AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · FRANCE 1.00 EURO · ICELAND KR100 · NEW ZEALAND $2.00 · SWEDEN KR10 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE Organization of western coal has begun amid U.S. hiring boom — PAGE 11 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 68/NO. 45 DEC. 7, 2004 Labor board: Mine bosses’ relatives U.S. troops can’t vote in union election in Utah consolidate UMWA: ‘Signifi cant victory’ in fi ght for union at Co-Op mine victory BY PAT MILLER AND KATHERINE BENNETT HUNTINGTON, Utah—More than 50 in Fallujah current and former Co-Op miners, retired members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and their spouses, and Assault Baathists UMWA representatives turned out for a November 21 meeting at the Town Hall south of Baghdad here. They came to discuss recent rulings BY SAM MANUEL by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) favorable to the miners and the The 15,000 U.S. troops that took over next steps in the fi ght to establish UMWA Fallujah November 15 have continued to representation at Co-Op. fi ght small and isolated pockets of armed The labor board ruled November 18 that groups of Baathists, consolidating their supervisory personnel and relatives of the victory. Kingston family that owns the mine will On November 23, as this issue went to not be allowed to vote in an upcoming press, about 5,000 U.S., British, and Iraqi union representation election at Co-Op. troops launched an offensive against simi- Miners will be able to choose between lar forces in a swath of territory south of the UMWA, the so-called International Baghdad referred to by many Iraqis as the Association of United Workers Union that “Triangle of Death.” miners say is a company outfi t, or no union The same day, the World Tribune re- at all. The tentative date for the election is ported that the U.S. military had captured December 16. Militant/Terri Moss in Al Anbar province of western Iraq, “The campaign to win the union has Bob Guilfoyle, deputy director of organizing for UMWA’s western region, addresses bordering Syria, a top commander of the been long and hard, and the fi ght is not Co-Op miners, union retirees, others at November 21 meeting in Huntington, Utah. forces opposing the Iraqi interim govern- over,” said Juan Salazar, a leader of the ment of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and Co-Op miners’ struggle, who addressed Co-Op managers have said that C.W. the U.S. occupation. U.S. military offi cials the meeting. “We know the company is not Mining, which operates the mine, will said the senior Sunni commander, who was giving up. They are going after us. They are appeal the ruling. not identifi ed by name, was captured in the stepping up their attacks against us miners. The latest NLRB decision comes on the Referendum town of Haqlaniyah along the Euphrates They are encouraging miners to get jobs at heels of another ruling siding with the min- River. other mines. We have to be vigilant, strong, ers. On November 2, the labor board said curtailing rights Similar operations are underway in the and fi rm in the face of this.” the Co-Op bosses must pay back wages to northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk that “This NLRB ruling is a signifi cant vic- 47 miners amounting to some $400,000. In of Albanians fails border Iraqi Kurdistan, in Sunni-dominated tory,” said Bob Guilfoyle, deputy director June the NLRB had ruled that the miners Continued on Page 6 of organizing for the UMWA’s western re- were illegally fi red from their jobs Sept. 23, gion. “It shows if we stick together, justice 2003, for union activity and ordered C.W. in Macedonia will prevail.” Continued on Page 4 BY BOBBIS MISAILIDES Bill to restructure ATHENS, Greece—A referendum to curtail the national rights of Albanians in U.S. spy agencies Toronto meat packers’ strike affects Macedonia, which have been won through struggle by this oppressed nationality that scuttled in House hog trade throughout Ontario makes up a third of the population of 2 million, was defeated November 7. A BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS BY JOHN STEELE ers, members of United Food and Com- boycott campaign succeeded in convinc- A bipartisan bill to change the structure TORONTO—Workers at Quality Meat mercial Workers (UFCW) Local 175, who ing the vast majority of eligible voters to of the various U.S. government spy agencies Packers and Toronto Abattoirs (QMP) are pressing to win back some of the 40 stay away from the polls. was stopped dead in its tracks November here have entered the fourth week of their percent wage and benefi ts cut they were After the failure of the reactionary ini- 20 in the House of Representatives, after strike, despite an intimidation campaign forced to accept six years ago. tiative, the “decentralization law” that had key Republicans vehemently opposed its by the company and threats by the bosses Picket lines remain up around the clock been approved by the republic’s parliament approval. A previous version of the bill had to shut down the plant if the walkout at the plant’s four entrances, keeping pro- in the capital, Skopje, is set to be imple- passed in the Senate. A compromise version continues. The employers are feeling the duction at a standstill, said strikers. Work- mented. The legislation recognizes Alba- was on its way to the House, but the Repub- squeeze from the strike by the 570 work- ers used to slaughter and process between nian as an offi cial language in Macedonia lican majority pulled it, making it unlikely 5,000 and 6,000 hogs per day. in areas where Albanians comprise over 20 that the bill will be considered before this Management recently laid off percent of the population and grants limited Congress adjourns for the year. most of the offi ce staff. autonomy to majority Albanian areas. Its failure—along with recent new ap- No negotiations have taken Three days before the referendum’s de- pointments to cabinet posts by President place since workers rejected Continued on Page 3 George Bush and the resignations of liberal the company’s “final offer” “analysts” in the CIA—are indications of November 13 in a close vote the shifting relationship of forces in the rul- of 200-180. Washington hosts ing class since the U.S. elections toward the The strike is having an im- course the Bush administration has charted pact on the profi ts of the pri- military exercise the last four years and continues to pursue. vately owned company, found- The legislation collapsed “as conserva- ed in 1931, as well as the hog in Caribbean on Continued on Page 10 industry throughout Ontario. According to UFCW plant chairperson Sam Cataeno, a navy ‘interdiction’ lucrative contract with A&P, BY MICHAEL ITALIE a major grocery chain, has Also Inside: Washington organized the fi rst Prolifera- been cancelled because of the U.S. prosecutors violence-bait strike, and that lost contracts tion Security Initiative (PSI) exercise in the western hemisphere November 8–18 near lawyer Lynne Stewart with other major companies in N.Y. ‘terrorism’ trial 2 may follow. the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Forces from 20 governments were involved—in- An article in the Ontario Notorious housing ‘assistance’ Farmer, written in the first cluding those of Argentina, Chile, Mexico, week of the strike, said hog and Panama. Operation Chokepoint 2004 center in Bronx, New York, farmers are being forced to tested new “rapid consent procedures” to be shut down 2 ship live hogs out of Ontario established between the U.S. govern- to other Canadian provinces ment and those of Panama, Liberia, and UK farmers block distribution and to the United States, at the Marshall Islands, for boarding ships center to protest milk price cuts 3 Militant great expense. under their fl ags. Members of UFCW Local 175 on strike against Qual- In the same article, Keith Under the banner of the “war on terror- Pathfi nder book sales are brisk ism,” Washington and its imperialist allies ity Meat Packers in Toronto on picket line November 1, Robbins, spokesman for the at local book fair in Tehran 6 the fi rst day of the walkout. They are being interviewed Ontario Pork Marketing Board, use the PSI to assert the right to stop and by local Portuguese-language television station. Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 10 The Militant xxx xx, 2004 3 Gov’t violence-baits N.Y. lawyer in ‘terror’ trial BY MICHAEL ITALIE counts against her, she faces up to 35 years NEW YORK—The U.S. government in prison. She said she was able to speak has put violence-baiting at the heart of its about the conditions of discrimination and effort to convict attorney Lynne Stewart on oppression in the United States. She said charges of “providing material support for she took particular pleasure in fi nding a way terrorist activity” in a trial here that has so to mention the case of Leonard Peltier, the far lasted fi ve months. Attempting to con- American Indian activist who has been held vict Stewart through guilt by association, in U.S. prisons for nearly 30 years on frame- the prosecution has tried to link her with up charges of killing an FBI agent. Osama bin Laden. Stewart took the stand “The government opened the door to dis- in her own defense for nine days in early cussing what I stand for,” Stewart said in a November, answering the charges against November 15 interview with the Militant, her and countering the prosecutor’s presen- “and we kicked it wide open.” tation of her “world view.” Asked in court about an interview she Stewart, 65, was one of the attorneys had given to the New York Times in 1995, from 1994 to 2002 for Sheik Omar Abdel- Stewart said she stood by what she has said Rahman, who was convicted on frame-up publicly about her views. charges of conspiracy to bomb the World “I am a revolutionary with a small ‘R’…I Trade Center in 1993 and attack other city do believe that basic change is necessary,” landmarks. Abdel-Rahman was sentenced she testifi ed in court. to life in prison plus 65 years, and is being “I think some of it will be accomplished held at the maximum security prison in nonviolently such as the fact that my grand- Florence, Colorado. daughter now plays NCAA basketball and Attorney Lynne Stewart (right) and her husband Ralph Poynter leave federal court Attorney General John Ashcroft himself maybe can play in Madison Square Garden in New York June 22. Stewart is facing frame-up charges of “aiding terrorism” for announced the charges against Stewart on someday. That revolution happened nonvio- her work as defense attorney for Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted on April 9, 2002, alleging that she had vio- lently,” she said, referring to the civil rights charges of conspiring to organize the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. lated the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective movement. Death Penalty Act, passed under the Clin- “I think to rid ourselves of the entrenched include restrictions on his access to mail, When the trial began June 22 the govern- ton administration. Washington charged her voracious type of capitalism that is in this telephones, and visitors, and a prohibition ment opened an attack on freedom of the both with “providing material support for country that perpetuates sexism and racism, on his speaking to the media. press by issuing subpoenas to four report- terrorist activity” and with aiding a terror- I don’t think that can come nonviolently.” The prosecution is basing much of ers to testify in the trial. All four—from ist organization by “conspiring” to help her When she was asked on the witness stand its case on a press release she issued on Reuters, the New York Times, and New client. In July 2003 U.S. District Judge John whether she supports “terrorist violence,” Abdel-Rahman’s behalf to an Egyptian York Newsday—challenged the validity of Koetl threw out the latter charge. she responded, “No, because it’s basically journalist in 2000. Testifying in the trial of the government move. The prosecution’s Charged along with Stewart are Mo- anarchistic. It is not directed against institu- Mohammed Yousry, former attorney gen- plan was to use the reporters’ coverage of hammed Yousry, an Arabic interpreter, tions or—it is directed against civilians and eral Ramsey Clark, one of Abdel-Rahman’s Stewart’s activities as an attorney against and Ahmed Abdel Sattar, a paralegal to therefore it cannot be excused. Those are attorneys, said he, like Stewart, had issued her. In July the judge deferred any decision Abdel-Rahman. not legitimate targets.” press statements on his client’s behalf. Clark on the subpoenas until later in the trial, and The government’s case has hinged on Stewart said she has spoken to commu- has not been indicted. the issue remains open. what it calls Stewart’s “world view.” Federal nity organizations and others throughout the Stewart said she is not guilty of the Wiretapping of Stewart’s communication prosecutor Andrew Dembar took Stewart’s United States. The terms of her bail made it SAMs charge because, like Clark, she was with her client is central to the case against remark in her testimony that she supported a necessary for her to request permission to fulfi lling her obligation as an attorney to her. Early on prosecutors acknowledged, “people’s revolution” and did not condemn leave the New York area. But as the invita- her client. By getting his message out, she “intercepted calls form the backbone of the use of violence as evidence of violent in- tions for Stewart to speak started to pour said, she was able to keep his case alive and the government case.” Since October 2001 tent. In its effort to paint her with the brush in, the judge decided it would no longer help expose both his prison conditions and the Justice Department has been allowed of “terrorism,” the prosecution presented to be necessary for her to seek permission to the charges on which he was convicted. She to conduct surveillance of those in cus- the court a written version of a 1998 CNN travel within the continental United States, pointed to the ethical rules that lawyers are tody with their attorneys without judicial report that two of Abdel-Rahman’s sons she said. Her case has won formal back- required to follow to “zealously represent oversight. were believed to have joined Osama bin ing from the National Lawyers Guild, the clients” as the basis for her actions, not any “Ashcroft thought I’d cave in or wouldn’t Laden’s forces. Center for Constitutional Rights, and the effort to promote “terrorism.” get support,” said Stewart. “Instead I’ve The judge twice instructed the jurors that National Association of Criminal Defense “These SAMs regulations are used in a been able to speak out across the country, bin Laden is not charged with Stewart as a Lawyers, and supporters attend the court conscious way to silence political people,” receive media coverage, and meet others co-conspirator in the case. daily to show support for her fi ght. like Abdel-Rahman, said Stewart. who support my case.” Stewart pleaded not guilty to all charges. Stewart is also charged with viola- When the case began, Stewart said, she tion of Special Administrative Measures wasn’t sure about going public, but as (SAMs) that Washington has imposed on support for her case developed she came Abdel-Rahman in its effort to dehuman- Notorious ‘housing assistance’ to “relish the fi ght.” If convicted on all fi ve ize and break the cleric. These measures center in Bronx, N.Y., to shut down BY PAUL PEDERSON shame,” would be torn down and replaced Embarrassed by publicity about the by a $30 million facility that is scheduled inhuman conditions workers faced at the to be fi nished in 2008. Emergency Assistance Unit (EAU), the The one-story windowless brick build- New York City government has decided ing was run down and cramped. Working to tear down the building and replace it people who ended up there often found with a new facility. Located in the Bronx, themselves herded into the center’s hall- Find out about Utah miners’ fi ght for union the EAU—the city’s only intake point for ways and waiting areas for many hours homeless families seeking shelter—is noto- along with hundreds of other families After a 10-month strike, Co-Op rious for its humiliating treatment of work- before being sent to a so-called overnight miners in Huntington, Utah, ing people in need of emergency housing. shelter—often arriving there at 3:00 or 4:00 returned to work in July and have At the same time, the city government has a.m. and then being kicked out at 7:00 a.m. announced further steps to restrict access to The cramped and unsanitary conditions led continued battle for union from assistance for public housing and shelters. to the quick spread of illnesses—especially inside. From day one of the strike New York mayor Michael Bloomberg among children—and vermin infestation. the ‘Militant’ has covered this im- announced November 16 that the intake As the number of homeless in the city portant labor struggle weekly. New center, which he called “a symbol of Continued on Page 9 subscribers can get two back issues

of their choice to fi nd out more. Co-Op miner Juan Salazar speaks at Oct. 2 soli- address. By fi rst-class (airmail), send $80. Don’t miss a single issue! darity rally at UMWA hall in Price, Utah. Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: Send $65 The Militant drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. Vol. 68/No. 45 Canada: Send Canadian $50 for one-year sub- Closing news date: November 23, 2004 scrip tion to Militant, 6955 Boul. St. Michel suite 202, Montreal, QC. Postal Code: H2A 2Z3. Editor: ARGIRIS MALAPANIS United Kingdom: £25 for one year by SUBSCRIBE TO DAY! Business Manager: MICHAEL ITALIE check or inter na tion al mon ey order made out Washington Bureau Chief: SAM MANUEL to CL London, 47 The Cut, Lon don, SE1 8LF, Editorial Staff: Róger Calero, Michael Italie, En gland. Martín Koppel, Sam Manuel, Doug Nelson, Republic of Ireland and Continental Eu- and Paul Pederson. NEW READERS NAME rope: £70 for one year by check or in ter na tion al Published weekly except for one week in Janu ary, mon ey order made out to CL London at above June, July, and September. address. France: Send 115 eu ros for one-year ❏.$5 for 12 issues The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. 37th subscrip tion to Diffusion du Militant, P.O. Box ADDRESS Street, 10th fl oor, New York, NY 10018. Tele- 175, 23 rue Lecourbe, 75015 Par is. phone: (212) 244-4899; Fax (212) 244-4947. Iceland: Send 3,500 Ice landic kronur for RENEWAL E-mail: [email protected] one-year sub scrip tion to Mil i tant, P.O. Box CITY STATE ZIP The Militant website is: www.themil i tant.com 233, 121 Reykjavík. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or Sweden, Fin land, Nor way, Den mark: 400 ❏ $10 for 12 weeks chang es of address should be addressed to The Swed ish kro nor for one year. Domargränd 16, . UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION PHONE Mil i tant Business Offi ce, 306 W. 37th Street, S-129 47 Hägersten, Stockholm, Sweden. 10th fl oor, New York, NY 10018. New Zealand: Send New Zealand $55 to P.O. ❏ Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. Box 3025, Auckland, New Zealand. Aus tra lia: .$20 for 6 months POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Send Austra lian $50 to P.O. Box 164, Campsie, CLIP AND MAIL TO THE MILITANT, Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 10th fl oor, New Haymarket, NSW 2194, Australia. Pa cifi c Is- 306 WEST 37TH ST., 10TH FL. NEW YORK, NY 10018. York, NY 10018. lands: Send New Zealand $55 to P.O. Box 3025, ❏ $35 for 1 year Auckland, New Zealand. . Subscriptions: United States: for one-year sub scrip tion send $35 to above address. Signed articles by contributors do not nec es - 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia and the Pacifi c, A$8 • United Kingdom, £4 • Canada, Latin America, Caribbean: for one-year sub- sari ly represent the Militant’s views. These are Can$7 • Carib be an and Latin America, $10 • Continental Europe, £12 • France, 12 Euros • Iceland, Kr 500 • scrip tion send $65, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above expressed in editorials. New Zealand, NZ$10 • Sweden, Kr60 (Send payment to addresses listed in business in for ma tion box)

2 The Militant December 7, 2004 UK farmers protest price cuts from milk distributor BY PAUL DAVIES “After our October actions Arla reversed the DIDCOT, England—Farmers and their price cut, but only to the 600 farmers whose supporters successfully blockaded the milk goes to ASDA. The other farmers who ASDA supermarket distribution center supply Arla still get the lower price for their here, in Oxfordshire, the night of Novem- milk. That is why we’ve come back to block- ber 18, to protest recent cuts in the price ade this center. Once one supplier imposes they receive for milk they sell to distribu- a cut, the others start to do so.” tion companies. The peaceful blockade by Milk Link, a dairy co-operative, also cut 30 farmers and others was organized by its price paid to farmers by 0.5 pence per Farmers For Action (FFA). For four hours litre to 17.45 pence [US$0.25] in October. farmers left their vehicles in front of the “This is absolutely disgusting,” David center’s entrance, preventing lorries from Handley, national chairman of the FFA, told Militant/Jonathan Silberman picking up produce. The farmers had won Farmers Weekly. “For fi ve years we’ve been fi ghting processors on this issue and now Farmers blockade ASDA supermarket milk distribution center November 18 in Didcot, an agreement from the police allowing the Oxfordshire, England, to protest cuts in price of milk they sell to distributors. blockade to continue until 12.30 a.m. It fol- we’ve got a co-op that is even worse.” lowed similar actions organized in October “Farmers with an average sized herd are at ASDA distribution centers in Wigan, getting a price for milk that barely covers years the fertilizer I use has gone up from average income for dairy farmers in 2003 Lancashire, and Wakefi eld, West Yorkshire, production costs. For those with small herds £120 a ton, to £190 a ton [£1=US$1.87]. was £18,000, or 40 percent of that received as well as Didcot and in Scotland. it’s even less,” said another Hampshire We use about 150 tons a year so the price in 1995–97. Government statistics show “ASDA moved from three milk suppliers farmer attending the blockade, who identi- increase means an extra £10,000 plus on our 6,000 farmers and 11,000 laborers left to just one, Arla, in September, and that sup- fi ed himself as Edward. “On top of the cuts annual outgoings. Diesel has gone up from farming in the 12 months up to the 2003 plier then cut the price farmers received by in prices we get for milk, we’ve also had to 22 to 27 pence a litre.” June census. Exploited family farmers in 0.4 pence a litre,” said Bruce Horn, a cattle face recent increases in the price of cattle According to fi gures published last year the United Kingdom have faced depression farmer and Hampshire coordinator for FFA. food, fertilizer, and fuel. In the past two by farm business consultants Andersons, conditions for several years. According to more recent government fi gures, 13 farmers have been forced out of business every week in Northern Ireland alone this year. 100s of unionists murdered yearly in Colombia “More and more farmers are being BY SAM MANUEL rilla groups, is one of the arguments used in Colombia to back Bogotá’s war against forced into debt,” explained Paul Knight, Assassinations of trade unionists by by leaders of the death squads linked with opponents of the country’s right-wing re- an agricultural contractor participating in rightist death squads linked with Bogotá’s the military to rationalize the killing. In an gime, including the Revolutionary Armed the blockade. “When farmers are forced army are widespread in Colombia. So far interview with the Times from a ranch in Forces of Colombia (FARC). The number out these days they are not selling their this year 58 union offi cers and organizers northern Colombia, Rodrigo Tovar, a leader of U.S. soldiers who could be stationed in land on to other farmers but burning their have been killed, according to the National of one of these rightist groups, was adamant Colombia was raised from 400 to 800. In ad- stock and city money is buying up the land,” Union School, a research group in Medellín. about this course of action. “We have al- dition, the number of “private contractors” added Edward. Last year the number was 94. In 1996 alone ways acted against the guerillas, armed or the Pentagon is allowed to hire for military Farmers from the southwest were also 222 unionists were killed. not armed,” Tovar said. “Our war has been operations in the country was raised from blockading the ASDA distribution center in In preparation for upcoming Free Trade against the subversives, against communist 400 to 600. The U.S. military buildup in the Bristol on the same evening. “We’re ready Area of the Americas (FTAA) talks with guerrillas, however they are dressed.” Tovar, region is being carried out in anticipation of to fi ght, and if necessary this won’t be the the Bush administration, Colombia’s a wealthy landowner and businessman, said sharper resistance by workers and farmers last blockade,” said John Lillywhite, another vice-president, Francisco Santos, met with the unions had been “a disaster in Colombia to the economic catastrophe that is gripping Hampshire dairy farmer, who had also par- members of the U.S. Congress and AFL- for business” and that they had been “the Latin America. ticipated in previous FFA actions last year. CIO president John Sweeny. In an interview ones who sabotage, who hurt companies.” Demonstrations against the Uribe gov- In July, the FFA fi led a complaint with with the New York Times, Santos said he had The U.S. government has sent $3.3 billion ernment took place October 12 in major the government’s Offi ce of Fair Trading come to Washington to make the case that to Bogotá since 2000 under Plan Colom- Colombian cities. About 300,000 unionists, against three major UK dairy processors— the government of president Álvaro Uribe bia, initiated by the Clinton White House. farmers, and others rallied in Bogotá, Bar- Dairy Crest, Robert Wiseman Dairies, and had made progress in curbing the killings President George Bush expanded on Plan ranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Arla—for in effect working as a cartel. of unionists. Colombia with the 2002 Andean Regional and Medellín. The labor-organized actions “Dairy Crest was the fi rst to cut the milk Of 2,100 cases involving the murder of Initiative under the pretext of fi ghting the protested Uribe’s brutal “war on terrorism,” price. Then Wiseman followed suit about a unionists since 1991, however, only 19 have “war on terrorism” and the narcotics trade. his efforts to change the constitution to al- month later and dropped its price. And now been prosecuted successfully. Luis Obdulio On October 9 Congress decided to double low him to run for reelection, and rising we are hearing that Arla may drop its price,” Camacho, head of a cement workers’ local the cap on Washington’s military presence unemployment. said FFA chairman Handley. in Antioquia province, was gunned down in 1998 in front of several witnesses. His son, also a union member, was killed in 1991. “No one saw anything,” Obdulio Camacho’s Anti-Albanian referendum defeated in Macedonia widow told the New York Times. “That’s Continued from front page signs will be in Albanian as well as in the their rights. Middle-class layers and pro- what’s so terrible—the silence.” She said feat, Washington recognized the Former Macedonian language. capitalist politicians, however, tried to she gave up long ago on the government Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) The referendum was put for a vote after attribute the result to the benevolence of making any arrests in the case. by its constitutional name—the Republic of opposition parties, including the World “western” imperialism. By boycotting the AFL-CIO offi cials and some members Macedonia. It was a reward to Skopje by the Macedonian Congress, collected 180,000 referendum, “The people have demonstrated of the U.S. Congress say they will press to Bush administration for joining the U.S.-led required signatures on a petition. Both they are willing to live in a multiethnic state make Bogotá’s failure to prosecute those “coalition of the willing” in Iraq. The move Washington and representatives of the promoting European values,” said Emira responsible for assassinating unionists an angered the ruling class in Greece, refl ecting European Union backed the Macedonian Mehmeti, representing the Democratic issue at the FTAA talks. They will argue, interimperialist frictions in the region. government’s call for a boycott. Party of Albanians (DPA), which has been according to press reports, that Bogotá’s Albanians overwhelmingly boycotted the The decentralization law is a key feature part of the governing coalition. failure to protect union leaders gives Co- November 7 vote. of the agreement brokered by imperialist EU offi cials said the result will make it lombian businesses an unfair edge in trade “I feel like this ballot box—empty,” Ne- powers in August 2001 between the Mace- more likely that Macedonia may be accepted over their competitors. shat Bajrami, 28, who was staffi ng an empty donian government and Albanian rebels. into the European Union, which its govern- In addition, fi ve lawsuits have been fi led polling station in one Albanian village, told Some 6,000 NATO troops—made up of ment applied to join in March. in U.S. courts charging that a range of U.S. Reuters. Bajrami had been a member of the soldiers from the United States, France, Washington’s recognition of FYROM as companies operating in Colombia have used National Liberation Army that led an eight- Germany, Italy, Britain, Greece and other the Republic of Macedonia on November 4 the death squads to get rid of union orga- month-long armed struggle in 2001 to press countries—intervened after the Macedonian was the fi rst major foreign policy measure nizers. Among the companies are Alabama for recognition of the rights of Albanians. military, backed and assisted by imperialist announced by Washington following the re- coal producer Drummond and two bottlers Macedonians couldn’t “say one thing and powers, failed to crush an insurgency by election of President George Bush two days associated with Coca-Cola. then take it back,” he added, referring to Albanians demanding recognition of their earlier. Macedonia’s troops have been part According to a November 18 New York implementation of the “decentralization language and other national rights. The of the U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq and Times report, the Bush administration ar- law.” revolt was part of a broader fi ght in the re- its government backs Washington’s “war on gues that the suits interfere with foreign The referendum called for withdrawal of gion by Albanians in Kosova, Macedonia, terrorism.” policy and open the companies up to frivo- this law. Offi cial results showed that only 26 and Greece against the discrimination and “Today is a great day for Macedonia and lous lawsuits. percent of the country’s 1.7 million eligible oppressive conditions they face. Seeing the all Macedonians wherever they are,” said the In early November a Colombian army voters went to the polls, too few for the ini- inability of the Macedonian regime to force republic’s president Branko Crvenkovski on major escaped from a military prison where tiative to pass. At least 50 percent of voters the Albanian population into submission national television. In a message to Athens, he was serving a 27-year sentence for the needed to have turned out, and over half of and fearing further instability in the region, he said that “the Republic of Macedonia is attempted assassination of a union leader. them had to have backed the initiative in NATO offi cials promoted the accord. Under strongly determined to continue to build Evidence suggests the major was aided in order for it to be approved. the agreement, the Albanian guerillas turned friendly and good neighborly relations.” the escape by other army offi cers in charge The decentralization law grants more in their weapons and joined a coalition The Greek government protested Wash- at the prison, four of whom have since been local autonomy to the republic’s oppressed government with the Macedonian Social ington’s move claiming that the use of the relieved of duty. Albanian minority. It calls for redrawing Democratic Party. name Macedonia by the government in Sko- In September the Colombian Attorney local boundaries and cutting the number The governing coalition remains the same pje implies territorial claims on the northern General’s offi ce charged three soldiers with of municipalities from 123 to 84. It allows today. The accord granted concessions to Greek province of the same name. Athens’s having murdered three union activists. The Albanians to make decisions concerning the fi ghting Albanians, some of which are EU partners continue to recognize this re- Colombian military had claimed the union- schools, health, and jobs in the 16 mu- to be implemented under the “decentraliza- public of the formerly federated Yugoslavia ists were guerrillas and had been killed in a nicipalities they will control. It also makes tion law.” only as FYROM. “Apart from our protest,” fi refi ght with government troops. Albanian the second offi cial language in the Many Albanians in the region were said Greek foreign minister Petros Moly- Labeling trade unionists as allies of op- new areas where Albanians top 20 percent buoyed by the defeat of the referendum viatis, after meeting with U.S. ambassador ponents of the government, including guer- of residents, including Skopje, where street and saw it as an advance in the fi ght for Continued on Page 10 The Militant December 7, 2004 3 Utah miners’ struggle Continued from front page accelerating on the job, say a number of Mining to reinstate the workers. miners. B. Allan Benson, NLRB Region 27 di- Celso Panduro, a leader of the 10-month- rector based in Denver, Colorado, issued long strike at Co-Op who was recently fi red the latest ruling. “I fi nd that the employees from his job at the mine, gave a report at the of C.W. Mining Company’s Co-Op Mine, November 21 meeting. “I was fi red because who are related by blood or marriage to I support the UMWA,” he said. “They took past or present members of the Davis Coun- advantage of the fact that I was sick and ty Cooperative Society, Inc. (the Kingston claimed I refused an order to do a job. This family), are excluded from the appropriate was a drastic move, and I’ve had a series unit for the purposes of collective bargain- of meetings with the company. ing,” Benson said in the decision. “There “At the first meeting, eight bosses are approximately 64 eligible employees in testifi ed against me. At the fi nal meeting, the unit found to be appropriate.” which took place last week, they told me According to the NLRB documents, the they would give me two weeks’ pay if I UMWA presented convincing evidence would forget the whole thing. I refused that Davis Co-Op employees should be and told them I’ll keep fi ghting to get my excluded from the voting because “they job back. Militant/Terri Moss owe a strong allegiance to that organiza- “They’re going to try to do this to other Co-Op miners (from left) Juan Salazar, Bill Estrada, and Celso Panduro speak with fel- tion and its leaders exercise control over miners, but it’s important that we fi ght to low workers, UMWA retirees, others at November 21 meeting in Huntington, Utah. members, as well as the employer … and make them think twice before they try fi r- lack the same economic interests as other ing anyone else, and to win my job back.” This physical assault raises to a new doing on the job and solidify support for employees and that they participate in an A petition was circulated at the meeting to level the harassment increasingly being the union. UMWA representatives and alternative economic system.” be presented to the company stating that meted out by the Kingston bosses, ac- Co-Op miners encouraged union retirees The NLRB noted that, based on the Panduro was unjustly fi red and demanding cording to Kennedy. “Citing ‘poor work and other miners who are bilingual to be company’s records, there were approxi- he be reinstated. performance,’ the bosses are trying to dis- part of this committee. UMWA retirees mately 220 full- and part-time employees Alyson Kennedy, another leader of the guise the victimization of those of us in the have been key backers of the union-orga- at Co-Op. It ruled that 156, or 71 percent, union campaign at Co-Op, described es- mine advocating the UMWA, which is our nizing struggle at Co-Op from the very had ties to the Kingston family. calating harassment against her and other real crime,” says Kennedy. beginning. Several of them signed up at “These were people who never applied members of her crew. This intimidation Such harassment is in direct violation the meeting to be part of the organizing for employment,” Co-Op miner Bill Es- campaign has stepped up since the recent of the NLRB ruling forcing the company committee. trada told the press. “The Kingston family NLRB rulings, the miner said. to take back all the miners who were fi red The Co-Op miners are also continuing owners just brought them in to stack a “When I went into work the night after unjustly in September 2003. That settle- to reach out. Mike Dalpaiz, UMWA inter- union election against the miners.” the Huntington Town Hall meeting, my ment, signed by C.W. Mining, states: “We national executive board member for the “This is a tremendous victory for boss, Cyril Jackson, again threatened me [Co-Op mine owners] will not discharge, union’s 22nd district, also addressed the the Co-Op miners,” said Cecil Roberts, with termination if I couldn’t meet the give oral or written warnings, to suspend or meeting. He invited everyone to attend the UMWA international president, accord- ‘company standard’ of building a stopping otherwise discriminate against you because 20th anniversary commemoration of the ing to a November 19 union press release. by myself in four hours,” she told the press. you engage in concerted activity protected Wilberg mine disaster, near Orangeville, “The mine’s owners saw that the displaced “In most mines, stoppings, which control by Section 7 of the Act or other activity Utah, where 27 miners where killed in an miners were prepared to fi ght for their ventilation in the mine, are built by two on behalf of the United Mine Workers of explosion that occurred while the mine rights, and that many of them wanted the miners working together. America.” The law referred to here is the owners were pushing for a one-day pro- UMWA to be their representative. The “Jackson told me: ‘If you can’t meet National Labor Relations Act. duction record. A commemorative meet- owners responded to the workers’ desire company standards this week, we’ll replace Leaders of the Co-Op union organiz- ing will be held that day, December 19, at for UMWA representation by trying to you,’ meaning I would be fi red.” ing effort are pulling together workers the Emery County High School at 4 p.m. pad the bargaining unit with what clearly Kennedy described a meeting after the whenever there are victimizations to It will be followed by a lunch and a march would have been Kingston family sympa- shift where she and two other members of confront the bosses and push back the to the monument for the 27 miners. thizers. Now the NLRB has ruled—and her crew, Jesus Leyva and Bill Estrada, harassment. The news of the Co-Op miners’ victory quite correctly, I might add—that these went to talk to Jackson in the foreman’s The Co-Op miners say the day-to-day were prominently covered in both major family members and relatives should not offi ce to protest the harassment. “While we struggles at the mine and standing up to dailies in Utah—the Salt Lake Tribune and be allowed to vote. The UMWA looks were talking to Jackson, the surface fore- the bosses are key to preparing for the the Deseret Morning News. An Associated forward to the opportunity to help these man, Kevin Petersen, walked past us and union representation election. Press dispatch on the NLRB ruling was miners gain the wages, benefits, and in a belligerent voice said, ‘Don’t you guys A committee was set up at the Novem- also picked up by the Wyoming Casper dignity and respect they are owed—and wash your boots, you’re getting this fl oor ber 21 meeting to help organize visits to Star Tribune. Wyoming is the number one have earned.” dirty.’ Then Petersen shoved me, nearly every worker eligible to vote at the Co-Op coal producing state in the country with Co-Op mine managers said they will knocking me to the concrete fl oor.” mine to talk about what the bosses are very few union mines. appeal the labor board’s latest decision. “We feel the NLRB’s ruling is discrimi- natory against a large portion of workers who deserve to participate,” Co-Op mine March in solidarity with Snokist strikers manager Charles Reynolds told the Salt Lake Tribune. Continued from back page announcement, and continued the strike. this could affect us in the future.” The mine owners have until December health benefi ts, no more cutbacks, wage Production and maintenance workers At the end of the rally, Mendoza ex- 2 to fi le their request for review with the increases, and the reinstatement of all the joined WCIW two years ago after Snokist changed numbers with organizers of the National Labor Relations Board in Wash- strikers. Workers won union recognition at terminated all health-care benefi ts, fi red strike to continue the solidarity work. She ington, D.C. the plant in 2002. production workers, and rehired some of said she will work to get more students from Snokist, a fruit canning and distribut- them at $2 to $3 an hour less than before. Eisenhower to the picket line in the future. Company harassment intensifi es ing company owned by growers, said it The bosses have also been employing tem- “We have only one common enemy and With the Co-Op mine bosses losing has eliminated a number of jobs since the porary workers through the Barrett Busi- that’s the employers,” Mike Pieti, executive ground, harassment and intimidation by walkout. The cannery workers rejected ness Services Inc., a job agency known secretary of the WCIW, told the concluding management of UMWA supporters is the bosses’ last offer after the company here as BBSI. rally. “They try to pit workers against each John Parks, secretary-treasurer of Team- other and try to get us to resort to violence. sters Local 760, which organizes the 230 We won’t do that.” workers at the Del Monte plant, told the Other speakers at the rally included long- Toronto meat packers’ strike Militant it was a “big victory” when the Na- time farmworker and packinghouse worker Continued from front page of the vote is very discouraging.” tional Labor Relations Board ruled workers organizers Tomás Villanueva, Guadalupe said, “It’s the worse possible time” for a In a November 15 “message to produc- placed at Grandview Foods, a frozen-fruit Gamboa, Gerardo Ríos, and Anna Guz- strike, because it will increase exports to the ers” Schwartz said, “We recognize that processing plant, by BBSI were also em- man. All encouraged the strikers to continue United States. This costs the board an extra this latest setback puts incredible stress ployees of Grandview Foods. Production their fi ght against Snokist. “You will never $20 a hog because of the new 13.25 percent on producers, on the industry, as well as and maintenance workers there voted 97-4 be alone while you fi ght to enjoy a fair and duty imposed by Washington. The Ontario on the workers and the company.” to join the Teamsters. Parks reported the just contract,” Villanueva said. Farmer reports that all of Ontario’s packing Meanwhile, the bosses continue their Teamsters now have a written agreement After the rally, people lined up for bar- plants are operating at full capacity or near campaign of intimidation against work- from Grandview Foods that at the end of becue at a big grill brought over by the it. That means the board has to fi nd out-of- ers, trying to convince the unionists that carrot season the company will stop using Teamsters and listened to music from a province buyers for the more than 25,000 the plant will shut down if they don’t ac- the temp agency. BBSI is supplying Snokist Yakima mariachi band. Teamsters and hogs a week QMP normally slaughters. cept the company’s offer. During the third with scabs during the strike. other supporters of the strikers also brought This is 22 percent of Ontario’s total weekly week of the strike, bosses loaded up two Six members of the Chicano Student turkeys for Thanksgiving dinners. As the production of about 115,000 hogs. fl atbed trucks with one line and a number Movement of Aztlán (MEChA) chapter end of the shift at the plant grew closer, The Ontario Pork Board said in a No- of machines. They left them in the company at Eisenhower High School in nearby people began picking up picket signs say- vember 18 bulletin that “this week, 18,000 yard for a day then moved them out. Yakima joined the march and helped to ing, “Let’s walk.” to 20,000 are being processed in the United Many strikers saw through this maneu- lead the chants. Monserrat Mendoza, a One of the Snokist strikers organizes fi - States, approximately 10,000–12,000 extra ver. “The line they took out was from the sophomore and president of the chapter, nancial and other support for the temporary hogs will be processed in Quebec, and ham room and hardly used,” said a QMP told the Militant after the demonstration, “I workers who refused to cross the picket line. Maple Leaf Pork is planning a Saturday mechanic with 27 years seniority who thought it was great that there were signs in A number of these workers picket regularly slaughter.” asked that his name not be used. “They’re English and in Spanish, and that the march with WCIW members. Statements by QMP president David making room for new machinery and cool- showed that it’s not just Mexicans who are WCIW organizer Rogelio Montes said Schwartz indicate the impact of the strike ing space.” involved.” the Western Council has been reaching out on the company. “We were shocked that the Six years ago, QMP workers failed to Mendoza said her group came to support for solidarity. According to Montes, the membership rejected our offer in spite of prevent a 40 percent cut in wages and the Snokist strikers because “our program International Longshore and Warehouse the fact that their negotiating team unani- benefi ts after a two-month strike. They calls for us to move against those forces Union (ILWU) in Seattle told the WCIW mously recommended acceptance,” said are now demanding a wage increase above that deny us freedom and justice. Snokist that the owners of a shipping company Schwartz on the second day of the strike. the company’s last offer of Can$1.15 to is denying them a contract, health and are angry because longshore workers had Following the rejection of the “fi nal offer” Can$1.75 (US$1 = Can$1.19) hourly raise retirement benefi ts.” Mendoza also said it refused to load a shipment of Snokist cher- on November 13, Schwartz complained, over three years. was important for students and other youth ries to Australia. “Our offer was better than agreements to support the strike today because what As this issue goes to press, Snokist has with other industry competitors. We feel John Steele is a member of UFCW Local Snokist is doing now, “the next day it could refused to resume negotiations with the it was extremely fair, therefore the outcome 175 on strike against Quality Meat Pack- happen to one of us. It’s important to see that union. 4 The Militant December 7, 2004 2,225 ‘Militant’ subs in hand; on to make the 2,300 goal! BY PAUL PEDERSON subscribe to the paper, and they’ve As this issue goes to press, subscriptions to the been following this fi ght closely. Militant and Perspectiva Mundial are still coming in, as One miner, who signed up for a participants in a three-month-long circulation campaign subscription at the start of the drive, use every last available minute to win new readers to the decided to renew when he learned socialist publications. about the victory at a union meet- So far, 2,225 people have signed up to receive the ing last week. At the same meeting, Militant each week and 505 readers have been won to its another miner signed up for the fi rst Spanish-language sister publication. That leaves 75 sub- time.” scriptions to meet the international target on the Militant Lane pointed to the fact that and 45 for PM. nationally the bulk of the new Because this issue goes to press one day early due to readers among miners is in Price, the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, the fi nal Utah, where 14 subscriptions were results of the effort will be printed next week. Here are a sold. “This shows the impact of few of the highlights of the fi nal stretch. the Co-Op struggle as well as the Militant/Eric Simpson Socialists working in the coal mines in the United States new openings for unionization in Barbara Bowman (center) talks to visitors at the Pathfi nder booth at the have gone over their Militant subscription goal, selling the western coalfi elds, which the Miami bookfair November 12. Fifteen people subscribed to the Militant and 32 subs on the job, at union meetings, and in the course Militant has followed closely,” 216 Pathfi nder titles were sold at the fair. of union-building activity. he said. “The victory scored by the Co-Op miners was an im- Opportunities to sell books on revolutionary working- the Thanksgiving weekend—the busiest holiday shopping portant impetus for us in the last week of the campaign,” class politics, like those advertised on page 7, net new weekend of the year—to get some literature tables out said Tony Lane, a miner in southwestern Pennsylvania subscribers, too. In South Florida, the Pathfi nder booth at and collect the fi nal round of subscriptions to make the (see front-page article). “About nine of my co-workers the November 12–14 Miami bookfair was a pole of attrac- international goal. tion, with 216 Pathfi nder books and pamphlets sold. “We’ve gone over our goal in Newark,” said Amy Husk, “When I was in school I wasn’t aware of the world,” Ro- from Newark, New Jersey. “But we’ve been doing regular sario Matos-Vila, a young woman from Kansas City, told sales in downtown Newark, so we want to take advantage Militant/Perspectiva Mundial a campaigner at the booth. “Now I have a lot of questions of the fact that a lot of people will be out shopping this Fall Subscription Drive and I want to understand what is going on.” Matos-Vila weekend to set up a table downtown. Every time we go was one of 15 people who walked away from that book out, we meet people run across during the election cam- Subs received as of November 23 stand with a Militant subscription. paign. Many are happy to see us still out on the streets In many U.S. cities, Militant supporters plan to use after the elections.” Militant PM Country Goal Sold % Goal Sold SWEDEN 30 36 120% 5 5 UNITED KINGDOM Edinburgh 25 30 120% 2 0 2,700 books on revolutionary politics sold in October London 50 58 116% 12 9 UK total 75 88 117% 14 9 BY DOUG NELSON stores, campuses, and libraries for November and Decem- AUSTRALIA 55 56 102% 8 4 In the fi nal month leading up to the U.S. elections, cam- ber. At a special meeting of SWP supporters in New York ICELAND 30 30 100% 2 0 paigners for the Socialist Workers Party candidates across November 14, Gale Shanghold who directs the effort in NEW ZEALAND the country sold 1,983 books and pamphlets on Marxism the area, said, “The next four weeks are crucial if we’re Auckland 45 46 102% 1 1 and revolutionary working-class politics published by Path- going to make the goal by the end of December.” At the Christchurch 35 30 86% 1 1 fi nder Press. They distributed books through street tables, meeting, supporters made assignments and set deadlines to N.Z. total 80 76 95% 2 2 on campuses, at bookfairs, in front of factory gates, and at follow up with customers and get book placements before CANADA political events—including weekly Militant Labor Forums the holidays. Montreal 32 37 116% 12 8 where socialist candidates frequently spoke. Socialists from Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit; New York; Toronto 75 62 83% 18 6 Since mid-August, socialist workers, young socialists, Craig, Colorado; Price, Utah; Pittsburgh; and London sold CANADA total 107 99 93% 30 14 and others have made use of Pathfi nder’s Super Saver Sale more than double their fi rst six months’ average sales in Oc- UNITED STATES (see ad on page 7) to distribute socialist literature as part of tober. In two of the cities—Chicago and Cleveland—they Newark 90 106 118% 25 21 the campaign. The sale, which features two-dozen steeply nearly tripled these sales. Atlanta 80 89 111% 20 17 discounted titles in English, Spanish, and French, goes Carole Lesnick from Cleveland said the relatively high Houston 80 89 111% 20 16 through November 30. October sales there were “a direct result of the increased Detroit 40 44 110% 10 10 In addition to books sold in the United States, commu- campaigning we did for the SWP candidates nationally and Des Moines 65 69 106% 25 28 locally. We reached out broadly and sold subscriptions to New York 180 185 103% 60 49 nists in Australia, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom sold 692 Pathfi nder books and the Militant, built Militant Labor Forums, and got a num- Birmingham 40 41 103% 8 8 ber of people to stop by the Socialist Workers campaign Price, UT 50 51 102% 20 14 pamphlets in October. The worldwide total is 2,675. This Seattle 55 56 102% 12 15 makes October the best month for such book sales by so- headquarters. One of the things we did was set up a table Craig, CO 65 66 102% 20 12 cialist campaigners since Pathfi nder’s last big sale in April outside a movie theater showing the fi lm Motorcycle Dia- Chicago 100 101 101% 40 40 when 2,500 books were sold in the United States alone at ries about Che Guevara’s travel through Latin America as Cleveland 40 40 100% 10 5 the activities building up to and during the April 25 march in a youth. The next time we went, we got permission to set Tampa 40 37 93% 10 11 Washington, D.C., to defend a woman’s right to choose. up the table inside the theater and sold $100 in books along Boston 100 92 92% 40 25 These sales had an impact on total Pathfi nder sales for with subscriptions to the Militant.” Pittsburgh 65 59 91% 4 2 October, which came to about $17,700. This was still short In other cities—from Tampa, Florida, to Chicago—so- Washington 115 86 75% 21 18 of the target as part of the communist movements’ goal to cialists have had similar successes with book sales outside Los Angeles 150 112 75% 50 52 increase Pathfi nder sales by 10 percent in the last six months movie theaters showing Motorcycle Diaries. Omaha 55 41 75% 45 18 of 2004 compared to the fi rst half of the year. The reason There are initial encouraging signs for November sales. Twin Cities 105 76 72% 40 31 for the shortfall is that net Pathfi nder orders by bookstores, Socialist campaigners, for example, staffed a Pathfi nder Miami 100 66 66% 50 12 campuses, and libraries were the lowest of the year. booth at the Miami bookfair November 12–14. They sold Philadelphia 95 60 63% 10 1 Sales for the fi rst six months this year averaged $18,700 216 books for a total of $1,600. The fair, a longstanding San Francisco 125 66 53% 35 20 per month, for a total of $112,200. Distributors worldwide cultural and literary event in southern Florida, featured NE Pennsylvania 55 29 53% 15 15 adopted a campaign to increase this to $123,400 the last over 300 authors at reading presentations and a street fair U.S. total 1890 1661 88% 590 440 six months of 2004. In the four months between July and with over 200 booths. The three best sellers from the Path- 14-day campaign* - 179 - - 31 fi nder booth, reported Ruth Robbinet, were the Communist Int’l totals 2267 2225 97% 651 505 October, $76,640 was sold. That leaves $46,760 for the Goal/Should be 2300 2300 100% 550 550 last two months of the year toward the target. Sales for Manifesto (16), The Working Class and the Transformation *14 days of campaigning in New York Aug. 21–Sept. 3 at protests November and December must average $23,380 each of Learning (15), and Capitalism’s World Disorder (12). and events leading up to and during the Republican convention month to meet the goal. “We sold out of Capitalism’s World Disorder on Saturday IN THE UNIONS Supporters of the SWP in the United States and Com- afternoon, half way through the fair,” said Barbara Bow- Militant PM munist Leagues in other countries are working with party man, one of the volunteers staffi ng the booth. Goal Sold % Goal Sold leaderships in their area to maximize orders from book- AUSTRALIA AMIEU 8 10 125% UNITED STATES The Militant UMWA 30 32 107% 12 7 Help ‘Militant’ defeat harassment suit Fighting Fund UNITE 50 42 84% 40 30 UFCW 135 97 72% 150 104 BY SAM MANUEL sance lawsuit include the Militant $30,000 Total 215 171 80% 202 127 With three weeks remaining, just newspaper, its editor, its web admin- Goal CANADA istrator, and 20 of its reporters who UFCW 6 5 83% 3 2 over $12,000 has been collected to- $26,102 ward the Militant Fighting Fund. The have written articles on the Co-Op UNITE 2 1 50% 1 1 Pledged Total 8 6 75% 4 3 $30,000 fund was launched October struggle. In all, 120 organizations NEW ZEALAND 31 to defend the Militant against a and individuals—including the United NDU 2 2 100% harassment lawsuit fi led against it by Mine Workers of America, 17 current MWU 2 1 50% the owners of the Co-Op mine in Utah and former Co-Op miners, the Catho- Total 4 3 75% (see front-page article). So far, 246 in- lic Church in Utah, and Utah’s two SWEDEN dividuals have pledged $26,102. That main dailies—are named in the suit Livs 2 1 50% 1 0 and accused of “unlawful labor prac- ICELAND leaves just under $4,000 in additional Hlíf 2 1 50% pledges needed by the December 15 tices” and “defamation.” The fund will Efl ing 2 1 50% deadline. cover the costs of securing attorneys, $12,051 Total 4 2 50% Partisans of the Militant in New and initial legal fees and costs to wage Collected York set a goal on November 22 to a public defense. AMIEU—Australasian Meat Industry Employees’ Union; raise $9,000. This means securing Contributions should be sent to the Livs—Food Workers Union; MWU—Meat Workers Union; $1,700 in new pledges, above those Militant at 306 W. 37th Street, 10th NDU—National Distribution Union; UFCW—United Food initially made since the fund was fl oor, New York, N.Y. 10018. Please and Commercial Workers; UMWA—United Mine Workers of launched. They set a good example to write checks or money orders to The America; Hlíf—Union of Unskilled Workers in Hafnarfjörður; emulate everywhere. Militant and earmark them “Militant Efl ing—Union of Unskilled Workers in Reykjavík. Defendants in the Kingston nui- Fighting Fund.” The Militant December 7, 2004 5 U.S. forces mop up in Fallujah

Continued from front page in the latest assault on Fallujah as the “best siege to Fallujah. Then Shiites in Sadr City, sections of Baghdad, and in a number of since World War II.” It said the successes a stronghold of Muqtada al-Sadr’s militia, cities in the Sunni Triangle in central Iraq of the all-volunteer military since the end held demonstrations and organized a march that includes Fallujah. The U.S. military is of the draft in 1973, “assures that no draft of thousands in an attempt to deliver food fi ghting the war it did not fi nish during last will return this side of Armageddon.” and medicine. So far, al-Sadr has only said year’s invasion with the aim of smashing The performance of the U.S. military in that he will not participate in elections as the best units of the former army of the Fallujah also drew praise from an unusual long as Iraqi cities are under attack. At the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein. These quarter—the New York Times, which has mosque that houses al-Sadr’s headquar- units dissolved but kept their weaponry and focused its news coverage and opinion ters clerics give sermons at Friday prayers have been leading the attacks on civilian columns in recent months on criticisms against the U.S. attack on Fallujah but have and military targets in Iraq for the last 18 of the Bush administration course in Iraq. stopped short of proposing any actions. months. The November 21 issue of the daily carried Many residents of Sadr City expressed a report by correspondent Dexter Filkins the widespread hatred across Iraq against Crack units attacked Fallujah embedded with a Marine unit during the the Baathists, who overwhelmingly came Meanwhile, military commanders and assault on Fallujah. He described in grip- from the Sunni minority, enjoyed vast many U.S. politicians and pundits have ping detail the accomplishments and loss privileges under the Hussein regime, and been praising the crack units that took over of lives in the Bravo Company over eight ruled with naked brutality. “The Israelis are Fallujah, which the Pentagon is not about to days of fi ghting. better than the people in Fallujah,” Moham- pull out until it has consolidated its victory. “Despite their youth,” he said, “the mad Ali, a Shiite, told the New York Times. They are also publicizing their fi ndings in Marines seemed to tower over their peers “A dog is more loyal than them.” the city that point to the fact that Fallujah outside the military in maturity and guts. was the center of Baathist resistance. Many of Bravo Company’s best Marines, Attacks on Baathists in Mosul Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of the its most profi cient killers, were 19 and 20 Preparations are being made for a mili- First Marine Expeditionary Force in Fal- years old…. Bravo Company’s three lieu- tary offensive to wipe out Baathist strong- About 5,000 U.S., British, and Iraqi troops lujah, said the offensive had “broken the tenants were 23 and 24 years old.” holds in Mosul. According to Al-Jazeera have launched assault against Baathists in back of the insurgency,” according to the That same day, Times columnist Thomas TV, some 1,200 U.S. troops and 1,600 U.S.- “Triangle of Death” marked above. November 19 Washington Post. He said Friedman heaped similar praise on the U.S. trained Iraqi troops have been assembled in the U.S. military objective is to continu- troops that took over Fallujah. “It was a the city along with air support. In the fi rst troops the day after a November 19 raid ally disperse the Baathists, forcing them Noah’s Ark of Americans: African-Ameri- stage thousands of former members of the on the revered Sunni Muslim Abu Hanifa to operate in new areas where they will cans and whites, Hispanic Americans and Kurdish peshmerga armed militias joined mosque. Simultaneous clashes broke out increasingly need to rely on less experi- Asians, and men and women I am sure of U.S. forces in retaking Iraqi police stations in at least fi ve Baghdad neighborhoods, enced people. “They’ll bring in rookies, every faith,” he said. “The fact that we can that had been captured by Baathists in an according to AP. more junior people that will, in fact, make take for granted the trust among so many attempt to aid their brothers in Fallujah. Iraqi troops, backed by U.S. soldiers, mistakes,” Sattler said. different ethnic groups…is the miracle Now U.S. and Iraqi troops plan to “cleanse attacked the mosque in Baghdad just af- In a November 19 Pentagon press brief- of America.” By contrast, Friedman said the city” of the Baathists, according to Iraqi ter Friday prayers. Four worshipers were ing, Lt. Gen. Lance Smith, deputy com- each unit of their Iraqi allies consists of Major Gen. Rashid Flaih. killed in the attack. Muayed Adhami, the mander of the U.S. Central Command, individuals from the same tribe “and are The U.S. military said it also discov- prayer leader, was among 40 arrested. The said the evidence U.S. forces are fi nding in constantly clashing.” ered a large weapons cache in a village Abu Hanifa mosque is the most prominent house-to-house searches in Fallujah shows Eight Iraqi troops were killed and 40 near Mosul, according to the Associated building in the central square of the Ad- the city was a haven for “former-regime wounded in the assault on Fallujah. About Press. It included an anti-craft gun with hamiya neighborhood of Baghdad. Saddam elements.” He said retaking the city has 25 civilians have been treated by military 15,000 rounds of ammunitions, 4,600 Hussein was seen being cheered by crowds deprived the Baathists and their supporters doctors, according to Sattler, who said he hand grenades, 144 grenade launchers, 25 there just before he went into hiding. The of an important command center. knew of no civilian deaths. The Interna- surface-to-air missiles and small number of mosque was the center of one of the last Smith said, for example, that in 10 days tional Red Cross estimated that as many as rockets, mortars, and artillery rounds. fi refi ghts in the battle to take Baghdad in one Marine unit had found 91 weapons 800 civilians were killed. The U.S. military Meanwhile, U.S. troops continued to 2003. caches and 93 IED’s, or roadside bombs, said it killed as many as 1,600 Baathists call in airstrikes against armed groups U.S. troops arrested leading offi cials as they are known, in just one sector of and their supporters and captured 1,052 of Baathists in fi ghting in Ramadi and of the Iraqi Islamic Party in Baghdad Fallujah. That compares, he said, to 130 individuals—all but 20 of them Iraqis. Baqubah, using 500-pound bombs in the and Baqubah. It is the largest Sunni-led weapons caches and 348 IED’s found in latter. political party and recently quit the interim all of Iraq in the entire month of October. Lack of outcry at U.S. offensive government in protest over the assault on Smith said large factories for making the The lack of outcry against the current Sunni mosque raided in Baghdad Fallujah. A group of 47 parties led by Sun- roadside bombs have been found and that U.S. offensive stands in stark contrast to There was heavy street fi ghting, initi- nis and a handful of Shiite-led parties said Marines would be returning to areas where protests in April when U.S. Marines laid ated by Baathists, against U.S. and Iraqi Continued on Page 9 house-to-house searches were conducted to take a second look and be “sure we are capturing all the information that’s avail- Marxist books sell briskly at local book fair in Tehran able.” About 25 suspected Baathists were BY MA’MUD SHIRVANI Guevara, Cuba, and the Road to Socialism”; three Farsi titles, How Far We Slaves Have killed in a fi refi ght at one of the houses Books on the struggle for women’s Episodes of the Congo Revolutionary War; Come!, by Nelson Mandela and Fidel Cas- the Marines returned to. The U.S. military rights, writings on the Cuban Revolution, and The Marxist Theory of Alienation. A tro; Malcolm X Talks to Young People; and said the house appears to have been a and Marxist classics were popular at the law student who was studying French said Sankara’s pamphlet on the fi ght for women’s headquarters of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jahade Daneshgahi (University Jihad) he believed Iranian laws were modeled on equality and the African freedom struggle. Jordanian who is the leader of Tawhid and book fair held in Tehran recently. The fair, the French pattern and wanted to be able to A total of 65 copies of Pathfi nder books Jihad. The group has taken responsibility an annual event in Iran, took place at Tehran read law books in French. He picked up two and pamphlets in English, Spanish, and for numerous bombings against U.S. and University October 9–14. About 35–40 pub- titles in French, The Revolution Betrayed: French were sold, encompassing 55 differ- Iraqi troops and kidnappings and behead- lishing houses took part, one-third of them What is the Soviet Union and Where Is It ent titles. The number books sold in Spanish, ings of hostages. based in other countries. Going? and Cuba and the Coming American 18, was signifi cantly higher than usual. An article in the November 19 Wash- Students at the fair purchased 160 titles Revolution. Ninety-fi ve Pathfi nder titles translated ington Post said U.S. troops found distributed by Pathfinder—in English, Another student with a degree in English into Farsi were sold as well, including 16 of documents in the house, including letters Spanish, French, and Farsi, one of the purchased Israel’s War against the Pales- the Pathfi nder titles that have been translated from al-Zarqawi with instructions to his languages of Iran. On the fi rst day, two tinian People. She came back a couple of into Farsi by the Tehran publishing house Ta- lieutenants, medical supplies, and boxes international students purchased two titles days later and bought What Working People laye Porsoo. A young man bought Malcolm of ammunition. A black-and-white mural in Spanish: Episodes of the Congo Revolu- Should Know about the Dangers of Nuclear X Talks to Young People and Sankara’s We painted on the wall was similar to ban- tionary War by Ernesto Che Guevara and Power and Genocide against the Indians. are the Heirs of the World’s Revolutions. ners that appeared in videos showing the Nueva Internacional no.1, the issue of the Another woman, who was studying in a He came back the next day to express his beheading of foreign hostages. The U.S. magazine of Marxist politics and theory newly established major called “Problems appreciation for the effort to translate and military says it is fi nding improvised jails featuring “Opening Guns of World War III: and Rights of Women,” bought Women and publish such valuable books in the native in houses throughout the city. Washington’s Assault on Iraq.” Four cop- the Nicaraguan Revolution. tongue. He bought a few more Farsi titles: In one house, which was reportedly ies of the latter title were sold in various An English-language student purchased Socialism and Man in Cuba, The Working owned by a former Iraqi army offi cer who languages overall. The Long View of History and Women’s Lib- Class and the Transformation of Learning, was killed in the fi ghting, Marines found A young Iranian living in Spain came eration and the African Freedom Struggle. Women’s Liberation and the African Free- a room containing a make-shift jail with by the Pathfi nder stand. He was very sur- She also bought the Farsi translations of dom Struggle, and Making History. three cells, according to the November 19 prised. First, because of the range of Spanish these two titles. Similarly, another student A young woman who is a reporter for Atlanta Journal Constitution. One of two titles. Secondly, because of the subjects of bought Puerto Rico: Independence Is a a magazine purchased Feminism and the emaciated Iraqi survivors in the cells said the books. He purchased the following in Necessity and its Farsi translation. Marxist Movement and Women’s Liberation his captives shot his brother in the head Spanish: The Changing Face of U.S. Poli- A student interested in the Russian and the African Freedom Struggle. She said and cut off his cousin’s feet. In other cases tics: Working-Class Politics and the Trade revolution picked up History of the Rus- she intended to introduce the books to the witnesses said people were shot when they Unions; Che Guevara: Economics and sian Revolution and My Life by Leon public in an article. refused to fi ght alongside their captors who Politics in the Transition to Socialism; In Trotsky, as well as Questions of National Two young students picked up Socialism had been outnumbered and were retreating Defense of Marxism: The Social and Politi- Policy and Proletarian Internationalism on Trial and mistakenly thought the book from the assaulting Marines. cal Contradictions of the Soviet Union on by V.I. Lenin. was against socialism. After learning the A student looking for philosophy books book is a record of the trial of leaders of Deadliest month for U.S. troops the Eve of World War II; and numbers 1–4 of the journal Nueva Internacional. purchased The Communist Manifesto; The the Teamsters union and of the Socialist According to Sattler, 51 U.S. soldiers Two young women, architecture students Last Year of Malcolm X: The Evolution of Workers Party in the United States, framed were killed and 425 wounded in the as- who are studying Spanish, purchased Wom- a Revolutionary; Humanism and Socialism; up and jailed under the Smith “Gag” Act in sault on Fallujah. Nearly 100 U.S. troops en’s Liberation and the African Freedom and Pragmatism versus Marxism. Two stu- the 1940s for their opposition to imperialist have been killed across Iraq in November, Struggle by Thomas Sankara, the central dents bought An Introduction to Marxist war, they decided to buy it. making it the second-deadliest month since leader of the revolution in Burkina Faso, Economic Theory. The most popular Farsi title was Socialism the March 2003 invasion. The only higher West Africa, in both Spanish and Farsi. An international communications student and Man in Cuba, which sold 20 copies; fi gure was in April, during an aborted at- They also bought two copies of the Farsi looking for books on Africa for his thesis followed by Women’s Liberation and the tempt to take over Fallujah translation of Socialism and Man in Cuba decided to buy Nelson Mandela Speaks African Freedom Struggle, 17 copies; and A November 19 Wall Street Journal ar- by Che Guevara. Another student bought and New International no 5, featuring “The Feminism and the Marxist Movement, 13 ticle hailed the performance of U.S. troops Nueva Internacional No. 2, featuring “Che Coming Revolution in South Africa,” plus copies.

6 The Militant December 7, 2004 SWP vice-presidential candidate visits London and Stockholm

BY JONATHAN SILBERMAN subscriptions to the Militant. Altogether, LONDON—“The company would never six Militant subscriptions were sold at allow a union here,” said a worker at Respi- tour events. rex, a protective clothing plant in Redhill, Hawkins’s visit began with a Militant about 20 miles south of London. Labour Forum in London, which 40 people The worker was responding to com- attended. Among them were six people who ments Arrin Hawkins had made there were attending their fi rst forum. Partici- November 17, to about a dozen of the pants contributed £500 (US$930) to cover 40 workers on the shop floor during the tour costs. their lunch break. Hawkins, the Socialist After her visit here, Hawkins fl ew to Workers Party vice-presidential candidate Stockholm for a similar tour in Sweden. in the U.S. elections, visited this area after a post-election campaign stop in Scotland. v In her presentation, Hawkins said that her campaign championed the need of work- ers to build unions and strengthen those BY BJÖRN TIRSÉN STOCKHOLM, Sweden—“Our cam- Militant/Juan Figueroa that already exist to fi ght the bosses’ drive Arrin Hawkins (behind table), Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. vice presi- to increase their profi ts by cutting wages paign continues when the capitalist parties’ election campaigns stops. It’s a 365-day-a- dent, at Stockhold University, in Stockholm, Sweden, November 18. Hawkins was and worsening working conditions. These concluding a post-election campaign tour in Europe. remarks at Respirex, and in an earlier visit year task to introduce workers and young with about 10 workers at a shift change people to the communist movement,” said at the Hygrade sausage plant in London, Arrin Hawkins in her opening remarks at a “Unlike the parties of big business, and the story about how representatives of stimulated quite a bit of discussion. Both November 20 public meeting at the Militant other capitalist parties too, the communist Pathfi nder Press got a hold of the unique plants are nonunion. Labor Forum hall here. Hawkins spent four movement does not get or expect any photos in To See The Dawn: Baku, 1920 “Workers here won’t stick together,” said days in Sweden, after a visit to the UK, as contributions from the state,” Hawkins First Congress of the Peoples of the East another worker at Respirex. part of an international tour to present the replied. “We depend entirely on voluntary at an old museum in Baku, in the portion “The bosses will always seek to block Socialist Workers Party campaign in the contributions from workers paychecks as of Azerbaijan that was a part of the Soviet union organization,” Hawkins replied. United States. well as from youth, farmers, and others Union. The young woman was a member “They play on our fears and insecurities. “You spoke about miners in the Co-Op who give because they support what we of an Azerbaijani organization fi ghting for Workers build up their self-confi dence by mine in Utah fi ghting for a union. What stand and fi ght for.” a united, independent Azerbaijan. She later fi ghting together. From there not only is kind of support do they get from unions and This was also true at the November 20 signed up on the mailing list of the Militant union organization necessary but the exer- other workers?” asked a worker attending public meeting, where about 18 people, Labor Forum and said she wanted to attend cise of union power becomes possible.” the meeting. mostly youth, donated more than 500 kro- a class on the book Socialism on Trial by She described the 14-month-long fi ght of “I just met a meat packer living in nor ($72) to help cover the travel expenses SWP leader James P. Cannon organized by coal miners in Utah, in the western United Gothenburg, who had led an effort to get of the SWP candidate. the Communist League. States, to organize a union and the current a letter from his plant written in three lan- “I think we’re becoming more and more During her visit, Hawkins was also strike by meat packers in Toronto, Canada, guages and sent to the miners,” Hawkins Americanized here in Sweden and I think interviewed by the Pakistani paper Work- as examples of this labor resistance that’s responded. “I also know that this letter of it’s a problem,” said a teacher at Farsta, ers’ Struggle. The interviewer who lived bringing workers together. solidarity was well received by the miners refl ecting a view commonly expressed by in Sweden said that his party in Pakistan Hawkins also spent half a day at the in Utah.” She also described similar sup- the left in this country. had recently translated Socialism on Trial nearby Oxted school. She had been in- port from other countries and widespread “Americanism is not the problem,” into Urdu. vited by students and teachers to speak backing for this struggle by unions in the Hawkins said in response. “The problem At the November 20 public meeting about the U.S. elections at two classes on United States, especially in the West—from is called capitalism, and Sweden is an three young people in their teens and politics. Students then took the initiative to Operating Engineers, to Longshoremen, imperialist capitalist country just like the early 20s said they wanted to participate schedule a lunchtime meeting to continue and PACE (paper and energy workers U.S., only weaker.” in the Socialism on Trial classes. A sale of the class discussions and invite others union) locals. On November 18, at Huddinge Gymna- steeply discounted Pathfi nder books was who had not been in the politics classes. “Who pays for your campaign?” a stu- sium, another high school where Hawkins very popular. Many people attending the Sixteen students attended the lunchtime dent asked at Farsta Gymnasium, a high took part in campaigning, a young woman meeting left with big stacks of books. event and participated in a wide-ranging school where Hawkins gave presentations from the Iranian part of Azerbaijan lis- discussion. at four classes November 19. tened with great interest as Hawkins told Juan Figueroa contributed to this article. Lauren Sullivan, 17, who attended both a class and the lunchtime event appreci- ated Hawkins’s comments on the need Questions posed in the 2004 elections aren’t new to support the efforts of semicolonial countries to develop their energy ca- Lessons for the struggles of today and tomorrow pacities in order to achieve economic development. But she quizzed the PATHFINDER SUPERSAVER SALE socialist candidate about the environ- mental consequences. ALL PAMPHLETS $1 TO $3; ALL BOOKS $5 OR $10 “In Britain and the U.S., we have to ITLES EE WWW PATHFINDERPRESS COM FOR FULL LIST defend the right of the oppressed na- 24 T ; S . . tions to develop the sources of energy they need, including nuclear power, in Capitalism’s World By Any Means Necessary face of the threats from the imperialist Disorder Working- by Malcolm X governments, like they’re threatening Class Politics at the Through these speeches Iran,” Hawkins said. “That’s an issue Millennium from the last year of his of defending their sovereignty. by Jack Barnes life, Malcolm X takes his place as one of the Her campaign, Hawkins said, has The social devastation twentieth century’s exposed the hypocritical drive by and financial panic, the outstanding revolutionary Washington, London, and other impe- coarsening of politics and thinkers and leaders. politics of resentment, rialist governments to prevent—under Malcolm sought, as he put the cop brutality and acts the banner of “nonproliferation”— it, to “internationalize” of imperialist aggression countries like Iran and north Korea the fight against accelerating around us—all from developing nuclear energy. The Working Class and racism. He condemned are the product of lawful forces unleashed by the Transformation of Learning “Then there’s the issue of develop- Washington’s war in capitalism. But the future the propertied classes The Fraud of Education Reform Under ing safe and clean energy sources. Vietnam, solidarized with have in store for us can be changed by the united Capitalism — by Jack Barnes This is something that the capitalists the African freedom struggle, and championed struggle and selfl ess action of workers and farmers In English, Spanish, French, Swedish, and are not concerned about,” Hawkins the revolutionary victories of the Chinese and conscious of their power to transform the world. Icelandic. $3 continued. “Whether it’s coal, oil, or Cuban people.$15.95 In English, Spanish, and French. $23.95 nuclear. But working people are keenly $1 $5 interested in this. That’s why protecting $10 the environment won’t be resolved by New International no. 11 trying to improve, to reform, to tame, includes: capitalism. It’s completely bound up U.S. Imperialism Has Lost the with the revolutionary struggle for a Problems of Women’s Liberation Cold War by Jack Barnes The Communist Strategy of government of workers and farmers.” by Evelyn Reed Hawkins said that questions like Party Building Today by Mary- Six articles explore the social and economic roots of women’s Alice Waters the struggle for a clean environment oppression from prehistoric society to modern capitalism and and against unemployment and impe- Socialism: A Viable Option by point the road forward to emancipation. 12.95 José Ramon Balaguer rialist war would be part of the 16th $5 The Young Socialists Manifesto World Festival of Youth and Students [In Spanish] Sexo contra sexo o clase contra Also in Spanish, French, and scheduled to take place in Caracas, Swedish $14 Venezuela, August 5-13 of next year. clase 18.95 She urged students to take part. Six stu- $10 $10 dents signed up for more information about the festival. Three signed up for ORDER ONLINE AT: WWW.PATHFINDERPRESS.COM Also available in bookstores, including those listed on page 8. Offer good until Nov. 30, 2004.

The Militant December 7, 2004 7 Why Greek rulers refuse to recognize Macedonia

The big-business media try to give the of the Slavic language spoken in Bulgaria. The Greek government has continued impression that the recent defeat of a Working people in the republic of Macedo- its nationalist campaign on Macedonia. reactionary referendum in the Republic nia fought to preserve their language and to But recently, under pressure from Wash- of Macedonia, which was part of the for- be allowed to use it. ington, Bonn, and Paris, it was forced to merly federated Yugoslavia, came about Progressive measures were taken during accept a compromise. On April 8, 1993, the because of the benevolence of Washington the initial stages of the Yugoslav revolution United Nations Security Council approved and imperialist powers in the European to develop the economy of underdeveloped UN membership for Macedonia under Union (see front-page article). Nothing Macedonia. As a result, while industrial out- the name “Former Yugoslav Republic of could be further from the truth. Any put in the more advanced regions of Croatia, Macedonia.” advances for the rights of Albanians Slovenia, and Serbia increased nine or ten- in Macedonia and the broader Balkan fold from 1939 to 1970, in Macedonia the region have come about as a result of the increase was more than thirtyfold. BY BOBBIS MISAILIDES gains of the 1945 Yugoslav revolution that It was the example of this revolution that THESSALONIKI, Greece—A World still linger on—despite massive imperial- the Greek bourgeoisie and other capitalist News Briefs article in the Militant noted ist interventions and the murderous wars classes in the region feared. B.M. correctly that the Greek government protested the launched by rival gangs of the Stalinist points out that a blow was dealt to Greek declaration of independence by the Yugo- bureaucracy that ruled Yugoslavia—and imperialism’s plans to conquer Macedonia slav republic of Macedonia, fearing that recent struggles of Albanians in that re- at the end of World War II. Map of the Republic of Macedonia this “might give rise to demands for rights public. In addition, the dispute between Hatred for the Yugoslav revolution and among the ethnic Macedonian minority in the U.S. and Greek governments over what it accomplished comes through even Greece.” Macedonia’s name will seem confusing today in arguments raised by spokespeople because they championed demands against The fact is that this oppressed minority to most readers who follow the capital- of the Greek ruling class to justify their op- the national oppression of Macedonians. has been raising their national demands in ist media. For these reasons we reprint position to recognition of Macedonia. One of them was Pantelis Pouliopoulos, Greece for decades. Much like the Kurds, below an excerpt on Macedonia from For example, in an open letter to the Eu- national secretary of the Communist Party the Macedonians were divided by imperi- the book The Truth About Yugoslavia ropean Community, former Greek minister (KKE), until he was expelled in 1927 for alism and the local capitalists within the that sheds some light on these questions. of culture Melina Mercouri and fi ve other his opposition to the counterrevolutionary borders of what became Bulgaria, Greece, The articles below, which fi rst appeared well-known personalities in Greece stated: course of Stalin. He was jailed twice by the and Yugoslavia. In World War II, Greek in the Militant, are copyright © 1993 by “You of course are aware of the effort begun Greek government for his proletarian stance imperialism aimed to conquer Macedonia Pathfi nder Press and are reprinted by earlier and systematized after 1944 with the on the Macedonian question—in 1924 and but a deadly blow to this plan was the armed permission. creation, in the framework of the Federal in 1928. struggle of the Macedonians, which culmi- People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, of the so- O nated in the formation of their republic as BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS called state of ‘Macedonia.’ Its single goal, Since the column above appeared in the part of the Yugoslav federation in 1945. Readers B.M. and G.K. comment in the then and now, was the questioning of the Militant in April 1992, the conservative With the crushing of the Greek revolution letters section this week on Militant articles borders of Greece, within which is included government of Constantínos Mitsotákis in 1949 and the subsequent sealing of the about demands for independence by the Yu- Greek Macedonia... with a homogeneous [in Greece] has stepped up its international border, almost every Macedonian family in goslav republic of Macedonia and the Greek Greek population.” campaign against recognition of the former the province of Florina to this day has rela- government’s opposition to it. Recent demonstrations in Thessaloniki Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. The so- tives on the other side who are not allowed to The government of the republic of Mace- and in New York, sponsored by the Greek cial democratic opposition and most trade come to Greece. They are subjected to terror donia raised the demand for independence government, raised the slogan “Macedonia union offi cials in Greece have given their by the police in Greece, who see anyone following the de facto breakup of Yugoslavia was, is, and will remain Greek.” This is full backing to the effort. who speaks Macedonian, who sings their through the ongoing confl ict there. similar to such slogans as “America for On December 9, 1992, more than one traditional songs, or dances their traditional The confl ict is a result of decades of the Americans” or “France fi rst” advanced million people participated in a rally in dances as “an agent of Skopje.” bureaucratic rule by the Stalinist regime by incipient fascist currents in the United Athens to back the government’s campaign. The Greek government has been whip- in Yugoslavia. A deep-going and popular States, France, and other imperialist coun- “Macedonia has been Greek for 3,000 years” ping up nationalist chauvinism to convince revolution coming out of World War II tries. shouted many in the crowd. The absurdity working people to look for the wrong enemy. began to break down the divisions between As G.K. points out, there are oppressed of this slogan becomes apparent when one This reactionary campaign, supported by all the peoples of Yugoslavia—whether Serbs, nationalities in northern Greece, and indeed considers that during this time span millions major political parties, the union bureau- Croats, Slovenes, Albanians, Montenegrins, throughout the country, including hundreds of people of different nationalities, speaking cracy, women’s and youth organizations, Macedonians, or others. These divisions of thousands of undocumented immigrant a spectrum of languages, and living under and the church, resulted in a march of one were fostered by imperialism and the na- workers, many of them from the Balkans. various social systems, have inhabited the million in Thessaloniki at the beginning of tive capitalists. One of these is the Macedonian nationality, area comprising what is today the republic March 1992 around the slogan “Macedonia Steps through struggle to further the comprising about 2 percent of the population of Macedonia and northern Greece. is Greek.” unity of working people were blocked by of Greece. As B.M. notes [see below], many Athens, however, has used such slogans Class-conscious workers face the task the Stalinist regime. As a result of the grow- are treated by the state as “agents of Skopje” to whip up nationalist sentiments and win of explaining the imperialist aims of Greek ing social and economic crisis over the past (the capital of Macedonia) for attempting to backing among working people for its goals. capitalism and, while supporting the just decade, ruling layers in the various regions use their language or their culture. In the course of this campaign the Greek demands of the Macedonians, they must have been pressing to enhance their own Communists and other fi ghters in Greece government has carried out sweeping at- demand: Open the borders to the republic position and access to resources through have in the past been charged with “treason” tacks on democratic rights…. of Macedonia now! force and violence. While great numbers of people in dif- ferent parts of Yugoslavia have been drawn into the fi ghting, voices continue to be heard IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP against the war. Thousands of Belgrade stu- Where to find distrib u tors of the Zip: 48244-0739. Tel: (313) 554-0504. 9698. E-mail: [email protected] dents, for example, demonstrated in early Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, and E-mail: [email protected] CANADA March 1992 demanding Serbian president New International, and a full display of MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 113 Bernard St., Slobodan Milosevic’s resignation for his Pathfi nder books. West St. Paul. Zip: 55118. Tel: (651) 644- ONTARIO: Toronto: 2238 Dundas St. role in spurring the civil war. 6325. E-mail: [email protected] West, Suite 201, M6r 3A9 Tel: (416) 535- The bureaucratic rulers of the republic UNITED STATES 9140. E-mail: [email protected] of Macedonia have the same narrow goals NEBRASKA: Omaha: P.O. Box 7005. Zip: ALABAMA: Birmingham: 3029A 68107. E-mail: [email protected] QUEBEC: Montreal: 6955 Boul as their Serb or Croatian counterparts. The St-Michel, Suite 202. Postal code: H2A Bessemer Road. Zip: 35208. Tel: (205) 780- NEW JERSEY: Newark: 168 Bloomfi eld attitude of communists toward demands for 0021. E-mail: [email protected] 2Z3. Tel: (514) 284-7369. E-mail: lc_ independence depends on whether a fi ght Avenue, 2nd Floor. Zip: 07104. Tel: (973) [email protected] CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 4229 481-0077. E-mail: [email protected] for such demands advances the interests of FRANCE working people in a particular country. What S. Central Ave. Zip: 90011. Tel: (323) NEW YORK: Manhattan: 306 W. 37th is needed to advance working-class interests 233-9372. E-mail: [email protected] Street, 10th floor. Zip: 10018. Tel: (212) Paris: P.O. 175, 23 rue Lecourbe. is a fi ght aimed at uniting workers in differ- San Fran cisco: 3926 Mission St. Zip: 629-6649. E-mail: [email protected] Postal code: 75015. Tel: (01) 40-10-28-37. ent parts of Yugoslavia, Greece, Bulgaria, 94112. Tel: (415) 584-2135. E-mail:swpsf E-mail: [email protected] @sbcglobal.net OHIO: Cleveland: 11018 Lorain Ave. and throughout the region. Zip: 44111. Tel: (216) 688-1190. E-mail: ICELAND A necessary part of such a fi ght for unity COLORADO: Craig: 11 West Victory [email protected] is the struggle against the oppression of any Way, Suite 205. Zip: 81625. Mailing address: Reykjavík: Skolavordustig 6B. Mailing nationality, including the suppression of lan- P.O. Box 1539. Zip: 81626. Tel: (970) 824- PENNSYLVANIA: Hazleton: 69 address: P. Box 0233, IS 121 Reykjavík. Tel: guages, culture, or religions. 6380.E-mail: [email protected] North Wyoming St. Zip: 18201. Tel: (570) 552 1202. E-mail: [email protected] Before World War II, under the rule of 454-8320. Email: [email protected] FLORIDA: Miami: 8365 NE 2nd Philadelphia: 5237 N. 5th St. Zip: 19120. NEW ZEALAND King Alexander I, a Serb, Macedonians Ave. #206 Zip: 33138. Tel: (305) 756- Tel: (215) 324-7020. E-mail: Philadelphia Auckland: Suite 3, 7 Mason Ave., were forbidden by law to publish books or 4436. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Pittsburgh: 5907 Penn newspapers in their native language. This Tampa: 1441 E. Fletcher, Suite 421. Otahuhu. Postal address:P.O. Box 3025. Tel: Ave. Suite 225. Zip. 15206. Tel: (412) 365- (9) 276-8885.E-mail: milpath.auckland@ac was reversed by the Yugoslav revolution, Zip: 33612. Tel: (813) 910-8507. E-mail: 1090. E-mail: [email protected] which championed the demands of op- [email protected] trix.gen.nz TEXAS: Houston: 4800 W. 34th St. Suite pressed nationalities. Following the over- GEORGIA: Atlanta: 2791 Lakewood Christchurch: Gloucester Arcade, turn of capitalist rule in Yugoslavia, the C-51A. Zip: 77092. Tel: (713) 869-6550. E- 129 Gloucester St. Postal address: P.O. Ave. Zip: 30315. Mailing address: P.O. Box mail: [email protected] Macedonian language was recognized and 162515. Zip 30321. Tel: (404) 768-1709. Box 13-969. Tel: (3) 365-6055. E-mail: in fact it is now written and standardized, E-mail: [email protected] UTAH: Price: 11 W. Main St. Rm. [email protected] contrary to what G.K. asserts. It is a dialect 103. Zip: 84501 Tel: (435) 613-1091. ILLINOIS: Chicago: 3557 S. Archer Ave. [email protected] SWEDEN Zip: 60609. Tel: (773) 890-1190. E-mail: ChicagoPathfi [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C.: 3717 B Stockholm: Bjulvägen 33, kv, S-122 The Truth About Yugoslavia Georgia Ave. NW, Ground floor. Zip: 41 Enskede. Tel: (08) 31 69 33. E-mail: IOWA: Des Moines: 3707 Douglas Ave. 20010. Tel: (202) 722-1315. E-mail: [email protected] Examines the roots of the Zip: 50310. Tel: (515) 255-1707. E-mail: [email protected] carnage in Yugoslavia, where [email protected] UNITED KINGDOM WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 Rainier Washington and its imperial- MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 12 ENGLAND: London: 47 The Cut. Postal Avenue South. Zip: 98118-2439. Tel: (206) code: SE1 8LF. Tel: 020-7928-7993. E-mail: ist rivals in Europe have inter- Bennington St., 2nd Floor, East Boston. 323-1755. E-mail: [email protected] vened militarily in an attempt Mailing address: P.O. Box 261. Zip: [email protected] to reimpose capitalism. 02128. Tel: (617) 569-9169. E-mail: AUSTRALIA SCOTLAND: Edinburgh: First Floor, $9.95 [email protected] Sydney: 1st Flr, 3/281-287 Beamish St., 3 Grosvenor St., Haymarket. Postal Code: MICHIGAN: Detroit: 4208 W. Vernor Campsie, NSW 2194. Mailing ad dress: P.O. EH12 5ED. Tel: 0131-226-2756. E-mail: www.pathfi nderpress.com St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 44739. Box 164, Campsie, NSW 2194. Tel: (02) 9718 [email protected] 8 The Militant December 7, 2004 GREAT SOCIETY Election Post Mortems— Where the need is sorest— judge in Atlanta, Georgia, was explains: “If we can’t turn over of Hollywood director Francis “Those who tend to Americans’ The Philippine government has due to hand down a decision in a stones, we don’t know if we have Coppola, was top bidder at a Los mental health are worried about declared it will stamp passports case fi led by the American Civil missed something.” Angeles wine auction. He paid of Filipinos “Not valid for travel Liberties Union. The ACLU chal- $49,450 for two bottles of 1941 to Iraq.” The action came after lenged a violation of the separa- The economy? Hey, no prob- Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon a Filipino working in Iraq was tion of church and state caused lem!—Des Moines, Iowa—“Food Napa Valley wine—the highest taken hostage by insurgents and by school offi cials who permitted pantries across the state said the price ever racked up for a Cali- then released. According to Arab creationists to paste stickers into number of people seeking help not fornia wine. Harry News, Filipino workers protested biology textbooks on the science only with food but rent, clothing the travel ban. They declared they of evolution. The “neutral” stick- and utility bills have increased. No weeping there—“Tens Ring would rather take the risk in Iraq ers admonish that evolution is “a The rush started last summer and of thousands of demonstrators than die of starvation at home. theory, not a fact” and should included an unusually high num- marched through Rome in support The paper added that workers be approached with “an open ber of fi rst-timers. Of the 3,000 of a strike by teachers that closed from other poor countries are mind.” families that sought food at eight many schools across [Italy]. Edu- the emotional state of the losing attracted to jobs at U.S. bases for Des Moines–area pantries last cation unions say Prime Minister side. Beyond the tears shed… they $800 a month. Assuming many Did they say ‘stoned’?—The month, 556 were new.”—USA Silvio Berlusconi is planning a see anger, uncertainty, paralysis hours, that works out to less than news headline read: “Air Force Today. two percent cut in school per- and downright denial.”—One in $5 an hour. report calls for $7.5 million to sonnel, which would cost about a number of psychiatrists quizzed study psychic teleportation.” An See, things are still pretty 14,000 jobs.”—November 16 by the Los Angeles Times. The ‘open mind’ folks—A Air Force Research Lab offi cer good—Roman Coppola, son news item. N.Y. housing unit to close Continued from Page 2 assistance after fi ve years. The city has increased over the past several years—to stopped offering the long-term vouchers the current offi cial number of 9,000 fami- altogether, complaining that they have run lies—the inhuman conditions in the EAU out of them. had become an embarrassment for the city Much of the reporting in the big-busi- administration. ness press presented the surge in home- The new facility will be larger, with lessness as being caused by those seeking shelter space included to eliminate the the long-term subsidy, inferring that this late-night busing. But the measures the was a scam. city has announced along with this new “Ever since word leaked out that the center are aimed at placing the burden of homeless get fi rst dibs on Section 8 hous- skyrocketing rents, unemployment, and ing vouchers, families have thronged the other conditions more squarely on the city’s Emergency Assistance Unit in the backs of working people. Bronx,” the New York Daily News com- “For 20 years, the Emergency Assis- plained. “For anyone willing to stomach tance Unit has come to represent confu- the indignities of the shelter system, there sion and pain for vulnerable families ap- was a pot of gold—of sorts—at the end of plying for temporary emergency housing,” the journey: a government-backed lifetime Bloomberg said. “We are ushering in a housing subsidy.” new day—a day where families in need In fact, the surge in homelessness—a are treated with the utmost respect and more than 60 percent increase since Militant/Paul Pederson where our efforts are guided by rational 2001—has nothing to do with the word Workers wait in August for word on housing outside N.Y. Emergency Assistance Unit. policies.” leaking out about a “pot of gold.” The As part of Bloomberg’s “new day,” the jump coincided with the fi nal cut-off of in New York. “The section 8 pot of gold is grind caused by the steady decrease in real city decided October 19 to bar homeless the federal Aid to Families with Depen- now empty…. The time has come to make wages. families from access to long-term federal dent Children fi ve years after the Clinton good life decisions, including paying the Bloomberg’s plan will also bar from housing grants. In the past, homeless fam- administration ended “welfare as we rent rather than depending on Uncle Sam the shelters homeless families who come ilies used to be the fi rst in line for such know it.” to do it.” back after having been turned down once grants, which have been the primary way Some have pointed to the similarities This falsely presents the Section 8 by social workers. “While the new system for thousands of working people to escape between the Clinton-engineered assault voucher as a free lunch. The vouchers may be gentler on families applying for from the city’s 200-plus homeless shelters on federal Social Security and the New simply capped rent to a percentage of your the fi rst time, it will be much more skep- and into more stable housing. York City government’s new housing as- income—usually 30 percent. In New York tical of families who have applied in the The city government is also planning sistance plan. “This is the fi rst proposal and many cities across the United States, past and been told they already have ad- to replace long-term housing assistance for a major new housing program in New working people often spend closer to half equate housing, often with relatives,” the with a one-time fi ve-year housing subsidy. York that includes a time limit, similar to of their income on housing, increasing the New York Times reported November 17. This would offer up to $925-a-month the one that has attached to cash public rental subsidy to a single parent with two assistance since welfare reform passed children, and then gradually decrease the in 1996,” wrote one columnist in the City amount each year, eliminating the housing Journal, a quarterly magazine published 25 AND 50 YEARS AGO minor reforms, such as integrating the fac- U.S. offensive in Fallujah tory cafeteria. Continued from page 6 Sunni candidates are likely to be included they would boycott upcoming elections in in slates put up by Shia-led parties across December 7, 1979 protest. the country. The results, he said, “would be The Ford Motor Company—one of the The U.S. military said a number of “high- adequate representation by Sunnis to feel or largest American investors in South Afri- interest individuals” were among 32 armed look like it was legitimate representation for ca—claims that it is an “equal opportunity” December 6, 1954 opponents of the Allawi regime and the all the parties involved.” employer. But on November 21 it showed U.S. occupation arrested in an offensive by During a November 22 summit of foreign its true face, fi ring all 700 Black workers During the preliminary laudatory meet- a combined force of U.S., Iraqi, and British ministers from Arab countries in Sharm el- at one of its plants in Port Elizabeth, the ings leading up to the main celebration of troops in a region south of Baghdad known Sheikh, Egypt, a number of government center of the country’s auto industry. The Sir Winston Churchill’s eightieth birthday, as the “Triangle of Death.” Dozens of Iraqi representatives from the Middle East indi- workers had been on strike to protest Ford’s the octogenarian boasted about his 1946 police and National Guardsmen have been cated they will not back an Iraqi election racist policies. Fulton, Mo., speech that launched the executed by armed groups in the area, said if it is not assured that residents from the Within a day, the General Tire and “cold war,” and revealed for the fi rst time the Washington Post. One Iraqi reporter entire country can take part, including the Rubber Company, another American fi rm a secret order he issued as head of the who visited the area said the burning bod- Sunni Triangle. operating in Port Elizabeth, fi red 625 Black war-time British government showing ies of four Iraqi policemen whose car was A two-day meeting of representatives of workers who were fi ghting for trade-union how early he began to plan for World set afi re after they were killed remained in all political parties in Iraq failed to agree recognitions. War III. The statement, made Nov. 23 is the road for a day. More than 5,000 troops on a joint list of secular candidates for the The response of these two American as follows: were involved in the action dubbed “Opera- elections. “We decided to enter the elec- companies to the demands of Black work- “Even before the war had ended and tion Plymouth Rock,” an apparent reference tions on individual lists,” said Nashirwan ers is little different from that of any other while the Germans were surrendering to its proximity to the U.S. Thanksgiving Mustapha, a senior offi cial of the Patriotic foreign or domestic fi rm operation in South by hundreds of thousands, I telegraphed holiday. Union of Kurdistan, reported the Financial Africa. to Lord Montgomery, directing him to be Times. The Ford Motor Company, however, has careful in collecting the German arms, to January election date not assured Meanwhile, Washington got another tried to maintain that its economic involve- stack them so that they could easily be Under the circumstances, it is not clear boost in its campaign to legitimize its oc- ment in South Africa plays a “progressive issued to the German soldiers whom we that the projected Iraqi elections will take cupation and the transition it projects to a role” by supposedly helping to undermine should have to work with if the Soviet place as planned early next year. “democratically elected” Iraqi government. apartheid. advance continued.” The Iraqi election commission has set Jean-Pierre Jouyet, president of the Paris When company Chairman Henry Ford This order, as Churchill himself stresses, January 30 as the date for elections. But Club, said it has agreed to forgive up to 80 II visited South Africa in January 1978, was issued in April 1945, that is, before the just a few days earlier a summit of Iraq’s percent of Iraq’s foreign debt. The Paris Club he rejected demands by numerous Black surrender of either Germany or Japan! major political parties urged the govern- is a group of the wealthiest imperialist credi- liberation groups that Ford withdraw from Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, ment to postpone the elections until “order tor nations. Baghdad’s debt will be reduced South Africa, claiming that “we do more who was in command of the Northern is restored” in the Sunni Triangle, said the from $38.9 billion to $7.8 billion. The plan for the people of South Africa by staying Army Group of the Allied Expeditionary International Herald Tribune. will be implemented in three steps over four here and providing equal opportunities.” Force in Germany at the time, confi rmed During a November 19 press briefi ng, Lt. years. Paris led efforts for an eight-year debt Under pressure from Black workers Churchill’s revelation. According to re- Gen. Lance Smith, was asked whether the forgiveness plan. U.S. Treasury Secretary in South Africa, who make up more than porters, Montgomery appeared surprised elections could be considered legitimate if John Snow had insisted on a faster time three-quarters of the industrial workforce, that such a damaging admission had been Iraqis in the Sunni Triangle were not able frame and for forgiving 90-95 percent of and from antiapartheid organizations in made by the war-time Prime Minister, but to vote due to the fi ghting. He said many Baghdad’s debt. the United States, Ford did institute some he repeated over and over, “It’s true.” The Militant December 7, 2004 9 EDITORIAL Chokepoint 2004 Continued from front page Defend Lynne Stewart! board on the high seas any ships they suspect of carrying “weapons of mass destruction” or materials that could be By placing attorney Lynne Stewart on trial for “provid- their articles to establish the content of Stewart’s political used for their production and to confi scate their cargo. ing material support for terrorist activity” in the course of views. Such a step would set a dangerous precedent and This was the 13th such joint operation since the PSI representing Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman—himself framed should be vociferously opposed. was announced by U.S. president George Bush in a May up on “terrorism” charges—Washington seeks to send a Washington’s lack of evidence against Stewart is high- 2003 speech in Cracow, Poland. chill down the spine of any attorney considering taking lighted by the prosecutors’ own admission that govern- “Our nations are sharing intelligence information, on such a case. If Stewart is convicted, the capitalists and ment wiretapping of her conversations with Abdel-Rah- tracking suspect international cargo, conducting joint their government will have made it more diffi cult for union- man form “the backbone of the government case.” This military exercises,” said Bush nine months later at the ists, farmers, Black rights fi ghters, and others to defend fl agrant violation of lawyer/client privilege is also a direct National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Taking themselves from charges of “violent” or “terrorist” activity attack on workers’ ability to defend themselves against stock of the gains the U.S. rulers had made in bringing during a strike or protest. government persecution. other governments into the PSI, he said, “We’re prepared The government’s case is based in part on putting Stewart The U.S. government has a history of going after law- to search planes and ships, to seize weapons and missiles on trial for expressing her political views. In questioning yers that defend those whom Washington targets as its and equipment that raise proliferation concerns.” her on the witness stand in early November, the prosecutors political enemies. In the Dennis case in the early 1950s, for Coast Guard vice-admiral Vivien Crea told reporters in tried to prove that Stewart is a willing conduit for “terrorist” example, leaders of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) Miami that Chokepoint ’04 “emphasized the sharing of activity because she said she is “revolutionary” and stated were convicted of “conspiracy” under the thought-con- intelligence information in order to improve the ability that ridding the world of “the entrenched voracious type of trol Smith Act. As soon as the trial ended, their attorneys, of these countries to successfully track and take down a capitalism” cannot come about nonviolently. also from the CP, were framed up on contempt of court suspected vessel.” Aircraft and ships for the operation The violence-baiting from the mouths of U.S. prosecu- charges, imprisoned, and then disbarred. (The Stalinist were provided by Washington, London, Paris, and the tors reeks of hypocrisy. At the same time as the govern- party undermined its own defense in the case because Hague. Troops also came from Canada. From Europe, the ment lawyers were questioning Stewart, Washington was a decade earlier it had cheered on the prosecution when governments of Demark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, in the midst of a steamroller assault on Fallujah in central Washington indicted and imprisoned 18 leaders of the and Sweden took part. From Asia and the Pacifi c, the Iraq. The brutal U.S. war and occupation of Iraq has taken Teamsters union and Socialist Workers Party in the fi rst governments of Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Turkey thousands of lives. It is one of many examples of the case brought under the Smith Act.) dispatched troops. In addition, the four Latin American lengths the U.S. rulers will go to defend their position Workers and farmers have a lot at stake in opposing governments mentioned above participated. as the dominant imperialist power and win out in their the chipping away at civil liberties by Democratic and The U.S. State Department said in a statement that confl icts with capitalist competitors over the division and Republican administrations. The wealthy minority who “the purpose of the exercise is to enhance the level of redivision of the world. runs this country is not carrying out sweeping assaults on training and interoperability among the agencies of In attempting to prove its charges against Abdel- democratic rights today. Instead, Washington is putting in participating countries in carrying out maritime inter- Rahman’s attorney, the prosecution is also taking a swipe place laws and establishing legal precedents that lay the dictions of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery at freedom of the press. As the trial opened this summer, groundwork for such assaults down the road, as working systems, and related materials.” Washington aimed to the government issued subpoenas against four journalists people defend ourselves against the bosses’ antilabor use this particular training session to “promote greater who had interviewed Stewart. Because newspaper articles offensive and begin to challenge the prerogatives of the awareness” of the PSI in the Caribbean, and “focused on alone are rightly regarded as hearsay and can’t be used as capitalist class. unique operational issues and legal authorities associ- evidence in court, the government is trying to force the Defeating the government’s case against Lynne Stewart ated with interdictions in maritime chokepoints, such as reporters to testify under oath and affi rm the quotations in is part of this struggle. straits and canals.” The last naval exercise, Operation Samurai, was held in late October near Japan’s Tokyo Bay off Korean waters. It involved warships from Australia, France, Japan, and the United States. The government of north Korea protested House Republicans scuttle bill on spying these naval maneuvers as “a reckless preliminary war Continued from front page California on the House Intelligence Committee. against DPRK.” U.S. imperialism has made Pyongyang tive Republicans refused to embrace a compromise because An editorial in the November 23 Investors Business a central target in its “nonproliferation” campaign. they said it could reduce military control over battlefi eld Daily had a different take on the bill’s failure. After the Washington is not trying to forge long-term alliances intelligence,” said an article in the November 21 Wash- scuttling of the bill, “media wags immediately began talk- through the PSI, or to conclude treaties that will commit ington Post. The bill was drafted largely as a result of the ing about a ‘defeat’ for President Bush. It was nothing of the U.S. rulers to any particular grouping of governments. conclusions of the 9/11 bipartisan commission. the sort,” it said. “We often say ‘PSI is an activity, not an organization,’” Democrats, in particular, used the commission’s hearings “Yes, Bush backed the bill—but he did so in a lukewarm said U.S. undersecretary of state John Bolton in a speech to paint themselves as the foremost champions of “home- way …. Remember, reform was rushed onto the national in Tokyo at the time of Operation Samurai. “This is not land defense” and advance their charges that “intelligence agenda shortly after the release of the 9-11 commission’s hard to understand, but is unusual. We think it is a funda- failures” under the Bush administration were the reason report last summer,” the big-business daily said. mental reason for PSI’s success to date…. Through PSI, the government was unable to prevent the Sept. 11, 2001, “Also, the Pentagon hated the bill—and rightly so,” we create the basis for action.” attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Such the editorial continued. “It would have deprived them of Bolton is in line for promotion to deputy secretary of charges were used to boost the unsuccessful presidential the ability to run their own spy operations. Why should state, reports the Wall Street Journal. In a November 19 bid of Democrat John Kerry. military chiefs have to beg a new Washington bureaucracy editorial, the big-business daily said Bolton “is also the The measure would have created a Director of National for the intelligence they need to protect us? It makes no architect of what has arguably been Colin Powell’s most Intelligence (DNI). It would also have given the new spy sense.” important achievement at State, the very ‘multilateral’ chief authority to set priorities for the CIA and 14 other spy The Pentagon currently controls roughly 80 percent Proliferation Security Initiative.” The Journal noted that agencies, including several at the Defense Department. of the $40 billion budget for U.S. government spying “one of the attractions of PSI is that countries participate Its two chief opponents were reportedly House Armed operations. as needed on a voluntary basis.” Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter, and Judi- Other developments indicate that Rumsfeld’s course is Although the PSI is not directed at any single govern- ciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner. right in step with that of his commander in chief. “Presi- ment, said Bolton, north Korea is a target. Washington According to the Post, Hunter said he opposed the dent Bush has ordered an interagency group to devise a and its allies “are sending a message to rogue states like bill “because Senate conferees had removed a White plan that could expand the Defense Department role in North Korea: get out of the proliferation business or risk House–drafted section ensuring that tactical or battlefi eld covert operations that have traditionally been the specialty having your cargoes of terror interdicted, regardless of intelligence agencies would still be primarily directed by of the Central Intelligence Agency,” said an article in the whether you ship them by land, by air, or by sea.” the secretary of defense, even as they report to the new November 23 New York Times. The focus of the review, it During the buildup to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq intelligence director.” Hunter told the Post that the version continued, “will be whether the military’s Special Opera- and six months prior to Bush’s launching of the PSI, of the bill he helped kill “was elevating for the DNI but tions forces should have a role in paramilitary operations Spanish commandos at Washington’s request boarded a detrimental to the defense secretary…a change that would that a special CIA unit carries out.” north Korean ship in the Arabian Sea headed for Yemen make war fi ghters not sure to whom they report and translate The Investors Business Daily editors urged taking time in December 2002. The ship was carrying Scud missile into confusion on the battlefi eld.” to make changes in the structure of the government’s spy parts that were not listed on its cargo manifest. Madrid Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of operations. released the ship because such cargo is not forbidden by Staff, reportedly sent a letter backing Hunter’s position. “Besides,” they said, “new CIA Director Porter Goss maritime laws. The U.S. government has been shifting the focus of its is in the midst of a top-to-bottom shake-up of the CIA.… In August 2003 the government of Taiwan detained a spy operations to direct infi ltration of adversaries and real- Why not give Goss, a former spy and congressman who north Korean ship carrying chemicals used in the making time battlefi eld intelligence—such as that used in the recent knows something about both the conduct of spying and the of rocket fuel. According to the Christian Science Moni- assault on Fallujah by U.S. troops, who called in air strikes policy issues involved, a little time to do his job?” tor, Washington informed Taipei of the cargo on board and artillery bombardment as they pinpointed enemy posi- According to a front-page article in the November 17 the Be Gaehung, which had docked in Kaohsuing Har- tions during battle. CIA “analysts” working largely from New York Times, Goss told CIA employees that their job is bor, Taiwan’s largest port. Taiwanese authorities received their desks in Washington, D.C., have been losing clout. to “support the administration and its policies in our work” agreement for the unloading of barrels of phosphorous This process goes along with the “transformation” of in a recent internal memorandum. “As agency employees pentasulfi de, and then confi scated the cargo. The action the U.S. military posture worldwide toward smaller, more we do not identify with, support or champion opposition was carried out under bilateral accords between Wash- agile, and more lethal units that can move quickly around to the administration or its policies,” the memo said. ington and Taipei. the globe using bases closer to the theaters of confl ict. This was directed against numerous CIA operatives In his National Defense University speech in February Within the administration, Secretary of Defense Donald who banked their careers on support for Kerry, and who 2004, the U.S. president pointed to the interception of Rumsfeld has been one of the main spokespeople for this tried to aid the Democratic Party election campaign over the BBC China in October of last year as a model. The course, along with Bush. the last year through “leaks” and “revelations” that could German-owned ship was allegedly loaded with parts for An article in the November 21 New York Times noted damage the Bush administration. centrifuges used to enrich uranium. “After the ship passed that “some legislators said…Rumsfeld had made clear his Michael Scheuer, for example, is one such “senior CIA through the Suez Canal, bound for Libya,” said Bush, “it opposition to the proposed overhaul, which would have analyst.” A 22-year CIA veteran who served as the chief was stopped by German and Italian authorities.” Follow- stripped the Pentagon of some budgetary control over its of the Bin Laden unit at the Counterterrorist Center from ing the seizure, he said, “The U.S. and Britain confronted vast intelligence operations.” The disputed provisions were 1996 to 1999, Scheuer wrote a book that was published Libyan offi cials with this evidence of an active and il- seen by the Pentagon as “threatening its budgetary control this year titled Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the legal nuclear program. About two months ago Libya’s over intelligence-development, and thus its ability to gener- War on Terror. Originally released under the authorship of leader voluntarily agreed to end his nuclear and chemical ate the intelligence needed in war-fi ghting,” it said. “Anonymous,” the book attacked the Bush administration weapons programs.” Statements by many Democrats showed that liberal poli- and was used by liberals to buttress the Kerry campaign. On Dec. 19, 2003, the Libyan government effectively ticians thought they had a pre-election deal that would sail The author’s identity was revealed last June, and Scheuer surrendered a good part of its sovereignty with the an- through Congress and were fl abbergasted by this turn of resigned from the CIA. nouncement that it would dismantle its nuclear and chemi- events, claiming that Hunter led a rightist rebellion against Scheuer’s resignation was followed by that of higher- cal weapons programs and allow United Nations “inspec- a bill that the White House had strongly backed. “I thought ranking CIA offi cers. The head of the CIA’s clandestine tors” to verify its compliance. The decision came after it was a fair, tough compromise—the stars and moon were service, Stephen Kappes, and his deputy, Michael Sulick, Washington and London made it clear that the Libyan aligned, and these few folks embarrassed the Speaker of the resigned November 15. According to the Times, they be- regime could face a similar fate to that of former Iraqi House, embarrassed the President of the United States, and came casualties of Goss’s efforts to “overhaul the agency’s leader Saddam Hussein unless it bowed to U.S. dictates set us back,” said Jane Harman, a ranking Democrat from spying operations.” on “weapons of mass destruction.” 10 The Militant December 7, 2004 Organization of western coal has begun Socialist miners respond, throw themselves into new openings for unionization BY BRIAN TAYLOR this period will last, but how we act now AND PAT MILLER is decisive,” Socialist Workers Party leader PRICE, Utah—“There has been a dra- Róger Calero said. matic change in coal mining and the poten- tial for union advances in this area over the Hiring, push to get into union mines past year,” said Susan Monroe, a miner in At the same time, miners in the Price area the Price area, who took part in a meeting are taking advantage of one of the biggest here of socialists working in coal mines hiring booms in three decades, as the coal across the country. “It is unlike any other bosses are expanding production because of development in the coalfi elds, anywhere in increased demand for coal worldwide and the country, right now.” higher coal prices. The number of union In fact, the organization of western coal miners has grown. has begun, she said. Price is the center of underground min- “There is signifi cant hiring taking place ing in the West, with 10 mines currently at every mine around Price—union and working in the surrounding counties, and nonunion alike. The Consol Emery mine another two scheduled to open within the has reopened constituting the second union next year. mine in the area,” said Monroe. Hundreds of workers at nonunion mines “These developments, together with the are putting in applications at the union- advances in the struggle of Co-Op miners ized Consol Emery and Energy West Deer in Huntington, Utah, for union representa- Creek mines. According to several miners, tion, are breathing new life into the United one coal company, Andalex Resources, re- Mine Workers of America (UMWA),” she cently raised the pay of all miners at their continued. (See front-page article.) three facilities by more than $1 an hour to “This new reality is beginning to trans- nearly $23 an hour. This is above average form the possibilities to build and strengthen union scale. The bosses are trying to stem Militant the UMWA in the region,” Monroe said. the fl ow of experienced workers leaving to Pacifi c Corp. Huntington Power Plant and Deer Creek Coal Mine in Huntington, Socialist workers in coal mines met here get into the union mines. Even with lower Utah. The Deer Creek mine is one of the two union mines in this area. Hundreds of November 13–14 to discuss these develop- pay, union mines are more attractive to nonunion miners are applying for jobs at these two UMWA-organized mines. ments and to organize to throw themselves workers because of their reputation for wholeheartedly into the expanding union- better safety standards, benefi ts, and work schedules. “There is a real change in confi dence recently got hired. After a long period of ization effort. “We don’t know how long among miners due to the hiring,” Shirley looking with no success, you can see the Burton reported. “A guy I met several times confi dence he has now knowing that he got while applying for jobs at a couple of mines the job and could get one somewhere else.” Macedonia referendum defeated Becoming skilled miners Continued from Page 3 controls majority shares in Macedonia’s In response to these developments, Thomas Miller, “I noted the many nega- OKTA oil refi nery and is in the process socialist miners said they are organizing tive effects that this unilateral U.S. decision of building a pipeline from Skopje to MILITANT LABOR to develop and expand their mining skills will have.” On November 19, a statement Thessaloniki—Greece’s second largest FORUMS in order to have maximum fl exibility and from the Greek foreign ministry warned city. Investments have also poured into mobility to join the developing struggles Skopje that Athens will use its veto power the cement, food and beverage, tobacco, NEW YORK in the coalfi elds. to block its entry into the EU and NATO and telecommunications industries and in Manhattan Price miner Lynn Birwood reported that with its current name. Athens also warned supermarket chains. Expose hypocritical campaign by Wash- “bosses are looking for miners with certain that it will take action against Skopje at the Athens has hoped to use this economic ington to prevent Iran from developing skills—like roof bolters.” United Nations Security Council where it infl uence to pressure Macedonia to make nuclear energy Fri., Dec. 3. Dinner 7 p.m.; John Delaney, a miner from the Price currently holds a seat. concessions, including changing its name. program 8 p.m. 307 West 36th St., 10th fl . area, noted that having more skills “puts “The EU has the position at this moment In the 1990s it blockaded landlocked FY- (use north elevators). Donation $5 dinner/ you in a better position on the job. Skilled that the offi cial name is FYROM,” Dutch ROM for 18 months cutting off vital access $5 program. Tel: (212) 629-6649. workers have more authority, that’s how it prime minister Jan-Peter Balkenende, to the sea and forcing Skopje to agree to works.” who holds the European Union presi- change its fl ag and alter its constitution. WASHINGTON, D.C. Tony Lane, a miner from the Pittsburgh dency, told reporters. “For the time being, Since then, about 40 governments have The irrepressible fi ght by the Palestin- area, said that the socialist miners seek to we can use this name as we look at the recognized Macedonia with its consti- ians for land and self-determination Fri., become competent in as many skills as pos- consequences.” tutional name—including China, Cuba, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. 3717-B Georgia Ave. NW sible. He noted that “the newest miners at Successive governments in Greece of and Mexico, with which Athens has had (corner of New Hampshire Ave. NW) Tel the meeting showed the greatest hunger for (202) 722-1315 the social democratic Panhellenic Socialist friendly relations. learning new skills. We need to broaden Movement (PASOK) and the conservative Unlike the early 1990s, when the Greek this out, make it universal.” New Democracy, currently the governing government and rightist forces organized NEW ZEALAND Responding to these opportunities party, have used the dispute over the name demonstrations of hundreds of thousands Auckland the socialist movement is organizing to of the Macedonian republic to promote across the country with the slogan “Mace- The Stalin school of falsifi cation Speaker: expand its work among coal miners and Greek imperialism’s economic and politi- donia is Greek,” this time only one rally of Terry Coggan. Fri., Dec. 3, 7 p.m. 7 Mason other working people in the West. Coal cal interests in the Balkans. Greek capi- 2,000 took place in Thessaloniki protesting Ave., Otahuhu (upstairs, above Laundro- miners at the meeting enthusiastically ad- talists are the biggest foreign investors in Washington’s recognition of the Republic mat). Donation $3. Tel: (09) 276-8885 opted this course of action and have begun the Republic of Macedonia. Greek capital of Macedonia. implementing it. LETTERS Openings in coal However, I must now express my of mean that sarcastically, but really do these generalizations have to the mail, telegraph, telephone, and In- The coverage of the elections discomfort about the November 23 it’s almost true. I think that America voting habits of the Black working ternet—once again functions in real and their lessons has been excel- article on the Co-Op mine owners, needs a political party based on the class and large city workers? These time and any signifi cant halt here lent. Likewise the articles and the Kingston family. Here, the Mili- unions, but be careful. In Canada, groups seemed to vote overwhelm- would quickly cripple transporta- editorials about the Iraq war and tant has infringed, I believe, on its we have a party called the New ingly against the incumbent. tion, just-in-time manufacturing, the plans of our enemies as they own high standards. Democratic Party (NDP), based on How should we interpret the trade, and banking. “transform” their military might. I What has their flouting of “labour,” and it is pretty much all for polling for many workers that While telegraph has been long in am sure someone will nit pick about bourgeois legality and morals (po- business as usual (capitalism!). indicated the impact of “moral decline and cable TV started in the one thing or another. I’ll leave that lygamy, child support obligations) For a month or two now, I have issues” on voting motivation and 1950s in rural areas for TV, cable to others. have to do with their oppression of been printing off articles from the candidate choice? TV now provides Internet, and My favorite article, however, is their workers? Militant, and my friends and I have Kenneth Page telephone services beginning to the one on the new openings in coal, I think that reports on this very been doing a small reading group at Brooklyn, New York directly competing with the major the opening of a second union mine important struggle should be kept lunch hour. We may be of all differ- telephone companies. The phone in Utah and the prospect of jobs and on a strictly political basis. ent races, but we are united by the company unions allowed the In- union building that now lies before Bea Bryant fact that our moms and dads sure Key industries ternet portion of the industry to be us. That is a great article. It is a call Blenheim, Ontario aren’t rich. Up here, we understand Seems to me you missed two key classifi ed as management positions to revolutionary minded youth to why a lot of working people (who industries that were tiny or non-ex- and have had little success organiz- join the fi ght, work side by side [We agree. And we’ll work with are like our families) in the United istent in Marx’s time and would also ing cable TV workers. with other toilers in beginning our reporters to keep the proper States voted for Bush. He didn’t try quickly bring the whole economy to SBC, one of the so-called “Baby the rebuilding of the unions and focus on the coverage. —Editor] to talk like some Ivy League snob a halt (Reply to Reader “Are indus- Bells,” recently announced the workers’ consciousness and self- like Kerry. trial workers becoming irrelevant?” elimination of 10,000 jobs through confi dence. It is the “what” and Keep up the great work. in November 16 issue). attrition and layoffs. the “why” that I signed up for 40 U.S. elections Norm P. In the electrical generation and Kim O’Brien years ago. I am a high school student living by e-mail distribution industry shut down Willimantic, Connecticut Robin Maisel in Canada, and I have been trusting even a small number of generation Waco, Texas you as my number one source of plants and the wheels of industry The letters column is an open information regarding the Ameri- Antiworker bias would come to a screeching halt. forum for all viewpoints on can elections. Thank goodness that Your article “Middle-class con- Electricity has to be generated in sub jects of interest to working Co-Op coverage somebody is telling the truth about tempt for workers fuels liberal panic real time, which means the bosses peo ple. I have been reading the Militant the pro-imperialist, pro-war war- over U.S. elections” (November 23 can’t stock up in preparation for a Please keep your letters brief. for some 45 years and have always monger, Sen. John Kerry. Kerry’s issue) raised a few questions for me. strike unless they want to build in Where necessary they will be been impressed by the honesty, platform was in no way different The article generalized the reasons extra capacity to the power grids abridged. Please indicate if you objectivity, and correctness of its from Bush; if anything, he was more that the majority of workers voted and more generating plants. pre fer that your initials be used reporting. like Bush than Bush himself. I sort for the incumbent. What relationship The communications industry— rath er than your full name. The Militant December 7, 2004 11 Snokist strikers march to build support BY CECELIA MORIARITY lege Federation of Teachers (YVCFT) Lo- TERRACE HEIGHTS, Washington—“I cal 1485; United Farm Workers members am very proud we are standing up for what from the Chateau Ste. Michelle vineyard; we think is right,” said Judith Karnes at union nurses from Yakima Valley Memorial a November 20 march and rally here to Hospital; and Yakima city employees who support the 270 cannery workers who are members of AFSCME Local 1122. have been on strike against Snokist since On November 12, about 175 people September 23. “The support is fabulous!” turned out for an evening picket line, or- added Karnes, who has worked at the plant ganized by Community Members for the 31 years. Snokist Strikers. Gail Pearlman, an orga- More than 400 striking cannery workers nizer of the group, who teaches English at and their supporters had just marched from Yakima Community College in Grandview, the Snokist fruit canning plant across the told the Militant the group organized the Yakima River bridge near Wal-Mart and expanded picket line “to make it clear the back past the plant, shouting their support strike has community support.” Pearlman for the strike. Passersby honked and waved said that she and another teacher had in- in solidarity along the busy streets. March- vited strikers to their classes to explain why ers then returned to the lot across the street they walked out. from the main entrance to the Snokist plant Snokist workers, members of Western for a rally and barbecue to celebrate. Council of Industrial Workers (WCIW) Lo- Protesters included Teamsters from the cal 3023, have been on the picket line since area’s Del Monte plant, who pack and ship September 23 to win their fi rst contract, Militant/Scott Breen asparagus; members of Yakima Valley Col- Continued on Page 4 About 400 cannery workers and supporters march November 20 in Washington State N.Y. mayor fails to block law on equal benefi ts to gay couples BY PAUL PEDERSON from legal arrangements that enable people Social Security. But his administration has It appears that New York mayor Bloom- NEW YORK—Mayor Michael Bloom- to have rights.” not carried out sweeping assaults on rights berg is also beginning to sense the direction berg has so far failed in his effort to restrict At the same time, the Bush administration won on social questions like affi rmative in which the political winds are blowing. domestic partners—including same-sex has also used demagogic maneuvers to ap- action. Bush is not the only prominent Following the legal defeat, Bloomberg couples—from receiving the same benefi ts pease the right wing of the Republican Party Republican to take this approach. announced that the city’s pension fund as married couples under the city’s Equal and the conservative-minded voters who In a November 16 interview on CNN boards will treat city employees in same- Benefi ts Law. A state supreme court judge constitute an important part of the party’s TV’s “Larry King Live,” California gover- sex relationships the same way as those in ruled November 8 that the city government electoral base. Bush’s position in calling nor Arnold Schwarzenegger reiterated his traditional marriages. Those eligible would must enforce the legislation. for a constitutional amendment to ban gay support for equal rights for gay couples. be gay couples that received marriage li- The measure requires contractors that do marriage this year was an example of this When asked what he thought about gay mar- censes or offi cial civil union status in Mas- more than $100,000 worth of business in tactic. Bush grandstanded for a reactionary riage, Schwarzenegger told King he agreed sachusetts, Vermont, and several Canadian New York City annually to provide health proposal he knew had virtually no chance of with California state law. He described it as provinces, among other places. insurance, bereavement, and other benefi ts success—because a two-thirds majority vote everyone having “equal rights and the same “All of our city employees deserve to be to domestic partners—if the company offers in Congress is required for such an amend- rights as a married couple…anything that treated equally regardless of their sexual ori- such benefi ts to married spouses. Similar ment, as well as its adoption by three-quar- makes the relationship, you know, strong entation,” Bloomberg told New York News- measures have passed in San Francisco, ters of the 50 state legislatures—in order to and also gives them the same rights that a day November 17. The New York mayor Seattle, and Los Angeles. score points with his rightist supporters. married couple has.” “has said that he goes ‘back-and-forth’ City Council member Christine Quinn, But on the whole, the Bush administration When King asked if the governor’s views on whether same-sex marriages should be the bill’s sponsor, told the New York Times has distanced itself from the “culture war” on social issues put him “out of step with allowed, but believes that civil unions for the law would have a far-reaching effect. approach of the ultraright on this and other your party,” the Austrian-born actor-cum- homosexuals should confer the same legal There are thousands of companies with social issues. On domestic policy Bush has politician replied, “Well, that is okay to be rights as marriage,” the daily reported. contracts with the city that exceed $100,000 focused, like his predecessor Clinton, on on the left side of that party because the Newsday also noted that “the mayor’s an- in business, she noted. They include many advancing the main ruling-class offensive party is very—has a wide range. All the way nouncement comes as he is locked in a legal large, nationwide fi rms and monopolies to shore up the bosses’ declining profi t rates: from the right, to all the way to the center, battle with the City Council over its attempt with an international reach that are based cutting workers’ real wages, worsening to the left. This is what I am—socially more to grant benefi ts to the same-sex spouses of elsewhere but do business with the city. working conditions, and undermining social moderate, but I am very conservative when employees of companies that do business The Republican mayor’s stance has programs—like his proposals to “reform” it comes to fi scal policies.” with the city.” placed him out of step with a substantial number of leaders of his party nationally. They include President George Bush and California governor Arnold Schwarzeneg- Hundreds protest closing of L.A. trauma unit ger, who have come out in favor of civil rights for same-sex couples adopted on the BY NAN BAILEY second-busiest trauma facility. This comes short of staffi ng needs. state level. LOS ANGELES—More than 1,000 on the heels of a steady decline in medical A state law that went into effect January The November 8 ruling was the latest people rallied here November 15 at the services in the county over the last three 1 of this year set limits on the number of round in a losing battle by the mayor. First, King/Drew Medical Center in Willow- years—as cutbacks have led to the closure patients a nurse can attend to. The current Bloomberg vetoed the bill after it passed brook to protest the plan by the Los Ange- of 10 trauma facilities in the Los Angeles limit is one nurse for every six patients. The in the city council last June. Then, after his les County Board of Supervisors to shut metropolitan area. ratio is lower for nurses in more specialized veto was overridden by a city council vote down the hospital’s trauma unit. The November 15 rally was followed by units—such as intensive care. In the past of 41-4, he obtained an injunction to prevent “Save Trauma/Save King-Drew” said a public hearing of the Board of Supervi- month, over 150 nurses at county hospitals the law from being enforced. Bloomberg an- one placard. “Don’t disrespect or un- sors. Over 400 people packed the hearing, have refused supervisors’ instructions to nounced he plans to appeal the latest ruling, derestimate us” read another. Protesters which was scheduled for three hours but take on more patients than the limit allows, saying the measure would be bad for busi- included clerical workers, nurses, and lasted more than six. Speakers included citing concern for patient safety. About 20 ness and that city money should not be used doctors at King/Drew; medical students; elected officials, representatives of the nurses have been suspended for their defi - “to advance social issues.” high school students; and workers living NAACP, local ministers, hospital work- ance. Some arguments with supervisors As part of their efforts to turn the Repub- in Watts, Compton, and Willowbrook—the ers, and representatives of the Service grew so heated that police were called. lican Party into a majority party, prominent communities served by the hospital. Employees International Union (SEIU) Grace Huguez, a registered nurse in the Republican fi gures have taken positions in Watts is part of South Los Angeles. Local 660—the union which represents surgical trauma unit of LAC-USC Medi- favor of equal rights for gays and lesbians Compton and Willowbrook are working- nurses at King/Drew. cal Center, was one of the workers who (even while opposing same-sex marriage), class suburbs in the South Los Angeles Some pointed out that the hospital was protested after being assigned 10 patients, oppressed nationalities, and women. These metropolitan area. About 1.5 million peo- the product of the 1965 Watts riots, when four over the legal limit. “We’re barely able positions are more in line with predomi- ple, heavily Latino and African-American, the predominantly African-American to check if the patients are breathing and if nating views in bourgeois public opinion, live here. County statistics indicate that one community at that time rose up in outrage their IVs are working,” she said. “We don’t which refl ect gains by previous working- third live below the offi cial poverty level. in a social explosion that involved many have time to actually see how they’re doing. class struggles like the civil rights move- The King/Drew Medical Center is the only thousands. Building a public hospital in What about all the other stuff that happens? ment. These stances have drawn the ire public hospital that serves this area. an area that had no access to medical care Can we really catch everything when we of the Republican right wing, which has The hospital has been the target of was one of a number of reforms that were have too many patients?” pressed its case for a “culture war” against criticism over the last several months implemented to prevent further rebellions County nurses have also been working such social gains. for its shortage of nurses, overcrowded by working people. without a contract for a year. “I don’t think we should deny people emergency room, and errors and lapses Some at the hearing also pointed out that Similar demonstrations have also been rights to a civil union, a legal arrangement, in patient care. Although the trauma unit the problems that plague King/Drew are announced. One is a December 1 rally at if that’s what a state chooses to do,” said has not been included in the criticisms, the also faced by other hospitals—public and the state capital in Sacramento to protest Bush in a pre-election interview on ABC board’s proposal is to shut it down to “save” private—in the area. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to TV’s “Good Morning America” October the rest of the hospital. One of the major complaints, for ex- postpone the implementation of phase 26. The rally was one of several that have ample, the severe nursing shortage at the two of the Safe Staffi ng Law. Phase two When interviewer Charles Gibson re- taken place over the last two months. The facility, has been the focus of protests by lowers the nurse-patient ratio to 1 to 5. minded Bush that “the Republican platform actions followed the September 13 an- nurses at King/Drew and other hospitals. The demonstration has been called by the opposes it,” Bush replied, “Well, I don’t. I nouncement by the Board of Supervisors County officials acknowledge that the California Nurses Association, which has view the defi nition of marriage different that they intend to close what is the county’s county hospitals are about 1,200 nurses 57,000 members in the state.

12 The Militant December 7, 2004