Workers Need Unions, Break with Bosses' Political Parties

AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.50 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Kurdistan book fair marked by thirst for political discussion — PAGE 6 - 7 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 82/no. 43 November 19, 2018 Uber, Yellow UN votes 189-2 Workers need unions, break Cab drivers to demand end with bosses’ political parties need unity to to US rulers’ fight bosses Cuba embargo By PETER THIERJUNG BY MARTÍN KOPPEL NEW YORK — The cutthroat UNITED NATIONS — On Nov. competition among Uber, Lyft, other 1, for the 27th year in a row, the U.N. e-hail car services, livery companies General Assembly adopted a resolu- and the Yellow Cab fleet bosses has tion presented by the Cuban govern- claimed a seventh suicide victim here. ment calling for “ending the U.S. eco- Fausto Luna flung himself in front of nomic, commercial and financial em- an oncoming subway train and died bargo against Cuba.” The resolution Sept. 26. The 58-year-old Uber driver passed by a 189-2 margin, similar to had told friends he was getting de- recent years, with the U.S. and Israeli pressed in face of mounting debts and governments voting against, and those increasing overtime. from Ukraine and Moldova not voting. LaMont Militant/Susan His situation isn’t unusual. Uber Seeking to blunt the effect of the vote, Rachele Fruit, left, SWP candidate for Georgia governor, talks with fisherman David Gilbert about lack of government response in wake of Hurricane Michael in Apalachicola, Florida, drivers’ incomes fell 53 percent from the U.S. government proposed eight Nov. 1. Right, Georgia’s Albany Herald quotes Fruit saying, “Only by uniting and building 2013 to 2017, according to a study re- amendments, all smearing Havana as a working-class movement in struggle can we fight to change the conditions that we face.” leased by the J.P. Morgan Chase Insti- a human rights violator. The eight were tute that same month. “Alongside the rejected, by a 114-3 vote in most cases. Workers, farmers seek road Join SWP taking ‘Militant’, rapid growth in the number of drivers Only the U.S., Ukrainian, and Is- forward out of capitalist crisis books to working class has come a steady decline in average raeli delegates voted for the amend- monthly earnings,” the report said. ments. More than 60 abstained, in- BY MAGGIE TROWE Millions of workers see in their Uber disputes the findings, saying cluding the representatives of the “The problems that the working own lives and lives of those they love declining incomes result from drivers United Kingdom, France, Japan and class faces — and working farmers how working people face the debili- “choosing” to work part time. most other imperialist countries. Also — are the result of the decay of the tating effects of the ongoing eco- Today more than 100,000 e-hail among the abstentions were the del- capitalist system that we live under, nomic, political and moral crisis of Continued on page 5 egates from Mexico, Argentina, Bra- and that only by uniting and building capitalist rule. The bosses and their zil, Colombia and Iraq. Another 10 a working-class movement in struggle didn’t vote. can we fight to change the conditions Fall Campaign to sell Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno that we face and that working peo- Editorial Continued on page 3 Continued on page 4 Militant subscriptions government have nothing to offer and books except more wars, more opioid ad- diction, police brutality, injuries on Oct. 6 - Dec. 4 (Week 4) Do Washington’s trade sanctions the job, speedup, poor or no health Sub Subs Books Books care, deportations of friends and co- Country quota sold quota sold on China mean a new ‘Cold War’? workers, attacks on women’s right to UNITED STATES choose abortion, growing homeless- Albany 115 44 115 27 ness, deteriorating public transporta- Atlanta 85 42 85 23 tion, housing and more. Chicago 115 70 115 55 Most workers either held their nos- Dallas 50 32 50 26 es and picked a “lesser evil” or didn’t Lincoln 15 9 15 8 vote at all because they’re disgusted Los Angeles 125 50 125 25 with the never-ending disdain of the Louisville 30 11 30 14 rulers’ two parties. Miami 40 7 40 19 The rulers and their politicians — New Jersey 35 17 35 17 especially the liberal, meritocratic New York 110 61 110 36 cohort — see workers, as Hillary Oakland 85 36 85 16 Clinton explained in 2016, as “de- Philadelphia 55 22 55 22 plorables” who are “irredeemable.” Pittsburgh 15 8 15 3 Former President Barack Obama dis- Seattle 90 37 90 17 missed working people, decrying the Twin Cities 65 27 65 23 fact they didn’t do as he told them. Washington 80 28 80 41 Continued on page 8 Total U.S. 1,110 501 1,110 372 Prisoners 25 13 UNITED KINGDOM AP Photo/Ben Marto Inside London 60 32 60 21 Chinese ship unloads at Oakland port July 2. Leveraging their huge domestic market, strong dollar, U.S. rulers impose tariffs on Chinese imports to wrest concessions from Beijing. Amazon robots intensify Manchester 50 25 50 16 the exploitation of labor 2 Total U.K. 110 57 110 37 by terry evans registers the greater strength of U.S. CANADA Following Washington’s imposition of capital today. Like all the trade pacts Marriott strikers fight bosses Montreal 50 19 50 10 widespread tariffs on Chinese imports Washington seeks, it’s aimed at advanc- over wages, hours, safety 3 Vancouver 45 23 45 19 and retaliatory measures by Beijing, the ing the bosses’ interests, not those of the Total Canada 95 42 95 29 liberal press that views President Donald working class. –On the picket line, p. 8– New Zealand 40 25 30 13 Trump as the cause of all ills are awash For years successive Democratic and Canada postal workers strike with claims that a new “Cold War” has Republican administrations have tried to over pay equality, health care Australia 30 15 15 1 been started by his administration. contain the rising influence of the Chi- ‘We’re working for peanuts,’ says Washington’s protectionist measures nese capitalists. The Trump administra- Total 1,410 653 1,360 452 striking New Zealand bus driver SHOULD BE 1,400 700 1,400 700 aren’t the onset of war, but are aimed at tion’s escalating tariffs are aimed at up- forcing Beijing into an agreement that Continued on page 8 Amazon robots intensify the exploitation of labor by brian williams $775 million and took the machines Amazon is the second-largest em- off the market. Amazon bosses then ployer in the U.S. after Walmart and made them the backbone of their dis- one of only two U.S. companies ever tribution centers. valued at over $1 trillion. It operates Today Amazon has some 100,000 huge fulfillment warehouses where robots hurtling about its over 140 ful- workers face relentless speedup and fillment centers worldwide — about unsafe conditions amid miles of con- 75 of them in the U.S. veyor belts, computer-set workloads The heart of Mim’s article is the and thousands of robots, all pushing idea that in a few short years there them to work harder. won’t be any workers, and Amazon’s “Amazon’s one-million-square warehouses will be 100 percent au- foot distribution center in Baltimore tomated. And so will their delivery is a massive fulfillment machine,” system — with a fleet of driverless Christopher Mims wrote in a gush- vans, pilotless blimps and drones ing Oct. 15 Wall Street Journal article for final drop-off. “Imagine a drone titled “How Robots and Drones Will dropping out of the sky to deliver you Change Retail Forever.” The ware- an iced coffee on your walk to work,” Reuters/Noah Berger house has “a dazzling combination of he says. “In fact, IBM already has a Amazon warehouse running in Tracy, California, 2014. Bosses installed robots as they ex- panded hiring. In face of speedup, boss harassment, unsafe conditions workers need a union. chutes, ladders, rollers and 11 miles’ patent for that.” worth of conveyor belts.” Bosses in China recently announced workers in the U.S. to $15 an hour. A of millions of dollars to the bosses to “Humans are rarely required to plans to open a factory where robots few days later they announced they operate there. move around here,” Mims claims. “It’s will make robots for use in factories would cut their losses by eliminating Amazon says the new facility will much faster, and cheaper, to have stuff there and for export in Asia. bonuses and stock options. stock 20 million products, employ brought to them.” Frederick Engels, one of the found- These moves follow strike actions 1,500 workers and ship 1 million or- “Resembling oversize Roombas ers of the socialist and modern work- over low pay and speedup by work- ders every day. FedEx bosses say their topped with Ikea shelving,” Mims ing-class movement, wrote about this ers in Amazon warehouses in Europe 425 workers in Sparrows Point will writes, 8-foot-tall robots scurry 150 years ago. The capitalists are “pe- this summer. A one-day strike was process some 15,000 packages hourly. around carrying up to 750 pounds of riodically seized by fits of giddiness organized at six facilities in Germany While the bosses — and politi- goods in their 40-odd yellow cubbies. in which they try to accomplish the July 17. Workers in Spain went out for cians in both of the bosses’ parties But while they can haul the goods, money-making without the mediation three days then, and in Poland workers who throw money at Amazon — these robots can’t grasp them like a of the production process,” he wrote. staged a “work-to-rule.” are all agog, it isn’t the same for the human hand can do and fill the or- Amazon is owned by the world’s workers. Indeed.com, an internet der. Robots also can’t load or unload Hiring by the tens of thousands richest person — Jeff Bezos, a Silicon site that “helps” hiring by running trucks. So while the mesmerized But the fact is Amazon has been in- Valley type who also owns the Wash- ratings on what it’s like to work for Journal scribe writes as though there creasing its hiring while putting more ington Post, has $112 million in Airb- various bosses by current and former are only a handful of workers there, in robots on the warehouse floors. The nb, a hunk of Uber and his own rocket employees, has been keeping score fact there are over 3,000. company employs 575,000 people, an ship company. on Amazon’s warehouses. As increasing numbers of compa- increase of 235,000 from just one year There is an explosion in retail ware- Entries include: “they work you like nies began using these Kiva robots, ago. Facing a labor shortage, Amazon housing by Amazon, Walmart and slaves,” “management is evil,” “the Amazon in 2012 bought up Kiva for bosses raised the minimum wage for other companies seeking to crush their surveillance is jail-like,” “manage- competition. Amazon is opening its ment is just bad all the time,” and vivid fourth fulfillment center in Maryland descriptions of speedup and 12-hour this month on the site of the former days. One entry headed “highway to Sparrows Point U.S. Steel mill in Bal- hell” says, “If you ever wanted to sell timore. This site and adjacent shipyard your soul to the devil but didn’t know were bought up by investment capital- how, this is a close second. Every hor- ists organized as Tradepoint Atlantic. ror story you’ve probably heard about They’ve already got contracts for working here I can confirm is true.” Jew-hatred is a threat to all working people warehouses and other operations One former fulfillment workers from Under Armour, FedEx and sums it up, “Low pay, on your feet all History shows that as the Harley-Davidson, as well as Amazon. day, unrealistic work demands, work crisis of capitalism deep- Governments at the city, state and is repetitive, short breaks, no union.” ens, threats and attacks national level have handed out tens And that is what they need — a union. against Jews will grow if

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2 The Militant November 19, 2018 UN: End US Cuba embargo Marriott strikers fight bosses over wages, hours, safety Continued from front page volunteer combatants went to Angola Rodríguez presented the resolution. between 1975 and 1991, helping to de- He explained that Washington has feat U.S.-backed invading troops of the sought to overthrow Cuba’s socialist white-supremacist regime. revolution since 1959, when workers St. Vincent Ambassador Inga Rhon- and farmers, led by Fidel Castro and da King said Cuban universities have the Rebel Army, toppled the U.S.- graduated hundreds of youth from backed Batista dictatorship, took state that West Indian island, while Cuban power and overturned capitalist rule. doctors working in St. Vincent “have For nearly six decades since, the U.S. brought quality medical care and ex- ruling class, under Democratic and pertise to the most remote areas of our Republican administrations alike, country”— all free of charge. Cuban has carried out military, political, workers helped build a modern hospital and economic assaults against Cuba’s there “and our first international air- working people and their government. port,” she said.

Impact of U.S. economic war U.S. ‘amendments’ to smear Cuba Rodríguez quoted from an April The eight amendments introduced

1960 U.S. State Department memo- by U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley Militant/Betsey Stone randum that spelled out the U.S. charged the revolutionary govern- SAN FRANCISCO — UNITE HERE Local 2 President Anand Singh was the rulers’ goal: working at “alienating ment of Cuba with suppression of free first speaker Nov. 2 when the San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened a internal support” for the revolution speech, arbitrary detentions, violating hearing on the union’s strike of some 2,500 hotel workers at Marriott here. The through moves “to bring about hun- trade union rights, denying women strike, part of a national fight by the union to win higher pay and defeat Marriott ger, desperation, and overthrow of adequate representation in govern- bosses’ attempt to jack up the cost of workers’ health care, has lasted over a [the] government.” ment bodies and other alleged viola- month. Close to 1,000 workers dressed in red, their union colors, packed the Rodríguez reported that the decades- tions of human rights. meeting. long U.S. sanctions have caused billions Haley cynically claimed “our reason Marriott workers in San Francisco get an average pay of $44,600 per year, in economic losses affecting the daily for the embargo is and has always been Singh said, not nearly enough in a city with one of the highest costs of living lives of Cubans, from blocking the im- Cuba’s denial of freedom and the denial in the country. “One job should be enough!” is the most popular chant on the port of vital medical supplies to hinder- of the most basic human rights for the strike picket lines. ing Cuba’s foreign banking and credit Cuban people.” Dozens of strikers testified, explaining that working two or three jobs made it transactions. Washington has fined U.S. In response, Cuban Foreign Minister impossible to spend time with their kids. Some described how they had strug- subsidiaries abroad as well as foreign Rodríguez said, “The blockade repre- gled with homelessness. One said he lived in constant fear of losing his job and banks and companies for using U.S. sents flagrant, massive and systematic felt pressure that he couldn’t afford to be sick. dollars trading with Cuba. violations of the human rights of Cuban A room cleaner who works on call said that the bosses “green policy,” One example, cited in a report sub- women and men.” He added that “the which allows hotel guests to spend up to three days in a room without it be- mitted by the Cuban delegation, is the U.S. government doesn’t have the least ing cleaned, meant she gets less work. And when the room was finally set for cleaning, she often found it was filthy. She said she had been off work injured impact on the national airline Cubana moral authority to criticize Cuba or from conditions she faced on the job three times in seven years. de Aviación. The embargo has severely anyone else on human rights.” Maria Calles, a replacement cleaner at the Marriott Marquis, told the press Rodríguez noted that Washington is limited its ability to buy or lease aircraft she had been fired by her employer — contractor Environmental Service Part- or obtain spare parts, which jeopardizes the only government to have unleashed ners — for talking to the San Francisco Chronicle about not having been paid maintenance and flight safety for Cu- nuclear weapons on a civilian popula- for three days. ba’s aging fleet. tion, as it did in Japan in 1945. The U.S. “They fired me unjustly, and I have a right to speak,” she told the paper. Rodríguez noted that Washington government still holds prisoners indefi- Workers in Oakland and Detroit settled with the Marriott earlier that day and continues to restrict the right of U.S. nitely without charges on its naval base are back to work. Details of the agreement have yet to be made public. Besides citizens to travel to Cuba. In the last in Guantánamo, Cuba. “And in Florida, the seven San Francisco hotels, Marriott workers at 14 other hotels in Boston, year it has also sharply limited the 21 percent of Blacks are denied the right San Diego, San Jose and two cities in Hawaii are still on strike. ability of Cubans to obtain visas to to vote” because they previously served — Jeff Powers visit family in the U.S. felony prison sentences. During the debate numerous del- A large majority in the General As- egates, especially from Latin America, sembly rejected the U.S. amendments. Washington’s imperialist rivals are just and demanded U.N. officials take action the Caribbean, and Africa, not only Some 76 delegates — nearly 40 percent as hostile to Cuba’s socialist revolution against Cuba. called for lifting the embargo, but ex- — either abstained or didn’t vote on as the U.S. rulers, but they resent the On the same day as the U.N. vote on pressed their gratitude for the solidarity the amendments, taking their distance way the embargo restricts their own the embargo resolution, National Secu- they have received from Cuban interna- from Cuba on Washington’s “human trade with Cuba. rity Adviser John Bolton announced in tionalist volunteers. rights” charges. Miami that Washington was consider- Several speakers highlighted the role The Canadian ambassador said his Bipartisan policy against revolution ing imposing further sanctions. of Cuban health care workers who led vote against the amendments was not In 2016 the U.S. government under Rodríguez said Cuba’s revolution- the fight to curb the Ebola epidemic in against “the substance” of the U.S. pro- President Barack Obama abstained on ary government is ready to talk with West Africa in 2014–15. South Afri- posals, but that the debate on the em- the embargo resolution, registering the the U.S. government “on the basis of can Ambassador Jerry Matjila pointed bargo was “not a suitable platform” for U.S. ruling class’s recognition that — mutual respect, as equals.” But, he told to “Cuba’s contributions to the libera- that discussion. The Austrian represen- thanks to the determination of Cuban the General Assembly, “we will never tion of South Africa from apartheid,” tative, who abstained, made similar re- working people — the embargo had make concessions that harm our sover- when hundreds of thousands of Cuban marks on behalf of the European Union. failed to bring down the revolution. eignty and national independence.” The Obama White House shifted tac- tics, with the same goal. The Trump Feature articles and administration has not reversed the Cuba and the Coming statements available to 2015 re-establishment of diplomatic American Revolution download to read, distribute relations with Cuba, but has tightened by Jack Barnes some sanctions. This is a book about the example • For recognition of a Palestinian State Two weeks before the General As- set by the people and of Israel — For workers solidarity sembly vote the U.S. Mission to the of Cuba that in Israel, Palestine and the world over U.N. organized an event inside the U.N. revolution is not Socialist Workers Party statement Building titled “Jailed for What?” The only necessary — it • In defense of the US working class — speakers, including U.S. State Depart- can be made. SWP leader at Havana event answers question: ment officials and a Cuban counter- It’s about the class ‘Can working people in US make a socialist revo- revolutionary living in Spain, accused struggle in the lution? Talk by Mary-Alice Waters Havana of holding prisoners for their U.S., where the • Revolution, counter- political beliefs. potential of workers revolution and war in Iran: Cuban Ambassador Anayansi Rodrí- and farmers are Social and political roots guez had formally protested the event today as utterly of workers’ protests that as contrary to U.N. rules of protocol. discounted by the swept 90 cities and Members of the Mission intervened and ruling powers as were those of the small towns chanted slogans throughout the pro- Cuban toilers. And just as wrongly. $10 by Steve Clark gram to drown out the speakers. Sec- Also in Spanish, French, Farsi Download at www.themilitant.com retary of State Mike Pompeo called the pathfinderpress.com disruption “a childish temper tantrum”

The Militant November 19, 2018 3 Workers seek road forward Continued from front page organizing public forums over the Nov. ple have no political voice,” Rachele 9-10 weekend to discuss the results of Fruit, Socialist Workers Party candi- the midterm elections and implications date for governor in Georgia, said in for the struggles of working people. an interview printed in the Nov. 4 Al- Presentations will assess the impact of bany Herald. the SWP’s campaigns and next steps in She was on a three-day tour building the working-class movement. through southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, areas hard hit by Elections results mean a logjam Hurricane Michael and the social ca- The anti-Trump-driven liberals had tastrophe there caused by the crisis of hoped that they would see a “blue wave” the capitalist system. Nov. 6 that would win them both houses She was accompanied by farmers of Congress and governorships across Willie Head from Georgia and Karl the country. In the U.S., the minority Butts from Florida. capitalist party traditionally makes big “We need to break with both parties” gains in midterm elections as workers of the capitalist rulers, the Democrats try to find a way to register their anger and Republicans, Fruit told the Herald. at the fact the last elec- “They’re both the parties of our bosses.” tions produced more “There’s no reason in this society, in of the same economic this world today, that every human be- and social calamity. ing — as a human right — doesn’t have But the result this health care from the time they’re born to time was further divi- the time they die,” Fruit told the paper. sion. The Democrats “Under our society, education, health won a majority in the care, things that should be basic human House while the Re- rights, are commodities. They’re bought publicans increased and sold. If you have money to buy, you their edge in the Sen- can. If you don’t have money to buy, too ate. Donald Trump bad for you.” continues in the White “Fruit said the narrative promoted House. Republicans by politicians, especially liberals, is won elections in states that the working class is more racist where Trump cam- today and that there is a rising rightist paigned the most. movement,” the Herald wrote. “She This split is good said that the Socialist Workers Party for the working class, disagrees with that notion.” as logjams like this Fruit and 18 other SWP candidates slow down the ability in 11 states and the District of Colum- of the ruling rich to bia have been visiting workers’ strike use their government against working to restore voting picket lines; pressing for higher wages people. rights to many and more workers control on the job to Militant photos: left,Bill Arth; bottom,Lea Sherman The middle-class left continues its workers convicted Socialist Workers Party candidates across the country talked to workers enforce safety; joining protests against march into the Democratic Party, one of felonies who door to door, joined picket lines of workers fighting for union rights, deportations and raising the demand for of the two parties of capitalist rule. have served their and participated in other political protests. Clockwise from top, Alyson amnesty for all immigrants in the U.S.; They herald the election of a handful prison terms. Kennedy, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas, speaks with Efrain Vargas and his daughter Hortencia in West Dallas. Vivian Sahner, SWP supporting women’s right to choose of Democrats who are members of the “My brother just abortion; marching against cop brutal- candidate for U.S. Senate from New Jersey, joins Oct. 31 protest in New Democratic Socialists of America, led did five years for York against U.S. embargo of Cuba. Dennis Richter, SWP candidate for ity and police murders like the killing of by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from being in the area U.S. Senate in California, joins Nov. 5 picket line by workers fighting Antwon Rose in Pittsburgh; and talking New York, who promote reforms to where a robbery for Teamster union recognition at ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. with workers about working-class poli- make capitalist rule “nicer.” In its took place,” said tics on their doorsteps in cities, small postelection coverage, In These Times Gary Baker, who works for Farmshare, workers and others picking the ‘lesser towns and rural areas. says, “Today, the electoral sphere a large-scale food bank in Quincy that evil.’ Much of today’s anti-Semitism The SWP says workers need to build seems to be the most promising place operates at the now-closed farmers’ comes from the middle-class left, forces unions and fight for their rights against for advancing left politics.” market there. Lawyers said that “my whose opposition to Israel carries over the capitalists’ state and their parties, on The Socialist Workers Party cam- brother would do 15 years if a jury didn’t into broader Jew-hatred.” a course to lead all the oppressed and paign is based on the opposite axis. The acquit him at trial, so he agreed to a plea “We join in fighting Jew-hatred and exploited in the fight for a workers and “most promising place” today is in the bargain. Yes, I’ll vote for Amendment anti-Semitic attacks,” Hart said, “wher- farmers government. discussions and debates taking place 4!” The amendment passed, winning 64 ever and whenever they occur.” Party branches across the country are among working people, who are look- percent of the vote. ing for a way to fight effectively against The previous day, the socialist cam- No to Washington’s wars! the impact of the unfolding capitalist paigners attended a memorial service at Carole Lesnick, Socialist Work- Socialist Workers crisis and break from the twin parties of Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalachic- ers candidate for Congress in the 13th Party Fund Drive capitalist rule. ola on the Gulf Coast, held in solidarity Congressional District in the Bay Area, Oct. 6 - Dec. 4 (Week 4) With the elections over, the SWP is with the Tree of Life synagogue in Pitts- joined a rally protesting Washington’s looking to the next four weeks — the burgh, where 11 members were killed in intervention in the devastating war in Area Quota Collected % second half of the party’s campaign to an anti-Semitic assault Oct. 27. Yemen Nov. 4. Albany $6,000 $1,970 33% take the Militant and books by SWP Members of the congregation thanked “Both the Democratic and Repub- Atlanta $9,500 $4,100 43% leaders to workers on their doorsteps Fruit and her supporters for coming. lican parties support Washington’s Chicago $11,000 $4,809 44% and in strikes and other actions and win Several took statements by SWP can- participation in wars in the Middle Dallas $2,500 $470 19% new readers and contacts. To speak as didate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania East, which are fought in the interests Lincoln $225 $160 71% “tribunes of the people” and promote Osborne Hart condemning the murders of the ruling rich,” Lesnick told Malik Los Angeles $10,000 $1,750 18% the deepening unity of working people and explaining the deadly threat of Jew- Stewart, a transit worker who stopped Louisville $800 $0 0% in action. hatred to the working class (available for by the protest. Miami $3,500 $550 16% As part of the effort, the SWP is also download on www.themilitant.com). “I was glad to see the signs here New York $14,000 $6,249 45% carrying out a drive to raise $100,000 to “This kind of Jew-hatred, and its mur- saying, ‘U.S. out of the Middle East,’” N. New Jersey $2,500 $963 39% fund the ongoing work of the party. derous consequences, rises to the sur- Stewart told her. “I think the people Oakland $12,500 $5,109 41% face in times of crisis under capitalism, here and the people there don’t want Philadelphia $3,000 $400 13% Support ex-prisoners right to vote! as class tensions sharpen,” Hart said. these wars. We need to support one Pittsburgh* $900 $0 0% Joined by campaign supporters Susan “There is no broad expansion of another.” Seattle $10,000 $3,194 32% LaMont from Atlanta and Chuck Guerra rightist or fascist currents in the United To join the Socialist Workers Par- States today. And the owners of indus- Twin Cities* $4,800 $1,680 35% from Miami, and eggplant farmer Karl ty in its ongoing campaigning, or to try and finance don’t feel the need to Washington $6,750 $1,405 21% Butts from Plant City, Florida, Rachele make a contribution to the SWP Par- turn to the goons and thugs of fascist ty-Building Fund, contact the branch Other $1,350 $500 37% Fruit campaigned in Florida’s Panhan- dle Nov. 2. The team also campaigned gangs to preserve their class rule,” he nearest you listed on page 8. Total $99,325 $33,309 33% for Steve Warshell, SWP candidate for said. “They continue to rely on their Should Be $100,000 $50,000 50% U.S. Senate in Florida, and for a “yes” Democratic and Republican parties, Susan LaMont in Atlanta contributed *raised quota vote on Amendment 4, which seeks and their two-party shell game, to keep to this article.

4 The Militant November 19, 2018 Uber, cab drivers need unity Australia: Workers march, demand end to anti-union laws Continued from front page aren’t “professionals.” Amid an inten- cars flood New York City streets, sifying scramble for work and fares, compared to 67,500 in 2016. That’s the cab fleet bosses press drivers to on top of some 13,500 Yellow Cabs, hitch their prospects to “our” compa- many worked 24/7 by teams of driv- ny. The employers call for measures ers; several thousand Green (“outer- to limit Uber, Lyft and other rivals — borough”) Cabs; as well as private to drive out them of business. limos. Others share Yellow Cab driver “Due to the huge number of cars Mousa Ibrahim’s view. Uber’s arrival available with desperate drivers try- in the New York market was devastat- ing to feed their families, [the em- ing to Yellow Cab drivers, he told the ployers] squeeze rates to below op- Militant. But Uber drivers “are now erating costs [for drivers] and force going through what we went through professionals like me out of business,” when Uber first started,” he said. wrote 61-year-old Douglas Schifter on “We’re all in the same boat now.” his Facebook page last February. Matteo Salvi, another Yellow Cab Schifter, who had been driving driver, said it’s wrong to target fellow since the mid-1970s, wrote a column drivers. “Don’t blame the player,” he for more than three decades for Black said. “Blame the game.” Car News documenting drivers’ worsening conditions. He detailed City hall imposes a ‘cap’ how e-hail companies, led by Uber, On Aug. 14, Mayor Bill de Blasio Militant/Linda Harris broke into the New York market, as it signed legislation to stop issuing li- SYDNEY — Hundreds of thousands of workers rallied in cities and towns across Australia Oct. 23-24 to defend union rights and back de- has worldwide, provoking a war with censes for e-hail cars for a year. In the mands for higher wages. The slogan for the nationwide rallies organized the taxi fleet and livery bosses. The meantime, city planners will “study” by the Australian Council of Trade Unions was “Change the Rules!” ACTU heightened competition imposed on whether a “cap” on e-hail cars should is campaigning to change the federal government’s workplace laws, which drivers has been disastrous — for all be permanent. Many drivers, includ- are used to lock workers into insecure work, prevent them from winning of them, whoever they work for. ing those working for Uber, support higher pay, force workers to work longer hours for less and under worsen- The wealthy owners “count their the new law, hoping it will put a lid on ing conditions. money and we are driven down into sharpening competition. The biggest protest was in Melbourne, where over 150,000 workers the streets,” Schifter wrote. “I will not In signing the law, de Blasio ac- brought the city center to a stop. In Sydney, more than 7,000 marched, be a slave working for chump change. cused Uber’s owners of carrying out led off by construction workers, members of the Construction, Forestry, I would rather be dead.” “a very cynical plan to over-saturate Mining and Energy Union. These striking crane drivers who had been on Days later he drove his Black Car to this city,” saying their motivation is the picket line for a week took the stage at the end of the rally. They are the east gate of New York’s City Hall, “corporate greed.” fighting for their first wage increase in over five years. where he shot himself in the head. But the mayor was silent on the ex- “Enough is enough,” Paul Magyar, a mobile crane operator driver at Since February three Yellow Cab ploitation of cab drivers by the Yellow Boom Logistics in Singleton, told the crowd. “We’re fighting for our rights, drivers, three livery drivers, and now Cab and garage bosses, who aim to for our children, for our families.” a driver for Uber have committed sui- claw back market share and shore up — LINDA HARRIS cide. All were saddled with debt and their profits. Since 2013, Yellow Cab unable to make ends meet. bosses have been de Blasio’s patrons Like the big majority of working to the tune of more than a half million ers to fear competition from other and other drivers in Australia, Brit- people in New York — from con- dollars in campaign contributions. workers. It’s a weapon to keep wages ain and elsewhere, aimed at wring- struction to home health care and re- Democrat de Blasio, like mayors down — and, above all, to keep resis- ing concessions from their bosses. tail employees — drivers face soar- from both the bosses’ parties before tance down. The mayor’s real aim is But too often they haven’t reached ing rents, crumbling public transit, him, presides over city government to “cap” momentum toward industry- out to fight on behalf of other work- declining wages and worsening job to defend the prerogatives of the em- wide unionization of cab, e-hail and ers who drive for a living. conditions. The suicides are stoking ploying class, the capitalists. For lib- livery drivers. Drivers in New York City need to discussion and debate. Almost all erals like him, regulation such as the Through experience, drivers will look to solidarity and a united fight agree on the need for some urgent re- cap is a way to hog-tie workers and learn that dependence on the capital- for one union for all drivers. lief from the deteriorating conditions stifle resistance to exploitation by the ist government, or on their own boss- When that day comes, workers they face. But how to get that relief capitalist rulers. es, won’t solve their problems. They across the five boroughs and far be- isn’t clear. De Blasio says his push to limit e- need to turn their attention to what yond will side with the drivers, orga- Some Yellow Cab drivers put the hail cars will help drivers in face of they can do, together, to fight effec- nize solidarity in their fight against blame on Uber drivers, claiming they competition. But that’s not the aim of tively. Already there have been sig- their exploiters, and look for ways to the cap. Bosses want “their” work- nificant strikes and protests by Uber emulate their example. Recommended reading 25, 50, and 75 years ago

November 22, 1993 November 22, 1968 November 20, 1943 Violence and lies are the stock-in- Canada’s French-speaking province The capitalist press, radio and movies trade of the employing class. In the of Quebec last month experienced the are filled with stories of the patriotism, strike by 18,000 coal miners in seven biggest student-power struggle yet in ingenuity and initiative of the shipyard states the bosses are exposing their North America. At the height of the owners because of the number of ships true face. two-week student strike, 22 of the 28 which their yards are turning out. $16 The frame-up is a trusted method post-secondary colleges and universities Little is said by these capitalist public- of the coal operators. The mine own- were paralyzed by occupations. It is es- ity men about the enormous profits the ers, along with the FBI, West Virginia timated that 50,000 students were at one shipyard magnates are making in this state cops, Clinton Justice Depart- time or another on strike. The students war. Nothing is told of the price which Food for thought—and action— ment, and Bureau of Alcohol, To- were protesting inadequate facilities in the shipyard workers are paying for the from leaders of three generations bacco and Firearms are trying to send the technical sections of the CEGEP’s speed-up in construction schedules. of the revolutionary workers eight coal miners to jail on trumped- (junior colleges) and the restricted op- Hundreds of cases of lead poisoning movement — Karl Marx, Leon up charges stemming from the shoot- portunities for university entrance. were found among shipyard welders. Trotsky and Farrell Dobbs. ing death of Eddie York. The education crisis flows from the Metal plates are often painted with red Invaluable for workers relearn- Coal miners on the picket line out- oppression of the French-speaking na- lead in the yards in order to keep fast ing today what a strike is, how it side Arch Mineral Corp.’s Ruffner mine tion in Canada. In Quebec, 80 percent construction schedules, whereas this can be fought and won, and are point out an important fact: York was of business and industry is owned by painting job was formerly done after the interested in ideas about how shot in the back of the head as he was English-Canadian and U.S. capital. Al- plates were in their final position. the entire system of capitalist leaving the mine, before he even reached though two thirds of Montreal’s popula- It is up to the workers themselves, or- exploitation can be ended. the picket shack. tion is French-speaking, three of its four ganized in their trade unions, to fight for pathfinderpress.com The labor movement must mobilize a universities and a majority of the univer- efficient protective equipment and safe vigorous defense for the framed strikers. sity students are English. working conditions.

The Militant November 19, 2018 5 Kurdistan book fair marked by thirst for political discussion Event in Erbil reflects Kurds’ fight for homeland and crisis of global imperialist order

BY STEVE CLARK • “Military Struggle for the Sake of AND CATHARINA TIRSÉN Peace: Kurds and Kurdistan”; ERBIL, Kurdistan Region, Iraq — • “The Right to Demonstrate in The 13th Erbil International Book Fair Iraq”; showed expanding space to discuss the • “Water Security and the Dangers broadest questions of world and regional of Instability in Iraq” (contaminated politics here. This openness is a product water, along with opposition to inter- of the Kurdish people’s fight for their na- ference in Iraqi affairs by the bour- tional rights and its place amid the wars, geois-clerical regime in neighboring political conflicts, and forcible displace- Iran, fueled weeks of street mobili- ment of peoples from Syria to Iraq, Iran, zations this summer in Basra, Iraq’s and beyond, as well as historic shifts in third-largest city); the world imperialist order. • “Corruption in Iraq and How to This was evident in panel presenta- Solve It”; and tions throughout the book fair, as well • “Murders of Women: A Plan for as nonstop discussions and brisk sales Terrifying the Whole of Society.” Militant photos left and above. At right, Militant/Carole Lesnick en by Reed, Mary-Alice Waters, and who didn’t) — was, “No!” But he was of books on revolutionary working-class Left, thousands attended Erbil International Book Fair Oct. 10-20. Above, volunteer Joseph Hansen; Women’s Liberation struck by our argument that the most politics published by Pathfinder Press. Divide and conquer Carole Lesnick speaks with visitors to Pathfinder booth, a hive of discussion of poli- and the African Freedom Struggle by powerful weapon the ruling families This is the second year that the London Rose, 15, who bought a copy of Is tics and the class struggle in the U.S., U.K., Middle East and worldwide. Right, Rose, Thomas Sankara, leader of the 1983-87 have is using their control of the schools, distributor of the New York-based pub- Biology Woman’s Destiny? by Evelyn 15, who bought Is Biology Woman’s Destiny? at booth, speaks at book fair panel on revolution in the West African country mass media, and other institutions to “Humanity and Its Link to Peace.” “Religions separate us,” she said. ”We should unite lishing house has had a booth here. Reed from Pathfinder, invited a volun- as one. ... How many more wars must we suffer from?” of Burkina Faso; and The Origin of the persuade working people we aren’t ca- The fair itself reflects efforts by teer at the booth to hear her presentation Family, Private Property and the State pable of taking power, ending capital- Kurds in Iraq — part of an oppressed as part of a panel on “Humanity and Its 88 Iran-Iraq war, Saddam Hussein’s U.S., the United Kingdom and around by Frederick Engels. ism’s dog-eat-dog social relations, forg- nation spanning Turkey, Syria, Iraq Link to Peace,” featuring students at the the earth!” of Israel. The biggest remaining Jew- 1988 “Anfal” extermination campaign the world, with sales of 988 books — ing human solidarity and transforming and Iran — to assert their right to Sabis International School. “Our actions On the opening day of the book fair, ish population in Iraq, a few hundred at against the Kurds, the 1991 and 2003 more than double the 2017 results. Revolution in Iran … and the U.S. ourselves in the process. self-determination and a homeland. count, not our words,” Rose told the au- when former KRG President Masoud most, lives in the Kurdistan region. U.S.-led invasions of Iraq, and more. There was interest in resistance by Another item that attracted great We pointed to what’s said on the “A safe and secured Kurdistan, in a dience. “There’s money for war but not Barzani cut the ribbon, it was Vian Da- There was also substantial discussion That helps explain the 23 copies sold working people to the consequences interest was a May supplement to the book’s back cover about the thought- new Iraq, hosts this book fair as a free for the poor. Why is that? khil who formally welcomed him. at the Pathfinder booth of the Socialist of issue no. 7 of New International mag- of decades of attacks by the bosses Militant, “Revolution, Counterrevolu- provoking title on its front: “An un- oasis for culture,” read the call issued “Religions separate us,” she said. Many visitors to the Pathfinder booth Workers Party statement, “For Recogni- azine, featuring the article, “Washing- and their governments in the U.S. and tion and War in Iran: Social and Po- hesitating ‘Yes’ — that’s the answer by organizers of the event, held annu- “We should unite as one, the one hu- also mentioned the recent announce- tion of a Palestinian State and of Israel,” ton’s Assault on Iraq: Opening Guns of elsewhere. Many wanted to hear about litical Roots of Workers’ Protests that given here to the question, Is Socialist ally since 2005. This year some 200 man race. How many more wars must ment that Nadia Murad, a Yazidi cam- issued by Jack Barnes, the party’s na- World War III” by Jack Barnes. (As with the activity of communist workers in Swept 90 Cities and Small Towns” by Revolution in the US Possible? Pos- publishers from 30 countries partici- we suffer from?” paigner against and survivor of Islamic tional secretary, in December 2017. other titles, many more would have been these countries. Steve Clark. sible — but not inevitable. That future pated in the event, held Oct. 10-20. Kurds and other peoples in Iraq have State sex slavery, has been awarded the “In opposition to Washington, to sold if stocks had been plentiful enough The top sellers were two recent titles Most book fair visitors were aware depends on us.” Usually held in April, the book fair bitter experience with the divide-and- Nobel Peace Prize. bourgeois governments and political to meet the demand.) by Barnes: Are They Rich Because to varying degrees — as a result of “I need this book,” Ahmad respond- was postponed due to punitive measures conquer methods of imperialist powers Faris Y. Jejjo, a former minister of organizations across the Middle East, “The Kurdish people have come to They’re Smart? Class, Privilege, and Kurdistan’s own direct experience — of ed, “and I will study it.” by the Iraqi government in response to and the region’s landlord and capitalist science and technology in the Iraqi and to the middle class left here in the the center stage in world politics as nev- Learning Under Capitalism (70 copies) the anti-working-class course of Iran’s And he did. Responding to an email an overwhelming “yes” vote in Septem- classes. Britain’s colonial rulers bol- government here, organized for two United States,” the statement says, “the er before, not primarily as victims, but and The Clintons’ Anti-Working-Class bourgeois clerical rulers, including their after the fair was over, Ahmad wrote, ber 2017 on a referendum on Kurdish in- stered their exploitation of Iraq for much Pathfinder volunteers to visit the Shlo- Socialist Workers Party has a different as courageous and determined fighters Record: Why Washington Fears Work- drive to extend their counterrevolution- “I would say the book was amaz- dependence organized by the Kurdistan of the 20th century by imposing the mo Organization for Documentation in starting point: the class interests and for national rights,” Barnes wrote in that ing People (60). ary military and political influence and ing and real. It changed my thinking Regional Government. domination of a ruling clique of Sunni nearby Ankawa during the book fair. solidarity of workers and toiling farmers 1991 article. Both titles address the need for work- economic domination across Iraq, Syr- about the United States, the people Baghdad shut down the Erbil Interna- Islamic origin over the majority Shiite The center collects evidence on crimes across the Middle East — be they Pales- “The U.S. rulers have alternately ers in the U.S. to build solidarity in ia, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere. living there and the socialist revolu- tional Airport from late September until population, a situation that remained against Iraq’s Chaldean, Assyrian, tinian, Jewish, Arab, Kurdish, Turkish, doled out aid with an eyedropper to action, organize the unorganized into Many, however, knew much less tion in the United States.” mid-March 2018. Together with Tehran- until Saddam Hussein’s downfall during and other Christian populations, hun- Persian or otherwise, and whatever their Kurdish nationalist groups, and then unions and fight for unconditional inde- about the mass popular revolution that Like Ahmad, many of those who backed Hashd al-Shaabi militias, Iraq’s the bloody U.S. government invasion of dreds of whom were killed and some religious or other beliefs — as well as abruptly cut off this backing, depending pendence from the capitalist state and overthrew the U.S.-backed monarchy of sought out books and political discus- capitalist rulers seized the disputed city Iraq in 2003. 136,000 displaced from their villages working people in the United States and on Washington’s shifting relations with political parties — Democrats, Republi- the shah of Iran in 1979. A photo in the sion at the Pathfinder booth had either of Kirkuk, nearby oil fields, and other The recent war against Islamic and cities by Islamic State after 2014. around the world. ... regimes in the area.” cans or others. It’s along that course that supplement of a demonstration of hun- themselves fled conflict — such as the parts of northern Iraq — some 40 per- State shined a spotlight on the 2014 (An article on this visit will appear in a “We are for whatever renews our That lesson maintains its timeliness workers can forge our own working- dreds of thousands of women and men war against Islamic State in Mosul, or cent of territory governed by the KRG. Kurdish-led operation to rescue thou- forthcoming issue.) class solidarity and self-confidence, ad- today, from the KRG in Iraq to embat- class political party and build a revolu- in Tehran on March 8, 1979 — the larg- other sectarian violence in Iraq and These areas had earlier been freed from sands of members of the Yazidi reli- Kawa Mahmoud, a leader of the vancing us along a revolutionary course tled Kurdish enclaves in northern Syria tionary social movement to end capital- est International Women’s Day outpour- Syria — or had worked in assisting Islamic State terror largely by Kurdish gious minority facing slaughter and Communist Party of Kurdistan, told toward a united struggle for workers being shelled by Turkish government ist rule and bring to power a workers ing anywhere in the world that year — refugees. military forces. enslavement by IS. Up to 40,000 Ya- Pathfinder volunteers of working peo- power.” troops. and farmers government. was often an eye-opener. Hisham al-Aqrawi’s family had fled These burning political issues marked zidis had been trapped on Mount Sin- ple’s defiance of such divisions. In the But the political interest at the book More than 100 copies were distribut- “It’s like what happened in Syria,” Mosul in 2006, when he was still a the panels held on a stage at the back of jar in northern Iraq. village of Baze, north of Erbil and Mo- Hive of discussion fair was not only — or even primarily ed of a talk in April by Socialist Workers responded Ahmad, a young man who a boy, after threats by al-Qaeda, a pre- the exhibition hall, alongside presenta- Vian Dakhil, the only Yazidi mem- sul near the Turkish border, Christians There is an immediacy, a sense of ur- — in titles about Kurdistan, Iraq, and the Party leader Mary-Alice Waters given at few years earlier had fled a village out- cursor of Islamic State. He came twice tions of novels, poetry, and books on ber of the Iraqi parliament, called on the and Muslims had lived side by side for gency, to all these questions in a country Middle East. Over the 11 days, the Path- a conference in Cuba, entitled, “In De- side Damascus after rebel forces shelled to get books by Che Guevara and oth- religion, science and technology on dis- world to help save her people. “We are centuries, he said. After the town was whose people have lived with repeated finder booth was a hive of discussion fense of the U.S. Working Class.” Waters that government-held area. “People pro- ers, bringing a friend the second time. play at the book fair. Topics included: being slaughtered, annihilated,” she said badly damaged by the Saddam Hus- wars and upheavals since the 1980- of politics and the class struggle in the pointed to the successful strike by teach- tested for freedom” against the tyranni- We showed him a tribute to Guevara in • “Kurdistani Views about Rela- in an appeal to the deputies. “An entire sein regime during the 1990-91 Gulf ers and other school workers in West cal regime of Bashar al-Assad beginning Thomas Sankara Speaks, entitled “You tions with the Center [Baghdad]”; religion is being wiped off the face of War, the World Council of Churches of- Virginia in February — one of most sig- in 2011, but when the government shot at Cannot Kill Ideas.” fered to rebuild the Christian part. The nificant labor battles in the U.S. in de- them, they said ‘destroy the regime.’” “This is very important for Kurdistan militant Subscription & Book Specials Christian community got together and cades — and other strikes and protests A nearly eight-year-long civil war and Iraq,” al-Aqrawi responded. “Be- refused the funds, Kawa said, unless the that followed in Oklahoma, Kentucky, has ensued, in which more than 10 fore, under Saddam, if they found you Four books at right $5 each with Militant subscription aid was extended to the whole village. Arizona, Colorado and North Carolina. million Syrian toilers have been dis- had a book by Marx, for example, they $7 without — (trial offer for new readers: 12 weeks $5) Interest in how workers and others She said they were “a living refutation of placed, killed or maimed — most at would do horrible things to you. Now, in Iraq can overcome such divisions the portrait of working-class bigotry and the hands of Assad’s forces and Teh- you can bring your books here, and we and fight more effectively against their ‘backwardness’ painted by middle class ran-organized militias, such as the can have a discussion.” common oppressors at home and abroad liberals and much of the radical left” in Lebanon-based Hezbollah. A number of people who spent time was shown by the response to books on the U.S. Ahmad’s initial conclusion had at the Pathfinder booth wanted to stay the roots of Jew-hatred and the struggle As is the case the world over, books been that popular revolutions and in touch to have further discussion and against it at the Pathfinder booth. Both on the origins of women’s oppression uprisings inevitably bring on bloody introduce communists from the U.S. The Jewish Question: A Marxist Inter- and the fight for emancipation were very counterrevolutionary defeats — vic- and the U.K. to more people when we’re pretation by Abram Leon, and On the popular. Many women who visited the tory isn’t possible. After more discus- back for book fairs in Erbil and Bagh- This book $15 Jewish Question by Leon Trotsky sold booth made a beeline for these titles sion on prospects for working people dad next year. $10 for out, with 26 copies in total bought by — whether they were in entirely secu- to build a social movement to unite These included young people from subscribers participants. lar dress or wearing a head covering; the toilers in a struggle for power, he Sulaymaniyah involved in actions for Many Kurds and others want to draw whether young, old or in between. And decided to get Is Socialist Revolution women’s rights under the banner “Free- lessons from the intimidation and vio- many men of all ages as well. in the US Possible? A Necessary De- dom not flowers”; from an organization lence against Jews in Iraq that resulted Top sellers included Is Biology Wom- bate Among Working People by SWP in that same city inspired by the May- in the vast majority of the centuries-old an’s Destiny? (in English and Arabic); leader Mary-Alice Waters. June 1968 worker and student uprising Jewish population fleeing the country Problems of Women’s Liberation and Ahmad’s initial answer to that ques- in France; members of the Communist between 1948 and 1951. Most found Rudaw other books by Evelyn Reed; Cosmetics, tion — like that of many of the nearly 50 parties in Iraq and in Kurdistan; and homes in the newly established State Kurds in Qamishli, Syria, celebrate pro-independence vote in referendum in Kurdish region of Iraq Sept. 26, Fashions and the Exploitation of Wom- people who bought that book (and many many others. 2017. After vote, Iraqi army and Iranian-backed militias attacked and occupied Kirkuk, wrested 40 percent Contact distributor nearest you. See page 8 for list. of region from Kurdistan Regional Government, closed international air travel, imposed economic sanctions. 6 The Militant November 19, 2018 The Militant November 19, 2018 7 Editorial US-China ‘Cold War’? Continued from front page Join SWP campaigning in working class ping this pressure, not replicating last century’s clashes between Washington and Moscow. Continued from front page confidence and consciousness to reorganize and run When the U.S. rulers emerged as top dog out of the “Sometimes I wonder whether I was 10 or 20 years their country, defend their revolution from everything second imperialist world war, they viewed Asia as their too early,” he told his aides. the U.S. rulers threw at them, and offer the hand of biggest prize. They looked forward to sending troops They believe workers are bigoted, racist, anti- solidarity to workers fighting worldwide. into China to help ally Chiang Kai-shek defeat Mao immigrant, reactionary dullards. They fervently The Socialist Workers Party candidates and cam- Zedong and open the country to Washington’s pillage. believe workers need to be shunted out of making paigners took this fighting perspective to workers, But U.S. workers in uniform refused to go, hold- important decisions, to have their right to the fran- farmers and youth during the 2018 campaign, finding ing rallies of tens of thousands in the Philippines and chise reined in. This view most marks the middle- a desire to discuss a working-class road forward. A elsewhere demanding to be brought home. The mass class left, as they bury themselves in the “resis- course of organizing the unorganized and building peasant army led by Mao took power and, when Wash- tance” wing of the Democratic Party. But the crisis unions, of fighting for workers control of conditions ington threatened war in Korea, overturned capitalist within the two parties and the bosses’ two party on the job, organizing independently of the capitalist property relations. The U.S. rulers were fought to a system will continue. parties and the capitalist state, of a working-class road standstill in Korea and then defeated outright by the The Socialist Workers Party says the future of hu- to unseat the capitalist rulers and bring workers and workers and peasants in Vietnam. manity lies in the hands of the working class. We are farmers to power. After the fall of the Stalinist Mao regime, Chi- the only class that can stop imperialist war, defend The SWP plans to build on what was accom- nese Communist Party leaders increasingly turned to land, labor and culture, and chart a course to over- plished by its 19 candidates across the country, capitalist market production. Capitalist bosses drove a throw capitalist rule. to expand the reach of the party, the Militant and massive growth of industry and trade — and of the This is the lesson of the Cuban Revolution, when books by SWP leaders. working class — over the last three decades. workers and farmers there united and overthrew the Join us going door to door discussing and debating Washington remains the dominant power in the Pa- brutal U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, what we face and a road forward with fellow workers. cific, but that dominance is being challenged. and took the destiny of their country into their own Join us bringing solidarity to workers on strike, build- hands. In the course of that struggle they were trans- ing the unions, and speaking out against abuse and at- U.S. rulers seek better deal formed, recognizing their self-worth and gaining the tacks by the capitalist rulers. It’s a life worth living! In today’s clashes between Washington and Bei- jing over which power will be better placed to ap- propriate the wealth created by workers and farmers, Washington still has a significant advantage — the on the picket line massive size of the U.S. economy, the dollar’s role as Canada postal workers strike whom are women. Earlier this year an arbitrator ruled world currency and overwhelming superiority of its over pay equality, health care that rural postal workers should receive pay of equal military might. VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Some 50,000 value to urban counterparts, but Canada Post so far The capitalist economy in China began slowing members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has refused to comply. down prior to the impact of the 10 percent tariffs began a series of rotating strikes Oct. 22. One- or two- — Joe Young Trump levied on $250 billion worth of Chinese-made day walkouts have been organized in Montreal, Van- goods sold in the U.S. But the impact of the tariffs has couver, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Win- ‘We’re working for peanuts,’ says accelerated the slowdown. Factory orders across China nipeg and Halifax. The two-day walkout by almost striking bus driver in New Zealand fell to their lowest level in two years in October. Chi- 9,000 postal workers in Toronto affected two-thirds of AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Bus drivers here nese capitalists sell far more in the much bigger U.S. all mail delivered in Canada. The explosion of e-com- and in Hamilton, members of First Union, went on market than U.S. capitalists sell in China and will feel merce has greatly increased the load on postal work- strike Oct. 23, the latest in a series of walkouts over the impact of the tariffs Washington imposes much ers, as the mail is flooded with ever more packages. pay and conditions at bus companies nationwide. more sharply than their U.S. counterparts will feel Bei- “My first winter I was sent out with parcels in the “We’re working for peanuts, it’s modern day slav- jing’s retaliatory steps. dark. I slipped on ice I didn’t see. It was pitch black,” ery,” said Jonoz, a driver for Pavlovich Coachlines. He National Economic Council Director Lawrence letter carrier Ryan McDonnell told the Militant on the was one of 45 drivers picketing the Manukau Trans- Kudlow reiterated Washington’s demands Nov. 2, say- picket line in front of the Commercial Drive distribu- port Centre here during a one-day strike by drivers ing Beijing has to offer U.S. capitalists more access to tion center here. “I shouldn’t have been out there, but from Pavlovich and Ritchies Murphy bus companies. markets in China, reduce government subsidies to Chi- I was afraid to bring mail back. Now I’ll have knee The contract with Pavlovich expired a year ago, nese companies and stop what he says are its efforts to problems for life.” while at Ritchies Murphy the union has been trying to force U.S. investors in China to hand over technology. The major issues are “forced overtime, increasing get a contract for two years. The U.S. government claims its tariffs advance fatigue and injuries,” said local Postal Workers Union Striker Kevin Clough told Radio New Zealand that “American interests,” when in reality they advance the President Jennifer Savage, who was on the line. drivers at other Auckland bus companies were earning class interests of those who exploit working people at As he picketed at the St. Laurent, Montreal, sort- 1.50 New Zealand dollars ($1) an hour more than those home and abroad. The Socialist Workers Party is “un- ing center Oct. 30, Robert Mont Louis said, “The post at Ritchies Murphy. conditionally opposed to the rulers of the United States office is making a lot of profits, but they don’t want Bus companies here compete to win contracts with imposing protectionist barriers of any kind under any to share any with us. With enough pressure from us, the Auckland Transport agency to operate routes, pretext on imported goods,” explained Jack Barnes, they’ll have to back down.” squeezing pay and conditions to lower their bids. The the party’s national secretary, in the article “Our Poli- The union is demanding Canada Post bosses create union is demanding a “Fair Pay Agreement” to en- tics Start with the World” in New International no. 13. more full-time jobs. Currently there are many tem- force minimum nationwide standards. Following a conversation with Chinese President Xi porary workers who are paid less; aren’t covered by Split shifts — a 14-hour day with an unpaid gap in Jinping Nov. 2, Trump claimed Beijing wants to make health, dental or disability insurance plans; and have the middle — are common. “I did that for six years,” a deal with Washington “very badly.” They plan to talk no guaranteed hours. said Jonoz. “They say that time is yours, but it’s not. at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Argentina. Another major issue is pay equality for some 8,000 They should be paying us for those hours.” Alongside protectionist measures against the Chi- rural and suburban postal workers, 70 percent of — Felicity Coggan nese capitalists, Washington is pouring more money into its military machine while it presses allies in the Philippines, Japan and Australia to step up countering if you like this paper, look us up Beijing’s moves to establish itself as a naval power. Where to find distributors of the Zip: 68506. Tel: (402) 217-4906. Email: NSW 2142. Tel: (02) 8677 0108. Email: cl_ The Japanese government agreed Oct. 30 to con- Militant, New International, and a full [email protected] [email protected] struct a new military base for U.S. forces on the island display of Pathfinder books. NEW JERSEY: 301 30th St. #308. Union CANADA of Okinawa, despite the longstanding vocal opposition City. Zip: 07087. [email protected] UNITED STATES QUEBEC: Montreal: 7107 St. Denis of working people there. CALIFORNIA: Oakland: 675 NEW YORK: New York: 306 W. 37th #204 H2S 2S5. Tel: (514) 272-5840. Email: The Chinese rulers claim almost all of the South Hegenberger Road, Suite 250. Zip: 94621. St., 13th Floor. Zip: 10018. Tel: (646) 964- [email protected] BRITISH Tel: (510) 686-1351. Email: swpoak 4793. Email: [email protected] COLUMBIA: Vancouver: 190 E. 48th China Sea as their property and have constructed a @sbcglobal.net Los Angeles: 2826 S. Albany: P.O. Box 8304. Zip: 12208. Tel: Ave., Suite 201A. V5W 2C8. Tel: (604) 322- series of artificial islands on reefs there, replete with Vermont. Suite 1. Zip: 90007. Tel: (323) (518) 810-1586. Email: albanyswp@gmail. 4223.Email: [email protected] 643-4968. Email: [email protected] com military bases. FRANCE FLORIDA: Miami: P.O. Box 380641 PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 2824 The U.S. rulers maintain a naval force worldwide Paris: BP 10130, 75723 Paris Cedex 15. Zip: 33238. Tel: (305) 420-5928. Email: Cottman Ave., Suite 16. Zip: 19149. Tel: (215) that dwarfs its rivals. They deploy 20 aircraft carriers, Email: [email protected] [email protected] 708-1270. Email: [email protected] while Beijing currently has a single Soviet-era aircraft GEORGIA: Atlanta: 777 Cleveland TEXAS: Dallas: P.O. Box 210524 NEW ZEALAND carrier. Alongside this Washington maintains bases Ave. SW Suite 103. Zip: 30315. Tel: (678) Zip: 75211. Tel: (469) 620-0706. Email: Auckland: 188a Onehunga Mall, 528-7828. Email: [email protected] [email protected] Onehunga. Postal address: P.O. Box 13857, across the Pacific, including 50,000 troops in Japan, ILLINOIS: Chicago: 1858 W. Cermak WASHINGTON, D.C.: 7603 Auckland 1643. Tel: (09) 636-3231. Email: 28,500 in South Korea and 5,000 in Guam. Road, 2nd floor. Zip: 60608. Tel: (312) 455- [email protected] 0111. Email: [email protected] Georgia Ave. NW, Suite 300. Zip: Rising competition among rival capitalist rulers is 20012. Tel: (202) 536-5080. Email: UNITED KINGDOM built into the system. Equally inevitable is the fact that KENTUCKY: Louisville: Email: [email protected] [email protected] ENGLAND: London: 5 Norman Road capitalist bosses in the U.S. and China will confront WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 Rainier (first floor). Seven Sisters. Post code: MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 1821 Ave. South. Zip: 98118-2439. Tel: (206) 323- N15 4ND. Tel: (077) 3964-3104. Email: growing working-class skirmishes at home, as work- University Ave. W Suite S-106A. Zip: 1755. Email: [email protected] [email protected] Manchester: Unit ers seek to build unions, engage in social and political 55104. Tel: (651) 340-5586. Email: 9, Progress Centre, Charlton Place. Post [email protected] AUSTRALIA code: M12 6HS. Tel: (0161) 258-2569. struggles and take steps toward building their own par- NEBRASKA: Lincoln: P.O. Box 6811. Sydney: Suite 22, 10 Bridge St., Granville, Email: [email protected] ties to fight for political power. 8 The Militant November 19, 2018