annual sugar ex­ supported the march lined the sidewalks. the reduction of the budgetary deficit; the display excessive caution or cowardice to ports of over 7.5 million tons- at the cur­ Chants of "Yankee invaders - out of El limitation of social expenditures in coun­ the "Colossus of the North" - which rent price of sugar on the so-called world Salvador," "Duarte listen, the people are tries riddled with problems in education, must, of course, be persuaded to cooper­ market and supposing that there were mar­ struggling," and "The people united will health ,care, nutrition, housing, unemploy­ ate. Moreover, undignified, irresponsible kets for that volume of exports- wouldn't never be defeated!" rang out. ment, etc., and other measures demanded attitudes (which not even the United States be enough to pay for even 25 percent of our fuel imports. The largest contingent came from the by the International Monetary Fund which respects) shouldn't be adopted in order to become impossible to apply when the achieve its cooperation. FENASTRAS union federation. It in­ the Latin American countries want to country is forced to make enormous dis­ ·u cluded a sewer workers' union truck , with tackle the problems of their foreign debt bursements simply to pay the unfair inter­ Cuba immune to crisis banners that read , "Water for the rich, mud they must reach a consensus in order to at­ for the poor." Next came a bus brought by est on its debt. The people don't under­ I'm not saying this so Cuba will be in­ stand this, nor can they understand it. cluded or to reflect some Cuban problem. tain the goal of engaging in a political transport workers. Teams of workers spray dialogue with the creditor countries, as There is no other message for them but the Cuba is now the only Latin American or painted the walls along the march route and many of their leaders have suggested, be­ message of fruitless sacrifices. They've Caribbean country that is immune to the pasted up posters that said, "The sellout cause. as has been correctly pointed out, been promised a lot of things for a long crisis. Its foreign debt in convertible cur­ and the yankee intervention increase . . . the problem is political, not technical, and, time, and they see that things are getting rency is minimal, barely $300 per inhabit­ with the new government everything con­ at the rate things are developing, it's begin­ worse and worse. They don't understand ant. We don't,have any problems in our fi­ tinues the same." ning to be a revolutionary problem. Other contingents included teachers, the technical aspects. Technical aspects nancial relations or in our trade with the bank workers, social security workers, and mean nothing to them for they offer them rest of the socialist community - with (to be continued) sugar refinery workers. Many of those nothing when they get up in the morning to marching were on strike. look for work or when they see their wages After the urban workers came contin­ shrinking while products grow more and gents of farm workers who carried banners more expensive. Remember what Lincoln Sandinista army launches offensive that included demands for bank credits for said: "You can't fool all of the people all of Continued from Page 5 agricultural cooperatives and an end to the the time." large contra units out of Boaco, Chontales, air force bombings of their homes. Membership in the Cartagena group was BLis. and Matagalpa provinces, forcing them The demands of the march included limited to eleven countries. [Finance and On April 22 and 23, a very large contra north and east. In the month of May alone, wage increases, elimination of repressive foreign ministers of Argentina, Bolivia, force attempted to penetrate Nicaragua the army reported 10 sizable battles, as governmental decrees, freedom for politi­ Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Re­ north of the settlement of W anbhin, well as dozens of minor skirmishes. cal prisoners, respect for human rights, and public, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Jinotega Province. Sandinista officials say By the end of the month, EPS forces had a continuation of the dialogue between the and Venezuela met in Cartagena, Colom- their artillery fire was so effective that the succeeded in driving the bulk of the contra government and the FMLN-FDR. bia, June 2I-22, I984:] · invading forces suffered hundreds of casu­ forces, close to I ,000 troops, into a small The newly formed Coordinating Com­ I met Enrique Iglesias, the director of alties. They say intercepted contra radio area known as Cerro Verde, north of the mittee of Worker Solidarity (CST) played a ECLAC [United Nations Economic Com­ communications indicate the casualties main contra base. Running short of am­ leading role in organizing the action. The mission for Latin America], who is now could have been as high as I ,000, includ­ munition, the CIA-backed forces then CST is a coalition of 25 unions grouped to­ minister of foreign affairs of Uruguay. He ing 200 dead and 800 wounded. began fleeing toward Honduras. gether for mutual strike support. is an economist who is highly esteemed in Further south the largest contra unit in­ Having succeeded in clearing a large The march ended with a rally held in our hemisphere and has excellent relations side Nicaragua was in trouble. That force is part of the north and center of the country Liberty Plaza across the street from a with many heads of state. The prevailing the Jorge Salazar Operational Command of substantial CIA bands, the army then church under which is buried the bodies of view at that time was that the group composed of well over I ,000 troops, a launched an offensive to clear the southern 18 workers who were assassinated by the shouldn't be increased, because a larger large part of which had infiltrated the coun­ border. government in 1980. The speakers wore number of countries would make negotia­ try in March. From the border the contras This army drive was closely supported baseball hats and sunglasses to protect their tions and analyses more difficult. The prin­ had made their way to the relatively un­ by the Sandinista Air Force, which carried identities and none were identified by name ciple wasn't at all democratic. No clear ex­ populated central part of the country, out bombing raids against a 2,600-foot air­ planation was given of why some had the where they met up with smaller units. The strip the contras were building in a place privilege of being members while others operational command planned to dominate known as La Penca, across the river from didn't. This principle seemed more appli­ large areas of the provinces of Matagalpa, the Costa Rican town of Boca de San Car­ Pathfinder Press cable to a social club than to the idea of Boaco, and Chontales, and the central part los . catalog available how to face a serious, crucial situation in­ of Zelaya Province. The counterrevolutionary force operat­ Pathfinder Press carries a broad volving each and every nation in Latin According to Sandinista army officers, ing along the Rio San Juan is the Revolu­ range of books on revolutionary America. I believe that this criterion these forces were to serve as the backbone tionary Democratic Alliance (ARDE), and socialist history and theory. doesn't make any sense. All the Latin of the contra midyear offensive, trying to headed by Eden Pastora- who is known It publishes a wide selection of ti­ American countries should be included in create the image that civil war was raging as "the traitor" in Nicaragua because he tles on the Black, women's, labor, the group. Even such countries as Guyana, throughout much of the Nicaraguan coun­ was formerly a Sandinista. and Latin American, interna­ Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and others tryside. The ARDE suffered a major blow. Doz­ tional struggles. To get the full with a lot of weight and long standing as in­ But the Sandinista army threw up a huge ens of ARDE troops are reported to have list order the "1985-86 catalog dependent nations in the Caribbean could cordon of several thousand troops. In a deserted, others have fled into camps in from Pathfinder, 410 West St., be included if they were ready and willing hard-fought campaign that began in April Costa Rica, while the remainder are being New York, NY 10014. No charge. to cooperate loyally; their debts are also and is still going on, the tightening cordon concentrated in La Penca and another considerable. Probable disloyalties aren't of EPS troops has succeeded in driving all nearby camp.

June 21, 1985 The Militant -CALENDAR------FLORIDA Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ Speak out for democratic rights Tallahassee mation call (216) 451-6150. Cuba Today. A look at the gains of 25 years of OREGON Spanish. Fri., June 28 , 7:30p.m. St. Paul 's the Cuban revolution. Tue., June 18, 8 p.m. CALIFORNIA United Methodist Church, 405 S 10 St. Do­ Diffendaugh room 230, Florida State Univer­ Portland San Jose nation: $2. Ausp: Emergency Committee for sity. Ausp: Tallahassee Young Socialist Al­ The Fight Against Police Violence in Port­ • Defend freedom of speech and assem­ Democratic Rights. Box 7507 , San Jose, liance. For more information call (904) 222- land and Philadelphia. Speakers: Connie bly Calif. 95150. For more information call 4434. Allen, Young Socialist Alliance, member, • Defend the Bill of Rights (408) 998-4028. Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers e Defend right to discuss U.S. foreign GEORGIA Union Locall28; Jim Miller, Socialist Workers policy Endorsers of meeting: David Aroner, presi­ Atlanta Party . Sat., June 15, 7:00p.m. 2732 NE Union . • Stop violent attacks and harassment dent of Service Employees International Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For Speakers: Anthony Russo, U.S.-Vietnam Union Local 535; Local 535 of SEIU; Amer­ Socialist Educational Weekend. Forum: "The more information call (503) 287-7416. Rising Tide of Black Power in South Africa." Friendship Society, Committee for Justice ican Civil Liberties Union of Santa Clara Speakers: Ernest Harsch, managing editor of In ­ for Prof. Ed Cooperman; Robert McAfee Valley; Howard Wallace, Lesbian/Gay Al­ tercontinental Press; representative of National PENNSYLVANIA Brown, professor of theology and ethics, liance; Bob Hernandez, Project National In­ Black Independent Political Party. Sat., June Philadelphia Pacific School of Religion; Bill Watkins, terest; South Bay Free South Africa Commit­ 15, 7:30p.m. 504 Flat Shoals Ave. Donation: The Struggle to Keep Three Mile Island Vietnam veteran , member Post 5888 , Santa tee; Carlos Abitia, president, International $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. Closed. Speakers: Brian Hunt, staff member of Cruz; Andrea Prichett, leader of anti-apart­ Moulders Union Local 164; Mandela Coali­ Classes: "Popular Revolution in Burkina." Three Mile Island Alert; Bev Hess, spokeswo­ heid movement, University of California at tion of San Jose State University; Young Sat., June 15 , 3 p.m. "Ghana: Three Years of man for Susquehanna Valley residents; Berkeley; a national leader of the Socialist Socialist Alliance; South Bay National Or­ Mass Upsurge." Sun., June 16 , 11 a.m. Both Katherine Sojourner, steelworker and member Workers Party; Don Gomez, producer of ganization for Women; National Lawyers classes by Ernest Harsch. 504 Flat Shoals Ave. of Socialist Workers Party . Sat., June 15 , 7:30 film Death Flights, will moderate. Other Guild of San Jose; Santa Clara County Com­ Donation: $1.50 per class. Ausp: Socialist p.m. 2744 Germantown Ave. Donation: $2. speakers to be announced. Translation to munist Party; Socialist Workers Party. Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ For more information call (404) 577-4065 . mation call (215) 225-0413. zens Police/Paramedic Complaint Committee. WASHINGTON Pittsburgh Sat., June 22 , 4-7 p.m. Griggs Park, Central MINNESOTA South Africa Solidarity Speak-out. Speakers: Expressway and Hall Street. Ausp: Southern . Seattle Protest the Cop Bombing of Philadelphia's St. Paul Rashid Soundiata, Black Action Society, Uni­ Africa Solidarity Committee Against Apart­ versity of Pittsburgh; Andy Towbin, Socialist Black Community. Speakers: lmani Henry , The Fight Against Racism in St. Paul heid. For more information call (214) 943- Workers Party . Sat., June 22, 7:30p.m. 402 N chair, Students Against Apartheid, University Schools. Speakers: YsefMgeni , community ac­ 5195. Highland. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor of Washington; Bill Osteen, Socialist Workers tivist; Vicki Davis, Parents for Equity in Educa­ Forum. For more information call (412) 362- Houston Party candidate for mayor of Philadelphia in tion; Ron Edwards, president, Minneapoli s 6767. Support Abortion Rights! Videos: The Silent 1983 . Sat. , June 15 , 7:30p.m. 5517 Rainier Urban League; representative of St. Paul Scream and Planned Parenthood's rebuttal. Ave. S. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor NAACP. Translation to Spanish. Sun., June Translation to Spanish. Sat. , June 15, 7:30p.m. Forum. For more informati on call (206) 723- 16, 4 p.m. 508 N Snelling Ave . Donation: $2. TEXAS 4806 Almeda. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant 5330. Ausp: Minnesota Militant Forum. For more in­ Dallas Labor Forum. For more information call (713) Soweto Day March and Rally. Stop U.S. gov- formation call (612) 644-6325 . Free South Africa Day. Speakers: representa­ 522-8054. . ernment support to apartheid' Sun., June 16. Indian Land Rights - White Earth Is Not tive of African National Congress ofSouth Af­ Socialist Publication Fund Barbeque. Sat., March begins I p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist For Sale! Speakers: Judy Fairbanks, Marvin rica; John Wiley Price , Dallas County Commis­ June 22, 5 p.m. Ausp: Socialist Workers Party Church, 19th and Madison. Ausp: Seattle Coa­ Manypenny, and Vernon Bellecourt , members sion; Diane Ragsdale and AI Lipscomb, Dallas and Young Socialist Alliance. For more infor­ lition Against Apartheid. For more information of Anishinabe Akeeng. Translation to Spanish. City Council members; Dallas Jackson, Citi- mation call (713) 522-8054. call (206) 722-3725 . Sun., June 23, 4 p.m. 508 N Snelling. Dona­ tion: $2. Ausp: Minnesota Militant Forum. For more information call (612) 644-6325 . Pilots strike picks up support in Denver MISSOURI Kansas City BY BOB BRUNEAU cal Workers (IBEW), United Food and pilots strike and are throwing their support on the pilots' side . Maurice. Cuban documentary film on slain DENVER- Support for the United Air­ Commercial Workers (UFCW), the Amal­ Grenadian prime minister Maurice Bishop and gamated Clothing and Textile Workers lines pilots strike is growing here as the Militant sales to striking United Airlines the Grenada revolution . Translation to Spanish. Union (ACTWU), and the International pilots and flight attendants have been very Sun. , June 16; buffet , 6 p.m.; film and speak­ members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reach out to community and labor Association of Machinists all participated good. At the pilots' teleconference on May ers, 7 p.m. 4715-A Troost. Donation: $5. Ausp: in a joint picket and march . Gathering at 30, a Militant sales team sold out of its Socialist Publication Fund. For more informa­ groups. Denver is the second largest hub tion call (816) 753-0404. city for United, with 177 flights per day be­ the United Training Center in Denver, the bundle of 17 papers in IS minutes . The fore the strike. Nearly 850 United pilots support pickets marched to the United Air­ majority of the papers were sold to flight St. Louis lines' terminal to join the United pilots and attendants, but several pilots wanted to Why Cops Bombed the Philadelphia Black live in the Denver area. These pilots have Community. An eyewitness report with slides been able to picket eight area locations. flight attendants picketing there. Many read the Militant's coverage of their strike. on the Philadelphia events. Speakers: Rashaad They have been joined in the picket lines people driving in the terminal area greeted For most, this was the first time that they Ali , Socialist Workers Party candidate for pres­ by United flight attendants, members of the the marchers with thumbs-up signs and car had bought a Militant, even though Mili­ ident of the New York City Council; Marea Association of Flight Attendants (AFA). horns. More joint labor support activities tant sales teams have been selling at Himmelgrin, chair, St. Louis SWP. Sun. , June are being planned as other trade unionists Stapleton Airport employee entrances for 16, 4 p.m. 3109 S Grand, room 22 . Donation: On June 5, over 100 members of the are seeing the importance of the United several months. $2. Ausp: Mi.litant Labor Forum. For more in­ Colorado Building Trades Council as well formation call (314) 772-4410. as the International Brotherhood of Electri- Socialist publication benefit held NEW YORK Manhattan Solidarity leaders' Continued from Page 3 the [ 1914-18 world] war, like the experi­ The Situation in Lebanon Now. Speaker: trial held in Poland Their thinking has led them , she said, to ence of any crisis in history, of any great Robert Dees, Pathfinder Press. Translation to make a conscious effort to learn from the calamity, and any sudden tum in human Spanish. Fri. , June 14 , 7:30 p.m. 79 Leonard Continued from Page 3 past experiences and political heritage of life, stuns and breaks some people, but en­ St. (5 blks. south of Canal). Donation: $2. until they are allowed to talk to their the Russian Bolsheviks and the Communist lightens and tempers others.' He goes on to Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ lawyers face-to-face for at least 10 min­ International at the time it was led by the say that history has shown that the number mation call (212) 226-8445 . utes. revolutionary team headed by Lenin . and strength of the second kind exceeds OHIO "Virtually all motions made by the de­ "And this is where one of Pathfinder's that of the former. fense were turned down," he reported. most ambitiOl!S projects in its history fits "And that's what our Socialist Publica­ Cleveland in: the distribution of a multi-volume series tion Fund is all about," she concluded. Unions in the U.S. Today. Speaker: Tom "The whole day was an atmosphere of quarrel and constant tension." on the Communist International in Lenin's A special performance was given by Leonard, Socialist Workers Party National time, volumes that will bring together for Brazilian jazz composer and guitatist, Committee member. Sat., June 15, 7:30p.m. 15105 St. Clair Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Mil­ the first time in English the proceedings of Thiago de Mello. He sang several of his itant Labor Forum. For more information call On June II, the prosecution in its sum­ the first four congresses of the Communist songs inspired by the Nicaraguan revolu­ (216) 451-6150. mation urged a five-year sentence for International , as well as related docu­ tion . De Mello has performed in Nicaragua Hands OtT Nicaragua - End the Embargo! Frasyniuk, and four-year terms for Lis and ments. several times in the past year. Panel discussion on Nicaragua. Sat., June 29, Michnik. A verdict and sentencing are ex­ "As Lenin points out in an article in the Over $1 ,000 was collected for the fund 7:30p.m. 15105 St. Clair Ave. Donation: $2. pected in a week. first Comintem book, 'The experience of at the event. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP'------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA , 504 Flat NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA , 141 Dallas: SWP, YSA , 132 N. Beckley Ave., Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and socialist books Shoals Ave . SE. Zip: 30316. Tel : (404) 577- Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel : (201) 643-3341. 75203. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, and pamphlets 4065. NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): YSA , 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave. 2nd fl oor. Zip: 522-8054. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326-5853 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- or 326-5453. YSA, 79 Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) Ave ., Suite 19 , P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA , 809 219-3679 or 925-1668. (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP. YSA , ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA , 3750 E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 84 111. Tel: (801) West McDowell Road #3. Zip: 85009. Tel: LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA , YSA, 2219 E. Market. Greensboro. Zip: 355-1124. (602) 272-4026. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 7011 8. Tel : (504) 486- 27401. Tel: (919) 272-5996. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA , 8048. OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA , 4945 Pad­ News): SWP. YSA . 5412 Jefferson Ave. , Zip 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA , 2913 dock Rd . Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. 23605. Tel: (804) 3!10-0133. 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA , 3808 E 14th St. Greenm ount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel : (301) 235- Cleveland: SWP, YSA. 15105 St. Clair Ave. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP. YSA. 3106 Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: 0013. Zip: 44110. Tel: (216) 451-6150. Columbus: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip : 200 10. Tel: (202) SWP, YSA , 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel: MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP. YSA , YSA , P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: 797-7699. (619) 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA. 510 Commonwealth Ave. . 4th Floor. Zi p: SWP, YSA . 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel: WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP. YSA , 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621 . (4 19) 536-0383. . 5517 Rainier Ave. South . Zip: 98118. Tel: San Jose: SWP, YSA , 46 112 Race St. Zip: MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA , 7146 W. OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA , 2732 NE (206) 723-5330. 95126. Tel: (408) 998-4007. McNichols. Zip: 48221 . Tel: (3 13) 862-7755. Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA , 25 W MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA , PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, YSA , 611 1h A Tennessee Ave . Zip: 25302. Tel: 3rd Ave. Zip: 80223 . Tel: (303) 698-2550. 508 N. Snelling Ave .. St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133 . Tel: (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA , FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA , 137 NE (612)644-6325. (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP. YSA , 402 221 Pl easant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- 54th St. Mai ling address: P.O. Box 370486. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA , N. Hi gliland Ave . Zip: 15206. Tel: (4 12) 362- -0055. Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 4715A Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753- 6767. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, YSA, P.O. Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel : (904) 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 3109 S. Grand, TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose. 7409 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 222-4434. #22. Zip: 63118. Tel: (314) 772-4410. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. {512) 452-3923. 445-2076.

12 The Militant June 21, 1985 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------Deductible from pay, of Gift horse - If you live long Father's Day tie you gave him last rusty handsaws ready for use; booze for a party of 100, course - When OSHA killed a enough to get that gold watch, year, an 18-karat white and yellow deeply scored cutting boards con­ $114,00o. proposal to require field toilets and take a good look at it. Under the gold tie bar. $575, engraving taining hair, intestine contents and drinking water for farm workers, it Reagan tax plan it would be taxa­ extra. heavy meat residue." They do it all for you - may have been because they ble income. For the boss, natch, Marching alongside the "new" it's a deductible. New turf for pushers? - Far Diet suggestion - "Based on coke, will be the company's be it from us to suggest they my experience in Los Angeles . .. "new" Fresca, containing pure would, but when we read that R.J. Just the law of averages - my advice to the public is not to grapefruit juice-a fast 1 percent. When California Gov. Deukme­ eat meat." - Gregorio Natividad, Reynolds, the coffin-nail folk , had And Perrier will offer bubbly bought Nabisco, the thought did jian hosted a dinner for members a whistle-blowing inspector for the water with "essence" of various occur to us they might be consid­ of the state legislature, female federal Food Safety and Inspection fruits. What's "essence"? The oil Harry ering lacing the Oreo cookies with members found themselves at a Service. rubbed from the skin . a bit of nicotine to hook the kid­ separate table with the guv's Ring dies. spouse. Responding to criticism, Miracle of the marketplace? Gov't inspected - Among the an aide said the seating had noth­ - LOS ANGELES - Medical widespread health violations un­ ing to do with gender, adding that You can invite the huddled leaders and journal editors agreed realized how concerned agribusi­ covered in federally supervised · the suggestion of discrimination masses - If you're really into today that highly competitive pres­ ness really is about its employees. Southern California food-pro­ marriage and American freedom, was "snide, petty . . . a cheap sures in modem science were pro­ For instance, grower groups rec­ cessing plants: "Flies; fresh rodent shot." you can tie the knot with the Statue voking cases of outright fraud and ommended that instead of soap droppings and li ve cockroaches; of Liberty as a backdrop. Charter an even wider range of "white and water, they provide towel- contamination of meat products by the Entrepreneur, a 120-foot yacht lies" and deceptions that they said . ettes. Which, properly used, could Brighten dad:s day - Pick up flaking paint and rust dropping with all the refinements, including were eroding the integrity of sci­ double as toilet tissue. on Tiffany's suggestion. For that from overhead pipes . . . dirty, a marble bathroom. Buffet and ence.-News item. Puerto Ricans in U.S. find poverty, unemployment

BY ANDREA GONZALEZ better than for working people in Puerto Rico elsewhere in Central America." to maintain its stance of not endorsing any PHILADELPHIA - The National Con­ who have a median income of $5,923, or Puerto Rican and Black youth "are being candidates as an organization. gress for Puerto Rican Rights (NCPRR) 29 percent of the income of the U.S . popu­ set up to become cannon fodder and biling­ held its third national convention here May lation. ual shock troops for U.S aggression. They The NCPRR did not, however, limit it­ 31-June 2. Some 500 activists from seven The report states that "compared to other are being prepared to accept war and to ki ll self to an electoralist perspective. It also states participated. Latinos, Puerto Ricans occupy the lowest their brothers and sisters in Latin Ameri­ stressed the need for NCPRR to continue The convention adopted important reso­ socio-economic position." "A key factor in ca." The NCPRR stands in opposition to participating in the fight against U.S. inter­ lutions including support for the hotel the differences," the report explains, "was any U.S . aggression against "our Latin vention in Central America, as well as workers' strike in New York City; support the much larger proportion of Puerto Rican American family." fighting for women's rights, union rights, for a youth delegation to Nicaragua; en­ families that were headed by single "Clearly," the report explains, "many of bilingual education, and a number of local dorsement of the October II National Anti­ mothers .. . . Four out of every 10 Puerto the issues we confront are not just 'Puerto struggles taking place around many other apartheid Protest Day; opposition to the Rican families in the U.S. are headed by Rican problems,' and reflecting this, we issues. cop bombing of the Black community in single females." are also involved in greater efforts nation­ Th~ report concluded as it began with West Philadelphia and cop harassment of Puerto Rican youth have ·one of the high­ wide to coalesce with Blacks and other the perspective of building a "mass mem~ the Philadelphia Puerto Rican community; est school drop-out rates in the country. Latinos." The report stresses participation bership, activist, civil , and human rights and support to farm workers struggles in Sixty-one percent of Puerto Rican females of Puerto Ricans in the election campaigns organization" that would "contribute to our the Northeast and California. and 59 percent of Puerto Rican males drop of various liberal capitalist politicians in people's collective capacity to resist their The convention's discussions were out of school as compared to 43 percent of the Democratic Party, particularly those worsening conditions and to advance our guided by a report entitled "The Status of all females and 34 percent of all males in who are Black and Puerto Rican. But the historical movement for equality and jus­ Puerto Ricans in the United States," which the country. NCPRR decided after a lengthy discussion tice in the U.S." provided a stark picture of the situation The report cites several reasons for these Puerto Ricans living here face today. figures including the "virtual absence of vi­ Of the close to 3 million Puerto Ricans able bilingual-bicultural programs"; the living in the United States, half are under "dumping of Puerto Rican and other lan­ Marroquin wins support at conference 21 years old. The vast majority li ve in large guage-minority students into special edu­ cities of the Northeast and Midwest. Of cation, 'slow Ieamer'" classes; and the PHILADELPHIA - One of the partici­ and recording secretary of NCPRR. Others Puerto Rican workers in the United States, '"self-fulfilling prophecy' of teachers who pants at the .national convention of the Na­ who signed for Marroquin's right to remain 87 percent are workers in the factories, enter the classroom with low expectations tional Congress for Puerto Rican Rights in this country included Nicomedes San­ hotels, offices, hospitals, and fi elds of this and the belief that Puerto Rican children (NCPRR) was Hector Marroquin, a mem­ chez, a leader of the Puerto Rican Associa­ country. are 'uneducatable.' ~· ber of the Socialist Workers Party and an tion for Community Affairs (PRACA); For Puerto Ricans in the United States The poverty. and unemployment. have a activist in the fight against the U.S.-or­ Josefina Nieves, member of the Board of unemployment and poverty are endemic. profound impact on health, including ganized mercenary war against Nicaragua. Directors of ASPIRA; and Wilma Rever6n Only 40 percent of all Puerto Ricans over higher death rates from heart disease, diab­ For the past eight years Marroquin has of the International Infortnation Office for the age of 16 have jobs as compared to 50 etes, and cirrhosis of the liver. Most vul­ been fighting the Immigration and Puerto Rican Independence. percent of Blacks and 60 percent of whites. nerable are infants. Studies of El Barrio Naturalization Service's attempts to deport Other activists endorsed Marroquin's Fifty-one percent of all Puerto Rican (East Harlem) found that more than 20 in­ him because of his political ideas. Al­ families have incomes under $10,000. fants out of every I ,000 live births will die though Marroquin is married to a U.S. citi­ case including Angel Ortiz, Philadelphia city councilman; Piri Thomas, poet and Thirty-five percent live in poverty. before their first birthday. A 1978 study by zen, the government has for the past two writer; Nicholasa Mohr, writer; and Sal­ This situation is worsening. The gap be­ the American Friends Service Committee and a half years refused to process the pa­ vador Ti6, former director of the New York tween Puerto Ricans' income and the in­ found an infant morality rate of 25 per pers necessary for him to remain in this American Civil Liberties Union. -A.G. come of whites is growing. In 1980, for ex­ 1 ,000 live births. The AFSC labeled the country without fear of deportation. ample, Puerto Ricans made only 54 percent South Bronx "the Third World here at In his eight year battle, Marroquin has of the income made by whites. That is , a home." won important support from labor unions, Puerto Rican worJ.cer made only 54 cents The report states that the current cuts in civil rights organizations, and prominent Puerto Rican activists for every dollar made by a white. social programs to increase military spend­ individuals for his right to remain in this Although Puerto Rican families have the ing - combined with the broadside attack country. In April , for example, the Con­ support San Jose lowest median income of any oppressed mi­ on civil rights gains of the past, especially gressional Hispanic Caucus wrote a letter nority - $10,734 - their situation is still affirmative action and bilingual education expressing its concern over government democratic rights fight - have contributed to the worsening con­ foot-dragging in Marroquin's case. ditions of Puerto Ricans in this country. At the NCPRR convention dozens of ac­ PHILADELPHIA - Socialist workers Reuters reports The right-wing propaganda campaign tivists signed petitions and letters in de­ who participated in the Third National against women's rights, Black rights, fense of Marroquin including Ralph Convention of the National Congress for date is set for trial unions, gay rights, and undocumented Acosta, member of the Pennsylvania Puerto Rican Rights (NCPRR) here circu­ of 19 in Grenada workers has led , the report explained , to "a House of Representatives; Diana Cabal­ lated information on the current attempt by dramatic increase in the number of Black lero, NCPRR's president; Marfa Josefa a small group of Vietnamese right-wingers A June 5 Reuters wire service report on people attacked , beaten, and killed by . Canino, membership secretary of NCPRR; in San Jose, California, to stop the support­ an announcement by Sir Archibald Nedd, policemen and racist mobs, and a number and Juan Gonzalez, a Philadelphia reporter ers of the Vietnamese revolution from or­ chief justice in the U.S. -sponsored Grena­ of racially motivated attacks against Puerto ganizing solidarity with the workers and dian government, said that the trial of Ber­ Ricans." In reviewing the attacks on Puerto farmers in that country. nard Coard and Hudson Austin and 17 Ricans the report cites stepped-up harass­ ment by the Immigration and Naturaliza­ Scores of people from seven states and others is set to begin on June 27. Puerto Rico signed the petition demanding The 19 are charged with the murder of tion Service and the use of company rules that require workers to use "English onl y" that San Jose Mayor Thomas McEnery take Maurice Bishop, former prime minister of all necessary steps to protect the democrat­ Grenada and central leader of the 1979 rev­ on the job as a means to victimize Puerto Ricans and other Latino workers. ic rights of sociali sts and others in that city olution in that country. to speak and act on any U.S . foreign policy Turning to the U.S.-funded war in Cen­ Bishop and other leaders of the revolu­ question. tion were murdered on Oct. 19, 1983, after tral America the report states that "hand in a mass demonstration released Bishop hand with this reactionary thrust at home is Signers of the petition included many from a house arrest that had been ordered an aggressive, interventionist posture inter­ national and local leaders of the NCPPR, by Coard and Austin. nationally as right-wing dictatorships from the Puerto Rican Association of Communi­ The arrest and subsequent murder of South Africa to South America receive the ty Affairs, and other community groups, as Bishop and the other leaders of the revolu­ American government's support; and the well as Piri Thomas, Puerto Rican writer tion by the bureaucratic Coard faction of groundwork continues to be laid for the and poet. the New Jewel Movement destroyed the sending of American troops into Nicaragua One young woman who was asked to four-year old Grenadian revolution. This and El Salvador." This, the report sign the petition said, ''I'll sign anything to overthrow opened the door to the U.S. explained, has led to the increasing mili­ stop gusanos [literally worms, meaning government's invasion a week later and tarization of Puerto Rico, which "is being traitors] - Cuban, Vietnamese, Nicara­ continued occupation of that small island prepared to serve as a springboard in the MilitanULou Howort guan - from interfering in our right to nation. event of a U.S. invasion of Nicaragua or Hector Marroquin speak and organize." - A.G.

June 21, 1985 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS-----...;..______Karl Marx answers question 'What Behind government's spy scare are wages?' Exploiting the case of John Walker, the retired Navy Miller, of "conspiring" to deliver U.S. secrets to the officer accused of spying for the Soviet Union, Defense Soviet Union. Wage-Labour and Capital, a pamphlet by Karl Secretary Caspar Weinberger declared June 12 that he fa­ The Ogorodnikovs, who deny the spy charges, are Marx, first appeared as a series of articles in the Neue vors executing those convicted of peacetime espionage. open supporters of the Soviet Union. Reinische Zeitung (New Rhineland Gazette) in 1849. He said the Defense Department has set up a committee In the Walker case, the central issue pushed by the It was based on lectures he had given to the German to study revamping the Military Code to permit this. government is alleged laxity in "national security." The Workingmen's Club in Brussels, Belgium, in 1847. Discussing the Walker case, the war secretary declared main target, however, isn't Walker and other alleged Below is the second part of the article, "What are that if he's found guilty, he "should be shot." spies in the military. It is working people who must hold wages?" The first part appeared in this column last The last time in this country anyone was executed on government security clearances to get and keep their week. The pamphlet may be ordered from Pathfinder charges of spying was 1953 . Then Ethel and Julius jobs. Press, 410 West St., New York, NY 10014 for $1.50 Rosenberg were electrocuted for allegedly stealing the Currently there are 4.3 million people in this country plus 75 cents for postage and handling. atomic bomb "secret" for the USSR. required to have such clearances. Some are in the mili­ The purpose of that McCarthy-era execution was to tary or other branches of government. Most, however, Wag es, theref ore, are not a share of the worker in the promote a climate of intimidation and fear- to stifle po­ are working people in war-related industries. commodities produced by himself. Wages are that part of litical dissent. Investigations by Department of Defense cops - already existing commodities with which the capitalist The present move to reopen the way for peacetime use known as the Defense Investigative Service - are sup­ buys a certain amount of productive labour-power. of the espionage death penahy is for exactly the same posed to determine which of the 4.3 million may be "se­ Consequently, labour-power is a commodity which its purpose. curity risks." possessor, the wage-worker, sells to the capitalist. Why In addition, the propaganda campaign around the How is this determined? The DIS cops launch an in­ does he sell it? It is in order to live. Walker case is being used to beat the war drum around vestigation. This can include spying on union meetings But the putting of labour-power into action, i.e., the the alleged need to stop "communist aggression." arid social activities; and harassing coworkers, family work, is the active expression of the labourer's own life. The spy scare is also aimed at intimidating working members, and neighbors. The main goal of these investi­ And this life activity he sells to another person in order to people into accepting more restrictions on our democratic gations is not to weed out "spies." It's to intimidate work­ secure the necessary means of life. His life-activity, rights and looking twice at those who may be foreign ers from fighting for their rights and improving their liv­ therefore, is but a means of securing his own existence. born. ing standards; and to weed out union militants, antiwar He works that he may keep alive. He does not count the And a special target of this campaign is the millions of fighters , and other opponents of the government's poli­ working people in this country who need a government cies. security clearance in order to get and keep their jobs. One recent example: Sally Goodman, a worker at the The campaign against the foreign born is aimed at Martin Marietta plant in Denver, has had her security deepening divisions among working people. In recent clearance withdrawn. Why? Because DIS charged that LEARNING ABOUT spy cases the propaganda is focused on immigrants and she is a militant unionist, a lesbian, and a socialist. legal residents from the Soviet Union and other workers This is the kind of undemocratic and antilabor attack SOCIALISM states such as Cuba, Poland, and East Germany. that the rulers want to step up. And it dovetails such at­ The anticommunist drive to get working people to see tacks with Washington's anticomniunist justification for labour itself as a part of his life; it is rather a sacrifice of "Russian spies" under our beds is also being promoted in its war drive in Central America and the Caribbean. The his life. It is a commodity that he has auctioned off to the Los Angeles trial of Svetlana and Nikolay Ogorod­ reams of spy stories are designed to facilitate this unde­ another. The product of his activity, therefore, is not the nikov. They are charged, along with FBI agent William mocratic and prowar offensive. aim of his activity. What he produces for himself is not the silk that he weaves, not the gold that he draws up from the mining shaft, not the palace that he builds. What he produces for himself is wages; and the silk, the gold, and the palace are resolved for him into a certain quantity 'Contra International' formed of necessaries of life, perhaps into a cotton jacket, into copper coins, and into a basement dwelling. And the labourer who for twelve hours long , weaves, spins, Counterrevolutionary terrorists from four countries, tra groupings fighting against Nicaragua, was a CIA bores, turns , builds, shovels, breaks stones, carries hods, with assistance from the U.S. and South African govern­ agent in the time of dictator Somoza. His armed bands and so on - is this twelve hours' weaving, spinning, ments, met on June 1-2 to form an anticommunist, specialize in rapes, kidnappings, and murders of un­ armed peasants. boring, turning, building, shovelling, stone-breaking, re­ proimperialist alliance which they call the "Democratic garded by him as a manifestation of life, as life? Quite the International." • Ghulam Wardak is a U.S.-based spokesman for Is­ contrary. Life for him begins where this activity ceases, The gathering was held in South African-controlled lamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahedeen, a CIA-support­ at the table, at the tavern seat, in bed. The twelve hours' southern Angola. It was organized by U.S. millionaire ed group fighting against the Soviet-aided government of work, on the other hand, has no meaning for him as Lewis Lehrman, who read a message from Pres. Ronald Afghanistan. The rightist guerrillas are infamous for weaving, spinning, boring, and so on , but only as earn­ Reagan hailing the group and stating that its goals "are murdering literacy teachers and destroying schools and ings, .which enable him to sit down at a table, to take his our goals." hospitals. seat in the tavern, and to lie down in a bed. If the silk­ A quick look at the participants, whose "goals" Wash­ worm's object in spinning were to prolong its existence ington not only shares, but finances and actively collabo­ • Pa Kao Her is a representative of the reactionary as a caterpillar, it would be a perfect example of a wage­ rates on, confirms the reactionary essence of the U.S. Ethnics Liberation Organization of Laos, which opposes worker. rulers' foreign policy: the Lao government's efforts to develop that im­ • Hosting the conference of "Armed Movements poverished country. Labour-power was not always a commodity (merchan­ Fighting Against Soviet Expansionism" was Jonas • Son Sann, whose Khmer Peoples' National Libera­ dise). Labour was not always wage-labour, i.e., free Savimbi, whose National Union for the Total Indepen­ tion Front is allied with former Kampuchean dictator Pol labour. The slave did not sell his labour-power to the dence of Angola has been waging a war against the An­ Pot, sent a "solidarity" message to the conference. slave-owner, any more than the ox sells his labour to the golan government with direct assistance from South Af­ Given that the prime mover of this terrorist interna­ farmer. The slave, together with his labour-power, was rica's racist regime and covert aid from the CIA. tional is the U.S . government, it was no surprise when sold to his owner once and for all . He is a commodity that • Adolfo Calero, head of the Nicaraguan Democratic Lehrman told reporters that the group's "central clearing­ cari pass from the hand of one owner to that of another. Force, the largest group of Washington's mercenary con- house" will be in Washington. He himself is a commodity, but his labour-power is not his commodity. The serf sells only a portion of his labour-power. It is not he who receives wages from the owner of the land; it is rather the owner of the land who receives a tribute from him. The serf belongs to the soil, OSHA's 4 percent inspection rate and to the lord of the soil he brings its fruit. The free labourer, on the other hand, sells his very self, and that by fractions . He auctions off eight, ten, twelve, fifteen The slated July I departure of Robert Rowland as in­ The situation of farm workers is but an extreme exam­ hours of his life, one day like the next, to the highest bid­ terim director of the federal Occupational Safety and ple of a problem that faces all working people. der, to the owner of raw materials, tools, and means of Health Administration is certainly no cause for tears. Health and safety have always been major job issues. life, i.e .. to the capitalist. The labourer belongs neither to Rowland typified the increasingly open proemployer But with the present employers' offensive, it's getting an owner nor to the soil, but eight, ten, twelve, fifteen bias of OSHA and the complicity of that agency in the worse. hours of his daily life belong to whomsoever buys them. steady whittling away at health and safety regulations the The creation of OSHA in 1970 was a gain won by The worker leaves the capitalist, to whom he has sold unions have fought long and hard for. working people after a long, hard fight by the unions on himself, as often as he chooses, and the capitalist dis­ OSHA denied a United Auto Workers petition for a this issue. charges him as often as he sees fit, as soon as he no regulation protecting workers exposed to formaldehyde, But the record shows that since its inception- not just longer gets any use, or not the required use, out of him. which causes cancer. Rowland owned stock in two com­ during Rowland's tenure - OSHA has done little to But the worker, whose only source of income is the sale panies that peddle the deadly stuff. OSHA made similar check a steadily worsening situation. of his labour-power, cannot leave the whole class of rulings relating to benzene and other carcinogens made This is born out by a study issued in April by the Con­ buyers, i.e., the capitalist class, unless he gives up his by companies in which Rowland was a shareholder. gressional Office of Technology Assessment. own existence. He does not belong to this or to that Perhaps the strongest recent outcry against OSHA The study found that OSHA inspections were so few capitalist, but to the capitalist class; and it is for him to came with its April 12 ruling in which it refused to re­ and fines for violations so modest that employers have find this man, i.e., to find a buyer in this capitalist class. quire agriculture employers to provide farm workers with little concern about meeting the minimal standards and Wages, as we have seen, are the price of a certain com­ field toilets and washing and drinking water. regulations that do exist. modity, labour-power. Wages, therefore, are determined According to a study done for OSHA, one third of Every year 6,000 people die of workplace injuries. by the same laws that determine the price of every other U.S. farm workers ~ave no access to field toilets, 20 per­ The highest number of fatalities is in mining, followed by commodity. · cent are denied washing facilities, and more than half are construction, agriculture, and transportation. denied drinking water. In the face of that figure , the congressional study The statistics are grim. Farm workers are 29 times found, OSHA inspects fewer than 4 percent of the na­ more likely to suffer from parasites than other workers. tion's workplaces annually - 160,000 of 4.6 million SECRET POLICE ON TRIAL They experience digestive disorders II times as often, worksites. and face 331 times the risk of getting viral hepatitis. For a "serious violation" involving a "substantial prob­ Post-trial brief filed by Socialist Workers Party in suit In the fields , farm workers are exposed to a greater ability of death or serious physical harm," the average against government. Outlines party's beliefs and activ­ amount of deadly chemicals than any other workers. penalty in 1983 was a fast $172. ities and reviews key disclosures of illegal police activ­ And, consequently, they face the highest rate of chemical But it's an unfortunately safe bet that nothing mean­ ity. $5. Political Rights Defense Fund, Box 649, injuries, including burning, itching, weakness, dizzi­ ingful will be done unless there is a determined fight on Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10003. ness, nausea, and vomiting. this basic issue by the organized labor movement.

14 The Militant ·· June 21, 1985 General Vernon Walters: 'The Ugly American'?. BY HARRY RING idealism," and confides that his biggest hero is Jesus Vernon Walters is not a man.to duck a chancy situa­ Christ. tion. He's undertaken the assignment to defend his coun­ But his love of Jesus doesn't mean the general is one to try at the United Nations. turn the other cheek, ample though it is. ''I'm not intimi­ Nominated by the president and confirmed by the Sen­ dated," he stoutly declares. ate, Walters steps into the vacant shoes of Jeane Kirkpat­ A soldier with a sense of history, he feels more rick as chief U.S. delegate to that body. strongly than ever that the U.S. war in Vietnam was "one At the time Kirkpatrick did her tour of duty, she dis­ of the noblest and most unselfish wars" in U.S. history. closed that the United States was being "mugged" there. (He didn't say which was the most selfish and ignoble, Since then, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. but a good bet might be the Civil War. We've heard re­ cently that the Southern slavocracy got a bum rap.) But the general isn't just sitting around recalling the good old Vietnam days. He's got a full agenda. For one AS I SEE IT thing, he's going to take a close look at recent charges by the Senate Intelligence Committee that 200 of the 800 UN Ambassador Vernon Walters Walters says that now the United States is being Soviet UN employees are spies. "lynched" there. Walters says he's ready to take on the complex politi­ Failing that, "You can show them how it's to their ad­ He intends to stop the lynching. cal issues that he'll have to deal with. Like the problem of vantage to vote with us and you can make plain that vot­ The man does have the credentials for the assignment. South African apartheid, which, he declares, he finds ing against us will have some cost in our bilateral rela­ A lieutenant general in the army, he also did a hitch as "abhorrent." tions." deputy director of the CIA. Afterwards he undertook sec­ How will he deal with it? That will depend "on how the Don't take that last point as a nicely phrased, nasty ret missions to Latin America and other parts of the · issue arises." That may sound a little cagey, but don't ex­ threat. "Withholding aid should be considered on a case­ world. pect the general to stick his neck out on an obviously di­ by-case basis," Walters says. (On one assignment to El Salvador, he reportedly per­ versionary issue. And, he assures, "I would certainly never advocate suaded right-wing Salvadorans, including Roberto d' Au­ Gen. Walters didn't get down to specifics on what the withholding aid from starving people." buisson, not to assassinate the U.S. ambassador. In re­ UN lynchers have been doing, although he did indicate That's consistent with government policy. Washington turn for not doing so, he got the Salvadoran death-squad they were the "developing" nations - those countries never advocates withholding aid from hungry people - leader a previously denied tourist visa to the United historically dominated by imperialism in Asia, Africa, but it does do it as a political weapon against govern­ States.) and Latin America. ments it doesn't like. You might not expect it of a retired general and ex­ Gen. Walters offers a two-point program for dealing The thought occurred to us: If Hollywood should de­ spook, but our new UN ambassador is a well-rounded with the lynchers. cide to do a satirical remake of The Ugly American, the fellow, intellectually and morally. For openers, "You can try to enlighten them of the true casting office should check if the general's interested in He admits that his pragmatism is "tinged with motives of the United States." adding a new chapter to an already illustrious career. San Diego meeting protests increased cop brutality

BY RICK REEVES 15 San Diego cops responded, cornered the phone to tell of beatings and harassment at When William Jones, a Democratic city AND ALLAN GRADY youth and shot him six times . the hands of the cops. One speaker, councilman who is Black, started his re­ SAN DIEGO - Over 900 people par­ Roberto Martinez, stated, "this is the only marks by saying, "none of us here are anti­ Holden told the crowd , "My son was ticipated in a speak-out against police brut­ city I know where you have to call the police," he was roundly booed. He was murdered by the San Diego police. The ality here on May 30. The meeting, spon­ police to stop the police from beating you ." forced to plead for the audience's "respect city of San Diego will pay dearly for what sored by the Interdenominational Alliance, Many came to the speak-out to protest and attention." they did to my son. And when we win this was called in response to the increasing the April 18 shooting of Humberto Car­ The speak-out displayed the real anger case," he said, "Blacks, young people, police harassment in the Black and rillo. Carrillo, a 12-year-old Mexican citi­ and rage of the Black and Chicano com­ Chicanos, will be helped. The San Diego Chicano communities here. zen, was shot by the Border Patrol while on munities over racist police brutality. It also police should be indicted for murder." The the Mexican side of the border. reflected the willingness of these com­ Cop harassment has stepped up signific­ predominantly Black audience gave Hol­ Three top officials of the police depart­ munities to fight this racist violence. As antly since the assault on Sagon Penn. den a standing ovation when he left the one of the speakers predicted "it's going to Penn, a young Black man, was stopped by ment as well as representatives from the meeting. mayor's office were present, but they did be a long, hot summer if something isn't cops while driving with friends on March done." 31. The cops savagely beat him . The strug­ One person after another took the micro- not say a word. gle resulted in the death of one cop and the wounding of another. Although dozens of witnesses saw the cops assault Penn, he has been charged with murder and is being held New pamphlet describes Kanak struggle on $250,000 bail. The Kanak people of New Caledonia (a The speak-out was opened by Penn's Susanna Ounei is a founding leader of and colonized the country, down to the pre­ group of islands in the South Pacific) are the Kanak and Exploited Women's Group father who referred to his son's arrest as a sent. "crucifixion." waging a determined struggle for indepen­ in Struggle. It is one of the component or­ The pamphlet also contains the charter dence from French imperialism. ganizations of the Kanak Socialist National of the Kanak Socialist National Liberation William Holden also spoke to the gather­ Their movement is the subject of For Liberation Front (FLNKS), which is lead­ Front; a tribute to Eloi Machoro, the late ing. His son Wayne, a 21-year-old white Kanak Independence: The fight against ing the struggle in New Caledonia today. general secretary of the Union Cale­ student at the University of California at French rule in New Caledonia, by Susanna Ounei is the official representative of the donienne (the largest organization in the San Diego, was shot to death by the cops Ounei, a pamphlet published by the Labour FLNKS in New Zealand. She has been ac­ front) who was gunned down by French oc­ on May 28. Wayne had threatened suicide Publishing Co-operative Society Ltd of tive in the struggle since 1969. cupation forces in January; and an appeal with a kitchen knife, but when his father New Zealand and distributed in this coun­ She describes the story of the Kanak for solidarity with the Kanak people's inde­ called the County Mental Health Associa­ try by Pathfinder Press. The pamphlet sells people's struggle from its beginnings pendence struggle by the New Zealand tion, medical help did not arrive. Instead for $1. in 1853, when the French rulers occupied Federation of Labour.

-LETTERS------~--~----- Dan Youngdhal and a bare wall, in my customary the world over, and in Central as it prefers. But as the saying protest the Reagan!Chun summit, individualistic style, I simply America in particular. But it The Salvador Solidarity Com­ goes, the best defense is a good of­ which includes the Young Ko­ began putting up shelves. Dan mittee and the Nicaragua Solidar­ stands in relation to this whole fense. I hope that Cuba carries reans United. They pointed out came in and blew his top. He'd ugly enterprise as a mosquito does ity Committee held a joint meeting through on its claimed right to that the purpose of the summit is to been designated librarian, and he to a hornet's nest. The misrep­ in Minneapolis May 19 to com­ conduct medium frequency broad­ pressure South Korea to supply was going to make the decisions . memorate the life of Dan Youngd­ resentations to be broadcast on casts to the U.S., such as the funds, hardware and personnel to After the smoke cleared in that hal. He died in April from Radio Marti will easily be seen shortwave programs now beamed. aid U.S. foreign policy objectives first meeting, we were on the road leukemia at age 46. through by internationalist Cuban I, for one, would love to hear in Central America. to being good friends - and we workers and will probably cause them! The picket line also protested Dan was a socialist and solidar­ remained so until his death. little harm, especially since other Albert Cassorla the continuing abuse of human ity activist who for years put out Charles Scheer U.S. stations are already heard Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rights in South Korea. all he could, without talking to Minneapolis, Minnesota there. I think it is important to pub­ people about his long-standing On the other hand, the Cuban licize these protests. They point affliction. government has made itself appear South Korea protest out how U.S. domination of a He had been a member of the Radio M~rti fearful of competition in the realm The publicity that attended the country like South Korea results in Socialist Workers Party, first in Radio Marti has clearly been of ideas by its response: blocking return to South Kon;a of Kim Dae repression and exploitation of the Chicago and then here, for about a designed to spread mistruth and broadcasts with a drone noise and Jung, the prominent opponent of people, and also how the U.S. dozen years. Recently he resigned "disinformation" among the imposing travel restrictions, A the military regime there, has tries to use South Korea in its war over political differences but re­ Cuban people - but it cannot be more confident response would helped focus attention on the role to subjugate the people of Central mained a friend . He was an active nearly the threat to this revolution­ have been, "Let them say their of the U.S. in backing that repres­ America. leader in the Central American ary island that both the Militant worst- we will not be deceived." sive regime. J .R. solidarity movement ·until his and the Cuban government say it Further harm was done to As the Militant reported, mem­ Chicago, Illinois death . IS. Cuban and American working bers of the Young Koreans United One of his contributions to the It cannot be such a threat if­ people by limiting visiting rights participated in the April 20 anti­ The letters column is an open party branch here was setting up as I suspect is true - Cubans are for Cuban-Americans wishing to war actions. Recently in Chicago, forum for all viewpoints on sub­ and organizing our library when politically among the world's best­ travel to Cuba. Whom does this about 50 people gathered outside jects of general interest to our we moved to a new headquarters. educated working classes. restriction penalize most sharply? the Federal Building to protest the readers. Please keep your letters Which is how I first met him . (I True enough that this incongru­ Workers and their families on both summit meeting between Ronald brief. Where necessary they will was out of town when he arrived ously named radio station is part sides. Reagan and South Korean presi­ be abridged. Please indicate if here.) · and parcel of U.S . imperialism's Without doubt, the Cuban gov­ dent Chun. The protest was spon­ you prefer that your initials be Seeing a library being set up, war against workers' governments ernment has a right to defend itself sored by the Ad Hoc Committee to used rather than your full name.

June 21, 1985 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT N.Y. rally demands abortion rights

BY PAT GROGAN Rights, New York State Catholics for a NEW YORK - Chanting, "Not the Free Choice, and the Committee for Abor­ church, not the state! Women must decide tion Rights and Against Sterilization Abuse our fate!," some 200 demonstrators (CARAS A) also participated in the rally. marched to St. Patrick's Cathedral here on Tulie Taylor, a woman who almost died June 8. They protested the Catholic church from an illegal abortion, told the rally, hierarchy's activities in opposition to abor­ 'There will always be abortion because tion rights. women need abortion so that we can get The action was one of 14 "Witness for control of our lives. The question is not Women's Lives" rallies initiated by the Na­ whether women will have abortions or not, tional Organization for Women (NOW) in but whether or not abortion will kill cities across the country . women . Carrying signs and wearing buttons that "The attacks against abortion rights will said, "Safe, legal abortion," "Keep your not stop until our silence stops," she said. laws off my body! ," and "Save women's "Abortion will no longer be safe and legal lives!," participants marched 10 blocks in this country unless we speak out, stay through the crowded streets from the as­ out here, do our job." sembly site at the offices of the Catholic This theme was repeated by the other Archdiocese of New York. Many women speakers. Jennifer Brown reflected the de­ carried oversized photographs of a woman termination of the rally participants when who died as a result of a botched , back­ she urged that this demonstration be "just alley abortion, with the caption, 'This is il­ the beginning." legal abortion." Others carried signs that Similar rallies took place in Biloxi, Mis­ said, "We support the Vatican 24," ' a refer­ sissippi; Boston; Milwaukee; St. Louis; ence to the 24 nuns threatened with expul­ Phoenix; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San sion from their religious orders because of Jose, California; Quad Cities, Illinois; their support to legal abortion. Portland, Oregon; St. Paul , Minnesota; The demonstrators , many of them young Youngstown , Ohio; and Washington, D.C. women attending their first women's ri ght s Five hundred supporters of abortion demonstration, kept up spirited singing and rights turned out for the Washington action chanting. Some of the most popular chants Militant/Pat Grogan at the headquarters of the National Confer­ were, "Our bodies, our lives, our ri ght to Abortion rights rally in New York City June 8 was part of "Witness for Women's ence of Catholic Bishops. decide," "Women have the right to Lives" actions organized in 14 ci~ies by National Organization for Women. The June 8 demonstrations are part of choose," and "2, 4, 6. 8, - We won't be the NOW Campaign to Save Women's forced to procreate!" angrily pointed out that the police never The demonstrators began chanting, Lives, an ongoing abortion-rights cam­ The march passed by a picket line of take action to keep the right-wing, ''right to "They won 't let us on the street ," 'The car­ paign by NOW in . cooperation with other striking hotel workers, who raised their lifers" separated from abortion clinics, but dinal and the cops are afraid of women," organizations such as NARAL. fists in solidarity and joined in the chants allow them to go right up to women at­ and, 'They won't let us go to church," July 19-21, the 1985 NOW National of, "Save women's lives! , Save women's tempting to enter the clinics, harassing, in­ drawing support and laughter from passers­ Conference will be held in New Orleans, lives!" sulting, and sometimes physically assault­ by . After 15 minutes, the cops relented and Louisiana. How to defend abortion rights, Police refused to allow the demonstra­ ing them. let the march proceed. as well as other key questions in the fight tion to take place on the public sidewalk At one point police blocked the march The rally was attended by NOW mem­ for women's equality, will be discussed. outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral , but kept off. They attempted to keep the demonstra­ bers from New York, New Jersey, and For more information on the conference, the demonstrators penned up across the tors completely off Fifth Avenue and to Connecticut. The New York State National contact your local NOW chapter, or write: street behind police barricades. Jennifer prevent the march from coming within Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), 1985 National NOW Conference, P.O. Brown, president of New York City NOW, three blocks of the cathedral. the Religious Coalition for Abortion Box 7813, Washington , D.C. 20044. Alabama: framed civil rights activists gain support

BY MARK CURTIS and were excited by the enthusiasm of the cratic Party politician and head of the Rain­ Defense Committee, contrasted this BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - As their trial protest. bow Coalition. One part of his speech con­ harassment to federal indifference over on trumped-up charges of vote fraud nears, More support for the Marion Three was cerned the defense of the Marion Three. rampant vote fraud in elections won by Albert Turner, his wife Evelyn Turner, and raised June 2 at a "Unity Rally" in Selma. Almost $4,000 was raised for the legal whites. Spencer Hogue, Jr. are receiving growing It was held at the historic Browns Chapel ·expenses involved in defending the Tur­ More public activities are planned to de­ support from working people across AME Church that was the departure point ners and Hogue. The case of the three is the fend the Marion Three, including at a Alabama. for the 1965 voting-rights march to opening of an enormous federal effort to Southern Regional Youth Conference or­ The three Black longtime political activ­ Montgomery. Albert Turner was a central victimize Black political figures in major­ ganized by supporters of the Rainbow Coa­ ists from Marion, Alabama, will be organizer of that march and was Alabama ity-Black counties, where Blacks have lition to be held at Selma University June brought to trial June 17 in U.S. court in director of the Southern Christian Leader­ been elected to various public offices. Doz­ 14-17. The conference will host a reception Selma. Supporters of civil rights are pro­ ship Conference from 1965 to 1972. He ens of FBI agents have also been "inves­ for the Turners and Hogue the evening of testing the "Marion Three" case as a frame­ later worked with the Federation of South­ tigating" elections in Lowndes, Sumter, June l5. A meeting in Birmingham on June up and a major federal attack on Black vot­ em Cooperatives, an organization of small and Green counties. Three grand juries 26 at the University of Alabama will fea­ ing rights. farmers . have been convened, and more indictments ture Albert Turner, Jr., son of Albert and The attacks on the Marion Three, About 300 people turned out for the rally are expected. Evelyn Turner and president of the student women's rights, and on the working people and heard Jesse Jackson, a leading Demo- Wendell Paris, cochair of the Black Belt government at Miles College. of Nicaragua and South Africa were an­ swered June 6 with a demonstration against President Reagan's visit to Birmingham. Over 100 people, including a spirited Klansn1en, cops liable in death ofprotesters contingent from Marion , applauded speak­ ers representing the Coalition Against BY ROSE HENRY zohn and Thomas Clark. Nathan's widow cers, were found liable. "I was kind of Hunger, Birmingham Unemployed Com­ GREENSBORO, N.C. - After two was awarded $358,700 in damages, and shocked about getting caught on the mittee, National Organization for Women , criminal trials and a civil suit, justice still Bermanzohn, permanently paralyzed by wrongful death charge," said Dawson. and Committee in Solidarity with Central has not been served in the killing of five his injuries, was awarded $38,400. Clark is "Sure, I'm upset. I e~pected to walk out of America. anti-Klan demonstrators here in 1979. On to receive $15,000. this fully. I really did." A short march was led by about 15 Black June 7, the jury in a $48 million civil suit Nelson Johnson of the CWP, also in­ Federal agents charged in the case were high school students who had just left a returned a verdict finding no grounds for jured in the shooting, said, "I think when not held responsible, however. Bernard job-placement meeting to join the protest. the charge that a conspiracy existed be­ measured in the context of the difficulty Butkovich, the Bureau of Alcohol, To­ Signs against apartheid and the U.S. in­ tween Klansmen, Greensboro city police, we've had to overcome to secure this deci­ bacco, and Firearms agent who partici­ spired and financed war in Central Ameri­ and federal agents to violate the civil rights sion, it is progress. But when measured on pated in meetings of Klansmen and Nazis ca, and signs in favor of abortion rights and of anti-Klan demonstrators . the scale of justice, it is inadequate and in­ to organize the confrontation, was one of in support of the Marion Three were seen The Klansmen and Nazis organized a just." the defendants in the case. The fact that he throughout the crowd. confrontation with anti-Klan demonstrators Lewis Pitts, lead attorney for the plain­ was not found liable was "a victory for the At the picket line , loud chants of that resulted in the fatal shooting of five, tiffs, said that "the Greensboro police de­ Bureau" and for the practice of using un­ "Money for jobs, not for war" and "Free and the injuring of seven, demonstrators. partment's liability has been established by dercover agents, said John Westra, Special the Marion Three!" greeted Reagan as The five were members of the Communist a verdict in North Carolina." But, he Agent of the BATF in North Carolina. he arrived at a fund-raiser for the Republi­ Workers Party (CWP). The Klan-Nazi at­ explained, that verdict shows "we still have The Klansmen, Nazis, and police offi­ can senator Jeremiah Denton. tack occurred in the heart of Greensboro's a long way to go in this country to guaran­ cers may appeal the decision if the presid­ For many in the crowd it was their first Black community. tee equal protection under the law for ing judge, Robert Mehrige, does not set demonstration, and for others it was the The jury did find six Klansmen and people of different skin colors and unpopu­ aside the ruling. Judge Mehrige has said he first they had heard about the Marion Three Nazis and two Greensboro police officers lar political views." may overturn the wrongful death findings. frame-up. Several students carried the liable in the wrongful death of Dr. Michael Greensboro police informant and Klan The plaintiffs are also considering an ap­ signs they got at the march home with them Nathan and the injuries to Paul Berman- leader Eddie Dawson, and two police offi- peal.

16 The Militant June 21, 1985