• AUSTRAUA $2.00 • BARBADOS $2.00 • BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA$2.00 • FRANCE FF10 • ICELAND Kr150 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr10 • UK £1.00 • U.S. $1 .50 INSIDE Striking Rhode Island teachers defy jailings to win victory THE -PAGES A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL 56/NO 36 October 9. 1992 Socialist candidate Sweden recesszon• joins picket line with brings on fighting airline workers austerity BY MATILDE ZIMMERMANN measures SEATILE - Alaska Airlines workers here, involved in a sharp contract dispute BY CARL-ERIK ISACSSON with a concession-hungry company, are or­ STOCKHOLM, Sweden-Sweden has ganizing to mobilize their own ranks and been thrust into a political crisis in recent reach out to other workers. Dozens of them weeks as the central bank and government took advantage of the three-day visit of have raised interest rates and proposed aus­ James Warren to hear what the socialist terity measures in response to the recession candidate for president had to say and dis­ and the European currency crash. cuss issues that have come up in their own "This is a crisis for the capitalists, it is a struggle. crisis of their economic system. It is not our Most of the workers at Alaska are mem­ crisis," explained a statement issued by the bers of the International Association of Communist League in Sweden. "It means Machinists (lAM), which organized an ail­ an opportunity and a necessity for working day picket and human billboard alongside people in Sweden, together with workers a busy highway at the airport September and farmers all over the world, to build 25. Organizers estimated that 500 people solidarity to fight for our rights." participated in the course of the day, with After the Finnish currency was devalued never less than I 00 in attendance. Warren 13 percent September 8, for the second time walked the picket line for more than an in less than a year, the Swedish krona came hour, was introduced to at least half the under heavy pressure. The central bank raised workers there, and got into a wide range of interest rates - ftrSt to 75 percent and later discussions. Militant/Harvey McArthur to 500 percent - to stop currency from being "It's a world economy, and they want to James Wlrren (second from rigbt) joins picket line with Alaska Airlines workers. taken out of the country. bring us down to Third World level instead Both Sweden and Finland have been of bringing the others up," a mechanic with drawn into the worldwide depression. 25 years at Alaska told Warren. "Ifthey have A long-time union fighter who is also an Flight Attendants, said proudly that 50 Growth rates are negative for the second to destroy a million people, they will," elder of the Haida Native American nation Alaska flight attendants had come to the year in a row. Unemployment is up agreed his friend, "with guns or economi­ in Kotzebue. Alaska, said "without the picket during the course of the day. Warren sharply. In Sweden the unemployment rate cally." A baggage handler told the presiden­ union, we· d be completely sunk"-a talked to workers about his recent trip to increased from 1.2 percent at the beginning tial candidate his relatives in Missouri were theme repeated by the other workers. Gail Cuba, about what happened in the Soviet of 1990 to 7 percent today. Finland's un- miners on strike for safety reasons. Bigelow, a leader of the Association of Continued on Page 9 Continued on Page 3 United Auto Workers union strikes Immigration giant Michigan car assembly plant cops arrest

BYJOHNSARGE spills and fires in the plant where the com­ 300 Nebraska LANSING, Michigan- In response to pany refused to evacuate people or even stop increasingly harsh moves by General Mo­ production." tors (GM) to cut jobs, 4,200 members of A trim-shop worker at another gate ex­ meat-packers United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 602 plained that his department superintendent struck the auto giant's Lansing car assembly had told his crew that management plans to BY SARA LOBMAN plant Saturday. September 26. reorganize jobs so that people on the line Three hundred and seven workers were UAW members walked out at 10:00 a.m., would have 57 seconds of work every min­ arrested when more than 200 armed federal, in the middle of the day shift, after GM had ute. He has been told that the company's state, and local cops, some from as far away refused for months to negotiate over a long goal "is to produce this car in 26.6 hours. as Alaska and Puerto Rico, invaded the list of local grievances. Local union vice­ Now it takes between 29 and 30 hours. Monfort packinghouse in Grand Island, Ne­ president Jim Frazier explained that the When we started it was over 35 hours." braska the evening of September 22. The fight was "over manpower standards, over­ As part of GM's downsizing and speed­ workers were charged with using counterfeit loading of jobs, health and safety issues, and up drive, they cut 350 jobs in August by identification cards to get jobs. the moves by the company to cut jobs." switching from tag relief breaks to a mass This is the largest number of arrests in an This is the second strike involving local relief system. The new system, where all immigration raid since the Immigration Re­ issues to hit GM in a month. On August 27, workers take their breaks simultaneously, form and Control Act went into effect in 2400 members of UAW Local 1714 struck eliminates the relief jobs. Some of the work 1986. Hundreds of employees were indis­ the Lordstown, Ohio, metal fabrication of relief people is being shifted onto line criminately seized during a work break and plant. After a nine-day strike that idled more workers. herded into the cafeteria. Guards surrounded than 42,000 GM workers and thousands of GM has big stakes in this confrontation. the plant so that no one could enter or leave. other auto parts workers, the company was The Detroit Free Press reports that GM is A helicopter and dogs were used to hunt forced to back down on immediate job cuts motivated, in part, by a desire to show in­ down workers trying to escape. The raid in the plant. The Lansing plant was down vestors that it will not abandon its downsiz­ started at 6:00 p.m. and the last busload of one day during the Lordstown strike. ing plans in the face ofUAW pressure. Last arrested workers left at about 3:00 a.m. According to older workers on the picket December GM announced plans to cut Those suspected of lacking valid immigra­ line, this is the frrst strike in this plant since 75,000 jobs, with 51,000 union jobs going tion work cards were handcuffed and bused 1970, when the local was out 69 days. in the next couple of years. to a temporary jail set up at the Nebraska Workers walking the picket lines de­ An unnamed company official was National Guard Armory. scribed conditions in the plant as bad and quoted by the Free Press as saying, "Hell. On Wednesday, 145 of those arrested had deteriorating rapidly. A doorfitter at the if we have to draw a line in the sand some­ already been placed on buses and planes for plant's main entrance, one of over a dozen where, why don't we just go ahead and draw deportation to Mexico. By Saturday, virtu­ pickets covering this entrance, explained it now?" ally all 307 workers had been deported. that the strike is "not about money, it's about This strike comes one week after GM The immigration cops left a list of 163 Auto workers picket General Motors as­ pride, dignity, safety, and jobs." He went on announced that it is slashing white-collar day-shift workers with the company, claim­ sembly plant in Lansing, Michigan. to explain that there have been "chemical Continued on Page 11 Continued on Page 12 Nicaraguan peasants fight for land - page 8 ~ IN ~ BRIEf ______Germany and Japan seek UN 46,900 more children died medicine. The war, which began in 1983, Security Council seats in the frrst seven months of has intensified recently, displacing more 1991 than would be ex­ than one million people in the last six Gennan foreign minister Klaus Kinkel pected based on child mor­ months. The United Nations is planning told the United Nations General Assembly tality figures in the years to fly food and supplies to 20 cities. September 23 that Bonn wants a pennanent preceding the war. The re­ seat on the UN Security Council. Kinkel searchers said their fi nd­ Mass arrests in Peru said that Gennany would change its consti­ ings confinn that "the tutional restrictions on use of its military so casualties of war extend far Police and army troops in Peru have been Gennan soldiers could take part in UN mil­ beyond those caused by making sweeps throughout Peru arresting itary operations. Kinkel's statement came warfare." hundreds of people accused of being sym­ one day after Japanese foreign minister Meanwhile, the United pathizers of Sendero Luminoso, or Shining Michio Watanabe indicated to the General States, Britain, and France Path. "They're sti ll grabbing people. Assembly for the second year in a row that have reached agreement on They're razing various places," said fonner Tokyo feels that Japan's economic impor­ a draft UN resolution that army colonel Jose Bailetti, describing an tance merits a pennanent Security Council could lead to the seizure of aggressive government campaign that is di­ seat by 1995. The U.S. government has $1 .6 billion in frozen lraqi rected against Peru's workers and peasants. opposed any discussion on changing the assets. Earlier this year The government is using the recent arrest body, saying it fears the possibility of even Washington made a proposal of Shining Path leader Abimael Guzman to more sweeping changes. to seize all frozen Iraqi as­ Six hundred Japanese troops arrived in Cambodia Sep­ justify the sweeps, under the guise of mak­ ing more progress in ending the war be­ Russian debts block new loans sets, more than $4 billion. tember 25 to join the United Nations force there, the ftrst However, many govern­ Japanese soldiers overseas since W>rld W..r II. Japan and tween the armed forces and Guzman's Russian deputy prime minister Aleksandr ments were unwilling to re­

2 The Militant October 9, 1992 Currency turmoil in Britain exposes fact that economy has sunk into depression

BY JONATHAN SILBERMAN government, sharpening already existing their wealth from profits SHEFFIELD, England - Behind the tensions within the ruling Conservative from overseas investments. turmoil of the September 16 devaluation Party and wealthy circles concerning the Those who engage in such of the pound, interest rate movements, and government's attitude to the European Com­ investments, prefer high in­ the shifting sands of Britain's relations munity and moves toward European eco­ terest rates capable of en­ with the European Community and other nomic and political union. More than 70 suring a strong pound. capitalist powers, lies an unavoidable fact: Conservative legislators have signed a mo­ Other corporations, which the British capitalist economy has sunk tion in the House of Commons calling for a need cheap credit to allow into depression. "fresh start to economic policy." them to be price-competi­ The government and capitalist money­ While only recently Prime Minister John tive in international trade, bags are seeking to make working people Major was publicly musing about when the demand lower rates. pay for their crisis. Official unemployment pound might displace the German mark as The chairman ofthe Guin­ jumped 47,000 to 2.8 million in July, the the main currency in Europe, the govern­ ness brewing company an­ 28th consecutive monthly rise. British Aero­ ment has now been forced to withdraw the nounced in a BBC radio in­ space, Rolls Royce, and Ford all announced pound from the European Monetary Sys­ terview that 85 percent of the job cuts in late September, totaling 5.000 tem. company's revenue came jobs. Other massive job cuts planned include A growing number of politicians, such as from exports, so Guinness 25,000 miners later this year. member of Parliament government and for­ would benefit from the de­ Over the past year the majority of work­ mer government minister David Howell, valuation. which will make ing people have experienced a reduction in have openly declared that the Maastricht their commodity cheaper for their real wages. Treaty, the agreement on political union in overseas buyers. But for im­ Attacks on workers' li ving standards will Europe that 12 governments signed last porters the devaluation will increase as a result of measures announced year, is dead. force up prices, eating into by the government September 25. The gov­ Anthony Newton, a leader of the House their profits. ernment said it would maintain its "anti-in­ of Commons, spoke for the government in In these debates on the flationary" stance. This had previously been the face of such pressure: "We are all agreed economic crisis between dif­ guaranteed th rough Britain's participation in that we want to see a Europe in which more ferent sets of capitalist mag­ the European Monetary System (EMS) and emphasis is put on the development of co­ nates and politicians. no the high interest rates associated with sup­ operation between national governments force is speaking in the inter­ porting the pound. rather than doing things through centralized ests of working people. Economic crisis has hit weaker imperialist economies such Now that Britain pulled out of the EMS bureaucratic structures." For a while, ru­ Labour Party leader John as Britain, Italy, and Sweden especially hard. Above, work­ and devalued the pound by nearly 10 per­ mors circulated that former prime minister Smith argued in the Sep­ ers in Italy protest government a usterity actions. cent, many weaker capitalist companies Margaret Thatcher, ousted because of her tember 25 emergency par­ have been calling for a cut in interest rates stance against European union, might be liamentary debate on the to 6 percent or lower. Confronted by declin­ taken back into the government. crisis that the solution was for rapid re-entry strikes and protests by union members in ing revenue, they are looking for cheaper into the European Monetary System com­ the face of attacks on their living standards, credit. The government has refused to cut Germany and France bined with some measures to stimulate the with the result that the number of strikes has interest rates below 9 percent. In response, the governments of Germany domestic economy, such as investment in­ fallen. Days lost due to strike action in the As pa.rt of the drive to make working and France have threatened to move toward centives and training. first seven months of the year stood at people pay for the crisis, a cabinet commit­ economic and political union, leaving other On the other hand, Labour member of 500,000, the ·lowest annual total since re­ tee is now considering ways of cutting back members ofthe European community behind. Parliament Dennis Healy made a joint call cords began in 1920. public spending. The cutbacks will inevita­ Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman with former Thatcher government member But in the plants and the mines, there bly hit health, education, and other social Lamont has been beating the patriotic Cecil Parkinson for the government to in­ are continuing skirmishes in the face of spending. drum, calling for a "British policy in Brit­ crease taxes. Member of Parliament Tony employer attacks. Direct action by bosses For the last two years, government ish interests." Government ministers and Benn, a leader of the left wing of the Labour to impose wage cuts on unionized workers spokespeople have made frequent predic­ members of Parliament of the Conserva­ Party, is campaigning noisily for a referen­ have been extremely rare in Britain. A tions that Britain was emerging from the tive and Labour parties alike have targeted dum on the Maastricht Treaty. recent attempt to do so by management at recession. These announcements have tailed Germany in a campaign of nationalist pro­ The Trade Union Congress, at its annual River Don stampings in Sheffield was met off as official government figures reveal paganda. gathering in Blackpool at the beginning of by a successful three-week strike. Local them to be false. Capitalist political com­ Behind the debates in ruling circles lie September. adopted an emergency motion government workers here called a strike mentators are increasingly concluding that genuine conflicts of interest. Britain's capi­ calling on the government to devalue the for September 28 to protest planned job any recovery that may come in 1993 or 1994 talist rulers gain a relatively large amount of pound. Trade union officials have opposed cuts. will be shallow. Total output, known as the Gross Domes­ tic Product, has dropped steadily for the past two years. Swedish crisis leads to austerity measures

Pound collapses Continued from front page ist parties. campaigned for "national unity" groups such as those with long-term This reality lay behind the massive out­ employment went from 4 percent to 15 in face of the financial crisis. The Social illnesses, retired people, and many of those flow of funds which led to the pound's percent during the same time. Democratic Party, which was ousted from in the countryside. But the government is collapse. An estimated 10 billion pounds ( I the government last September, was called just preparing for even harder blows against pound = US $1.70) flowed out in one day. Banks collapse on to negotiate austerity measures to defend broader groups of workers." equivalent to half Britain's currency re­ Two of Sweden's largest banks were re­ the krona. In addition to the announced austerity serves. This was not the work of speculative cently rescued by the government and a The government and the Social Dem­ measures the employers' association is traders alone, but action by banks and fi­ third. Gota Bank, has just gone into bank­ ocrats, the party that supposedly represents pushing for less taxes and more subsidies. nance houses that concentrate in their hands ruptcy. A dramatic drop in the stock market the interests of working people, agreed on They have also called for cutting wages by the money capital of giant corporations. since 1990 has caused heavy credit losses severe cutbacks September 19-20. The 10 percent in (:Ompanies wjth low profits, The 10 biggest of these financial institu­ in the banking system. package is designed to pump 40 billion negotiations on a company-by-company tions hold a combined market share of 44 Major insurance companies such as Scan­ kronor ($7.3 billion) into the state coffers to basis, and no-strike pledges. percent of currency dealings in London, dia and Trygg-Hansa, with substantial assets stabilize the economy and prevent a deval­ Former Social Democratic finance min­ which is the world's biggest foreign ex­ in commercial real estate and stocks. have uation of the krona. ister Allan Larsson stated that there is no change center. London accounts for 30 per­ also suffered big losses in credit insurance All major parties have come out in sup­ room for wage increases. Political com­ cent of the $ 1.7 trillion that is traded every on bad bank loans. port of the measures announced to protect mentators in the big-business press have day in the international currency markets. The weakness of the financial institutions the krona. Old-age pensions will be reduced. hailed the pact between the government These big corporations and finance in Sweden and other countries in Scandina­ Child benefit increases will be postponed. and the Social Democrats as a milestone houses took their lead from rumors spread via has caused capitalists operating in the Housing subsidies will be slashed. Sickness in Swedish politics. by the head of Germany's central bank. international currency markets to stay away benefits will be lowered. "It means that politicians have obeyed the Helmut Schlesinger, that a devaluation of from the Swedish krona. Taxes on gasoline will be raised I krona broad mandate from the voters to take re­ the pound was imminent. The British rulers, The traditional markets for the relatively per liter (about 20 cents a liter or 80 cents sponsibility for the whole country rather who have relied on their relationship as a strong Swedish capitalists- Scandinavia, a gallon) and the price is already above than their party," stated the conservative junior partner of the United States to North America, Eastern Europe. and many $4 a gallon. Taxes on a pack of cigarettes newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. strengthen their hand in Europe, found countries in the Third World -have shrunk will go up 60 cents and they already cost themselves on their own as U.S. traders considerably due to worldwide depression $5 a pack. Protests planned sought to cash in on this crisis. conditions. Competition for these markets The government says it will spend $2 Several months ago the unions called for Simon Andrews of the Bank of America has sharpened considerably, especially be­ billion on jobs but in reality what it is nationwide protest demonstrations on Octo­ went on television to boast: "We have had tween Sweden and Germany. talking about is increased subsidies to the ber 6, the opening of the fall session of a good day. Selling half a billion pounds To counter the economic weight of Ger­ employers. parliament. This had been when austerity made us a clear 10 million pounds profit." many, the Swedish government is seeking The government and the Social Demo­ measures were to be announced. Up to now As a result of the perceived weakness of closer relations with Washington. The rulers cratic opposition have also come to an the government and the Social Democratic the British economy, international investors of Sweden hope to show the United States agreement that sick pay and occupational opposition have not been able to whip up are now shying away from Britain. A deval­ and other imperialist powers in Europe that it injury insurance be taken out of the state nationalism enough to force the unions to ued pound should make Britain an attractive is a power to count on militarily in the strate­ treasury and transferred to employers and call off the protests. proposition because overseas investors can gically important Baltic Sea.They also seek unions to be negotiated, fmanced, and ad­ " It is important that we show our soli­ buy in cheap. but U.S. and Japanese finan­ to demonstrate Sweden's political weight as ministered. The shift of social security darity with those who are bit hardest now," cial institutions have expressed caution the chair of the Conference on Security and from the state to the unions and the em­ says the Communist League statement. about Britain 's prospects. Eiji Arima, man­ Cooperation in Europe, and it's economic ployers is supposed to begin in 1995. If "We have to protest, disregarding the false ager of foreign exchange at Nippon Life weight by becoming more competitive implemented it will weaken the protection talk that it is ' the country' at stake, and Insurance, said the company is "negative through drastically lowering social spending. of the unemployed, youth, women, and disregarding the position of the Social De­ about investment in the U.K. [United King­ immigrants. mocracy and those who say they represent dom]. We think it will take a long time for Austerity package 'The crisis package is an expression of the working people. We must seize the the U.K. economy to recover." As interest rates soared the employers and cowardice," the Communist League state­ opportunity to protest at the announced The crisis of the pound has hit the British the national government, run by the capital- ment explains. "It hits hardest at the weakest demonstrations on October 6."

October 9, 1992 The Militant 3 George Novack Reconstruction Fund Novack remembered as a revolutionary

The George Novack Recon­ The fund finances the recon­ role in leading fights for democratic struction Fund was launched in struction project taking place in the rights, organizing fund-raising ef­ August at the International So­ Pathfinder bui lding in New York forts that made it possible to publish PLEDGED PAID % PAID cialist Conference in Oberlin, City, which is pictured at the top of writings of revolutionary leaders Slloulilbe31 % Ohio. The aim of the fund is to the graph showing how much mon­ like Leon Trotsky and Malcolm X, UNITED STATES raise more than $150,000 by De­ ey has been collected. The building and in other ways playing an active ATLANTA $5,500 500 9 cember 1. is the home of Pathfinder Press, as part in the class struggle. BALTIMORE 4,500 550 13 This effort is part of the ln­ well as the Militant and other so­ Novack was also a gifted writer, BIRMINGHAM 3,000 0 0 ternational Expansion Fund, cialist publications. The fund is cru­ popularizing the ideas of Marxism BOSTON 6,000 930 16 launched in 1990, which makes cial to ensuring that the reconstruc­ and making them more accessible CHICAGO 6,500 1,020 16 possible major capital expendi­ tion project continues. for workers and young people CINCINNATI 1,500 0 0 tures designed to strengthen the Supporters of the fund in San looking for a way to fight, Jenness CLEVELAND 4,200 500 12 communist movement's ability to Francisco held a meeting on Sep­ explained. "Novack wrote for DES MOINES 3,500 25 1 produce the arsenal of books and tember 20 to celebrate Novack's life thinking workers, for radicalizing DETROIT 7.000 750 11 periodicals needed by working­ and contributions to the working­ students, not for the so-called in­ GREENSBORO 3,000 400 13 class fighters. class and socialist movements. Jav­ tellectuals," Jenness added. "You HOUSTON 6,000 225 4 ier Aravena, a young worker who can tell this, because you can un­ LOS ANGELES 15,000 380 3 BY JOHN COX volunteered to work on the recon­ derstand his books." MIAMI 3,250 150 5 The George Novack Fund struction brigade over the summer, Jenness concluded his talk by MORGANTOWN 3,000 235 8 slipped further behind this week in gave a brief talk on his experience. saying, "The biggest lesson of this NEW HAVEN 500 50 10 relation to where it should be by this Doug Jenness, chairperson of the century is not that struggles will NEW YORK 15,000 1,259 9 stage of the fundraising effort. A Socialist Workers Party in Twin Cit­ occur, or that periods of quies­ NEWARK 12,000 635 6 total of $2,671 was sent in to the ies and former editor of theMilitant, cence will be short-lived. The Jes­ PHILADELPHIA 4,000 1,001 26 fund in the past week. To reach the gave the main presentation. son is the indispensable role of PITTSBURGH 4,500 100 3 total pledged in the remaining eight Jenness said that while "the advanced detachments - soldiers PORTLAND 750 0 0 weeks, an average of at least young generation may know No­ of the revolution - who have ST. LOUIS 6,500 406 7 $ 18,000 will have to be sent in each vack as a 'socialist scholar'," his learned, and can see farther and SALT LAKE CllY 6,500 681 11 week. more important contribution was his more clearly," a lesson that "was SAN FRANCISCO 12,000 2,235 19 affirmed by the Russian revolution SEATTLE 6,000 1,105 19 of 1917 and by the absence of TWIN CITIES 9.500 1,2.90 14 I these advanced detachments in WASHINGTON, D.C. 4.500 0 0 pledge ... other revolutions and revolution­ U.S. TOTAL 153,700 14,427 10 ary openings of the last 70 years." AUSTRALIA 650 0 0 0 $1000 0 $500 0 $250 0 $100 0 $ other __ Some 50 people attended the BELGIUM 1,100 1,100 100 meeting, and $1,650 was pledged BRITAIN 1,860 300 16 NAME ------to the Novack fund, including the CANADA 2,905 340 12 ADDRESS ______$1,175 that was collected. Sup­ FRANCE 1,030 1,030 100 GERMANY 1,429 1,429 CITY ____ ZIP ___ COUNTRY ____ porters of the fund in San Fran­ 100 cisco have exceeded their goal for NEW ZEALAND 710 540 76 PHONE ______pledges and have collected $4,425. SWEDEN 2,50 1,100 45 Send to the George Novack Reconstruction Fund, TOTAL $165,834 $20,2&6 14 406 West Street, New York, NY 1 0014 Paul Montauk in San Francisco contributed to this article. Britain: miner hit by violent attack wins support

BY JOHN SMITH at the Thoresby coal mine where he works. sues are discussed, opinion has been moving me; and ask everyone to keep up the pres­ SHEFFIELD. England - "We support In the past week, Thoresby union officers in his favor. Galloway reports that those sure, so together we can defeat anti-union your decision to take a stand against the have received letters urging union action who carried out the attacks are feeling "very violence and win a victory for solidarity brutal attack against you. For workmates to from members of International Association uncomfortable." Two UDM members said between working people." make such a degrading attack only helps the of Machinists, Lodge 869 at Rolls Royce in they would have gone straight to manage­ Messages of support to Paul Galloway employers divide and weaken us all. By Montreal; Andre Doucet, a Montreal hospi­ ment, but they "admired the way you and can be sent to him, c/o Pathfinder Book­ taking such a stand you are showing us all tal worker; Wayne Metcalfe, trade union your paper are taking this up" by calling on shop, I Gower Street, Sheffield, S4 7HA. that we should unite and stand together." convenor at Brooke Bond Foods in Man­ the unions, not the management, to bring his England. This was the message from 11 workers at chester, England; union officials and work­ attackers to order. Messages of protest against the attack G.E. Lighting, London, to Paul Galloway, a ers at Hawker Siddeley Power Transformers The newspaper to which they referred is should be sent to: UDM Office, British miner who was violently and sexually ~­ in London; 12 rail workers at Waterloo sta­ the Militant, which receives a good recep­ Coal,. Thoresby Colliery, Ollerton Road, saulted August 6 by eight other miners be­ tion, London; and others. Letters have ar­ tion when it is sold every week at the pit­ Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, England, cause of his political and union activity. Mes­ rived from Spain, Canada, the United States, head. NG21 9PS (tel: 0623-822238) and to NUM sages supporting Paul are arriving daily, and and Sweden. 1n this situation, the letters arriving from Thoresby Branch. c/o Keith Stanley, 24 so are letters to branch officers of the Na­ Paul Galloway's decision to take a public workers around the world are having a real Samson Street, Kirby in Ashfield, tional Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and stand has opened a big discussion among effe.ct. Galloway says "I would like to thank Nottinghamshire, England NG 17 9HT. Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) miners at the Thoresby colliery. As the is- all who have sent letters to the NUM and Please send copies to Paul Galloway at the UDM and personal messages of support to above address.

The fight to put socialists on the ballot in 1992 Nebraska state investigation WISCONSIN targets socialist campaigner

BYJOHN STUDER A third they say is invented, because they After ruling James Warren and Estelle couldn't read it. Campaign supporters report DeBates, socialist candidates for president that they have found this name and correct and vice-president of the United States, off address as it appeared on the petition, in the the ballot, Nebraska state officials are step­ phone book, and that at least one of the other ping up an attack on the Socialist Workers signatures is so difficult to read that it could campaign. be a different name. On September 21 the District Court of The socialist campaign has responded by Lancaster County granted an order, de­ organizing public meetings in Lincoln and manded by Lincoln, Nebraska, police offi­ Omaha, Nebraska. At the meeting in Omaha cials, ordering Doug Lee-Regier, a cam­ September 26, participants discussed how paign supporter and petition circulator; to to fight the attacks. Hector Marroquin, na­ appear before the Technical Investigations tional co-chair of the Socialist Workers Unit of the police department to provide a 1992 Campaign, linked the attack on the handwriting sample. socialist campaign to a series of ruling-class Election officials have publicly accused attacks in the state, pointing to the immigra­ Lee-Regier of forgery and false statements. tion raid at the Monfort packinghouse in Supponers of the Socialist Workers 1992 Campaign are petitioning to put James Warren for U.S. He has not yet been charged with any crime, Grand Island on September 22. president and Estelle DeBates for vice-president on the ballot in 18 states and the District of Columbia. but the court order is the result of a police In addition, effons are under way to place on the ballot socialist candidates for Congress and Senate in investigation prompted by election officials' Almost 4,000 people signed nominating many of those states plus Aorida, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, where antidemocratic petitions in Nebraska to place the socialist restrictions have made petitioning for the socialist presidential candidates prohibitive for the 1992 charges. Lee-Regier is threatened with fel­ elections. ony charges, publishable by up to 25 years candidates on the ballot. Election officials ruled the campaign off the ballot, claiming On the ballot in prison and a $25,000 fine. that only 836 of these signatures were valid. Ballot fight under way. Officials point to three names they claim were forged. They say one individual's Petitioning is completed name is on a petition, but that this person John Studer is a member ofUAW Loca/270 Militant map by Eric Simpson says he never signed; another signature they and works at Fawn Manufacturing in Des claim is that of a person who died last year. Moines, Iowa.

4 The Militant October 9, 1992 Jailing of 18 strikers fails to break Rhode Island schoolteachers BY ROSALINDE HOWELL fined $200 dollars for each day on strike, WARWICK, Rhode Island-A 13-day and threatened to seek replacements if the teachers' strike, which led to the jailing of teachers did not immediately return to work. 18 teachers including 6 union leaders, ended I..aterthatday, city and school officials filed in a victory here September 15. a contempt-of-court order against the teach­ The 990membersofthe Warwick Teachers ers. Twenty teachers were subpoenaed. Nine­ Union (WTU) began their strike September teen of them faced Pederzani in a courtroom I . School officials demanded that they accept packed full of their supporters. When Edith a contract that included increased class sizes, Petrarca, a teacher and union officer, was a three-year pay freeze, elimination of art and asked if she was willing to accept the conse­ music programs, and substantial layoffs. quences of defying the court order, she stated This strike was the second round in an resolutely, "I'm prepared to deal with that." ongoing battle between the teachers' union Eighteen of the 19 unionists, including and the Warwick School Committee. Last WTU president Mary Pendergast, were sen­ year the teachers· union conducted a four­ tenced to indefmite jail terms at the Adult Militant/John Sarge day strike when the School Committee of­ Correctional Institute, the state prison in Detroit teachers, who went on strike August 31, defied a court order to return to fered the WTU a similar contract. That Cranston. The unionists were also ordered to work September 24. As the order was read to the union meeting, the 5,000 teachers strike ended when school officials agreed to pay fines of $300 dollars a day. present walked out. Picket lines were in place the same day. T hree days later, a further negotiations under the direction of a The 18 teachers were led away to the roar tentative contract agreement was reached. A meeting of 2,000 union members state labor arbitrator. of applause from the crowd of strike sup­ voted almost unanimously to return to work. Teachers will vote on the proposal A new contract was never finalized, how­ porters in the courtroom. Outside the court­ October S-7. ever. Teachers here have been working with­ house, fellow strikers flanked the police cars out a contract since the summer of 1991. transporting the teachers to jail and marched After teachers walked out September 1, in solidarity to the state prison. sured teachers their previous wages and med­ Addressing the crowd, striking teacher the Warwick School Committee promptly ical coverage, smaller classes, and increased Myron Rekrut stated, "A lesson has been went to court claiming the strike was caus­ Judge backs down hiring. The union leadership agreed and the learned. Those who thought they'd break us ing 12,000 students "irreparable harm" and Another 50 teachers were then subpoenaed 50 subpoenaed teachers were not jailed. with threats and delays were wrong." was illegal. and ordered to appear in court September 14. Minutes later the teachers jailed earlier Some teachers pointed out that they had On September 9, Judge Paul Pederzani When all 50 subpoenaed teachers appeared emerged from the courthouse and joined the never hoped to win such a favorable contract Jr., ordered teachers to return to their class­ in court, solidiy behind the strike and prepared crowd of 400 students, parents, teachers, at the bargaining table. "This is a big victory rooms the following day. Teachers defied to go to jail, Pederzani backed down. and other unionists, including Teamsters, because we stuck together," stated Jaime Ho­ the court order, picketing outside their class­ He proposed that the teachers return to telephone workers, and nurses. Many rowitz. In a meeting later that night 900 rooms. In response, Mayor Charles Dono­ work under the expired contract while nego­ flashed the "V" sign for victory, to the enthusiastic WTU members agreed by an van demanded that each striking teacher be tiations continue. The expired agreement as- cheers of supporters. unanimous vote to return to work. 'Depression mentality' dominates U.S. farming BY DEREK BRACEY dropped dramatically. "We're farming with old cows, old ma­ ness at a Chicago hotel." Family farms in the United States have A national survey showed that farmers are chines, and old buildings," said Harry A major reason for the decline in borrow­ undergone significant changes as a result now using only 40 percent of their borrow­ Tucker, a farm management specialist in ing has been an increased reluctance by of the massive crisis of the last decade. ing capacity, down from 95 percent in 1981. Iowa. The average U.S. tractor now is a banks to lend money. Farm banks are lend­ Farmers were brutalized by the drive by As many farmers had their land taken away record 19 years old. The decline in buying ing only 54 percent of their deposits, com­ the big bankers and the government to to pay their debts, they were forced to rent by farmers has had a significant adverse pared with 74 percent for the banking indus­ make them pay for the debt crisis, and now to continue farming. Now, more than 42 impact on companies that sell farm equip­ try as a whole. many are faced with unwillingness on the percent of farm land is rented, up from 35 ment and supplies. Many banks have harsher lending poli­ part of the banks to provide loans or other percent in 1970. Analyzing this, the Wall Street Journal cies than before. It is common for a bank to assistance. Last fall, wheat growers planted less article says, "Manufacturers say their equip­ require a 40 percent down payment to buy As a result, there has been a shift in land than economists expected, despite the ment wasn't designed to last so long. They land, compared with 25 percent before the farming practices by many working farmers. fact that crop prices were rising as stock­ expected the combination of three years of farm crisis. Farm activists note that one­ A recent Wall Street Journal report detailed piles hit their lowest levels since 1973. strong farm incomes and aging equipment third of borrowers from a decade ago would some of the changes. The most dramatic Cattle herds have not expanded either, de­ to ignite sales this year. But business hasn't not qualify today. Farm banks have recently change is that carrying out farm operations spite recent stronger prices. "What we are recovered as expected. Disappointing sec­ been maintaining higher interest rates than through taking out loans, once used by most dealing with is a depression mentality," ond-quarter sales prompted a hasty late-July other banks. working farmers to fmance nearly every­ said Jim Ryan, an Agriculture Department meeting of the companies' executives and The Journal notes, "Several years ago, thing from planting to harvesting, has economist. farm groups to discuss farmers • tightfisted- farm bankers typically sealed deals over the phone. Lending rules are a lot stricter now at ... Davis County Savings Bank [in Bloomfield, Iowa). There, Doran Ryan, a Myanmar rulers proclaim end to martial law vice president, uses a desktop computer to figure out whether a farmer can make a go BY SARA LORMAN Another important factor in Burmese pol­ Earlier this year, more than 200,000 refu­ of it. He crunches [calculates] how much The government of Myanmar (formerly itics is the decades-long struggle against the gees, mostly Muslims from the Rohingya cash flow a farmer can generate, based on Burma) announced September 26 that it central Burmese government that has been ethnic group, entered Bangladesh. While the everything from past harvests to shifting would lift the last of the martial law decrees carried out by members of the many national Myanmar government has said it will admit government policy." that it imposed in 1989 to crush the demo­ minorities that live within the country. One the refugees back into the country, many of Many economists say the debt is getting cratic rights movement. The action was pri­ third of Myanmar's population belongs to them say they have faced persecution at the too low. Neil Harl, an Iowa State University marily cosmetic. one of almost 30 distinct national groups. hands of the army. The United Nations in­ professor who was one of the first to com­ Myanmar, which shares borders with Following the 1988 crackdown, approxi­ vestigating team has said that it would not plain about too much farm debt a decade India, China, Bangledesh, Laos, and Thai­ mately 7,000 opponents of the regime - assist or support such a repatriation unless ago, said, "There is such a thing as too little land, has a population of 42 million. It was mainly students -fled from the capital to the situation inside Myanmar is safe. debt, too." a colony of Britain until 1948. In 1988 a the border areas where they joined forces The UN Human Rights Commission has The Journal laments, "Debt as a per­ massive movement developed demanding with these guerrillas. Many of the youths condemned Myanmar for serious human centage of farm assets has fallen back to democracy and free elections. The response died of hunger and disease, but 3,000 still rights violations. The European Community 16 percent, where it was in the ho-hum of the military was to openly take power in live in make-shift camps on the border. has called for a ban on arms sales to the 1%0s, from a high of 23 percent in 1985. September 1988 and to launch a murderous According to The Burma Project, an or­ country. And it seems likely to stay stuck at current assault on the prodemocracy movement. ganization that publicizes the struggle for ln April, Saw Maung, who had been levels." The military now runs the country in the democratic rights in Myanmar, there are chief of the SLORC, was replaced .by Tan Farm banks were hit hard during the cri­ name of the State Law and Order Restora­ 6,000 political prisoners, including 350 Shwe. The SLORC released some politi­ sis. Of the $55 billion drop in farm debts in tion Council (SLORC). monks. in Myanmar. None have been cal prisoners and said it would meet with the past seven years, one third came from Under pressure from broad sections of brought to trial and many were not even opposition leaders to discuss drawing up lenders writing off bad debts. As a result, the population, including within the mili­ brought before a military tribunal for sen­ a constitution. But the government says it many of these banks are very reluctant to tary, and growing isolation in the world, tencing. has no intention of releasing Aung San Suu take a chance on "bad loans." the SLORC organized elections for a na­ An estimated 37 percent of Myanmar's Kyi from house arrest. lnstead, they are investing heavily in U.S. tional assembly in May 1990. The National budget goes to military spending. The re­ SLORC foreign minister Ohn Gyaw has Treasury securities. Nationwide, small­ League for Democracy (NLD) won 392 of gime has 250,000 troops. said that Tan Shwe is continuing the previ­ town farm banks have more assets directed .the 485 seats contested, but the SLORC The SLORC has adopted an "open door ous policies of the governing junta. He said toward securities than loans to farmers. As has refused to convene the assembly. NLD policy" of selling off natural resources to the organizations representing the national a result they have become one of the strong­ leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested in foreign investors. Practices such as clear-cut minorities would not be included in the est sectors of the banking industry, earning 1989 in the period leading up to elections logging of teak forests, oil exploration, and dialogue on the constitution. "People wear­ a record $1.7 billion last year. staged by Myanmar's military-backed dic­ gem and tin mining bring in revenue to the ing the jacket of insurgents as well ·as ter­ Many are concerned that the decline in tatorship. The government has saitf it will military, but are carried out with no regard rorists can surrender their arms and then borrowing will break many more businesses fre-e her only if she agrees to return to for the environment. they can take part in their own way in the in the near future. Shirley Smith, the. sister­ Britain where her husband and two sons The civil war has created hundreds of process," he said. in-law of a banker in Bloomfield, Iowa, said, live. She refuses to leave the country. Her thousands of refugees from Myanmar in the The proposed meeting has not been held, 'The key to a small town's survival is its continued arrest highlights the ongoing re­ region. More than 70,000 are in Thailand, nor have there been any other steps taken banks. I don't know what the key is to pression that exists in Myanmar. thousands more are in India and China. toward drawing up a constitution. getting the bank less afraid."

October 9, 1992 The Militant 5 Debate on immigrant rights in Georgia

BY BOB ROWAND workers, he added. AlLANTA- For the past several weeks. "The fight for unity among working peo­ the city's northern suburb of Chamblee has ple is key," zarate said, because attacks on been the scene of a heated controversy over immigrant workers will continue, whether the rights of immigrant workers, mainly from in Europe as tens of thousands continue to Mexico and other Latin American countries. flee the war in Yugoslavia or in the United On August 15. the Chamblee City Coun­ States, where anti-immigrant rhetoric is be­ cil held a meeting at which some local res­ coming more and more a feature of idents complained that the Latino rightward-moving capitalist politics. construction workers who gather every morning at a local convenience food store On September 3, another city council to try to get day-labor jobs were drunk and meeting was held in Chamblee to discuss using the surrounding area as a public toi­ the events. Representatives of church let. groups, businesspeople and civic associa­ tion representatives from the Latino com­ Councilman O.T. Foster suggested that munity, Chamblee residents, and others residents set bear traps to keep the workers came to the packed meeting. off their property. Police chief Reed Miller added that the residents' problems wouldn't By this time, the Chamblee officials be solved "until these people go back where were clearly on the defensive, and the they came from." hour-long meeting focused on setting up a A storm of protest followed. The consuls task force to improve "community rela­ of several Latin American countries issued tions." Suggestions to have police learn a statement of concern over the remarks by some Spanish and to provide other infor­ Chamblee officials. The Latin American mation about laws and public services in Association and other groups from Spanish were duly noted. Chief Miller Atlanta's growing Latino community also even said he would like to hire a Hispanic protested. The Atlanta Constitution r~ police officer. "My only problem is find­ ported August 21 that calls condemning Immigration laws keep workers who come to United States "down, underpaid, and in ing one who's qualified," he said. the officials' statements were flooding City the worst jobs," explained Susan LaMont, Socialist V\brkers candidate for US. Congress After public health and law enforcement Hall, the Latin American Association, and from Georgia. Above, immigrant workers in New York. were identified as issues to be addressed by the Atlanta office of the U.S. Justice De­ the new task force, the chair asked if there partment. Apostolate of the Catholic Archdiocese of that force millions of workers and peasants were suggestions of other issues the group The Chamblee racists backed off almost Atlanta; Reverend Waldo Pinilla from the to flee their homelands in order to survive. should look at. "One of the most important immediately, at least to the extent of apolo­ Hispanic Ministry of the Druid Hills Pres­ PiniUa and Miranda stressed the need for issues is the immigration laws," said Susan gizing for their remarks. Councilman Foster byterian Church; Carlos Miranda, editor of mutual education between those born in the LaMont, Socialist Workers candidate for said he "didn 't mean to offend anybody" the Spanish-language community paper United States and newly-arrived immi­ U.S. Congress in the 6th C.D. "Working with his bear-trap remark. Police chief Los Primos; and Miguel :larate, Socialist grants. people in Chamblee and throughout Atlanta Miller said it "was probably a bad choice" Workers Party candidate for U.S. Senate have to welcome and defend the rights of of words on his part. "What's happening in Chamblee is part and a member of United Auto Workers our immigrant brothers and sisters, regard­ A public meeting to protest the attacks of a general assault on workers as the world­ Local 882 at the Ford assembly plant here. less of whether they have papers or not against Latino workers in Chamblee took wide depression and drive towards war That's not our concern. place August 29, sponsored by the Militant Fahey spoke of the responsibility of the deepen," zarate said. The real problem in "Our concern is forging solidarity and not U.S. government in creating the conditions Chamblee is the criminally low wages and Labor Forum. Featured speakers were allowing ourselves to be divided on the Reverend Joseph Fahey from the Hispanic in Mexico and throughout Latin America Jack of social services provided immigrant basis of who's legal and who's illegal," LaMont continued. "After all, we know that the purpose of the immigration laws is not to keep people out of the country, but to Canada coal miners fight concessions keep many of those who come here down, underpaid, in the worst jobs, with no rights, BYTOMLEYS in front of Employment and Immigration running. Recently the GWA suspended its or access to services." AND PAUL KOURI offices to demand unemployment insurance raid at the request of the NDP government, While the chair quicldy ruled discussion VANCOUVER, British Columbia­ benefits. A few weeks later officials ruled in which is discussing with potential investors of immigration out of order - "we've dealt Westar Mining, the largest coal mining com­ favor of the miners, granting them benefits taking over the bankrupt mines. with that already," she said - others in the pany in British Columbia, locked out 1,100 as of August 25. The federal Conservative Meanwhile the UMWA announced its room applauded the socialist candidate's members of the United Mineworkers of and provincial New Democratic Party gov­ own buy-out plan. remarks. During the rest of the meeting, America (UMWA) from its Balmer mine ernments had insisted the mine was closed The outcome for these 1,700 coal miners several other speakers also found a way to May I after 62 percent of them voted against due to a labor dispute, not for economic is far from certain. Their fate will have a big raise the view that the events in Chamblee the company's "fin al offer." reasons. The UMWAminers have had to get impact on coal miners and the labor move­ were not a matter for the Immigration and The company was declared bankrupt Au­ by on money their local union has borrowed, ment as a whole. Naturalization Service. gust 31. including from the UMWA international Meanwhile, Latino laborers are no longer Digging open pit seams of low-sulfur coal headquarters. Tom Leys is an unemployed steelworker. allowed to gather at the market to wait for as high as 50 feet, I ,750 miners worked On August 13 workers at Balmer voted Paul Kouri is a member of USWA Local jobs. City officials say they are looking into some of the largest equipment in the world. once again by the same margin of 62 percent 3495. arrmging an alternative site. These miners at Westar's Balmer and to oppose Westar's concession offer. ln 1986 Greenhills mines are now waiting to see if the UMWA workers defeated a four-month their jobs will remain if new owners take lockout by Westar also designed to impose over. concessions on the workers. Antiracist Ineeting in Illinois Some 3,000 coal miners produce about Ezner DeAnna, president of UMWA 20 million tons of coal per year at five Local7292, which represents the I, IOO min­ different mines in this region, known as the ers at the Balmer mine, explained in an protests Ku Klux Klan rally Elk Valley, in the southeastern part of British interview August 3 1 that in his opinion the Columbia. The annual one billion dollars of lockout was merely a pretext to close the BY ROLLANDE GIRARD now we're all on the same boat" coal production from the Elk Valley gener­ mine and force Westar's creditors to lower ANDDAVESANDOR Ingrid, a college student, said she came ates important profits for some of Canada's their loan repayment demands. ALTON, illinois - More than 200 peo­ to the counter-rally because she was op­ largest corporations. One such corporation "UMWA miners at the Balmer mine have ple turned out here for an antiracist protest posed to the Ku Klux Klan. She said immi­ is Canadian Pacific, which owns Fording made more than $300 million in net profit September 12 in response to a Ku Klux Klan grants should not be blamed for the social Coal, operator of the second largest mine in for the company over the past ten years. rally and cross-burning held in nearby Fos­ problems in the country. the area. This mine has also been shut down They blew it. It's not our fault." ter Township. NearI y 40 students from Southern illinois since May 8 when 850 miners, members of The Klan event, which drew about 100, University at Edwardsville marched past the the United Steelworkers of America Raid on UMWA was addressed by KKK national grand wiz­ site of the cross-burning and over to the (USWA), struck the plant. Westar's other mine, Greenhills, employs ard Thomas Robb. "If you think you have counter-rail y. The impact of these two struggles was felt approximately 600 miners who are members trouble with minorities today," he said, immediately. A number of small businesses of the Greenhills Workers Association "What will it be like when they are the Supporters of the Socialist Workers elec­ in the region closed. Canadian Pacific RaiJ (GWA), not an officially recognized union. majority." It was reportedly the frrst Klan tion campaign also participated in the anti­ laid off more than 100 rail workers. The GWA organized the work force to work rally in the area. Klan rally. They distributed a statement by without pay the first week of the bankruptcy Prior to the ultrarightist gathering, a pub­ Ellen Haywood, socialist candidate for U.S. UMWA resists concession demands as part of its campaign to present itself as a lic discussion broke out on how to respond Congress in Illinois's 12th District. Westar, which owed $365 million to its "reasonable" union alternative to the UMWA. to it. Some, such as the local NAACP (Na­ Referring to the KKK action, the socialist creditors, demanded the UMWA-organized At the end of August the GWA initiated tional Association for the Advancement of candidate's statement said, "In opposition to miners accept a two-year wage freeze and a raid on the UMWA. GWA president Eric Colored People), proposed not to protest the their ideas of 'white rights' and • America changes in work rules that would have given Cable has charged the UMWA with "the KKK action. Others agreed with Rev. Tony first,' we need to build a united movement it greater flexibility to contract out work, explicit goal of bankrupting Westar. The Roberts, who said, "If we ignore this [the of working people and our allies to fight for: reassign jobs, and eliminate seven sick days 1,300 jobs at Balmer are on the line because Klan rally], it may look like we condone it." a shorter workweek with no cut in pay to per year used by the workforce since 1948. of the polarized, negative labor relations The antiracist action, organized by local provide jobs for all, affirmative action pro­ The company calculated this would save it between the UMWA and the Balmer man­ residents, was publicized as a unity rally. grams to fight racist and sexist practices and $6 million per year. agement. This has to change," he said. Young people held signs that read "We are insure unity in our ranks, and cancellation With the backing of some local and pro­ "Working together we can solve the prob­ one race," and "End racism." of the Third World debt." which is exploit­ vincial news media We star waged an intense lems at Balmer and secure the jobs of the "We must put the emphasis on doing ing millions of working people in semico­ campaign to convince miners and their fam­ 1,300 people employed [there]." something, not just talking," said long-time lonial countries. ilies that unless they gave these concessions This campaign has sown some confusion civil rights activist Josephine Beckwith at Haywood added that working people the mine would shut down. and divisions among the Balmer and the anti-KKK demonstration. "also need to fight for open borders to pre­ The UMWA miners have also been under Greenhills's work forces. Some of them be­ Bob Collins, president of a local group vent the capitalists from discriminating considerable financial pressure. In August lieve that the GWA's approach is more likely called 100 Black Men of Alton, explained, against workers from other countries and to UMWA miners organized a demonstration to attract new owners to keep the mines "We all came here on different ships, but help unite us intematio 11ly."

6 The Militant October 9, 1992 INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO WIN NEW READERS Miners, students, political activists buy the 'Militant'

BY BRIAN WILLIAMS dents came up to the campaign dates from appearing on the ballot. Results from the first week of the table on campus after reading the At a table set up at the University international sales drive indicate article. Twenty-three bought copies of Delaware in Newark, supporters 2.- some encouraging opportunities for of the Militant, and two students sold 17 Militants and a subscrip­ circulating the Militant, Per­ signed up for introductory sub­ tion, and 24 people signed up to spectiva Mundial, and New Inter­ scriptions. find out more about the Socialist national among working people Workers campaign. and youth. Campaign 'soap-boxing' To organize successful sales ef­ The goal is to sell 3,200 copies In Cleveland, socialist cam­ forts each week it is essential to of the Militant each week for the paign supporters have been setting make Saturday a full day of cam­ first three weeks, then to switch to up tables on busy street comers paign and sales activities.Teams a six-week subscription drive, aim­ and "soap-boxing." When a bus that set up attractive campaign ta­ ing for a total of2.500 subscriptions arrives or a group of people passes bles by shopping areas in work­ ... by November 21. ing-class communities and that The Militant ...... aggressively hawk the paper on ...... busy street comers will maximize ...... the number of papers they sell. Boston socialist campaigners re­ UNITED STATES SOLD IOAL %SOLD SGI.D IOAI. SGI.D sua. port that one useful technique to Birmingham, Al 97 85 114% 0 2 0 35 keep up a campaign spirit around Los Angeles 162 150 108% 30 25 2 70 the drive is to encourage each Cleveland 110 105 105% 0 3- 0 40 team to take a goal when it goes Chicago 104 100 104% 4 5 3 45 out on a sale. New York 253 250 101% 23 15 7 90 Gi'ee11$;boro, NC 106 105 101% 0 3 3 30 Sales at political events Philadelphia 111 110 101% 5 5 0 35 Morgantown. WV 80 80 100% 1 1 3 30 Participation with the Militant at . Pittsburgh 80 80 100% 0 0 3 35 political events is another impor­ Miami 95 95 100% 5 7 0 40 tant aspect of the sales campaign. St. Louis 119 120 99% 4 3 3 35 Supporters in Boston sold 9 Mili­ Houston 78 80 98% 8 10 2 30 tants at a meeting of 500 people that Newart, NJ 149 155 96% 6 10 3 65 commemorated the one-year anni­ Atlanta 85 90 94% 3 3 0 30 versary of the military coup in Haiti Detroit 74 80 93% 3 2 2 35 that overthrew the democratically Boston 114 130 88% 5 5 0 45 elected government of Jean­ Seattle 81 95 85% 2 8 0 35 Baltimore Bertrand Aristide 77 105 73% 0 3 0 35 Salt Lake City 60 85 71% 5 5 0 20 In Puerto Rico the sales cam­ Washington DC 55 85 65% 3 6 0 35 paign got off to a good start at the San Francisco 60 100 60% 2 5 1 60 annual commemoration of the 1868 Des Moines. lA 55 105 52% 2 8 0 40 uprising against Spanish rule Portland, OR 6 12 50% 0 1 0 10 known as Grito de Lares, which Cincinnati 13 40 33% 0 1 0 5 Twin Cities~ MN Militant/Eric Simpson drew 10,000 people. Ron Richards 0 125 0% 0 5 0 45 SantaCruz 0 8 0% Participants at the New Jersey Book Fair snatched up the Militant, reports selling 3 copies of the Mil­ 0 1 0 4 New Haven, CT 0 15 0% 0 0 Perspectiva Mundial, New International, and Pathftnder literature. itant, 11 of Perspectiva Mundial, 0 6 and 2 of Nueva lnternacional, as U.S. TOTAL 2,224 2,590 86o/o 111 142 32 985 well as $80 worth of Pathfinder ' AUSTRAbiA 0 30 0% 0 2 0 15 The Militant provides a working­ by, one supporter stands on a chair literature at this event. class perspective on major interna­ and starts talking to the crowd BARBADOS 10 10 100% 0 0. 0 5 Supporters in Salt Lake City, tional political developments such about the socialist alternative to Utah, found a good place for Mil­ BELGIUr.t 0 10 Oo/o 0 1 0 8 as the currency crisis in Europe and the bipartisan war policies of the itant sales at lines for the movie BRITAIN on-the-scene coverage of important Democratic and Republican par­ Incident at Oglala, which tells the labor battles around the world - ties. This draws interest. One team Manchester 40 60 67% 0 1 0 30 story of the frame-up of Native London from the United Auto Workers sold 16 Militants this way. 27 Z5 36% 0 2 0 40 American activist Leonard Peltier. Sheffield strike against General Motors in In Philadelphia, Democratic 0 40 0% 0 1 0 "20 They sold 19 papers between two BRITAIN TOTAL 67 175 38% Lansing, Michigan, to the ongoing mayor Edward Rendell imposed a 0 .. 0 90 showings and set up a special fight by gold miners in Yellow­ new concession contract September Pathfinder literature display fea­ CANADA knife, Northwest Tenitories, in 23 on unions representing 15,000 J turing The Communist Manifesto, Toronto 78 90 87% 8 7 0 45 Canada. city workers. The contract proposal, Genocide Against the Indians, and Vancouver 64 80 80% 0 3 0 20 Distribution of the Militant is which calls for a two-year wage The Long View of History. Montreal 23 80 29% 0 7 2 70 one of the best means of campaign­ freeze and the replacement of the .CANADA TOTAL 165 250 66% 8 17 2 135 ing for the Socialist Workers candi­ union-run health-care plan with a dates. Ellen Haywood, SWP candi­ more expensive city plan, has led to Book fairs . FRANCE 4 3 133% 0 f 0 10 date for U.S. Congress in Southern a discussion of possible job actions Many local book fairs that at­ ICELAND 0 5 0% 0 1 0 5 lllinois is on a leave of absence among members of the American tract sizeable crowds are proving MEXICO 0 0 Oo/o 0 3 0 3 from her job as a steelworker. She Federation of State, County, and to be another good place to sell just led a team of campaign sup­ Municipal Employees (AFSCME) the Militant. At the Pathfinder lit­ NEW ZEALAND porters on a one-week tour of the Supporters of the socialist candi­ erature table set up at the New Christchurth 43 30 143% 0 0 0 8 state's coalfield areas. Campaign­ dates have been campaigning Jersey State Book Fair September A®kland 40 35 114% 0 1 0 8 ing in front of eight mine portals, among AFSCME members, 14 of 19 in New Brunswick, supporters Wellington 32 30 10.7o/o 0 9 Q 10 Haywood discussed with United whom bought copies of the Militant sold 50 copies of the Militant and N.Z. TOTAL 115 95 121% 0 1 0 26 Mine Workers of America mem­ and one subscription last week. A 5 of Perspectiva Mundial, 2 sub­ PUERTO RICO 3 2 150% 11 2 bers some of the big questions con­ statement issued by the Pennsylva­ scriptions to each periodical, and .. .. SWEDEN' fronting working people, including nia Socialist Workers campaign, 3 copies of New International, as ·:. 24 50 48o/o 0 5 0 20 the fight that many miners expect which got a good hearing among well as $240 worth of revolution­ TOTAL 2,612 3,220 81% 130 181 38 1,308 when their contract expires early city workers, explained, "Rendell ary literature. SHOULD BE 3 200. 100% 175 144 next year. doesn't demand concessions from the wealthy holders of municipal In New York City, students at­ 'Citizens of the world' bonds, who will receive some $138 tending Stuyvesant High School IN THE UNIONS , million in tax-free interest payments purchased 6 copies of the Militant "We have to start acting more from a team of socialists campaign­ this year. He doesn't demand that the NEW like citizens of the world and fight ing outside the school one morning. Union together with workers in other deadbeat landlords and corporations Mil itantJPM INTERNATIONAL who owe the city $260 million in Several students wanted to know countries who are facing the very when the team would be back since ... GOAL %SOLD SOLD GOAL back taxes pay up. same attacks that are coming they didn't have any money that UMWA 39 20 195% 0 0 down on us in this country," Hay­ 'This shows the real priorities of day. New York Militant supporters 32 72% wood explained in many discus­ Rendell's Democratic administra­ ACTWU 23 0 26 tion - to put the profits of a small are planning to make this sale a 50 66% sions with miners and other regular feature of their weekly cam­ UAW 33 1 0 working people. "One miner re­ handful of wealthy families ahead ILGWU 10 18 56% 0 9 of the human needs of Phila­ paign efforts. sponded, 'I think that's a good way lAM 98 80 48% 0 42 of putting it, citizens of the world,"' delphia's 15,000 city workers rep­ We need reports on successful USWA 41' 90 46% 0 Haywood recounted. Twenty-four resented by AFSCME and the 1.6 sales activities in the Militant 30 miners bought the Militant from million people who live here and business office, so write them up UTU 15 45 33% 0 0 the team. depend on the vital services they and send them in. Finally, a re­ UFCW 8 25 32% 0 15 provide." minder that the deadline for re­ At Southern Illinois University OCAW 3 25 12% 0 20 in Carbondale, Haywood was int­ ceiving sales results for the 385 erviewed for the campus paper, Ballot rights fight scoreboard is Saturday at 12:00 TOTAL 210 55% 1 142 which printed a front-page story In Delaware campaign support­ noon EST. ACTWU - Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Worilers Union; lAM - lntemltional under the headline, "Socialist can­ ers are organizing protest actions Association of Machinists; ILGWU - International Ladies' Gannent Worlcers' Union; OCAW Pete Seidman in Philadelphia con­ -Oil, Chemical and Atomic Woo-kers; UAW-United Auto Worlcers; UFCW- United Food didate says: Capitalism dying, against that state's ruling that pre­ and Commercial Worlcers; UMWA- United Mine Worlcers o( America; USWA - United workers should unite." Many stu- vents the Socialist Workers candi- tributed to this article. Steelworilers of America; UTU - United Transportation Union

October 9, 1992 The Militant 7 Nicaraguan peasants fight for land rights Sandinistas and former contras fmd themselves on both sides of farm conflict

BY AARON RUBY mt'idez, a national leader of the National them a month after the occupation. To ·'Establishing legal ownership of the land SAN JUAN DEL RIO COCO, Nicaragua Employees' Union (UNE) and the San­ avoid a violent clash the workers agreed is the main problem the cooperative faces." -Nicaragua's countryside is the scene of dinista Workers Federation (Csn. to leave. Once the police left however, they said Miguel Hernandez. the president of the a polarization between large landowners At La Dalia, a coffee plantation in San reoccupied the land and have remained Zacarias Padilla Cooperative of 40 mem­ and peasants who are either seeking land or Juan del Rio Coco, the formal ownership by since. bers, which was founded in 1980 with 230 fighting for the abilit¥ to farm on the plots the workers has meant that some gains and Like Gerardo Rodriguez, who spent I 0 acres of coffee and some basic grains. They they occupy. rights, not available on private farms, have years in the Sandinista army, and Danilo are members of the National Union of On each side of this polarization are lead­ not been completely lost for the moment. Ramos. who was in the National Resistance Farmers and Cattlemen (UNAG). ers and supporters of the Sandinista Na­ Roger Rivas, union secretary at La Dalia, for 5 years, there are a number of war The current government does not legally tional Liberation Front (FSLN). Also on explained, however, that after the coffe.e veterans among the squatters. recognize most cooperatives, under the pre­ both sides are members of the opposition farm was given to them the workers were "The main thing is that we are all poor text that the titles that were granted under movement known as the contras, which was obliged to hire the previous administration. peasants," Ramos explained. "None of us the agrarian reform law during the first organized by Washington and which for The administration was given the right to are happy with the current government and years of the revolutionary government are several years in the 1980s waged a bloody hire, fire, and set wages, with the agreement its policies," he continued as the others nod­ not valid. The disputes are being decided by attempt to overthrow the Sandinista-led of the workers. Subsequently a number of ded. the government on a case-by-case basis. government. workers were laid off. They were also This is not the first occupation in the area. Members of the cooperatives as well as Visits to a number of farms in this region obliged to use their frrst months' wages to In 1990 27 families occupied I, 140 acres of other small farmers in the area have been illustrated the process that is unfolding here. pay for coffee seedlings. Child care, includ­ Los Cedrales farm in the Ojoche area. They forced to sell land in order to meet bank El Carmen is a relatively large coffee ing a daily meal, which was an important have been granted provisional titles to the payments and to obtain some cash to live on. farm, a 45-minute journey by jeep from San gain for women workers during the initial land. As a result of these pressures there is Juan, which is located 150 miles northeast years of the revolution, had been free but Ramos stated that many in the region do increasing differentiation within and be­ of Managua. Tile farm used to belong to a now costs $4 per child every month out of not have any or enough land. A few days tween the cooperatives. as weU as among colonel in the National Guard under the a $27 monthly wage. Some workers have before, he said, 40 families attempted to other landowners. dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza. After the Hernandez said the goal was to form a 1979 revolution led by the FSLN, it was local association of cooperatives to stren­ seized by the workers employed there and gthen them economically. became a state farm. Another cooperative in Quibuto, called Tile revolutionary government national­ Armando Zeled6n. was founded in 1986. ized a number of farms. It launched an The land was given in exchange for the land agrarian reform program that gave land to the occupants lost when they were relocated tens of thousands of landless peasants who by the army to Quibuto from an area of mobilized to demand land, although tens of strong support for the contras. thousands more never received land. Nutri­ When asked about the past conflict be­ tion, health, and educational programs were tween Sandinistas and contras who now also instituted, relieving some of the brutal appeared to be getting along together in the living conditions and increasing the self­ farm, cooperative president Pedro Quintero confidence of the rural toilers. said, ''The contras and the Sandinistas who El Carmen. vigorously defended by the were poor remain poor; as peasants we have workers during the contra war, was severely the same interests.'' damaged during one of two major attacks. Today El Carmen is a private farm again. Land conflict Now it belongs to former majors of the According to Reynaldo Laguna, secre­ Sandinista army, who received it as part of tary for the FSLN and for UNAG in San the demobilization accords foUowing the Juan del Rfo Coco, in that area there are contra war. Under these accords, members I, 130 unresolved cases of land ownership of the former Sandinista People's Army re­ without titles. A government commission is ceived 14 percent of the former state prop­ projected to resolve 150-500 of these cases. erty; the contra forces, known as the Na­ The government says, however, that it will tional Resistance, received close to 16 per­ not decide in several cases where the own­ cent; and 33 percent was designated as prop­ ership is in dispute. erty of the workers. Of the original state­ According to Laguna the commission's owned property, 37 percent has not yet been decisions "will only generate further prob­ privatized. lems because it wiH leave everyone else For four months the 120 workers and their resentful of the others and it will reinforce families on El Carmen farm have not re­ the idea that the only way to resolve the ceived their daily wage of$1 .35 plus meals. Militant/Aaron Ruby problem is with a gun." Tiley are living on what food they can grow ''The main thing is that we are all poor peasants," explained workers who had taken over In the San Juan area, scene of heavy on small plots that belong to the landowners. the land at the San Pedro farm (pictured above). "None of us are happy with the current fighting during the contra war, there are a On April 4 of this year the workers sent government and its policies." number of groups of former Sandinistas a letter to Nicaraguan president Violeta called recompas, and groups of former con­ Chamorro, in which they demanded 25 per­ tras called recontras. They have taken up cent of the profits from the crop, along with left La Dalia to participate in land occupa­ occupy the nearby 500-acre El Dolores arms and in some cases united to demand 25 percent for social benefits such as the tions. farm. that the government fulfill the agreements day-care center and food program for chil­ "If the agrarian reform is not deepened and that they be granted land. Some bands Opposition by landowners dren. The eight former army majors would there will be war in the countryside," Pal­ have been assaulting travelers. On July 20 receive the remaining half of the profits. acios warned. "It is an explosive situation." "I agree with taking the land that belongs recontras machine-gunned vehicles at a co­ Tile majors say the 35 houses to which to the state, but they have to respect private operative outside San Juan. Land seizure the workers had received titles from the property" said Gonzalo Abarca, owner of 'There are 40,000 landless peasants in Sandinista government in 1985 do not be­ On May 20, not far from El Carmen farm, Los Milagros, a 90-acre coffee farm border­ the northern region and the government long to them, and have threatened action 45 families occupied the 440-acre private ing San Pedro. Abarca, a small capitalist doesn't have any more land to give," said against the workers. farm caUed San Pedro, located in the town farmer who opposes the land seizure, has Miguel Hernandez of Quibuto. "Further Ernesto Gutierrez, one of the workers on of Cerro Blanco Abajo. Visitaci6n Torres owned Los Milagros for 35 years. land can only be obtained through pressure; the farm and a long-time member of the Gonzales, who was a farmhand at San Aside from seasonal labor, which some­ only those who are strong enough will get FSLN, said the majors were "only San­ Pedro, explained that the farm had been times reaches I 00, Abarca currently em­ land." dinistas on the outside." He complained that abandoned since 1982. ploys 8 workers year-round and wants to Hernandez, who described the land oc­ his union, the Association of Rural Workers Like Danilo Ramos, who was renting hire 10 more but has not been able to find cupations as acts of desperation, said, (ATC), was not helping to defend the work­ three and a half acres nearby, most of the any willing to work at the current very low "UNAG seeks to resolve the problems of ers. families had been squatting on the land of wages. "Why work if they can steal the land peacefully in terms of the cooper­ family and friends in the area, some with as someone 's land. The problem is that people atives." Daniel Nuiiez, UNAG national In defense of property little as one-third of an acre. don't want to work anymore. The previous president, declared earlier this year that "the According to Alba Palacios, secretary of Mter appealing for land at the offices of government didn't teach them the work land seizures provoke instability in the international relations for the ATC, the as­ the Ministry of Agrarian Reform, to no ethic and now they don't want to work countryside that affects all of us." sociation has concentrated on organizing avail, the families decided to occupy the hard," Abarca complained. According to the ATC, in the period since workers on former state farms and is not farm. Referring to the low wages he pays - the military demobilization and the January attempting to organize workers on private Tile farm is being divided into individual $1.20 a day including food- Abarca main­ 1990 election of the new government, some farms where there is strong resistance by the lots, with each family receiving three and a tained that, "the biggest problem both for 6,000 families have occupied 70,000 acres, owners. Tile ATC has lost half of its mem­ half acres. The rest of the land is used the employer and the worker is the lower mostly on the 37 percent of state lands that bership of 70,000 over the past two years. communally. Forty acres have already been price of coffee on the world market. I didn't had not been privatized. These occupations Tile ATC backs the call by the FSLN for planted with com, beans, and other subsis­ even make enough to cover costs and to have declined and as of July there were only workers to support those landlords who be­ tence crops. There are 10 families now liv­ reinvest in upkeep of the coffee fields during 45 across the country. In 1992 there have long to the FSLN. In the words of FSLN ing on the farm with the rest living else­ the last harvest." been 12 evictions by the army and police. general secretary Daniel Ortega, these own­ where while they work the land. Torres said One hundred workers and peasants have ers are not "savage capitalists". Tile central they may organize a cooperative to pool Pressure on cooperatives been arrested in the course of these evic­ slogan of the FSLN is "In defense of prop­ their resources. Quibuto is a hamlet of 1.700 people, lo­ tions. erty." ''The fight right now is to get legal own­ cated southeast of San Juan, which has two According to the ATC there are currently "'The struggle is for the democratization ership of the land," Ramos explained. With­ cooperatives and one collective farm. I 00,000 unemployed in the countryside, of property, the road toward preserving the out a title of ownership they are not eligible Through the agrarian reform, some peas­ bringing the combined unemployment and revolution. We want to create ·an even for loans that the farmers need to bridge the ants established cooperatives and collec­ underemployment to 60 percent. Many poor stronger group than COSEP [the large seasonal lull, obtain seed and tools, make tives to cushion themselves from the market peasants and workers explain that they see capitalists' council in Nicaragua] based on payments, and otherwise maintain the farm. fluctuations through credits and guaranteed obtaining some land as the only means of Sandinista property," said Jose Angel Ber- The police made one attempt to evict markets supported by the state. survival in the worsening crisis.

8 The Militant October 9, 1992 Barbados workers fight austerity drive

BY BRIAN WILLIAMS will be able to come into Barbados and get One of the special guests attending the the cheapest labor possible while creating International Socialist Conference held in some of the worst working conditions," he Oberlin, Ohio, August 5-9 was David Den­ said. ny, president of the League of Progressive "Conditions in the city and some parts of Youth of Barbados. the rural areas are very bad," Denny contin­ In an interview, Denny described the at­ ued. Some people are malnourished and "a tacks facing working people in Barbados as number of people are losing their homes be­ a result of the government's steps to imple­ cause they cannot pay the rent. ment a series of austerity measures de­ "Workers in Barbados will rebel against manded by the International Monetary Fund this situation," stated Denny. (IMF). After taxes, the average take-home wage Militant/Brian Williams Barbados is an island country in the Car­ in Barbados is about $% a week, he ex­ David Denny (far left) and James Wclrren, Socialist \\brkers candidate for U.S. president ibbean with a population of 240,000 that is plained. Out of this a working woman with (fourth from left), with sanitation workers in Bridgetown, Barbados. 90 percent Black. two children must pay $30 a week to cover In September 1991 the government led child-care expenses. United States}, though, they realize that the These actions by the capitalist government by Erskine Sandiford announced a series of "Unemployment in 1986 was 30 per­ situation is the same." in Barbados against the interests of working belt-tightening measures stipulated by the cent," said Denny. "Today it's in the area of A number of skilled workers who come people, Denny stressed, show that "our strug­ IMF in exchange for a $58 million loan. 40 percent." to the United States find that they cannot get gle is not a struggle of race, but a struggle These included a wage cut of 8 percent, The government has also begun to privat­ decent jobs. "A person who is a nurse will between classes. Ifyou really look at the very layoffs of 2,000 public employees, reduc­ ize many state-owned corporations. Tele­ come to the States and become a nanny last year of Malcolm X you' II see that Mal­ tions in severance pay and unemployment communication companies have been sold because she cannot get a job as a nurse in colm engaged himself in a class struggle and benefits, increased taxes, and wide-ranging off. There is talk about selling off the cement the States or in Barbados," Denny pointed not a race struggle, and that was in the interest price hikes. plant as well as the oil and natural gas out. of working-class people." Last November 30,000 workers marched industry, Denny explained. U.S. corpora­ Denny first became involved in politics Denny joined the Workers Party of Bar­ in Bridgetown, to protest these austerity tions operate nonunion electronics and gar­ in 1979 when he joined the Democratic bados in 1985 and became a member of its measures. The march launched a two-day ment plants in Barbados. Labor Party. The assassination of Grenadian Central Committee. He also became the general strike that closed most businesses. revolutionary leader Maurice Bishop in founding president of the League of Pro­ The IMF's "structural adjustment pro­ Emigration to United States 1983 by forces led· by Bernard Coard had a gressive Youth, which joined the World gram" has created great hardship for the Because of the high levels of unemploy­ big impact on him. Federation of Democratic Youth in 1989. working people of Barbados, Denny ex­ ment on the island, a growing number of "Once they killed Bishop they killed the The Workers Party dissolved in 1990 be­ plained. One of its central aims is "to reduce people have been leaving for the United revolution in Grenada," stated Denny. cause of political differences resulting from the standard of living of workers, to destroy States. "It's a struggle for survival,'' said "Bishop is seen by working people as the the fall of the ruling Stalinist parties in the unions so that transnational corporations Denny. "When people come here [to the main hero in the English-speaking Carib­ East European countries. bean for the 1980s." One of Denny's immediate projects is The Barbados government allowed the establishing a Pathfinder literature outlet in Workers must organize independently United States to use its airport as a staging Barbados, featuring political books and ground for launching the invasion of Grenada posters by revolutionary leaders such as of capitalist parties, says Warren that followed the overthrow of the revolution­ Malcolm X, Che Guevara, Karl Marx, and ary government by the Coard group, Denny Nelson Mandela, and offering the Militant BY MATILDE ZIMMERMANN Warren told reporters here that "The idea explained. However, it refused to let Cuban for sale to working people and youth on the PORTLAND, Oregon - "We're not run­ that this government has a right to declare airplanes land in Barbados as a stopover point island. ning to put pressure on the Democrats and what is moral and what's not, what is normal in the shipment of arms and troops to assist Since this interview. Denny has gained Republicans. and we don't care what they and what's not, what is acceptable private the Angolan freedom fighters standing up to publicity for the book outlet in Pulse, a think," James Warren told local television behavior and what's not - is out of this the invasion by the South African apartheid Barbados weekly. Several people have al­ and radio stations at a news conference here world." regime in 1987-88. ready phoned up to place orders for books. September 22. "We are running to explain that the Democratic and Republican parties are not our parties. They are the parties of the ruling rich. If we don't organize massive Alaska Airlines workers talk with Warren numbers in the streets independent of them and against what they are doing, we will Continued from front page Airlines, explained in the discussion at the Another Alaska Airlines mechanic at the never see any progress." Union, and about the Persian Gulf War. first rally that he had been inspired by the bookstore rally was 31-year-old Air Force It was a theme Warren returned to several Invited to address the short rally at the striking drywall workers on a solidarity veteran Guy Blue. Blue said he thought times during his two-day campaign stop, end of the picket, Warren said, "What you visit to Los Angeles. 'They're all Mexi­ Warren was "dead on" when he talked about telling 20 supporters at a potluck dinner that are doing here and what you will be doing can," Wilson said. "They had everything ''pitting us with jobs against people without "the single biggest obstacle facing working in the next few weeks is a lot more im­ stacked against them; nothing more to be jobs. people" was the illusion that some capitalist portant than who is elected president, be­ taken away. But when they are picketing "Mr. Warren's approach makes total sense politician would make things a little better. cause regardless of which of them and someone comes around to work, they to me. I don't know why this message isn't Democrat Jesse Jackson and venture-cap­ becomes president, we will have to wage sit down with him, approach him as a out there." struggles like this to advance our inter­ italist Peter Ueberroth were campaigning in brother. I'd never seen or heard of this For Willow Gilroy and Brad Webster, Portland the same time as Warren. "Jackson ests." before, but I became part of it down there, the rally at the Pathfinder Bookstore was and Ueberroth represent the best the capi­ The discussions continued at a campaign and it works." the first time they had ever heard a social­ talist parties have to offer in a certain sense," open house in a hotel across the street. More Wilson said in an interview after the ist candidate, or any candidate. The two the socialist candidate said at his campaign than 35 people attended, including about 10 rally that he had only been involved in sixteen-year-olds were handed a leaflet at meeting at Portland State University. "For Alaska Airlines workers. Warren was intro­ politics and union activity a few months. a concert a week earlier. When they left most capitalist politicians Jackson and duced by Mark Severs, the Socialist Work­ "The first time I heard Mark [Severs} talk," the rally, Gilroy said, "I'm glad I came­ Ueberroth go way too far. ers candidate for U.S. Senate from Wash­ he said, "it really turned me off. But we I'm going to do some campaigning." They "But what is missing from everything ington. Severs is a baggage handler at Ala­ talked some more, and I read the Eastern both returned to the Alaska Airlines work­ these capitalist politicians say, and every­ ska, and a leader of the struggle developing Airlines book [by Pathfinder on the 1989- ers picket two days later, attended the thing the leaders of the unions, the Black there. 91 strike}, and I got involved in every­ campaign open house, and talked there movement, the women 's movement say, is Warren had spoken at a similar-size cam­ thing. And the drywallers really educated about how they could use the next five the idea that ordinary men and women can paign meeting two days earlier at the Seattle me." Wilson chaired the IAM rally at the weeks to spread the word about the social­ organize ourselves to carry out a struggle. Pathfinder Bookstore, which drew half-a­ airport. ist campaign among their friends. "JesseJackson doesn't mobilize anyone for dozen Alaska Airlines workers. anything," Warren pointed out, "though he "We have to begin with the realization knows how to do it. He goes to where people that we are all citizens of the world," said are already mobilized and tells them the most Warren, setting the theme for both meetings. important thing they can do is register to vote." "And the most important question facing us The Eastern Airlines Strike Ueberroth calls for a "tripod" approach and workers around the world is the ques­ Accomplishments of the to solving the problems of Los Angeles and tion of war." the country - what he refers to as a part­ In his remarks and the lively question­ rank-and-file Machinists and nership of business, the people and govern­ and-answer period at both meetings, War­ ment. Warren said it reminded him of "the ren hit repeatedly on the need for gains for the labor movement. kind of partnership the banks have with working-class solidarity. "The biggest di­ Third World countries." vision we face," he explained, "is the di­ By Ernie Mailhot, Judy Stranahan, and Jack Barnes Warren's Portland visit received signifi­ vision between workers who have jobs and ' cant media coverage. His demands for a those who don 't. The story of the 22-month strike against Eastern shorter work week and warnings of the "The reason unemployed workers cross Airlines by members of the International AssOciation threat of a new war were picked up on the the picket lines today and they didn't so of Machinists that prevented notorious union-buster evening and late night television news, and much in the 1930s," Warren said, "was be­ Frank Lorenzo from running a profitable nonunion there was extensive reporting from his press cause then the rising industrial union move­ airline. conference on a morning news program that ment in the Congress of Industrial Organi­ many people listen to driving to work. zations (CIO) defended the class as a whole, 91 pp., photos. $8.95 The media also picked up the presiden­ including the unemployed. And until the tial candidate's call for a "No" vote on unions reach out to the 85 percent of the Available from the Pathfinder bookstore nearest you (see addresses Measure 9, the anti-gay referendum he working class that is unorganized, there will on p . 12.) or from Pathfinder. 410 West St.. New York. N.Y. 10014. Please called "an attack on everyone's democratic always be 50 workers lining up for your job add $3.00 for shipping and handling. rights." Pollsters in Oregon say the mea­ when we go on strike." sure has a chance of passing. John Wilson, 34, a mechanic at Alaska

October 9, 1992 The Militant 9 Pathfinder on display at Sweden book fair

BY BARBRO DAVIDSON Jenness and A Working Class Campaign Mural, the six-story mural with paintings of Gothenburg, a copy of New International STOCKHOLM. Sweden - Pathfinder Against Imperialism and War by Jack Barnes. revolutionary leaders published by Pathfmd­ no. 7, "The Opening Guns of World War participated for the first time in the Book The first two days of the fair were re­ er and other fighters from all over the world lll." This book deals with the kind of world and Library Fair in Gothenburg, Sweden, stricted to people in the book trade. The Path­ that covers the wall of the Pathfinder Build­ we are living in, what led up to the war in October, 9-13. finder representatives spent a lot of time visit­ ing in New York. Many visitors admired the Iraq, and the inter-imperialist conflicts that The fair, which was visited by around ing prospective customers. Many librarians mural, and spent time pinpointing the por­ were accelerated by that war. 80,000 people. was the fifth annual book fair carne by the Pathfinder booth to look at the traits of Swedish fighters Joe Hill and Carl in Gothenburg. A range of publishing books. As one librarian expressed it: "This is Skogland, and checking out those of fighters Public speeches at the fair houses, bookstores, distribution chains, li­ a gold mine for the large libraries.'' Nearly from the Iranian revolution, from the fight to As part of Pathfinder's participation at the braries. and literary and union magazines every Ubrarian at the fair had something to abolish slavery in the South of the United fair, two presentations were given at the from the Nordic countries participated. say about the big interest in books by Mal­ States, and from the colonial revolution. "Speakers' Comer." Birgitta Isacsson gave a Four representatives from Pathfinder colm X. Only two books by Malcolm X, the For the first time in Sweden, Pathfmder 20-rninute presentation on "The Importance Stockholm and one from Pathfinder London autobiography and Malcolm X Speaks, have had on display a four volume facsimile of of Malcolm X Today," and Catherine Tirsen made up the Pathfmder team at the fair. The ever been published in Swedish, and they the Russian-language bulletins of the oppo­ spoke on "Che Guevara and Cuba Today." Pathfinder stand displayed a wide range of have long been out of print. sition against the growing Stalinist bureau­ Some 20 to 50 people listened to each of the the publisher's books. Among those that at­ cracy in the Soviet Union and in defense of presentations, and a couple of them later tracted a big interest among Hbrarians andes­ Pathfinder Mural attracts attention the Russian revolution. This magazine ap­ carne by the Pathfinder booth. Books by pecially among the public were the three During the two and a half days that were peared from 1927 to 1939, under the guid­ Malcolm X and Che Guevara were some of Pathfinder titles published in Swedish - open to the public the Pathfmder booth was ance of Leon Trotsky, a central leader of the the best sellers at the fair. Fifteen copies of translations of Che Guevara's Socialism and crowded all the time. There was interest in the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. At the second Socialism and Man in Cuba were sold, in Man in Cuba, The Action Program to Con­ whole range of books. Along one side of the open day, this four-volume series was sold Swedish, French, Icelandic, and Farsi. Some front the Coming Economic Crisis by Doug booth was a large photo of the Pathfinder to a man who was going to send the books 13 different titles by Malcolm X were sold. to friends in Moscow. "This is fantastic. Other top sellers were the Action Pro­ They are unique. I didn't know they ex­ gram to Confront the Coming Econimic isted," were his first surprised comments. Crisis, the Communist Manifesto, How Far At the booth one copy of the new Path­ We Slaves have Come, speeches by Nelson finder edition ofArt and Revolution by Leon Mandela and Fidel Castro in English and Trotsky was on display. The book, with its Spanish and A Working Class Campaign very attractive cover featuring part of a against Imperialism and War in Swedish. mural by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, at­ Five copies of each of these were sold; three tracted a lot of attention. The single copy copies of "The Opening Guns of World War could not be sold at the fair, but several III" were sold in Spanish and English. customers left their names in order to re­ Some 450 Pathfinder catalogs, leaflets on ceive the book later. new titles, and leaflets advertising the One visitor was interested in finding out Stockholm Pathfinder Bookstore were dis­ which books had been published since 1989, tributed, and just over US$1,000 were sold. because "that was when it all happened." he The Pathfinder Bookstore in Stockholm said, referring to the fall of many Stalinist was also a subject of interest at the fair. The regimes in Eastern Europe. first day the shop was open after the fair, Another visitor bought some pamphlets, two customers from the fair visited the store and said he had already bought in Gumperts, to look more closely at the books, discuss one of the major commercial bookstores in politics, and make some more purchases.

Militant/Catharina Tirsen PATHFINDER Participants in Gothenburg Book and Library Fair showed interest in PatlUmder's entire range of books, including by Che Guevara, Malcolm X, and Leon Thotsky. AROUND THE WORLD BY PAT SMITH BOOKS IN FRENCH FROM PATHFINDER Pathfinder, located in New York with * * * LIVRES EN FRAN~AIS DE PATHFINDER distributors in Australia, Britain, and Four bookstores in Copenhagen bought Canada, publishes the works of work­ a total of 53 Pathfinder books and pam­ ing-class and communist leaders who CARLOS TABLADA ------. THOMAS SANKARA phlets when London-based Pathfinder have made central contributions to the Che Guevara: Oser Inventer representative Marcella Fitzgerald made forward march of humanity against ex­ a brief visit to that city after the Gothen­ 1'6conomie et Ia l'avenlr ploitation and oppression. Pathfinder burg Book Fair (see report on the fair on polltlque dans Ia La revolution burljf .,t \ 1 · ,; :J,/l T ~)lJ~ E, :1~ Tr1t { 1~1 1 r.,/\f.lX .._,---F._.., a check for books from their Inmate Can­ ish, was a center of attraction for young teen Fund. The books they chose included NUMEROSPRECEDENTS people, both students and workers, Cosmetics, Fashions, and the Exploita­ Le communlsme et Ia lutte pour un throughout the day. tion of Women; Woman's Evolution; By gouvernement revolutlonnalre populalre The fair, an annual event sponsored by Any Means Necessary by Malcolm X; and PAR MARY-ALICE WATERS the New York Times, drew several thou­ Cointelpro: The FBI's Secret War on Po­ sand people, including many students and litical Freedom. L'histoire de 150 ans de lutte du mouvement ouvrier pour teachers from local campuses and high arracher le pouvoir polilique aux capitalistes. doni Ia Pathfinder offers all prisoners a dis­ schools. count of 50 percent on books and pam­ domination declasse signifie Iamisere et ta faim pour Ia The broad range of titles in the Path­ phlets, plus $2.50 shipping and handling grande majorite de l'humanite. Premier numero. 256 pages finder display resulted in substantial sales for each order. We also encourage our $11.00 ($350 worth of literature sold). It also readers behind bars to urge their prison helped convert the open-air booth into an revolution venlr en Afrique du Sud library to stock Pathfmder titles. Contri­ La a ail-day political forum for questions, de­ PAR JACK BARNES butions to help provide books to prisoners La guerre contre l'lrak: bate, and discussions. Topics included the can be sent to Pathfinder, 410 West Street, La nature et les taches de Ia revolution nationale et les premltres salves de Ia recent attacks on foreign-born workers in New York, NY 10014. trolsltme guene rnondlale democratique en Afrique du Sud. le poids central de Ia classe Germany, the reactionary character of PAR JACK BARNES ouvriere en son sein. le rOle de direction qu'y jouent le population-control measures, the situa­ * * * tion in Cuba today, and the fight against Le blocus. les bombardements meurtriers et Congres national africain et Nelson Mandela. Ia place des The Library of Congress, the national communistes conscients dans Ia revolution qui s'approfondit tuition hikes at Rutgers, the local state library of the United States, has decided !'invasion de l'lrak dirigee par Washington university. sont le signe de conflits de plus en plus et les enjeux de Ia lutte contre !'apartheid pour les travailleurs to provide Malcolm X Talks to Young Over the course of tbe day, students People in both braille and recorded form intenses qui opposent les puissances et paysans du monde entier. Deuxieme numero. 232 pages from more than a dozen countries $11.00 for their National Library Service for the imperial isles et menent ade nouvelles stopped by the booth to talk, pick up a Blind and Physically Handicapped. Mal­ guerres. Ce livre est chaque jour plus Le deuxieme assasslnat de Maurice Bishop catalog, and examine the books and colm X Talks to Young People was also pertinent mesure que Washington et ses PAR STEVE CLARK pamphlets. chosen by the New York Public Library a Six volunteers from the local Path­ allies approfondissent leur offensive Les realisations de Ia revolution de 1979 aGrenade ·et as one of their titles in " 1992 Books for finder store were on the spot to staff the the Teen Age." guerriere dans le golfe Persique. Ouatrieme !'heritage de !'orientation revolutionnaire de son principal tables, answer questions about the books, numero. 336 pages dirigeant Maurice Bishop. Troisieme numero. 232 pages and introduce new readers to the range of $13.00 $11 .00 periodicals stocked in Pathfinder book­ Mike Bauman from Newark, New Jersey, stores around the world. contributed to this column. En vente aux l1bra~r~es Pathfinder tvo~r page 12) Ou ewvez a Palhlmder -110 West Sl New York NY 1001-1

10 The Militant October 9, 1992 The forces that broke Grace Carlson from communism in 1950s Grace Carlson. a founding member of the ist Workers Party in 1936 she held a good Socialist Workers Party, died July 7 in Mad­ position in the Minnesota State Department ison, Wisconsin. She was one of 18 leaders of Education, received a good salary and of the SWP and the Minneapolis General was honored and respected in the Twin City Drivers' union who were convicted in 1941 circles of the rich and powerful as a Doctor under the Smith Act for their opposition to of Philosophy. Her decision at that time to the entry of the United States into World join with us in the service of the great ideal War II. Carlson served 16 months in federal of socialism was a happy decision, as she prison in Alderson, West Virginia, for her stated at the time and repeated many times antiwar and socialist views. thereafter. We won her by our ideas and The September 18 issue of the Militant ideals and kept her for 16 years. We won carried a short article on Grace Carlson's 16 her by persuasion, by arguments and by the Militant years of activity as an organizer and well­ example of comrades putting service to a James P. Cannon, leader of the Socialist Workers Party, speaking in 1940s. known public spokesperson for the SWP. great cause above personal interest. She ran for office many times as a Socialist one can find against us is printed there. answer my reminders with any argument or Workers candidate in Minnesota and was Pounded by forces of reaction her press interview, reported in the justification, but with the bitter tears of a the party's vice-presidential candidate in The forces of reaction have finally broken In Minneapolis Star, June 30, Grace refers to defeated and broken woman. She does well 1948. her away from the socialist movement by a her last meeting with me in Minneapolis on to say that it was a sad meeting for her. It The article also explained that Carlson different method. They made Grace Carlson Friday, June 20. The reporter quotes her as was a sad meeting for me too, but for abandoned the socialist movement and went pay for her idealistic and self-sacrificing saying: "It was one of the saddest meetings different reasons. back to the Catholic Church in 1952. For a work for socialism. She had to give up her I have ever attended." I don't doubt that, but better understanding of Carlson's career as position with the MifUlesota State Depart­ the reason for her sadness should be ex­ Socialist movement continues a revolutionary and fighter for socialism, ment of Education and drastically cut her plained. Socialists have deserted the movement and what led her to abandon those goals, standard of living. She had to sacrifice her before under pressure. But still the move­ readers of the Militant will be interested in honored position in the community. In 1943 She did not make any arguments to sus­ ment grew. There are more socialists in the the article reprinted below from the July 7, she had to go to Federal prison along with tain her action. She did not express any 1952, issue of the Militant, "How we won 17 other members of the party. On her return differences with the party program nor any world today than ever before. The world­ wide cause is growing and will continue to Grace Carlson and how we lost her," by from prison in 1945, she had to register with grievances against its people. On the con­ grow. That will be the case in this country James P. Cannon. the Police Department of St. Paul as an trary, she affirmed her love and respect for the comrades with who she had worked so too. Individuals, broken by too many blows, Cannon was a founder and principal ex-convict. She was blacklisted from all long. may fall by the wayside. But the great leader of the Socialist Workers Party for employment in the Twin Cities. Sacrifice movement for the socialist emancipation of many decades. His article can be found in after sacrifice was imposed upon her. Catholic Church mankind will march on and conquer. Grace the book Notebook ofa n Agitator published For 16 years the powerful forces of reac­ Carlson's desertion will not affect this by Pathfinder Press. tion hammered and pounded at this woman I spoke to her about the Catholic Church course. The party will draw its ranks closer until they finally beat her down, broke her which exploits the religious sentiments of together in defense against the raging reac­ spirit of resistance and compelled her to its communicants to support reaction and * * * tion which has reached inside our ranks to Grace Carlson is a victim of the reaction­ leave the party which she had served so long oppression everywhere. strike down one of our women comrades. ary atmosphere in general and the witch­ and so honorably. That's how the Catholic 1 reminded her that the policies of the hunt in particular. Her sudden action in re­ Church won a shabby victory against the Catholic Church are not determined by the The forthcoming convention of the So­ signing from the numerically small and per­ Socialist Workers Party over the body of parishioners nor by the parish priests, but by cialist Workers Party in New York, called secuted Socialist Workers Party. for sanctu­ Grace Carlson. The question of "philoso­ the Catholic hierarchy, which is first of all to nominate its presidential candidates for ary in the rich and powerful Catholic phy" had nothing to do with it. That's merely a political power, the most reactionary and the 1952 campaign, will demonstrate this. Church, is only the fmal effect of the many the explanation, not the reason. obscurantist force in the entire world. I re­ The convention will demonstrate the deter­ successive blows of persecution, poverty In her statement to the press, Grace em­ minded her of Cardinal Spellman, who mination of the members to do a I ittle more and discrimination which had been inflicted phasized what she had told us at parting, that broke the strike of the cemetery workers in and give a little more to make up any losses upon her during the long time she fought on she was not going to join the ranks of the New York. and who has just recently been suffered by this defection. the side of the poor for the great ideals of contemptible informers. "I want it under­ to Spain, where he paid homage to the The convention will reaffirm again, what socialism. stood I am not becoming an informer on my bloody dictator Franco. I reminded her that Grace Carlson said many times before her There had been no previous intimation of friends of many years. Neither am I going her socialist comrades in Spain are in defection, that the place to fight against the this sudden decision. Within the past month to write any books like Budenz." That does Franco's prisons and torture chambers, if threatening war, and all the evils of this she spoke and debated on the campuses of her credit, as do the 16 years of service she they are not in their graves. diseased capitalist society and for a better New York University and the University of gave to the good cause in comradely asso­ Grace Carlson knows all that as well as I life on earth, is not in the Catholic Church Minnesota in defense of Marxism against ciation with these same friends. But it really do, and has said it many times. She didn't but in the socialist movement. political opponents. The reason she now doesn't make much difference to us. The gives for her precipitate resignation from the Socialist Workers Party is not a conspiracy party -"a difference in basic philosophy" but a political movement which reports all --FROM THE PATHFINDER MURAL-­ - is not the real reason. its activities and says everything it has to When Grace Carlson came to the Social- say in its press. All the "information" any- Simon Bolivar, famed as liberator UAW strikes assembly plant of South America from Spanish yoke BY SARA LOBMAN Continued from front page not threaten GM's other vehicle production. With this article we begin a regular employee benefits. It has already shut down the chassis plant monthly column that will feature the work­ The announcement is seen as a warning across town. ing-class leaders and the fighters for social to unionized workers that the company will The workers on the picket line on the first justice from around the world that are de­ demand major concessions in the 1993 na­ evening seemed prepared to stand up to the picted on the Pathfinder Mural. tional negotiations. auto giant As a picketing paint shop worker The six-story mural was painted by an Even though the Lansing plant produces explained, "We'll do what it takes as long international team of 80 artists from 20 the Grand Am, GM's second highest selling as it takes." countries. Included in the mural are portraits vehicle, workers anticipate a long strike. of revolutionary leaders such as Malcolm X, There is a reported stockpile of 55 - 60 days John Sarge is a member of UAW Local900 and works for Ford in Wayne Michigan. Che Guevara, Nelson Mandela, Fide l Cas­ supply of cars from this plant. tro, and Karl Marx, whose speeches and The strike will not have the same imme­ writings are published by Pathfinder Press. diate effect as the Lordstown strike. As this §d yout copy today Sim6n Bolfvar, portrayed here by Colom­ is an assembly plant, not a parts plant, the bian artist Alirio Vargas, is known through­ strike may effect some parts plants, but will The Communist Manifesto out Latin America as the Liberator. He led by Karl Marx the armed rebellions in 18 10-25 that helped and Federick Engels win independence from Spain for Venezu­ Militant/Andrea Brizzi The founding program of the revolu­ ela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia. Simon Bolivar led bourgeois-democratic -CALENDAR- tionary work~ng-class movement. 47 Bolfvar was born in 1783 in Caracas, now revolutions in early 19th cent ury. pp., $2.50. the capital of Venezuela, when most of the OREGON countries of South America were still Span­ Bolivar on the Pathfinder Mural in 1989. Portland ish colonies. The formal declaration of in­ Bolfvar is shown on a white horse wrapped 'No on 9' Rally. Sun., Oct. 4, I p.m. Pioneer Socialism: dependence, signed in 1811, initiated a I 0- in the yellow, red, and blue independence flag. Courthouse Square, downtown Portland. Spon­ Utopian and Scientific year revolutionary struggle against forces sored by the No on 9 Campaign: The Campaign by Frederick Engels loyal to the Spanish monarchy, triumphing The Pathfinder Mural and the Pathfinder for a Hate-Free Oregon. Tel: (503) 2324501. Explains the origins of the materialist in 1821 at the battle of Carabobo. Mural Bookstore are located at the corner wor1d outlook ofthe modem commu­ Bolivar's revolutionary army also swept of West and Charles Streets in New York • nist workers' movement. 63 pp., through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and City. The bookstore offers a complete selec­ $3.00. Bolivia, which by 1825 were no longer tion of Pathfinder books and pamphlets as Spanish colonies. well as postcards, posters, and T-shirts de­ NEW ZEALAND Order from the Pathfinder bookstore nearest Bolivar was elected president of the Re­ Auckland you (see directory on page 12) or from picting the mural. Comributionsfor the pro­ public of Gran Colombia, a union of Vene­ The Communist Manifesto Today and the Pathfinder. 41 0 West St., New Yori<, NY motion, development. and preservation of Road Forward for ~king People. Class se­ 10014. Please include $3 per book, $.50 each zuela, Colombia, and Ecuador, which lasted the mural can be sent to: Friends of the ries. Wednesdays, Oct. 7 and 14, 7 p.m. La Gonda additional book, for postage and handling. until 1830. He fought for the perspective of Pathfinder Mural, 191 Seventh Ave., New Arcade, 203 Karangahape Rd. Donation: $3. Tel: a South American federation of republics. York, NY 10011. Telephone: (212) 727- (9) 379-3075. Vargas painted the portrait of Sim6n 8421 .

October 9, 1992 The Militant 11 INS conducts -MILITANT LABOR FORUMS------CALIFORNIA Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. 1863 W. 25th St. Donation: Fight to Defend Paul Galloway. Sat.. Oct. 3, 6 massive raid $3. Tel: (216) 861-61 50. p.m. I Gower St., Spital Hill. Donation: £I. Tel: Los Angeles 0742-765070. at packinghouse Why Neither Free Trade Nor 'Buy American' WiU Aid \\brkers. Speaker: Craig Honts, mem­ UTAH ber United Transponation Union, Local 1544. Salt Lake City CANADA Continued from front page Sat., Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. 2552-B W. Pico Blvd. South Africa: Revolutionary Strategy in Ac­ Toronto ing that they too were "illegal" and were not Donation: $4. Tel: (213) 380-9460. Translation tion. Speaker: Nelson Gonzalez. Sat., Oct. 3, 7:30 Auto Strikes from GM-Lordstown to CAMI­ to be allowed in the plant the next day. In to Spanish. p.m. 147 E. 900 S. Donation: $3. Tel: (801) Ingersoll: Workers Resist the Growing C risis. addition, many workers who are not on the 355-1124. Speakers: John Sarge, member United Auto list have been scared into not showing up. MINNESOTA Columbus, Capitalism, and the Conquest of Workers, Detroit; Susan Bennan, member Cana­ Workers in the plant report that almost 600 the Indians. Speaker: Jesse Smith. Sat.. Oct. 10, dian Auto Workers, member Communist St. Paul League. Sat.. Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. 827 Bloor St. workers have either been arrested, effec­ 7:30 p.m. 147 E. 900 S. Donation: $3. Tel: (801 ) What's Behind the Campaign for ' Family 355- 11 24. West. Donation requested. Tel: (416) 533-4324. tively laid off, or intimidated from coming Vctlues'. Sun., Oct II, 7:30p.m. 508 N. Snelling Vancouver to work. Ave. Donation: $3. Tel: (612) 644-6325. YeUowknife Mine Disaster: Solidarity with The raid occurs in the midst of a United WASHINGTON Seattle Royal Oak Mine Strikers. Speakers: Ned Food and Commercial Wori

12 The Militant October 9, 1992 -GREAT SOCIETY W hy assume they forgot? - Preach, bro-"If you can't for poultry workers and consum­ cratic Congressman, who was too costs, including $4ll ,000 in wages To help workers at their Lords­ support yourself on the god­ ers alike. sick to serve his full prison term, is for the head man. town, Ohio, plant adjust to their dammed job, how can you value it? feeling better. So much better that And yet we think the work ethic is Shop early for Xmas- We he's running for Congress again." Even greener pasture?- Re­ somethjng in people, something stopped subscribing to the Neiman - News item. tiring University of California prez immutable, as though it were inde­ Marcus catalog when they started David Gardner already has a new Harry pendent of the nature of work."­ charging for it. But a news item And guess what color she is - job, heading up a charitable foun­ Author Elliot Liebow. says it includes a tiny diamond­ Order now, the first in a collector dation. He'll draw a $120,000 an­ Ring studded train pulling four 18-karat series of Barbie dolls. Crafted from nual UC pension plus an $857,000 Enjoy - The government esti­ gold carts piled with rubies, emer­ porcelain and decked out in rhine­ retirement benefit package. He de­ mates that 35 percent of the alds, diamonds and sapphires. stone-studded silk and satin, it's "A clined to disclose how much the chicken on the market is contami­ $100,000. doll you don't want to miss." $175, charity job will pay. new round-the-clock schedule, nated with salmonella, which plus postage. G M distributed cards suggesting causes food poisoning. What to Handy while waiting to tee off Maybe Gardner can qualify - to crew members when to eat, do about it? Establish procedures -The N-M catalog offers a Mer­ Cleaning project - The state University of California regents ac­ sleep, and socialize on their new to reduce contamination? Put cedes-Benz golfcart, including a TV, of Wyoming lent a company $8 cepted a $513,842 bequest for "poor schedules. Placards began appear­ more inspectors on the job? Don't CD player, and cellular phone. million to build a demonstration American Caucasian academic ing on cars coming down the as­ be silly. The feds approved per­ $9,700. clean-coal plant. That was six years scholars." The regents said this did sembly line declaring, "Hey Gen­ mitting the industry to zap the ago and ground has yet to be broken not violate federal antibias rules and end Motors, you forgot to tell us birds with radioactive gamma He's overqualified?-"Mario on the project. But the company has assured it was not the first whites­ when to have sex." rays which, they assure, is safe Biaggi, the former Bronx Demo- expended $4 million in start-up only gift accepted by the university. Hundreds in San Francisco area hear Cuban BY ELIZABETH WHITTAKER with Eastern Europe and the former Soviet SAN FRANCISCO-Some 110 stu­ Union. dents and others turned out September 3 to Alvisa said the importation of oil has hear Ibis AI visa Gonzalez at a meeting held dropped from 13.8 million tons per year to at the University of California at Berkeley 6 million. "This drop in oil has had a major (UCB). Members of the group of Students effect on the economy. Cuba has very little Against Intervention in Central America and hard currency so it is difficult to buy oil in the Organization of Latin American Stu­ the international market Our food supply dents participated in publicizing the campus has also been affected." meeting by setting up informational tables, For two hours the room was filled with leafleting, hanging up a banner on campus, raised hands. Students strained to get two or and writing an article in the Daily Califor­ three questions answered at a time. nian, the campus newspaper. Alvisa, a researcher at the Center for A student pointed to Fidel Castro as the Youth Studies in Havana, Cuba, was in the figure the revolution was based on, and San Francisco Bay Area as part of a national asked, "What will happen when he dies? tour by two Cuban youth. She spoke at San Can you comment on how to demystify Jose State University, Laney College in Fidel?" Oakland, and the University of California at AI visa replied, "This question always Santa Cruz. She also attended a potluck at comes up. Fidel is a symbol to the people the Independent School of the ArtS in San in Latin America. However," she continued, Jose and a wrap-up reception at UCB. Close "the revolution's triumph and development Militant/Seth Galinsky to 800 people heard Alvisa speak over the has shown that it is not one man's revolu­ Members of volunteer agricultural brigade in Cuba. Ibis Alvisa reported that tens of course of the week. tion." She challenged the audience to con­ thousands of Cuban students volunteered on agricultural projects over their vacation. At the Berkeley meeting, Alvisa focused sider two facts: "Cuba has withstood more her presentation on the current situation in than 30 years of a blockade and has man­ Cuba. aged to develop; and just recently 100,000 -25 AND 50 YEARS AGO-- "The period of rectification of errors in students during their school vacations vol­ Cuba is not over," she stated. "Cuba ini­ unteered to help on agricultural projects. Do USSR, that "this enemy has been broken tiated this process as a way to seek our you think these things could be ordered?" and never will rise again." own solutions to developing a strategy of she asked. THE The Soviet masses, defending the remain­ economic independence. It has been com­ Applause greeted her answer to "What do ing conquests of the Russian Revolution, pared to what happened in the Soviet you think of Sendero Luminoso?" known in despite the handicap of the Stalinist bureau­ Union known as 'perestroika.' But ti me MILITANT English as the Shining Path. Sendero Publi•hed in the lntere•t of the Working People cratic regime, have taught Hitler to speak has shown that these are two completely with a certain amount of caution. Luminoso has waged a decade-long war October 9, 1967 Price 10, different things. Che Guevara's studies in against the government of Peru, using ter­ Th.is time he stated that his aim was to the 1960s of the Soviet economic model rorist methods against working people. U.S. ruling circles are more deeply split consolidate his gains, while remaining on invalidated that model and we found that than ever over the Vietnam war. An impor­ the defensive: "We must let the others attack Alvisa said that, while she was "no spe­ copying the Soviet model did not fulfill tant indication of this has been the emer­ as much as they wish wherever we have no cialist on this group," she "disagreed with the needs of the Cuban population. gence of a new crop of "doves'' within the intention to advance. We must hold every­ their form of struggling" ·and pointed out "In Cuba, the economy is put at the ser­ Republican Party, many of whom are calling thing and must wait and see who tires soon­ that "if you study the history of the world vice of human beings," Alvisa continued. for a Republican "peace" candidate in 1968. est." and revolutionary movements, history has Thruston Morton, one of the Senate's top "Through rectification, volunteer labor ­ Hitler [has attempted) to allay the fears proven that their path is not the way to carry Republicans and former national chairman which had been abandoned - was reintro­ of the German people who have been ap­ out a revolutionary fight." She also said that of the Republican Party, advocates stopping duced as part of the political education .of a palled at the long casualty lists. He holds "many people have been victimized because the bombing, but others want to go further. new generation of Cubans." out the hope of a diminution of the slaughter, "Cuba is living through very difficult of their actions." At the meeting of antiwar business execu­ a at least for ~ year. moment" Alvisa explained. She described a Asked, "do differences exist between tives, Marriner S. Eccles, former chairman Hitler was forced to admit that the last "double blockade" Cuba faces, with the on­ conditions in rural versus urban areas of of the Federal Reserve Board, called for year was a terribly hard one, but claimed going embargo imposed by the United Cuba," AI visa answered, "Yes. A great deal immediate withdrawal from Vietnam. that this winter conditions will be improved. States intensified by the collapse in trade of attention has been given to rural areas by Obviously, this new opposition to the war the revolution but development in these does not result from any sudden concern on The hunger and suffering of the masses ,....---- from Pathfinder -----. areas has not yet reached that of the cities." the part of these gentlemen for telling the of the conquered nations create and continue She pointed to the "big role students are truth. Nor does it represent any principled the conditions and the desire for revolt. Che Guevara: playing in this area by making a moral opposition to the use of military force to In an effort to whip up the masses of commitment to work two years wherever crush the Vietnamese. What Romney, Mor­ Germany into continued support of the war, Economics and the revolution needs their efforts." ton, and company are concerned about is Hitler again used his most potent argument Politics in the that the war in Vietnam is creating more that if the Allies conquered. they would dangers and problems for the capitalist class impose another Versailles treaty on the Ger­ Transition BY ARNOLD WEISSBERG than gains. The heroic resistance of the man and Italian peoples. to Socialism PITTSBURGH - The City Council here Vietnamese people has made the price of Hitler demagogically attempts to utilize declared September 15 and 16 "Pittsburgh aggression too high. the hatred of. the masses against capitalism by Csrlos Tab/ada Cuba Friendship Days" in response to a visit When the thieves fall out, the rest of us can by posing as an adversary of the system. He to the city by Ibis Alvisa Gonzalez, a Cuban only gain. It is the joboftheantiwarmovement proclaimed as his "aim" the annihilation not A comprehensive look at the the­ youth leader. The resolution, introduced by to reach out now to the tens of millions of oretical contributions to building only of Bolshevism but of the capitalists and council member Jim Ferlo, was unani­ ordinary Americans who are being affected plutocracy. socialism by Emesto Che Guevara mously approved. by this process, and who can be mobilized for the fight to bring the troops home now. Hitler is able to keep power, above all, from 1959 to 1966, when he shoul­ Ferlo handed Alvisa an official copy of because of the fear of the German masses dered wide-ranging duties in the the resolution to applause from the council. of their fate at the hands of victorious Allied Cuban revolutionary government, Following the presentation, Ferlo, in brief capitalism. By playing on this·fear, he suc­ with extensive citations from his remarks, called on the U.S. government to THE ceeds in keeping the masses from rising - writings and speeches. $16.95 end the embargo on Cuba and establish MILITANT for a while. normal diplomatic and economic relations. The Churchills and Roosevelts give sup­ Available from Pathfinder bookstores During her stay in Pittsburgh, Alvisa port to this fear. As representatives ofcapital­ listed on page 12, or by mail from Path­ October 11, 1942 finder, 410 West St., New York, NY spoke at the University of Pittsburgh, Car­ ism, they will wreak terrible vengeance, not 10014. Please include $1 for postage negie Mellon University, and Edinboro Hitler's speech on Sept. 30 was in glaring primarily on the German ruling class to whom and handling. State University, addressing a total of about contrast to his speech made nearly a year they feel very close, but on the German 200 people. before, when he declared, referring to the masses.

October 9, 1992 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS The power of Defend immigrant workers! the U.S. dollar The European currency crisis bas underlined the power of the German mark in relation to the currencies The immigration raid at the Monfort meat-packing plant class, whether by language, nationality, sex, or age, to of the weaker imperialist powers of the region. The in Grand Island, Nebraska, involving the arrest of 307 weaken our ability to stand together to defend our rights. following excerpt from a Socialist '\\brkers Party resolu­ workers, and the rapid deportation of many of them, should They try to convince workers born in the United States tion adopted by the SWP convention in August 1988 be condemned by all working people. If the bosses and that workers and bosses alike in the United States have explains the reasons for the continued dominance of the their government are allowed to get away with this attack, interests in common against those in other countries. United States dollar in the world. The document was it will weaken the ability of all workers to stand together This is a lie. Working people, regardless of what country written following the 1987 stock market crash, but before against the bosses' offensive to drive down wages and the unification of Germany and the collapse of the East­ weaken the unions. we are from and what country we live in, need to view ourselves as fellow fighters. We share the same interests ern European and Soviet regimes. Almost 200 armed federal, state, and local cops invaded in fighting against the impact on our class of the deepening the Monfort packinghouse on September 22, seizing hun­ crisis of the bosses' capitalist system. One only need look In addition to Washington's military power, the enormous dreds of Latino workers and intimidating and harassing the at the example of the hundreds of workers in Grand Island size and weight of the U.S. market and productive capacity entire work force. This was the largest immigration raid who signed union cards in a plant where the majority of also preclude any replacement of U.S. imperialistdominance smce the 1986 i.nunigration law went into effect. Many of workers are Latino, or at the drywall workers' strike in in the capitalist world. The conditions ofproduction, finance, those arrested and deported have active applications for California where predominately Mexican workers are and trade in the United States are the primary determinant permanent residence in the United States. Many others who fighting to defend the union, to see how workers from other of the direction and prospects of the entire international were citizens and legal residents were held for hours before countries strengthen our ability to fight capitalist economy. This remains true to a much greater being released. INS officials have threatened to launch degree than for any other imperialist country. Identical questions to the ones posed in Grand Island are similar raids against other packinghouses in the midwest. The relative decline of U.S. capitalism increases the burning issues for mi!Jions around the world as workers and The bosses and their government use raids like this one, vulnerability of all the imperialist economies to partial not to drive workers from other countries out of the farmers cross and recross borders in search ofjobs and decent crises. No other power, however, has the economic size to factories, but to intimidate and terrorize them into not living conditions for their families. There truly is no such served as a counterweight that could salvage the equilib­ thing as an "American" worker, or a "German" worker, or joining unions and not fighting for their rights on the job. rium of the world capitalist system. a "British" worker. We must demand the right ofall to travel, This has never been clearer than it is in Grand Island where Despite the rapid end work, and practice politics wherever they choose. of the industrial monopoly of U.S. 1,100 workers have signed union cards as part of an imperialism that came out of World War ll, the annual output organizing drive to get the United Food and Commercial This is a life and death question for the trade unions. of U.S. capitalism today remains three times thatofits closest Workers union recognized. More than 400 of these workers Unionists and all working people should demand an im­ competition, Japan. The U.S. share of world exports has were victims of the raid. mediate end to the deportations. Drop the charges against fallen from 15 percent at the beginning ofthe 1960s to around The bosses seek to utilize divisions among the working those arrested! For a world without borders! 11 percent in the mid-1980s. But this frequently cited figure overstates the erosion ofU. S. economic power, since it leaves out commodities produced and exported by U.S.-owned factories in other countries. U.S.-owned corporations today produce 17 percent of the exports on the world market, roughly the same as two decades ago.... World tensions reach new peak The big majority of commodities produced in the United States are sold on the U.S. market, and U.S. capital has often found it more profitable to produce overseas for sales lnterirnperialist tensions and recnrrunations have speculation is as much an everyday part of the world on foreign markets. reached new heights in the aftermath of the European capitalist system as trading in stocks and bonds. In fact, in The enormous size of the U.S. economy can be gauged currency crisis. National antagonism, protectionism, and addition to currency traders, large corporations, pension by how much it buys, as well as how much it sells. The economic uncertainty have all been wound up several and investment fund bankers, and a range of capitalist U.S. market alone absorbs some 25 percent of the goods notches. investors made a killing on the currency devaluations. imported by all the imperialist countries combined. The Accusatory fingers, particularly in Britain though not The growing political tensions, economic uncertainty, United States, for example, makes up half the international only there, point to the "Teutonic arrogance'' of Germany's and intensified interirnperialist competition on the Euro­ market for consumer electronics, and 25 to 30 percent of central bank for the crisis. "Major at war with Germany" pean continent are symptoms of the profound crisis of world purchases of auto parts. and "Germans gloat over 'victory' letting them spend, capital accumulation infecting the entire body of the world spend, spend,'' screamed the Daily Express, one of imperialist system. This is what underlies the currency Dollar cannot be replaced Britain's daily tabloids. One row after another has broken crisis and gives it sustenance. The latest crisis fits into the The economic power of U.S. imperialism that stands out between the rulers of Germany and Britain. The latest pattern of such developments as the 1987 stock market behind the dollar precludes its replacement as the interna­ included German plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary crash, the "mini-crash" of 1989, the savings-and-loan di­ tional reserve currency in capitaHst trade and finance. At of the frrst launch of Hitler's "wonder weapon," the V2 saster, the higher rates of bankruptcy and default, and this the end of 1987, more than two-thirds of the foreign rocket. year's collapse in the Tokyo stock market. exchange reserves of all the world's governments were "Critics say the celebration in the former rocket base of Throughout the history of capitalism, every major eco­ held in U.S. dollars, while 15 percent were held in West Peenemunde is in poor taste, because the supersonic V2 nomic and social crisis has been signaled in the most German marks and 7 percent in Japanese yen. killed thousands of British civilians, while 20,000 concen­ heated and vulnerable spot in the capitalist economy: the The U.S. rulers are even able to wield the historically tration camp inmates died making it," wrote the Financial arena of credit and monetary relations. Once again this has declining dollar as a club in their economic competition Times. Earlier this year, the Germans protested the erection been proven true with the near collapse of the European against their imperialist rivals. In 1987, for example, the of a statue to honor General Arthur "Bomber" Harris, the Monetary System. central banks of other imperialist governments bought up architect of the carpet bombing of Germany which killed These events bring closer the looming worldwide depres­ $130 billion in dollars to help bolster the plummeting value 593,000 civilians during World War II. sion of industrial production and employment. But more of the U.S. currency and defend the competitiveness of Other ruling class figures, such as France's finance important, the social crisis that springs from this depression their own exports. Together with dollars bought over pre­ minister Michel Sapin, have blamed "speculators" for the will give rise to mass political battles and polarization that vious years, Tokyo, Bonn, London, and other rivals of U.S. currency crisis. Baying for blood, Sapin warned that during will tie together as never before the prospects for working imperialism ended up sitting on more than $450 billion of the French Revolution speculators were beheaded. But people in every country across the globe. the depreciating currency at the end of 1987. But doing so was a lesser evil for Washington's rivals than allowing a free-falling dollar to endanger the entire international mon­ etary system .... This baJance of forces among the capitalist powers cannot be substantially altered by agreements among the 12 Western European governments that make up the Eu­ ropean Community, popularly called the European Com­ Food, not troops, to Somalia! mon Market. The EC is scheduled to end all internal barriers to trade, labor, and capital flows by 1992, creating The workers and farmers who are starving in Somalia need overthrow the Ethiopian revolution. a common market for some 350 million people. But the food and medical aid, not thousands of armed troops. Ac­ The exploiting classes the world over promote the idea 1992 goal is already in trouble, as rival capitalist interests cording to United Nations estimates, as many as 2 million that the famine in Somalia is caused by "armed gangs" or jockey to protect their own profits. people could die in the corning months unless massive relief "clan warfare." This too glosses over imperialism's role in Competition among the dozen European ruling classes is immediately sent into the country. Another 4.5 million Somalia in recent decades. will intensify, not abate, with the next world recession or people require emergency assistance. The billionaire families and their governments have explosion of inflation, let alone a more devastating social Massive aid should be sent immediately to Somalia. It spent months pondering the "technical difficulties" of and economic crisis. The rival national capitals will not is outrageous that the wealthy rulers of the United States sending food to Somalia. They argue that, without a strong give up their separate states, which protect their interests -a country that has the capacity to feed the entire world military presence, it is impossible to send food and medi­ against each other and above all against the working people -have seen fit to send a mere 300 tons of food and now cine. Already more than 2,000 U.S. marines are stationed off whose labor they grow wealthy. propose selling half of next year's allotment to merchants, off the coast of Somalia, and the UN plans to send thou­ Without a common European state there can be no instead of distributing it to those who are starving. It is sands more so called peacekeepers. common currency to rival the dollar, nor common mone­ equally intolerable that i.nununization programs and other tary and financial policies. Whatever their efforts to ensure medical care that were called for months ago are only now These troops set one more precedent for the presumed a wider European market for their goods and capital, the beginning to be organized. "right" of Washington and other imperialist powers, acting German exploiters will never mortgage their profits to the The imperialist governments in Europe, North America, under the UN cloak, to intervene anywhere in the world fortunes of the French economy, the French to the fortunes Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, are responsible for this they choose. The troops are not required to provide the aid of the British, the British to the Portuguese, Danish, Span­ catastrophe. It is not primarily a natural disaster. Somalia, that is needed. ish, or Greek. Thus no one of their currencies can become like the rest of Africa and the Third World, has been What the United States and the other imperialist powers the world's reserve currency replacing the dollar. blocked for 150 years by colonial and neocolonial exploi­ can and should do is to flood the country with food, tation from developing its economy. Then, for more than medical supplies, and seed for next year's crops. Massive * * * a decade Washington, with the support of its alHes, used aid, on a scale many times what is being done now, offers the dictatorial regime of Mohamed Siad Barre as a pawn the best hope for the hundreds of thousands of our fellow CORRECTION to advance U.S. interests in the region, in an attempt to working people who face starvation and disease. In the Militant, October 2, an error appeared in the article on page 4, "USAir workers lose vote for union certification." The wage cut taken by ramp workers on July I was 8 percent across the board, not 2 percent as the article stated.

14 The Militant October 9, 1992 Kentucky meat-packers end 19-week-long strike This column is devoted to re­ continuing their strike. Workers at mare and I'm back." Since then, however, the ranks have wages and benefits. Jesus Gomez, porting the resistance by working the KinI eith mill, some 200 kilome­ A successful benefit rock concert held strong. who led several strikes in Mexico people to the employers' assault ters south of Auckland, also remain held at a popular Auckland bar Sep­ Among the unionists participat­ and was jailed there for his union on their living standard, working out. tember 13 raised more than $1,600 ing in the picket line and rally were activities, explained how the strik­ conditions, and unions. One of the key issues of the strike, for the strike fund. Supporters con­ striking Teamsters from the Doe ers go from "construction site to ~ invite you to contribute which began July 17, has been the tinue to bring food and money to Run lead smelter. construction site calling on the short items to this column as a continuation of a single company­ the picket line. The rally was punctuated with workers to come out and join the way for other fighting workers wide contract. Recently a majority With no immediate end to the shouts of "Scab!" as a few of picket." The drywallers have re­ strike in sight, support for the work­ RitePoint's strikebreakers ventured ceived important support in the ers and their families remains es­ into view or drove past the pickets. form of food and donations from ON THE PICKET LINE sential. Send donations to: United While adamant in expressing their as far north as San Francisco. In Welfare Fund, P.O. Box 219, disgust with the strikebreakers, the thanking the crowd for a collec­ Tokorca, New Zealand. unionists maintained self-discipline tion of $125, Navarro invited ev­ around the world to read about of workers at four struck mills, in­ throughout the event. eryone to join them on the picket and learn from these important cluding the two still out, upon the Unionists join Teamsters Local unions have recently line. struggles. recommendation of union negotia­ rally in show of support begun extending solidarity in Also attending the Los Angeles tors, voted to accept four separate site Members of Teamsters Local other forms. Members of UAW lAM meeting was a delegation of Members of the United Food and contracts. 688, on strike against the Rite­ Local 110 voted to conduct a gate machinists from Alaska Airlines in Commercial Workers (UFCW) It was agreed that a return to Point Pen Co. in Fenton, Missouri, collection and match the funds Seattle, including Linda Layton, Local 227 who have been on strike work would occur as each site received support from other union collected at the gate with money vice-president of lAM District 143, against the Fischer Packing Com­ reached agreement with the com­ members who joined an expanded from the general union fund. The ground service worker Mark Sev­ pany in Louisvi lle, Kentucky, pany on the terms of the contract. picket line and rally September 8. total contribution exceeded $4,000 ers, and mechanic John Wilson. began returning to work September Work resumed at the Mataura paper The gathering of about 200 peo­ according to the local's financial Layton and Severs spoke about the 20. The strike started May 8 after mill September 15 and at the ple. made up of members of the secretary. This local and others open shop at Alaska, and the exist­ the company demanded more than Whakatane Board Mills the follow­ Communications Workers of have collected donations of food ing seven-year wage freeze and the 27 concessions in the new contract. ing day. America (CWA), United Auto for the strikers' pantry. company's demands to extend this However, there has been little Workers (UAW), United Steel­ The 600 striking meatpackers Los Angeles machinists for another four years, with major voted overwhelmingly to rerum to progress in negotiations at Kinleith, workers of America, Teamsters, cuts in medical benefits for part­ work under the terms of the old and the company has yet to even and other unions, was initiated by discuss labor solidarity time workers. contract, after a National Labor Re­ agree to return to negotiations at Te the CWA. More than 125 members of In­ lations Board preliminary ruling Papapa. About 160 Teamsters were ternational Association of Machin- "We are trying to break the circle charged the company with unfair of concessions. We have begun to labor practices. The company then unify mechanics, ticket agents, and announced it would take back all baggage workers, recruiting more but about 20 of the strikers and of them into the union while also release the scab workers from em­ working with flight attendants and ployment, placing them on a pref­ pilots," stated Severs. "We held an erential hiring list if new openings informational picket of 200, and became available. The union is welcome the opportunity to come fighting to bring back the 20 work­ here." ers charged with violating a picket Herb Bradley, a former Eastern line injunction. Airlines strike leader, and now a The union plans to continue the local lAM leader told the unionists. boycott of Fischer products until a "The situation at Alaska is the new contract is negotiated. The boy­ handwriting on the wall for North­ con has had a big impact. A retired west. We need the unity of every carpenter said, " I saw more support working person in the U.S. to back for this strike than I have in 35 years." the corporations down. Having Already the company has gone to Seattle and been on the threatened to impose a conces­ Alaska picket, it was like being sions contract. The union says it home again having gone through will seek an injunction against any the Eastern strike." such moves. The Lexington, Kentucky, AFL­ Plans are underway for a delega­ C10 is hosting a solidarity rally for tion of Los Angeles lAM members the Fischer workers September 26. Militant/Jim Garrison to go to Seattle for their next picket A mock trial of the company for Teamsters Local 688 members at RiteA>int Pen Co. in Fenton, Missouri, have been on strike since March and to spread the word and organize crimes against Fischer workers will 5 over seniority rights and job bidding. Strike has been receiving support from many other unions. Alaska workers in Los Angeles, take place October 9. Long Beach, Burbank, and Tom Clark, UFCW International Morale at the Tc Papapa picket forced on strike March 5 following ists (lAM) Local 2785 celebrated throughout California. Boycott Coordinator, expressed op­ line remains high. The workers the company's demand to scrap se­ the grand opening of their new timism in being able to win a decent there have successfully prevented niority rights for departments and union hall by pledging support to The following people contributed to contract: "This strike was received the company from using scab labor job bidding in the new contract. The the Southern California drywallers this week's column: Jim Horn, by more segments of the commu­ and have kept the mill shut for the company wanted the right to assign strike and the developing fight at member of International Chemical nity than any other strike we've past two months. any worker to any production job Alaska Airlines. lAM Local 2785 Workers Locall5 in Jeffersonville, seen anywhere." Strike hats identifying the wearer at the plant. Workers feared losing organizes workers at Northwest Indiana; Valerie Libby, member of as a "Te Papapa scab buster 1992" their jobs if they were unable to Airlines. UAW Local 647 in Cincinnati, Strike continues at two are very popular. perform new jobs demanded of Drywall strike leaders Jesus G6 Ohio; Colin Parker in Auckland, New Zealand paper mills One striker explained that she them. mez and Roy Navarro spoke about New Zealand; Jim Garrison, mem­ As of September 18, pulp and is looking forward to returning to RitePoint immediately hired what the fight of thousands of striking ber of UAW Local JJO in Fenton, paper workers at the New Zealand work wearing her hat and union it described as a permanent replace­ drywall workers in Southern Cal­ Missouri; and Mark Friedman, Forest Products mill at Te Papapa buttons and announcing to her su­ ment work force. About 20 strikers ifornia for unionization in the face member of JAM Local 2785 in Los in Auckland, New Zealand, are pervisors, "I am your worst night- crossed the picket line at that time. of massive cuts by contractors in Angeles. -LETTERS Interest in Cuba There is a marked positive differ­ Support for Curtis fense Committee and several During a recent end-of-summer I have heard different speakers ence I noticed with Ms. Alvisa's Supporters of Mark Curtis held agreed to write a letter to the Iowa community festival in Reisters­ from Cuba over the last few years. talk. The audience was even more a Labor Day barbecue to raise State Board of Parole urging that town a prominent Democratic Curtis be freed. A total of $ 167 was September 17 I heard Ibis Alvisa attentive than I recall from past funds for the fight to win parole member of the Maryland legisla­ raised toward the parole fight. At­ Gonzalez on the campus of Edin­ speakers. The members of the au­ for him this fall. About 25 people ture conducted an informal poll of dience seemed almost hungry for a lanta supporters of Curtis plan to boro University of Pennsylvania. attended, paying $5 each for "all festival-goers to learn of their fa­ different view. Ms. AI visa provided you can eat." Curtis supporters use some of this money to put out vorite candidate. Bill Clinton carne a different view, forcefully and in also raised money by selling ad­ a mailing informing more people in in first. George Bush came in sec­ PRISONER detail. There was a particularly vance tickets to coworkers during the area about efforts to win his ond. meaty exchange when one audi­ the week before the barbecue. parole this fall. Five people cast write-in ballots. ence member wanted to go back to SUBSCRIPTION Several coworkers who could not Marla Puziss Three of them were for Texas bil­ FUND the early 1960s to blame Cuba for attend the event donated money Atlanta, Georgia lionaire H. Ross Perot. Two were the poor relations with the U.S. over for the parole fight, including one for Warren. The Militant offers reduced the issue of nuclear weapons. worker at the Ford assembly plant Socialist campaign "I never heard of him before," subscription rates to workers Possibly the hunger for informa­ who donated $22. the Democratic senator said of and farmers behind bars. A 6- tion on a different way to organize During the barbecue Curtis sup­ Just as Malcolm X said about the Warren. "A socialist, a socialist." month subscript.ion to the Mil­ society is an extension of the gen­ porters showed the video The Militant, that what you put into it Indeed, a socialist. itant costs $6, and one year eral hunger of the 1990s as chronic Frame-up of Mark Curtis by Hol­ will see that it gets around, what is Baxter Smith costs $12. We send a free sam­ unemployment gnaws away at lywood director Nick Castle and going into the socialist campaign is Baltimore, Maryland ple copy on request. workers and the concentration of led a discussion about Curtis's apparently seeing that it gets Contributions make these wealth fattens the top I percent fight for parole, his victory early around. The letters column is an open special rates possible for those with even more than they have had this year in a civil suit against the Socialist Workers presidential forum for all viewpoints on sub­ who cannot afford our regular in the past police who beat him, and the candidate James Warren, although jects of general interest to our rates. Please send your dona­ countercampaign against the he has never campaigned there, readers. Please keep your letters I hope to hear other speakers like tion to: Militanl Prisoner Sub­ framed-up union and political ac­ has a few supporters in the Balti­ brief. Where necessary they will Ms. Alvisa in the future. scription Fund, 410 West St, tivist. more suburb of Reisterstown, ac­ be abridged. Please indicate New York, NY 10014. James Smith Two people signed to become cording to an informal presidential if you prefer tbat your initials be Erie, Pennsylvania endorsers of the Mark Curtis De- poll. used rather than your full name.

October 9, 1992 The Militant 15 TH£ MILITANT Nine killed in Canada mine disaster Police and news media seek to frame up striking miners for explosion

BY NED DMYTRYSHYN that the strikers were responsible for the Prior to the explosion replacement work­ hired Pinkertons, and the RCMP. We 're VANCOUVER, British Columbia­ blast has resulted in death threats against ers had informed CASAW Local4 that min­ being set up and the courts are going along Nine replacement workers were killed as a soikers and their families and physical at­ ers were being transported with a load of with this. One hundred and four of our violent explosion rocked the Royal Oak tacks against the union hall. explosives. "It is a cardinal rule that you members are facing false charges from gold mine in Yellowknife, Northwest Terri­ "This attack against the strikers is the never transport explosives along with work­ picket-line activity and because of this are tories, September I 8. Since May 23, this most serious antilabor assault in Canada ers no matter how much time and money it not allowed to go to the picket line." mine has been the scene of a determined today," stated Communist League candi­ may save,'' stated Harry Seeton, president On May 26, several days after the strike soike by 240 gold miners, members of the dates Michel Prairie and Paul Kouri in a of Local 4. The union offered its deepest began, a 58-member "tactical team" of Canadian Association of Smelter and AHied statement issued to the media. "We call sympathies and moral support to the fami­ RCMP was flown in from Edmonton at Workers (CASAW ) Local 4. against conces­ upon the entire labor movement to conduct lies of the replacement workers involved in government expense. The RCMP members sions and the boss's use of replacement a widespread, active campaign of solidar­ the fatal explosion. together with 50 Pinkerton cops, armed to workers to break the union. Six of the miners ity with these striking miners. They now This explosion has received major media the teeth, have consistently harassed strik­ killed were CASAW members from Yellow­ represent the front line of defense of the coverage in Canada. Much of it has been ing miners and attacked the picket lines. knife who had crossed the picket line. labor movement as a whole." Prairie is designed to frame-up the striking union 'The nine miners who lost their lives are Within hours of the blast the Royal Ca­ running in the November I provincial by­ members for the tragedy. "We are opposed victims of the boss's offensive to protect nadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced election in St-Jacques, Montreal. Kouri ran to terrorism," stated Seeton. 'The violence their profits by treating workers' lives and that it was treating the explosion as a crim­ in the September 19 municipal by-election during this strike has not come from us, it's safety procedures with contempt," stated inal matter. A hysterical campaign implying in Vancouver. been provoked by the company, and their Communist League candidates Prairie and Kouri. "The company even refused the help of experienced miners on strike who volun­ teered to join the rescue teams after the explosion." Steelworkers on strike in Alabama Safety is one of the central issues in this soike. From January through April of this BY RAUL GONZALEZ 10,000 workers nationwide and brought in of incidents. On one occasion a Trinity truck year there have been 81 reponed accidents BESSEMER, Alabama - " Who are we? more than $1.26 billion in revenue in 1991. bumped a striker on the picket line. On out of a workforce of 240. The company is Union! " "What time is it? Union time!" In the mid-1980s Trinity spent more than another a small caravan of guards attempted seeking to drastically cut back mining in­ These chants rang out as some 150 members $20 million to buy the Pullman Standard Car to come in the wrong gate and was turned spections and is demanding concessions of the United Steelworkers of America Company, reopening Pullman's closed away. that would seriously erode seniority rights. (USWA) Local 9226 struck Trinity Indus­ plants nonunion. The local has issued a statement appeal­ Since the strike started the company has tries and set up picket lines at midnight Approximately 800 people work in the ing for support and donations. These can be informed the union that they want an addi­ September 19. Trinity is the nation's leading Bessemer plant - 98 percent of whom are sent to USWA Local 9226, 1919 7th Ave., tional $ 1.5 million in concessions to pay for producer of rail cars. members of the USWA in this "right-to­ Bessemer, AL 35020. Phone (205) 425- lost production because of the strike. An impromptu rally began at the picket work" state. Three hundred had been laid 9226. Send messages of support and donations line when a local television news team ar­ off since early summer. to: CASAW, Local 4, P.O. Box 1628, Yel­ rived. 'This is not South Africa and the days In the weeks leading up to the contract Raul Gonzalez is the Socialist Workers can­ lowknife, NWT, X 1A2P2 of slavery are long gone," stated striking deadline the management arbitrarily fired didate for Public Service Commissioner in welder Grady King. "This company acts close to 40 workers for allegedly violating Alabama and a member of USWA Local Ned Dmytryshyn is a member of Teamsters like they don't know that. So we have to attendance rules. Injured workers receiving 9226. Local213 in Vancouver, Canada. teach them that we know different, that workers compensation were brought back we're not dogs, that we won't take just any and placed on light duty so the company old kind of treatment. That's why we wouldn't have to keep up payments to them soike!" in the event of a strike. Many of the laid off Protests win stay of execution 'This company needed to be struck," workers were also recalled a few days be­ stated Keith Witherspoon, another welder. fore the strike deadline. "Skilled welders. painters, and machinists for frame-up victim in Texas make $10 an hour and pay $50 a week for Successful strike in 1988 insurance. The pay's too low, and with so In 1988 workers struck the plant for six BY MICHAEL CHAMBERLAIN ism," she added. Nunez said that several many layoffs we don't always get 40 hours.'' weeks in a successful battle for union rec­ HOUSTON - Ri cardo Aldape Guerra other students from her school were also Many workers refer to Trinity as the best ognition. One striker explained that, during won a stay of execution September 2 I from participating in the march. Many of the part-time job in Alabama because of the that soike, "Trinity sent out letters calling the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in marchers had never been part of a political frequent temporary layoffs. us all back to work and said if we didn't Austin. The appeals court overturned a protest before. Management is also attempting to gut the show up they 'd fire us." lower-court ruling earlier that day ordering Elizar Torres, a Houston construction seniority system. Bosses want to be able to "We took those letters and made a bonfire that Aldape's execution go forward. "This worker. was marching "to help this boy that pick and choose who to lay off and recall. in front of the plant gate and stayed out," he case has been litigated to death," said Harris we know is innocent." Torres has been in­ "They'd have us fighting one another for continued. "No one lost their job. And a few County judge Woody Densen in ordering volved in the defense efforts for six months who could do the most work the fastest so that crossed the line then are out on strike the execution. Fifty Aldape supporters and hao; attended all the protests. we wouldn't get laid off." said Sam, a today." jammed the tense hearing before Densen. Luis Mendoza, a student from the Uni­ painter at the plant. Trinity has tested the determination of the Two days earlier more than 250 people versity of Texas in Austin, attended the Trinity Industries employs close to strikers by attempting to provoke a couple marched and rallied here to save the life of march because he feels that the authorities Aldape. a young Mexican worker framed up "need to see that there is outrage" over the on charges of killing a Houston cop. Aldape conviction and planned execution of Al­ u.s. was scheduled to be executed September 24. dape. The case is "a prime example of ''Marches like th is are very important to what's wrong with the death penalty in gen­ win justice for this fellow worker." ex­ eral. Texas has a history of condemning LOCAl plained Man Herreshoff, one of the partici­ people to die who are actually innocent." he pants in the demonstration and the Socialist said. He pointed to the case of Clarence Workers candidate for Congress from Texas Brandley as an example. Brandely was sen­ ON in the 25th District. "The entire labor move­ tenced to die only to have new evidence ment and all supporters of justice should prove his innocence. demand freedom for Aldape Guerra." The appeal of Aldape's conviction points The fight to win justice for Aldape has to prosecution's suppression of evidence fa­ sTRIKE drawn extensive support, including from the vorable to the defense. In particular the Mexican government. The case is widely prosecution prevented one witness, Hector discussed among Chicano and Mexican Anguiano, from coming forward. Anguiano workers in Houston. and has been covered swears to Aldape's innocence. nightly on the Spanish-language TV stations The Ricardo Aldape Guerra Defense in the days leading up to the planned exe­ Committee plans to continue to mobilize cution. public protests to win his freedom. Included Participants in the September 19 march in these events is a car caravan from Hous­ came from as far away as Denver, Chicago, ton to Austin on October 2. and Mexico. "I'm involved because of all The defense committee is asking that the injustices committed against Ia raza. messages protesting Aldape's death sen­ This isn't just a struggle for him but for all tence and calling for his release be sent to: of us," stated Reyna Salazar, a housewife, Governor Ann Richards, State Capitol, Aus­ who joined the movement to free Aldape ten tin, TX 7871 1, Tel: (800) 843-5789; and years ago. Aldape was first arrested in July. Court of Criminal Appeals, Capitol Station, 1982. P.O. Box 12308, Austin, TX 787 11, Tel: (5 12) 463-155 1. Copies should be sent to 'We must not let this happen' the defense committee at: 2510 Broad St.. 0 "We must not let this happen. he's inno­ Suite 200. Houston. TX 77087. For more Militant/Denise Mcinerney cent!" insisted Maria Nunez, a student from information call the committee at (713) 64 1- Striking Steelworkers picket Trinity Industries in Bessemer, Alabama. Milby High School. "We need to stop rae- 0026.

16 The Militant October 9, 1992