INDUSTRIAL WORKER OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD

April 2009 #1714 Vol. 106 No. 3 $1/ £1/ €1

Colibri workers in Western Australian Starbucks workers Russian union Rhode Island laid miners struggle hold 8-hour picket defies threats off 6 7 9 at Ford plant 1 1 General Strike in the French Antilles By A.L. Martinez loupe—higher than 20 percent, accord- A 44-day strike on the French Carib- ing to the latest statistics. The island, bean colony of Guadeloupe has come to along with Martinique and French Guy- an end. The strike focused on the issues ana in South America, are three of the of pay raises and lowering the costs of 54 four regions of the European Union with basic goods, such as bread. The Collec- the highest unemployment rates. tive Against Exploitation (LKP) led the The strike had one fatality—union strike. member Jacques Bino was killed after A major point of contention during leaving a union meeting on Feb. 17, the strike was that while prices were 200. ,n his memory, the ¿rst agree- higher for goods on Guadeloupe and the ment on raising wages was called the neighboring Martinique than metropoli- Jacques Bino Accord. tan France, wages were lower. Among LKP leader Eli Demota has warned the concessions won by the LKP was a that strikes would resume if the govern- supplement to the wages of the lowest- ment reneges on its promises. paid workers that will consist of a €200 Compiled from articles by Associ- (US$254) monthly payment. ated Press and British Broadcasting Unemployment is high on Guade- Corporation. More on 3 For Labor Solidarity with the NYU Student Occupiers By Daniel Gross in November 2005. I’m reminded of The almost two-day student occu- President Sexton’s stomach-churning Workers in the French Antilles protest for improved conditions. Photo: LKP pation at New York University around ultimatum to the striking graduate work- demands of transparency and account- ers: cross the picket line or be blacklisted ability has ended but the dialogue set in from your paid teaching post and lose Australians Rally in Support of motion by the action is just beginning. the health bene¿ts that go along with it. Also just beginning is the University’s As the students of the Take Back punitive measures against participants NYU! coalition contend with the dispro- 7-Eleven Workers in Geelong in the occupation - measures clearly de- portionate punishment being meted out signed to have a chilling effect on future by the university, I hope that working By Kirk Leonard,UNITE member terbox their streets. dissent. people and their labor organizations On Feb. 13, 2009, more than 100 Tim Gooden, Secretary of the Eighteen students have reportedly conclude that the students are deserving people attended a rally outside the GTHC, led the rally in chants such as been suspended and face expulsion. To of ¿rm solidarity. :hile many in the la- 7-Eleven store in the heart of Geelong. “Low pay" NO :AY!´ Anthony Main, maximize hardship, NYU and its Presi- bor movement are broadly supportive of The protest called for 7-Eleven to start Secretary of UNITE, gave a speech out- dent John Sexton have evicted several student activism, there are some who are paying its workers the legal minimum lining the background of this dispute. students from university housing. It’s privately dismissive of student efforts as wage and for all unpaid wages to be He explained that, despite the bullying also believed that NYU is working closely inward-looking or irrelevant. paid back to them. The rally was also and intimidation, the workers were not with the New York City Police Depart- But the historic and present-day record demanding that one of the workers, who about to back down. ment toward bringing criminal charges is replete with examples of students was sacked for making a complaint, be An ex-worker from the store named against some students. powerfully struggling for their own au- reinstated. Kholi, who is still to waiting to be paid The reprisals being undertaken by tonomy at school while working side-by- This 7-Eleven store on Moorabool for working on Christmas day last year, NYU executives are eerily reminiscent side with class-based social movements Street is particularly dodgy. The operator also spoke. Kholi got the best response of those carried out in the breaking of beyond campus; May 1968 in France and makes any new employees work for up to from the rally. He gave a ¿rsthand ac- the union of graduate student employees Greece today are two oft-cited examples. two months in what he calls an “unpaid count of the horrible conditions in the More on 3 trial.´ :hen he realized that some of the store and explained that most of the workers were thinking of reporting his workers 7-Eleven employ are vulner- Industrial Worker Periodicals Postage illegal behavior to the :orkplace Om- able international students. Due to the budsman, he threatened them with vio- low wages they pay, 7-Eleven forces the PO Box 23085 PAID Cincinnati, OH 45223-3085, USA lence. :hile breaking nearly every law in workers to work more than the 20 hour Cincinatti, OH the book, 7-Eleven still had the audacity limit imposed by their visa regulations. and additional Pailing oI¿ces to visit the Geelong police station on the This is happening on a mass scale. ISSN 0019-8870 morning before the rally asking them to Kholi also explained the need for ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED put a stop to it! workers from all companies and indus- Despite management’s attempts, the tries to stop 7-Eleven from exploiting rally went ahead and was very success- their workers. ful. The action was broad-based and “If we allow them to get away with it vibrant, with many unions af¿liated to here, more and more companies will be the Geelong Trades Hall Council (GTHC) trying to follow,” he said. Both Gooden attending. Some people stopped work to and Main called on 7-Eleven to sort out attend while others came down during these problems and to sort them out their lunch break. Many 7-Eleven work- quickly. ers, past and present, also came along. “:hen you treat Geelong locals Hundreds of leaÀets outlining like this, you have no longer just 7-Eleven’s despicable employment involved the workers and UNITE. You practices were distributed. People also have involved the entire trade union stopped to sign the petition or to have a movement,” Gooden said. If 7-Eleven chat. Many Geelong locals tooted their continue to refuse to stick to the law, car horns in support as they drove past. further protests both in Geelong and in Some people took leaÀets pledging to let- Melbourne will ensue. Page 2 • Industrial Worker • April 2009 Commemorating Resistance Industrial Worker Editor Stepping Down In approximately two years we mark the hundredth anniversary of the Tri- Fellow Workers, angle Shirt-Waist Fire of March 25, 1911. When I ran for election with Diane Krauthamer last November, I was fully com- Over one hundred workers were killed mitted to bring my experience as editor to helping produce a high quality Industrial in that sweatshop because exit doors Worker for the next two years. This was on the understanding that Diane and I were locked and fire department ladders would divide tasks as we thought best, I here in Europe, Diane in the U.S. were smaller than what was needed to However, after one issue, several things have become apparent. Firstly, as the Letters welcome! reach the floors that the women were on. Send your letters to: [email protected] IW is printed and distributed in the U.S., Diane is obviously best placed to deal with There should be a world wide commem- with “Letter” in the subject. Saltus press and distribution. Secondly, the administration of the internet lists, oration this event. Perhaps a one-hour which is part of the remit of IW editor, has fallen on Diane as I wouldn’t know where stoppage of work. Mailing address: to start. In solidarity, IW, PO Box 7430, JAF Station, New Thirdly and most importantly, though, Diane has expressed confidence that she Raymond Solomon York, NY 10116, United States can edit the paper on her own. As I would never Correction have stood as editor of Adam Welch’s article, “Can we May Day Announcements the IW myself, for the rebuild the labor movement with the Announcements for the annual practical reasons above, Employee Free Choice Act?” on page 6 “May Day” Industrial Worker deadline we have decided that I of the January 2009 Industrial Worker, is April 3. Celebrate the real labor day should step down and claimed that Canada has card check with a message of solidarity! Send an- Diane can get on with the recognition similar to that proposed in nouncements to [email protected]. job herself. the Employee Free Choice Act. Most Much appreciated donations for the So, there it is. Short Canadian provinces and territories, in- following sizes should be sent to IWW and sweet. I have to say, cluding Alberta, Saskatchewan and On- GHQ, PO Box 23085, Cincinnati OH thanks for giving me the tario (excepting building trades), do not 45223 USA. opportunity. include card check recognition in their $12 for 1” tall, 1 column wide labour law. British Columbia, Manitoba $40 for 4” by 2 columns For the One Big Union, and Quebec labour law do include card $90 for a quarter page Phil Wharton Graphic: iww.org check recognition. Industrial Worker IWW directory The Voice of Revolutionary Industrial Unionism Australia Ontario Georgia New Mexico ORGANIZATION IWW Regional Organising Committee: PO Box 1866, Ottawa-Outaouais GMB & GDC Local 6: PO Box Atlanta: Keith Mercer, del., 404-992-7240, iw- Albuquerque: 202 Harvard SE, 87106-5505. [email protected] EDUCATION Albany, WA www.iww.org.au 52003, 298 Dalhousie St. K1N 1S0, 613-225-9655 505-331-6132, [email protected]. Sydney: PO Box 241, Surry Hills. EMANCIPATION Fax: 613-274-0819, [email protected] French: Hawaii New York Melbourne: PO Box 145, Moreland 3058. [email protected]. Honolulu: Tony Donnes, del., [email protected] NYC GMB: PO Box 7430, JAF Station, New York City Peterborough: c/o PCAP, 393 Water St. #17, K9H 3L7, 10116, [email protected]. wobblycity.org British Isles Illinois Official newspaper of the 705-749-9694, [email protected] Starbucks Campaign: 44-61 11th St. Fl. 3, Long IWW Regional Organising Committee: PO Box 1158, Chicago GMB: 37 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607 Industrial Workers Newcastle Upon Tyne NE99 4XL UK, Toronto GMB: c/o Libra Knowledge & Information 312-638-9155. Island City, NY 11101 [email protected] Svcs Co-op, PO Box 353 Stn. A, M5W 1C2. 416-919- www.starbucksunion.org of the World Central Ill GMB: 903 S. Elm, Champaign, IL, 61820. [email protected], www.iww.org.uk 7392. [email protected] Post Office Box 23085 217-356-8247 Upstate NY GMB: PO Box 235, Albany 12201- Baristas United Campaign: baristasunited.org.uk Québec: [email protected] 0235, 518-833-6853 or 518-861-5627. www. Champaign: 217-356-8247. Cincinnati OH 45223 USA National Blood Service Campaign: www.nbs.iww. upstate-nyiww.org, [email protected], Finland 513.591.1905 • [email protected] org Waukegan: PO Box 274, 60079. Rochelle Semel, del., PO Box 172, Fly Creek 13337, Helsinki: Reko Ravela, Otto Brandtintie 11 B 25, 607-293-6489, [email protected]. www.iww.org Bradford: [email protected] 00650. [email protected] Indiana Hudson Valley GMB: PO Box 48, Huguenot,12746, Burnley: [email protected] Lafayette GMB: P.O. Box 3793, West Lafayette, IN German Language Area 845-858-8851, [email protected], http://hviww. 47906, 765-242-1722 General Secretary-Treasurer: Cambridge: IWW c/o Arjuna, 12 Mill Road, Cam- IWW German Language Area Regional Organizing blogspot.com/ Chris Lytle bridge CB1 2AD [email protected] Committee (GLAMROC): Post Fach 19 02 03, 60089 Iowa Ohio Dorset: [email protected] Frankfurt/M, Germany [email protected] Eastern Iowa GMB: 114 1/2 E. College Street Ohio Valley GMB: PO Box 42233, Cincinnati 45242. General Executive Board: Dumfries: [email protected] www.wobblies.de Iowa City, IA 52240 [email protected] Textile & Clothing Workers IU 410, PO Box 317741, Sarah Bender, Nick Durie, Frankfurt am Main: [email protected]. Hull: [email protected] Maine Cincinnati 45223. [email protected] Jason Krpan, Bryan Roberts, Goettingen: [email protected]. London GMB: c/o Freedom Press, 84b Whitechapel Norumbega: PO Box 57, Bath 04530. Oklahoma Heather Gardner, Stephanie Basile, Koeln: [email protected]. Tulsa: PO Box 213 Medicine Park 73557, 580-529- High Street, London E1 7QX. [email protected] Maryland Koala Lopata. Munich: [email protected] 3360. Leicestershire GMB and DMU IU620 Job Branch: Baltimore IWW: c/o Red Emmaís, 2640 St. Paul Unit 107, 40 Halford St., Leicester LE1 1TQ, England. Luxembourg: [email protected] Street, Baltimore MD 21212, 410-230-0450, iww@ Oregon Editor & Graphic Designer : Tel. 07981 433 637, [email protected] www. Switzerland: [email protected] redemmas.org. Lane County: 541-953-3741. www.eugeneiww.org Portland GMB: 311 N. Ivy St., 97227, 503-231-5488. Diane Krauthamer leicestershire-iww.org.uk Greece Massachusetts [email protected], pdx.iww.org [email protected] Leeds: [email protected] Boston Area GMB: PO Box 391724, Cambridge Athens: Themistokleous 66 Exarhia Athens Pennsylvania Manchester: 0791-413-1647 education@iww- [email protected] 02139. 617-469-5162. Printer: manchester.org.uk www.iww-manchester.org.uk Cape Cod/SE Massachusetts: PO Box 315, West Lancaster GMB: PO Box 796, 17608. membership@ Saltus Press Netherlands: [email protected] LancasterIWW.org, LancasterIWW.org Norwich: [email protected] Barnstable, MA 02668 [email protected] Worcester, MA United States Philadelphia GMB: PO Box 42777, Philadelphia, PA www.iww-norwich.org.uk Western Mass. Public Service IU 650 Branch: IWW, 19101. 215-222-1905. [email protected]. Union Arizona Po Box 1581, Northampton 01061. Send contributions and letters Nottingham: [email protected] Phoenix GMB: 480-894-6846, 602-254-4057. Hall: 4530 Baltimore Ave., 19143. Western Massachusetts GMB: 43 Taylor Hill Rd., to: IW, PO Box 7430, JAF Reading: [email protected] Paper Crane Press IU 450 Job Shop: papercrane- Arkansas Montague 01351. 413-367-9356. [email protected], 610-358-9496. Station, New York, NY 10116, Sheffield: [email protected] Fayetteville: PO Box 283, 72702. 479-200-1859, Michigan Pittsburgh GMB : PO Box 831, Monroeville, United States. Somerset: [email protected] [email protected]. Detroit GMB: 22514 Brittany Avenue, E. Detroit, MI PA,15146. [email protected] Tyne and Wear: PO Box 1158, Newcastle Upon Tyne, DC Next deadline is 48021. [email protected]. Rhode Island DC GMB (Washington): 741 Morton St NW, Washing- April 3, 2009. NE99 4XL [email protected]. Grand Rapids GMB: PO Box 6629, 49516. 616-881- Providence GMB: P.O. Box 5797 Providence, RI West Midlands: The Warehouse, 54-57 Allison Street ton DC, 20010. 571-276-1935. 5263. 02903, 508-367-6434. [email protected] US IW mailing address: Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH [email protected] California Central Michigan: 5007 W. Columbia Rd., Mason Texas IW, PO Box 7430, JAF Sta- www.wmiww.org Los Angeles GMB: PO Box 65822, 90065. 48854. 517-676-9446, happyhippie66@hotmail. Dallas & Fort Worth: 1618 6th Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104. tion, New York, NY 10116 York: [email protected] North Coast GMB: PO Box 844, Eureka 95502-0844. com. 707-725-8090, [email protected]. Freight Truckers Hotline: 847-693-6261, Washington Scotland ISSN 0019-8870 San Francisco Bay Area GMB: (Curbside and Buyback [email protected] Bellingham: P.O. Box 1793, 98227. BellinghamI- Aberdeen: [email protected] [email protected] 360-920-6240. Periodicals postage IU 670 Recycling Shops; Stonemountain Fabrics Minnesota paid Cincinnati, OH. Clydeside GMB: [email protected] Job Shop and IU 410 Garment and Textile Worker’s Tacoma IWW: P.O. Box 2052, Tacoma, WA 98401 Twin Cities GMB: PO Box 14111, Minneapolis 55414. iwwscotland.wordpress.com. Industrial Organizing Committee; Shattuck Cinemas) [email protected] 612- 339-1266. [email protected]. POSTMASTER: Send address Dumfries IWW: 0845 053 0329, iww_dg@yahoo. PO Box 11412, Berkeley 94712. 510-845-0540. Olympia GMB: PO Box 2775, 98507, 360-878-1879 Red River IWW: POB 103, Moorhead, MN 56561 changes to IW, Post Office Box co.uk , www.geocities.com/iww_dg/ Evergreen Printing: 2335 Valley Street, Oakland, CA [email protected] 94612. 510-835-0254 [email protected]. 218-287-0053. [email protected]. 23085, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA Edinburgh IWW: c/o 17 W. Montgomery Place, Seattle GMB: 1122 E. Pike #1142, 98122-3934. San Jose: [email protected]. Missouri EH7 5HA. 0131-557-6242 [email protected] 206-339-4179. [email protected] Colorado Kansas City GMB: c/o 5506 Holmes St., 64110. Wisconsin Canada SUBSCRIPTIONS Denver GMB: c/o P&L Printing Job Shop: 2298 Clay, 816-523-3995. Madison GMB: PO Box 2442, 53703-2442. www. Individual Subscriptions: $18 Alberta Denver 80211. 303-433-1852. Montana madisoniww.info. [email protected] International Subscriptions: $20 Edmonton GMB: PO Box 75175, T6E 6K1. edmon- Four Corners (AZ, CO, NM, UT): 970-903-8721, Two Rivers GMB: PO Box 9366, Missoula, MT 59807, Lakeside Press IU 450 Job Shop: 1334 Williamson, 53703. 608-255-1800. www.lakesidepress.org. Library Subs: $24/year [email protected], edmonton.iww.ca. [email protected]. [email protected] 406-459-7585. Madison Infoshop Job Shop: 1019 Williamson St. #B, Union dues includes subscription. Florida Construction Workers IU 330: 406-490-3869, British Columbia 53703. 608-262-9036. Vancouver IWW: 204-2274 York Ave., Vancouver, BC, [email protected]. Published ten times per year. Gainesville GMB: 1021 W. University, 32601. 352- Just Coffee Job Shop IU 460: 1129 E. Wilson, Madi- V6K 1C6. Phone/fax 604-732-9613. gmb-van@iww. 246-2240, [email protected] New Jersey son, 53703 608-204-9011, justcoffee.coop ca, vancouver.iww.ca, vancouverwob.blogspot.com Articles not so designated do Pensacola GMB: PO Box 2662, Pensacola, FL 32513- Central New Jersey GMB: PO Box: 10021, New GDC Local 4: P.O. Box 811, 53701. 608-262-9036. 2662. 840-437-1323, [email protected], not reflect the IWW’s Manitoba Brunswick 08904. 732-801-7001 xaninjurytoallx@ Railroad Workers IU 520: 608-358-5771. official position. Winnipeg GMB: IWW, c/o WORC, PO Box 1, R3C 2G1. www.angelfire.com/fl5/iww yahoo.com, [email protected] [email protected]. [email protected], garth.hardy@union. Hobe Sound: P. Shultz, 8274 SE Pine Circle, 33455- Northern New Jersey GMB: PO Box 844, Saddle Milwaukee GMB: PO Box 070632, 53207. 414-481- Press Date: March 20, 2009. org.za. 6608, 772-545-9591 [email protected] Brook 07663. 201-873-6215. [email protected] 3557. April 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 3 Antilles in Struggle: Interview with a CNT-F militant Interview by Jérémie, Internation- people, so they where the average singer Kolo Bart has recently evoked al Secretary of the CNT-F. needed to train salary is much lower this massacre, of which we’ve recently In the French Antilles’ islands of slaves in the than in France, and commemorated the 25th anniversary, in Guadeloupe and Martinique, a general mainland. where the price of es- a song. strike shut down economic activity The organi- sential goods is often between Jan. 29 and March 4, 2009. zation of work three times higher How is the movement in Marti- The populations of these islands pro- was based on a than in the mainland. nique organized? tested against the cost of living, and the division similar There are the CNCP, local commit- rising costs of essential foodstuffs and to that of the 19th What precedents tees in each area, nationalists and anti- Correction fuel. The following interview is aimed at and 20th century can be found in colonialists very close to the Martinique explaining the current movement and workshops in previous struggles Independence Movement (MIM), whose the popular anger that launched it. The Europe. But, as in the Antilles? leader Alfred Marie-Jeanne is president interviewee, Marcel, lives in Martinique was the case in The largest pre- of the regional council. and is a CNT-F activist. England, it was war movement came The unions, regardless of affiliation, difficult to recruit after the assassination seem to be relatively more powerful than What is the current situation in the enough workers. of André Aliker, the in the mainland. Their unity in action French Antilles? The most efficient editor of the commu- came about spontaneously, which led The official unemployment rate in and cynical solu- nist newspaper Jus- quickly to cohesive mass action. Martinique is 22 percent, and 8 percent tion was to cap- tice, which denounced of the population receives the RMI (a ture slaves and the corruption and What is the specific influence of temporary social payment made to the transport them greed of the békés. independent unionism? What are unwaged). There is little industry in to the Caribbean. His funeral in 1935 the specific demands? the Antilles, which is a hangover from The exploitation, brought together a There is a growing tendency to colonial times. The economy is based on the blood and the massive crowd. Sev demand more and more, especially in Strikers confront police. Photo: LKP buying “finished” products from France, horror, formed a eral months later, Guadeloupe, where the General Union and only producing raw materials for melting pot of crossroads between Eu- with the support of the popular front, the of Guadeloupean Workers (UGTG) won export, such as sugar cane or fruit, on rope, Africa and America. island’s first union was created, called 51 percent of the votes in the recent the islands. the CGTM. It is from this period that elections to the employment tribunals. The only accepted industrial sector is Who lit the flames? the first employment laws on the island Its methods are radical, reminiscent of the production of rum. After having long Naturally a lot of resentment has were created, although they’re often not North American trade unionism. It’s been landowners, and the true owners of built up against the whites, even among enforced. not a good idea to oppose a strike that the Antilles, the “békés”—descendants of those who take the wider situation into I will limit myself here, there’s a lot they’ve called. Bosses and businessmen the white plantation owners—are nowa- account. The anti-white racism on the I could mention! So much has happened who ignore their orders will pay dearly days involved in distribution, owning islands is nothing compared to what in the last 50 years in Martinique. The for it. In general, they always obey the the supermarkets and car dealerships. blacks must support on the mainland. strikes and riots of 1959, when security UGTG’s orders. During each strike they Ironically, industrial work and organiza- What is true, for example, is that a forces committed unheard of violence encourage workers to join the unions. tion were born in the islands, long before business, when faced with a choice be- when they opened fire crowds of dem- The UTGT, like the Union Générale they emerged in Great Britain. In the tween a black candidate and a white one onstrators, lead the municipal council, des Travailleurs de Martinique (UTGM) 18th century, France was the world’s with equal qualifications, or even a more whose mayor had been Aimé Césaire brings Creole culture and identity to the main producer of sugar and as a result qualified black candidate, will usually since 1945, to call for independence. Also forefront; the fight against colonialism had made large investments in the Antil- pick the white one. Career progression I should mention the repression of the and the békés. They want to develop les. The most up-to-date and expensive works in the same way—it’s not luck that banana workers’ strike in 1974, when the a polyculture, allowing the islands to machinery was sent from Europe to allows a white to climb the ladder faster Conseil Suprême de la Révolution (CRS) achieve self-sufficiency. The same goes the islands, along with personnel to than his black colleague. troops in helicopters fired machine guns for industry, on the islands they want to run it. Initially they were from Europe, But what has set off the protests now at a crowd of 200 demonstrators, kill- create what they currently lack. but there were never enough qualified is simply the cost of living in a country ing one and wounding four people. The Translation: Jeff Costello IWW Constitution Preamble Join the IWW Today The working class and the employing he IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the class have nothing in common. There can job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions be no peace so long as hunger and want today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and are found among millions of working T distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire popu- people and the few, who make up the em- lation, not merely a handful of exploiters. ploying class, have all the good things of We are the Industrial Workers of the World because we organize industrially ­– life. Between these two classes a struggle that is to say, we organize all workers on the job into one union, rather than dividing must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the workers by trade, so that we can pool our strength to fight the bosses together. means of production, abolish the wage Since the IWW was founded in 1905, we have recognized the need to build a truly system, and live in harmony with the international union movement in order to confront the global power of the bosses earth. and in order to strengthen workers’ ability to stand in solidarity with our fellow We find that the centering of the man- workers no matter what part of the globe they happen to live on. agement of industries into fewer and fewer We are a union open to all workers, whether or not the IWW happens to have hands makes the trade unions unable to representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not the job, recog- cope with the ever-growing power of the nizing that unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition employing class. The trade unions foster but about workers coming together to address our common concerns. Sometimes a state of affairs which allows one set of this means striking or signing a contract. Sometimes it means refusing to work with workers to be pitted against another set an unsafe machine or following the bosses’ orders so literally that nothing gets done. of workers in the same industry, thereby Sometimes it means agitating around particular issues or grievances in a specific helping defeat one another in wage wars. workplace, or across an industry. Moreover, the trade unions aid the employ- Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what issues ing class to mislead the workers into the to address and what tactics to pursue are made by the workers directly involved. belief that the working class have interests in common with their employers. TO JOIN: Mail this form with a check or money order for initiation These conditions can be changed and and your first month’s dues to: IWW, Post Office Box 23085, Cincinnati OH the interest of the working class upheld 45223, USA. only by an organization formed in such Initiation is the same as one month’s dues. Our dues are calculated a way that all its members in any one in- according to your income. If your monthly income is under $2000, dues dustry, or all industries if necessary, cease are $9 a month. If your monthly income is between $2000 and $3500, work whenever a strike or lockout is on in any department thereof, thus making an dues are $18 a month. If your monthly income is over $3500 a month, dues injury to one an injury to all. are $27 a month. Dues may vary outside of North America and in Regional Instead of the conservative motto, “A Organizing Committees (Australia, British Isles, German Language Area). fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” we __I affirm that I am a worker, and that I am not an employer. must inscribe on our banner the revolu- tionary watchword, “Abolition of the wage __I agree to abide by the IWW constitution system.” __I will study its principles and acquaint myself with its purposes. It is the historic mission of the work- Name:______ing class to do away with capitalism. The army of production must be organized, Address:______not only for the everyday struggle with City, State, Post Code, Country:______capitalists, but also to carry on production Occupation:______when capitalism shall have been over- thrown. By organizing industrially we are Phone:______Email:______forming the structure of the new society Amount Enclosed:______within the shell of the old. Industrial Worker Membership includes a subscription to the . Graphic: riniart.org Page 4 • Industrial Worker • April 2009

What We're Changing By Matt Jones culminated in a threatened strike where In our organizing we are trying to we stuck up for a fellow worker who was establish power on the job. This power in danger of being fired. can be seen and felt in different ways de- When I moved on to another job, pending on the job. What we want from this one at a truck manufacturing plant, our organizing is control over our daily I found a much different situation. working lives. This control will come Workers did not condition the job in the from the power we can establish through same way. They did not stick up for each collective action. other. Moreover, the leadership that had The collective actions we take on the existed on the job at UPS did not exist job change the conditions on that job; here. The leadership that did exist was they change how we daily interact with found in the "team lead." This person our bosses and with each other. This was often a good leader and a company results in a bettering of conditions. I man. The workers followed the team, fell believe old time Wobblies called this “job in line and did not stick together. Our conditioning.” It comes out of workers job conditions were much different. We collectively and directly confronting the were at the mercy of the company. We boss on an issue, and sticking up for were out-organized. We had no control one another. It is done with or without a over our daily lives on the job. contract; often the contract is an impedi- With my current job we are start- ment to actions that can condition the ing the long process of organizing. One job. of the first tasks was getting my fellow One of my first experiences with workers to take action together and to this was during my first job out of high stick up for one another. Most of them school, throwing boxes at UPS. The are decent folks, willing to help each workers here, although only informally other out but with no experience of being organized exerted strong control over organized. Most want to confront prob- the job, and had no fear in voicing their lems as individuals, thinking they may opinions to the boss. The workers rallied get a fair hearing from the boss. In small around one or two strong leaders. These ways though, I can already see some leaders were the first workers to extend changes, from a willingness to be critical a hand to me and the other fellow I got of how things are handled to having each hired on with. When there was an issue other's backs and helping each other out. between two other workers, these lead- These are some of the small changes that ers would work it out. can lead to larger ones. These leaders were also the workers Job conditioning, I have learned, is who were the first, but not the only, to based on the small confrontations that bring up an issue to the boss. Often they happen everyday. When the boss comes confronted the boss during the post- out ready to tell us a decision he or she break discussion session. These confron- has made and is not confronted by work- tations were often loud and tense. It was ers as a group, the boss sets the condi- during these episodes that first I saw the tions. If we workers confront the boss first fruits of our power as workers and and stick up for one another, and lay out what it meant to be organized. As a re- our demands, we set the conditions. We sult of the control we won on the job we are making a point with our actions. The worked the pace we wanted and worked boss is learning. We workers are learn- with who we wanted. Eventually, this ing our power.

Graphic: radicalgraphics.org Dealing with Childcare Collectively By Alex Paterson, Winnipeg GMB business. Now that the design is ready, In the last few years, the union has we are sharing this stamp with the rest been discussing how to remove barriers of the union in hopes that other branch- to participation, especially for women. es take this concrete step to making sure Here in Winnipeg we have recently childcare is seen and treated as a col- identified childcare as a significant bar- lective responsibility. It is our hope that rier to the participation of women in our our union can continually make these branch. Over the last few meetings we little steps to increasing participation have been discussing how it is our desire and build the union we all want. deal with this collectively. Graphic: Mike Konopacki We recognize that it benefits all of us in our branch for our fellow workers, who have children, to participate. This is just an obvious fact for us. So we decided to share Buy a prisoner subscription to the the costs of childcare amongst Industrial Worker. branch members who were able to contribute. To be creative, one of Send a cheque for $18 to IW Prison- our branch members has offered to er Subscription, c/o IWW, PO Box make a voluntary assessment stamp dedicated to branch childcare. So 23085, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA from now on we will be building a with a note on the cheque: ‘prison- pot of childcare money to use when- ever necessary to make sure parents er subscription.’ in our branch can participate in our April 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 5 For Labor Solidarity with the NYU Student Occupiers Continued from 3 The case for worker solidarity with rank-and-file security guards against voice within the university. It has also the NYU activists is especially strong the student occupiers. But the students undoubtedly inspired workers and stu- given the explicit pro-worker, pro- refused to take the bait and maintained dents alike to consider the path of direct union orientation of four of the student their focus and indignation on the action, just as the occupations at the demands: university’s senior leadership where it New School and the Republic Window 1) Full compensation for all employ- belonged. and Door factory did. ees affected by the occupation. Certainly a conversation is and Take Back NYU! and its allies are 2) Respect for the right of student will continue to take place in movement now engaged in the hard work of both workers to collectively bargain; an circles regarding the strategic and logis- growing their coalition and defend- especially poignant demand in light of tical preparation of the NYU occupation. ing the students being targeted by the the recent dismantling of the graduate But the students’ commitment and most Administration. They’re going to need employees union at NYU. importantly their willingness to use some serious and lasting support to 3) A fair labor contract for NYU direct action in support of just demands move their work forward. employees at home and abroad; a deserves praise. Indeed, the U.S. stu- I hope we in the workers’ movement thoughtful demand given the certainty dent and workers’ movement as a whole acknowledge the decisively pro-labor of migrant worker exploitation as NYU is engaged in a learning and re-learning orientation of the NYU occupation with establishes its Abu Dhabi campus. process as escalatory tactics like occupa- real and forceful solidarity. Please log 4) A reassessment of the recent tions and general strikes become more on to www.takebacknyu.com to join the lifting of the campus ban on Coca-Cola and more viable amid economic crisis. solidarity effort and encourage unions, products after the company successfully Corporate-imposed economic community groups, and houses of wor- spun its way out of accountability for pain, including millions of lost jobs and ship to come aboard as well. Together, anti-union violence in Colombia. lost homes, has created a tremendous we can build towards occupations where The students also demonstrated opportunity for aggressive organizing workers and students simultaneously respect for the working class in the dig- around transformative demands. The withdraw their cooperation from the nified way they conducted their protest. NYU occupation has inspired dialogue universities until democracy prevails. NYU sought to pit its hard-working on the important question of student Originally published on Znet. Photo: politicalpoet.wordpress.com SDS and the Wobblies: Memories and Observations By Paul Buhle in the Wob effort to organize blueberry afterward) did not stand up against the born, a terribly weakened official labor Student occupations of university workers in Michigan and a presence in threat of nuclear war and the American movement, and an urgent need for soli- buildings and student participation in Chicago’s Roosevelt University, where a government’s own role in the prolifera- darity. campaigns and demonstrations hap- free speech fight preceded and perhaps tion of weapons. Nor did they explain Speaking as a U.S. history teacher, pen more and more these days. More inspired the famed Free Speech Move- away the persistence of US intervention, I can say that the college courses on the importantly, they have begun to happen ment in Berkeley. A few years later, by hook and crook, against movements 1960s, going back to the later 1970s or in previously unlikely places, community Rebel Worker activist Penelope Rose- from Latin America and the Caribbean to 1980s, never lacked for a certain appeal. colleges, religious schools, high schools mont was a printer in the SDS national Africa, Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Free love, communes, LSD and other and so on. Students for a Democratic office (in a couple decades, she and that threatened American corporation reputed mass phenomena of the young Society (SDS), reborn on Martin Luther Franklin Rosemont would operate the holdings. Nor could they explain the fate naturally appealed to another generation King, Jr., Day in 2006, has often been Kerr Company, the IWW’s old friends of mainstream labor. Embodied in the of the young, especially with higher rents in the lead because the name and the of pre-1920 days). Hundreds of 1960s thuggish George Meany, president of the and rampant venereal diseases closing history give today’s students something SDSers in various locations had soon AFL-CIO, organized labor’s leadership off the carefree low-income bohemia of to identify. become members or sympathizers with had become its ugliest in all American earlier days. The boom in those courses Wherever SDS exists, “student the IWW, and more would after the labor history. has increased immeasurably since 2001 syndicalism” also exists in a germ of implosion and collapse of SDS in 1969. How was a group of powerless young or so, for every good reason, but for collective memory about the earlier SDS, For that matter, the SDS journal Radical people to cope with the vastness of many students seeking a “how to” rather or in the basic ideas that campus activ- America was printed in Madison, WI, institutional authority? Students for a than vicarious thrills or the chance ists are bound to develop themselves. on a Wobbly press, emblazoned an early Democratic Society, an organization or to listen to music rather than reading It’s a simple as the transition from the cover with Wobbly graphics, and carried movement so amorphous that a ma- textbooks. Meanwhile, as if by remark- sit-down strike (IWW) to the civil rights many articles in sympathy with Wobbly jority of its “members” never actually able coincidence, a generation of young movement sit-in to the antiwar teach- traditions. bothered to officially join, remains at scholars just ten or twenty years behind in. The logic of the movement contains What happened from 1965 to 1969, the heart of the mystique and mystery the radicals of the 1960s came to press a purpose beyond voting or waiting for embodying “Student Power” but also of the 1960s. Naturally, along with the with their scholarly studies going back a leaders to make decisions. precipitating a crash and a catastrophic civil rights and Black Power movement, decade in graduate school. Recently, former SDS National turn of the SDS leadership toward Mao- the Women’s Movement, marijuana and Only in the last decade, as the former Secretary Carl Davidson (who coined ism, may best be understood as a bril- LSD, Bob Dylan and so much more. But members of SDS entered middle age, has the term “Student Syndicalism”) spoke liant grappling with Wobbly traditions, within this mélange, SDS is unique, for the understanding of the movement seri- on the Brown University campus, a reinterpretation of syndicalism, and a better and for worse. It was the organi- ously thus begun to probe and poke the where I teach, on a range of issues, failure to deal with the political crises on zation of student power on the campus, aura and the memoirs of prominent mi- mostly practical experiences rather than all sides. pinpointed by the FBI as the epicenter of nority. Hostile critics have pointed to the theories and how students can learn for The Port Huron Statement, drafted trouble among the children of the white number of young intellectuals involved themselves what to do in today’s mul- collectively by conference attendees in middle class. It skyrocketed to a follow- and the few essayists produced, as if this tiple social crises. One of Davidson’s the Michigan town in 1962 and reshaped ing of perhaps 200,000 supporters. And were a key test of virility or fecundity. It vivid 1960s memories and one of my old by SDS leader Tom Hayden, was the what went up came suddenly down, very would be better to meditate the paucity favorites involves the SDS national office most important political manifesto of much like the ‘60s themselves. of local historical studies, because SDS members of 1965-66 realizing that their American radicals in 30 years, and the Almost as suddenly, the memory of was above all a local movement, argu- Chicago headquarters was nearby the most important generational statement SDS and of the antiwar protest of the ably the most decentralized and localis- IWW office. They had stumbled across that young American radicals had made 1960s in general, has returned to fashion tic movement since the Wobblies in the an inter-generational counterpart and since perhaps the 1830s of New Eng- or at least public interest. What the Viet- whole history of American radicalism. shortly, regional travelers wore Wobbly land Transcendentalists. Unlike earlier nam War and the public knowledge of But perhaps one problem has also been buttons. platforms of socialists and communists, FBI misdeeds did to the trust in the U.S. overlooked: that a phenomenon so deep- It was hardly the first SDS/IWW with the distinct exception of the IWW government during the 1960s, including ly set within popular culture would need encounter. A lot of us had discovered convention documents of 1905, it was its agencies and elected officials, the Iraq an approach shaped by the techniques little things along the way, often inad- not shaped by European experiences. It War and the Patriot Act’s varied mani- of cultural production. A song might be vertently, such as learning Marxism was not about “socialism,” at least not festations have done again. And there is grand, but could not be expected to go through Socialist Labor Party (“DeLeon- in anything like classical terms. It was, an element, a stronger reminder perhaps far lyrically. ite”) study classes, where IWW history or is (inasmuch as the new generation of than any other of the lasting impress of The graphic history of SDS that I was both applauded and hissed (that is SDSers holds to its central points) about SDS, in the circumstances of generation- produced with an array of artists in after the 1908 Wob convention). What values, along with generations. al unrest. The generation of 9/11, come 2008, following the 2005 graphic history we gleaned sooner or later could be That conference had only 59 at- of age in the wake of the World Trade of the IWW by some of the same art- boiled down to the conclusion that the tendees. Just enough, one might sug- Center attack, the Afghanistan attack ists (and me as editor or coeditor), on Wobblies were a totally unique radical gest, to work together on a complex and occupation, the mass detentions the other hand, offers a crime (in the outfit, and probably generations ahead document, and not too many to make without charges and so on, is also the view of respectable society) to fit the of their time. History had to move to such work phrase by phrase, formula- generation facing the literal, undeniable punishment (forty years of liberal and catch up with them. tion by formulation, all but impossible. effects of global warming in daily life. conservative denigration). These books The Rebel Worker, published by In the next four years, SDS had become The world of secure consumers, circa also could not have come, I believe, at a the Chicago surrealist group in the an organization of thousands on many 2000, is gone, and in its place is a world better time. Because these movements middle 1960s, is the best single case campuses, and cut its ties with the of politicians who barely manage to keep face the prospect of a great revival, of IWW/SDS interaction. A splendid social-democratic Old Left that had paid a straight face while issuing frequent young people in particular can learn little mimeographed magazine, in the for its predecessor, the Student League denials of the obvious. visually, and also come to appreciate humble technology of the political age, for Industrial Democracy. The spirit of All this is still more true of the radical artists, like the half-dozen IWW it marked young Wobblies’ efforts to Port Huron had gone beyond the bounds global working class now located, thanks members who drew or wrote stories for revive radical principles, reached a wide of liberalism, not so much programmati- to post-1965 immigration, within the “Wobblies!,” striving to make the old circle of young radicals (myself included) cally as philosophically. To these young- United States. Never has the world of the story newly meaningful. and foreshadowed much to come. The sters, the liberal ideology and the reform original Wobblies become so nearly the Paul Buhle is the founding editor of group also had a local bookstore, a share successes of the New Deal (and additions world of today, with masses of foreign Radical America (1967-1992). Page 6 • Industrial Worker • April 2009 Colibri Workers Fight for Pay and Dignity By Justin Kelley Locked out... what is a working per- son to do? Your job just closed its doors and gave you no notice. Left in a panic, you scramble to figure out how you’re going to pay your bills, make your rent and put food on the table. A group of workers in Rhode Island is showing that, with organization and courage, we can fight back against the bosses’ attacks.

Factory Closes On the morning of Jan. 15, 2009, the workers of the Colibri lighter and jewel- ery factory discovered that they were the latest victims of the encroaching eco- nomic depression. The Colibri workers found the doors of the factory chained shut, with a notice on the door that the factory was closed. CEO of Colibri manufacturing, Jim Fleet, made cowardly attempts to glean a few more dollars in profit by violating the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

Fuerza Laboral and Colibri Work- ers meet As the shock turned to outrage, 22-year employee Emilio Blanco called the local Spanish language radio sta- tion, Poder-1110 AM. Emilio, at a loss for what to do, turned to Poder for help. The staff at Poder recommended Emilio call folks from Fuerza Laboral (Workers Power), who spoke about workers rights and past victories on Poder radio. Fuerza Laboral (FL) is a workers center that focuses on organizing work- Colibri workers rally on Feb. 10, 2009 to demand Founders Equity negotiate. Photo: Justin Kelley ers to take direct action to recover stolen and suffer, was reiterated in a letter to by the same lawyer, the Colibri workers home of one of the senior partners of wages from exploitative bosses. The or- Fuerza Laboral offices. The response asked to deliver a letter aloud to him. the Founders Equity firm, John Teeger. ganizers at FL asked Emilio to gather as from Colibri workers was “all or none of The judge, remarking that it was un- Teeger unfortunately was not home. The many of his fellow workers as he could. us,” or “todas en la cama o en todas fuera usual, allowed it none-the-less. Michael workers let his neighbors know what Emilio and 40 workers met with FL la ella.” The workers, once again show- Masi, a 10-year employee and Vietnam he has been up to, as well as leaving a organizers. The workers and the workers ing solidarity, refused to submit to the War veteran, delivered the letter, stating: letter taped to his door and a sign on his center staff talked about what the situ- process, allowing those with less access “All we are asking for is to be equal lawn, demanding that he pay the Colibri ation was and how that the bosses had to the court system to get left behind. to everyone else. Banks have insurance, workers. violated the WARN act. Through further they can wait. We can’t.” The Providence city council passed a meetings, the workers identified their Colibri Workers for Rights and resolution on Feb. 23 supporting Colibri demands: 60 days pay, 60 days medical Justice fight for pay and dignity “Founders Equity meet with us” Workers for Rights and Justice in their insurance coverage , and a week of sever- Faced with press attention, the Founders Equity is a private equity struggle for pay and severance, and ance for every year worked. ex-workers of Colibri manufacturing firm based in New York City, and the condemning the corporation and equity Colibri workers group decided to pay firm. On March 5, the workers went to them a little visit. With help from Fuerza the city hall to talk further and make Laboral, Jobs with Justice and other sure the councilors will back up their local labor and community activists resolution with action. including the Providence IWW, a bus of 70 people—the majority of whom were Towards Victory ex-Colibri workers—went from Rhode As we dare to struggle, we dare to Island to NYC on Feb. 20 to confront win, and the Colibri Workers for Rights the owners of the factories assets and and Justice are an example to all of us in demand what is theirs’. the IWW and labor movement at large. We arrived at the Murphy Institute The implications of factory workers for Labor Studies at CUNY, and got fighting back against closings are many ready to go and confront the corporate and deep. The occupation in Chicago at bosses and demand 60 days back pay, 60 the Republic Window and Doors facil- days vacation time and a week of sever- ity was not the beginning or end of this ance pay for each year worked. current wave of struggle, and we can The workers and allies proceeded to only expect more occupations and direct go over the plan for the day. The steer- action resistance to capital strike, as the ing committee that the workers elected economy worsens. The Colibri Workers from amongst their ranks was to go into show us again that the new world is built the office, a few people at a time, and at- here, in the shell of the crumbling old tempt to get upstairs past security. Then world. Self organization and action teach Photo: Justin Kelley the rest of the group was to enter the us our own strength and abilities to do Action at corporate headquarters decided to name their new self organi- office and try to get as many people as things we never before thought possible. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, more than 250 zation—“Colibri Workers for Rights and possible upstairs to the Founder’s Equity As we know, our solidarity is our Colibri workers and supporters held a Justice.” office. greatest strength as working people, and rally at Colibri’s East Providence corpo- On Feb. 10, about 50 Colibri workers With the plan set, a few chants the Colibri Workers continue to need rate offices. On that blizzard-like day, the and supporters rallied across from the worked out, we proceeded down through your help to make it on the long path to spirits were high and people held firm court-appointed lawyer who is taking Manhattan as a bloc. A block away from victory over corporate greed. Founders as a swell of community support came Colibri into receivership, Allan Shine. the Founders Equity office on Fifth Ave- Equity has portfolio companies all over out in solidarity. Chants of “Justice for The rally demanded that Shine do the nue, the steering committee went ahead. the United States, information about Workers” and “Enough Abuse” rang out right thing and make Founders Equity A few minutes after, we all proceeded to these companies is easily accessible, and in the cold February air. The lawyer ap- come to the table. go to the building and enter the lobby. pressuring them would be a nightmare pointed by Rhode Island superior court, The Colibri Workers for Rights The group was unable to make it for Founders Equity. Allan Shine, told the crowd that they and Justice went to the Feb.27 hear- upstairs and confront the bosses, but a A quick fax can be sent by visiting should file claims, and that they have ing at the Rhode Island Superior Court, rowdy demonstration was held for about www.unionvoice.org/campaign/colibri- until June to do so. He said he could not to stand up to the banks and demand 20 minutes in the lobby, much to the justice. To make a solidarity donation to predict the outcome, but promised the that they get paid first. Arriving before guards’ chagrin. We chanted “Ooh Ahh the Colibri workers, send checks made workers will get a fair hearing, and a fair the court session, the Colibri workers what’s that fuss?, Founders Equity meet out to “Providence IWW,” marked for and prompt decision. group packed the court house, leaving with us!” and “Founders Equity broke “Colibri workers” in the memo line. This same message, asking for the no room for the lawyers and other court the law.” Fuerza Laboral , RI Jobs with Jus- workers to submit to the process of the attendants, forcing the judge to make the Afterwards, the group went to Long tice, and the fellow workers of Colibri bosses’ courts that allows the wealthy lawyers sit in the jury box. As HSBC and Island to converge at a Unitarian Uni- Workers for Rights and Justice contrib- to get paid first, and the workers to wait Sovereign bank were both represented versalist church. We then went to the uted to this article. April 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 7 Western Australian Mine Workers: The Silent Clampdown By Phil N. De-Blanks row. Undoubtedly, workers have a natu- The collapse of global financial mar- ral instinct to close ranks and organise kets in late 2008 has given mining com- in the face of safety breaches and broken panies in Australia a welcome gift for promises by management, however these 2009. The rejection of the anti-worker instincts are being circumvented by self- “Work Choices” legislation by the Rudd censorship, as anti-union paranoia goes government in 2008 kick started feel- up a few notches. ings of optimism and solidarity amongst There is resistance in all of this how- mine workers in the conspicuously non- ever, and this unspoken clampdown is unionised mines of Western Australia. not entirely a one way event. A number The future looked bright for these of unions, with support from the Aus- workers to once again stand up for their tralian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), rights and reinstitute collective bar- are holding employers to account to a gaining within the industry. Presently, certain degree and some continue to however, the tentative mine workers press for pay demands, despite being movements of Western Australia have slated in the media. been challenged by the hyped decline in BHP Billiton, after closing the demand for their products. This insta- Ravensthorpe mine and leaving that bility has played directly into the hands community of workers with houses of employers who can plead “poor me” Graphic: Ned Powell worth next to nothing after the closure, to governments, unions and the media, has suffered a massive backlash from lo- to turn public opinion against worker move blamed on the financial crisis. This against those who take the products of cal communities and the general public. solidarity, and to use the fear of job loss is how the employing classes operate our labour. Nobody thinks that calling the workforce against the workers who are seeking to when they need to reduce production, The endless drone of pro-employer in for a safety meeting and sacking the organise and defend their rights. and discipline their remaining workforce media during this period has the net lot of them on the spot is acceptable To get a sense of the current situ- with fear. Yet we, the workers, are asked effect of inferring that any collective behaviour for a company as big as BHP. ation, one only needs to look at the to act honorably in our places of work activity by workers in the mining sec- Regardless of the job we do, we all feel struggle by Rio Tinto train drivers in the and remain loyal to the company. Rio’s tor is against the national interest, and for those 2,100 sacked workers in West- Pilbara. At issue is a battle to get Rio pleas of “hard times” are hard to swal- therefore Joe and Jane Public should see ern Australia, and the other 4-5,000 Tinto to simply negotiate with work- low, when we consider that the lay-offs these scoundrels as cutting the throat worldwide; employers would rather sack ers collectively, an aspiration that Rio came at the same time that Rio Tinto’s of the Australian economy. This vilifica- 10 workers to save $10 of profit, or lay- has stone walled at all junctures. This Coal and Allied profits had surged 731 tion of unions is a familiar tactic used off two productive workers to preserve dispute predated and spanned the initial percent, to a new record $804 million by employer classes in most industrial their own overpaid jobs. months of the financial collapse. For- (AUS) by February 2009. disputes, but mining in Western Austra- Sadly the proof is always in the pud- tunately for Rio Tinto, their ability to Many workers who are not employed lia has even more of a ‘life or death’ aura dling, with BHP only weeks after the ignore the intensifying collective actions in the mining sector are encouraged by surrounding it in the depths of the cur- sackings posting a record $22 billion of these workers was bolstered by the the media, governments, and business rent financial crisis, because it was the (AUS) profit for six months until Febru- financial collapse in the closing months activist groups to dismiss any conflicts engine of the economic boom. Behind ary 2009; that’s nearly $1 billion a week! of 2008, which allowed the media, state between mine workers and their employ- closed doors we miners are considered The “crisis” is proving to be a blank and federal governments and the compa- ers. The old story goes something like, almost seditious if we suggest an entitle- check for mining giants to crack down on ny to write off the movement as at best “bloody whining miners, they make too ment to personal safety, let alone a right workers and mothball poorly managed greedy, and at worst treasonous against much money anyway! Who cares about to collectively bargain—if we were to mines. That is the nature of this rotten state, nation, industry and company. their problems?” Employer groups used openly organise then we would surely be system, and we are all the victims. This Fast forward to January 2009, and the same tactics against the Maritime accused of sabotaging the national inter- type of behaviour does companies like we find Alcoa workers agreeing to drop Union of Australia in their dispute with est, and ordered to shut up and get back BHP no favours in the eyes of working wage increases that they had already Patricks Stevedores in 1998; it’s the old to work. people across the globe, and hopefully won in 2008 negotiations. In the media divide-and-conquer routine, and we The real danger of the present clamp disgust will turn to education and agita- the Australian Manufacturing Workers have to be smarter than that. down on collective action in Western tion across the board. Union, who devised the deferral in wage Wages are inconsistent between Australian mining isn’t wages however; Mine workers have continued to increases, are portrayed as “mature and industries, partially because some com- it is health and safety. I work for a major subvert the company and its psychologi- sensible,” while the Construction Forest- modities attract more value than others, mining company and through my own cal clampdowns, through stealing back ry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the supply of skills in the labour experience and from accounts of other time from the boss, leaking all manner has been described as “militant” for con- market varies. However, while workers workers at different sites in the Pilbara, of safety and legal breaches to regula- tinuing with wage demands. The main- receive the price they can get for sell- it seems to me that we are being put into tors, or interested media organs; and stream media even falsely aggregated ing their skills on the labour market, unsafe situations by managers who know by continuing to discuss indirectly, and wage claims to come to a headline figure no worker receives the full value of the full well that the workforce will be com- behind closed doors the need for collec- of an immediate 33 percent pay increase product of their labour. Regardless of the pliant under the fear of sackings. They tive action. to discredit the CFMEU, when the actual unevenness of wages, it is to the benefit can do this safe in the knowledge that We all take hope, because the figure behind the anti-union headline of all oppressed people to have workers government and media will be reluctant instinct to resist attacks from above is was 5-10 percent. organised in solidarity with each other. to publicly scrutinize methods when the always just simmering under the surface, This is how the clampdown on This is the only way to counteract, and future of Western Australia apparently and although the financial crisis has collective action is progressing; it is begin to democratize, a system which depends on these mining projects. This given employers in Western Australia a conscious attack on mine workers’ allows employers to do as they please includes situations such as continuing to mines an extra dose of chloroform for rights, under the pretext of immanent with us, and to waste the product of our work when weather conditions, gear, or their mighty workforce, that ploy will financial collapse, and to add extra force labour on their own excesses. I say to job set-ups are blatantly unsafe. Workers lose effectiveness with overexposure, to employer distain for workers Rio went fellow workers, resist the media poison comply because, unlike six months ago and the time for mine workers to organ- further and sacked 14,000 employees about wage disparity and see the struggle when their skills were in demand, they ise for their own defence will begin again across the globe in the blink of an eye, a as a common one of those who labour know that they can be replaced tomor- with a renewed urgency. Solutions to February/March Crossword “In the Beginning” Workers picket for unpaid wages in Cincinnati edly for his Laborers of the Vineyard Ministry Thrift Shoppe (LOVM). Several local unions participated in the picket, including members of the IWW, SEIU and the UFCW. The local International Socialist Organiza- tion (ISO) chapter also came. It was good to see such a powerful response to an ever growing and disgust- ing problem of people By Tom Kappas Photo: Tom Kappas doing work and being The Cincinnati Interfaith Workers taken advantage of. Center held an informational picket for Negotiations were supposed to a group of workers on Feb. 21, 2009, de- happen shortly thereafter between the manding unpaid wages of nearly $6,000. workers and Washington, but he didn’t The workers claim they cleaned and show up at the agreed time. The workers Puzzle design: Jason Krpan painted for Charles Washington, alleg- are still waiting to be paid. Page 8 • Industrial Worker • April 2009 Book Reviews The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008 Krugman, Paul. The Return of Depres- government and business. Krugman “long” on assets, and promising to return sion Economics and the Crisis of 2008. says: “Welcome to the ‘bubble economy,’ them “at a fixed price” in the future. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2008. Japan's equivalent [to] the Roaring To go short is to bet on a drop in price, 288 pages, paperback, $25 Twenty's.” All of this resulted in serious and to go long is to predict a rise. These “moral hazard” effects, with some taking massive funds can make a lot of money, By John MacLean great risks, while others bore the costs but their “downside,” says Krugman, is Paul Krugman, in a new edition of “if things went bad.” Japan experienced that they can “also lose money very ef- his book “The Return of Depression Eco- what came to be known as “growth ficiently.” There is very little knowledge nomics and the Crisis of 2008,” says that recession”—a situation in which growth about the size of these funds, because we are not currently in a depression; he stumbles on while workers continue to “until quite recently nobody thought it wants to remain optimistic, and he is not be shed. This went on for a decade, and necessary to find out.” They are also not certain that we may not fall into one. the experience “verged on a new phe- regulated. Despite this optimism, he claims nomenon: a growth depression.” Krug- George Soros, founded the Quan- that “depression economics” has made a man says that “expected inflation” is the tum Fund in the late 1960s, and in 1990 “stunning comeback” around the world. way out because it “discourages people he forced a devaluation of the British This New York Times editorialist and from hoarding money.” pound, and forced this country off of Graphic: popular.com Nobel Prize winner writes that no one He then goes on to describe how the Exchange Rate Mechanism of the tractive." Stupidity entered when people thought that the global economy would many other Asian economies, including European Union. There were also similar suspended basic borrowing principles in end up in the perilous condition it has; Thailand, became vulnerable “because fund assaults on Malaysia, and Hong the belief that home prices would always where currency raiders can force cruel they had…become better free market Kong. rise. recessions on national economies, and economies, not worse” and were exposed Then came the failure of Long Term Krugman sees a connection between major economies find themselves unable to investor panics. Capital Management; the New York Fed the Panic of 1907, and our current dif- “to generate enough spending to keep After discussing Argentina, in the got a group of investors together to buy ficulties. This older panic began with their workers and factories employed.” early 2000s, he asks: “Why weren't the Connecticut company, and “panic the private trusts, much as today’s began The reason why this snuck up on governments able to do more to limit turned into euphoria” when interest in the “shadow” or “parallel” banking people, was that those who should have the damage?” In Krugman's opinion, all rates were lowered. This again brought systems. Both of these banking arrange- known better ignored dire economic of this occurred because policy-makers to the fore “moral hazard” questions— ments were not regulated against risks. happenings around the world, and sub- turned away from economics and into speculators of this kind were seen as It was after the Panic of 1907 that “the scribed to “foolish ideas” like supply-side a “confidence game with investors and villains in the 1930s. Federal Reserve System was created with economic, he says, that it is these ideas, speculators. Peoples’ livelihoods were It was Alan Greenspan who allowed the goal of compelling all deposit taking which “clutter the minds of men,” that turned over to an exercise in amateur bubbles, one in stocks, and another in institutions to hold adequate reserves are a major obstacle to “prosperity.” psychology and of hoping to persuade housing, to proceed. The longest serv- and open their accounts to inspections Krugman begins by telling of the the financial markets.” This guessing ing Fed chairman, William McChesney by regulators.” Later, the Glass-Steagall flight of capital from Mexico in the game usually involved policies that made Martin Jr., used to say “'take away the Act was passed; separating banks into 1990s, and the harsh punishment visited slumps worse for workers. punch bowl before the party gets going.'” commercial, for deposit, and investment on this Central American economy, for Now, to mention the “Masters Greenspan, on the other hand, was a types. In 1999, this act was repealed, but very minor mistakes in communicat- Of The Universe,” hedge funds, and believer in Bacchus. Krugman mentions, it wasn't absent regulation that caused ing with the markets. The U.S. Treasury financiers like George Soros; and what Robert Schiller, the author of “Irrational the collapse of the “auction-rate security acted by going against the original inten- Krugman refers to as “Banking In The Exuberance,” and how asset bubbles system,” the shadow banks, because they tion of a law, and the wrong lessons were Shadows.” are “natural Ponzi scheme[s] in which were already beyond regulating. It was, learned; serious people were somehow Alan Greenspan, the wizard of the people keep making money as long as says Krugman, “a massive bank run that in control. bubble economy, makes an appearance there are more suckers to draw in.” The caused the shadow banking system to Japan experienced recessions all tambien. problem comes when the suckers are no shrivel up.” through the 1990s. In this country, Hedge funds try and squeeze out as longer lining up, and the whole thing This short, republished, and updat- a form of “crony capitalism” had de- much as possible from “market fluctua- comes tumbling down. It was the low ed, book is worth reading. And, don't be veloped a close relationship between tions.” They do this by going “short” and interest rates that made housing "at- a Ponzi sucker, line up with the IWW. Deer Hunting With Jesus: Dispatches from America’s Class War His microcosmic example is focused also captures something that moves me The elephant standing in the room is on the majority of the people who now about the people I grew up with, the in- the issue of work-time. Too many hours live and work in his old home town of tersection between hunting and religion sold to the bosses makes it difficult for Winchester, Virginia. To be sure, he also in their lives. The link between protes- small town wage-slaves to do much in shines in a light on his fellow workers’ tant fundamentalism and deer hunting the way of educating themselves, reading rulers: the lawyers, real estate agents, goes back to colonial times, when the or expanding their views of the world landlords and small business people. restless Presbyterian Scots, along with beyond the easily accessed, instant, Bageant describes Winchester’s English and German Protestant reform- canned gratification available from cockroach capitalists this way: ers, pushed across America, developing conservative Republican corporate AM “Members of the business class, that the unique hunting and farming-based radio pundits and their brethren on the legion of little Rotary Club spark plugs, frontier cultures that sustained them bully pulpits of the nation’s fundamen- are vital to the American corporate and through most of America’s history. Two talist Christian churches. The toilers of political machine. They are where the hundred years later, they have settled Bageant’s home town are literally being institutionalized rip-off of working class down, but they have not quit hunting worked to death at jobs which market people by the rich corporations finds its and they have not quit praying. Con- for low wages, kept even lower by the footing at the grassroots level, where sequently, today we find organizations anti-union ideology which is so common they can stymie any increase in the such as the Christian Deer Hunters in their everyday parlance as to be taken minimum wage or snuff out anything Association (christiandeerhunters.org), for ‘commonsense.’ The same can be said remotely resembling a fair tax structure. which offers convenient pocket-size for their socially conservative cultural Bageant, Joe. Deer Hunting With Jesus: Serving on every local governmental books of meditations, such as “Devo- traditions concerning: race relations, the Dispatches From America’s Class War. body, this mob of Kiwanis and Rotarians tions for Deer Hunters,” to help occupy possession of firearms, Big Gov’mint, New York: Crown Publishers, 2007. 288 has connections. It can get that hundred the time during those long waits for namby-pamby intellectuals and warlike pages, paperback, $25. acres rezoned for Wal-Mart or a sewer game. Like their ancestors, deer hunters nationalism. line to that two-thousand-unit housing today understand how standing quietly Across that great bellwether, the By Mike Ballard development at taxpayer expense. When and alone in the natural world leads to great crack in the working class remains These “Dispatches from America’s it comes to getting things done locally for contemplation of God’s gifts to man. unrepaired as left liberal workers sit and class war” ring as true as America’s big business, these folks, with the help of When a book like Meditations for the sit and sit, disdaining contact with their Liberty Bell. Of course, like the “Liberty their lawyers, can raise the dead and give Deer Stand is seen in historical context, ‘benighted’ fellow citizens thus, leaving Bell,” the American Revolution’s prom- eyesight to the blind. They are God’s gift it is no joke. For those fortunate enough both sides ignorant of what the other ise of “liberty and justice for all” cracked to the big nonunion companies and the to spend whole days quietly standing is saying or doing and by extension the on first use. chip plants looking for a fresh river to in the November woods just watching potential of their power as a class united. As with other bourgeois democra- piss cadmium into—the right wing’s can- the Creator’s world, there is no irony at According to Bageant, this is a recipe cies, the ideals of the American capitalist do boys. They are so far right they will all in the notion that his son might be for continued impotent expressions of revolution were undermined by class not even eat the left wing of a chicken.” watching too, and maybe even willing to working class power, while serving to rule. Liberty, equality and fraternity Bageant peppers his aphoristic style summon a couple of nice fat does within maintain a ruling class status-quo which tended to break down under the rule of with enough humor to keep all but the shooting range.” is on track to continue cutting U.S. work- Capital, where, as the old wag’s say- dourest social stoic smiling. In his chap- The ideological crack between the ers’ living standards and furthering the ing about the golden rule goes, those ter titled, “Valley of the Guns” (a piece of more liberal, urban, and coastal-based commodification of human values and with the most gold have made the rules. writing sure to upset liberal gun control U.S. workers and their small town, con- humane relations. What Joe Bageant has done in Deer advocates like Michael Moore), Bageant servative rivals living in the interior of Joe Bageant has written a book Hunting With Jesus was give his readers explains his book's title: the country, is one of the main political which should be on every IWW organ- an up-to-date snapshot concerning the “To non-hunters, the image con- thrusts of Deer Hunting With Jesus. The iser’s shelf. Deer Hunting With Jesus an- preemptions of America’s revolution- jured by the title of this book might gun control issue is but one of many sore swers many of the questions concerning ary ideals as he focuses on the lower seem absurd, rather like a NUKE THE points dividing the U.S. working class, how and why the workers in the U.S. are strata of the rural-based working class. WHALES bumper sticker. But the title thus making its members easier to rule. largely blind to their own class interests. April 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 9 Starbucks Workers Union Pickets for 8 Hours By FW Double Jeff to the front again. We chanted “Let On Feb. 16, 2009, the New York Henry Work!” until our voices gave out. City branch of the IWW Starbucks We protested Big Mark Ormsbee with a Workers Union (SWU) held an “Warriors” reference, “Ormsbeeeeeee, energetic eight-hour picket outside come out and plaaaaaaaa-ay!” which two separate Starbucks locations. a lot of New Yorkers seemed to really Originally planned as a “loose informal appreciate. Several New Yorkers joined picket” outside the Union Square in the protest for a few minutes, or East Starbucks location, managerial a few hours because “New York is a stupidity and increased union-busting Union Town!” We chanted “What’s activity on the part of Starbucks turned Disgusting? Union Busting!” and it into a media circus and all night “What’s Outrageous? Starbucks protest. Between the time when the Wages!” picket was planned and when it actually Around 11 p.m., District Manager took place, Starbucks decided to fire Tracy Bryant and two other district yet another union barista, Sharon Bell managers were finally given permission from the 17th and Broadway location, to leave by the corporate office. Bryant conveniently located across the park was the district manager for the region from Union Square East. that 17th & Broadway and Union Square The picket was called to protest East are located in, and is known for the recent wave of Starbucks layoffs her union-busting skills. and to draw attention to the refusal Once the two Starbucks PR reps of Starbucks to pay severance to fired left, Little Mark and Big Mark were on workers, despite their claims to the their own. When the store closed at 1 media that they will be providing IWW protesting at the Union Square East Starbucks in NYC. Photo: Diane Krauthamer a.m., Mark Ormsbee went outside to severance pay for all fired workers. plead with the cops to arrest the five The message was expanded to include Gross, Liberte Locke and Henry Marin. organizer Henry Marin so he could of us who were left. We circled around the demand for the reinstatement of Other signs demanded that deliver the SWU demand letter to the him screaming “SHAME SHAME Sharon Bell, and an immediate end Starbucks “Stop Slashing Labor Hours” store manager “Little Mark” Vanneri. SHAME ON YOU!” at the top of our to the illegal, unethical, nationally and “Restore Benefits,” and demanded Little Mark, who is known to have an lungs while the police told him they coordinated union-busting operations that Starbucks “Obey Judge Landow’s anger problem, threw the demand letter weren’t going to arrest us. Ormsbee of Starbucks Coffee. Ruling” and “Reinstate Fired Union back in Marin’s face several times. In stormed angrily back into the store. An hour before the picket was Baristas: JoelAgins, Jr., Sharon Bell, retaliation “Big Mark” Ormsbee, the About 15 minutes later he and Little to take place, union organizer and Coley Dorsey, Daniel Gross, Neal District Manager in charge of both 17th Mark finally made their exit. The two barista at Union Square East, Liberte Linders and Isis Saenz.” and Broadway and Union Square East, not-very-pleased managers came out Locke, started receiving phone calls Things got tense when police refused to let Marin go back to work for of the store and hailed two separate from members of the press inquiring started ordering picketers to stop the rest of his shift because he “walked cabs. We continued chanting “SHAME! as to whether or not the picket was “blocking the door,” even though no off on the job.” Marin was later written SHAME! SHAME!” and telling everyone still happening. Apparently when one was anywhere near the door. Cops up for the incident, even though he was in earshot that they were union-busting photographers and camera people threatened to arrest union barista engaging in a legally protected work scumbags! As Mark Ormsbee got into showed up early to scout the location, Mischa Lefebvre who was standing far stoppage. his car he called Daniel Gross, one of they were greeted by someone with a from the store’s entrance. They started Not letting Henry Marin finish his the founders of the Starbucks Workers clipboard claiming to represent the to push him around and drag him off, shift was a huge mistake on the part Union, a “pussy.” union and they were told the picket but fellow workers Liberte Locke and of Ormsbee. We told Big Mark that we How telling is it that Ormsbee was cancelled. This is another example Daniel Gross intervened, helping him would not leave until they let Marin chose the word “pussy” to describe of the dirty tactics Starbucks uses avoid arrest. Gross had made it clear go back to work, which they were too someone who is fighting for dignity and to squash dissent and undermine to the police that “when our people are pig-headed to do, so a “loose informal” respect in the workplace? That term is the union. Thankfully that tactic arrested we sue the police for wrongful two hour demo ended up being a nearly not only misogynistic and anti-woman, backfired, because in spite of it being arrest.” The police were still making eight hour indignant protest. but in this context it’s meant to be a rather small turn out of less than threats to arrest the whole crowd and According to Starbucks policy, any queer-baiting and demasculating as 30 people, the media showed up in were overheard calling for police vans. time there is a union action against any well. Mark Ormsbee is the man who full force, turning the scene into a Locke and Gross tried to reason with Starbucks location, the Store Manager is responsible for investigating sexual street level press conference. Whether the cops, which is like trying to reason and District Manager are required to be harassment and discrimination claims it was because the press doesn’t with goldfish. The police finally backed there. They were not allowed to leave for an entire region. Are we to believe like to have the wool pulled over its off when Locke told the press to focus until we left. And we stayed until the that the concerns of women and GLBT eyes, or because of the strength and their cameras on the door which was end, all the way until closing time. We people are going to be treated seriously conviction of the demand letter which not being blocked in any way, so that effectively kept them inside their own Ormsbee? was included with the press release, when the cops arrested everyone there store for nearly eight hours. Normally In the past month, Ormsbee has the media for once seemed to want to would be proof that it was under false store mangers never work closing shifts, fired two black female union baristas represent our side, rather than just be a pretenses. Later Locke remarked that so it was nice to force both Little Mark for organizing in the workplace, which mouthpiece for Starbuck’s anti-union, “it was like they were pointing to a desk and Big Mark to work this late, even is legally protected. Sheanel Simon anti-worker propaganda department. and telling me it was not a desk.” though nothing a Starbucks manager from Union Square East has already As we lined the whole front of the Around 7 p.m. we marched to 17th does could really be considered “work.” won her job back through union store with signs containing messages and Broadway, where Sharon Bell had They mostly played on their laptops, pressure. We are still fighting for ranging from “Stop The Layoffs” been fired for being a union organizer. drank coffee and talked on their cell Sharon Bell. to “Stop Union-Busting,” local and Only a few reporters followed us there, phones all night while we chanted at Liberte Locke and Daniel Gross national television, radio and print but that’s where the real action took them and banged on the windows, contributed to this story. For more ranging from CNN to NPR interviewed place. Several of us went inside to meet following them from the front of the information, visit: union organizers Sharon Bell, Daniel up with union barista and IWW store to the back of the store and back www.starbucksunion.org. Subscribe to the Industrial Worker

Raise eyebrows! Get ideas!

10 issues for: • US $18 for individuals. • US $20 for internationals. • US $24 for institutions. Name: ______Address:______State/Province:______Zip/ PC______Send to: PO Box 23085, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA

Subscribe Today! AprilPage 2009 10 • Industrial • Industrial Worker Worker • April • Page 2009 10

Dynamite: The Story of Class Violence In America BY LOUIS ADAMIC WITH A FORWARD BY JON BEKKEN NEW The history of labor in the United States is a Women’s Cut story of almost continuous violence. In Dynamite, IWW T-shirts Louis Adamic recounts one century of that his- Sabo-cat design printed on tory in vivid, carefully researched detail. Cover- ing both well- and lesser-known events—from the The Industrial Workers of the union-made pink shirt riots of immigrant workers in the second quarter World: Its First 100 Years by Sizes S-XL $15.00 of the nineteenth century to the formation of the Fred W. Thompson & Jon Bekken Sizes run small, order up a size for a looser fit. Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)—he forward by Utah Phillips gives precise, and often brutal, meaning to the The IWW: Its First 100 Years is the most term “class war.” comprehensive history of the union ever Labor Law This AK Press edition of Adamic’s revised 1934 published. Written by two Wobblies who for the ADVERTISEMENTversion of Dynamite, includes a new foreword by lived through many of the struggles they Rank and professor and labor organizer Jon Bekken, who offers a critical overview of the work chronicle, it documents the famous that underlines its contemporary relevance. Filer: struggles such as the Lawrence and Building Paterson strikes, the fight for decent “A young immigrant with a vivid interest in labor—and the calluses to prove his Solidarity knowledge was more than academic—Louis Adamic provided a unique, eyes-open- conditions in the Pacific Northwest While wide view of American labor history and indeed of American society. Dynamite was timber fields, the IWW's pioneering the first history of American labor ever written for a popular audience. While delin- organizing among harvest hands in the Staying eating the book’s limitations, Jon Bekken’s foreword also makes clear for today’s read- 1910s and 1920s, and the war-time Clear of the ers its continuing significance.” —Jeremy Brecher, historian and author of Strike! repression that sent thousands of IWW Law members to jail. But it is the only general BY STAUGHTON LYND AND DANIEL GROSS “Adamic’s Dynamite is a classic, written with the verve and perspective of an history to give substantive attention to Have you ever felt your blood boil at author who was a first-hand observer and participant in many of the struggles he the IWW's successful organizing of work but lacked the tools to fight back and chronicles. And it is a powerful reminder that class struggle in America has always African-American and immigrant dock win? Or have you acted together with your been pursued with ferocity and intensity. With all the book’s strengths and weak- workers on the Philadelphia waterfront, co-workers, made progress, but wondered nesses, outlined in a perceptive foreword by Jon Bekken, it remains a foundational the international union of seamen the what to do next? Labor Law for the Rank text for those who wish to understand the world...and to change it.” IWW built from 1913 through the 1930s, and Filer is a guerrilla legal handbook for —Mark Leier, director of the Centre for Labour Studies, Simon Fraser University smaller job actions through which the workers in a precarious global economy. IWW transformed working conditions, Blending cutting-edge legal strategies for 380 pages, $19.95 winning justice at work with a theory of Wobbly successes organizing in dramatic social change from below, Singing Through the Hard Times: manufacturing in the 1930s and 1940s, Staughton Lynd and Daniel Gross deliver and the union's recent resurgence. A Tribute to Utah Phillips a practical guide for making work better In his life, Utah Phillips was many things - Extensive source notes provide guidance while re-invigorating the labor movement. soldier, hobo, activist, pacifist, union organizer, to readers wishing to explore particular This new revised and expanded edition storyteller, songwriter. He was an oral historian campaigns in more depth. There is no includes new cases governing fundamental who documented the events of the working class better history for the reader looking for labor rights as well as an added section on and turned them into stories and songs. And in an overview of the history of the IWW, Practicing Solidarity Unionism. This new the folk tradition, he passed them on to and for an understanding of its ideas and section includes chapters discussing the others.Righteous Babe Records continues that tra- tactics. 255 pages, $19.95 hard-hitting tactic of working to rule; dition with Singing Through The Hard Times, a organizing under the principle that no one 2CD set that celebrates the music that Utah sang is illegal, and building grassroots solidarity and loved. Included are performances from Emmylou Harris and Mary Black, Pete Static Cling Decal across borders to challenge neoliberalism, Seeger, Tom Paxton, John McCutcheon, Rosalie Sorrels, Gordon Bok, Ani DiFranco, among several other new topics. Illustrative 3.5” black and red IWW stories of workers’ struggles make the legal Magpie, Jean Ritchie and many others - folksingers whose music springs from the logo, suitable for car same rich vein of the people’s history that Phillips chronicled throughout his life. principles come alive. windows, $2.50 each 110 pages, $10.00 The project itself started as a way to help Utah through his own hard times. Last year, folksinger Dan Schatz spoke with fellow musicians Kendall and Jacqui Morse about putting together a CD to help Phillips defray medical expenses. Phillips had been ill for some time when the project began, and died in May of 2008. It meant a lot to him that his songs would continue to live for years to come.”Utah himself Order Form once said, “Kids don’t have a little brother working in the coal mine; they don’t have Mail to: IWW Literature, PO Box 42777, Phila, PA 19101 a little sister coughing her lungs out in the looms of the big mill towns of the North- Name:______east. Why? Because we organized; we broke the back of the sweatshops in this coun- try; we have child labor laws. Those were not benevolent gifts from enlightened Address:______management. They were fought for, they were bled for, they were died for by work- ing people, by people like us. Kids ought to know that. That’s why I sing these songs. City/State/Zip Code:______That’s why I tell these stories. No root, no fruit!” 39 tracks on 2 CDs, $15.98 QUANTITY ITEM PRICE Wobblies and Zapatistas: Conversations on Anarchism, Marxism & Radical History BY STAUGHTON LYND AND ANDREJ GRUBACIC Wobblies and Zapatistas offers the reader an encounter between two generations and two traditions. Andrej Grubacic is an anarchist from the Balkans. Staughton Lynd is a lifelong pacifist, influenced by Marxism. Encompassing a Left libertarian perspective and an *Shipping/Handling emphatically activist standpoint, these conversations are meant In the U.S., please add $3.00 for first item Sub-Total:______to be read in the clubs and affinity groups of the new Movement. & $1.00 for each additional item Canada: Add $4.00 for the first item, Shipping*:______The book invites the attention of readers who believe that a better $1.00 for each additional item world, on the other side of capitalism and state bureaucracy, may Overseas: Add $5.00 for the first item, Total Enclosed:______indeed be possible. 300 pages, $19.95 $2.00 for each additional item April 2009 • Industrial Worker • Page 11 Activists at a Russian Ford Plant Struggle Against Union Busting Threats By Elias Krohn, Viikkolehti independent union. The Ford factory near St. Petersburg "Because of the history of the Soviet is on the front lines in the development era, the large majority of the people of an independent trade union move- still don't understand what a legitimate ment in Russia. The plaudits belong union is," said Etmanov. to a charismatic leader, welder Aleksei Etmanov, and other militant activists. Intimidation by lawsuit According to Etmanov, the large The activities of Etmanov and his majority of Russians still don't under- comrades have brought results. For stand the significance of trade union example, a 25-day strike a year ago was activity. The workers' awareness of their productive. rights at the Ford plant nevertheless has "The workers actively participated increased. in it. The strike brought about a 17-21 "Both employers and the state per cent wage increase and social gains bureaucracy are trying to deprive the and pensions were improved," Etmanov workers of their rights and possibility to said. However, the repercussions from become organized and defend their own the strike are still ongoing. The plant interests. The other great problem is management has demanded 4.5 million the low educational level of the workers rubles in damages from the strike com- which enables the employer to manipu- mittee in court. This is an obvious coun- late the workers in his own interests," termove to a suit raised by the workers Union leader Aleksei Etmanov. Photo: Viikkolehti said Etmanov. for unpaid overtime. Etmanov is the chair of the union The workers have now won four Security threatened need to be established in this country at the Ford plant at Seuloskoi, near St. lawsuits on the employers' compensation Independent unionism is not easy in which are able and want to defend the Petersburg. He participated at a trade demands. Another four are open, but the Russia. Last November, Aleksei Etmanov workers' interests against the employer union conference in Jyväskylä (Fin- accusations are similar to the previous was subjected to two violent physical and state authority. Third would be that land) and prior to that told Viikkolehti lawsuits. The union activists think these attacks. In the first instance, three un- there wouldn't be any kind of unions but about the challenges of the independent open cases will also be decided in their known men with brass knuckles attacked that people would defend themselves as Russian trade union movement. He favor in the future. Etmanov believes him as he arrived at his front door from individuals. We, of course, strive to real- was accompanied by his wife Tatiana, the employers' motives from the begin- the night shift. Etmanov shot at his at- ize the second alternative." Aleksandr Astafjev and Irina Tkatšenko, ning were not to win the lawsuits but to tackers with a gun equipped with rubber Etmanov and his union comrades all employed at the Ford factory. intimidate the workers. bullets, and they fled from the scene. A are somewhat optimistic, but cite that Etmanov and his co-workers estab- "The purpose of these demands is to week later an unknown man attacked the situation is quite unsettled. lished an independent union at the plant show that if you participate in organiz- him at his doorstep with an iron bar. The "Russian capitalism is still new and because they were not satisfied with the ing a strike you will have problems; you assailant was caught and held but was people are trying to relate to it. They old metal industry union, which was part will waste time when you attend court quickly released. don't still fully understand its legal of the traditional Russian central labor sessions on your own time and so forth," There have been other assaults ramifications," he said. The economic organization. According to Etmanov, he said. There are also comic aspects to against union activists. Investigations crisis appears to Etmanov to allow the the central organization functions in the these occurrences. were initiated over the incidents but they employer under its guise to pursue same way as it did in the Soviet era: it "All 30 strike committee members didn't lead anywhere. In Etmanov's case, layoffs, which are often directed toward talks about being the representative of were sent indictments, which consisted it didn't help that his assailant had been union activists. On the other hand, with the workers, and occasionally makes a of a copier paper box weighing 12 kilos, caught in the act. this crisis, Etmanov believes that people few demands, but in reality does not de- full of papers. They (the committee "At 2 a.m., he had detached the will begin to think more about questions fend the workers' rights. It works closely members) donated the papers to the lamps on the stairwell so it was totally related to politics and become activated. with Russia's political leadership and homeless who sold them as recyclables dark, and he had an iron bar in his hand. the trade unions that belong to it are run and used the money to buy beer," he But the conclusion of the inquest was Solidarity across borders from the top down. added. that he was only going to the toilet," The Russian union activists maintain "The independent unions that rep- Etmanov said. The attack and other numerous contacts with other countries. resent us have been established by their Strike spurred organization pressures haven't gotten the unionists to "Cooperation is crucial since the members. According to the policies of "We have to show people that even think about stopping their activity. enterprises are multi-national and very the independent unions, representatives achievements produce results," said "If you understand the reason that often are trying to coordinate their prac- of the employers are denied membership Aleksandr Astafjev, who emphasized the you are doing this work, then all these tices in the different countries. Inter- in them, whereas in the so-called ‘of- value of education so that people can attacks on behalf of the employers national solidarity among trade unions ficial’ unions there is no such ban. They understand the meaning of trade union are explainable and logical. I consider and workers helps to win labor struggles. also include employers' representatives," activity. The strike was important from myself a supporter of the homeland and During last year's strike, the workers at Etmanov said. that standpoint, too, in the minds of the want all ordinary workers to live well in the Ford factory in Spain strove to stop At this moment, there are no rela- activists. my country. That's why I can't stop this Ford's plans to fill the (production) gap tions between the official and indepen- "People understand that there is activity," said Tatiana Etmanova. caused by our strike to bring cars from dent trade unions. power in the movement, and the impor- Spain to Russia," Etrmanov said. "They take care of their own busi- tance of unity," Irina Tkatšenko said. At Economic crisis can activate "The employers' and workers' con- ness and we of ours. There is no open the Ford factory there have been notable Aleksei Etmanov offers three sce- flicts with each other are the same every- confrontation, but the official unions are changes in the consciousness of the narios on how trade union activity in where. Through cooperation unions and trying to establish rival unions in those workers, according to Etmanov. Russia can develop: workers can share their experiences," factories in which there is an indepen- "They are no longer satisfied that "The worst alternative would be added Tatiana Etmanova. dent union already and try to destroy it," the firm gives out New Year's presents, for all labor unions to degenerate into Russia has learned lessons especially said Etmanov. The difference between trips and other such things. They under- pseudo-unions which are totally under from Brazil, Canada and Venezuela, as the two types of unions often remains stand that the union exists just for the the control of the authorities. The second these countries have strong unions in unclear to the rank-and-file workers, reason that it defends the interests of the is that people finally understand that their auto industries. which is a big challenge to the workers concretely," he said. legitimately functioning trade unions Translation: Harry Siitonen. chicago iww Subscribe to the Industrial Worker education department publications Subscribe or renew your Industrial Worker subscription.

³ ,I WK FO H RQO HDU \ H[ WKH ZD\ FOXV OHJD WR RUJD WK LYH O ED QL DWLW UHSUHV UULHU ]H L ZLOO HQ V WR V WR KDSSH WDWLRQ  P  Z Q  W DMRU DLW WR LQRXU KHQ LW\  OLI LW VWDWX HWLP LV XQ V HV´ OLNHO Give a gift that keeps your family or friends thinking. THE UNION ON OUR OWN TERMS ...... $1 7+(  \ -RH 81,21 %HUU\ 21 285 2:1 7(506 A must-read introduction to minority unionism. Composed of  articles written for the Industrial Worker by former General Get 10 issues of working class news and views for: Secretary-Treasurer Alexis Buss. • US $18 for individuals.

E\$ • US $24 for library/institutions. /(;, 6 organizing%866 RGANIZING ALL TO ALL HG O W W ...... $1 LWHGD QGGH VLJQH GE\ -DV RQ.U SDQ • US $20 for international subscriptions. WALL TO W Peter Rachleff’s account of revolutionary industrial unionism ALL in Austin, Minnesota. Inspired by the IWW and lead by former Name: ______Executive Board member Frank Ellis, the Independent Union Address:______of All Workers (IUAW) built a working class movement by  
 organizing every worker in town. City/State/Province:______the chicago idea Zip/Postal Code:______3J½GMEP2I[WPIXXIVSJXLI'LMGEKS+IRIVEP1IQFIVWLMT&VERGL¯-RHYWXVMEP;SVOIVWSJXLI;SVPHˆ:SPYQI-WWYIˆ3GXSFIV 'LMGEKS,SWXW2SVXL%QIVMGER ']GPI'SYVMIV'LEQTMSRWLMTW TEKI 9RPIWWSXLIV[MWIWTIGM½IHEPPQIIXMRKWERHIZIRXWEVI subscribe to the chicago idea XSFILIPHEXXLI 9RMXIH)PIGXVMGEP;SVOIVW,EPP 7SYXL%WLPERH%ZIRYI 'LMGEKS-0 3RI&PSGO2SVXLSJ&PYI0MRIERH- Send this subscription form to: 3RI&PSGO7SYXLSJ+VIIR0MRI 7 'LMGEKS+1& 1IIXWXLI½VWX7YRHE]SJXLIQSRXLEXTQ The offi cial newsletter of the Chicago IWW, The Chicago Idea (IPIKEXIWEZEMPEFPIXSXEOIHYIWEXTQ 'LMGEKS'SYVMIVW³9RMSR 1IIXWXLI½VWXERHXLMVH;IHRIWHE]W SJXLIQSRXLEXTQ is a quarterly publication covering current labor issues in and *IPPS[;SVOIV+PIEWSRWTIEOWEXXLI2%'''0EFSV*SVYQMR+EV½IPH4EVO Industrial Worker Subscriptions, GS'LMGEKS-;; 7SYXL%WLPERH%ZIRYI around Chicago and the Midwest. 'LMGEKS-0 PO Box 23085, Cincinnati OH 45223 USA One Year (Four Issues) ...... $5

8LI'LMGEKS-HIE 3GXSFIV Subscribe to the Industrial Worker today! -RXLMW-WWYI

9RMXIH4MPSXW&PYI*PY T +IRIVEP%WWIQFP]6ITSVX T Send orders with cash, check, or money order payable to the 1MH[IWX;SFJIWX T Chicago IWW • 37 S. Ashland • Chicago IL 60607 Page 12 • Industrial Worker • April 2009 Israeli wildcat strikers kicked out of union By John Kalwaic In northern Israel, Israel Railways workers, who started a wildcat strike on Feb. 5, 2009, were expelled from the Histradrut union confederation, which is the only major labor federation in Israel. The wildcat strike was organized by an unofficial union committee, which His- The IWW formed the International Solidarity Commission to help the union build tradut did not recognize. A court ordered the worker-to-worker solidarity that can lead to effective action against the bosses the workers back to work, but the work- of the world. To contact the ISC, email [email protected]. ers refused to stand down and continued their strike. The following week the lead- ISC endorses resolution on crisis and timber manufacturing communities ers of the wildcat strike were kicked out In March 2009, the ISC endorsed a have seen their homes, sawmills and Graphic: Libcom.org of the federation by the union bosses. resolution put out by the CNT-F about the timber resource destroyed. The fires have worldwide economic crisis: destroyed towns and forests that support “Today’s current crisis of Capital- timber workers across whole areas of Spanish CNT in conflict with Ryanair at Zaragoza ism is placing workers in front of two Victoria. The CFMEU is aiming to raise By John Kalwaic well-defined options: either keep on AUD$1 million through a levy of members The historic anarcho-syndicalist being subjected to an authoritarian and to support those in need. The union has union, know as the CNT, has undergone inegalitarian economic and social system, appealed to unions worldwide to donate a labor dispute with the Ryanair Com- or build up resistances in order to impose in support of union members that have pany in Zaragossa, Spain. The union sec- a fair deal of wealth, and have our rights lost their homes and their jobs. tion of the CNT that represents airport and freedom respected. The ISC will be publicising the appeal workers in Zaragossa is demanding an “The revolutionary syndicalism or and encouraging fellow workers to support end a reduction of hours for airport anarcho-syndicalism we embody means those affected by these devastating fires. workers who work at the airport. This a clear choice. reduction was imposed by Rynair, the “We refuse to keep on negotiating our ITF condemns crackdown on Iran’s British discount company. Graphic: Libcom.org defeats. On the contrary, we want toorga- independent workers’ movement nize our victories. In that perspective, only The International Transport Worker’s inter-professional, renewable and general Federation (ITF) is backing a campaign by U.S. Steel lays off 2,100 in Hamilton, Canada strikes, such as those currently sketched a fellow global union federation to clear By Tom Keough employees by cutting labor costs now. out in a few countries, can help us bend five union leaders in Iran who were arrest- In January 2009, U.S. Steel an- U.S. Steel has recently laid off 3,500 economic and political leaders to our will. ed for standing up for workers’ rights. The nounced “substantially higher fourth workers in Detroit and southern Illinois. Only the flawless international solidarity trade unionists, representing thousands -quarter earnings,” up to $308 million Many large corporations are talking of all workers, from the North to the South, of sugar cane workers at the Haft Tapeh from last year’s $35 million, accord- about the bad economy and demanding and the West to the East, can shatter the Sugar Cane Plantation and Industry Com- ing to a report from AM900 CHML, wage freezes or wage cuts, serious cuts economic and political system which pany in Shush, were summoned to appear an Ontario-based radio station. The in benefits including health care, paid crushes our rights and freedomdaily. before the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Pittsburgh-based steel giant credits vacation days and holidays, and cuts in “Workers’ Unions must take on their Defzul on Dec. 20, 2008. The leaders of the large sales of steel for pipes and "ac- retirement pay and benefits. Many are responsibility and do their utmost to Union of Workers of the Haft Tapeh Sugar quisition related gains" for this huge cutting benefits and pay to retirees and reverse the balance of powers, thus put Plantation—Ali Nejati, Feridoun Nikou- increase. One month after this huge the retirement plans for current employ- an end to this blackmail-with-the-threat- fard, Mohammed Heydari Mehr, Ghorban profit announcement, U.S. Steel also ees. Bonuses, stock options and the huge of-crisis whichleads to policies of social Alipour, Jalil Ahmadi—were arrested and announced they it will indefinitely lay paychecks of the people at the top of destruction. It’s time we stopped com- charged in connection with actions taken off all 2,100 of its employees in their those corporations continue to be riches plaining about the“excesses of liberalism” by workers in 2007 over unpaid wages and Hamilton operations. This is in addition beyond belief. or accepting “reform through negotiation.” in defence of basic workplace rights. to their layoff of more than 700 work- Ontario has been hit by many layoffs It’s time westopped believing in “political The union is a member of the global ers in November. Hamilton is hit hard but with a much stronger, larger and changeovers” or “social dialogue.” It’s time union federation, the International Union by recent layoffs in the Arcelor Mittal more active labor movement than the we took action! of Food (IUF), and the International Trade Dofasco steel operations, which is a U.S. Workers there are used to many “Because we hold for true that exploi- Union Confederation, both of which are competitor to U.S. Steel. advantages that U.S. citizens only dream tation has lasted too long; because we’re lobbying for a “not guilty” verdict. The ITF U.S. Steel said that the reason for of. These include the well known health fed upof working faster and harder day is supporting the campaign and backing the layoffs is that the economy is bad in care system and better schools. Ontario after day to increase their profit; because the emergence of an independent work- general, and in the future they expect a is raising the minimum wage to $9.50 wedemand the right to health, educa- ers’ movement in Iran, of which the ITF- loss of sales and profits. They are pass- on March 31, and by 2010 the minimum tion, quality public transport; because affiliated Tehran Bus Workers’ Union is ing these future profit losses onto the wage will be $10.25. we demandthe right for all to go about a part; the leaders of the union, Mansour freely without countries no borders; for Osanloo and and Ebrahim Madadi, remain all thesereasons and for many more, we in detention. Workers in Kherson, Ukraine seize their plant call for the building up of a class union- ITF Inland Transport Section Secre- By John Kalwaic without compensation to the owner, ism : revolutionary, anti-capitalist and tary, Mac Urata, commented: “The ITF is Workers at a harvesting machine state-secured plant production and high- anti-authoritarian; the only unionism in fully behind the IUF and the sugar cane building plant in Kherson, Ukraine, have quality machinery. Workers claim that aposition to reverse the balance of powers. plantation trade unionists. These arrests seized their workplace in a bid to keep it they will turn to more severe forms of “For we assert, without beating clearly show that an independent workers’ open. The plant in Kherson is 120 years protest if their demands are not met. On about the bush, that the ground of all movement is growing in Iran, which is old—it has a rich history and is one of Feb. 2, 2009, 300 workers protested that social,political, international or environ- why the authorities are taking measures the oldest plants in Ukraine. The plant their wages had not been paid since Sep- ment crisis is Capitalism. For we assert to crackdown on trade unionists. Our col- has changed hands many times since the tember 2008. The workers elected a five- thatbehind the logic of profit lies a logic of leagues from the Tehran Bus Union are fall of the Soviet Union, and it continues person workers council to have meetings death. Let’s put an end to Capitalismwhen not an isolated case.” to be in jeopardy. The main demands with the bosses and list their demands. it’s still time to do so! Through union and of the workers are: payment of wage Both communists and anarchist activists social struggle, let’s impose another social Starbucks Workers Union proposes arrears, (almost 4.5 million Ukrainian have come out to support the workers of model, freer, fairer; to make sure our fu- international union coordination hryvnias), nationalization of the plant the Kherson Plant. ture is not a worse version of our present.” Since 2004, a number of unions around the world have been organizing Wobbly Art Corner: “Work ‘n Class” CFMEU appeal for solidarity—Aus- Starbucks workers at in the United States, tralian bushfires New Zealand, Spain, and France laying the by Jason Krpan and Amanda Gross The Construction, Forestry, Mining foundation for a truly global labor move- & Energy Union (CFMEU) is appealing ment. The IWW Starbucks Workers Union for assistance following the devastating sees this as a tremendous opportunity for bushfires that are still burning across to globalize solidarity in the wake of glo- Victoria in southeast Australia. Over 180 balizing capital. Now is the time to build people have been killed as fires burn out an International Starbucks Workers Union of control across many rural areas, some to coordinate organizing on a global scale. deliberately lit. Thousands of homes have Invitations are being sent to independent been destroyed. unions to affiliate to the international. One CFMEU member is confirmed The International will run a multilin- killed. Many members have seen their gual web portal for organizing at Starbucks livelihoods threatened as timber growing and coordinate actions on a global scale. Support international solidarity! Assessments for $3, $6 are available from your delegate or IWW headquarters PO Box 23085, Cincinnati, OH 45223-3085, USA.