AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.50 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Presidential election in Peru reflects rising class tensions — PAGE 4 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 85/no. 32 August 30, 2021 Defend, emulate Massachusetts nurses fight US rulers end Cuba’s socialist for safety, patients’ health 20-year-long revolution! End Solidarity crucial as strike enters fifth month imperialist war US embargo! in Afghanistan BY SARA LOBMAN by Roy Landersen NEW YORK — Why does Cuba’s The U.S. rulers’ 20-year war and oc- socialist revolution continue to live, fight cupation of Afghanistan, and the car- and set an example worldwide more nage it inflicted on working people at than 60 years after workers and farm- home and abroad, ended with further ers there took power? What makes class devastation as the Taliban retook the and social relations in Cuba so different capital, Kabul, Aug. 15. from anywhere else in the world today? In the wake of President Joseph Because 62 years ago the working Biden’s April 13 announcement that all people of Cuba were led by a Marxist U.S. forces would withdraw by Sept. 11, leadership to make a socialist revolu- and Washington’s abandonment of its tion, Martín Koppel and Róger Calero main Bagram airbase without any notice told a Militant Labor Forum here Aug. to Afghan government forces, the reac- 14. Both are members of the Socialist tionary Taliban stepped up its military Workers Party; Calero is the party’s can- offensive. The Afghan army disintegrat- didate for mayor of New York. ed after the withdrawal of U.S. army and “The revolutionary government air support. President Ashraf Ghani fled was a new state power — workers Boston Herald/Chris Christo the country. Taliban commanders an- Nurses from St. Vincent Hospital picket in Worcester, Mass., July 6. Some 700 nurses have been power — that organized workers, on strike since March 8. Fight for better nurse/patient ratios is at center of their struggle. nounced the formation of the “Islamic farmers, youth and others,” Koppel Emirate of Afghanistan.” said. “A socialist revolution is marked By Jacob Perasso job March 8 over dangerous conditions Biden sent 6,000 troops back to Ka- by a different kind of social relations, WORCESTER, Mass. — “We are facing both staff and patients, as well as bul airport to evacuate remaining U.S. based on working-class solidarity, not holding strong,” Jackie Brosnihan, a for respect, wages and benefits. personnel. The airport was flooded capitalist competition.” nurse on strike here at St. Vincent hospi- She was responding to the “last, best by thousands of Afghanis desperately “There were two great socialist revo- tal, told the Militant Aug. 14. Brosnihan and final” Aug. 5 contract offer from Te- seeking to escape the Taliban’s clutches, Continued on page 6 is one of 700 nurses who walked off the net Healthcare, which owns the hospital, some clinging to departing planes at the and its threats to permanently replace cost of their lives. the nurses. The Massachusetts Nurses Of the quarter of a million Afghans Association says the offer “fails to pro- Continued on page 7 Earthquake, decades of US plunder vide the improvements in staffing that nurses need to keep patients safe.” brings social catastrophe in Haiti “We are reaching out to everyone possible for support,” Brosnihan added. Fight for shorter “Just this week Boston Firefighters and Teamsters Local 170 came to bring sup- workweek with port, cooking a meal and walking the picket line with us.” Strikers say numer- no pay cut to put ous union delegations and others have Continued on page 9 us back to work! by terry evans Workers today face an ongoing strug- SWP campaign: gle for jobs, safe working conditions and enough pay to survive. Some are locked out or are on strike over boss demands ‘Workers need to worsen workers’ conditions, includ- ing at the Warrior Met coal mine in to fight to take Alabama, ExxonMobil’s big oil refinery in Texas, St. Vincent Hospital in Mas- political power’ sachusetts and elsewhere. by Roy Landersen Government statistics, which deliber- “Working people today are keenly ately undercount the real conditions fac- interested in how we can organize to ing working people, still report there are fight to change the disastrous con- Continued on page 9 Misión Médica en Haití ditions we face worldwide — from Cuban medical volunteers treat patients in southwest Haiti after earthquake. Cuba’s interna- tionalist medical mission — 253 health care workers strong — has been in Haiti for 22 years. Afghanistan, to Haiti, to the Middle East and here in mines, mills and Inside by seth galinsky greed that has siphoned billions of other workplaces across the U.S.,” Virginia teacher fired for view The capitalist press in the U.S. pres- dollars in profits into the coffers of John Studer, Socialist Workers Par- ents the social catastrophe unfolding foreign corporations and left 60% of ty national campaign director, told on sex vs gender back on job 3 in Haiti since a 7.2 magnitude earth- Haitians earning less than $2 a day. the Militant. “We all face a relent- Protests demand end to US quake ravaged its southwest Aug. 14 Even before the earthquake, some less offensive by the capitalist rul- as a natural disaster. But there is little 66% of the population had no access ers, whose dog-eat-dog profit system colonial rule in Puerto Rico 4 that is “natural” about the more than to electricity. drives them to attack working people ‘Fidel belongs to working 1,900 dead, 6,000 injured and over An earthquake in 2010 killed at home and abroad.” 37,000 families homeless. 300,000 people and destroyed Supporters of SWP campaigns on people of the world’ 6 The depth of the destruction is 100,000 structures. Nothing has been the West Coast from Los Angeles to –On the picket line, p. 5– the consequence of over 100 years done since then to prepare for more Seattle are organizing a coordinated of imperialist plunder and capitalist Continued on page 2 Continued on page 3 Quebec strikers need solidarity in fight against Olymel bosses Social catastrophe hits Haiti Continued from front page plunder and the U.S.-backed dictator- earthquakes, much less strengthen ship of the Duvalier family, which existing buildings. lasted from 1957 until 1986. “I don’t expect any help, we’re on In 1986 workers and farmers rose our own,” Michel Milord, a 66-year-old up and overthrew the Duvalier re- farmer in Toirac, who lost his wife and gime. They have often taken to the his house, told the New York Times. “No streets since to protest against anti- one trusts the government here.” working-class measures of succes- At one collapsed three-story apart- sive governments. ment building in Les Cayes the only The capitalist class and its backers help that arrived rapidly to look for in Washington haven’t been able to survivors and the dead were poorly create a stable government. On July equipped volunteers. 7, Haitian President Jovenel Moise “All we have are sledgehammers was assassinated in his home under and hands. That’s the plan,” Canadi- circumstances that remain uncertain. an volunteer Randy Lodder, director Prior to his killing, Moise had refused of the Adoration Christian School in to call new elections and was ruling Haiti, told The Associated Press. by decree, rejecting opposition party Haiti has roughly 20 doctors per claims that his term had expired. 100,000 people, a lower percentage The terms of almost all the mem- AP/Joseph Odelyn People gather outside Petit Pas Hotel, destroyed by Aug. 14 earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti. than Afghanistan. Some 75% of child- bers of Haiti’s legislature expired in Impoverished by U.S. imperialist plunder, thousands were killed, injured or made homeless. births take place without the presence October 2019, but no new elections of any trained health workers. Until have been held. U.S.-backed neuro- with them to begin transporting relief. here as long as the country needs us.” July Haiti had not received a single So far aid from major capitalist pow- In addition to the internationalist mis- COVID-19 vaccine dose. 20 as prime minister, leaving the post sion, the Cuban government has pro- Not only are doctors and nurses in of president vacant. inadequate, like it has been every time vided university education to 1,583 Hai- short supply, but there are not enough The U.S. Department of Commerce Haiti has been hit by earthquakes, hurri- tian students since 1998, including more basic items like bandages, anesthesia touts Haiti as a great place for capitalist canes or other disasters. The United Na- than 1,100 medical students. Currently and antibiotics to treat people injured investment, calling it “one of the most tions has allocated only $8 million. 127 Haitians are studying in Cuba. in the quake. open economies in the Caribbean” Haitian working people are justly with “few government controls.” Hai- Cuban volunteers set an example proud of Haiti’s history as the site of tian tariffs on rice and chicken were As in past disasters, Cuban medical Malcolm X, Black - rescinded in the 1990s, at the insis- volunteers are setting an example for Liberation, & the Road bellion, which defeated the French tence of President Bill Clinton, dev- to Workers Power in 1804 and put an end to slavery. astating the livelihood of thousands of quake, 253 Cuban doctors, nurses and However, the French empire was able peasants. Most of the country’s food is other health care workers volunteering “This is a book to keep bleeding Haiti of its wealth, imported today, including 80% of the in Haiti had already treated more than about the dicta- including charging reparations to rice, almost entirely from the U.S. 600 people who had been injured. torship of capital compensate the French rulers for the In the absence of an authoritative Because many hospitals were dam- and the road to “loss” of their slave plantations. government, large swaths of the coun- aged, “Cubans together with Haitian the dictatorship try are under the control of criminal personnel are treating people out- of the proletari- History of working-class struggle gangs, including the main road from side the buildings,” reported Eugenio at. A book about U.S. Marines invaded Haiti in 1915 Port-au-Prince, the capital, to the areas Martínez, a spokesperson for Cuba’s the last century and occupied the country for the next devastated by the earthquake. Interna- Foreign Ministry. and a half of 19 years, paving the way for continued tional organizations negotiated a truce “Our volunteers are ready to go class struggle in anywhere we are needed,” Luis Or- the United States lando Olivero, head of the Cuban ... and the unimpeachable evi - medical mission in Haiti, told the dence it o ers that workers who press. “It’s a question of principles, of are Black will comprise a dispro - commitment, not philanthropy.” portionately weighty part of the The Cuban volunteers work in 18 pub- ranks and leadership of the mass lic hospitals in 10 departments of Haiti. social movement that will make Solidarity with striking miners at Warrior Met! “We didn’t arrive with the earth- a proletarian revolution.” — Jack Barnes Supporters of the 1,100 quake, we’ve been here for 22 years,” Olivero said. “We were here during $20. Also in Spanish, French, union miners who have been previous quakes, during the cholera Greek, Farsi, Arabic on strike over wages, work- epidemic, and most recently the CO- path finderpress.com ing conditions and safety at VID-19 pandemic and we will continue Warrior Met Coal in Alabama since April 1 are spreading the Latin America, Caribbean: For one year send The Militant $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. Vol. 85/No. 32 Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For ‘Militant’ makes sure that one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to Reuters/Dustin Chambers Closing news date: August 18, 2021 above address. the voice of these miners, and UMWA miners on strike at Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama, rally Aug. 4. Editor: John Studer Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 their allies, can be heard. to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- Managing Editor: Terry Evans treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Seth Ga- United Kingdom: Send £30 for one year linsky, Emma Johnson, Martín Koppel, Roy by check or international money order SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Landersen, Jacob Perasso, Brian Williams. made out to CL London, 5 Norman Road Published weekly except for one week in 4ND, England. January. NEW READERS NAME Republic of Ireland and Continental Business Manager: Valerie Johnson Europe: Send £85 for one year by check or international money order made out to CL q.$5 for 12 issues ADDRESS The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. 37th London at above address. France: Send 100 euros for one year to Telephone: (212) 244-4899 Diffusion du Militant, BP 10130, 75723 RENEWAL CITY STATE ZIP Fax: (212) 244-4947 Paris Cedex 15. E-mail: [email protected]

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2 The Militant August 30, 2021 SWP: ‘Fight for political power’ Continued from front page to get on the ballot Aug. 17 for the campaign push Aug. 19-23 across Nov. 2 elections there. California. Joel Britton, SWP candi- Valerie Edwards, a stationary engi- date for State Assembly District 18 neer at a university in Atlanta, joined in the Bay Area, joined the speakers other campaign supporters when the platform at a Los Angeles campaign two candidates filed. forum Aug. 14. Dennis Richter, SWP “The Socialist Workers Party can- candidate on the ballot in the recently didates present a new perspective, one ordered special recall election for gov- that concentrates on the working class ernor of California, will be joining the and what we need to do,” she told the forum platform in Oakland Aug. 21. Militant. The capitalist political par- Teams will visit with workers in ties aren’t getting working people northern California in the region be- anywhere, she said, so she has been ing devastated by the huge Dixie Fire, “explaining that we have to look in a as well as to Salinas, where 19-year- different direction as workers.” old Gerardo Martinez, an indigenous To find out more or to join the SWP Mexican immigrant, was killed by or Communist League campaigns, or Militant/Carole Lesnick cops July 16. The tour, and response to make a contribution, contact the “I lost everything I valued in the Camp Fire,” Richard Reed told Jeff Powers, left, and Joel to the campaign, will be covered in party branch nearest you in the direc- Britton, right, Socialist Workers Party candidate for State Assembly, in Paradise, California, the next issue of the Militant. tory on page 8. Aug. 7. SWP campaigners are returning to visit with workers in area devastated by Dixie Fire. “Workers want to discuss how we can chart a road out of the catastrophes prepared by capitalist exploitation and oppression,” Studer said. Sydney families fight gov’t eviction for parking lot “They look to learn about any fight By LINDA HARRIS district in this city’s southwest, from government July 24. It called on the being carried out by workers and SYDNEY — Sam Charan and his being demolished to make way for a government to prevent the compulsory farmers and to seek ways to help,” family are leading a fight to save commuter parking garage. acquisition of the properties and allow he said. “The 20 Socialist Workers their home and two others on Webb Placards outside the three houses time for community consultation to re- Party-endorsed candidates across the Street in Riverwood, a working-class say “Save our family homes” and en- consider the location of the car park. country are getting out the word and courage people to The first the Charan family knew building solidarity with coal miners sign an online peti- of the car-park proposal was an early fighting attacks by bosses at the War- tion against the car morning “loud banging” on their door rior Met mine complex in Alabama park. Before the Feb. 16. They were handed documents and other labor battles. Sydney-wide pan- giving 90 days’ notice of compulsory “We’re knocking on doors in cities, demic lockdown sale of their house. towns and rural areas, on picket lines was enforced at the Sam and his wife Monika are Fijian and protests, discussing the roots of to- end of June, Charan Indians who fled Fiji following the 1987 day’s crisis in capitalist exploitation,” he distributed flyers in military coup. Now in their 70s, they said, “and how we can organize to build the neighborhood have lived in their house for 28 years. a working-class movement to take po- to win support. “We will not budge,” Sam Charan litical power into our own hands.” The petition, told the Militant when Robert Aiken, In Atlanta, Susan LaMont reports signed by 1,596 Communist League candidate for that Rachele Fruit, SWP candidate Chris Lane people, was pre- Georges River Council, and his sup- for mayor, and Sam Manuel, for City Sam and Monika Charan leading fight against government evic- sented to the New porters visited June 19. “I will stand Council president, successfully filed tion from their home in Riverwood neighborhood in Sydney. South Wales state in front of the bulldozers when they come.” The council district includes the Riverwood neighborhood. Va. teacher fired for view on sex vs gender back on job “The government has no interest in By Mike Galati boy can be a girl and vice versa be- ing learning environment for all stu- working people’s livelihoods,” Aiken SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. — In an cause it’s against my religion,” Cross dents. While LCPS respects the rights responded. “They only act to shore up important victory for the right to free told the county’s school board. “It’s ly- of public-school employees to free the interests of big business.” They speech and for science, Circuit Court ing to a child; it’s abuse to a child.” speech and free exercise of religion, discussed how winning the support of Judge James Plowman ordered Loud- After being suspended and barred those rights do not outweigh the rights neighbors and workers in the area was oun County Public Schools officials on from Leesburg Elementary School of students to be educated in a support- key to winning the fight. “Working June 8 to reinstate physical education grounds, Cross filed a civil suit against ive and nurturing environment.” people need to act independently of the teacher Byron Tanner Cross to his job. the county school system. “Public After several contentious school bosses and their parties,” Aiken said. Cross, an elementary school gym teach- schools have no right to suspend some- board meetings, where many parents Sam Charan said that residents from er, had been suspended less than 48 one simply for respectfully providing tried to get their point of view heard, the south Sydney suburb of Jannali had hours after speaking at a public school their opinion at a public meeting,” ar- the Loudoun County School Board come by to lend support to the fight. board meeting against a proposed poli- gued Tyson Langhofer, one of Cross’ voted 7-2 Aug. 11 to adopt Policy The Jannali families had been involved cy that would require school employees lawyers, in a statement. “The school 8040, allowing transgender students in a successful campaign earlier in the to address students with their chosen district wants to force Tanner to endorse to use school locker rooms and bath- year to stop their houses being demol- pronouns as well as to guarantee them its ideals and shut down any opposing rooms and to participate in sports ished for a similar car park. access to restrooms and locker rooms views. That violates the Constitution based on their “gender identity.” Channel 9 interviewed the Charans that correspond to their “gender iden- and laws of Virginia, and so did the Loudoun County is in suburban and neighbor Jing He on “Current tity” rather than their biological sex. school’s move to place Tanner on leave.” Virginia close to Washington, D.C. Affair” Aug. 3. The families had “I will not affirm that a biological In his ruling reinstating Cross, the Forbes magazine ranks it as the received notice that compulsory ac- judge wrote: “Plaintiff has been sus- wealthiest county in the state. quisition of their houses would take The Fight pended due to his speech, barred from In a related development, the Loud- place in 30 days. further speech, and similarly situated oun Education Association, the coun- The Riverwood car park is just one for Women’s employees have been chilled from ty’s teachers’ union, last fall objected of many government schemes nation- $5 Emancipation speech because of Defendants’ ac- to a proposed “speech code” policy wide that have come under public Why are women tions.” The judge issued a temporary that the school system was consider- scrutiny for the way they were select- oppressed? injunction until a full trial can be held ing adopting that would have forbidden ed and funded. The federal govern- How did that on the suit in the fall. school employees from criticizing the ment allocated 660 million Australian oppression begin? A spokesman for Loudoun County teaching of “critical race theory.” This dollars ($478 million) to a project to Who benefits? $25 Public Schools said the district plans curriculum claims racism is inherent seize properties and build car parks Why only the working class has to appeal this decision to the Virginia to all Caucasians and is the dominant near suburban train stations. the power to end Supreme Court. “Many students and factor in U.S. history. It denies teaching The cost of building the planned car the second-class parents at Leesburg Elementary have that a mighty proletarian movement led park at the Riverwood station is $41 status of women expressed fear, hurt and disappointment by Blacks overthrew Jim Crow segre- million, “Current Affair” reported. The and has a stake in about coming to school,” school system gation and transformed social relations Charan family received a below-market doing so officials claimed in a public statement and working-class unity in the U.S. price bid for their property while hous- Books by in response to having to reinstate Cross. After the teachers’ union publicized ing prices in Sydney have continued to $12 Evelyn Reed “Addressing those concerns is para- its objections, the school board said it surge. “We couldn’t find a similar house pathfinderpress.com mount to the school division’s goal to would revise its speech code proposals, for that amount in this neighborhood,” provide a safe, welcoming and affirm- but to date no change has been made. Sam Charan told the Militant.

The Militant August 30, 2021 3 Presidential election in Peru reflects rising class tensions by róger calero the top 40 mining companies are pro- Pedro Castillo, Peru’s newly elect- jected to be $118 billion in 2021 — up ed president, took office July 28 in from $70 billion in 2020 and $61 bil- the midst of sharp political polariza- lion in 2019. Meanwhile, governments tion and rising class tensions fed by a in semicolonial countries like Peru, deepening economic and social crisis. where mining is a key industry, face Castillo, the candidate of Peru Libré mounting debts to imperialist banks. (Free Peru), a party on the left of capi- Under the government of Alberto talist politics, defeated conservative Fujimori, conditions more favor- Keiko Fujimori in a run-off by a ra- able for capitalist investors in min- zor-thin margin of 44,000 votes. ing, oil, and logging operations were Fujimori and her ruling-class allies put in place in the 1990s. His regime sought unsuccessfully to get the elec- suspended the constitution, tossed tion results overturned. They and their aside civil liberties and used brutal imperialist allies in Washington claimed repression against its rivals. It also Castillo’s government was Marxist. carried out widespread privatizations Associated Press The change in government fol- of banking and health care, cut subsi- Hundreds wait in long lines attempting to get a COVID-19 vaccine in San Martín de Porres district in Lima, Peru, July 4. Peru has the world’s worst per capita death toll from the virus. lows the deaths of more than 187,000 dies and lifted price controls on basic people from coronavirus, the world’s necessities, ravaging the living stan- Castillo is not the first bourgeois Venezuela. Peruvian Foreign Minister worst per capita death toll. Protests dards of working people. These eco- presidential candidate to run as an “out- Héctor Béjar called July 30 for an end broke out in February after revela- nomic policies have been continued. sider.” Nor is he the first to tap the hopes to Washington’s sanctions targeting tions that politicians and their rela- Top officials from the World Bank of working people, including indigenous the Nicolás Maduro government. tives were given the COVID-19 vac- and International Monetary Fund lav- populations long subject to discrimina- Castillo has backed off from his cine months before the government ished praise on Fujimori and every tion, for greater control of the country’s campaign call for a constitutional as- began a public vaccination program. Peruvian government until now for resources. Ollanta Humala, elected in sembly to rewrite the 1993 charter Cuts on spending and the privatiza- managing the growth of the country’s 2011, vowed to nationalize some indus- written under Alberto Fujimori. tion of health care by previous govern- capitalist economy at the expense of tries, fight endemic corruption and ex- The need to replace the current ments have left working people with working people. coriated the “neo-liberal model.” constitution is presented by those on little or no access to medical care. In These policies also helped spawn Castillo’s campaign claims — tout- the left of capitalist politics in Peru a country with a population of 32 mil- a terrorist Maoist guerrilla force ed in the capitalist media as a radical as the main task ahead. They offer no lion, there are only 276 mechanical known as Sendero Luminoso, or “socialist” agenda — rattled national program for mobilizing working peo- ventilators, which are key to treating Shining Path. This counterrevolution- and foreign investors. The value of the ple to fight for jobs, universal health seriously ill coronavirus patients. ary group was responsible for 12,000 country’s currency, the sol, plunged care, greater control of production to A quarter of Peru’s population lacks killings, leading to brutal repression after the election and inflation has protect land and labor, and other de- running water. Three out of four work- by the regime and further impover- risen. Since then, Castillo has reas- mands that can improve conditions. ers are self-employed in the “informal ishment of workers and peasants. sured mining bosses that their inter- These are the kinds of struggles, economy.” Many lost their family’s only Alberto Fujimori, the father of Keiko ests are safe. He says he now favors organized against the employers and source of income during strict COVID- Fujimori, is currently in prison after be- “prudent” tax reforms instead. their capitalist government, through related government lockdowns. While ing convicted on corruption and murder “We are not Chavistas, we are not which workers and farmers can chart these forced many workers out of their charges. Largely supported by record communists, we are not extremists,” a course forward. The best guide is jobs, it failed to contain infections. high prices of commodities, Peru’s gross Castillo said last month. the example of the Cuban Revolution, Some 10% more Peruvians now live in domestic product grew at an average His government has taken Peru out where Fidel Castro and the July 26 poverty than before the pandemic. annual rate of 5.6% between 2001 and of the Lima group of Latin American Movement led working people to take 2016. But conditions for the majority of nations over that group’s calls for inter- political power into their own hands Castillo claims to be an ‘outsider’ working people have been devastating. vention to overturn the government of and carry through a socialist revolution. Castillo, a former schoolteacher, union activist and small farmer, capital- ized on long-simmering anger among working people. His campaign slogan, Protests demand end to US colonial rule in Puerto Rico “No more poor people in a rich country,” by seth galinsky cisive control over the economy and the 51st U.S. state, which the coali- helped him win votes, especially in the NEW YORK — A hundred people political life. The imposition of the tion says would be the final “annexa- resource-rich southern Andes, where marched here Aug. 15 to protest U.S. Fiscal Oversight and Management tion of our homeland.” his promises to nationalize gas deposits colonial rule in Puerto Rico. Similar Board for Puerto Rico by the U.S. The Socialist Workers Party en- and the mining industry got support. actions were held in Chicago; Detroit; Congress in 2016 — whose seven dorsed and joined the action. “We dis- Peru is one of the world’s top pro- Miami; Oakland, California; Orlan- members were appointed by President cussed with marchers that indepen- ducers of copper, zinc, silver and gold, do, Florida; and Washington, D.C., Barack Obama — placed dictatorial dence has to be fought for and taken; and has significant oil and natural gas under the banner of “No to statehood, power over the financial affairs and it won’t be given to the Puerto Rican resources. Around the world, mining march for decolonization.” legislation of the country, puncturing people by U.S. imperialism,” Róger companies are having some of the most Puerto Rico has been a U.S. colony any myth of self-rule. Calero, SWP candidate for New York profitable years on record, according since 1898, when U.S. troops wrested Julio Pabón, who chaired the pre- mayor, said. The SWP contingent to the Wall Street Journal. Profits for control of the island from Spanish march rally, told the crowd that there carried signs stating, “Workers in the rule. For decades Washington claimed are now nearly 6 million people of U.S. and Puerto Rico fight together.” Puerto Rico was a “self-governing” Puerto Rican descent in the United As the two-mile march made its commonwealth, while exercising de- States, well more than the 3.3 million way through working-class neigh- who live on the island. borhoods from the Bronx to Harlem, militant “The last 15 years many onlookers applauded or put have been ones of un- their fists in the air in support. labor interrupted economic After a rally in Harlem at the decline in Puerto Rico,” end of the march, some participants forums said Eric Ramos, a headed to the nearby mural that de- CALIFORNIA leader of the New York picts both Che Guevara, a leader of Los Angeles chapter of the Puerto the Cuban Revolution, and Pedro Al- Afghanistan: The Weakening of U.S. Rican Independence bizu Campos, who led the fight for Imperialism. The Working Class Needs Party. “The only solu- independence for Puerto Rico in the Its Own Foreign Policy. Speaker: Norton Sandler. Sun., Aug. 29, 5 p.m. Donation: tion is independence.” 1950s. The image of Che had been $5. 2826 S. Vermont Ave,. Suite 1. Tel.: The New York action defaced with red paint two days be- (323) 643-4968. was initiated by the Fr- fore the march by opponents of the ente Independentista Cuban Revolution. The mural, cre- pennsylvania Boricua, a coalition of ated in 1999, includes a quote from a Philadelphia organizations backing poem by Lola Rodríguez de Tió that The Cuban Revolution: An Example for Working People Today. Speaker: the fight for indepen- says Cuba and Puerto Rico are “two Osborne Hart, Socialist Workers Party dence for Puerto Rico. wings of the same bird.” candidate for district attorney. Sat., Aug. The march was held to Supporters of independence for 28, 6 p.m. Donation $5. 2824 Cottman Andrew Padilla Ave., Suite 16. Tel.: (215) 708-1270. New York City march Aug. 15 protests U.S. colonial rule in answer forces that call Puerto Rico rapidly repaired the Puerto Rico. Actions also took place in several other cities. for making Puerto Rico damage to the mural.

4 The Militant August 30, 2021 on the picket line Quebec strikers need solidarity cial contributions to Syndicat des Tra- in fight against Olymel bosses vailleurs d’Olymel, Vallee-Jonction, VALLEE-JONCTION, Quebec — In 243 Rue Principale, Vallee-Jonction, the most important union fight taking QC G0S 3J0 Canada. place in the province, union officials — Francois Bradette and bosses at the Olymel hog slaughter- house here announced another tentative Chicago auto mechanics strike car dealers to defend union, pay agreement Aug. 14. Five days earlier, 1,050 workers who’ve been on strike CHICAGO — More than 800 auto since April 28 rejected a proposed con- mechanics at 56 new car dealer- tract containing the bosses’ demand to ships have been walking picket lines impose a 10-hour workday. Workers, around the Chicago metro area since members of the Confederation of Na- Aug. 2. The day before, Internation- tional Trade Unions, voted “no” by 82%. al Association of Machinists Auto- Olymel brags that it’s the larg- mobile Mechanics Union Local 701 est pork producer in Canada, able to members rejected contract demands from the bosses’ New Car Dealership slaughter 185,000 hogs a week — as Committee that would substantially Louise Leblanc well as 2.4 million turkeys and chick- undermine the power of their union. Members of CSN union on strike against Olymel hog slaughterhouse in Vallee-Jonction, ens — with annual revenues of 4.5 bil- Quebec, meet, discuss and vote down arbitrator’s proposal Aug. 3. Company demanded union One of the central issues is the boss- lion Canadian dollars ($3.6 billion). officials recommend the arbitrator’s offer to members. They refused and workers rejected it. es’ demand for a “most favored nation” Another key issue is wages. Workers clause in the contract. “That means if five-year apprenticeship program. people in the mine basin region. took a 38% pay cut in 2007 when the they find language in any other auto- Unlike during the last strike, about United Steelworkers Local 6500 company threatened to close down op- motive contract that they find more fa- half of the dealerships with unionized members went on strike June 1 after erations. “Our members have only seen vorable, they can pull it out and impose mechanics have broken from the New rejecting an agreement recommended an increase of $1.13 in 14 years” since it without any negotiations,” Ronnie Car Dealership Committee and already by their negotiating committee. They then, Martin Maurice, union president, Gonzalez, Local 701 business represen- signed a contract that includes neither turned down a second contract propos- told CNW Telbec Aug. 3. “The job is tative, told the Militant. “This under- the “most favored nation” clause nor the al by Vale bosses during the strike. On very demanding, and there are more mines the entire bargaining process.” attack on the weekly guarantee. “Fif- Aug. 3 they voted up by an 85% major- than 400 work accidents a year.” The bosses’ association also wants ty-five dealers have signed, and we’re ity a third offer that had the unanimous Going door to door in the area to to make it easier to reduce the weekly working on more,” Gonzalez said. backing of their union leadership. build solidarity with the strike — in- pay guarantee for journeymen me- Lube techs and “semiskilled” work- During the five-year contract, cluding explaining the need for small chanics, who currently get 34 hours ers are also on strike. Matt Power, who workers will receive a 6% wage in- working farmers and workers to stand pay for being at work 40 hours a week. works as a semiskilled technician, said crease and cost-of-living adjust- together — Militant correspondents met The workers, who get paid by the job, the managers keep giving him more ments, plus $2,500 pandemic and Dave Dufour, whose shoulder was in- receive at least this much weekly, re- tasks that are usually done by journey- $3,500 signing bonuses. Some health jured while working at the plant. Even gardless of whether work is slow or men, at less than half the pay. This is an care costs will go up. a shorter shift is difficult, Dufour said. they’re assigned jobs that take longer attempt to divide workers, he said, one “We do believe the union did ex- “We do repetitive movements. It’s not than the “standard.” that needs to be combated. tremely well in bargaining a contract human. Workers should continue to Also at stake are contributions to “I understand what the union fights that protects the workers as far as re- fight” against a 10-hour shift. the union’s health and welfare fund. for,” he said, noting it’s his first time on tiree benefits,” Tammy Lanktree, who On the picket line we met several The bosses claim it’s “overfunded,” strike. “I’m fighting for my future.” helped organize community support strikers who are immigrants with so they shouldn’t have to continue — Naomi Craine for the strike, told the Militant Aug. work permits that allow them to work paying into it as much. 7. Lanktree’s companion was one of only at Olymel. “They want to wait us out, but we’ll Canada nickel strikers defeat the workers on strike. With production shut down tight, wait them out,” Mike Burton told the Vale takeback drive “The minimal raise is better than Olymel bosses put public pressure on Militant while picketing Webb Chev- Some 2,400 striking nickel miners, nothing. For a company that pays out strikers to return to work by threaten- rolet in the Oak Lawn suburb Aug. 10. and mill and smelter workers returned great amounts to its shareholders, the ing to euthanize 130,000 hogs that the “We struck for seven weeks last time, to work at Vale International S.A. in raise to their hard-working employees company has been unable to process. and we’re willing to do it again.” Sudbury, Ontario, Aug. 9 after pushing didn’t reflect that,” she said. The strike has impacted both small Most of the strikers are veterans of back the bosses’ attempt to eliminate During a solidarity visit to picket family hog farmers and larger capital- that fight four years ago, when Local retiree health benefits for new hires. lines last month, both young and ist ones who are unable to sell their 701 fought to shorten apprenticeships Under the slogan “Local 6500 standing older workers told Militant correspon- pigs with the plant shut down. from eight years to four. The contract up for future generations,” the strikers dents that maintaining retiree health Send solidarity messages and finan- they finally ratified in 2017 included a had won wide support from working benefits for new hires had became the central issue of the strike — and key to preventing the company from 25, 50, and 75 years ago creating divisions in the union. Many of the workers have long-term health problems because of the rock dust in the nickel mines and chemicals used in the refining process. Vale bosses insisted they needed September 2, 1996 September 3, 1971 August 31, 1946 major concessions because of increas- Leading the bipartisan assault AUG. 24 — The decision in North- SAN FRANCISCO — Solemn-faced ing international competition. But the against a half century of social gains ern Ireland to invoke emergency pall bearers marching to the roll of company reported income up 600% by working people, President Wil- powers of detention without trial has muffled drums and carrying shrouded during the second quarter this year liam Clinton announced July 31 that provoked the most intense fighting caskets symbolizing the death of “Free- compared to the same period in 2020. he will sign the new “welfare reform” and resistance since Ireland was parti- dom, Equality, Justice and Democra- Vale, based in Brazil, is one of the larg- bill adopted by the U.S. Congress. By tioned 50 years ago. The reaction dem- cy,” on August 11 led a “silent parade” est mining companies in the world. eliminating federally guaranteed Aid onstrated a mounting opposition to the of 5,000 Negro and white workers in — Katy LeRougetel and John Steele for Families with Dependent Children presence of British troops whom some protest against lynch terror in the South. (AFDC) and cutting off food stamps had welcomed as protectors when they The protest was sponsored by the and Medicaid to many working peo- were first sent in 1969. National Association for the Advance- ple, Clinton is opening the battle to The response to the latest British ment of Colored People. Among the Teamster Rebellion take back concessions codified in the assault on the Catholic population organizations that marched were the by Farrell Dobbs Social Security Act. has consisted of work stoppages, rent CIO National Maritime Union; AFL The 1934 strikes Working people won the concessions strikes, and the withholding of income Miscellaneous Employees union; CIO that built the in the Social Security Act — which and real estate taxes. Longshoremen’s Local 10; Socialist industrial union encompassed guaranteed pension, The issue is not religion but a com- Workers Party; Communist Party; and movement in disability, and unemployment benefit bination of economic and political American Veterans Committee. Minneapolis and floors, as well as AFDC — through factors. The British have continued Edwin Elber, trade union director helped pave the hard-fought battles in the 1930s. In the to maintain control by assuring Prot- of the California Labor School, said, way for the CIO, as recounted by a wake of the civil rights movement of estant ascendancy and have thereby “These lynchings are manifestations central leader of helped to intensify the religious divi- of a south that is beginning to stir. the 1950s and ’60s, these gains were that battle. — $16 consolidated and extended by the ad- sions. Besides job discrimination, the Negroes are demanding the right to dition of Medicare, Medicaid, food Catholic minority is discriminated vote. Labor, both black and white, is pathfinderpress.com stamps, and cost-of-living protections. against in housing and voting rights. beginning to organize.”

The Militant August 30, 2021 5 Cuba’s socialist revolution US rulers end 20-year-long imperialist war in Afghanistan Continued from front page tions. They expropriated the capitalists’ Continued from front page aimed to bolster the Stalinist-led Peo- lutions in the 20th century, one in Russia, factories, banks and big landholdings, who fled ahead of the Taliban advance, ple’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan the other in Cuba,” Koppel said, quoting and began to organize the economy to 80% are women and girls, fearing a re- government that came to power during from a letter sent by SWP National Sec- meet the needs of the majority, not the peat of the brutal assault on women’s a popular revolution the year before. retary Jack Barnes to Cuban President profits for a small exploiting class,” rights enforced during the Taliban’s pre- Raúl Castro in November 2016 after the Koppel said. “Decisive steps were taken vious time in power. 1978 popular revolution death of Fidel Castro (reprinted below). to outlaw racist discrimination, and to A Taliban spokesman claims the That revolution awakened the hopes In it Barnes noted that Castro’s “highest draw millions of women into economic, group has changed, and has announced of millions of toilers in one of the most achievement was forging in struggle a social and political activity.” a general amnesty and won’t interfere in economically underdeveloped countries revolutionary cadre, a communist cad- In 1961 an army of volunteer teach- people’s lives if they maintain the ways in the world. The PDPA government le- re, capable of leading the workers and ers, largely teenagers, spread across of Islam. However, there are reports of galized unions, canceled peasants’ debts farmers of Cuba to establish the first free the countryside and wiped out illiter- civilians being brutalized and captured to landlords, allowed oppressed nation- territory of the Americas and success- acy in a year, which also helped break soldiers executed, and of young women alities to publish and broadcast in their fully defend it for more than five and a down divisions between working peo- forced into marriages with Taliban fight- own languages for the first time and half decades” — now more than six! — ple in city and country, Koppel said. ers. Some towns were looted. promised to distribute land to peasants. “against the determination to destroy it That April the Cuban people defeated In some areas local Taliban com- But the regime looked to Moscow by the mightiest and most brutal empire a U.S.-organized mercenary invasion Prensa Latina manders are imposing harsh restric- and treated peasants and workers as ob- “Building socialism is based on the capacities of the masses to organize themselves and the world has known.” in less than 72 hours. to better guide industry, agriculture and the country’s economy,” said Che Guevara in tions on social and cultural activity. jects to be administered, as opposed to The Cuban Revolution has been dis- As they were doing this, Koppel said, August 1962. Guevara, above center, visits factory in Cuba’s Pinar del Río province. They have closed girls’ schools and leading the toilers to become actors in tinguished from the start by its proletar- the Cuban leadership set out to “lend pressured young men to take up arms history, defend their interests and take ian internationalist record — sending support to those around the world who pandemic. “No one has been left to fend Both open enemies of the revolution as for them. Young people listening to greater control over their lives. It be- for themselves,” he said. “And Cuba has well as liberals and “socialists” are part Afghan national flag raised again in main square protest in Jalalabad Aug. 18 after its removal volunteer combatants to aid anti-imperi- were fighting to be free of imperialist music have been punished. by Taliban. Three people were reported killed, 12 wounded as Taliban soldiers fired on crowd. came increasingly isolated. alist struggles, or doctors and nurses to oppression — from Algeria to Angola, now fully vaccinated a quarter of the of the current political offensive against A small protest by women in Kabul Moscow sent an invading force to respond to earthquakes and hurricanes, a course of international solidarity that population with their own extremely ef- the Cuban Revolution, Calero said. He Aug. 17 called on the Taliban to stop Afghanistan. The war has cost the lives to submit. Both wars were fought under prop up the PDPA government and and to combat Ebola and COVID-19. continues to this day.” fective vaccine. They’ve done this while gave the example of Alexandria Ocasio- trying to “eliminate women” from of over 47,000 civilians and 66,000 Af- the illusion that the U.S. rulers had won orchestrated the brutal murder of one “The U.S. rulers fear that workers It’s these class relations, based on the maintaining nearly 30,000 volunteer Cortez, the Democratic Party socialist public life. ghan soldiers as well as more than 3,500 the Cold War and could impose their wing of its leadership. The U.S. rul- and farmers around the world, including expropriation of the capitalist exploit- medical personnel around the world.” congresswoman from New York, who Hundreds took to the streets of Ja- U.S. and allied troops. Hundreds of sway as they wished. ers backed a reactionary rebellion of here in the United States, will follow the ers and built over decades of promoting On Jan. 11 protests took place in Cuba calls for an end to the embargo while lalabad and Khost Aug. 18 protesting thousands have been displaced internal- In the course of both conflicts succes- landlord and Islamist forces against living example of Cuba’s socialist revo- working-class consciousness, that make “orchestrated by groups and individuals backing the recent U.S.-provoked pro- Taliban rule. In Jalalabad, Taliban sol- ly, with millions more fleeing, especially sive Democratic and Republican gov- the Moscow-dependent PDPA. These lution,” Koppel said. Cuba’s revolution different. This is why opposed to the revolution that receive tests in Cuba, repeating “the timeworn diers fired into the crowd killing two to neighboring Pakistan and Iran. ernments stepped up attacks on political forces spawned both the Taliban and al- the U.S. rulers are determined to destroy funds from the U.S. government,” Cale- slanders that the Cuban government is a and injuring a dozen. Successive U.S. governments rights at home in the name of advancing Qaeda. Moscow was eventually forced Transformation of social relations it. And why it’s so important for work- ro said. “These groups took advantage dictatorship that violates human rights.” “Throughout the war the Social- claimed the war was needed to pre- their “war on terror.” They expanded to withdraw its troops after a 10-year The leadership of the Cuban Revolu- ing people the world over to defend it. of the hardships and effects of Washing- In the discussion one participant ist Workers Party has demanded vent another 9/11 attack on the U.S. phone, email and internet surveillance; occupation, which had become increas- tion instilled in working people confi- Cuba, like the rest of the world, is af- ton’s sanctions that have been building noted that among many in the U.S. who the unconditional withdrawal of all Throughout its occupation of Afghani- tracking of financial transactions; ingly unpopular at home. Its defeat in dence in their own capacities to trans- fected by the world capitalist economic up. Many people, including some who oppose the embargo there are those who U.S. forces from Afghanistan,” Den- stan, Washington fostered the illusion snooping on passenger lists of airlines Afghanistan fueled revulsion toward form and lead society, Koppel said. This crisis, Koppel said. The embargo im- support the government, were drawn say we should downplay the social- nis Richter, the SWP’s candidate for that its foreign policy is “ours,” lump- and other transportation; and spying on the regime in Moscow, contributing to transformation began during the revo- posed by Washington, and enforced on into the protests because they see no end ist revolution. They say this is the best California governor, told the Militant. ing the millions of workers and farm- political groups and individuals who op- the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. lutionary war itself, as the Rebel Army other countries, sharply limits Cuba’s to the difficulties they face.” way to win “progressive” politicians and “The destruction Washington has ers exploited by the ruling capitalist posed Washington’s policies. After years of conflict between ri- began to organize working people in access to the hard currency needed This is compounded by shattered il- businesses who might join in calling for wreaked in Afghanistan for 20 years families and used as cannon fodder in They also used the war in Afghani- val warlords, the Taliban swept to liberated regions to take charge of health to buy food, fertilizer, fuel, medicine, lusions among some Cubans who had ending aspects of the embargo for their is further reason to demand it halt its their wars with the exploiting classes stan to extend the reach of their military power in 1996. It enforced reaction- care, education, justice and agriculture. spare parts, and other necessities. The hoped that President Joseph Biden own reasons, a strategy they argue is intervention elsewhere, and for work- and their servants in the government, bases and operations into Central Asia. ary political and cultural conditions In the days following the Jan. 1, 1959, embargo is compounded by the pan- would reverse some of the most dra- more likely to succeed. Behind this is ing people here to build a movement press and academia. The forces that became the Taliban on working people. Public behead- popular insurrection that toppled the demic, which has decimated tourism, a conian restrictions of Washington’s their prejudice that “backward U.S. to take power out of the hands of the In fact, the carnage and disposses- emerged after the 1979 invasion of Af- ings, amputations and stonings were U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio major source of hard currency. punishing embargo. workers” can never be won to support a capitalist warmakers.” sion of millions resulting from the war ghanistan by the Soviet Union, which typical of its despotic rule. Batista, the Rebel Army crossed the is- “Despite these challenges the Cuban But seeing the pressures in Cuba that socialist revolution. was a consequence of the U.S. rulers’ land and in every town along the way government has sought to guarantee are building up, the U.S. rulers have no “The stronger the revolution is, the War devastated working people ceaseless drive to maximize their profits Castro spoke with crowds of workers medical care and basic necessities to the intention of backing off their bipartisan better the chances to force the U.S. rul- The U.S. rulers’ Afghan war was and extend their domination worldwide. NLRB orders union election rerun and peasants to explain what they were population and to involve it in the pro- effort to tighten the economic squeeze ers to back off their attacks on it,” Kop- launched by President George W. Bush Washington’s display of military might fighting for. cess,” Calero said. aimed at overthrowing the Cuban Rev- pel said. “That’s the lesson of history.” after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade in Afghanistan and Iraq was meant to Peasants were led to carry out a In response to a question from the olution — an effort carried out by the Defense of the Cuban Revolution is Center and Pentagon by al-Qaeda, assert its supremacy against rivals and at Amazon warehouse in Alabama sweeping land reform. Workers “took audience, Koppel noted the collective previous 12 U.S. administrations since part of advancing the class struggle here, which the Taliban allowed free range in force governments that stood in its way by brian williams In addition to the anti-union cam- more and more control of job condi- response of the Cuban people to the 1959. he said. “The best aid we can give to the A National Labor Relations Board paign by the bosses, the union’s effort to Cuban people is to advance working- official recommended Aug. 2 that the win the vote was routine and lackluster. class struggles in the U.S.,” Calero said. April vote against the recognizing of a Union officials relied on social media “The lessons of the Cuban Revolution Defend Cuba’s socialist revolution union at the Amazon fulfillment center posts, statements by “friends of labor” ‘Fidel belongs to the working people of the world’ and its Marxist leadership can’t be sepa- Continued from page 6 revolution and to advance the social and in Bessemer, Alabama, earlier this year in the Democratic Party, and support The following letter was sent by So- it with a workers state, with new social well, that he was one of the toilers great- rated from the task of building a com- “For young people and workers who political aspirations of working people be thrown out for company malfea- from celebrity backers. This was largely cialist Workers Party National Secre- and economic relations based on the lib- est military commanders ever. munist party here to lead the working are waking up to the crisis of capitalism around the world,” Calero said. sance, and a new election be scheduled. organized from outside the warehouse, tary Jack Barnes to Raúl Castro Ruz, erating capacities of working people and All this is why Fidel became the most class to power in the United States.” today and want to do something about it, “Socialist revolution draws on hu- Of the 5,876 workers eligible to instead of by workers themselves, who first secretary of the Communist Party the youth they inspire. loved as well as the most hated, the most Continued on facing page taking the time to study, absorb and use man diversity. It seeks to provide hu- vote, 738 were counted as voting for are best able to convince those with of Cuba, on Nov. 27, 2016, after the Fidel belongs to Cuba first and fore- slandered man of our lifetimes. the lessons of the Cuban Revolution will man beings with the scientific and cul- the Retail, Wholesale and Depart- questions or who were undecided why death two days earlier of Fidel Castro, most, to the men and women of José As Fidel said in his farewell words Socialism and Man in Cuba prove decisive in who will win the class tural advances that have accumulated ment Store Union to be recognized they should support the fight for a union. his brother and central leader of Cuba’s Martí and Antonio Maceo. His highest to the Seventh Congress of the Com- battles to come — the working class or over centuries of human activity, to al- as the union, 1,798 against, and 2,759 “To win the vote, union supporters socialist revolution. achievement was forging in struggle a munist Party of Cuba in April, “We all by Che Guevara the fascist thugs the capitalist rulers will low for the development of every per- didn’t cast a ballot. need to mobilize all those who would revolutionary cadre, a communist cad- reach our turn.” He cannot be replaced, and Fidel Castro unleash,” Calero said. That’s why the son to their fullest potential. This has Amazon bosses went all out in their benefit into a broader social movement, There were two great socialist revo- re, capable of leading the workers and but his life work, Cuba’s socialist revo- Guevara explains why Socialist Workers Party spends so much been a guiding principle of the Cuban drive to keep the union out, from hold- like the one that led the rise of the CIO lutions in the twentieth century, one farmers of Cuba to establish the first lution — its example, and above all its the revolutionary time publishing and promoting study of Revolution from the beginning. ing mandatory anti-union meetings in in the 1930s,” Rachele Fruit, Socialist in Russia, the other in Cuba. Neither free territory of the Americas and suc- ongoing march — stand as his monu- transformation of social books by leaders of the revolution. “These values can only be produced the warehouse to posting anti-union Workers Party candidate for mayor of was the product of a single individu- cessfully defend it for more than five and ment. He needs no other. relations necessarily involves Calero pointed to the efforts by the by a socialist revolution. Values that mil- signs in the bathrooms. The RWDSU Atlanta, told the Militant. “Unionists al. Both were the result of the opera- a half decades against the determination For our part, members of the Social- $16the$16 transformation of the Cuban government and mass organi- lions of working people in the United immediately filed an appeal challenging — from the mines, steel plants, docks tions of capitalism itself. But without to destroy it by the mightiest and most ist Workers Party and Young Socialists zations to enable every Cuban — in- States can recognize and be won to fight the outcome of the vote, saying the com- and more — need to lead Black rights workingpathfinderpress.com people organizing the presence and political leadership brutal empire the world has known. will continue to do everything in our and leading that process. $5 cluding those with physical and other for,” Calero said. pany intimidated workers. groups, women’s organizations, small of Vladimir Lenin and of Fidel Castro But Fidel belongs to the working power to publish and spread the truth disabilities—to participate actively in Economic instability, war crises and The union-organizing drive began a farmers and others into action to back Ruz at decisive moments in those his- people of the world as well. From Latin about the Cuban Revolution and Fidel’s Cuba and the Coming society and realize their full potential. class battles of major proportions lie few months after the warehouse opened the workers. There is broad sympathy toric battles by working people, there America and the Caribbean, to Africa leadership, to make it known to working American Revolution This includes everything from film ahead, he said. Pointing to midtown in March 2020. Several thousand work- for this kind of fight. is no reason to believe either revolution and Asia, to North America and Europe, people in the United States and through- by Jack Barnes programs for the blind to special steps, Manhattan with its boarded-up stores ers, facing difficult work conditions, “They can start today by organizing would have been victorious. he showed us in action what proletarian out the world. With unshakable confi- “There will be a victorious in face of the embargo, to ensure hear- and thousands of homeless workers, he long hours and constant surveillance as much support as possible for the War- Apart from Lenin and Fidel, the his- internationalism means. During Cuba’s dence in the working class and its allies, revolution in the United ing aids and other equipment for those said, “That’s what Cuba was like for and disrespect from the bosses, signed rior Met Coal strikers,” Fruit said. tory of the twentieth century — and the historic sixteen-year mission aiding the we will continue to organize and act on States before a victorious with special needs. working people before the revolution, union cards for the RWDSU, resulting Amazon bosses announced they are twenty-first — is unthinkable. Both of people of Angola and Namibia against the course Fidel uncompromisingly pre- counterrevolution in and what capitalism has to offer today. in the NLRB election. appealing the NLRB official’s ruling. them, Marxist students of science and apartheid South Africa and its promot- sented to the world in 1961, a month be- Human solidarity vs. barbarism This was the first union vote to take It will take several weeks before the Cuba,” Fidel Castro said in “The Socialist Workers Party sees history, gave their lives to uprooting the ers in Washington, Fidel demonstrated fore the victorious battle of Playa Girón: place at an Amazon warehouse in NLRB regional director in Atlanta is- March 1961, an assertion “It is the deeply ingrained sense of building a revolutionary working-class dog-eat-dog exploitation, oppression his unmatched political leadership on a “There will be a victorious revolution party in the United States as the central the U.S., held in an area of Alabama sues a decision, and this then may very that’s as timely today. $10 social solidarity and internationalism and compulsion on which the capital- world scale. He also proved, as the Reb- in the United States before a victorious that underlies the Cuban people’s deter- task in defense of the Cuban Revolution. with a long history of union struggles in well be appealed to the full NLRB in ist world order depends and replacing el Army combatants of the Sierra knew counterrevolution in Cuba.” mination to defend the conquests of the We invite you to join us.” coal mining, steel and other industries. Washington. pathfinderpress.com

6 The Militant August 30, 2021 The Militant August 30, 2021 7 Stalin school of falsification led attack against Bolshevism The Stalin School of Falsification Professors in universities and by Leon Trotsky is one of Pathfinder’s school teachers are compelled to Books of the Month for August. Trotsky change written textbooks in a hurry was part of the central leadership of the in order to accommodate them- mighty Bolshevik-led Russian Revolu- selves to the successive stage of the tion of 1917 that transformed world his- official lie. The spirit of the Inqui- tory. He was part of Lenin’s leadership sition thoroughly impregnating the team in the Soviet government and the atmosphere of the country feeds, new Communist International, as well as we have already said, from pro- as commander of the Red Army. This found social sources. To justify their book documents the “theoretical forg- privileges the ruling caste perverts eries and historical frame-ups” cobbled the theory which has as its aim the together by a rising bureaucratic caste elimination of all privileges. The lie in the late 1920s and ’30s to consolidate serves, therefore, as the fundamen- a political counterrevolution against tal ideological cement of the bu- the legacy of Lenin led by Joseph Stalin reaucracy. The more irreconcilable that led to a series of show trials and becomes the contradiction between executions. Trotsky led the fight to con- the bureaucracy and the people, all tinue the Bolshevik proletarian inter- the ruder becomes the lie, all the nationalist course. The excerpt is from V.I. Lenin, above left, leader of Russian more brazenly is it converted into Trotsky’s “Foreword to the American Revolution, pictured alongside Leon Trotsky, criminal falsification and judicial Edition,” written in March 1937. Copy- commander of Soviet Red Army, Nov. 7, frame-up. Whoever has not un- right © 2004 by Pathfinder Press. Re- 1919. Inset, Joseph Stalin ordered Trotsky derstood this inner dialectic of the printed by permission. and others crudely airbrushed out of history Stalinist régime will likewise fail to as his bureaucratic machine prepared purge understand the Moscow trials. of those revolutionary leaders fighting for The death agony of Stalinism Lenin’s proletarian internationalist course. signifies the death agony of the Co- Books of period of time. But no power in the shevism to its own needs. This could mintern. This international organization world can any longer save Stalin and not be done otherwise than by corrod- is now the main internal obstacle in the the month his system. The Soviet régime will ei- ing the soul of Bolshevism. … path of the emancipation of the work- ther rid itself of the bureaucratic shell Official “theory” is today transformed ing class. The selection of people with- by Leon Trotsky or be sucked into the abyss. … into a blank sheet of paper on which the out honor and without conscience has The Moscow Trials, which so The Moscow juridical amalgams did unfortunate theoreticians reverently reached the same appalling proportions shocked the world, signify the death not, however, fall from the sky, but were trace the contours of the Stalinist boot. in the Comintern as in the state appara- agony of Stalinism. A political régime the inexorable products of the past, first Retreating with seven league strides tus of the U.S.S.R. The “leaders” by spe- constrained to use such methods is of all, that is, of the “Stalin school of fal- from its Bolshevik past, the bureaucracy cial appointment change their “convic- doomed. Depending upon external sification.” The present volume will, I at first devoured at each successive stage tions” upon instructions by telegraph. and internal circumstances, this ago- believe, prove of assistance to everyone its own theoreticians. Nowadays that is … The functionaries of the Comintern ny may endure for a longer or shorter who seeks to understand the ideological no longer adequate. The bureaucracy represent in all relations — theoretical, and political genesis of the Moscow tri- cannot be reconciled with anything but political and moral — a type which is als. Without possessing the knowledge the destruction of the entire old genera- the polar opposite of the revolutionist. AUGUST of its genesis, it is in general impossible tion of Bolsheviks. Such is the consum- They hang on to Stalin, who in turn BOOKS OF THE MONTH to understand anything in this world, in- mation of the Soviet Thermidor! … needs them for the maintenance of his cluding a frame-up. Even though in fragmentary form, tyranny in the U.S.S.R. The Moscow Pathfinder Readers To enter now into a theoretical con- this book contains numerous authentic trials reveal to the very bottom the in- Club troversy with the Stalinists would be a documents which serve to characterize ner rottenness of the Comintern. After 30% complete anachronism. These people the different stages of the subjugation of an initial period of bewilderment and DISCOUNT — and I have in mind of course the the party, the corruption of the appara- vacillation, its swift disintegration is in- The leaders and not the duped and befuddled tus and the poisoning of the conscience evitable. It may take place much sooner Stalin followers — have completely and de- of the ruling stratum, in the name of a than the collapse of the Stalinist system School of cisively broken with Marxism and are “monolithism” that is false through and in the Soviet Union. … But this does not Falsification veering convulsively from one empiri- through. The innumerable theoretical mean that the world proletariat will be Leon Trotsky cal formula to another, accommodating forgeries and historical frame-ups, re- left without leadership. At the cost of The “theoretical forgeries and themselves to the needs of the Soviet ferred to in these pages, represent in es- terrible defeats and sacrifices, the main historical frame- ruling caste. 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8 The Militant August 30, 2021 Socialist Workers Party statement Back Mass. nurses fight Continued from front page joined the picket line and rallies over the course of the Workers need our own foreign policy strike. Statement by Joanne Kuniansky, Socialist Workers suing those goals in Afghanistan, Washington helped Tenet has been stepping up attempts to pressure Party candidate for New Jersey governor, Aug. 18. the creation of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. nurses to end the strike. On Aug. 8, about three months Those same rapacious goals lie behind Washing- after first announcing it would replace strikers, the President Joseph Biden claims his foreign poli- ton’s colonial rule in Puerto Rico, plunder of Haiti, company claimed it has hired 100 permanent replace- cy “is the right one for America.” But there is no and the brutal sanctions they enforce on the peoples of ment workers — a number the union distrusts — and “America” that stands above conflicting social Iran, Venezuela, North Korea and Cuba. plans to hire more until it replaces all the strikers. classes — the capitalist ruling families, whose In the unions and on the job, Socialist Workers Party But strikers say that won’t happen because of a wealth and power stands on exploitation and op- members speak for the interests of all those exploited shortage of nurses in the region and support they pression at home and abroad, and working people, and oppressed by capital and explain we need to fight have won from other nurses. “The hospital is a who have no power other than our ability to unite to defend our class interests, not those of the bosses. ghost town, not many are left working there,” said in our millions and fight to take political power into The working class needs our own foreign policy, based Bill Lahey, a member of the union bargaining com- our own hands. Today we face an assault at home on the fact we share common oppressors and common mittee with over 40 years as a nurse at St. Vincent. on our jobs, wages and working conditions, and the class interests with working people worldwide. He said that a nearby hospital is hiring hundreds of capitalist rulers’ wars and plunder abroad. A good example is the aid being provided to those nurses and taking in new patients. For 20 years the U.S. rulers used working people battered by last week’s earthquake in Haiti by hun- Tenet is also on a propaganda offensive, citing a re- as cannon fodder in Afghanistan, in a vain attempt dreds of international medical volunteers from revo- cent article in U.S. News and World Report that claims to establish a stable and subservient government lutionary Cuba, who have been there for decades. St. Vincent is the ninth best hospital in the state and that could rule the country for capitalist interests, The U.S. rulers’ decadeslong intervention in Haiti has rated it “very high” for staffing. and to strengthen Washington’s power across Cen- aimed to profit off the Haitian people’s labor and natu- The Nurses Association noted that 1,000 reports of tral Asia. Their deadly intervention made it harder, ral resources, creating conditions that turned a natural unsafe staffing conditions were filed by nurses in the not easier, for working people in Afghanistan to disaster into a social catastrophe. 18 months preceding the strike, a figure that the hos- organize to take control of their own destinies, to Workers need to break from the Democratic and pital bosses dispute. Nurses say a ratio of one nurse fight effectively against both capitalist and warlord Republican parties and build a political party of our for four patients on average is needed, but St. Vincent exploiters and the reactionary Taliban. own, a labor party, based on our unions. The SWP insists that one for five is enough. The U.S. rulers claimed they were fighting a “war aims to be part of building the leadership needed to The best source of facts on staffing are the nurses on terror.” Their real goal was to gain markets, deal organize millions to take political power into our own themselves, the union said, noting that one of the most blows to their rivals, increase profits, and defend their hands, and unite with fellow toilers worldwide to fight popular signs on the picket line is: “If nurses are out place on top of the imperialist pecking order. In pur- for a socialist future truly worth living. here, there is something wrong in there.” Department heads at the hospital criticized the strike Aug. 13, accusing nurses of preventing patients from “accessing quality healthcare.” Showing which side they are on, these department heads claimed “smaller Fight for shorter work week with no cut in pay nurse to patient ratios have never been proven to pro- Continued from front page works program to put millions back to work at union- vide safer care.” St. Vincent officials did not respond 8.7 million workers unemployed today. In addition, 6.5 scale pay now, to build the houses, hospitals and other to questions from the Militant as of press time. million more who want a job but don’t have one aren’t things workers need,” Fruit added. “To protect our liv- According to St. Vincent bosses, their final proposal counted as unemployed because they haven’t reported ing standards from price rises, unions must lead a fight includes some increases in staffing, a wage raise and a job search in the last four weeks. A further 4.5 mil- for cost-of-living adjustments in every contract and for hospital contribution to medical insurance costs, along lion more who want full-time jobs are forced to work all unemployment benefits and pensions as well.” with lump sum bonuses, one “for the most senior nurs- part time. Some 5.2 million more say they couldn’t Measures like this would provide workers with im- es” and a “3% bonus for hours worked in 2021.” work or had their hours cut because of pandemic shut- mediate protection from the worst effects of the crisis Nurses on the picket line said they were outraged downs. That’s over 25 million workers. and give us vital experience fighting side by side with at the proposed 2021 bonus, which would go most- Almost 400,000 workers were laid off last week fellow working people. “No group of workers must be ly to the small number of nurses who crossed the alone, and over 12 million were getting by on some left to fight the bosses’ attacks alone,” she said. “The picket line. Lahey called it “a scab bonus!” He said kind of unemployment benefits. Most “pandemic” road forward for workers is to build our own party, a the offer, while still not enough, shows the strike is benefits are set to run out by Labor Day, Sept. 6, and labor party based on our unions, to fight to take politi- having an effect, pointing out St. Vincent now says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s par- cal power into our own hands.” they’ll agree “to cover 80% of our medical insur- tial block on evictions ends at beginning of October. The government determines its jobs programs, im- ance. We have been fighting for that for 20 years, Bosses say there are 10.1 million jobs available to- migration policy, minimum wage levels and more since the last strike at the hospital.” day, but many mean lower wages, speedup and bru- based on the bosses’ drive for profits. Its foreign policy Lahey also said the union has won agreement from tal work conditions. Facing competition from fellow defends U.S. business interests worldwide. the hospital on “some of the patient staffing grids we bosses, they’re determined to profit at our expense. wanted,” but said the hospital still refuses to address On top of persistent joblessness, workers face rising Democrats’ infrastructure, budget bills staffing in the infant center critical nursery and the prices for basic necessities month after month, wiping The Senate passed a revised so-called infrastructure emergency room. out any gains we make in wage increases. Average bill that would shower funds to the bosses for a variety Tenet reported $120 million in profits for the second real wages have declined every month since January, a of projects to strengthen their production capacity and quarter of 2021. “The corporations penny pinch and total drop of $8.99, the largest single decline since re- competiveness. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi now says the patients suffer,” said Brosnihan. cords began in 2006. Inflation ran at 5.4% last month, her party will refuse to bring it to the House for a vote She noted that “several nurses who crossed the pick- while gas prices have risen 41% over the past year. unless the Senate also agrees to a $3.5 trillion budget et line came back out, because they did not want to be “Working people must look to each other to defend backed by the socialist wing of her party. Biden and part of giving bad care.” ourselves, and not the bosses or their Democratic and Pelosi know Republicans won’t support these mea- While this worker-correspondent was on the picket Republican parties,” Rachele Fruit, Socialist Workers sures, leaving both bills hanging in the wind. line, a patient pulled up as she went into the hospital Party candidate for mayor of Atlanta, told the Militant. The “infrastructure” bill isn’t really aimed at put- and said to the nurses, “I support you! I’m not getting “Getting vaccinated and back to work is crucial. It’s ting the millions thrown out of work into jobs. At best, my knee surgery until you are back in the hospital!” there that workers can join together to stand up to the the White House admits, it would only create half a In working-class neighborhoods in Worcester, bosses and fight to get back some of what our labor million temporary manufacturing jobs over four years. Socialist Workers Party campaigners found inter- produces,” she said. The budget contains $765 billion for the Pentagon est in discussing the strike and other issues facing “Workers and our unions need to fight for measures and the U.S. rulers’ war machine, as well as a series of working people. that unify employed and unemployed workers in a reforms aimed at preventing workers from organizing “I’m 100% union, my parents were union, and I sup- common struggle for jobs,” Fruit said. “We cannot al- to fight for revolutionary change. port the nurses,” Richard Johnson told the Militant on low bosses to protect their profits by throwing millions Workers continue to face a catastrophe today, the re- his doorstep. He added, “I knew the new owner would of fellow workers out of the workforce.” sult of an economic, social and moral crisis of capital- play hard ball.” Tenet bought the facility in 2013. Periodic spells of massive and debilitating unem- ist rule. Over 93,330 people died from drug overdoses Lahey and others on the picket line were picked up ployment are built into the way capitalism works. To last year, the sharpest annual increase in three decades. by the large turnout at the United Mine Workers rally win protection from this, SWP candidates urge work- Job losses and isolation as a result of government-im- for striking Warrior Met Coal miners in Brookwood, ers to fight for a shorter workweek with no cut in take- posed lockdowns and physical-distancing measures, Alabama, Aug. 4. “That’s what we need to do here,” home pay to share the work that is available around. contributed to the surging number of deaths. he said. Lahey had sent a message of solidarity to the “We need to fight for a government-funded public “The Socialist Workers Party explains the only way miners June 3. “The courage you have shown helps all to deal with this crisis is in working-class struggle of us,” he wrote. ‘Militant’ Prisoners Fund through which we gain confidence in ourselves and Help spread the word to back the strike at St. Vin- The fund makes it possible to send prisoners reduced discover our own worth,” Fruit said. “We need to build cent! Visit the picket line from 6 a.m. to midnight. rate subscriptions. To donate, send a check or money a leadership that can mobilize millions to overturn Stop by the strike headquarters at 11 E. Central Street order payable to the ‘Militant,’ earmarked “Prisoners capitalist rule, bring to power a workers and farmers in Worcester. Send contributions for the strike fund to Fund,” to 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY government, and use it to put an end to the all forms of MNA Nurses Strike Fund, Massachusetts Nurses As- 10018. Or donate online at www.themilitant.com exploitation and oppression once and for all.” sociation, 340 Turnpike St., Canton, MA 02021.

The Militant August 30, 2021 9