National struggle sharpens THE in Yugoslavia PageS

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 55/NO. 24 JULY 5, 1991 $1.50

UN council Rallies in South Africa refuses call for new government to lift

/ BY GREG McCART AN emment said. The move was welcomed in Washington, Tens of thousands rallied and marched Because the repeal of the Population Reg­ because it fulfills the fourth of five conditions sanctions across South Africa June 15-16 to press istration Act would nullify the basis on which it placed on Pretoria when it was forced to demands for an interim government. the parliament was elected -Blacks are de­ adopt sanctions against the apartheid regime Mrican National Congress (ANC) spokes­ nied the vote and the right to run for office in 1986. on Iraq man Patrick Lekota said the protests were "a - measures were also introduced to main­ U.S. sanctions bar the export of military very huge success," with 60,000 marching tain the current political setup. Continued on Page 3 in the mining town ofWelkom, 20,000 in the BY SETH GALINSKY _ administrative capital of Pretoria, and 10,000 The United Nations Security Council is in Johannesburg. refusing to lift economic sanctions against Nearly 50 localities held rallies that in­ Iraq. This decision came June 11, after its cluded calls on the government to end its first formal review of the measures in two complicity in violent attacks on Black town­ months. ships, the release of political prisoners, and Cuba, Yemen, China, Ecuador, and the job security for all. Soviet Union have suggested easing the Lekota said, in a phone interview from sanctions. The U.S., British, and French gov­ Johannesburg, an interim government was an ernments have warned that they will veto essential part of the struggle for a nonracial, any such move. No formal vote was taken democratic South Africa. at the meeting. "The National Party which is now govern­ According to Philip Arnold, spokesperson ing the country cannot both be a participant for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, in the negotiating process and at the same "President Bush and this administration's time guide that process," he said. "Our dem­ position is that in so far as possible the onstrations are part of the pressure on the sanctions should not be lifted while [Iraqi government to concede to the demands and President Saddam] Hussein is in power." In show the groundswell of support that exists." a phone interview, when asked about the At a rally of 30,000 in Soweto, ANC impact of the sanctions on the Iraqi people, Deputy President Nelson Mandela said, Arnold changed the subject. 'There can be no compromise whatsoever" _ "It's very hard to say" when the sanctions on the liberation movement's call for an could be lifted, Arnold stated. He claimed interim government. Such a body would su­ that medical supplies have been "flowing pervise election of a constituent assembly into Iraq ... but we haven't been paying for and the formulation of a new constitution. it, of course." "If the government does not listen to us June 13 protest against cop killings of two Black youth in Hillside, New Jersey. According to the Security Council resolu­ then we will use our power- mass action," Hundreds have joined marches demanding justice. See story on page 3. tion adopted after the signing of the cease­ Mandela said. "There can be no compromise fire with Iraq, the sanctions must be reviewed on that." every 60 days. But '-'if the Security Council The actions came on the fifteenth anniver­ doesn't do anything, then the sanctions stay," sary of the Soweto uprising. Some 600 anti­ Los Angeles judge says evidence of Arnold said in the interview. apartheid protesters were killed by police While restrictions on trade in food and during several months of demonstrations in medicines have been formally lifted, little of 1976. The uprising was sparked by the mur­ cop racism allowed in King trial these basic necessities make it into Iraq. The der of a Black youth by security forces. UN sanctions monitoring committee earlier On June 17 the South African parliament BY HARRY RING racial epithets were shouted during the bru­ denied an Iraqi request to export $1 billion passed legislation repealing the Population LOS ANGELES -Acknowledging that talization of King. of oil to purchase food and medicine. The Registration Act, used since 1950 to racially racism was a key factor in the police beating King's lawyer, Steven Lerman, had United States, Britain, and Switzerland have classify every person in the country as either of Rodney King, the presiding judge in the charged early on that at least one such epithet refused to unfreeze Iraqi assets worth another "white", "Black", "Coloured", or "Asian". case ruled that evidence can be introduced Continued on Page 11 Continued on Page 10 Whites number 13 percent of South Africa's showing the racial bigotry of the cops who population. assaulted him. - But wording in the legislation left existing An invaluable tool Four city cops have been indicted in the racial classifications intact, except for babies savage assault on King, a young construction for today's fighters born after June 17.1)is will remain in force worker who is Black. In pretrial proceedings, until a new constitution is adopted, the gov- their lawyers have tried to bar introduction •:• New NATO rapid deploy­ of recorded police statements which include ment force, aimed at Yugosla- An announcement racist slurs. via? •:• Why can't imperialism One transcript of a typed computer mes­ bail out the bureaucratic caste to our readers ... sage by one of the cops the night of the beating describes it as "right out of 'Gorillas in the Soviet Union? •:• Why The next issue of the Militant will be in the Mist."' can't the U.S. or Israel impose printed on July 9, 1991. Suspending publi­ "To say that those comments aren't ra­ cation for two weeks will make it possible a "solution" to the struggle of cially biased is like sticking your head in the the Palestinian people? for Militant staff members to help prepare sand," declared Judge Bernard Kamins. He for and attend the 36th Constitutional Con­ added that he believes that "race could be vention of the Socialist Workers Party, sched­ Fighting workers, farmers, youth, and part of the motive" in the beating. uled for Chicago June 26-June 30. Gls seeking an explanation of the roots The next issue of the paper will feature A prosecution lawyer argued that the "go­ of imperialism and war need New In­ firsthand coverage from a three-person re­ rilla" reference showed "motive and also bias ternational no. 7. It explains: •!• How porting team in South Africa. Militant editor ... against Rodney King because he is government attacks on affirmative ac­ Greg McCartan, Young Socialist Alliance Black." tion, abortion rights, and the social leader Derek Bracey, and Ruth Haswell from A lawyer for the cops argued that they wage of the working class are part and Britain will be reporting on the historic Na­ parcel of the employers' take-back de­ tional Conference of the Mrican National were "within their rights" when they used Congress, slated for July 2-6 in Durban. The force against King and that the only issue to mands and cop brutality. •!• Why labor meeting is the first national conference held be decided is whether they used that "right" must chart an independent political since the ANC was banned in 1960. Follow­ appropriately or "excessively." course based on the power of fighting and transformed unions, joining in the ing the event the reporting team will spend Judge Kamins also said that if the cops' an additional week gathering interviews and lawyers try to dredge up King's past in an struggles of toilers worldwide. •!• Why such a course is the only answer to the covering protest actions. effort to discredit him, he will permit the drive by the billionaire ruling families in Washington, London, Tokyo, Bonn, The coming issue of the Militant will also prosecution to introduce evidence of past and elsewhere to drag humanity into more wars, like the one waged against include coverage from the Second Confer­ performance by the four cops." At least two the Iraqi people, and the slide of world capitalism into a worldwide depres­ ence of the Political Parties and Movements of them have been involved in previous bru­ sion. of the Sao Paulo Forum, held in Mexico City tality cases. June 12-15. The conference was attended by representatives of more than 60 political or­ In addition to the "gorilla" slur, it has been $12 Available from Pathfinder, 410 West St. ganizations from 22 countries throughout the established that the police officials were lying New York, NY 10014. $3 shipping and handling. Americas and elsewhere. when they asserted that there is no evidence 'Out Now': tool in fight against next wars

Reprinted below is the foreword to the Cambodia, and Laos were killed. colors and nationalities liJld help win over imperialist powers toward wars to defend new edition of the Pathfinder book Out Unable to crush the Vietnamese workers many of them to oppose the war. their decaying social system. Now! A Participant's Account of the Move­ and peasants in their struggle for national The antiwar movement affected tens of The strength of U.S. imperialism relative ment in the United States against the Viet­ liberation and against imperialist exploi­ millions of people around the world. It to its main capitalist rivals has declined in nam War. Written by Fred Halstead, the tation and faced with a broad social radi­ cleared away many reactionary obstacles recent decades. Washington will be forced to 759-page book is available for $29.95 from calization at home, U.S. imperialism standing in its path. It showed that masses of use its trump card - its massive military the Pathfinder bookstores listed on page suffered its first defeat in war. Washington people can act effectively against an imperi­ power - in an attempt to counter this trend 12 or from Pathfinder, 410 \\est St., New was forced to end its slaughter of the alist war. and to gain an edge over its German, Japan­ York, N.Y. 10014. Reprinted by permis­ peoples of Indochina. The pages that follow give a rich historical ese, and French competitors. sion. Copyright Pathfinder, 1991. Fred Halstead was an active participant and personal account of this movement and Washington's war against the peoples of and leader of the international movement of the individuals and organizations that Iraq and the new wars it will launch are an In the pages that follow, Fred Halstead against the U.S. war in Vietnam. His account helped lead the struggle against the war. It extension of a more than decade-long em­ tells the story of the movement in the United shows that this movement drew strength in records the contrasting political perspectives ployer assault on the living standards, rights, States against the Vietnam War. the United States from the social upheavals of those who led the movement and their and organizations of workers and farmers at Over the course of a decade, beginning of the 1960s - above all the fight for Black debates on policy. home. Capitalism's continued slide toward a in 1965, this movement organized re­ rights. The massive struggle to smash legal As we enter the 1990s U.S. imperialism world depression and social crisis will call peated mass mobilizations calling for im­ and de facto segregation predisposed mil­ has carried out another bloody war of con­ forth growing resistance from working peo­ mediate U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. lions to oppose Washington's aggression in quest - this time in the Middle East, against ple worldwide, which will become inter­ Tens of millions, including many Gls, Indochina. the peoples of Iraq. Up to 150,000 soldiers twined with the fight against imperialism and were won to support the demand "Out This was particularly true among Black and civilians in Iraq were killed in the U.S.­ its wars. Now!" The movement grew as Washing­ soldiers and sailors, as. can be seen in led slaughter. Tens if not hundreds of thou­ A new generation of youth, working peo­ ton escalated the war and the Vietnamese Halstead's account of how discussions sands were condemned to death from mal­ ple, and Gls have become politically con­ people refused to submit. among Gls at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, nutrition and disease resulting from the ef­ scious since the Vietnam War and the move­ The U.S. government unleashed more on Malcolm X, the revolutionary leader as­ fects of Washington's bombing and its em· ment against it ended. This generation will bombs against Indochina than had been sassinated in 1965, gave birth to Gls United bargo against Iraq. Millions were made ref­ find the history and politics recounted in this dropped in all previous wars combined. against the War in Vietnam. Out Now! por­ ugees. book an irreplaceable tool in combating these Close to 60,000 U.S. troops died in the con­ trays how the antiwar movement was able to For Washington, this was a war for oil, to new wars and the social system that breeds flict. Millions of inhabitants of Vietnam, get a hearing from U.S. troops of all skin protect imperialist interests in the Mideast, them. and to gain a stronger hand against its capi­ Kate Kaku talist rivals. It heralded a new march by the June I, 1991 Opposing war, employer attacks highlight ofAustralia campaign $10 for BY LYNN SCOTT direction of taking political power." SYDNEY, Australia- "What's hap­ Chairing the election-night meeting, pened to us is going to happen to more Manuele Lasalo explained that, as with the 12 weeks workers in the future -just look at what's first election campaign of the Communist going on in New Zealand," a worker on the League, this campaign had been a valuable picket line at Vista Products told Communist experience. "We used the campaign as a League candidate Ron Poulsen. vehicle with which to get a hearing for our Members of the Printing and Kindred In­ ideas and engage in discussions with workers dustries Union (PKIU) have been picketing and youth," he said. Vista, in Sydney West, since being locked Supporters collected 40 signatures from out 13 weeks ago. The workers have refused community tables to place Poulsen on the The Militant tells the truth to accept pay cuts, longer hours, and the ballot. gutting of union representation,· "Not everyone who signed agreed with our about the resistance by working people to Poulsen, who ran for the Ashfield seat in entire platform, but they supported our dem­ employer-government assaults at home and the New South Wales state elections, said that ocratic right to be heard," Lasalo explained. war abroad . Events in the Soviet Union • the visit to the picket line had been the high­ Leaflets were distributed while campaigning light of the campaign. Speaking at the May with the Militant newspaper on community Sharpening imperialist trade rivalries • Union 25 election-night meeting to wrap up the tables and at factory gates in Sydney. struggles • Defendjng the Cuban revolution • Communist League campaign, he said, "The Liberation struggles from South Africa to Vista workers point the way forward - how to fight attacks as the ruling class unleashes 1111111111111111111 NEW EDITION 1111111111111111111 Korea to the Philippines. Fighters need a a deepening offensive against working peo­ working-class newspaper every week. Read ple. These attacks are part of the capitalist the Militant! Subcribe today! crisis, they're part of the war abroad." During the U.S.-led war against Iraq, Aus­ tralian imperialism rapidly took its position behind Washington. Poulsen explained, "It was a hollow military victory for the impe­ ~ ------rialists. Their attempts to impose a new im­ 0 Special introductory offer: $10 for 12 weeks perialist world order in the Middle East have D $15 for 12 week renewal D $27 for 6 months D $45 for 1 year failed." The Australian government has recently Name ______sent the frigate Darwin back to the Arab-Per­ sian Gulf. "There is still a need for public Address ------action to call for Australian forces to get out City------State ___ Zip ______of the Middle East," Poulsen said. "The employers' drive against the work­ Union/School/Organization ------­ ing class puts the unions in the forefront Clip and mail to The Militant, 410 West St., New York, NY 10014 of political battles. Workers will have their OUT NOW! A participant's chance to defeat the warmongers," he said. account of the movement in "What is needed is an independent party 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia and the Pacific, $A10 • Britain: £6 • of the working class. And we need a com­ the United State~ against the Canada, Can$12 • Caribbean and Latin America, $10 • Europe, Africa, and the Middle munist voice to lead the workers in the East, £10 • France, FF80 • Iceland, Kr800 • New Zealand, NZ$1 0 • Sweden, Kr60 Vietnam War. By Fred Halstead

TER: Send address changes to the Militant, "A vivid and valuable account ... of a 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Sub­ r The Militant mass popular movement that had a re­ Closing news date: June 17, 1991 scriptions: U.S., Latin America: for one-year subscription send $45, drawn on a U.S. bank, markable impact on modern history" Editor: GREG McCART AN to above address. By first-class (airmail), send -Noam Chomsky Business and Circulation $80. Canada: send Canadian $75 for one-year Manager: RONI McCANN subscription to Societe d 'Editions AGPP, C.P. "It will he difficult for anyone to produce Editorial Staff: Seth Galinsky, James Harris, 340, succ. R, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3M2. a more informative, evocative, and con­ Cindy Jaquith, Roni McCann, Janet Post, Judy Britain, Ireland, Africa: £35 for one year by scientious chronicle of one of the most Stranahan, Peter Thierjung. check or international money order made out significant movements in American his­ to Militant Distribution, 47 The Cut, London, tory"-Lihrary Journal Published weekly except the last two weeks of SE I 8LL, England. Continental Europe: £50 December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), for one year by check or international money With a new foreword. · 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Tele­ order made out to Militant Distribution at phone: (212) 243-6392; Fax 727-0 150; Telex, above address. Australia, Asia, Pacific: send 497-4278. 7 59 pp., photos, foreword, prefac~ , Australian $75 to P.O. Box 79, Railway afterword, bibliography, notes, index. Correspondence concerning subscrip­ Square Post Office, Railway Square, Sydney tions or changes of address should be ad­ 2000, Australia. dressed to The Militant Business Office, Order from Pathfinder Press 410 West Street NY, 410 West St., New York, N.Y.10014. NY 10014 Signed articles by contributors do not nec­ $29.50 plus $3 shipping and handling. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y., essarily represent the Militant's views. These Militant and at additional mailing offices. POSTMAS- _ are expressed in editorials. Australia socialist candidate Ron Poulsen 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 2 The Militant July 5,1991 Newark protesters march against police killing of youths

BY MAREA HIMELGRIN of the van to get out but quickly frred a second ANDJUDYSTRANAHAN volley, she said. HILLSIDE, New Jersey -With chants of More than 40 bullets were fired into the "No justice, no peace," an angry crowd gath­ van, most toward the passenger compart­ ered here June 13 to protest the killing of two ment. No weapons were recovered by police Black youth by Newark and Hillside cops. from the van. Harvey says that it is question­ ''They killed her. They killed my daughter. able where a "starter pistol" police say they They shot her up and killed her, and I want found in the van came from. to know why," Sharon Mayse told 300 dem­ "It is a shame. It is a tragedy. But there onstrators at the city's municipal building. was no murder, no brutality," said Anthony The two were killed when police opened Fusco, Jr., one of the attorneys representing fire on a van-load of Black youth, June 9, on the police. an overpass here. Tony Morrison, long-time companion Hundreds of people have joined several ofTasha Mayse's mother and an organizer protest marches demanding the suspension of the protests, in an interview said, "The and prosecution of the seven Newark and brutality of all this is just incredible. When Hillside cops involved in what protesters are the police finally stopped firing and the calling the "Hillside Massacre." wounded kids were lying in the street, cops The cops killed 16-year-old Tasha Mayse, kicked them in the stomach. The police who was five months pregnant, and 20-year­ wanted to send a message - don't steal a old Lamont Russell Jones. Four other New­ car or else." Militant/Judy Stranahan ark youth were wounded by gunfire: a 13- The Hill Manor apartment building where June 13 protest in Hillside, New Jersey, marches past site where two Black youth were year-old girl and 17-year-old boy who remain Tasha Mayse lived is in mourning for the killed by cops. hospitalized and a 17-year-old boy and 14- popular teenager. A memorial in the security year-old girl, who were treated and released. booth at the entrance reads, "Tasha Mayse nab told the crowd, referring to statements going to miss her," Michele said. A seventh Newark teenager in the van es­ -you will be missed dearly." A plaque made by Union County Prosecutor Edmund Many other marchers said they did not caped injury. The names of the injured youth covered with red velvet and lace displays a Tucker. "When they say that they are lying," know the family, but had read about the were not released. snapshot of the youth. Contributions for the Hannah said. shooting in the local newspaper. girl's family are accepted at the booth and About 400 people joined a protest march One woman, Carmella Bowers, stepped One man said he joined the protest because the latest newspaper articles about the shoot­ on Newark City Hall and police headquarters forward from the crowd and related the story "with media attention, people in authority ing are taped to its glass walls. June 12. The crowd included the mothers of of how her son, Richard Koontz, Jr., 22-year­ tend to act." An older man from Hillside Outside the building Tasha's young cous­ two other Black youth who have been mur­ old airline worker and college student, was termed the incident "a great injustice." He dered by New Jersey police. ins and friends discuss her murder and the shot in the face and killed by a cop in Newark explained, "We want justice. We're not going "We need to organize," Thelma Pannell protest. in 1985. "We need to get together and we to let this one get by us. We intend to be out told the crowd. Her son, Phillip Pannell Jr., The Mayse apartment is a busy place as need to stop what's happening to Black peo­ here until something is done about it." was shot in the back by Teaneck police last neighbors visit and people call with condo­ ple," Bowers said. In interviews before the protest, Tasha's year when his arms were raised over his head. lences and offers to help with details for The gathering marched nearly a mile to two grandmothers, Gerthena Parker and upcoming protests such as renting buses, "We can't continue to have this type of the North Broad Street overpass of Route 22 Mattye Sanders, said Tasha had been an "A" violence," she said. printing flyers, and other tasks. where the shooting occurred. "It's unfair for student and had received two college schol­ Morrison explained why the protests are Venus Hannah, whose 19-year-old son the cops to shoot people. They didn't deserve arships. They said she liked to sew and draw. focused on the mayors of Newark and Hill­ Santana Hannah was murdered by police in it. It's scary because it could happen to you Tasha won two trophies for singing. his jail cell last summer in Plainfield, told side. "If you want to go for the beast, you go at any time," one high school student said Tasha's mother said, "I don't know what the crowd she understood the pain felt by for the head," he said. during the march. Many of the participants Sharon Mayse, the mother of Tasha. "It "We got a letter from an aide of the mayor happened except for what I read in the news­ were in their early teens. papers. The police have been very uncoop­ hurts," she said. of Newark expressing his condolences and erative, and nobody has said they are sorry Both the Pannell and Hannah families saying there would be an investigation," said 'Could happen to anyone' for what happened." have organized numerous protest marches Morrison. "I believe the demonstration A large percentage of marchers came by The family had gotten the "runaround" demanding justice for their murdered chil­ forced that letter. They didn 't do it on their chartered bus or car from the Hill Manor from police, she said, and at first it was dren. However, all of the police involved in own." apartments. "It was just senseless. I knew her. difficult to find out where the body was taken. the killings remain on the local police forces. Following Tasha Mayse's funeral on June She was just your basic teenager, a nice girl," According to the family, they did not learn Attorneys representing the cops in the 15, a protest rally was held on the steps of said Lisa, a mother of two children and what happened until 12 hours after the shoot­ Hillside case are standing by their claim . Newark City Hall. Mayse's neighbor. ''I'm here because this ing. that the van was stolen and that the driver A hand-written flyer circulated for the could happen to anyone. It could happen to led police in a high speed chase until the protest stated, "Police chase 7 kids. Shot 6, my family, too." van collided with a Hillside patrol car. The killed 2, 'Hillside Massacre,' No Justice, No Two of Tasha's friends, Shona, 17, and police said radio transmission informed Peace." Michele, 18, attended Central High School Rallies, marches in officers that the van occupants had auto­ At the June 13 protest Salaam Ismail, with her. They also live at Hill Manor. Shona matic weapons. president of the United Youth Council of described how the Newark cops came to her South Africa demand Elizabeth, New Jersey, said, "We're here to door because they thought that was where 'Just opened fire' tell you tonight t}lat we are not going to take Tasha had lived. "When they found out they interim government, Charman Harvey, a Newark attorney rep­ it anymore." He pointed to other cases of had the wrong apartment they said I should Continued from front page resenting the 14-year-old girl injured in the police brutality and killings over the past year go tell Tasha's mother she was dead and to hardware, computer technology, and nuclear shooting, told the Newark Star-Ledger that in Newark, Perth Amboy, Teaneck, and call the Hillside cops. That's how the family items and prohibit the import of food and her client maintains that the van came to a Plainfield. learned about it," said Shona. agricultural products, iron, steel, coal, gold stop, locked bumper-to-bumper with the po­ "We cannot listen to county prosecutors. Both Shona and Michele were saddened lice car. Officers "just opened fire a few They say they are going to get to the truth of by the loss of their friend. "She was fun, coins, sugar, and oil and petroleum products. Bush administration officials said they seconds later." Police ordered the occupants the matter," Santana Hannah's father AI Han- smart, and could act silly, too. I'm really would move rapidly to lift the sanctions once they believe'that the remaining stipulation ~ that political prisoners be released - is ful­ Changes announced in the 'Militant' staff filled. The announcement brought a measure of protest from the Congressional Black Caucus BY JAMES HARRIS who said they want to see the sanctions With this issue, Militant circulation direc­ continue until a new constitution is adopted tor Roni McCann takes on the additional in South Africa. responsibilities of the paper's business man­ While welcoming the repeal of the draco­ ager. nian law, the ANC said in a statement that Doug Jenness, the current business man­ "As long as such blatantly racist practices ager, is leaving to become part of the trade continue the Population Registration Act will union and political life of Newark, New have been removed in name only." Jersey, and to help lead the work of building In a diplomatic visit to the United States, the communist movement there. Inkatha Freedom Party head Mangosuthu McCann, 31, has been a staff member Gatsha Buthelezi denounced Mandela's call of the Militant since June 1989. Before for mass actions and the fight for an interim moving to New York McCann was the government. organizer of the Socialist Workers Party Inkatha has long collaborated with the branch in Los Angeles. She · was also a Pretoria regime and focused its political frre refinery worker and member of the Oil, Militant/Selva Nebbia on theANC. Chemical and Atomic Workers union. She Roni McCann and Doug Jenness In a report from Atlanta on the Reuter news became the Militant's circulation director service, Buthelezi is quoted as saying that in January 1990, an assignment which will the ANC "always pursues things that are now be combined with that of business 1990. From 1984 to 1986 Jenness was the About Socialism" column every week. In impossible." manager. editor of Intercontinental Press, an interna­ his column, he used the accumulated les­ Trying to shift the blame for recent vio­ Doug Jenness, 49, has been a writer and tional biweekly magazine that merged with sons of the workers movement to take up lence in the country onto the liberation orga­ editor for the socialist press for more than the Militant. the broad range of questions and political nization, Buthelezi said marches and rallies two decades. He served several stints as the In addition to numerous feature articles, issues that confront working-class fighters "stir the pot" and "exacerbates the problem · Militant editor, most recently from 1986 to Jenness also wrote the popular "Learning today. of violence."

July 5, 1991 The Militant 3 Cuban union leader says U.S. tour showed life, struggles of working class

BY ERNIE MAILHOT Bernal attended ameeting of United Mine AND SETH GALINSKY Workers of America Local 1980 in Car­ ''This is a society where there are very michaels, Pennsylvania. He met with several pronounced inequalities. There is a huge congressional aides with whom he raised the abyss between the poor and those who are need for the normalization of relations be­ born into the immense wealth that arisesfrom tween the United States and Cuba. He also exploitation of thousands and thousands of spoke at a 5,000-strong Malcolm X celebra­ workers." tion in Washington, D.C. Abreu spoke before Joaquin Bernal Camero, Cuban trade union a meeting of the Western Alabama Farmers leader, on his impressions of the United States Association in Epps, Alabama. after a six-city,four-week tour. The results of the tour demonstrate the opportunities for getting out the truth about Two Cuban trade union leaders, Joaquin the Cuban revolution and winning working Bernal Camero and Luis Guillermo Abreu people and others to demand that the U.S. Mejias, were able to tour the United States government end the blockade of Cuba. and meet with union officials, workers on the Militant/Ike Nahem job, students, and elected officials in April Great inequality in United States Cuban union leader Joaquin Bernal Camero speaks with participant in \\ashington, D.C., Malcolm X event. and May. This is the first time in more than In an interview during his New York City three decades that Cuban labor leaders have tour stop, Bernal gave his impressions of been allowed by the U.S. State Department what he had learned about the United States. pie who have nowhere to live. I can't who have returned from Angola. The last of to speak to audiences in the United States. "There is great inequality in the United understand this." the Cuban troops that had been there defend­ Bernal is a member of the National Sec­ States," he noted. "There are many people ing Angola against attacks by the South M­ retariat of the Central Organization of Cuban who have everything. They even have things Workers advance in Cuba rican army and the U.S.-backed mercenaries Trade Unions (CTC) and a former tobacco they don't need. Then there are many people, In the course of their tour, the Cuban trade of UNITA returned to Cuba May 25. The worker. Abreu is general secretary of the the majority, who don't have everything they unionists explained the advances that have Cuban presence in Angola was also decisive National Union of Workers in Education, need. A large part of the population is living been made in their country since the Cuban in leading to an agreement winning indepen­ Sciences, and Sports. in poverty." people threw off the yoke of U.S. imperialist dence for the former South African colony The tour was initiated by the U.S.-Cuba "I saw that many workers don't have ad­ domination and charted a course of building of Namibia. Labor Delegation Tour Committee in Boston. equate health care," Bernal continued. "It socialism. They contrasted the conditions Those Cuban volunteers in Angola who The committee had four cochairs: Ed Clark, really struck me that in a nation as powerful workers in the United States face because of were working before they entered the army manager of the New England Joint Board of as this one, where there is so much wealth, the workings of capitalism - massive lay­ have their old jobs guaranteed, Bernal said. the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile where it is the workers themselves who create offs, inadequate safety, lack of health care­ But others had not had a job before serving. Workers Union (ACTWU); Celia Wcislo, that wealth, there is not adequate health care with the gains won by workers in Cuba. "We have been looking for work for all of president of Service Employees International for all its citizens and all working people." Health care is free for everyone in Cuba, them," he added. Union Local285; James Green, faculty chair­ "I was also struck by the workers' vacation the unionists explained, in spite of the U.S. The participation of workers is key in a . person of the labor studies program at the system," he said. "U.S. workers don't have a economic blockade and legacy of underde­ program to increase agricultural production University of Massachusetts at Boston; and guaranteed paid annual vacation. After years velopment on the island. Cuban workers are to meet Cuba's food needs in the face of the Elaine Bernard, executive director of the of working, many get only two weeks. When guaranteed one month paid vacation a year, challenges posed by what Cubans call the Harvard University trade union program. workers in the United States change from one no matter how many times a worker may "special period." employer to another they have to start all over have changed jobs. Volunteer workers have been going to the Met U.S. workers and students again. I believe this is truly brutal. It is a totally "Our workers have a high political level countryside to work on special agricultural The Cuban union officials toured Greico inhumane system of exploitation." and a high spirit of struggle," Bernal said in brigades. More than 100,000 residents of the Bros., a garment plant in Lawrence, Massa­ "I saw some factories where the work is the interview. capital city of Havana have participated over chusetts, organized by ACTWU. They at­ very intensive and the noise and discomfort He pointed to Cuba's principled opposition the last year. tended a membership meeting of Local 201 for the workers has grown, even at General to the U.S. war against the people of Iraq. In spite of all the difficulties, human needs of the International Union of Electronic Motors. I visited one assembly line that Cuban workers backed their government's come first, Bernal said. Health care remains a Workers, which organizes workers at General seemed like a scene out of Charlie Chaplin's position. "They knew that this was not a war priority and is guaranteed free of cost for all. Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts. They also movie Modern Times." to benefit workers anywhere in the world­ spoke to a meeting at Boston's Arlington Detroit made a special impression on Ber­ not in the United States, not in Iraq, nowhere. Unions' role in correcting errors Street Church. nal. "Detroit is a city that is deteriorating and It was a war like other imperialist wars." Not all the problems are caused by the In Detroit they visited factories organized getting worse by the day," he said. During their discussions with U.S. work­ reduction in trade with the Soviet Union and by the United Auto Workers and spoke to " It has these enormous abandoned ers and students, the Cuban union leaders did the needs of the special period, Bernal noted. high school and university classes. buildings. Yet there are thousands of peo- not try to paint Cuba as a society where In 1986 the rectification process, or cor­ everything is perfect. rection of errors, began in Cuba. Rectifica­ tion sought to begin to overcome problems USSR trade cut of political demobilization, demoralization, Lawyers fight court orders to In the past year and a half, Cuba has faced and bureaucracy that had arisen as a result serious economic difficulties as a result of of methods of functioning and planning cop­ divulge information on clients the reduction of trade and the canceling of ied in large part from the Soviet Union and trade agreements with some of its main trad­ Eastern European countries. ing partners. Some 85 percent of trade until "The unions have participated extensively BY PETER THIERJUNG fees she received from a client. recently was with Eastern· Europe and the in rectification," Bernal said. "We were re­ Linda Backiel was freed from Bucks New York City's special narcotics prose­ Soviet Union. sponsible for introducing some of the vices County Prison in Pennsylvania June 10. cutor charges that Stewart's client is a major Imports of raw materials such as caustic that had to be corrected." Backiel, an attorney, was jailed for six drug dealer and claims Stewart has informa­ soda, which is key to Cuba's sugar and soap "Workers at our union meetings have months after refusing to provide information tion vital to uncovering a criminal conspiracy industry, have been severely reduced. In made innumerable observations about bu­ on a client to a grand jury. by a drug gang. many cases Cuba did not receive shipments reaucratic defects, excessive centralization, Her release was ordered by Federal Judge Last year a New York State appeals court of essential materials during the first four and incorrect leadership methods in the fac­ Charles Weiner, who had intended to keep upheld a subpoena compelling Stewart to months of 1991. The Soviet Union has also tories, enterprises, and ministries. Workers Backiel in jaill,llltil she testified or the grand testify. The court said her testimony would reduced oil shipments that had previously have denounced some privileges that existed jury was disbanded June 19. Backiel, how­ not violate attorney-client confidentiality. been agreed to. at workplaces and have been critical about ever, maintained her stand and refused to The prosecutor went to the grand jury for a all of the defects." become "a witness for the prosecution." · contempt indictment after Stewart again re­ 'Relative unemployment' Bernal was confident that the Cuban rev­ The grand jury had been examining accu­ fused to comply with the subpoena. Bernal said that the situation in trade with olution would overcome the difficulties and sations against Elizabeth Duke, a political Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, com­ If convicted, Stewart could face up to four meet the challenges it faces. activist who had jumped bail in October ing on top of the 30-year U.S. economic years in prison and lose her attorney's license. "We are convinced that we are sincerely 1985. Duke was awaiting trial on charges of blockade, has resulted in the shutting down She is well-known for her defense of political struggling for the well-being of the people," possessing explosives and illegal firearms. of some factories. activists and clients - like Larry Davis, who he said. "We know that we have the possi­ Backiel did not represent Duke, but spoke was charged with the attempted murder of "The workers left without work because bility to succeed because we live in a society with her on the telephone before she fled. six police officers and acquitted in 1989. their factory closed have received very fair that belongs to us; where exploiters and cap­ Prosecutors maintain Duke also left a note treatment," Bernal stated. italists and multinationals don't exist; where with Backiel explaining her reasons for On May 29, Stewart appeared in Manhat­ Where possible, he said, "these workers the police belong to the workers; where the jumping bail. tan criminal court for a pretrial hearing. Two have been placed in other jobs without low­ army belongs to the workers, where the gov­ When Backiel refused to testify before the dozen attorneys who support her fight ac­ ering their wages. Where it wasn't possible, ernment is ours. The government, the land, grand jury about the matter, she argued that companied her. She reported that several bar these workers have been guaranteed 60 per­ the air, the streets, all of this is ours." testifying would undermine the confidenti­ associations plan to file friend-of-the-court cent of their wages as long as the situation Bernal hopes that the trade union tour will ality between an attorney and defendant, as briefs on her behalf when the court convenes continues." open the door to workers and unionists from well as her ability to obtain the trust of her July 17 to take pretrial motions. According to Bernal, Cuba has "a relative the United States visiting Cuba and more clients. The indictment against Stewart, like unemployment rate" of 3 percent. He said Cuban workers and unionists visiting the A similar case is currently pending in Backiel 's case, comes in the midst of a cam­ that some young people, when they join the United States. New York, where Lynne Stewart, a de­ paign by federal and state prosecutors to labor force, are not able to find jobs where He appealed for unionists to visit the island fense lawyer, was indicted in April on whittle away at the right to lawyer-client they want or in the field they want right away. of Cuba. "Come see our achievements and criminal contempt charges for refusing to confidentiality, an important element of the The Cuban trade union movement is also our flaws. Come see how we work and how disclose the source and amount of legal constitutional right to a legal defense. looking for jobs for many of the Cuban troops we struggle to resolve our shortcomings."

4 The Militant July 5, 1991 WORLD - ~~ Labor officials back framed-up NEWS Iowa unionist's parole appeal BRIEFS 30,000 turn out for Seoul funeral BY PETER THIERJUNG of student activist killed in May A campaign by the Mark Curtis Defense Committee to win parole for Mark Curtis, an More than 30,000 students and workers imprisoned union and political activist, is marched through Seoul, South Korea, for the beginning to show results. June 12 funeral of 25-year-old Kim Kwi Supporters are mapping out plans in local Jong, killed during a police attack on a stu­ areas to get out the facts on Curtis' fight for dent demonstration in May. justice and to systematically approach key An honor guard of 500 students, wearing individuals in the labor movement to involve T-shirts with her portrait, was accompanied them and their unions in the campaign for by dancers, drummers, and buses carrying his release. the woman's family. Mourners have memo­ They are also approaching well-known rialized Kim, a student activist, by naming defenders of democratic and human rights; her the "Flower of Democracy." prominent individuals and political activists; "We will overcome our sorrow and anger leaders of Black, Hispanic, and women's with struggle" and "Put Roh Tae Woo in organizations; religious figures; and farm ac­ prison," referring to South Korea's president, tivists. were slogans on banners. Pedestrians lined The defense committee's goal is to collect the streets, some joining in songs and cheers. 200 letters in the next two months from The march marked the seventh week of leading individuals and organizations moti­ turmoil in South Korea. Initially dismissed vating the parole board to release Curtis. John as an annual spring protest period, the big­ Studer, coordinator of the defense commit­ business media is now expressing concern tee, said that the end of August has now been over the depth of the antigovernment dem­ targeted !O meet the goal, giving supporters onstrations. "The relentless unrest has cre­ more time to maximize the potential of this ated President Roh Tae Woo's most serious effort to win wide support. Militant/Martin Koppel political crisis since he took office in 1988," Curtis is a union and political activist who Mark Curtis Defense Committee leader Priscilla Schenk (standing) with members of an Associated Press report said. was framed on rape and burglary charges by Local 9 of the Mexican National Teachers Union. Curtis supporters toured Mexico in the Des Moines, Iowa, police in 1988. He is May. Unionists around the world are backing Curtis' parole fight. U.S. to fund UNITA forces in now serving the third year of a 25-year jail Angola despite peace accord term in the Iowa state prison in Fort Madison. The Mark Curtis Defense Committee, based ation has been exemplary. Baxter of UFCW Local 617 and Larry Ross The U.S. House of Representatives voted in Des Moines, has waged an international "He has already served more time than of United Steelworkers of America Local67, June 11 to continue covert aid to the coun­ defense effort on his behalf since the first day many others for the same type of crime," he jointly signed a letter to the Iowa parole terrevolutionary forces of the National Union of the frame-up. continued. "He is not a threat to the commu­ board. for the Total Independence of Angola "I am personally convinced that Curtis nity and, therefore, he could pick up his life Leonard Sturgeon, president of the United (UNITA) despite a peace accord between the was absolutely framed-up," said Denis and become a productive citizen once again. Paperworkers International Union Local 280 Angolan government and UNITAending 16 Stefano, president-elect of Oil, Chemical I don't feel any further purpose can be served in Keokuk, Iowa, also sent a letter. "I write years of comb~t. and Atomic Workers (OCAW) Local 8- by his continued incarceration. I, like many to appeal to you to release Mark Curtis from According to Bush administration offi­ 234, in an interview. "This is just like of his supporters, feel that in the interest of prison," he wrote. "Mr. Curtis was convicted cials, the $20 million allocated for 1992 can Nelson Mandela's case, or Joe Doherty's, justice and the integrity of all humanity, you in a highly controversial case .... The prison be used to sustain and feed the 50,000 troops who are active fighters and were framed fair-minded people should release Mr. Cur­ authorities have acknowledged that his con­ of UNITA. They assert that the funds will because the government didn't want them tis." duct in prison has been exemplary, therefore, not be used for military purposes, but will to be heard. Jim Armstrong, president of United I do not feel that Mr. Curtis poses any threat help the transition to "civilian life" and "in "I don't believe the parole board is there Auto Workers Local 270 in Des Moines, to the community, and ask that he be released supporting the democratic process." to dish out justice, but if it legitimately does sent a letter supporting Curtis' parole bid. in order to resume his life as a productive its job they would release Curtis," he said. "Mark Curtis should be released," he said citizen." Volcano forces U.S. troops out "Curtis has a lot of support and we have to in an interview. "It serves no purpose to Messages supporting parole are also be­ keep trying, using every angle to press for keep him in prison any longer. He's some­ ginning to arrive at the defense committee's Thousands of U.S. troops and their depen­ his release." one who should not have been there in the Des Moines office from other parts of the dents were evacuated from Clark Air Base first place." United States and the world. in the Philippines in the wake of the volcanic Support from oil workers' union The union official said his local would "We have been aware of the terrible eruption of Mount Pinatubo. On June 12, Stefano explained that defense committee send a representative to any future parole violations of the civil rights of Mark Curtis some 200 remaining troops, who guarded the · supporters set up a literature table at the hearings. He "encouraged everybody to read for several years," wrote James Weldon, installation and its stockpile of nuclear weap­ District 8 OCAW council meeting held in the evidence of what's happened to see if business manager of the International ons, were ordered out when the volcano Cherry Hill, New Jersey, June 7-9. They justice was done and reach your own con­ Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local began spewing hot ash. The military brass discussed the case with several local union clusions." 728 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "As an decided to leave the nuclear weapons behind. officials who agreed to write letters support­ organization, we don't concur with Mark's ing parole for Curtis. A few invited the de­ Iowa labor backing political views but this is a free country Meanwhile, roads from the base were fense COilliJlittee supporters to their next local Armstrong is one of a growing number of and he is certainly entitled to them. In this jammed by Filipinos fleeing the area. The meetings to discuss the campaign. labor officials in Iowa who support the parole instance, his labor views obviously have nearby city of Angeles, which has not been The District 8 council executive board also effort. Maurice Williams, a member of put him away. evacuated, has 300,000 residents. voted to send a letter signed by the district's United Food and Commercial Workers "How long will he remain injail?"Weldon The government in Manila has asked for officers. District 8 covers OCAW locals in (UFCW) Local50N and a defense committee continued. "He has suffered physical abuse, assurances from Washington that the weap­ New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Penn­ activist in Des Moines, said the parole cam­ loss of reputation, loss of dignity, loss of ons are safe. U.S. officials have not replied. sylvania. paign has picked up steam there ever since freedom, and his losses continue to mount. The nuclear weapons are reportedly stored Support has been won in other regions of the May 11 Midwest Labor Jam in Fort In the name of all that is fair, we request that in underground bomb-proof bunkers. The the OCAW as well, including at a recent Madison. he be released from jail immediately." bunkers were not, however, designed for District 4 council meeting in Houston and Williams was a speaker at the labor cele­ George Morris, president of USWA volcanic eruptions. from William Taylor, president of Local 7- bration and met many unionists interested in Local13836 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, 507 in Argo, Illinois. helping Curtis. Some introduced or referred wrote: "As one particularly concerned Germany posts trade deficit "Mr. Curtis had never been arrested for him to other labor officials who could also with issues regarding union members, I any criminal activity prior to this conviction, be enlisted in the-parole campaign. appeal to you to act favorably on his For the first time in a decade, Germany which was a highly controversial case," Tay­ Since then, the activist has made an organ­ [Curtis') petition for parole . ... Your most posted a trade deficit of$790 million in April, lor wrote in his letter to the parole board. ized effort to follow up offers of support by responsible action would be to release down from a surplus of $1.6 billion in March. "The prison authorities have acknowledged participants. He explained that he has dis­ Mark Curtis so that he could resume a life "Unification has transformed the world's that Mr. Curtis has an excellent work record cussed the campaign with officials of several as a productive citizen." mightiest exporter into a net importer," the and his personal conduct during his incarcer- unions. Two organizers of the labor jam, Jill The president of the World Federation of June 11 Wall Street Journal said. Growing Democratic Youth, Puso Leonard Tladj, demand for goods in east and west Germany faxed a message for the parole board from since reunification has surpassed the coun­ Budapest, Hungary. try's productive capacity. Ladies' garment union signs "We would like to express our concern The demand is fed by the Bonn govern­ over the imprisonment of Mark Curtis," Tladj ment pumping huge sums of borrowed said. "Even if Mark was guilty of the charges money for unemployment benefits and contracts for 90,000 workers made against him, traditions of the American needed services into east Germany, where judiciary has made the world believe and has decades of Stalinist bureaucratic mismanage­ BY DON MACKLE New Jersey. The 55,000 workers covered by it that justice will always be tempered with ment have left the economy in ruins. Contract agreements covering garment the contract are located primarily in New mercy, exactly where clemency and parole Bonn's subsidies are not, however, salvag­ workers in the Northeast have been reached York's garment district and generate most of comes in .... In keeping with this reputation ing the economy in the east. "So far, despite by the International Ladies' Garment Work­ the work done in garment shops in the North­ if nothing at all, we request through your huge transfers of public money to the east, ers' Union (ILGWU) and employer associa­ east region. good offices the FREEDOM of this Ameri­ the complete opposite of the necessary redis­ tions. Contract settlements were reached May 13 can citizen." tribution has taken place," one leader of the The agreements call for annual wage hikes for the 35,000 workers in the dress, suit, coat, Letters calling on the Iowa Board of Parole Social Democratic Party noted with dismay. of 49 cents an hour for some shops and 4 and rainwear segments of the industry. Con­ . to release Curtis should be sent to the Mark "All jobs and profits are being redistributed percent for others. Further specifics on the tract negotiations with the women's outer­ Curtis Defense Committee, P.O. Box 1048, from east to west and not in the opposite contracts have yet to be reported. wear industry in the Northeast involve about Des Moines, Iowa 50311. For more informa­ direction." The "economic and social" divi­ The announcement of an agreement be­ 60 percent of the union's 175,000 members. tion on the campaign or defense committee sions between east and west are "deeper than tween the employers and ILGWU Local 23- They are concentrated in New York, New literature, write to the address above or call we could have imagined in our worst night- 25, representing blouse, skirt, and sportswear Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New England. (515) 246-1695. Funds are also needed to mares," he said. - workers, was made just prior to the May 31 The ILGWU bargains with 47 employer help meet the costs of this effort. Tax deduct­ contract deadline. Local23-25 bargains with associations representing more than 2,000 ible contributions should be made out to nine employer associations in New York and firms. Political Rights Defense Fund, Inc.

July 5, 1991 The Militant 5 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE TO WIN NEW READERS Supporters make final push to meet local goals

BY RONI McCANN Phoenix supporters are over their Militant and from the event all day. At the end of our From Our Mail Bag The momentum Militant supporters subscription goal by 1. In Sydney; Australia, shift one of my coworkers who knew I had Gerardo Sanchez Corona from the Twin gained during the recent eight-day sales blitz supporters are at 160 percent of their goal. opposed the war asked what I thought. Cities in Minnesota, wrote in about their really gave the last weeks of the circulation "I told her I didn't think there was anything successful target sales week. Young Socialist effort a big boost. Just prior to the final Unionists Report to celebrate, given the death and destruction Alliance members and other supporters sold three-day target effort June 13-15, we signed Almost one-third of the Militant subscrip­ working people like us in Iraq have had to 40 subscriptions to the Militant, three to up 356 new subscribers to the Militant. Sales tions sold in the United States are to members suffer from the brutal war." A big discussion Perspectiva Mundial, and five copies of New of the Marxist magazine New lrrternational of 10 industrial unions. This week supporters broke out among crew members and as a International. "We've been reading and dis­ are over the top by 124. won 97 new readers among garment workers, result three readers renewed their subscrip­ cussing the 'Opening Guns of World War III' The final tally of new readers won since meat-packers, miners, and other unionists, tions, two bought introductory subscriptions, article in the New International, which has April 27 in 11 countries around the world including 11 steelworkers in Illinois and and one bought a copy of New International. been really helpful," said Sanchez. "We will appear in the Militant printed on July 9. Utah and 11 oil refinery workers. Supporters One worker, a woman who is Black, said found that many people are now questioning in Manchester, England, report that 63 per­ she thought of the Militant as a paper with why the war was fought and it has resulted Already Over the Top cent of new readers there are members of news on struggles that didn't necessarily in more subscribers and members of the Ed Fruit from Baltimore called in to report industrial unions. affect her life. "I showed her the recent copy YSA." the good news: "We've made our sales United Transportation. Union member of the paper with an article on why the labor goals!" Militant supporters in Newark are Jane Harris reports that UTU members in the movement should defend affirmative ac- Get Your Last Subs In! New York/New Jersey area went over their . tion," said Harris. "I said that without the over the top as well - selling more than 93 Militant supporters in France are closing Militant subscriptions in the last three weeks. sales goal of 20 by 2. Most of the subscrip­ civil rights struggle that aff"rrmative action tions were sold the week of the welcome­ came out of, we wouldn't even be having in on their goals. In one day they sold six During the first four weeks of the drive they copies of New International at one political home parade for Washington's troops in the this discussion and we have a stake in de­ had sold 17 subscriptions. event. They sent a letter out to their readers Mideast. fending our gains." In Manchester and Sheffield, England, and one renewed already. supporters have reached their sales targets "On the day of the parade in New York At Fieldcrest Cannon's Decorative Bed­ and are pushing ahead to go over even more. City," said Harris, "we transported people to ding mill in Eden, North Carolina, 12 work­ One supporter who works at the Renault ers. bought introductory subscriptions to the auto factory has won two new readers to Militant, reports Amalgamated Clothing and L' internationaliste and one renewal, along Alabama socialist: 'Working people Textile Workers Union member Tony Prince. with a reader to the Militant and Perspectiva "Some new subscribers had opposed the war Mundial. on Iraq all along, others had supported it but Supporters are using the days before the should condemn antiabortion bill' are now having second thoughts, and many final deadline to sign up more new subscrib­ ers. subscriptions sent into the Militant BY PAT HUNT That decision, which legalized abortion, bought the paper for its coverage on other All struggles around the world." by midnight, June 21, will be counted. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama- "The anti­ opened the way for women to take a measure abortion bill recently passed by the Alabama of control over their own bodies. In so doing State House of Representatives deserves the it eliminated one of the main arguments put condemnation of all working people and all forward by companies, universities, and those who genuinely support women's other institutions to justify discrimination rights," said John Hawkins, Socialist Work­ against women. Sales Drive Scoreboard ers Party candidate for Birmingham mayor "Since that decision, millions of women in a press statement at the end of May. in the United States -already being drawn Perspectlva into the labor force in unprecedented num­ "According to the framers of this legisla­ 111e Militant Mundlal Newlnt'l* L'inter• Total tion the aim of the bill is to ban all abortions bers- have taken advantage of new oppor- . except in cases of incest, rape, or endanger­ tunities for employment in formerly all-male Areas Goal Sold % Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold ment of a woman's health," the socialist occupations. Often the sole providers for their families, women have found that these UNITED STATES candidate said. "This, they openly declare, Twin Cities, Minn.'* 115 104 90% 15 13 60 54 2 0 192 171 would make 98 percent of abortions per­ new opportunities to work at higher-paying Price, Utah •• 50 45 90% 9 10 25 19 2 0 86 74 formed in the state illegal. jobs have meant a decided increase in their Austin, Minn. •• 50 44 88% 10 12 30 30 2 1 92 87 "If this bill were to become law it would families' standard of living," he said. Salt Lake City 105 90 86% 18 20 50 59 2 0 175 169 represent a giant step backward to the days "Moreover, this has strengthened the labor Seattle •• 89 73 82% 33 24 75 76 3 0 -200 173 of back-alley abortions, when each year thou­ movement- breaking down divisions on Charleston, WV 60 48 80% 5 2 30 35 2 1 97 86 sands of women in Alabama and across the the job and opening the way for women to Omaha, Neb. 65 48 74% 10 13 18 19 2 0 95 80 country lost their lives trying to exercise their play active and leading roles in the struggle Newark, NJ 110 81 74% 40 25 140 82 10 6 300 194 right to choose when and if to bear children." of all working people to defend our unions Miami 67 49 73% 25 10 45 50 15 3 152 112 Birmingham, Ala. 85 62 73% 8 2 43 41 2 0 138 105 Similar legislation, Hawkins noted, was and our rights. passed by the Louisiana House of Represen­ "While opponents of abortion rights cry St. Louis 100 71 71% 5 2 48 39 2 2 155 114 Greensboro, NC 50 34 68% 10 6 34 27 2 0 96 67 tatives May 13. The candidate is an under­ crocodile tears for so-called unborn chil­ Baltimore 66 44 67% 10 8 31 39 3 0 110 91 ground miner and. member of the United dren," said Hawkins, "they propose nothing to eliminate the abject poverty in which mil­ Phoenix •• 30 19 63% 10 7 30 27 1 0 71 53 Mine Workers of America. Des Moines, Iowa .... 98 60 61% 15 15 35 38 2 0 150 113 lions of children live in Alabama today. "The intention of the proponents of these The mine worker said that these are the Morgantown, WV 65 39 60% 5 1 40 41 2 0 112 81 bills," said Hawkins, "is to overturn the 1973 same forces, in and out of the legislature, that Chicago 130 n 59% 30 23 70 73 5 0 235 173 Row v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision. Boston 100 58% 25 16 10 185 127 argue for deeper cuts in education and other 58 50 48 5 Washington, DC 80 46 58% 13 14 50 55 2 1 145 116 social services, seek to undermine civil rights Philadelphia 60 34 57% 21 4 56 50 2 0 139 88 legislation, oppose child care (which would free more women for work outside the Los Angeles 150 75 !)9% 80 41 124 134 3 2 357 252 Houston 65 32 49o/o 20 5 35 45 2 0 122 82 lli~g the press home), stall a meaningful increase in the Atlanta •• 70 33 47% 10 3 60 60 2 0 142 96 .,··.·.· . ....• minimum wage, keep unemployment com­ New York •• 200 " 94 47% 75 51 200 139 . 15 3 490 287 UDIODISfs pensation in the state at below subsistence Detroit 80 37 46% 8 6 40 35 2 1 130 79 levels, block repeal of antilabor legislation, San Francisco •• . 150 67 45% 70 29 150 137 5 1 375 234 and applaud U.S. imperialist military actions Pittsburgh . 75 .. 31 41.% 3 4 40 44 2 1 120 80 Militant Newlnt'l abroad, like the recent slaughter of the Iraqi Cleveland •• 85 30 35% 10 5 50 39 2 0 147 74 Union %Sold (Goal) Sold (Goal) Sold people and the continued military interfer­ Albany, N.Y. 15 4 27% 2 0 10 5 0 0 27 9 UNITED STATES ence in that country's affairs still going on. Ft. Madison, Iowa 5 1 20% 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 ACTWU 57% 46 26 30 3 "Those who· defend a woman's right to lAM 45% 143 65 87 15 Louisville, KY 3 0 0% 0 0 4 0 0 0 7 0 ILGWU 43% 30 13 10 1 abortion are a majority of the population in U.S. TOTAL 2,473 1,530 62% 595 371 1,673 1,540 106 27 4,847 3,468 IUE 83% 42 35 25 10 the United States and in Alabama," he said. OCAW 50% 50 25 55 16 AUSTRALIA 10 16 160% 3 5 22 23 0 0 35 44 UAW 62% 87 54 32 15 "They must make their voices heard publicly BELOIUIII 1 1 100% 1 0 9 5 10 12 21 18 UFCW 73% 93 68 35 9 and visibly in massive numbers, actively BRITAIN ' UMWA 185% 33 61 19 10 USWA 79% 90 71 50 25 drawing upon the support of all who defend Sheffield 50 52 132% 3 4 75 88 2 1 130 145 UTU 91% 65 59 50 12 this right- especially the labor movement. Manchester 50 54 108% 5 0 45 58 2 0 102 112 TOTAL 70% 679 477 393 116 "I and my supporters will continue to place London 100 76 76% 15 4 90 92 5 0 210 172 SHOULD BE 88% 597 346 Other Britain 2 3 150% 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 4 AUSTRAUA defense of women's right to abortion at the BRITAIN TOTAL 202 185 91% 24 8 210 239 9 1 445 433 MTFU 67% 6 4 6 1 center of this campaign." SHOULD BE 88% 5 5 CANADA BRITAIN Vancouver •• 65 . 49 75% 15 11 60 60 5 2 145 122 AEU 13% 15 2 11 2 Montreal** 70 36 51% 15 21 75 70 35 20 195 147 NUM 39% 18 7 15 4 Q RMT 78% 32 25 22 4 Toronto 80 26 33°/o 30 10 50 59 5 165 95 TGWU 50% 8 4 3 2 CANADA TOTAL 215 111 52% 60 42 185 189 45 22 505 364 TOTAL 52% 73 38 51 12 FRANCE 5 2 40% 5 3 5 6 15 6 30 17 SHOULD BE 88% 64 45 ICELAND 30 14 47% 1 0 12 11 1 0 44 25 CANADA ACTWU 43% 7 3 2 2 IIIEJCICO - - - 15 6 - - -- 15 6 CAW 56% 9 5 10 2 NEW ZEALAND lAM 36% 14 5 8 2 Auckland •• 45 35 78% 3 1 45 37 1 1 94 74 USWA 13% 16 2 11 5 Wellington 53 39 74% 1 1 30 16 1 0 85 56 TOTAL 33% 46 15 31 11 Christchurch 26 1 2 23 1 75 51 SHOULD BE 88% 40 27 43 60% 30 0 Other 6 7 117.% 1 0 1 3 0 0 8 10 NEW ZEALAND NZEW 50% 4 2 3 0 N.Z. TOTAL 147 107 73% 6 4 106 79 3 1 262 191 NZMWU 70% 10 7 5 0 FTWU 20% 10 2 3 0 PUERTO RICO 2 0 0% 10 2 1 0 1 0 14 2 UFCW 71% 7 5 3 0 SWEDEN** 35 22 63% 20 8 20 35 3 2 78 67 TOTAL 52% 31 16 14 0 SHOULD BE 88% 27 12 TOTAL 3,120 1,988 64% 648 449 2,243 2,127 193 71 6,204 4,635 SHOULD BE 2;730 88% 567 1,963 169 5,429 SWEDEN FOOD 0% 6 0 0 0 DRIVE GOALS 3,225 725 1,950 200 6,100 METAL 60% 5 3 3 0 Militant/Robert Kopec TRANSPORT 0% 1 0 1 0 • Single copies of New international; subscriptions to L'internationaliste TOTAL 25% 12 3 4 0 Socialist mayoral candidate'·~ and United· •• Raised New International Goal SHOULD BE 88% 11 3 Mine Workers member John Hawkins.

6 The Militant July 5, 1991 Workers at Giant Eagle end six-week strike

BY SANDI SHERMAN final pact gives top-tier workers $1.15 an Meat and deli workers agreed py a vote ters of coal miners and steelworkers. "I see PITTSBURGH- A six-week strike hour in increases over the 3-year contract; of 360-to-93; cashiers, baggers, and clerks a new willingness for working men and against the Giant Eagle food chain ended middle-tier, $1 .50; and third-tier, $1.20. Top­ voted 1, 126-to-132. women to come together," he commented. here as workers ratified a new contract June tier workers also got a $1,000 signing bonus. Some strikers thought more could have 2. The strikers, members of United Food and Part-time employees who work 2,000 Support for strike been won given the overwhelming solidarity Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 23, hours a year will receive full-time medical When the strike began, Giant Eagle hired displayed by those who refused to shop at voted by an 11-to-1 margin to accept the pact. benefits. Dental coverage was increased by 700 "replacement workers." Over the course Giant Eagle. The large vote for the contract Issues in the strike included the food $800 and made available to more workers. of the walkout, 1,250 union members crossed indicated that most did not see a way to fight chain's definition of part-time workers, Gains were made in pension, vacations for the picket line. Local23 has 5,900 members. for more, however. which would have left 2 out of every 5 high seniority employees, unpaid leave, a What the company didn't anticipate, how­ Solidarity activities during the strike in­ workers without health benefits. The union minimum workweek, ai1d Sunday and holi­ ever, was the overwhelming support the strik­ cluded a march and rally of 3,000 strikers members also struck ·over a multitier wage day shift premiums.The company promised ers would get from the community. and supporters, a customer picket day at a structure that kept more than half of Giant not to close any stores for six months. At a Militant Labor Forum June 1, Gary number of stores, and a march on the Eagle's work force earning$ 4.30 an hour or Multitier wages and benefits and the use Best, a Local 23 strike coordinator, noted, company's corporate headquarters that drew less. The average wage rate at Giant Eagle of parttime workers remain. These were the "The company capitulated this week because 1,000 strikers and supporters. In Morgan­ was $5.62. two biggest issues emphasized by strikers on of the support our members received from town, West Virginia, 70 members of the The union also wanted an increase in pen­ the picket line. the shopping public in Western Pennsylvania United Mine Workers union joined the picket sion benefits, dental coverage, and weekend Carl Huber, president of UFCW Local 23, and West Virginia." line ·at the end of a district convention. and premium pay. It called for a guarantee told the strikers at a June 2 ratification meet­ Independent surveys showed Giant Referring to a 1983 strike that ended with that the food chain would cease closing its ing, ''This contract does not make us happy. Eagle's customers plummeted by more than the union granting deep concessions, on e stores only to open them as nonunion fran­ We did not get everything we wanted. But 65 percent as a result of the strike. Best said rank-and-file member of the Local 23 bar­ chises. it's a much better contract than when we that working people identified with the strike gaining committee said, "I crawled back in In an effort to narrow the wage gap; the started and if we continue striking, we do not because the strikers were the sons and daugh- '83. I'm walking back today." · union had argued for wage increases that believe you will get more, or enough more would benefit lower-tier workers more. The to be worth it." YOUNG SOCIALISTS IN ACTION Unionists at GE hold events to press for better contract I BY RUSSELL DAVIS The rally and the "local-to-local" meetings M , T LYNN, Massachusetts- Negotiations are a response to the company taking a hard are under way nationwide between General line in the talks, saying it has to maintain its Electric (GE) and 14 unions that represent "competitiveness" in a declining world econ­ 64,000 workers. The contract expires June omy. Management is expected to target med­ 30. ical coverage and seeks to minimize any The International Union of Electronic wage increase. Workers (IUE) represents 40,000 of the GE While there were no cuts ·in wages, except workers. The remaining are organized by the in GE 's Motor Division, the last two contracts United Electrical Workers, United Auto included a series of give-backs on medical Workers, Machinists, Steelworkers, and coverage, lump-sum wage increases, and other unions. two-tier wage scales. The result has been a Leading up to the deadline, the unions steady decline in the living standards of GE have organized a series of "local-to-local" workers. meetings across the country where rank-and­ The unionized workforce at GE has been file union members meet with workers in hit hard with layoffs and plant closings. Cur­ other locations. Some 1,500 workers turned rently only one-third of GE's 200,000 work­ out for a day-long meeting in Erie, Pennsyl­ ers in the United States are unionized. vania in April. Many unionists point to the company's At the GE plant here of 5,000, nearly 1,000 profits as a reason why workers should re­ Militant/Jean Dawson workers rallied May 28 and IUE Local 201 ceive pay increases, no cutbacks, improved New members of the Young Socialist Alliance in Oregon and Washington State. has organized "T-shirt Days" when workers "job security," and better pensions. From left, Aimee, Kirk, Francesca, Jennifer, and Julian. in the plant all wear blue union T-shirts. The The IUE's membership is scheduled to union is also reaching out to the local com­ vote July 10 on any final contract offer made The Young Socialist Alliance is a rev­ doesn't stop at U.S. borders. It puts the munity and labor movement for support. by the company. olutionary organization of students and interests of all humanity first." GE is one of the world's largest and most young workers across the United States. Julian, a 29-year-old cook, first met the profitable corporations with factories in more Russell Davis works at the GE Lynn River­ The YSA seeks to organize young people YSA through his participation in an anti­ than 30 countries. In 1990 it had sales of $58 works plant and is a member of IUE Local in the fight against the wars, economic war coalition in Portland. "I saw that the billion and profits of $4 billion. 201. devastation, racism, and sexism bred by only way to be effective was to be in the the capitalist system. YSA," he explained. "You can't do it all In the tradition of Fidel Castro, Che on your own. You've got to work together Guevara, Thomas Sankara, and Mal­ with others who think like you do." Regime aids anti-ANC attacks colm X, the YSA has placed the fight Juan had been active in independence against imperialism and war at the cen­ protests in his native Puerto Rico. While A former South African Defense Force country from South African colonial rule. ter of its activity today. living in New York City he bought Path­ major revealed that the military has aided Since returning to South Africa, Basson The YSA supports the worldwide finder books containing the speeches and vigilante attacks against anti-apartheid has been told by contacts in the military of fight against apartheid in South Africa, writings ofChe Guevara, Fidel Castro, and forces. a similar campaign against the African Na­ defends the Cuban revolution, and other revolutionary leaders. "They were Nico Basson told the media that he had tional Congress and its supporters, the New backs the struggle to reunify Korea. my ·inspiration," he said. nin a secret operation in Namibia aimed at York Times reported. We encourage members of the YSA Juan is now a grounds maintenance discrediting the fight of the South West Africa ANC spokespeople have pointed to col­ and members of the \bung Socialists in worker employed at a U.S. naval installa­ People's Organisation (SWAPO) to free that lusion between government security Canada and N~w Zealand to contribute tion outside Seattle. He ran into the YSA forces and the Inkatha Freedom Party as items for this column. at an antiwar protest early this year, started the source of numerous attacks on Black coming to meetings, and recently joined. townships and anti-apartheid rallies in re­ A dozen new members have joined the "I share its ideas," he explained. "The Employment figures cent months. The government has denied Young Socialist Alliance in Oregon and YSAers are militant people, fighting for are up after a any involvement. Washington since the start of this year. social justice, against racism, and support­ Inkatha is a political organization based in "I was part of a peace coalition in Port­ ing union workers' struggles." seven-month decline Natal Province that claims to represent Zulus. land," explained Aimee, a 20-year-old stu­ A young Black GI joined during a week­ Its central leader, Mangosuthu Gatsha Bu­ dent and bakery worker who recently end conference on "Washington's Assault thelezi, has a long history of collaboration joined. The number of nonfarm payroll jobs rose on Iraq: The Opening Guns of World War with the regime. "I wanted to do more and get involved in May after seven consecutive months of III." "I had doubts about the government's in issues like women's rights and the fight substantial decline. Some 10,000 people have died since late motives for the war against Iraq, as well 1984 in violence associated with attacks by against apartheid," Aimee said. as the invasion of Grenada and other stuff The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a Inkatha supporters, many times with backing "The war against Iraq made me see I that went on in the past," he said. "But I net increase of 59,000 jobs. There had been from government security forces. had to do something to stop it and change felt alone and that no one agreed with me. a decline of more than 250,000 jobs in both Basson said secret military operations in­ society," she added. "Things don't have to "Then I met Juan and he introduced me February and March. clude helping Inkatha organize cells in Black be the way they are today. We can change to the YSA in Seattle. Now I'm going to townships and providing it with AK-47 as­ them." The number of manufacturing jobs, which keep coming to meetings and reading to sault rifles. Francesca, 19, said: "My goal is revo­ had fallen every month for more than a year, educate myself more." South Africa's Military Intelligence Insti­ lution, to overthrow capitalism. I know Che Guevara, Malcolm X, and Fidel rose by 19,000 in May. Total factory payrolls there are many more people who think like rose for the second straight month with the tute and Specialized Communications Oper" Castro are "educational, inspiring, and mo­ ations, two army units that were in charge of I do. I want to contact them and encourage recall of laid-off auto workers. Service indus­ tivational," said Jennifer, a 20-year-old the operations in Namibia against SWAPO, them to be part of the fight against impe­ try jobs increased by 15,000, and health-care preschool worker from Portland. "I are now directing the campaign against the rialism." Francesca works at a pizza parlor jobs rose by 30,000. strongly encourage other young people to ANC, Basson said. in Seattle. get involved with the YSA." At the same time, the nation's unemploy­ An earlier attempt by a judge to investigate "Until I found the YSA, I was frustrated ment rate climbed from 6.6 percent to 6.9 the Civil Cooperation Bureau, a clandestine because I couldn't find any group going This week's column was contributed by percent in May. The jobless rate for Blacks government organization put together to ha­ in the right direction," said Kirk, a 22-year­ Harvey McArthur from Seattle, Wash ing­ has moved up steadily for three months, rass opponents of apartheid, failed when its old musician and deli manager. "The YSA ton. reaching an official rate of 13 percent. records disappeared.

July 5, 1991 The Militant 7 National struggles sharpen in Yugoslavia

BY GEORGE BUCHANAN The Serbian regime's demand for a state Deepening demands for independence by of emergency came in the midst of a sharp the peoples of Croatia and Slovenia are has­ political crisis inside Serbia itself, where tens Hungary tening the breakup of Yugoslavia. of thousands of opponents of the regime had Nervous about the destabilizing impact of been demonstrating in the streets of Belgrade these developments, the imperialist rulers in for basic democratic rights. Europe and North America are openly dis­ On March 9 a demonstration of 30,000, cussing the possibility of military interven­ directed against the regime's iron control of Romania tion into the country (see article below). the state television and radio station, which Slovenia and Croatia are the two most protesters dubbed the "Bastille", was sup­ economically developed republics of Yugo­ pressed by police. Despite the repression, the slavia, a country which has dramatic con­ demonstrations grew in size. Within days the trasts in the standard of living between its government was forced to back down, firing various regions. Per capita income in the top editors of Belgrade television, releas­ Slovenia is ten times that of the poorest parts ing jailed demonstrators, and dismissing the of the south, where horse-drawn transport is interior minister. still common. Behind this explosion of opposition lie Yugoslavia is divided into six republics - years of economic and political crisis in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herce­ Yugoslavia, similar to the crisis of bureau­ govina, Montenegro, and Macedonia. With a cratic rule which led to the overthrow of total Yugoslav population of 24 million, the several Stalinist regimes in Eastern Europe two largest republics are Serbia with 9.3 mil­ in 1989. lion inhabitants and Croatia with 4.6 million. In January 1990 Yugoslavia's Stalinist The Stalinist rulers of Serbia- whose party, the League of Communists, which had capital city, Belgrade, is also the federal ruled the country since 1945, disintegrated. capital - have opposed other republics' The Serbian section, led by Milosevic, had demands for independence. They have in­ for some years been on a drive to incite sisted that if republics do break away, Serbian nationalism as a means to increase boundaries should first be redrawn so all the political power of the Serbian Stalinist Yugoslavia's formation in 1918. tenegro an almost 50-fold increase in the Serb-populated regions are brought within caste vis-a-vis the other republics. Until that same period. one state. Such border shifts would dis­ point this campaign had centered on the Workers and peasants, led by the National member Croatia, where about 550,000 alleged oppression of Serbs in the autono­ Liberation Army (Partisans) headed by Josip But instead of mobilizing working people Serbs live. mous Serbian province of Kosovo, where 77 Tito, waged a massive resistance to the Nazi to build on the initial conquests of the revo­ With the open encouragement of the Serb­ percent of the population are ethnic Al­ occupiers and their local backers. A wide­ lution, the Stalinists in power relied increas­ ian government, the main Serbian enclave banians. spread deep-going revolutionary upheaval ingly on capitalist methods and market mech­ within Croatia (the region of Krajina), an­ Following this breakup, elections in brought about the creation of the Socialist anisms in running the nationalized economy. nounced its secession from Croatia in March. Slovenia and Croatia in April of 1990, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1945-46 As in other workers states, political repres­ Outside of Krajina, in a number of villages brought new governments led by nationalist capitalists and landlords who had formerly sion and denial of rights drove working peo­ and towns that have Serb majorities, provoc­ parties to power in those provinces. ruled the country were expropriated and a ple out of political activity. The reinforce­ ative attacks against Croatian police forces nationalized economy set up. ment of a privileged bureaucratic layer based have occurred over the past 10 months, in­ Economic stagnation The unity among working people which on the government apparatus resulted in cluding ambushes and roadblocks. Several Yugoslavia has been stagnating economi­ had made this triumph possible overcame growing economic stagnation. policemen, as well as Serbs, have been killed cally for some time. Industrial production fell many of the divisions fostered by local Economic difficulties, including chronic in these incidents. by 18.2 percent in 1990, and 20 percent of capitalists and imperialism based on rec­ inflation and unemployment, have grown The Yugoslav national army is led by a the work force is officially unemployed. In­ ognition of the equal rights of nationali­ since the 1960s, culminating in the deep crisis Serbian-dominated officer corps closely tied flation, which has soared to over 1000 per­ ties. In the next decades substantial which now exists. to the Serbian regime. It has intervened in a cent at times, is projected to exceed I 00 economic progress was made and big steps In response to this repression, the eco­ number of these incidents against the Cro­ percent in 1991. One-fourth of the country's were taken to overcome regional imbal­ nomic crisis, and the Serbian regime's at­ atian police. On one such occasion last Au­ 28,000 firms were considered insolvent at ances. For example, while the more devel­ tempts to impose its domination over the gust, when Croatian police were advancing the end of January. oped republics of Croatia, Slovenia, and whole federation, the nationalities have by helicopter to bypass Serbian roadblocks, Serbia is in a particularly deep economic Serbia experienced a 9- or I 0-fold increase pressed their demands for sovereignty, to the they were turned back by jet fighters of the crisis, with some 800 major firms facing in industrial output from 1939-1970, Mac­ point where the federation can only be held Yugoslav air force. · collapse. Many state-owned firms cannot af­ edonia saw a 31-fold increase, and Mon- together under threats of force and violence. ford raw materials; production lines are 'State of emergency' bid fails grinding to a halt; and at state-owned indus­ A giant crisis has also emerged over the tries - which employ 85 percent of workers country's presidential seat. In March, Borisav - paychecks have been arriving two or three NATO rapid deployment force to Jovic, the Serbian chairman of Yugoslavia's months late. federal presidency at the time, resigned fol­ The province of Kosovo is an economic be used outside member countries lowing an unsuccessful .attempt to persuade disaster area, with officially recognized un­ the eight-person body to declare a state of employment at 35 percent of the work force. BY PETER THIERJUNG Time said, "If the heart of Europe seems emergency, a move that would have allowed Ethnic Albanian leaders estimate unemploy­ A plan to restructure the military opera­ secure for the moment, there are still potential an army takeover. ment to be 70 percent in some areas. tions of the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza­ threats out on the flanks -from a Yugoslav The following day Serbia's president, Faced with the sharpening crisis, Serbia's tion (NATO) is set to be approved at a Rome civil war next door to NATO member Italy, Slobodan Milosevic, declared that he no ruling party has tried everything to cling to summit meeting in November. for example." longer recognized the supreme authority of power, from promoting Serbian nationalism The formation of a "rapid reaction" force Despite their agreement on the political the federal executive body. to changing the party's name from Commu­ is at the center of the plan for NATO. The aims and necessity of a rapid reaction force, The crisis deepened May 15 when Serbia nist Party to the Serbian Socialist Party. force would be composed of a mobile unit sharpening imperialist rivalries among. the led a move to block Croatia's representative In December 1990,just prior to the Serbian of about 5,000 troops capable of responding alliance's major imperialist powers surfaced from becoming chair of the presidency. He elections, the Stalinist-run parliament there to a crisis within 72 hours and a corps of over implementation and organization. was scheduled to take over from Jovic. Since secretly voted to take $1.3 billion in an illegal 50,000 to 70,000 that can be deployed within France, a formal member of NATO that that date Yugoslavia has technically had no withdrawal from the Yugoslav National a week's time. has refused to participate in its military com­ head of state. The chairmanship, a post which Bank. These funds, representing more than While use of its forces outside the mand since 1966, initially raised that the incorporates that of commander-in-chief of one-half of the funds the national central boundaries of the alliance is currently pro­ alliance should be phased out altogether arid Yugoslavia's armed forces, had been pre­ bank was to have made available to all Yu­ hibited by NATO's treaty, the Rome sum­ replaced by an all-European force that could viously rotated in one-year terms between goslav banks in 1991, were used to raise mit is expected to find a way around the be deployed anywhere in the world. France representatives of the six republics. pensions, increase benefits to farmers, and formality. and Germany even came to an agreement to This action prompted the Croatian govern­ boost subsidies to state-run enterprises. The Troops for two divisions of the force will place such a force under the control of the ment to declare independence May 29. In a Socialist Party was .re-elected. come from Germany, the Netherlands, Bel­ European Community. referendum ten days earlier, Croatians had gium, Britain, Italy, Greece, Spain, and pos­ French officials complained that NATO voted overwhelmingly for independence Regrowth of nationalism sibly Turkey. Two divisions will be provided military operations had become "a little within a Yugoslavia reconstituted as a loose Yugoslavia contains a complex array of by Britain, and Washington will contribute a bit of a [U.S.] dictatorship." Germany, confederation of independent countries. A peoples of different national origins, reli­ fifth division. Asserting its military superior­ which will soon have the strongest and wide majority of voters had already backed gions, languages, and even alphabets. ity, the United States will provide crucial air best organized military force in Europe a similar proposal last December in Slovenia, Prior to being occupied by Germany and transport and logistics support, effectively and is the dominant economic power on which was set to declare its independence by other Axis powers during World War II giving it veto power over the NATO force's the continent, has also sought to assert its June 26. Serbia had dominated the country since deployment: weight. The reorganization · would. cut current Washington, however, sent a "stiff letter" NATO troop strength of 1.5 million troops to NATO capitals protesting the French-Ger­ THE BALKAN WARS (1912-13) by about 50 percent, including the 320,000 man agreement and insisted that NATO re­ U.S. troops stationed in Europe. main the principal means of consultation and nlEWARaliUIF'~""',.'""·:o..- THE WAR CORRESPONDENCE OF LEON TROTSKY Growing instability in Central and Eastern decision-making in military matters. U.S. LEON TROTSKY Europe, western parts of the Soviet Union, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin and in Yugoslavia is now a major concern of Powell opposed the creation Trotsky's on-the-spot analysis of national and social conflicts of an indepen­ NATO imperialist powers. dent European force, fearing that some day in the Balkan countries- Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Roma­ In a May statement of principles, NATO European leaders would demand U.S. par­ nia, and what is now Yugoslavia- written 75 years ago, defense ministers said, "The security in Eu­ ticipation in military actions not under U.S. sheds light on the conflicts shaking these countries today. rope has much improved, although risks and control. uncertainties remain. The Soviet Union is 524 pages, $30.95 U.S. ruling circles also see NATO as cru­ undergoing a delicate process of reform, but cial to Washington's continued economic and Available from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, it retains substantial residual forces. There is, political leverage in Europe; or as one U.S. N.Y. 10014 moreover, the potential for crises in Central diplomat put it, NATO allows Washington to and Eastern Europe, which could jeopardize "tell the Europeans what we want on a whole Please include $3 for shipping and handling stability." lot of issues - trade, agriculture, the Gulf, Being more explicit, the June lO issue of you name it."

8 The Militant JulyS, 1991 Oil meeting registers shift by Iranian regime Rafsanjani gov't pushes for political, economic ties with imperialist powers

BY SAMAD SHARIF capitalist regime that replaced the monarch, ing and $10 billion in foreign investment. The government of President Hashemi under pressure to adopt measures in the in­ This quest for aid is being well-received in Rafsanjani is reorienting Iran's foreign policy terests of workers and peasants, came into international finance and banking institutions to accelerate that country's reintegration into sharp conflict with Washington. because Iran has good credit and because of trade and political relations with imperialist Iranian government officials at the Isfahan its renewed willingness to deal with key powers and Middle East regimes that had conference took the stance that in the after­ international organizations such as the Inter­ broken ties with Tehran. · math of the U.S.-led war against Iraq, Tehran national Monetary Fund (IMP) and the World This was brought home recently in an has many common interests with the Arab Bank. international gathering hosted by the Iranian monarchies and sheikdoms allied with Wash­ According to Mohammad Adeli, head of government in the industrial city of Isfahan. ington in the war. This registers a reversal in the Central Bank of Iran, 70 percent of the Two hundred and fifty oil company execu­ the attitude of the Islamic Republic govern­ borrowing rieeds for this year are already tives, government officials, industry analysts, ment toward those monarchies, labeled pro­ covered, largely through credit lines from and journalists from more than 20 countries, U.S. and reactionary in the past. several French banks. including the United States, participated in Iran's oil minister, Gholamreza Agazadeh, the "Conference on Oil and Gas in the 1990s: reiterated the Iranian government's new Response from Washington Prospects for Cooperation." stance and supported Saudi Arabia's position In contrast to the European and Japanese Rafsanjani and other senior officials of the calling for cooperation between oil-produc­ governments, the U.S. response to overtures Islamic Republic called for "vastly increased ing countries and imperialist powers to insure from Iran has been cool. The remarks of economic and political cooperation with the the flow of oil at stable prices. Agazadeh was President Rafsanjani and other officials about West and for closer ties with Iran's Persian a leading "hawk" in the Organization of a "new order" did not receive a positive Gulf neighbors," according to New York Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fight public response from Washington. Times correspondent Youssef Ibrahim. for higher oil prices. State Department spokeswoman Margaret In a message on the first day of the con­ Tutwiler commented, "If Iran wants to re­ ference, Rafsanjani stated, ''The concluding 'Marriage of convenience' emerge as a full member of the community years ofthe 20th century are marked by world Similarly, a reversal of attitude toward the of nations [it] must take action to end its events that have replaced the previous bipolar U.S. government was voiced by a senior support for international terrorism and hos­ system by a new order. If this order is to presidential adviser and member of Iran's tage~taking." This mainly refers to the influ­ Iran's President Hashemi Rafsanjani. At persist, cooperation should replace confron­ National Security Council, Mohammad ence Tehran reportedly has on groups in conference he hailed "new order" and tation." Javad Larijani. In an interview with the New Lebanon that have taken six U.S. citizens said "cooperation should replace con• Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, echo­ York Times May 26, he proposed a "marriage hostage. The hostages are used as a justifi­ frontation." ing similar views, told the participants that of convenience," but without formal ties, cation by Washington not to release some "From a global perspective, a new order is between Iran and the United States. In the $10 billion of Iranian assets in this country gradually superseding in which economic that were frozen in 1979. However, the U.S. certain of the reaction of working people to "security of the Persian Gulf, there is a con­ the new course. On the last day of Ramadan considerations overshadow political priori­ vergence of interests with the United States," government lifted its ban on the purchase of ties." Elaine Sciolino wrote in theNew York oil from Iran earlier this year. Coastal Corp. in April, hundreds of thousands demonstrated he said. in the Iranian cities in solidarity with the Times June 2 that if the "conference partici­ At the Isfahan conference the usual slogan in Houston and Mobil Oil have already con­ .Pale stinian struggle, as they have done since pants had closed their eyes, they might have of"Death to America" was absent. No coun­ tracted to buy substantial quantities oflranian thought they were listening to the late Shah oil. 1979. They chanted the traditional slogans try was criticized except Iraq. No represen­ "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." Mohammad Reza Pahlevi." Oil revenues for the Iranian year starting tative of Baghdad was present. This year funds were also raised during the In 1979, the U.S.-backed shah was over­ March 21 are projected to be $20 billion. Saudi Oil Minister Hisham Nazer was one demonstrations for refugees from Iraq. thrown by a massive revolution in Iran. The During the U.S. war drive against the peoples of the featured speakers. Diplomatic ties be­ The reluctance of top officials to discuss tween Iran and Saudi Arabia were reestab­ of Iraq, Tehran's oil revenues rose by $4 billion, due to increased production and a their course stems from the fact that they lished in April. Those ties were cut in 1987 were able to take power and hold it based on during the Iran-Iraq war after Saudi police temporary rise in prices. Iran remained for­ mally neutral in that war. the promise to the toilers that they were the attacked a demonstration during the Islamic most consistent anti-imperialist fighters. The The Rafsanjani administration is reluc­ pilgrimage ceremonies. More than 400 peo­ Islamic soci tant to inform Iranians of what it has been ety that they were building, they ple, mostly Iranians, were killed. argued, would be superior to that of the Those yearly demonstrations attracted telling the outside world. The government­ controlled Kayhan Havai, the weekly edi­ capitalist West or countries calling them­ Muslims from around the world on pilgrim­ selves socialist, as in Eastern Europe and the age to Mecca. They were organized by Iran­ tion of the Teheran daily Kayhan, reported on the Isfahan conference in its June 5 Soviet Union. ian activists around the slogans "Death to In his Friday prayer meeting address, CHEGUEVARA America" and "Death to Israel." This year, issue. The weekly omitted the opening part CUBA of Rafsanjani 's message to the conference Rafsanjani thanked all those who have been AM D THE for the first time in four years, Saudi author­ helping with the relief effort for war refugees ROADM ities have agreed to accept 110,000 pilgrims where he spoke of "a new order" and called for "cooperation" rather than "con­ from _Iraq. He singled out Germany as being SOCIAUSM from Iran based on assurances from Tehran in the forefront of the relief effort. German that no disruptions will take place. frontation." Articles in Farsi, the dominant language in Iran, gave the impression that troops were dispatched to Iran as part of the On another front, an agreement has been relief operation. reached for Iranian experts to assist the Ku­ the president was defending semicolonial countries against "greedy" and "unjust" According to Rafsanjani, Iran spends waiti regime in putting out 60 of the oil-well $15 million a day in refugee relief, which fires set by the retreating Iraqi army. For this exploitation by the industrialized coun­ tries. so far has amounted to $600-$700 million. the two governments have signed a $100 He listed refugee aid, the need for recon­ million contract. In contrast, the English section of the same struction projects in the aftermath oflraq 's Tehran's relations with the other govern­ issue of the paper, which carries a summary of the events for non-Farsi readers, promi­ eight-year war against Iran, and the ments in the Arab-Persian Gulf are improv­ replenishing of military hardware ·as rea­ ing. These regimes reportedly prefer to in­ nently reported Rafsanjani 's message on "a new order," and the statement that "cooper­ sons why working peoples' expectations clude Iran in their security arrangements, for improved conditions after .the war rather than have non-Gulf regimes like Egypt ation should replace confrontation." Prior to the Isfahan conference Rafsanjani could not be met. and Syria station troops on their soil. Rafsanjani also lashed out at those who Tehran has also strengthened its ties with addressed Tehran's Friday prayer meeting, where major policy pronouncements are are "sowing doubts in the minds of the work­ Syria and neighboring Turkey. Rafsanjani ing people" that "the revolution has lost its has made special trips to both countries. Iran often made. He did not discuss the new approach of the government and down­ color." The U.S. government, he argued, is has also re-established diplomatic ties with trying to create a schism between the people Egypt. played the need for foreign aid. Officials of the Islamic Republic are not Continued on Page 12 Trade, investment, and loans Germany, Japan, Italy, Britain, and France are Iran's major trading partners, accounting Garment strikers in Massachussetts for 40 percent of the country:s foreign pur­ chases in 1990. They reported an average increase in sales in 1990 of more than 50 say no to 12 percent wage cut percent compared to 1989. Germany is the leading exporter to Iran, having replaced the BY DAVE FERGUSON guages. Spirits are kept high with singing and United States after the shah's overthrow in LAWRENCE, Massachussetts - chanting. Strikers bring guitarS and other 1979. In the first eight months of 1990 Ger­ "Twelve percent is too much" is a common musical instruments to the picket line. Pass­ man imports to Iran totaled $1.5 billion, and refrain among 360 garment workers on strike ing motorists frequently honk their horns in Iranian exports to Germany were $556 mil­ at the Greico Bros. factory here. support. lion. Japan, the second biggest supplier, in­ A manufacturer of men's suits, the com­ Union officials have made a counteroffer creased its sales last year to Iran by 70 of a 6 percent wage cut, to be renegotiated percent, registering the largest increase of pany is demanding a 12 percent pay cut with a subsequent three-year freeze on wages from after one year. A federal mediator is meeting exports. Tehran is seeking foreign investment with company and uni'on representatives. as well as loans. Negotiations with several members of Local 187 of the Amalgamated Workers at Greico have been paid between European and Japanese companies on invest­ Clothing and Textile Workers- Union (ACTWU). Management originally sought a $8 and $9 an hour on average. Since union ing in the country's oil and gas production strike benefits are only $50 a week, many - Iran has the world's largest gas reserves 30 percent cut. workers face immediate hardship, especially after the Soviet Union - are reported to be Voting to reject the 12 percent proposal by a 170-to-168 margin the workers went out single women with children and workers in their final stages. The World Bank has with large families. re-established links with Iran and has ex­ on strike June 3. Although seven people Picketers express a determination to keep tended a $250 million loan for earthquake crossed the picket line the first day of the the company shut down until it withdraws relief in the northern provinces. strike, two weeks later only one is scabbing. the steep takeback demands. As part of financing the country's five-year An informal network of translators keeps development plan, the Iranian government is communication among the unionists flowing Dave Ferguson is a member of AC1WU seeking $17.7 billion in direct foreign financ- in Spanish, Chinese, English, and other lan- Local 1 in Boston.

JulyS, 1991 The Militant 9 UN rejects lifting sanctions against Iraq

Continued from front page visitor and beg, 'Haleeb, haleeb,' (milk, the U.S.-controlled en­ $1 billion. milk)," the Time reporter writes. clave in northern Iraq in the Oil production in Iraq has increased · to Burleigh's eyewitness account confirms a past three weeks, accord­ 700,000 barrels a day, according to the Mid­ May 15 report by Prince Sadruddin Aga ing to an Associated Press dle East Economic Survey. This is a fraction · Khan, who is in charge of UN activities in report. of the 3.14 million barrels a day produced the Arab-Persian Gulf. He noted at the time One of the largest ·de­ before the start of the war. that many mothers were "so poorly nour­ creases has been in the U.S. ished they have stopped lactating." forces, who now number Appalling impact of the war "We're seeing a pre-famine and pre-epi­ 9,200, down from 11,500 Time magazine, in a June 10 article titled demic situation in the south," says David in late May. There are still "Watching Children Starve to Death," pre­ Holdridge, a director of Catholic Relief. "We some 3,700 British troops sents an appalling picture of the continuing don't see the crisis point yet, but we're con­ and 2,100 French troops impact of the U.S.-war and economic em­ cerned if there's no change in two to three there. bargo against the Iraqi people. months, we'll be seeing widespread cholera, Kurds in Dohuk and Time correspondent Nina Burleigh ac­ typhoid, and dysentery." Zakho, within the U.S.­ companied a delegation sponsored by the According to UN officials, many individ­ enclave, have been hold­ Arab-American Medical Association that uals are subsisting on about 1,100 calories a ing almost daily toured hospitals in Iraq at the end of May. day. An internal UNICEF report on a late demonstrations. They are In Baghdad's Qadissiya hospital, Burleigh May. inspection tour of Iraq said that most worried about the return reports, 10 children are admitted each day rural areas in the south had no electricity or of Iraqi army and police with "marasmus--an advanced state of mal­ safe water "at all." units after a U.S. with­ nutrition that causes the child's face and Destruction of much of Iraq's physical drawal. body to become as shriveled and haggard infrastructure continues to hamper attempts Cmdr. John Wood­ as those of a wizened old man. Other chil­ to rebuild the country. Iraq's housing and house, a spokesperson for dren have grotesquely swollen bellies-a construction minister told New York Times U.S. Incirlik base in Tur­ symptom of the starvation syndrome known correspondent Alan Cowell that allied bomb­ key, denied that a mass as kwashiorkor." ing had destroyed or damaged "78 fixed­ withdrawal had begun. According to Time. some hospitals in Iraq span bridges, 26 pontoon bridges, 18 railway "Western aid officials," were damaged or destroyed by U.S. and bridges" along with "public buildings, AP stated, "said the pull­ allied bombing. Three hospitals in Baghdad homes, all telephone exchanges, as well as out had already begun but and two in the southern city of Basra were refineries and power stations." that the allies were exit­ hit. The only hospital in the country that ing quietly in an attempt performed kidney transplants and advanced 'Where is the humanity in all this?' to avoid upsetting the heart surgery was completely destroyed. The continued sanctions, the prohibition Kurds." Further damage occurred to some hospi­ on the sale of Iraqi oil, and the freezing of Iraq's foreign assets have forced the price of Greenpeace report on tals during the heavy fighting between Shiite the war rebels and Iraqi government troops in March. food to skyrocket. Iraq traditionally imports The biggest problem, however, is not from three-quarters of its overall food require­ The full extent about the the physical damage to health facilities, ments including 2.3 million tons of wheat death and destruction Burleigh notes, but from the continued lack annually, all of which arejeopardized by the wreaked during the U.S.­ Iraqi child suffering from advanced state of malnutrition. of electricity. Incubators, refrigerators to continuing sanctions. led war against Iraq will Baghdad hospital admits 10 such cases each day. store blood and medicine, operating rooms, Prices of many products such as meat, never be known. A detailed and intensive-care units all depend on a have doubled or more since August 1990. report released last month stable source of power. Basic foods are rationed. by the environmental organization on an Iraqi Republican Guard division during The growing medical catastrophe is affect­ "Where is the humanity in all this? Where Greenpeace highlights some of the available the "100 hours." Ten thousand members of ing the whole country. are the American human rights?" asked facts. the guard were probably killed. In the northern Kurdish city of Erbil, all Mustafa Fayek, reconstruction manager of a Greenpeace estimates that 100,000- "No prisoners were known to have been premature infants are dying, Burleigh says. power plant in Baghdad. 120,000 Iraqi soldiers died since the start taken," he said, "and no soldiers were seen There are no working incubators. "The war is over. We are meeting the of the conflict in August 1990, half of them fleeing the battlefield." allies' demands," he told theNew York Times. during the final 100-hour massacre - Some 2,000 Iraqi soldiers alone died in Mothers have stopped lactating "So why make our children starve and die while fleeing Kuwait toward Basra in Feb­ a two hour U.S. attack March 1-three "In hospitals where children lie dying of in hospitals with no medicine?" ruary. days after the beginning of a provisional malnutrition, mothers hovering over cribs Meanwhile, 4,000 U.S. and allied troops One high-ranking allied military official cease-fire. The fighting began after a mas­ hold out a hand when they see a foreign have withdrawn from southern Turkey and in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, described .an attack sive Iraqi convoy attempted to head across the Euphrates River. "I guess they were just trying to get away," one U.S. soldier said. Kuwaiti regime sentences 8 to death The environmental organization summa­ rizes the impact on those who survived the war, including Pakistani, Palestinian, Fili­ pointed defense attorneys to meet with de­ not appear on a list of the paper's employees. BY SETH GALINSKY pino, Chinese, and Egyptian immigrants. fendants. After an international uproar over A witness testified that Hussein had opposed Kuwait's martia11aw court has sentenced "Over two million foreign workers have re­ the crass denial of all semblance of demo­ the Iraqi occupation and had participated in at least 8 people to die by public hanging. turned to their countries of origin from Iraq cratic rights, the Kuwaiti government began actions against it. To no avail. Hussein was In a June 15 hearing the court ordered and Kuwait- herded through 'transit to allow the accused to present their own sentenced to death. the death penalty for six journalists, in­ camps' to countries with long-standing eco­ witnesses and their attorneys to cross-exam­ cluding one Kuwaiti woman, accused of The kangaroo courts are just one tool of nomic problems and severe unemployment," ine prosecution witnesses. working for AI Nida, a newspaper Iraqi the ruling monarchy to punish those it ex­ Greenpeace states. But the June 15 proceedings showed that forces published during their occupation ploits. Cable News Network reported June "The intangible human losses -:- quite of Kuwait. Ten employees of the paper the changes are cosmetic. 17 that the government plans to deport all of simply- cannotbecounted,"thereportcon­ were sentenced to 10 years in prison and The New York Times noted that "little the 170,000 Palestinians still living in Ku­ cludes. eight were acquitted. evidence" was presented against Usama wait. The Palestinians have been "tainted" Sehail Abdalla Hussein, a Jordanian. Ac­ by contact with the Palestine Liberation Or­ An estimated 440 people have been cused of working for AI Nida, his name does ganization, the regime said. Court decision against charged with collaborating with the Iraqi occupation. Most are Palestinians, Iraqis, farm workers union a Yemenis, Sudanese, Egyptians, or so-called blow to labor movement "stateless" persons. Less than 30 percent of Vietnam government objects to US. the people who live in Kuwait are allowed BY BRUCE VALDE to be citizens. demands for normalizing relations LOS ANGELES -In a blow against On the first day of the trials, May 19, the the labor movement, the California Su­ The government of Vietnam has objected consider establishing full diplomatic rela­ government provided no evidence or wit­ _preme Court let stand a $1.7 million dam­ to conditions Washington has set for normal­ tio!ls with Vietnam,lifting its trade embargo, nesses and did not allow government-ap- age award against the United Farm and granting economic benefits. izing relations. The conditions are linked to Workers of America. a settlement of the fighting in Cambodia and The information on Washington's plan for the formation of a new government there that normalizing relations with Vietnam was The money was awarded to Maggio, Inc., would give the Khmer Rouge veto power. made public by Bobby Muller, executive a major Imperial Valley lettuce grower for "damages" stemming from a bitterly fought Headed by Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge director of the Vietnam Veterans of America 1979 farm workers strike. ruled Cambodia from 1975-78 and was re­ Foundation. Muller visited Vietnam in May sponsible for killing at least a million peopie. and was given a copy of the U.S. proposals, With accumulated interest, the penalty Their rule came to an end when Cambodian as well as a letter to U.S. Secretary of State against the union now comes to $2.4 million. resistance fighters and Vietnamese troops James Baker from Vietnamese Foreign Min­ Maggio won the award in 1986 when a toppled the regime. Vietnam withdrew its ister Nguyen Co Thach, objecting to the U.S. judge held that the union had created a "cli­ soldiers from Cambodia in 1989. terms. mate of violence" which prevented the com­ Khmer Rouge troops, joined by military Thach said in his letter that "the United pany from recruiting enough scabs to fully forces of two other former regimes, have States is more interested in resolving the harvest its crops. waged a more than decade-long fight to internal affairs of Cambodia than in normal­ During the strike, one unionist was killed overthrow the new Cambodian government izing bilateral [U.S.-Vietnam] relations and and others wounded by gunfire while on the now led by Prime Minister Hun Sen. Wash­ has allowed the bilateral relations to be held picket line. ington, aided by Beijing, has backed the hostage to a veto right of the Khmer Rouge." The decision against the union was upheld counterrevolutionary effort, which has been A memorandum by the Cambodian for­ by an appeals court and left standing with unsuccessful. eign ministry to the U.S. State Department the May 16 refusal of the top court to review The Bush administration now proposes also objected to Washington's conditions. it. the Cambodian government and the three "Cambodians will resolutely not accept Dianna Lyons~ a UFW attorney, assailed counterrevolutionary armies demobilize themselves being used as a card in the nego­ the award as a blow against the right to strike. their forces and disband them. If it gets its tiations on the relations between other coun­ She said the union would appeal it to the Emir of Kuwait, in foreground. way, the administration says it will then tries," the memorandum said. U.S. Supreme Court . 10 The Militant .July 5, 1991 Police still hound victim Rodney King

BY HARRY RING In the wake of King's second arrest, his LOS ANGELES - Rodney King, the po­ attorney, Steven Lerman, charged that the lice brutality victim, feared for his life when Los Angeles cops and other police agencies he was subjected to a second confrontation have subjected his client to around-the-clock with the cops, a Los Angeles police report surveillance. He described the second arrest states. as a "setup," designed to smear King. Two vice-squad cops claim they followed When taken into custody King also stated King May 28 when he parked his car in a he felt he had been set up, the police report carport after picking up a man the police said. . describe as a male prostitute. Meanwhile, it was announced that a When the cops approached his car, King "people's grand jury" has been established sped away. Seconds later, he flagged down to put the spotlight on the many abuses another squad car. committed by the city police and by the The two cops who followed King_into the county sheriff's department. carport claim that as he fled he tried to run After compiling evidence, the body will one of them down. hear testimony from police victims and oth­ According to police reports obtained by ers at a June 29 public hearing in the Black the Los Angeles Times, King told the squad community. car cops he flagged down, and who arrested This will be headed up by Maxine Waters, him: "Those guys have guns .... I thought it a member of Congress from this area, and was the big chance for the police to kill me. Ramsey Clark, the former attorney generaL rf)CJ.nY ... I get paranoid. You know how they are." Carol Watson, local president of the Na­ I The district attorney has asked the state tional Lawyers Guild and a specialist in police attorney general to decide if a charge of brutality cases, said she and others have been assault with a deadly weapon - his car­ compiling evidence ofpolice abuses for years Militant/Lisa Ahlberg should be pressed against King. and felt that with the developments around Los Angeles protest following police beating of Rodney King. Cops have tailed King Prosecutors said it would be improper for the King beating it was timely to put this since outcry over that beating, his attorney says. them to file felony charges against King evidence in the public record. when they are prosecuting four cops in his As reported by the Times, initiators of the Thomas Bradley to probe misconduct in the "expanded" criminal investigation of Mayor March 3 beating. mock grand jury said they had no confidence wake of the angry protest against the brutal­ Bradley's office. This came after a press An amateur's videotaping of that assault in the Christopher Commission. Headed by ization of King. report that a Bradley aide had used city triggered a public outcry and the demand for Warren Christopher, a veteran politico, the In an earlier development, the police dis­ offices and facilities to promote the cam­ the ouster of Police Chief Daryl Gates. commission was appointed by Mayor closed May 23 that they were conducting an paign of a local candidate favored by the mayor. The police said they had been probing such charges since before the King beating. Socialists address Minnesota farmers Meanwhile, Chief Gates denied that the police are blackmailing members of the city BY CANDACE WAGNER. Gale Shangold, also an SWP candidate for "Education is a Right." Socialist candidate council. The charge was made after all mem­ AUSTIN, Minnesota- Over coffee and school board, addressed a meeting of 20 Shangold spoke on the platform with Bill bers of the council except one opposed eggs 20 farmers and farm youth spoke with Austin high school students in the Future Bachelder, a student at Austin Community moves to oust Gates. Sylvia Giesbrecht, Socialist Workers Party Farmers of America. After listening with College who is in a fight against cutbacks Several years ago, it was disclosed that candidate for Austin School Board, at a 6:30 interest to the candidate, one student asked, in the community college system. John the cops were maintaining a secret file on a.m. breakfast business meeting of Future "What does war have to do with the Austin Priebe, a student at the University of Min­ public officials and on groups and individu­ Farmers of America alumnae. School Board?" nesota - Waseca Campus, also spoke. als deemed to be critical of the police. "The war waged against the workers and Shangold described the world economic Priebe has been part of a fight of students, The police say they no longer engage in farmers of Iraq is just one side of a two-sided crisis of capitalism and why the war in the farmers, and others to stop the closing of such practices. war," Giesbrecht said. "The other side of this Mideast was an attempt by Washington to the Waseca Campus, an agricultural col­ A rally was held in front of police head­ war is waged against working people in the stabilize this deepening crisis through a mas­ lege vital to southern Minnesota working quarters June I to support a petition cam­ United States. Funds for education are being sive military assault against the people of farmers. paign to.quali fy a ballot referendum for the cut as part of a campaign to push back gains Iraq. The program ended with a lively discus­ recall of Gates. we have won in struggle. The ruling rich are At home, "their economic crisis drives sion of the role of both the Democratic and The recall drive is being promoted by driven to make us pay for their economic them, under the guise of a 'budget crisis,' to Republican parties ·in leading the drive for various civil liberties and civil rights group­ crisis." cut funding for education and other social cutbacks in education, in support for war in ings and a number of politicians. Giesbrecht put forward the need for an services," she said. the Mideast, and assaults on democratic About 200 people attended the Saturday alliance of the union movement and working These speaking engagements were part of rights. rally. farmers to fight against union-busting, farm a whirlwind final week of campaigning be­ foreclosures, attacks on democratic rights, fore the May 21 election. On May 14, and war. Shangold and Giesbrecht took part in an After speaking, the candidate had a hour-long television call-in show with the Cleveland candidates defend lengthy discussion with a member of the other candidates. United Auto Workers who raises sheep... I One question, called in late in the show, guess someone had to stop Saddam Hus­ was, "What would have been done to busing, desegregation sein," he said. But as the discussion unfolded, the students at Ellis Middle School who he voiced concern that, given the devastation held a walkout in January protesting the BY SUSAN HOPE support desegregation, along with a minority of Iraq, "maybe we didn't have any business war?" CLEVELAND-Socialist candidates for of whites, virtually no voice has been raised being there in the first place." While the question flustered another can­ Cleveland Board of Education have sounded in defense of the desegregation court order. "How do we resolve the problems we didate, Giesbrecht said, " I 00,000 to 200,000 an alert on the attempted overturn of court­ The summit capped a month-long front­ have?" he asked Giesbrecht. "Where in this Iraqis died in that war. These students should ordered desegregation. A sweeping, citywide page series in the Plain Dealer that blamed world is there a country that's any different?" be applauded for the leadership role they busing plan here, which began in 1978, is the "crisis of public education" on the court The socialist candidate pointed to the gains exhibited and their sense of human solidar­ the target of stepped-up bipartisan attacks. order. made by workers and farmers in Cuba in ity." Socialist Workers Party candidates Dean "Far from being the problem, busing has their revolution. Both candidates campaigned inside the Athans and Jon Hillson and their supporters advanced equality in the schools," the so­ gate of the big Hormel packinghouse and have distributed hundreds ofleaflets at recent cialist candidates state, "improving the qual­ to worke rs at Quality Pork, whe re activities, including a Summit on Education, ity of education for all students." An overturn Cop racism evidence Shangold works. United Food and Com­ a community hearing on proposed budget of the order, based on recent Supreme Court allowed in King trial mercial Workers Local 9 organizes both cutbacks, a union-sponsored rally demand­ rulings, would be a blow to the "solidarity plants. · ing health care for working people, an abor­ working people need to wage a united Continued from front page The candidates got a good response from tion rights protest, and at area plant gates. fightback in defense of public education and equality." can be heard in the now famous bystander's old friends and from those hearing about the The candidates spoke with hundreds of videotaping of the incident. Police Com­ socialist campaign for the first time. Several people about busing, Supreme Court attacks On June 6, Ohio Gov. George Voinovich mander Rick Dinse responded that he had bought copies of the Militant newspaper to on abortion, congressional blows a_gainst af­ announced plans to put the Cleveland Board listened carefully, and repeatedly, to the tape learn more about the campaign's proposals. firmative-action quotas, and the mounting of Education in receivership to drive forward - after the sound had been "enhanced" by Shangold and a campaign supporter asked horror in Iraq as a result of the U.S. bombing the dismantling of desegregation. Two leg­ the FBI - and could hear only "unintelligi­ for support for the socialist campaign at the and slaughter earlier this year. Both candi­ islators, one a Democrat, the other a Repub­ ble remarks" where Lerman heard slurs. monthly union meeting of Local 9. dates are members of the Amalgamated. lican, immediately stated they would co­ But in early May, a local TV station re­ Austin high school students listened with Clothing and Textile Workers Union. sponsor the required legislation. played the videotape, this time independently interest to candidate Giesbrecht and support­ "The budget-cutting attack on public edu­ On June 9, the Plain Dealer called for a audio-enhanced. There, the TV audience ers during their lunch break the day before cation," their campaign statement says, "is "return to neighborhood schools," stating could hear a voice shouting, "Nigger, hands the election. While most students felt that the part of a broader offensive against the rights, that "busing to achieve integration within the behind your back!" war in the Mideast was right, many wanted wages, and standard ofliving won by working Cleveland public school system is an idea Asked about the discrepancy between the to talk and a number voiced strong opposi­ people in decades of struggle, in our unions that has outlived its usefulness." two tapes, Dinse responded, "I can't explain tion. and in the Black and Latino communities." "We protest this latest attack on desegre­ that at all." One young woman, who said that the war Hundreds of participants in the Education gation," SWP candidate Dean Athans stated, Meanwhile, attorney Lerman said that was "stupid," argued, "This country is going Summit, a city-sponsored gathering to assess "and oppose any effort to void the right of King intended to testify at the trial despite to the dogs. My father was falsely charged public education performance, received the working people to vote for the candidates of the severe physical and psychological trauma with arson and they searched our house with­ statement. Many of them were interested in their choice on the board of education." he has suffered as a result of the beating. out even having a warrant." Her friend finding candidates who publicly state they Supporters of the SWPcampaign are mov­ "He wants to see these officers punished," pitched in to buy a copy of the Militant. support busing and desegregation. ing ahead with plans for an ambitious July Lerman said, "so this doesn't happen to any­ The final week of the campaign culmi­ While a recent poll showed a majority of petitioning campaign to win places for their one else." nated in a Militant Labor Forum titled the city's Black community continues to candidates on the fall ballot. July 5, 1991 The Militant 11 Conference -MILITANT LABOR FORUMS------The Militant Labor Forum is a weekly NEBRASKA Mamie Anderson, eyewitness report and slide­ free-speech meeting for workers, farm­ Omaha show from trip to Iraq. Fri., June 21, 7:30p.m. shows gov't ers, youth, and others. All those seeking Right to Abortion Under Attack. Speakers: 47 The Cut, SE 1. Donation: £1. Tel: 71-401- to advance the fight against injustice and Heather Williams, Burke High School student; 2409. exploitation should attend and partici­ Hilda Cuzco, Socialist Workers Party, member Manchester shift in Iran pate in these discussions on issues of im­ United Food and Commercial Workers; and oth­ War and Depression: Is This the Future? portance to working people. ers. Translation to Spanish. Sat., June 22, 7 p.m. Speaker: representative, Communist League. Continued from Page 9 140 S 40th St. Donation: $3. Tel: (402) 553-0245. Sat., June 21 , 7:30p.m. Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. At the Militant Labor Forum you can Donation: £1. Tel: 061 -839 1766. and the government of Iran. He said if nec­ express your opinion, listen to the views essary he would divulge names of those Sheffield of fellow fighters, and exchange ideas on PENNSYLVANIA involved. Pittsburgh The Crisis Facing Working Farmers. Speak­ how to best advance the interests of ers: Andy Welford, working farmer The speech at the Friday prayer meeting, workers and farmers the world over. Washington's Assault on Iraq: No Victory an event that attracts supporters and func­ for U.S. Rulers. Speaker: Jon Hillson, Socialist from Cleveland; representative, Communist tionaries of the regime, amounted to a warn­ Workers Party, member Amalgamated Clothing League. Fri., June 21, 7:30p.m. 2A Waverley MASSACHUSETTS and Textile Workers Union Local 168C. Sat., House, 10 Joiner St. Donation: £1. Tel: 0742- ing to those within the regime who oppose Boston 729469. the current course to remain silent. It is feared June 22, 7 p.m. 4905 Penn Ave. Donation: $3 . The Stakes for Labor in the GE Contract Tel: (4 12) 362c6767. that if a widespread public discussion of the Fight. Speakers: Russell Davis, Socialist Work­ shift toward overt accommodation with im­ ers Party, member International Union of Elec­ WEST VIRGINIA CANADA perialism broke out, many working people tronic Workers Loca1201 at GE's Lynn, Massa­ Toronto and those who continue to follow the course chussetts, plant. Sat., June 22, 7:30 p.m. 605 Charleston The Deepening Crisis in the Soviet Union. Deepening Crisis of the Soviet Bureaucracy: now being discarded would express opposi­ Massachusetts Ave. Donation: $3. Tel: (617) A Problem for Washington; New Openings 247-6772. Speaker: Linda Joyce, Socialist Workers Party. tion. Sat, June 22, 7:30p.m. 1586 E Washington St. for Working People. Speaker: John Steele, Donation: $3 . Tel: (304) 345-3040. Communist League, member International As­ Meeting with expatriates criticized sociation of Machinists. Sat., June 22,7:30 p.m .' Already some dissenting voices have been MINNESOTA • 410 Adelaide St. W, Suite 400. Donation: $3 . raised. One of these is Hojatolislam Ahmad Austin Tel: (416) 861-1399. Khomeini, the son of Ayatollah Ruhollah Defend Abortion Rights! Speakers to be an­ Vancouver nounced. Translation to Spanish. Sat., June 22, BRITAIN MalcolmX Speaks. Video. Sat., June 22, 7:30 Khomeini, who ruled Iran from 1979 until London his death in 1989. Ahmad Khomeini de­ 7:30p.m. 407V2 N Main St. Donation: $2.50. p.m. 1053 Kingsway, Suite 102. Donation: $3 . Tel: (507) 433-3461 . Imperialist Devastation in Iraq. Speaker: Tel: (604) 872-8343. nounced a meeting between Mohammad Adeli of the Central Bank, Dr. Mohsen Nourbakhsh, minister of finance, and 450 Iranian expatriate investors and professionals New York dairy farmers discuss price crisis in May in New York. The officials complimented the exiles on Continued from Page 16 their business achievements in the United States and informed them that all legal ob­ capitalist enterprises, like Dairy lee, Crowley, stacles to foreign investment in Iran have Sunnydale, and H.P. Hood, that process the been removed. They were invited to invest milk or make cheese, ice cream, and other in Iran and were assured that they could enter milk products to sell to supermarkets and and leave the country at will. The May 29 other retail stores. Kayhan Havai quoted Khomeini . as saying Although the price paid to farmers is reg­ that "holding meetings with fugitive capital­ ulated by an extremely complex system of ists turns the country into the Iran of the federal and state laws, in essence it is the big shah's era," and that this violated the legacy processors that dictate the price and condi­ of his father. tions paid for raw milk. Some criticisms were also voiced in the The farmers gathered in Little Falls were Majles (Parliament), which is dominated by looking for ways to fight back. One pointed the SQ-called "radical" faction. This is a het­ to a recent demonstration of unionized state erogeneous, mainly petty-bourgeois faction employees who held a demonstration of that tends to oppose the government's "pro­ thousands in Albany, the state capital, as an Western" orientation, but offers no program example of what farmers should do. of its own. Some farmers credit actions taken in 1986 This year the Majles passed a bill qualify­ - when thousands of farmers kept milk off ing some workers for cash assistance toward the market - with winning emergency leg­ their rent, which is extremely high in the islation that temporarily raised prices. cities. The deputies also approved the exten­ "We should all refuse to sell our milk until sion of a law that, according to Islamic code, they pay us the price we need," one farmer . Militant/Jon Flanders implements the death penalty by stoning the said. "We should dump our milk." In 1986 Dairy farmers protest in Albany. Capitalist milk processors have kept price for milk accused to death. The Council of Guardians, some farmers dumped thousands of gallons up at supermarkets, while paying farmers 30 percent less for raw milk. the body with veto power over the Majles, of milk on the ground as part of the wide­ rejected both bills. spread protests. "But look at us," replied another. "There's The foreign policy shift coincides with Many of the farmers had been calling their Washington, D.C., June 18 and 19. Those are 430 farmers here in Herkimer county and policies being implemented inside the coun­ congressmen and state representatives to try the days that hearings have been scheduled try. Shares in many companies that came look at how many of us are here tonight." and convince them to introduce legislation in Congress to discuss upcoming farm bills. under government ownership after the revo­ There was general agreement among the that would force processing companies to The farmers plan to hold a demonstration and lution are being sold off to private capitalists. meeting participants that the government pay a higher price. lobby congressmen while they are there. The Ministry of Industry announced that this should pass legislation mandating that farm­ At the meeting, after several hours of year I 0 times as many stocks in government­ ers re.ceive a minimum price for milk, which discussion, the farmers decided to join with Bob Schwarz from New York contributed to owned factories will be sold off to the private would be more than the cost of production. other farmers around the country to go to this article. sector as last year. The Government is also lifting price con­ trols and is doing away with subsidies on -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP basic necessities introduced during the Iran­ Iraq war, when the rate of inflation averaged Where to find Pathfinder books and distrib­ MINNESOTA: Austin: 407 Y2 N. Main. Zip: AUSTRALIA above 30 percent. utors of the Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, 55912. Tel: (507) 433-3461. Twin Cities: 508 Sydney: 19 Terry St., Surry Hills, Sydney N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) Inflation now lingers around 20 percent New International, Nouvelle lnternationale, NSW 2010. Tel: 02-281-3297. and unemployment is as high. In fighting and L'intemationaliste. 644-6325. back against the conditions of poverty, MISSOURI: St. Louis: 1622 S. Broadway. BRITAIN UNITED STATES Zip: 63104. Tel: (314) 421-3808. workers have waged some successful ALABAMA: Birmingham: 111 21 st St. London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SEl 8LL. NEBRASKA: Omaha: 140 S. 40th St. Zip: Tel: 71-401 2293 . strikes at individual plants around the South. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323-3079, 328- 3314. 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal country, despite the regime's intolerance NEW JERSEY: Newark: 141 Halsey. Zip: code: M4 4AA. Tel: 061-839 1766. of such activity. ARIZONA: Phoenix: 1809 W. lnd ian 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. School Rd. Zip: 85015. Tel: (602) 279-5850. Sheffield: 2A Waverley House, 10 Joiner St., NEW YORK: Albany: P.O. Box 6185. Zip: Sheffield S3 8GW. Tel: 0742-729469. CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. Pico 12206. New York: 191 7th Ave. Zip: 10011. Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460. San Tel: (212) 727-8421. CANADA Francisco: 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: 2219 Montreal: 6566, boul. St-Laurent. Postal JJCuba Will 282-6255. E Market. Zip 27401 . Tel: (919) 272-5996. code: H2S 3C6. Tel: (514) 273-2503. CONNECTICUT: New Haven: Mailing ad­ OHIO: Cleveland: 1863 W. 25th St. Zip: Toronto: 410 Adelaide St. W., Suite 400. dress: P.O. Box 16751, Saybrook Station, West 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Columbus: P.O. Postal code: M5V ISS. Tel: (416) 861-1399. Haven. Zip: 06516. · Never Adopt Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Vancouver: 1053 Kings way , Suite 102. FLORIDA: Miami: 137 NE 54th St. Zip: PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 1906 Postal code: V5V 3C7. Tel: (604) 872-8343. Capitalist 33137. Tel : (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: P.O. South St. Zip: 19146. Tel : (215) 546-8218. Pitts­ Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 877-9338. burgh: 4905 Penn Ave. Zip 15224. Tel: (412) ICELAND - GEORGIA: Atlanta: 172 Trinity Ave. Zip: 362-6767. Reykjavik: Klapparstfg 26. Mailing address: Methods" 30303. Tel : (404) 577-4065. TEXAS: Houston: 4806 Almeda. Zip: P. Box 233, 121 Reykjavik. Tel: (91) 17513. ILLINOIS: Chicago: 545 W. Roosevelt Rd. 77004. Tel: (713) 522-8054. Zip: 60607. Tel: (312) 829-6815, 829-7018. NEW ZEALAND Excerpts from UTAH: Price: 253 E. Main St. Mailing ad­ Auckland: 157a Symonds St. Postal Ad­ IOWA: Des Moines: 2105 Forest Ave. Zip: dress: P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: (801) dress: P.O. Box 3025. Tel: (9) 793-075. 50311. Tel: (515) 246-8249. Fidel Castro's 637-6294. Salt Lake City: 147 _E 900 South. Christchurch: 593a Colombo St. (upstairs). July 26, 1988 speech KENTUCKY: Louisville: P.O. Box 4103 . Zip: 84111. Tel : (801) 355-1124 .- Postal address: P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 656- Zip: 40204-4103. W ASHINGTON, D.C.: 523 8th St. SE. Zip: 055. MARYLAND: Baltimore: 2913 Green­ 20003. Tel: (202) 547-7557. mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. Wellington: 23 Majoribanks St., Courtenay 32 pp. pamphlet, $2.50 WASHINGTON: Seattle: 1405 E. Madison. Pl. Postal address: P.O. Box 9092. Tel: (4) 844- Order from Pathfinder, 410 West St., MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 605 Mas­ Zip: 98122. Tel: (206) 323-1755. 205. New York, NY 10014. Please sachusetts Ave. Zip: 02118. Tel : (617) 247- WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: 1586 E. include $3.00 for postage and 6772. Washington St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 5398. SWEDEN handling. MICHIGAN: Detroit: 5019 1f2 Woodward Zip: 25311. Tel: (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10. Postal code: Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 831 -1177. 221 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 2%-0055. S-113 42. Tel: (08) 31 69 33.

12 The Militant July 5, 1991 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------

You can't insult them~ North longtime foe of anti-apartheid sanc­ owed by the USSR for parking tick­ a job with Interstate Casualty Insur­ enhanced appetite appeal, while you Carolina legislators declared they tions, saluted the "excellent arrange­ ets. According to D.C. officials, the ance. When Interstate went bust, the get an easy-to-prepare, upscale would not be swayed by letters from ment" between white landowners, 250 vehicles used by the Soviet em­ state hired Gray to check out why. product that boosts margins without schoolchildren protesting education and Black farmworkers - who bassy average 100 tickets a day. Now Gray and others have been costing you the price of an open cuts. One senator said he threw out earn about £215 ($355) a year, are indicted for swindling Interstate out Catching up with capitalism - flame grill." - A pitch to restaurant denied a minimum wage,.health and of $37 million. A group of Czech legislators on a operators for "SeaGrills," fish fillets safety standards, jobless pay and with grill marks applied at the fac­ U.S. visit have been checking out Neat getaway·- At New York's other social benefits. tory. the functioning of various state leg­ swank Southampton seaside, Drag­ Prices go up, but life gets islative bodies. They professed on's Head, a king-size castle, sits on Harry cheaper -Last year, federal regu­ amazement to learn that lobbyists 6.5 acres of private beach front. No prejudice there -Lenin is lators imposed a median (half over, wined and dined lawmakers. In Built by one of the Du Ponts, the said to have observed that the cap­ Ring half under) fme of $890 on compa­ Czechoslovakia, said one, "this asking price has run as high as $12 italists will sell you the rope to hang nies responsible for the death or would be looked upon as some kind million. The current owner, a re­ them with. A current reminder of cards, saying, "I wish my daddy serious injury of a worker. Adjusted of bribe or corruption." puted big-time swindler, will part their nondiscriminatory approach to could get a hold of you" and, "You for inflation, that's half the 1972 fine with it for $4 million. He's not profit-taking is the news that an Clearly a specialist in the field are all stupid." - which was nothing to brag about. readily available, but his agent can eight-page, 1842 manuscript by - For years, Robert Gray worked reach him. Karl Marx -described as rapping Excellent for some - On a visit They joined the free market ~ for North Carolina's Department of King Frederick IV of Prussia - is to South Africa, Margaret Thatcher, The city of Washington, D.C., is Insurance, and was the state's chief For the food voyeur- "Your expected to fetch up to $170,000 at Britain's ex-prime minister and demanding $3 million assertedly insurance examiner. He then left for more discriminating customers get a London auction. Event salutes political life of Duncan Williams ,, ______tric 's Evandale, Ohio, plant. The workers nist politics. Duncan helped guide the new aiding the Charleston branch and the entire were striking during the war to defend their branch on how to function in the class strug­ party to strengthen knowledge of, and in­ As workers fight, their wages and working conditions. gle," said Swanson. volvement with, the United Mine Workers Brown wrote that Williams had explained Williams attended the founding conven­ union, said Singer. eyes will open to what is about the strikers, "They were fighting the tions of some important farmers organiza­ "The opportunity to do politics together going on in the world. same war machine that we were fighting tions, including the North American Farm with union refinery workers was first and against. And as these workers fight, their eyes Alliance. He wrote about them for the Mili­ foremost on Duncan's mind when he hired on will open to what is going on in the world." tant, and strove to help build an alliance at Chevron," wrote longtime SWPleaderTom between militant Workers and family farmers Leonard. Williams took advantage of that BY JIM GOTESKY '' Putting the party first fighting foreclosures of their farms by the opportunity, said Britton, as part of the party's AND MARGARET JAYKO When Williams joined the SWP in 1970, banks. campaign against imperialism and its brutal MARTINEZ, Ca.- Seventy-five friends, said Britton, he put building the party before Working in Lincoln, Williams also helped war against the Iraqi people. Williams at­ family members, coworkers, and members anything else. "Dimcan 's legacy centers on the party participate in the meatpacking tended the meeting last December of SWP and supporters of the Socialist Workers Party the example he set for others. He made strikes- paving the way for the SWP's de­ members and supporters in the OCAW that celebrated the political life and work of Dun­ himself available to move from city-to-city cision to build a national fraction in the United prepared these revolutionary unionists to can Williams at a meeting here June 2. It took to build the party, to learn more so that he Food and Commercial Workers union. carry out this campaign. Britton reported that place at the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Work­ could give more ... so he could help the Swanson described how Williams headed Williams helped organize a discussion in his ers (OCAW) union Local1-5 hall. SWP become more of a national party and a sales and reporting team to an Iowa Beef OCAW local on Washington's reactionary Williams, 42, was a 20-year member and reflect geographically of the very diverse Processing plant on strike some 120 miles war aims, distributed the Militant to his co­ supporter ofthe SWPand amemberofOCAW working class of this country." from Lincoln. Swanson and Williams drove workers, and participated in antiwar street Local 1-5. He died of a brain aneurysm May Williamsquitjobafterjob,Brittonrecalled, there every week, averaging sales of 30-50 protest. 22 while working as an operator at the Chev­ when asked to work full time for the cause: Militants at the plant. Meeting participants donated $960 to a ron Chemical plant in nearby Richmond. for the SMC, National Peace Action Coali­ fund to finance the publication of the Marxist Local1-5 Secretary-Treasurer Jim Payne wel­ tion, Political Rights Defense Fund, Hector West Virginia coalfields magazine New International, including a cqmed participants, saying Williams had been Marroquin Defense Committee, Pathfinder Williams' first assignment when he arrived special issue devoted to the war and what the an active member of the local. publishers, and the Socialist Workers 1980 in Charleston in 1987, explained SWP mem­ war showed about world politics. SWP National Committee member Joel presidential election campaign. ber Toba Singer, was writing Militant articles Poet and author Piri Thomas - who Britton, an oil worker in the Los Angeles Williams helped bring into print, in per­ on the frame-up trial of miners involved in worked with Williams in defense of framed­ area, explained that Williams joiried the so­ manent book-form, important political weap­ a strike against the A.T. Massey coal com­ up union activist Mark Curtis -read two cialist movement as part of the young gen­ .ons for working-class fighters. As a member pany. poems, accompanied by flutist Richard eration of the 1960s that revolted against the of the Pathfinder editorial staff, he helped Williams introduced the Militant to the Lesnick who is a member of International U.S. government's criminal war against the produce the 14-volume series of the writings miners and their family members who also Association of Machinists Local 17 81. Chev­ Vietnamese people. of Leon Trotsky, a central leader of the 1917 attended the trial; several became subscrib­ ron oil worker Mike Baer and railroad worker In the heat of these struggles, Britton said, Russian Revolution. He also helped edit The ers. And he helped organize Militant distrib­ and SWP member Tamar Rosenfeld chaired "Duncan grew from an antiwar fighter, to a Balkan Wars (1912-13), Trotsky's war cor­ utors to visit mining communities, thereby the meeting. revolutionist of action as a member of the respondence. Britton pointed out that this Young Socialist Alliance, to being won to the volume has great relevance today, shedding consistent class-struggle outlook of the So­ light on the new round of wars shaping up -25 AND 50 YEARS AGO-- cialist Workers Party that we know as com~ in Yugoslavia and other Balkan countries. munism." launched a fateful attack on the Soviet Written greetings from SWP members Workers', farmers' struggles in Nebraska THE Union. Hitler opened a new front in the East John Studer and Nancy Brown recalled In the early 1980s, Duncan left his full­ stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Williams' political activities as a student at time assignment in New York to help build In a drastic shift of policy he embarked upon MILITANT a campaign to win the wheat and oil of Antioch College in Ohio. There, he was a a party branch in Lincoln, Nebraska. SWP Published in the Interests of the Wo r ~ing People Russia before corning to final grips with leader of the Student Mobilization Commit­ National Committee member Joe Swanson June 27, 1966 tee to End the War in Vietnam (SMC) and told meeting participants that YSA members Britain. the Young Socialist Alliance. in Lincoln had made contact with some In this column last week we said that a [The following statement from Cuban As Williams drew socialist conclusions unionists like Swanson. German-Soviet clash at this time was un­ Foreign Minister Raul Roa was sent to UN from his antiwar activities, he helped orient When Duncan arrived, Swanson was a likely because we believed Stalin would Secretary General U Thant on June 11.] other young activists toward a working-class radical rail worker who had been active in make fresh concessions rather than risk Nazi On the instructions of the Revolutionary perspective in the fight against imperialist the United Transportation Union for 20 years. attack. Government of Cuba, I venture earnestly to war. "It was the political education on revolution­ We considered that Hitler would go the draw your attention to the statements which In her greetings, Brown noted how Wil­ ary continuity back to Karl Marx and Fred­ length of an attack on the Soviet Union only Mr. Rene Schick, President of Nicaragua, liams helped convince SMC activists to link erick Engels that Duncan helped to organize if his need of Russian wheat and oil were made at United Nations headquarters on up with workers on strike at General Elec- and lead that won me and others to comrnu- truly desperate and his attack on Britain June 8, 1966. stymied. All apparent evidence last week Mr. Schick stated the following, word for suggested this was not yet the case. But not word, in reply to a question from a corre­ enough evidence was in. Hitler's move spondent as to whether Nicaragua would be across the Soviet borders proves that. prepared to make its territory available once As we pointed out last week, there are again . for an armed invasion of Cuba: certain concessions that Stalin could not "Against Cuba, no; against the Government make, because they "would lead to the same of Fidel Castro, any time, under any circum­ result as a war, eventual·d estruction of Sta­ stances, for I consider it a grave menace to linist power in the Soviet Union at the hands the Western Hemisphere." of the Nazis and the internal reaction which This shameless offer by the President of Hitler would surely sponsor once he got a Nicaragua confirms once again that the sole foothold." and true executor of the policy of subver­ sion, aggression and intervention in this part Thus, it now appears, nothing could sat­ of the world and, at the same time, the center isfy Hitler short of a military defeat of the of the international conspiracy against Cuba Red Army or its equivalent in surrender is the imperialist government of the United without war. He chose the path of military States, and that the agents of that policy are conquest in preference to a new, insecure its puppet governments in Latin America. deal with Stalin. The very fact that [Hitler] would embark upon so vast a project, however, proves also TH£ MILITANT that he needs the economic resources of the Militant/Seth Galinsky Soviet Union far more urgently than was Putting final touches on inaugural issue of Spanish-la nguage Marxist magazine, generally realized. Hitler has not reversed Nueva Internacional. From left: volunteer translator Jua n Villagomez;. staff June 28, 1941 his war strategy because of some sudden member Selva Nebbia; editor Luis Madrid. aberration. He has done so because his drive At 5:30 A.M. on June 22, Nazi Germany of conquest has made it unavoidable.

July 5, 1991 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS What should the Kuwait's kangaroo courts labor Inovement

The "liberation" of Kuwait. Restoration of its rightful The real power behind the throne in Kuwait is not the fight for? rulers to power. An end to the rape of a people. monarchy with its oil fields, but U.S. imperialism. There U.S. President George Bush claimed these were central are some 5,000 U.S. troops and advisers stationed there, BY DOUG JENNESS goals of the U.S.-led war in the Arab-Persian Gulf. along with 40,000 Saudi troops. With no real army of its Last week I described a discussion about the political But as every worker knows, words often have two mean­ own, the corrupt Kuwaiti monarchy wouldn't last a day perspectives ofthe Socialist Workers Party's 1991 local ings, depending on who says them and who they're talking without U.S. backing. election campaigns. to. Working people around the world should be at the fore­ The column concluded, "What's necessary is a series of The kangaroo courts in Kuwait show the real face of front of demanding an end to the witch-hunt in Kuwait, an proposals to unite and mobilize working people in a fight imperialist justice and liberation. One man sentenced to end to the planned mass deportations, and freedom for those to protect ourselves against the consequences of devastating 15 years in jail for wearing a T-shirt with a picture of accused or convicted by the kangaroo courts. imperialist wars and the economic ravages of the capitalist Saddam Hussein. A 55-year-old Jordanian woman sen­ crisis." tenced to death for failing to close the girls' high school While preparing for war, President Bush repeatedly Campaigners for the SWP's candidates will find it useful she ran; just one of many facing public hanging. Routine claimed that the measures he was taking were Rot directed to look at the Action Program to Confront the Coming torture and beatings of prisoners. Tens of thousands of against the people of Iraq, but against their ruler Saddarn Economic Crisis (Pathfmder. Second ed., April 1989, Palestinians and other long-time residents of Kuwait fac­ Hussein. This was a bald-faced lie. $2.50). The measures proposed in this program are aimed ing imminent deportation. At least 170,000 Iraqi children face death as a result of at overcoming the divisions within the working class that The emir, the crown prince, and the sheiks of the corrupt the U.S.-led bombing raids and continued economic sanc­ are bred and reinforced by capitalism. The principal division Kuwaiti monarchy fled their oil-rich kingdom as soon as tions. Malnutrition is so widespread that many mothers have is between employed and unemployed workers. The Action the Iraqi army invaded in August 1990. They didn't hold stopped lactating. Without an immediate end to the embrugo Program proposes a fight by the labor movement for a their ground and fight for national sovereignty. They headed and sanctions the Iraqi people face a cataclysm. as fast as they could for their resort and luxury hotels in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Europe. The harshest words in any language can only weakly LEARNING ABOUT Returned to power by the tanks, bombs, and bayonets of describe the heartless cruelty imperialism has unleashed the U.S.-led alliance, the cowardly Sabah royal family harks against the Iraqi people. Not content with what it has already wrought, Washington wants to maintain the embrugo and back to another epoch. The trials they are now presiding SOCIALISM place further restrictions on Iraq to punish its people. over are meant to terrorize the more than 70 percent of shorter workweek with no loss in pay to create jobs. Kuwait's population that is denied citizenship and basic The imperialist onslaught should be answered. Working Forging unity around demands that will strengthen our human rights but does all the work and, unlike the Sabahs, people around the world should demand an end to the fighting capacity is especially important today as the Dem­ suffered through the Iraqi occupation. sanctions against Iraq. · · ocratic and Republican parties step up their assault on affirmative action, make it harder for working-class women to exercise their right to safe abortions, and slash govern­ ment-financed social programs that benefit working people. As long as the employers can deny jobs, education, decent Keep South Africa sanctions housing, medical care, and other social necessities to some workers because they are Black, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Working people worldwide must stand with their sisters their say and can place their stamp on the country's laws Asian, American-Indian, foreign~born, or female, they can and brothers in South Africa and demand that the sanctions and social relations, this will be the case. keep our class divided and undermine our ability to protect on that country be maintained. For real change in South Africa apartheid must be over­ the jobs, wages, and working conditions of all workers. The revolutionary struggle in South Africa to overthrow turned root and branch. Affirmative action measures must Special measures to bridge the gap between worse-off - apartheid has forced the Pretoria regime to make some be implemented on a massive scale to aid the vast majority and better-off layers of workers are needed. The labor important concessions but apartheid remains intact and a of the population who are its victims. It must not only be movement must oppose all attempts to sap affirmative action fight to overturn it is still needed. legal for Blacks to own land, a massive land reform must gains. It must champion the fight for mandatory quotas and Apartheid is more than just a set of laws on the books. be undertaken. Land must be freely redistributed to all those other steps in hiring, job upgrading, and education. It is the monstrously unequal s()cial relations that dominate who wish to work it, backed up by cheap credit and other The seniority system should be structured in such a way the entirety of South African society down to the smallest measures benefiting those who want to farm. that when layoffs hit, the percentage of workers who are details of an individual's life. This will not be done by de Klerk and his apartheid Black, Latino, and female is not reduced. Past gains in hiring In addition, many of the regime's concessions are pur­ National Party passing Jaws that it alone debates and dis­ and upgrading must not be permitted to erode during reces­ posely made to appear more far-reaching than they are. The cusses without the participation of the Bla<;k majority. sions. recent decision to scrap the system of racial classifications Blacks in South Africa are still denied the right to vote on Affirmative action is also needed to combat widening is an example. It applies only to newborn South African - let alone debate and discuss on an equal basis - the laws inequality in wages. One way workers have for many years citizens. Anyone who is already racially classified will and conditions that effect their lives. Black political prisoners fought to achieve this is to demand Congress substantially remain so until a new constitution is written. The law does still languish in jail for fighting against the repressive regime. raise the minimum wage, which is currently a miserly $4.25 not effect the 39 million people now living in South Africa. Blacks are still subjected to police attacks and apartheid-in­ an hour. Since what the bosses can get away with paying Another example is the decision that whites-only public spired violence. Blacks still suffer from the extreme defacto those of us who are worst-off sets the floor for paying the schools can be integrated. The catch is that a 72 percent segregation that exists throughout the country. rest of us, this measure would help boost the wage level for vote in favor of desegregation is required of the parents at Sanctions have worked and are working. This is one of all working people, particularly benefiting those who are the school. the reasons the apartheid regime is trying so hard to end lowest paid. While every apartheid law removed from the books is a them. Sanctions are the way that concrete international Related to this is the fight to increase government-funded victory for the workers and farmers of South Africa, pro­ pressure can be brought to bear upon the capitalist rulers social services, which constitute a "social wage"- that is, viding more political space in which to deepen the struggle, of South Africa. part of the wealth workers and farmers have created that removing the laws is not synonymous with ending apartheid The African National Congress calls for a maintenance we have retaken for our benefit. Winning programs that aid -especially when qualifications and debilitating limita­ of the sanctions. It is fighting for an interim government those most in need is also a form of affirmative action that tions are added by the apartheid regime. and a constituent assembly, the only road to a nonracial helps to narrow the gap between lower-paid and higher-paid Left to itself, the capitalist apartheid system and South democratic South Africa. workers. African President F.W. de Klerk's reactionary regime will Labor unions, civil rights organizations, student groups, If a fight by the labor movement could pressure Congress continue to recreate apartheid in fact, even while they and others should demand that the sanctions be maintained. into adopting a national health-care program guaranteeing dismantle aspects of it in law. Until the vast majority of We should act on the words of Nelson Mandela and "in­ everyone full medical care at no cost, it would benefit millions those who suffer directly from apartheid's brutality have tensify the struggle to abolish apartheid." of unemployed, part-time, or nonunion workers, as well as working farm families. There are 37 million people in the United States not covered by private medical plans, including plans won by unions as part of their contracts. Another way the employers attempt to divide workers in New weapon for fighters different countries is to try to get us to support "protectionist" drives. We are told that supporting export subsidies or tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods will help safeguard our The inaugural issue of the Spanish-language Marxist on the power of fighting and transformed unions. jobs. magazine Nueva Internaciona/ has just come off the press. Nueva lnternaciona/ provides a political framework to With a lot of backing from the labor officialdom, the With its publication, a new and important weapon has been understand important events that have occurred in the world employers contend that we have common- "American" added to the arsenal of Marxist literature available for those since the Mideast war: from Eastern Europe and the Soviet -interests, that are sharply opposed to "Japanese," whose first language is Spanish. Union to developments in Washington, Bonn, and Tokyo. "French," or "Mexican" interests. But we don't have com­ The 384-page issue features the article "The Opening It is a guide to action for workers and others involved in mon interests with our exploiters; we do with exploited Guns of World War III," as well as "1945: When U.S. Troops struggles to defend their unions and their rights. workers and farmers around the world. Said 'No!'" and "Lessons from the Iran-Iraq War." Special mention needs to be made of the dozen volunteers Moreover, protectionist barriers imposed by imperialist These materials address the big questions confronted by from across the United States who participated in the governments are devastating to working people throughout working people today- the deepening worldwide capital­ sizeable undertaking involved in translating from English the sernicolonial world and reinforce the consequences of ist economic crisis; the government-employer attacks on into Spanish the articles for Nueva lnternaciona/, which unequal trade and the huge foreign debt payments to impe­ our democratic rights, unions, and livelihoods; and the originally appeared in New International no. 7. rialist bankers. march toward wars. 1be editors of the French-language Nouvelle lnternationa/e To help weld unity with working people in other countries, Nueva lnternacional no. 1 presents an analysis of the and have announced that reprints of issues no. 1 no. 2 have labor should call on Washington to lift all tariffs and non-tariff assault by Washington and its allies against Iraq - from also just come off the press. The flfSt contains "Communism protectionist measures and cancel the Third World debt. the economic sanctions to the massacre of hundreds of and the Fight for a Popular Revolutionary Government: 1848 The imperialist protectionist propaganda goes hand in thousands of Iraqi workers and farmers in uniform - and to Today" and 'Their Trotsky and Ours: Communist Continuity hand with and helps fuel the chauvinist campaigns the the social and economic catastrophe now unfolding there. Today." 1be second features the article "1be Coming Revo­ capitalist ruling families conduct as part of their drive to The articles explain how rivalry and competition among lution in South Africa" and 'The Freedom Charter'' of the convince working people to support their wars, like the one the world's imperialist powers is sharpening today, leading African National Congress of South Africa they carried out against the Iraqi people. to greater instability and conflict. Nueva lnternaciona/ and Nouvelle lnternationale are mag­ Arguing against false notions spread by the big-business azines that deserve to be read, studied, and distributed as widely The bipartisan butchery of even the meager social pro­ media and capitalist politicians that working people share as possible. Copies can be ordered from Pathfinder, 410 West grams that exist and their relentless war drive underline the common interests with the employers and their government, Street, New York, N.Y. 10014.Nuevalnternaciona/ costs $13, need for the labor movement to wage a political fight for the magazine explains why labor must chart an independent Nouvelle lnternationale No. 1 and 2 cost $11 each. Enclose our own domestic and foreign policies. The SWPcandidates political course rooted in an international outlook and based $3 for shipping and handling, $.50 each additional copy. explain that to carry this out fighting workers need our own party based on the unions. 14 The Militant July 5,1991 Garment workers show boss 'We are the union' BY DON MACKLE cause all overtime is voluntary, we couldn't be penalized the shop steward at our plant to share this opinion with him. NEWARK -Leading up to the May 31 deadline of the for not working. On Friday morning I reported the business agent's com­ outerwear contract for members of the International ladies' ments to a coworker. "No," she said. "This guy is no gOod. Garment Workers' Union, workers at Liz Claiborne Inc. Action wins support We are the union. No one should work Saturday. It's a organized a job action to show our opposition to company The idea spread quickly during the 9 a.m. break. Some holiday and that's all we have to say." It was important to demands. workers began discussing the overtime ban as they travelled take action now to show the company we were willing to Claiborne is organized by ILGWU Local .145 in Passaic, throughout the plant. In an attempt to head off the job ac­ fight, she added. New Jersey. Our contract is negotiated together with the tion, the company threatened one unionist with a written some 60,000 union members covered by ILGWU Local warning for talking to others. Friday overtime too 23-25. This includes the thousands of garment workers But the discussions continued. Latino union members At the morning break, a group of Indian coworkers called employed in New York City's Chinatown, the largest section wanted to know if coworkers from India would go along me over to their table. "We Indians will go home at 3:30 of the union membership. with the plan. As we waited to punch out for lunch, a large p.m. today" -meaning they were turning down even more Despite big sections of the industry reaching an agree- group of Indians discussed the question. "Yes," one of them overtime - "and we will not work Saturday. Can you tell reported as we walked to the cafeteria. "The Indians will this to the Spanish brothers?" not work on Saturday." This proposal got a good response and a consensus was UNION TALK As word of this spread it boosted morale and fueled more quickly reached by large immbers of workers that Friday discussions. overtime should be refused as well. ment with union officials, as of May 13 many employers After lunch we heard that eight workers on the third floor Another attempt by the bosses to ask people to work were demanding a three-year wage freeze. had agreed to work Saturday. Why? What happened? Work­ Saturday simply resulted in more people having the oppor­ Liz Claiborne is considered one of the strongest ers started looking for excuses to get down to the third floor tunity to take their names off the overtime list. The company companies in the industry. Its earnings hit a record to find out. Phone calls were made to other warehouses to countercampaign was then dropped. see if they were going along with the plan. $205 million in 1990, an increase of some 22 percent The long line of cars lined up to leave the parking lot at over the previous year. Its first quarter of 1991 was Company pressure 3:30p.m. Friday was a testimony to the willingness of union reportedly its best ever. So accepting a three-year wage members to fight company attempts to force us to accept a freeze was not a popular idea among union members at The company countercampaign continued through the three-year wage freeze. Only a handful of pickers or stockers the plant. - day with the plant manager and other supervisors pressing worked overtime. Larger numbers from departments less With no contract signed and the May 31 date drawing everyone to work Saturday. "No," replied one worker. "My involved in organizing the action came in. near, discussions began about the possibility of having to union said don't work so I'm not working." The action was considered a success and has enriched strike. "No," said another, who originally signed up for the discussions about how we can organize ourselves even better The union had announced plans for a solidarity rally, overtime. "I've changed my mind. I'm just going to enjoy in the future. Many learned not to have preconceptions about which workers would leave work early to attend. But the weekend at home." Another group said they would let which workers will or will not participate in actions to the day before the event was to occur officials can­ the boss know for sure on Friday. defend our wages, working conditions, and dignity. celled it, saying negotiations appeared to be making After work a call was put in to the union business agent. A meeting took place a week later to announce the signing progress. It was the first time we had been able to talk to him since the of a contract. It provides a 49-cent-an-hour raise for each Sentiment in the plant was growing, however, for some beginning of the week. Contract talks were going good, he of three years. The shop steward said, "I believe what we sort of action before the end of the month to show what· said, but no details could be given out until they were reported did had an impact on the company deciding to sign this we thought of the wage freeze proposal. On Thursday back to the members of the manufacturers' association. · contract." We showed the company and the union that we morning the idea began to circulate that we should refuse He had heard about the idea of not working on Saturday. will stay together to fight for what we deserve. to work overtime the upcoming Saturday. We had heard This wasn't a good idea, he said. "God forbid these people that workers at another Claiborne warehouse were going should have to go out on strike," he added. "They should work Don Mackie is a member of ILGWU Loca/145 and works to refuse overtime and it sounded like a good idea. Be- to save all the money they can." He added that he had called at Liz Claiborne Inc. -LETTERS Doonesbury By Garry Trudeau Upset by 'U.S.-bashing' For some time now, I have been IA/tU,THe AN51AJ/3R 15 ..tiJrs!" 6(JT A FRe& MORNIN6? upset with the " U.S.-bashing" KiJJt/AIT'S A FA5CINATIN6 PLAte THfN tzrrle a.; [}()tUN ro me 6lJILTYl OCPS/700 theme of your reports on the war in TO et, ANIJ NOT JUST FeR NeiAJ- MIN15'TRY OFJtJ:iTla HAN6TfleM.I tATe! ORAT/ Iraq/Kuwait. IAJORIJ}-ORP/JI?. BUFFS! THE laJRti?-Fi4M:XI5 C0Vf(f AO­ The fact is, Iraq was really like a 6ARIJ() t1J1J1U IS NOlA/ J(}(}I?NW/ \ bully on the comer who steps out, I IN sesSION/ /A/e'R/3 . cuffs a smaller boy on the ear and IN WC1<- TOIJAY5 / (( takes his lunch money. The U.S. was TRiAL- HAS JlhT like a friend of the smaller boy, who, STAF ~E~LT~ CL'tiiC an attempt at brainwashing. it. I especially like the articles about newspaper keeps corning my way. A prisoner continuing police abuse of poor cit­ The paper has really opened my Crescent City, California izens. This has been a serious prob­ eyes to things I was ignorant of. I lem for many years in America. praise your paper for its in-depth reports and coverage of subjects that When I am through reading the other papers may feel it's taboo to Corrections Militant I leave it on the El or Sub­ touch on. way where other folks can become Keep up the fight and struggle for The June 14 Militant article informed on what the problems are our rights. headlined "Rebel forces take and where the solutions lie. A prisoner control of Ethiopian capital city," Enclosed please find a donation Graterford, Pennsylvania and the box that accompanied it, to help with the costs of sending the were unclear on the date of the newspaper to prisoners. incorporation of Eritrea into Ethi­ .Prison wages L.K. opia. Eritrea was forcibly incor­ I am writing to request a subscrip­ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania porated into Ethiopia in 1952, but tion to the Militant and any other lit­ it was not formally annexed until erature you may be able to send me. 1962. Message to Mark Curtis I have no money to send you at Auth The box titled "Some facts on this time, as my 45-cents-a-day Ethiopia" stated that Italy in­ I am a Puerto Rican and Cuban "wages" are being withheld to pay vaded Ethiopia during World War brother and I want to let you know a fine the judge hit me with. When II. It should have said that Italy how much I appreciate your sending this is paid off, I will be able to send Militant Prisoner Fund invaded Ethiopia in the years me the Militant. I also want to tell you a contribution. leading up to World War II. my brothers and sisters out in soci­ · A prisoner Enclosed is my contribution $ __ to help defray the costS of In the May 31 article headlined ety to fight the power and to stay Elmira, New York providing Militant subscripti9ns to prisoners. "Mark Curtis defense effort wins strong, because the system nowa­ days is getting really racist. Nrune ______~ backing during Mexico tour," The letters column is an open two editing errors appeared. The This is to a brother who is in the forum for all viewpoints on sub­ Mexican Union of Electrical system and is really in the struggle, jects of general interest to our Address Workers (SME) is not affiliated fighting for his freedom and fighting readers. Please keep your letters to the Mexican Workers Confed­ for his rights: Mark Curtis. I hope brief. Where necessary they will eration. The SME's foreign rela­ he makes it out into society. be abridged. Please indicate if you tions secretary is Antonio Duran, prefer that your initials be used not Antonia Duran. A prisoner Attica, New York rather than your full name. July 5, 1991 The Militant 15 TH£MILITANT El Paso garment workers·press fight to end sweatshop conditions, low pay tos Venceremos!" ("Together we will win!"); BY BARRY FATLAND and "Que Queremos? Justicia. C/Jando? EL PASO, Texas- Picket signs lean up Ahora!" ("What do we want? Justice. When against the old red brick factory housing do we want it? Now!"). Sonia's Fashions here, but there are no pick­ Strikers report that as a result of their eters. Banners hanging from the second-story strikes other sweatshop bosses in the area window read, "HUNGER S1RIKE FOR have begun paying their workers regularly JUSTICE" and "RESPECT CIVIL LABOR and on time. RIGHTS." Inside, garment workers are occupying the The nearby union hall is bustling with factory. A dozen people wearing union T­ activity on Friday and Saturday. Strikers and shirts, hats, and buttons are on duty. They are union organizers from Los Angeles, Chicago, among some 200 garment workers, members and New York are busy with strike-related of the International Ladies' Garment Work­ work. ers' Union (ILGWU), on strike at four shops Strikers receive $95 a week in strike ben­ here. efits and bags of basic food items from the At Sonia's some workers wear red sashes food bank. The latter is organized by La indicating their participation in a hunger Mujer Obrera (The Working Woman), an El strike launched May 14. The walls of the Paso organization that has played a central factory are plastered with news clippings in role in fighting for justice for El Paso garment English and Spanish about the strikes. A huge workers for some time now. banner on one wall reads: "In Solidarity," Carmen Dominguez, a leader of La Mujer with dozens of signatures of well-wishers. Obrera, takes time for an interview despite Strikers say that six of them are on a hunger being in the middle of the organization's strike, having occupied the plant since April move to new offices. Having been a sewing 29. Dozens of silent old sewing machines in machine operator herself, working at the El a large adjoining room are testimony to the Paso Farah plant for nearly four years, fact that the unionists' action has shut down Dominguez knows the injustices faced by the production. Sonia's usually turns out tens of strikers firsthand. thousands of jeans each week. La Mujer Obrera was founded in 1981 and Ana, a 26-year-old hunger striker, says she has more than 900 members, mostly Mexican replaced other hunger strikers who had been women who are sewing machine operators. advised by doctors to begin eating due to The organization offers weekly classes to deteriorating health. She spoke proudly of Militant/Dick Geyer inform workers of their rights and actively two strikers who had lasted 24 days, includ­ \\brkers occupy Sonia's Fashions, one of four shops on strike. publicizes its activities at sweatshops ing a woman in her sixties. throughout the garment district here. Sonia's is a subcontractor for the D.C.B. Most of the strikers, as in much of the Apparel Group, Inc., owned by Andres Diaz. and the factories are fire hazards. who works for DCB in El Paso has agreed industry, are Mexican women who, in their The union went on strike when the boss Workers get minimum wage or less. Over­ to stop cutting in solidarity with the strike. majority, received temporary legal status in reneged on a promise to pay a total of$25,000 time is mandatory, often without overtime The unionists maintain picket lines six the United States under the amnesty program. in back wages to the workers. pay. Paydays vary, according to the bosses' days a week and keep a 24-hour watch on A common tactic used by the garment bosses In the two days following the Sonia's plant whim. Often subcontractors don't pay the the factories to monitor the movement of is threatening the workers with the loss of occupation, workers at D.C.B. 's own shop, workers at all. materials and finished goods. their papers and deportation to Mexico if they D.C.B. 's Apparel Conditioners Corp. The State of Texas recently reported that The fourth struck sweatshop, H & R Ap­ protest their working conditions in any way. (A.C.C.), and H&R Apparel went on strike. more than $85,000 is owed in back wages to parel, is in an old, one-story stucco structure. Dominguez said overcoming the employ­ D.C.B. 's shop in Los Angeles was closed garment workers in El Paso. Out of 28 workers, 12 are on strike. Sixteen ers' misinformation campaign and encourag­ down in May after the ILGWU sponsored a At the D.C.B. and A.C.C. shops, located stayed on the job and four new operators ing the workers to take an active role in protest there exposing the illegal conditions across the street from each other, picketers were hired. Strikers say production has fighting injustices on and off the job keep at the plant. march in the mid-morning heat. Strikers and dropped drastically. her organization very busy. The strikers are protesting sweatshop con­ ILGWU organizers say that 18 of the 70 As the strikebreakers hurry out one by one, Sonia's workers came to La Mujer Obrera ditions, including no air conditioning in the workers from the two shops have crossed the passing through the noisy picket line, the over a year ago with their back-pay problems. summer heat or heat during the winter. picket lines. Production is down to about 15 strikers call out to them in Spanish: "No Some of them, together with some support­ Restrooms and eating areas are not kept clean percent of prestrike levels. The only cutter Tengan miedo!" ("Don't be afraid!"); "Jun- ers, staged an eight-day hunger strike in downtown El Paso, helping to explain their plight to working people throughout the area. ,New York fariners discuss Inilk price crisis · La Mujer Obrera also sponsors a medical clinic several days a week and offers free legal advice on immigration matters. Helping BY SETH GALINSKY state. Massachusetts now has 400 dairy farm­ Empire State Family Milk Alliance, the Na­ to win the strikes is the organization's main UTTLE FALLS, New York- William ers, half as many as ten years ago. One tional Farmers Union, and the National priority now. Contributions and messages of and Rose Foster and their two junior-high­ hundred dairy farmers are going out of busi­ Farmers Organization. support to aid the strikers can be sent to the school-age children, Billy and Melissa, are ness each month in Minnesota. Every farmer present complained they ILGWU Strike Fund, 2120 Texas Ave., El already up and at work by 5:00a.m. Some Some capitalist farmers have also been were losing money hand over fist. One Paso, Texas 79901. For an update call days they are not done milking the cows or hard hit. According to farm leader Fred Shaw, farmer had obtained the copy of the bill that (915)534-2581. bailing hay until 10:00 at night. They work one large farmer in Herkimer County laid off one processor, H.P. Hood, had given to a seven days a week. several workers and lowered the wages of retail store. It showed that H.P. Hood is Barry Fat land is a member of ILGWU Local Like other dairy farmers in upstate New the rest. charging retailers $2.41 for a gallon of milk. 512 in Carson, California. York, they have been losing thousands of While the number of dairy farms has de­ Dairy farmers are paid as little as $.94 a dollars a month since last winter in spite of creased, farmers have had to invest more gallon for milk that they say costs about a the grueling hours. Recently the Fosters sold money and work harder to stay above water. $1.30 to produce. some of their land to pay rising debts. Many invest some $400,000 in equipment "I say we should put this bill from H.P. Labor's history Many dairy farmers depend entirely on on each farm, including automatic milking Hood up on posters all over the place so that family labor to run the farms. Others hire one machines and tractors for harvesting hay and the consumers can see what these companies Teamster Rebellion worker year-round. com used as feed. Most of the family farmers are doing," the farmer said. "The price these 192 pp. $14.95 Dairy farmers are facing their worst crisis OWn 60-100 COWS. companies are paying to us has dropped 30 since 1986. According to New York State Dairy farming is still labor-intensive. percent since last year. But the price to the Teamster Power Commissioner of Agriculture Richard McG­ Cows must be milked three times a day. consumer hasn't dropped not one penny." 255 pp. $16.95 uire, 10 percent of the state's 12,000 dairy Many farmers say they spend more than four The prices farmers get for their milk Teamster Politics farmers could lose their farms this year. Many hours a day just milking the cows. peaked in November 1990. At that time farm­ 256 pp. $16.95 farmers say the figure is more in the . 50 ers received as much as $18 for a hundred­ percent range. Some who are considering Family dairy farmers organize weight, about 11.6 gallons. But then prices Teamster Bureaucracy selling their farms say they will wait until the Some 30 dairy farmers, including the Fos­ sharply declined. Now farmers receive 304 pp. $17.95 fall to make a decision, hoping the situation ters, attended a June 5 meeting near this town $10.80 per hundredweight. will improve this summer. in upstate New York to discuss ways to This four-volume series by Far­ A farm leader in Washington County, near organize to defend their rights. The meeting 'Like being on a roller coaster' rell Dobbs contains the history and Albany, says that 30 of the county's 300 dairy did not start until after 8:30p.m. so that the Prices to the farmers have often fluctuated lessons of one of the most impor­ farms are already scheduled for auction. farmers could finish up all their daily chores. widely. "It's like we're on a roller coaster," tant labor struggles of the 1930s and 1940s. Large numbers of farmers have been The meeting was held in an auction bam said farmer William Bennet in an interview. driven off the land over the past decade. In where farmers come to buy and sell cows. "It just can't be that way for us to survive." Order from Pathfinder, 410 West St., New Schoharie County, New York, there are now The meeting was not sponsored by any By law, fanners are not allowed to sell raw York, N.Y. 10014. Please include $3.00 for only 175 dairy farms left, down from 318 in farm organization, although many of the par­ milk to the public. Instead, they sell it to postage and handling. 1982. And the crisis is not limited to this ticipants are members of groups such as the Continued on Page 12 16 The Militant JulyS, 1991 ·-' Special Supplement

'THEMJLITANT I JULY 5,1991 20 PENCE British miners union wins big victory over slander campaign Court dismisses frame-up charges

BY PETE CLIFFORD closed as the government has sharpened AND MARK WEINSTEIN its attacks. SHEFFIELD, Britain -The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) won a big Goal of witch-hunt victory here June 19 against a slander cam­ The court case was the latest episode in a paign aimed at discrediting the union, its 16-month-long witch-hunt and slander cam­ leadership, and the example it set through its paign against the NUM leaders. 1984-85 strike. This began on March 5, 1990, with a Charges by the government against NUM banner headline in the Daily Mirror: "Tell us President Arthur Scargill and General Secre­ about the JllOney Arthur." Independent Tele­ tary Peter Heathfield were dismissed by the vision interrupted its normal program sched­ G. M. Cookson judge hearing the case. The miners' leaders ule that evening to broadcast a program Miners rally in Mansfield, England, during 1984-85 strike by National Union of and the union had been accused of failure called "Where Did The Money Go?" by Mineworkers. to account for funds donated during the journalist Roger Cook. The next days saw 1984-85 coal strike. newspapers throughout the world seize on All the charges have been dismissed the story. Allegations centered on claims by third day of the hearing against the miners' Trade Union Certification Officer reported with legal costs awarded to the NUM. a former NUM executive officer, Roger union and its leaders. They had pleaded not they may still appeal to the High Court on "This court has put a lid on the issue," Windsor, that the union leaders had allocated guilty to the nine charges filed under the the points of law involved. Even were this to said Scargill after the hearing at Sheffield funds raised during the strike for their own 1974 Trade Union and Labour Relations Act. proceed, though, the government cannot re­ Magistrates Court. "Our position has been personal use. They had been charged with failure to keep open this particular case. proper accounts, to maintain a satisfactory fully vindicated. My view is that the case From the outset the allegations were com­ Miners fill courtroom should never have been brought in the first bined with a political offensive against the system of control and accounting records, and to send the government-appointed Trade place." NUM. The March 5, 1990, edition of the Throughout the court hearing, supporters Daily Mirror ran an editorial by its owner, Union Certification Officer an accurate bal­ of the union packed the public gallery. On Example of 1984-85 strike media billionaire Robert Maxwell. He wrote, ance sheet of the accounts. the first day the union leaders were clapped The NUM led miners out on strike in 1984 "The miners strike of 1984-85 was ... the The maximum fine for each of the nine into the court by 70 miners and their support­ against the threat that up to 75 mines would wrong strike, at the wrong time, with the charges was £400 (about U.S. $650). How­ ers. be closed. Tens of thousands of miners mo­ wrong motive- the toppling of the govern­ ever, a successful conviction could have "We had a delegation of 10 to show that bilized daily on picket lines, in demonstra­ ment- and with the wrong leaders." aided opponents of the NUM leaders in re­ we support Arthur," said Kevin Robinson, tions, and at rallies. Women in the coalfield Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock called opening the witch-hunt. It would have been NUM Allerton Bywater president. Their communities organized and solidarity was for a public inquiry into the union's affairs. a cue for strengthening government interfer­ union banner was outside the court, draped widespread among working people. The union's national executive called its ence into union finances and other internal with a black ribbon to mark the death of a The strike became an example of how to own inquiry, headed by lawyer Gavin Light­ affairs. miner killed the previous week by a roof fall respond to employer attacks in Britain and man. At the court hearing here, prosecuting Ia w­ in the mine. internationally. Recent revelations show that Lightrnan reported back to the union lead­ yer Roger TerHaar explained that the gov­ Nottinghamshire miners leader Harry London and Washington responded by coor­ ers July 3, 1990, clearing the union and its ernment case rested on the Lightrnan report Richardson, who had been present through­ dinating an international antistrike operation, leaders of any misappropriation of the to the union, in particular the details of how out the court hearing, said, "This was an including the use of spying and telephone union's funds. However, his report went on the union leaders had established bank ac­ attempt by the establishment to rush some­ tapping by both British and U.S. secret po­ to criticize the union leaders for establishing counts to avoid sequestration of the union's thing through the courts as part of the 'Get lice. a maze of accounts to avoid the government's and strikers' assets. Scargill' campaign. This is one victory in the Nine thousand miners were arrested, 300 sequestrator, who had been placed in charge The court hearing focused on whether in­ battle of a big war, but it's very important we jailed, I ,000 sacked, and two killed, as the of the union's funds during the strike. terviews and papers given to Lightman could realize the story hasn 't ended. They'll seek government sought to break the miners' fight. Scargill responded sharply to Lightman's be called in evidence by the prosecution. to carry on to attack our union as long as they It attempted to strangle the union by seques­ charge: "I confess that I am guilty - totally The NUM lawyers argued that these pa­ can." tering NUM funds . A receiver appointed by guilty - of defying sequestration and re­ pers and interviews were protected by legal A major article in the June 21 Financial the government declared, "To all intents and ceivership and doing all in my power to privilege, confidential to the union, and in­ Times reported, "The country's best known purposes I am the NUM." thwart the court's attempts to stop the NUM admissible as evidence. militant union leader was back on the offen­ The union's leaders, forged from the operating." The solicitor acting for the NUM was sive against the enemy .... Scargill will be rank-and-file leadership of three previous Lightrnan 's criticism of the union leaders Gareth Peirce, who had successfully repre­ a thorn in many sides for some time to national strikes, defied this strike break­ opened a new round of attacks. sented the Birmingham 6 and Guildford 4, come." ing. They organized a maze of accounts, Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Howe Irish men and women falsely framed up on Following the court hearing the NUM transferring funds from bank to bank in announced in July that he hoped the union murder charges. Their convictions were re­ announced it was suing Lightrnan and Pen­ several European countries, to protect the would be investigated. On Sept. 7, 1990, cently overturned. guin Books for breach of confidence. With­ union's money. the Trade Union Certification Officer laid The court magistrate ruled that the prose­ out the union's agreement Lightrnan author­ After a year, during which the labor charges against the union. This government cution could not use the Lightrnan report or ized Penguin to publish his report to the officialdom in Britain refused to organize attack was combined with an investigation the submissions by the union leaders to it. union. The same day the union's Yorkshire solidarity action with the miners, the strike by the police Fraud Squad. He also refused an ad joumment for a judicial Area leaders condemned Labour Party leader ended without achieving its demands. Earlier, on Lightman 's prompting, a review of his ruling by High Court judges, Neil Kinnock for presenting awards for Brit­ Over the last five years, l 00 mines have July 20, 1990, meeting of the NUM's na­ the only way the government could keep this ish "reporters of the year" to the Daily Mirror tional executive had taken place, with specific case open. The magistrate's ruling team that had initiated the witch-hunt. Scargill and Heathfield excluded. The ex­ deprived the prosecution of the core of its ecutive proceeded to take legal action "evidence" and the magistrate dismissed the Mark Weinstein is a member of the Maltby against the two union leaders. Lightman case. branch of the National Union of Mine­ advised that this was necessary to avoid After the court hearing the government workers in the Yorkshire area. personal liability for the measures taken by the national officials. Scargill responded by declaring that he Documentary exposes lies against was going to "fight like hell," declaring that for him the jury was to be the members of the NUM. H¢ and Heathfield addressed National Union of Mineworkers more than 40 public meetings in the fol­ "The Arthur Legend," produced by Ken and U.S. government spying on the miners lowing months, attended in many cases by Loach, for TV Channel 4 "Dispatches" during their year-long strike in 1984-85. hundreds of miners and supporters of the "The Arthur Legend" opened with the cap­ union. This countercampaign culminated BY MARK WEINSTEIN tion: "In 1984 Arthur Scargillled the most with a special delegate conference of the SHEFFIELD, Britain- A recent British important strike in Britain since the war." union on Oct. l 0, 1990, which endorsed TV documentary, "The Arthur Legend," Scargill is the NUM president. by a 4-l margin the stand of Scargill and throws light on a number of the issues in­ The TV documentary refutes the central Heathfield. volved in the year-long witch-hunt against The special delegate conference was the allegation made on "The Cook Report," a turning point. The campaign against the program in March 1990 that helped initiate union's leaders had failed to gain sufficient the slander campaign that Scargill and ground inside the union to isolate Scargill. IN REVIEW Heathfield used monies donated by the Lib­ Following the conference, legal action by yan government donated during the 1984-85 strike for their personal use. Roger Windsor against Scargill and the Fraud National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Squad investigation were both dropped, but leaders. The documentary shows that, contrary to the government continued to pursue its court The TV program was produced by Chan­ a "Cook" allegation, Scargill had no mort­ National Union of Mineworkers Presi­ action. nel 4 "Dispatches" and the Guardian news­ gage to pay off and produces evidence to dent Arthur Scargill. The June 19 court victory carne on the paper, a London daily, which revealed British Continued on back Cops forced to pay miners for '84 attack

BY CLIVE TURNBULL ruthlessness, and above all to win. I can still LONDON- Thirty-ninemembersofthe hear the screams of some miners when the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are dogs went in on them. The idea was to strip to be paid £425,000 ($680,000) compensa­ away the more feint-hearted and concentrate tion by the South Yorkshire police for assault, on the hard core. I never want to go through wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, and that again." false imprisonment. Arthur Scargill said the out-of-court set­ They were among 95 NUM members ar­ Sheffield, Thursday, June 20, 1991 tlement by the police made it clear that there rested June 18, 1984, at the Orgreave coking was now a need for a public investigation. plant in South Yorkshire, during the 1984-85 "It demands an inquiry as to why they prac­ miners strike. ticed the tactics they did; why they inflicted The Orgreave picket - aimed at stopping the pain and damage to the people they did." British Steel from transporting coke made Russell Broadhead, one of the miners who from scab coal- was a major focus of the will be receiving compensation, said, "I strike. Six thousand striking miners were con­ would have preferred to see it go to court. fronted by 3,500 police, many in riot gear, on That's the only place where justice can be horses, or with dogs. Fifty-three miners suf­ seen to be done, not through check books or fered injuries, including broken arms, legs, bank accounts." and skull fractures on that day alone. Among Another NUM member, David Moore, them was NUM President Arthur Scargill. said the police had tried to impose a "no The government feared a repeat of their publicity" clause on their settlement. defeat in the "Battle of Saltley Gates," a turning point in the 1972 miners strike. In that strike, One of the NUM members to be compen­ tens of thousands of Birmingham car and en­ sated, Ray Morris, said he wanted to see "the gineering workers mobilized in support of the people who instigated this attack on the pickets put in the dock - the Chief Consta­ miners, closing the Saltley coke depot. June 20 Sheffield Star front page featured photo of 1984 cop assault on miners' picket At Orgreave, TV reports made it appear that - ble, his deputy, and some of the constables line at Orgreave. the police were acting defensively, in the face who exceeded necessary force." of an unprovoked assault. Prime Minister Mar­ Jim Spaul, anNUM member at Kelling ley garet Thatcher dubbed the miners "the enemy showed that numerous officials had copied also be heard briefing his truncheon-wielding colliery and a leading activist in the Justice within" ("the enemy without" having been each other's statements verbatim." men on the sound-track. He said simply: 'You for Mineworkers campaign, explained that Argentina during the war over the Malvinas The defense forced the police to produce know what you are doing. No heads. Bodies more than 50 miners are still victimized six Islands). Home Secretary Leon Brittan called film they had shot throughout the day, which only.'" years after the end of the strike. "British Coal for those arrested to be given life sentences. gave a completely different picture from that The paper went on to quote "one South used trumped-up court cases like this as the Labour Party and Trades Union Congress presented by Clement. As the Sheffield Star Yorkshire sergeant" who said, "The bosses reason for firing many of them. They should leaders joined the chorus against "picket line reported June 20: "One senior officer could wanted us to act with military efficiency, all be reinstated now." violence." The campaign had an impact on some NUM area leaders who wound down the mobilization of pickets to Orgreave. In July 1985, 15 NUM members were Yorkshire gala: miners determined to fight acquitted on charges of riot and unlawful assembly at Orgreave after a 48-day trial in BY RICH PALSER address opening the gala. Peter Heathfield were due to appear in court which the prosecution case collapsed. "It DONCASTER, Britain -Thousands of Cave explained that he recently went with on frame-up charges related to their handling must count as one of the most ignominious miners, their families, and supporters at­ anNUM delegation to South Africa, meeting of union finances during the strike. failures of the state in prosecuting people for tended the 103rd Yorkshire Miners' demon­ with members of the National Union of Scargill concluded his address by referring many years. There was a riot but it was a stration and gala here June 15. Mineworkers there. He visited the company­ to the pending case: "I'm proud of the role police riot, and it was a miracle that none of This annual event, organized by the York­ run hostels where Black miners live and went that I played; and I know that Peter is proud the miners were killed," said Michael Mc­ shire Area National Union of Mineworkers to Alexandra township where many have of the role that he played during the course Golgan, a lawyer for the NUM members. (NUM), provides an opportunity for the min­ died in violent attacks on the anti-apartheid of the miners strike; and I'm prepared to The police commander at Orgreave, Ray ers to demonstrate their commitment to movement. come to the real court of justice and the one Clement, had testified that the miners "had union solidarity and discuss the challenges "We support the release of all political pris­ that matters to me - the members of this no right to be there." Consequently, he said, currently facing the labor movement. oners," Cave said. "We demand that this gov­ union, their wives, and their families." he would "not be the slightest troubled if "We on this demonstration once again ernment impose sanctions until apartheid is Speaking to 60 people at a Militant Labor they were trampled on by horses." pledge our support for our Black comrades removed." Forum here after the gala, Yorkshire Area The June 23, 1991, Observer reported: in South Africa and their fight against apart­ In his keynote address to the rally, Arthur NUM leader Ken Capstick said: "The cases against the 95 had collapsed when heid," declared Frank Cave, assistant general Scargill, president of the NUM, gave a vig­ "I believe Scargill and Heathfield have they came to court after defense counsel secretary of Yorkshire area NUM, in his orous defense of the union's role in waging survived the witch-hunt because there's a the 1984-85 strike against pit closures. bulwark between them and the state, Daily . ., ___ . Since that strike, more than 100 pits have Mirror owner Robert Maxwell, and so on. been closed and 100,000 miners have lost That bulwark is the miners. The political TV documentary exposes lies their jobs. consciousness miners gained through the "Unless the government's policy is strike meant they couldn't be stampeded to get rid of Scargill and Heathfield." "Dispatches" tried to question those who checked we are likely to see the industry Continued from front Joining Capstick on the platform were Sue carried out the witch-hunt, looking into the further slaughtered in this next period, with prove it. Many of those attacking the union Reid, Communist League parliamentary elec­ quality of the "investigative journalism." no more than 30 to 35 pits, and the workforce had taken Cook's allegation for granted with­ tion candidate for Sheffield Central, and Betsy Both the Daily Mirror's Terry Pattinson, who decimated to 35,000," Scargill warned. "This out bothering to check it out. Farley, a member of the United Steelworkers wrote the article that initiated the witch-hunt is not scaremongering, but cold hard facts, A union-sponsored inquiry headed by law­ of America from Birmingham, Alabama. and who has spearheaded the media cam­ because they pursue a policy of the acquisi­ yer Gavin Lightman had found that the alle­ tion of maximum profit at the expense of gation of misappropriation of funds was "en­ paign ever since, and Roger Cook, presenter of the "Cook Report," refused interviews. human beings." tirely untrue." Subscribe to "Dispatches" reported that Roger Wind­ Pointing to a 1979 leaked cabinet docu­ "Dispatches" also proves as untrue allega­ sor, former chief administrator of the NUM ment that targeted destroying the power of tions aimed at discrediting the International and the source of the original misappropria­ the NUM and the transport union, Scargill Miners Organisation (IMO). The media and tion of funds allegation, was paid £80,000 said, "You see, the Tories don't mess around. TH£MILITANT others seized on allegations made by Light­ (US$28,000) by the Daily Mirror for his They understand the nature of the system man that Scargill had diverted funds from the story. under which they live, and they will do any­ Soviet Union- which should have gone to NUM leaders Ken Capstick from York­ thing in their power to protecttheir privileged 1 2 issues for £6 the NUM to relieve hardship of striking min­ shire, Henry Richardson from Nottingham­ position, to attack those forces and individu­ ers - into the coffers of the IMO. Scargill als who seek to change society and improve This supplement was published by shire, and Billy Etherington from the North the Militant, a socialist newsweekly is IMO president. East are interviewed in the documentary. the quality of life for human beings." The IMO, founded after the 1984-85 published in the interests of working They said who they believe helped give cre­ The official leadership of the unions, or­ strike, brought together 43 miners' unions ganized in the Trades Union Congress people. To subscribe write to Mili­ dence to the Mirror's allegations. "I don't tant Distribution, 47 The Cut, Lon­ from around the world and has helped build believe that the attack came from the Conser­ (TUC), should respond to these attacks, he solidarity with miners' struggles in South don, SE1 8LL, England. vative Party. They were in the slipstream of said. They failed to do so in the past. "If the Africa, the Philippines, and Morocco. the whole thing," Capstick said. "The people TUC had not pontificated in 1984-85 and Relations between the British and Soviet instead called upon the movement to take who were attacking Scargill straight out as Books from Pathfinder ••• miners were directed by the Central Com­ soon ~s the Mirror came out with its allega­ strike action, we would not be in this position mittee of the Soviet Communist Party, which tions were people from the Labour Party and now," Scargill explained. An Action Program to Confront the ordered a large financial donation out of the right wing of the trade union movement." The TUC and the leadership of the Labour Coming Economic Crisis. £2.50. Soviet foreign currency reserves. The money Party failed to mobilize solidarity with the The NUM leaders suggest the Labour Teamster Series by Farrell Dobbs. Four was paid into an account of the Miners Trade NUM in the 1984-85 strike. Since the defeat Party leadership and its friends in the union volumes on the 1930s strikes and organ­ Union International based in Prague, for officialdom have as much to gain as the of the strike, the leadership of the Labour izing drives that transformed the Team­ "miners in struggle around the world," the government in rubbing out the legacy of the Party has moved progressively to the right, sters union in the midwestern United program explained. 1984-85 miners strike. taking the same stand as the Tories on many States into a fighting movement. Team­ Oleg Gordievsky of the Soviet secret po­ The "Dispatches" film concluded with a domestic and foreign policy questions. ster Rebellion, £8.95. Teamster Power, lice agency, the KGB, said that he advised short interview with Arthur Scargill. Scargill "I wantto make my position clear on where £9.95. Teamster Politics, £9.95. Team­ ster Bureacracy, £10.45. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev that it explained he is not surprised at the character I stand in relation to the next Labour govern­ would be "undesirable and counter-produc­ of the attack made against the union and its ment," said SclJ.fgill. "I've seen the red roses Available from Pathfinder Bookshops, tive for the Soviet Union to help striking leadership, and expects other such frame-ups in placeofthered flags. I've seen the clean-cut london: 47 The Cut, SE1 8LL, tel. (71) miners in Britain." Gordievsky was KGB in the future. "Sooner rather than later, work­ image in place of rallies like this. I say to you, 401-2293- Manchester: Unit 4, 60 head in Britain at the time of the strike. ers will make the judgment aboot the drive I've not been a member of the Labour Party Shudehill, M4 4AA, tel. (61) 839-1766 The Soviet government did not want to do against the union," he said. for 30 years to tell people we can run capital­ -Sheffield: 2A Waverly House, 10 Joiner St., 53 8GW, tel. (74) 272-9469. anything that might jeopardize its relation­ "The Arthur Legend" provides those who ism better than the Tories. I want a change in Add 15% for shipping and handling. ship with Prime Minister Margaret That­ want to fight the frame-up of the NUM the system. I want a socialist system." cher's government in Britain. leadership with valuable ammunition. Two days later Scargill and union leader 2 The Militant Special Supplement July 5, 1991