Why U.S. gov't bombs Libya 3 TH£ Calif. socialists launch governor's campaign • . 5 Hormel strike: way forward for labor • . 8

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEK I.\' PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 50/NO. 18 MAY 9, 1986 75 CENTS

Soviet accident 'Contra' terrorists get spurs call Inore arins froiD U.S. BY HARRY RING to shut The Reagan administration is escalating its military support for the contra war against Nicaragua: Guns and ammunition stockpiled in Honduras have been released, U.S. nukes the CIA has been dispensing secret funds, and a White House-supported anticom­ The accident that occurred at the Cher­ munist outfit was authorized to send a large nobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine is military helicopter to the U.S. -sponsored another grim reminder of the serious haz­ mercenaries. ards of nuclear power. And it has sparked The White House clearly isn't< waiting renewed demands by opponents of nuclear for the congressional vote on Reagan's pro­ power in the United States and Western posal for $100 million to the contras - Europe to shut down all nuclear power which has been delayed until mid-June - plants in their countries. to provide these mercenaries additional Although there has been widespread aid. speculation and even hysteria by the West On April 23, U.S. officials who insisted European and U.S. news media about the on remaining anonymous disclosed that a extent and character of the mishap, only a supply of guns, ammunition, and other few hard facts have yet been reported. materiel sufficient to last into the summer The Soviet government has announced had been turned over to the contras. that two people died as a result of the acci­ They claimed this came from a stockpile dent that occurred in one of the plant's four slated for delivery last fall but assertedly delayed by the Honduran government. They also claimed that this obviously EDITORIAL substantial amount of weapons had been bought with private money; They said the contras refused to disclose where the generating units. As of May I , 197 had re­ money came from. portedly been hospitalized, 49 of whom A contra spokesperson said some of the were discharged after examination. newly released weapons were being sent to The announcement also said that the re­ Costa Rica to be used by forces there allied sidents of four towns in the area had been to the Nicaraguan Democratic Force, the evacuated. The power plant is located at Cole Pripyat, a new town of about 25,000 Continued on Page 2 Houston protest against contra aid. May 17 actions will oppose U.S. war on Nicaragua. people. The town was built in the 1970s, along with the plant, -and many of the workers live there. Pripyat is 60 miles north of Kiev, a city of 2.3 million people. Haiti: 8 killed by U.S.-backed junta Kiev has · been temporarily placed off­ limits to reporters. BY TOM LEONARD charge. But it isn't much of a government. The plant is located in the "breadbasket" Following the murderous attack on the Eight people were killed and dozens in­ of the Soviet Union, and the release of Fort Dimanche demonstration, Namphy Hubert Ronceray - one of the 60 people jured when troops opened fire on a demon­ large amounts of radiation as a result of the defended the violent action of his troops. who have announced that they will run for stration in Haiti's capital city of Port-au­ He claimed "little groups of agitators," president if elections are ever called - accident could contaminate the rich ag­ Prince on April 26. ricultural land and livestock. who are trying to destabilize the govern- · said after the shootings that the government The protest was organized by the League The government of Poland announced ment, provoked the shootings. "has proven it cannot govern." Ronceray is of Former Political Prisoners. It was a that radioactive fallout had been detected at Namphy's government is an unstable a sociologist who was jailed several times commemoration of the thousands of people all 200 of the country's monitoring sites. operation. The mass upsurge that forced under the Duvaliers. who were tortured and murdered during the The Chernobyl plant is just 280 miles Duvalier to leave also destroyed much of Gerard Gourgue, a human rights activist nearly three decades of tyranny, first under the old government apparatus. Because who resigned from the ruling council a southeast of the Polish border. Fran<;ois Duvalier and then under his son, The Polish government has taken pre­ there was no organized, credible capitalist month ago in protest against the govern­ Jean-Claude. cautionary measures, including restricting opposition to Duvalier, the army was put in Continued on Page 12 the sale of milk and issuing medicine to The demonstration started with 2,000 children to protect against radioactive participants at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. iodine. As they began to march to Fort Dimanche Hours prior to the Soviet government's they were joined by thousands more, All-out effort needed to put announcement of the accident, Swedish, mostly youth. Danish, and Finnish scientists reported Fort Dimanche was the military barracks radiation levels 3 to I 0 times higher than used by the Duvaliers as a torture chamber Socialist Fund over top normal in their countries. and political prison. From 1957, when In Sweden, the high radiation levels "Papa Doc" 'took office, until Jean-Claude BY ANDREA GONZALEZ to Washington, D.C. , for the March 9 were at first thought to be due to an acci­ fled Haiti earlier this year, an estimated An all-out effort is needed in the last abortion rights demonstration. Many mem­ dent in one of the country's own 12 nuclear week of the $100,000 Socialist Publication bers went with coworkers to Austin, Min­ reactors. 50,000 people were murdered or "disap­ peared." Fund. With over $120,000 pledged to the nesota, for the April 12 solidarity rally for There is widespread opposition in Swe· fund, we can meet our goal by· the May 10 striking meatpackers. den to the use of nuclear power, and news Since Duvalier's ouster on February 7, deadline if special steps are taken by sup­ "But," she continued, "once the branch of the accident in the Ukraine reignited mass mobilizations have continued porters of the socialist publications right began to organize the pledge collection, it protests. The People's Campaign Against throughout Haiti. Protesters are demanding away. was easy. Branch members are excited Nuclear Power demanded that the govern­ the destruction of every remnant of the Branches of the Socialist Workers Party, about the fund, excited about what the fund ment immediately shut down all Swedish Duvalier dictatorship, including removing which have made the fund a top priority, is used for." nuclear plants, at least until the cause of the his supporters from all government posts, are now organizing to meet this challenge. Other branches of the SWP report simi­ Soviet accident was studied. the army, and the police. SWP members in Dallas, for example, Jar confidence in their ability to meet their The Swedish government pounced on local goals by the end of the drive. Special The Haitian people are also demanding began a concerted effort to collect the the accident to demand that the Soviet nu­ efforts are under way to talk to all those some justice for the thousands of victims of $4,000 pledged by supporters of the clear system be placed under international with outstanding fund pledges so payments control. At the same time, the government Duvalierism. To date, none of the members socialist publications in their city. Their of Duvalier' s private army, the Tontons success is noteworthy. To date, they have can be collected in the next week. claimed that safety standards in Sweden's One exciting activity the fund will help Macoutes, have been put on trial for the collected $2,500 toward the $4,000 goal. own nuclear industry were so high that the with is the sales team now traveling robbery, murder, and torture . that were Over $1,300 was collected in one week. Swedish people had nothing to fear. throughout the Midwest (see story on page their stock-in-trade. Even as this statement was being made, "With a little extra effort," Kathryn 2). This team will be distributing the Mili­ an official of the government's Radiation Another popular demand is for an Crowder, a leader of the Dallas SWP, told tant, the Spanish-language biweekly Per­ Protection Institute was forced to admit at a elected, civilian government. Haiti is cur­ the Militant, "we will be able to collect the spectiva Mundial, the Young Socialist, and news conference that the unusual radiation rently run by a three-person military-domi­ balance." Pathfinder literature at plant gates and cam- . levels first registered on April 27 were not nated junta headed by Gen. Henri Nam­ "The lateness in collecting the pledges," puses throughout the region. heeded in a timely way "because we do not phy. A high-ranking officer under she said, "was due to the traveling party As the fund enters the last week, actually have a proper alarm system func- Duvalier, Namphy was appointed to head members and supporters have been doing $50,568 has been received. Clearly, with a , tioning." up the government by the dictator as over the last few weekends. Members of systematic effort, we can complete the Continued on Page 14 Duvalier fled. the branch, as well as our' supporters, went fund in full and on time. Ohio: 'Militant' builds support for Hormel strike

BY ALAN EPSTEIN the United Food and Commercial There are regular readers at both the one in Austin could be just We also recently took the Mili­ TOLEOO, Ohio - Over the Workers (UFCW), and the can plants who have change ready in around the comer for them as tant to Diversitech, a textile plant past two months, Militant sales plant by the United Steelworkers their hands to buy the Militant. well. organized by the Amalgamated teams have received a good re- of America. Each plant has about Others honk and wave as they Clothing and Textile Workers drive by and tell us to "Keep up We also have regular sales at Union. Union members there en­ the good work." the Sun Oil refinery in Toledo, thusiastically took literature on the The Militant's coverage of the which is organized by the Oil, meatpackers' strike and bought SELLING OUR PRESS UFCW Local P-9 meatpackers Chemical and Atomic Workers. several Militants. strike in Austin, Minnesota, has We usually sell several Militants AT THE PLANT GATE received a good response, espe­ here at the late afternoon shift We also have successful plant­ cially from Hunt Wesson workers change. These workers are also in­ gate sales at the AMC Jeep plant in sponse from workers at Hunt Wes­ 300 workers, but during the to­ who belong to the same union. terested in the Militant's coverage Toledo, which is organized by the son, a tomato-processing plant, mato harvest Hunt Wesson hires When we gave out leaflets put out of the Hormel strikers' fight for a United Auto Workers. There is and at the nearby Crown Cork and hundreds of seasonal workers in by Local P-9 asking support for decent contract. One reason is that strong support in this plant for the Seal can plant. During this time addition. the boycott of Hormel products, in 1984 their local waged a deter­ Hormel strikers. The Auto Work­ we've sold more than 60 copies of Our Militant sale is now a several workers asked for handfuls mined strike to beat back many of ers' local at Jeep recently voted to the Militant. weekly event at an intersection to circulate inside the plant. Some the concessions Sun Oil was de­ send a financial contribution to the Hunt Wesson is organized by leading to the plant entrances. of them said that a struggle such as manding. Hormel strikers. 'Militant' sales team off to good start in Iowa

BY ELLEN HAYWOOD Socialist Alliance and Socialist .Workers Chrysler worker from Detroit, is also on DUBUQUE, Iowa - Meatpacking Party. the team. She is the Socialist Workers workers at the FDL Foods plant here "We showed the workers the Militant's Party candidate for governor of Michigan. bought 80 copies of the Militant from a coverage of the Austin strike and talked One of her opponents is liberal Democrat socialist sales team that spent an hour talk­ about the articles protesting the U.S . gov­ Gov. James Blanchard, who just sent the ing to these unionists. FDL is a subsidiary ernment's war against Nicaragua and the Michigan National Guard to Honduras to of Hormel, whose plant in Austin, Min­ bombing of Libya. These are the things join Pentagon military maneuvers there. nesota, is being struck by Local P-9 of the workers are discussing," said Argiris Kaku_is an opponent of U.S. intervention United Food and Commercial Workers Malapanis, team captain and a national in Central America. union. leader of the Young Socialist Alliance. SWP member Floyd Fowler is also on The workers at FDL are also organized The team will also visit campuses, work­ the team. He just lost his job at a United by the UFCW. Close to 300 workers re­ ing-class communities, and other plants in Auto Workers-organized plant in Denver. fused to cross roving picket lines set up by Dubuque before moving south along the The plant is shutting down and moving to the Austin strikers here on February 17, Mississippi to Davenport, another industri­ another state to reopen as a nonunion shop. bringing production at the FDL plant to a al center in Iowa. Fowler was part of a delegation sent from virtual standstill for the day. his union to the national P-9 solidarity rally Our team will be concentrating on sales "There is a lot of discussion here about in Austin in February. at meatpacking plants, agricultural centers, P-9," said one FDL worker we talked to and college campuses. April 30 during our visit here. Ellen Haywood is a national leader of the FDL was the first stop of a team of Malapanis is a 27-year-old trade unionist YSA and the fourth member of the sales socialist workers who will be traveling from Minnesota. He has been active in team. Militant throughout Iowa and northern Missouri for winning support for family farmers in their Kate Kaku, SWP candidate for gover­ a couple of weeks selling the Militant, Per­ fight for fair prices for their produce and nor of Michigan, is one of four sales­ spectiva Mundial, and the Young Socialist, against foreclosure on their farms. team members. and signing up new members to the Young YSA leader Kate Kaku, a 25-year-old U.S. escalates 01ilitary aid in contra war

Continued from front page The contras have been seeking helicop­ litical projects." These included the principal U.S .-sponsored mercenary outfit. ters for some time. Until recently they had monthly wages of contra officials, as well On April 29 the State Department said it two smaller ones, but one was shot down as funds to open offices in Europe and had authorized delivery of a UH-IB Huey on a mission inside Nicaragua. Latin America. military helicopter to the Honduran-based The fiction is that the new helicopter will The October 1984 decision by Congress contras. be used only for "humanitarian" medical was supposed to ban CIA involvement with The helicopter, of a type used in the evacuation inside Honduras. Vietnam War, was purchased by the the contras. A Washington spokesman for the mer~ United States Council for World Freedom; The CIA apparently couldn't care less. cenaries said, however, that he hoped it These moves come in the context of the a rabid ultraright outfit headed by retired would also be used inside Nicaragua. The Maj. Gen. John Singlaub. White House pressing the Honduran gov­ contras have been seeking helicopters to ernment to take a more direct part in the transport troops and evacuate wounded. war against Nicaragua. Banicada lntemacional, the weekly This would help them escalate their dirty By official voice of the Sandinista National war within Nicaragua. All of these developments confirm that it Fretl Balstead Liberation Front. is now available in Will take massive, organized public oppos­ Spanish and English .. The price is 6 Meanwhile, it was disclosed that the ition to stop this reactionary, illegal war months for $12. CIA, which Congress supposedly barred against Nicaragua. from giving military aid to the contras, had An important step in this direction is 40 pp., $.95. Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 Send check or money order to: West Street, New York. N.Y. 10014 (please include secretly funneled several million dollars to helping to maximize the turnout for the Barricada lnternacional $.75 lor postage); or from Pathfinder Bookstore the counterrevolutionaries over the past May 17 Armed Forces Day antiwar demon­ nearest you (see directory on page 12). Apdo. No. 576 year. strations being organized in cities across Managua. Nicaragua. The money was assertedly used for "po- the country by the Pledge of Resistance.

The Militant tells the truth Subscribe today! The Militant That's the way you'll Closing news date: April 30, 1986 Editor: MALIK MIAH get facts about Managing editor: Washington's war MARGARET JA YKO against working Business Manager: people at home and LEE MARTINDALE abroad: from South Editorial Staff: Rashaad Ali, Susan Apstein, Fred Feldman, Andrea Gonzalez, Pat Grogan, Arthur Africa and Nicara­ Hughes, Tom Leonard, Harry Ring, Norton Sandler. gua, to embattled Published weekly except one week in August and the workers and farmers last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026- in the U.S. Read our 3885), 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Tele­ ideas on how to stop phone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Of- fice, (212) 929-3486. · apartheid, war, the Correspondence concerning subscriptions or • ' oppression of Blacks changes of address should be addressed to The Mili­ rEnclosed is-;-0 $3 for 12 ;;eks 0$15 for Gm~ths-, and women, and the employer tant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, 1 o $24 for 1 year o A contribution I offensive against all workers. N.Y. 10014. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POST­ I Name I MASTER: Send address changes to The Militant, 14 At the plant gates, picket Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: I Address I lines and unemployment U.S: $24 .00 a year, outside U.S. $30.00. By first-class I City/State/Zip I lines, at antiwar and abortion mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air- I Telephone I rights actions, the Militant is mail rates to all other countries. . there, reporting the news, Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily rep" 1 Union/Organization I resent the Militant's views. These are expressed in edito­ I Send to Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New York, NY 10014 J participating in struggle. rials.

2 Tbe.Mmtant May 9, 1986 Why .Reagan wants to overthrow Libya gov't

BY HARRY RING But the mainly nomadic Libyan tribes Secretary of State George Shultz served stubbornly refused to yield their land and in notice in an April 27 interview that his gov­ 1911 Italy launched a massive invasion to ernment intends to buttress its military at­ crush the organized resistance that de­ tacks on Libya with a program of "disrup­ veloped. tive" covert action. A fleet of ships shelled Libyan coastal Shultz, of course, did not specify what towns and an invasion force of 34,000 cap­ the "disruptive" actions would be. But if tured the capital, Tripoli, and other areas. they're secret and "disruptive," they're ob­ The "pacification" of Libya was under viously not legal or peaceful. Sabotage of way. oil facilities? Commando attacks on mili­ Set back during World War I, Italy re­ tary installations? Assassinations? Any or turned in earnest in 1919, with 70,000 all of these things could be part of such a troops, tanks, artillery, flamethrowers, and package. a fleet of bombers. Clearly, Washington is determined to In 1922, under Mussolini' s fascist re­ overthrow the Libyan government and will gime, the war became increasingly savage. use any justification it can come up with. Tribal encampments were bombed, wells The hue and cry about Libyan "terrorism" poisoned, and herds destroyed. is simply a smoke screen. Entire sectors of the nomadic population The real reasons for Washington's ag­ were driven into concentration camps. A gressive stance stem from U.S. economic, 200-mile barbed wire fence was strung political, and military stakes in the oil-rich, across the desert border with Egypt to keep Oil workers in Libya. After 1969 overthrow of King ldris, much of Libya's on wealth was strategic Middle East/North Africa region. out supplies for the resistance forces. The nationalized-an example that imperialism does not want oppressed people to follow. For U.S. bankers and oil barons, this is a rebels were finally overwhelmed. vital area of the globe. With the aid of its As the Israelis were to do later to the Pal­ colonial rule of Libya. In 1943, French co­ its resources - it had little industry and not junior partner, Israel, the U.S. government estinians, the Italian colonialists drove the lonial troops joined the British in occupy­ enough agriculture to feed its people. And has used all the power at its command - native population off the better lands. With ing the country . Britain and France then it was saddled with a ruler, King ldris, who military, political, and economic - to their limd gone and herds slaughtered, the administered Libya until 1951 , when it was was persuaded that spineless acceptance of dominate this region. · Libyans became a pool of low-paid manual granted formal independence. foreign domination was the most profitable In the drive to maintain their grip on the labor in countryside and cities. policy, at least for himself and his handful area, Washington and Wall Street have Italy's defeat in World War II ended its By then Libya was virtually stripped of Continued on Page 6 faced many obstacles. One particular prob­ lem has been the Libyan government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi - a govern­ ment that has stubbornly refused to knuckle under to U.S. dictates. Socialist conferences set for 13 cities The problem has been particularly ag­ BY ANDREA GONZALEZ involved in quite a bit of political activity ton, D.C., and Los Angeles. gravating because the previous Libyan Beginning the weekend of May 10, the this spring. That same weekend, events in Salt Lake government, that of King Idris, was one of Socialist Workers Party and Young Each conference will feature major talk City and Seattle will feature classes on the most subservient to imperialism in the a: Socialist Alliance will be sponsoring reg­ by an SWP or YSA leader on the political women's oppression. entire oil-producing region. ional educational conferences in 13 cities situation in the United States and around On May 17-1 8, a New York City con­ The Qaddafi government, in power across the country. the world. ference will be held with classes on both since 1969, represents the deep-going These events will bring together activists The conferences will also include class­ the oppression of women and war and im­ nationalism of the Libyan people who have from the trade union and farm movements, es on one of three themes: the trade unions perialism. suffered long years of brutal imperialist anti-apartheid fighters, participants in the today and the fight for a class-struggle pol­ That weekend, conferences in Boston, domination. antiwar and Central America solidarity icy; imperialism and the U.S.-backed war St. Paul, Cleveland, and St. Louis will fea­ A big, mainly desert country, with its movements, and fighters for women's in Central America; and the oppression of ture classes on the trade unions today. rich oil resources yet to be discovered, rights. Most of the conferences will take women. Classes on this "last topic will be On the weekend of May 31-June 1, Libya was first targeted for takeover by place before school is out to maximize the based on the new book from Pathfinder there will be conferences in Houston and Italy at the end of the 19th century. participation of students, who have been Press, Cosmetics, Fashions, and the Ex­ San Francisco on women's oppression. ploitation of Women. There will also be a conference in Each of tbe conferences will bring to­ Pittsburgh. gether activists from several cities. For more information about the socialist SALES SCOREBOARD On the weekend of May 10- 11 , confer­ educational weekends in your area call the ences featuring classes on the trade unions SWP or YSA nearest you (see directory on (Week #7: Totals as of Militant issue #16, PM issue #8) today will take place in Atlanta, Washing- page 12).

SINGLE ISSUES Area Militants and Perspectiva Ca1npus sales boost drive Mundials Total sold Subscriptions sold this week so far 10-week goal sold so far BY TOM LEONARD and said he was sorry he didn't have Atlanta 156 776 1,040 9 There are several encouraging things to enough money to get a subscription. Baltimore 73 552 810 26 report as we begin the eighth week of our In North Carolina, Greensboro sales Birmingham 119 426 900 11 10-week national sales drive. teams visited three campuses and sold 22 Boston 80 802 1,000 66 First is that so far 27 out of 39 branches Militants plus two subscriptions. One stu­ Capital District, N.Y. 73 448 730 41 of the Socialist Workers Party have re­ dent at the University of North Carolina · Charleston, W.Va. 61 502 60Q II ported plans for new sales target weeks. Of saw the Militant headline against the U.S. Chicago 163 748 1,500 21 these 27, six are planning two target bombing of Libya and said, "I'm so glad Cincinnati 46 262 600 4 weeks. This serious effort should give a someone is writing what I am thinking," Cleveland 35 372 900 22 substantial boost to completing a success- . Dallas 115 931 1,700 25 and then bought a subscription. Denver 56 490 800 26 ful campaign. Percentage-wise, we are still In Portland, Oregon, a sales team took Detroit 100 1,214 1,570 26 lagging behind where total sales should be 10 Militants to the Portland State campus Greensboro, N.C. 91 538 650 37 at this stage of the campaign (see accom­ and quickly sold them, along with two sub­ Houston 297 1,324 1,800 42 panying scoreboard). scriptions. Many students liked the Mili­ Kansas City 32 476 1,1 20 12 But there was a marked improvement in tant's coverage of Libya. Los Angeles 249 1,504 2,000 61 last week's sales compared with the previ­ At Upsala College in New Jersey, cam­ Louisville 29 252 375 6 ous week, the sixth of the campaign. pus workers organized by District 65 of the Miami 34 286 550 27 During the seventh week, combined United Auto Workers are on strike. They Milwaukee 122 516 750 27 sales of the Militant and the Spanish-lan­ 522 700 6 held a campus strike-support rally on April Morgantown, W.Va. 58 guage biweekly, Perspectiva Mundial, to­ New Orleans 68 452 650 38 26. Forty-five participants bought the Mil­ New York 359 2,372 3,250 97 taled 3,940 plus 148 subscriptions. This itant from a Newark sales team. Newark 185 1,593 2,600 74 represented a jump of more than 900 copies A sampling of other campus Militant Oakland 96 578 1,135 10 over the week before. sales included: University of Minnesota, Philadelphia 68 468 1,000 8 Another piece of good news was the ex­ 14; University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, Phoenix 128 853 1,500 26 cellent sale.s to students on campuses 14; Arizona State, 10; and Carnegie Mel­ Pittsburgh 80 390 650 14 across the country. Houston sales teams lon in Pittsburgh,, 10. Portland 67 454 650 18 sold 171 Militan·t's and two subscriptions A Perspectiva Mundial sales team from Price, Utah 6 74 250 I on Texas campuses. 19 San Diego went to San Ysidro, a U.S. town Salt Lake City 70 487 640 These included 120 copies sold at the San Diego 94 344 580 4 on the Mexican border, on April 26. They San Francisco 155 782 1,300 35 University of Texas in Austin during a sold 15 copies and two subscriptions to Per­ San Jose 105 682 1,000 44 week of anti-apartheid actions on the cam­ spectiva Mundial. A Mexican woman Seattle 67 586 800 20 pus. asked the salespeople if Perspectiva Mun­ St. Louis 100 728 1,250 16 The Texas sales teams reported that the dial was the paper that opposed the U.S. Tidewater, Va. 63 272 375 8 coverage on Libya got a good response. bombing of Libya. When she found out it Toledo 37 324 500 36 Students they talked to were very much was, she thanked them and bought two Twin Cities 134 996 1,600 36 against the bombing of Libya, even though copies. Washington, D.C. 69 65 1 800 39 most were confused by Washington's cam­ The excellent campus sales, continuing Total sold this week 3940 paign of lies and slanders about the Qad­ Total sold so far . . . 26,027 ..... 1,049 good community and plant-gate sales, and 10-week national goal 45,000 2,000 dafi government and terrorism. sales at antiwar, anti-apartheid, and abor­ Percent of national A Salt Lake City sales team had met a tion rights actions demonstrate the continu­ goal reached . . . 58% 52% student who strongly objected to the Mili­ ing interest in a variety of political de­ To be on schedule . 70% 70% tant's defense of Libya. When they ran velopments that we've noted since the sales into the same student last week he had drive began. This should be a big help to us changed his position. He bought a Militant in tpe closing weeks of the campaign.

May 9, l986 T~e '· . •. ~ ;, . I ...... Milita. nt. .3

~ ------.-BUILDING ANTI-APARTHEID AND ANTIWAR AcriONS---- University Employees, refused to business as usual is not acceptable to the United States. After ex­ sanctions against racist South Af­ Hundreds of take down the shantytown, saying, at this school." plaining the gains of the Nicara­ rica, not the Libyan people, who anti-apartheid "Let Yale do its own dirty work." guan revolution, he pointed out are the victims of Washington's Local 35 and Local 34, which or­ Louisiana State: that "Reagan is afraid of the exam­ latest round of terror. protesters ganizes clerical workers, voted ple of Nicaragua to the rest of the arrested at Yale last winter to demand that their 150 protest world; that you can stand up to the Mich. students pension funds be divested from 'contra' aid, United States." BY RASHAAD ALI companies that do business with demand honorary Police have arrested 213 anti­ South Africa. This request was apartheid U.S. terrorist apartheid protesters at Yale Uni­ turned down by the Yale Corp. degree for versity in New 1-Javen, Connec­ The shanties were built April 4 BY JIM ROGERS attack on Libya Nelson Mandela ticut, in 12 days of protests. The by 75 students as part of a national BATON ROUGE, La. - On protested April28 New York Times reported week of anti-apartheid actions April 14 about 150 students and BY BOBBI SPIEGLER that since April 4, a total of 322 called by the American Committee others from the community rallied in Albany ANN ARBOR, Mich. - An protesters have been arrested. Ac­ on Africa to commemorate the an­ on the Louisiana State University all-night vigil was held April 17 in cording to the Times , these were niversary of the 1960 Sharpeville (LSU) campus to protest W ashiqg­ BY GEORGE KONT ANIS the administration building at the the first mass arrests ever on the massacre in South Africa. The ad­ ton's support to apartheid in South ALBANY, N.Y. - About a University of Michigan campus Yale campus. ministration had threatened to take Africa and to the contras trying to hundred people rallied in Capitol here. The protest immediately fol­ The protests were organized by legal and disciplinary action if the overthrow the government of Nic­ Park April 18 to show their oppos­ lowed the University Board of Re­ the Coalition Against Apartheid. shanties were not removed from aragua. ition to the U.S. terrorist bombing gents meeting where the request The coalition is demanding that the campus green by noon April 5. The rally was sponsored by the raid on Libya. for an honorary degree was re­ Yale divest all of the university's Several hundred students showed Progressive Student Network and Donna DeMaria of the Pledge fused South African anti-apartheid $400 million it holds in companies up to defend the shanties that day . heard speakers from the African of Resistance, which has or­ leader Nelson Mandela. that do business with South Af­ This forced the administration to Students Association, LSU Na­ ganized several large marches and Concerned students and faculty rica. back down . tional Organization for Women, rallies to protest funding for the are demanding that a bylaw be The university · presently has a On April15, New Haven police General Union of Palestinian Stu­ U.S.-organized contras, called at­ waived by the Board of Regents "selective divestments" policy that arrested 20 people for blocking a dents, November 29 Committee, tention to the murder and injury of that denies honorary degrees to limits its investments in com­ city sidewalk while protesters par­ Committee Against Military Inter­ Muammar el-Qaddafi's children those unable to be present to ac­ panies involved in South Africa to ticipated in a sit-in on the steps of vention In Nicaragua, Students for by the U.S. bombs. She also cept them. Mandela is serving a those that supposedly denounce Yale's bursar's office. Nuclear Disarmament, and the pointed out that "the U.S. support life sentence in a South African apartheid or plan to leave South The next day, cops arrested 60 Young Socialist Alliance. Enter­ of terrorism by the contras in Nic­ jail. Africa some time in the future . more students for blocking the en­ tainment between speakers was aragua is state-sponsored ter­ Students, faculty, and members "We don't want our tuition tranceway to the administration provided by local jazz, blues, and rorism." of the Ann Arbor Free South Af­ going to support that racist sys­ building. Forty-seven more were rock musicians. Kathryn Shea, chairwoman of rica Committee (FSAC) testified tem," explained Leslie Frane, a arrested on April 27 . The spirit of the rally was cap­ the Social Workers for Peace and at board hearings. Several speak­ graduate student at Yale. "We've The arrests have been criticized tured by Prof. Mariba Carimoco Nuclear Disarmament, called the ers pointed to the importance of tried for years to do the polite by faculty members, 150 of whom from Southern University. He bombing of Libya "atrocious." solidarizing with the struggle thing, to work through the chan­ signed a petition against the ad­ spoke about the need to uncondi­ Five students from the State against apartheid. They have been nels. But it's only through con­ ministration's crackdown. tionally call for an end to all U.S. University of New York at Albany on a seven-month campaign to frontation that we get any re­ support to apartheid, including an (SUNY A) said they will stay out­ persuade the board to grant the de­ sponse" from the university, she More than 500 students partici­ end to all investment and business side the Federal Building in Al­ gree. More than 2,000 signatures said. pated in an outdoor anti-apartheid by U.S. coFporations in South Af­ bany conducting a hunger strike to were colfected on the campus urg­ On April 14, police arrested 78 teach-in on April 18 . A number of rica. Carimoco pointed out that the protest increased U.S . govern­ ing that the degree be granted. students who blocked university the arrested students wore their ar­ tax money paid by U.S. com­ ment attacks on Libya and Nicara­ An alternative commencement supervisory personnel from dis- • rest citations as badges of honor. panies to the South African gov­ gua. Their action is to coincide will be held on May 3. Hector Del­ mantling a shantytown on the Students were urged to volunteer ernment "is directly responsible with an eight-day jail sentence gado, spokesperson for FSAC, campus green. for "direct action" and one student for the bloody repression of South being served by two SUNY A stu­ explained: "We will give an hon­ The shantytown was called said that "we will escalate our pro­ African Blacks." dents who participated in a protest orary degree to Nelson Mandela Winnie Mandel a City, after the test" against university complicity There was unanimous opposi­ against the proposed $100 million and show that thousands of stu­ South African freedom fighter and with apartheid. tion to funding the contras. David contra aid bill .. dents at the University of Michi­ anti-apartheid leader. It was built The students' determination Klein, speaking for the Committee Some participants in the cro:wd gan are adding their voices to to dramatize the plight of South was expressed by protest leader Against Intervention in Nicara­ took issue with a petition calling growing numbers around the African Blacks. Charlotte Hitchcock: "As long as gua, condemned support for the for sanctions against Libya that world who are demanding, 'End Maintenance workers, members Yale continues to support the cofitras and ridiculed the idea that was distributed by rally organiz­ apartheid. Free Nelson Man- . of Local 35 of the Federation of bloodbath which is apartheid, tiny Nicaragua is a military threat ers. They pointed to the need for dela!'" Abortion rights supporters defend Ky. clinic

BY ESTELLE DeBATES · The crowd then marched around the The following morning the media re­ The right-wingers eventually called the LOUISVILLE, Ky . - Supporters of sidewalk in front of the clinic , carrying ported that five state representatives and cops for help. Incredibly, the cops warned abortion rights gathered at a candlelight signs such as "We will never go back," three state senators also auended. These NOW members not to block the path of the· vigil at the EMW clinic in downtown "Keep abortion safe and legal," and "Stop capitalist politicians sat there ·as Scheidler right-wingers or make any physical contact Louisville on April 18 . The Jefferson clinic bombers: American terrorists. " made such threats as, "People say we can't with them. In fact it was foes of abortion County chapter of the National Organiza­ NOW member Carol Cohan reported on impose our morality on others. But the rights who were blocking the path of pa­ tion for Women organized the .vigil in re­ the "Celebration of Life" banquet that time has come when we have to say , .'you tients and trying to provoke a confrontation sponse to Joseph Scheidler's presence in Scheidler had addressed in Louisville. just watch us.'" with the escorts. the city. Scheidler is the key leader of the Scheiqler (who repeatedly referred to The following morning, 15 NOW mem­ NOW members stayed at the clinic until Pro-Life Action Network, which tries to feminists as "the lovelies") blasted the bers were organized to escort patients to the opponents left. shut down abortion clinics through violent, abortion rights marches that NOW or­ and from the clinic. illegal actions. ganized on March 9 and March 16 in Eight right-wing antiabortionists haras­ Estelle DeBates is the Socialist Workers Jefferson County NOW President Washington, D.C. , and Los Angeles. sed patients, saying, "Please don't kill your Party candidate for Congress in the 3rd Melody Wolder explained that the vigil Cohan reported that Democratic Rep . baby, please. I'll do anything to help you C.D. Her opponent is Romano Mazzoli . was being held "in memory of the wornen Romano Mazzoli of Louisville was a guest have your baby . I'll even give you She is also a member of Jefferson County who died as a result of illegal abortions and speaker at the banquet. mon.ey ." NOW. . the women who would die from illegal abortions if right-wing violence is not stopped." She called Scheidler a "terrorist" who advocates clinic invasions and sit-ins. St. Louis: anti abortion convention picketed Wolder told the crowd about the March 26 invasion of an abortion clinic in Pen­ BY ELLEN DORFMAN The I 00 pickets included members of This was organized because the PLAN sacola, Florida. The morning after Schei­ ST. LOUIS- Abortion rights activists NARAL, National Organization for conference schedule included an item dler had conducted a workshop on how to here put up a picket line April 18 outside Women, United Auto Workers union, and called "Field Training" from 7:00a.m. to disrupt clinics, 50 right-wing thugs in­ the national convention of the Pro-Life Ac­ Latin American Solidarity Committee, noon on Saturday. vaded the Ladies Center in Pensacola. tion Network (PLAN) at St. Louis Univer­ along with students from St. Louis Univer­ The clinic workers and escorts knew that They ransacked the clinic, hurting two sity. sity and Webster University and clinic es­ this meant they had to be prepared for any­ clinic workers and two NOW members and PLAN is a group whose stated purpose is corts. thing. More than 40 escorts turned out at doing extensive damage to the medical to organize illegal, disruptive, and violent Shortly after the abortion rights pickets the clinics Saturday morning. equipment. activity aimed at shutting down abortion lined up, some of the PLAN conference A few minutes before 7:00 an explosion These events in Pensacola and Schei­ clinics. rocked the area near the Regency Park participants attempted to heckle and shout dler's participation in an anti-abortion­ Medical Center, which houses three abor­ The main purpose of the PLAN confer­ down the chanting demonstrators. Several rights banquet in Louisville prompted tion clinics. A cheer went up from a crowd ence here was to train members in harass­ right-wingers, carrying huge pictures of NOW members here to reach out to others of 200 antiabortion "protesters," who im­ ment and intimidation of clinic patients. fetuses , physically threw themselves into for support against right-wing terror. mediately sat in in front of the doors of Re­ The conference participants were specific­ the midst of the picket line. But before long Members of A Woman's Place, Council on gency Park. ally instructed in the techniques of dis­ right-wingers gave up their attempt at dis-. Peacemaking and Religion, Committee in The police loaded a total of 107 abor­ mantling medical equipment typically ruption because of the spirited response of Solidarity with the People of El Salvador the abortion rights supporters, whose fa­ tion rights foes into two vans and a bus and (CISPES), Fellowship of Reconciliation, found in abortion clinics. vorite chant was "Women's screams are took them to jail. The remaining protesters Progressive Students League, and Socialist Many people were outraged at the illegal did everything they could to intimidate pa­ not so silent - stop this conference! End Workers Party joined the vigil. So did focus of the conference and sent letters of tients, clinic staff, and escorts. the violence!" others who happened to be passing by, protest to St. Louis University Chancellor Clinic escorts tolerated a lot of personal such as a young Black couple with two Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald demanding the As the picket line ended at the appointed insults in order to be available to help pa­ children. They stopped and asked what was cancellation of the conference. Fitzgerald time, people walked to their cars calling, tients enter the clinic building. The end re­ taking place, stayed to hear the speakers, refused, and the picket line was called on "See you tomorrow!" Many of them were sult was very satisfying - not one patient and left wearing "Don't Yield Your Right five days' notice by the Missouri National clinic escorts who would be on duty at 7:00 was prevented from keeping her appoint­ to Choose".stickers . Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). a.m. Saturday at all area abortion clinics. ment.

4 The Militant M;ty 9, 198(; Socialists announce California campaign Garment worker heads party slate

BY ANIBAL YANEZ ments in apartheid South Africa. In a SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Matilde couple of days I'm going to Austin, Min­ Zimmermann is the Socialist Workers nesota, to join thousands of other unionists Party candidate for governor of California. from around the country in solidarity with For 20 years she has been a fighter for the the meatpackers there who are on strike rights of working people and against im- against Hormel. And from now until April perialist war. · 19 I will be asking everyone I meet to join Zimmermann joined the Young Socialist the march in San Francisco that day, pro­ Alliance in 1967, after having participated testing U.S. intervention in Central Amer- in protests against the U.S. war in Viet­ ica." · nam. A year later she joined the Socialist The socialist candidate also spoke at a Workers Party. She became secretary of rally in Oakland April 6 to launch the cam­ the GI Civil Liberties Defense Committee, paign of Miesa Patterson, the SWP candi­ which rallied support for soldiers perse­ date for U.S. Congress from the 8th C.D. cuted because of their opposition to the One of the best-received speakers at that Vietnam War. rally was a young Salvadoran garment MilitanUPaco Sanchez She later was elected national coordi­ worker who is the newest member of the Matilde Zimmermann (right), Socialist Workers candidate for governor of Califor­ nator of the Women's National Abortion San Francisco Young Socialist Alliance. nia, at solidarity rally with Hormel strikers in Austin, Minnesota. Action Coalition, which organized several demonstrations in support of legal abortion prior to the 1973 Supreme Court decision recognizing abortion as a constitutional minois socialists hit attack on Libya right. In 1980 Zimmermann was the Socialist BY ED WARREN ing to defend themselves from the employ­ Workers Party candidate for vice-president The socialist candidates are workers and . CHICAGO - The Socialist Workers ers, landlords, and banks," Harkness said of the United States on a ticket headed by active members of their unions. Party candidates in Illinois launched their of the National Democratic Policy Com­ presidential nominee Andrew Pulley. When they went to work after launching campaigns with a denunciation of Wash­ mittee. "We are going to expose their de­ She subsequently went to Nicaragua and their campaigns, some of the candidates re­ ington's attacks on Libya. magogic claims that 'Jewish bankers' - wrote articles supporting the Sandinista-led ported considerable interest from their co­ Omari Musa, the· party's candidate for and not the capitalist system and the workers. revolution for the Militant and other U.S. Senate, told a news conference that capitalist ruling class - are the cause of Roling and Bloodworth work for the socialist publications. the U.S. aggression was "an unprovoked the problems we face," said Harkness. Zimmermann currently works as a cutter clothing manufacturer Hart, Schaffner, and act of war against the people of Libya." The SWP candidates plan to campaign Marx and belong to the Amalgamated at Koret, San Francisco's largest garment actively among farmers. "We think the manufacturer, and is a member of the Inter­ Musa pledged that the SWP campaign Clothing and Textile Workers' Union. idea of replacing the capitalist government national Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. would "tell the truth to working people in They were greeted with handshakes, con­ with a workers' and farmers' government At an April 9 news conference in the Illinois about the real source of terrorism." gratulations, and wishes of good luck from will appeal to a growing number of work­ coworkers. state capital of Sacramento announcing her He cited the U.S.-organized contra war against Nicaragua as "another example of ers and farmers," said gubernatorial candi­ Roling said that a cutter she had never candidacy she showed reporters the open date Diane Roling. letter in English, Spanish, and Chinese she Washington's massive use of state ter­ met came to her table to introduce her to a had passed out to all her coworkers at rorism against workers, farmers, and op­ The candidates stress the importance of woman coworker who had seen Roling and Koret to let them know about the cam­ pressed nations around the globe." defending affirmative action programs. Little on television and wanted to meet a worker who was running for office. paign. The SWP slate consists of Musa, Diane "We call for strict enforcement of affirma­ tive action quotas," said Musa, "as the only Several coworkers volunteered to help Asked about the response, she said Roling for governor, Jim Little for lieuten­ ant governor, Holly Harkness for secretary way to make sure that Blacks, Latinos, and the campaign. Such help is needed. State people "were surpnsed that a worker -:­ women don't•have to continue-the cycle of law requires the Socialist Workers Party to someone who punched the time clock with of state, Scott Dombeck for state attorney being the last hired and first fired ." collect 25 ,000 signatures in order to qual­ them and worried as they do about getting general, Jim Miles for state comptroller, and Stephen Bloodworth, Cathleen All the SWP candidates are encouraging ify for ballot status. laid off at the end of the day - was run­ solidarity with the Hormel workers on "The day after the press conference was ning for governor. A couple have started Gutekanst, and Pedro Vasquez for Univer­ strike in Minnesota and locked out in Iowa. an exciting day at work," said candidate calling me 'governor,' and offered to help sity of Illinois Board of Trustees. And they are defenders of a woman's Holly Harkness, a member of the United out on the campaign. In fact, one Filipino The socialist candidates were heard on right to abortion. Steelworkers of America. One of her co­ coworker spent five hours the day after the eight radio stations, including a Spanish­ Stephen Bloodworth, Cathleen workers had clipped the newspaper article announcement cooking for the first cam­ language station. Articles appeared in both Gutekanst, and Pedro Vasquez, the candi­ on the socialist campaign and taped it on paign reception." major daily newspapers, the Chicago Sun­ dates for University of Illinois Board of the door of the Inspection Department Zimmermann pointed out that not every­ Times and the Chicago Tribune . Trustees, are actively campaigning on where she works. A number of workers one at Koret liked her campaign. "But a The socialist candidates for lieutenant campuses. They seek to win support for the said they liked the candidates' proposal to number of people have told me they like governor and secretary of state- Jim Lit­ demand that the university divest itself of attack unemployment by reducing the what I have to say about the issues - for tle and Holly Harkness - will be opposing all investment in apartheid South Africa. workweek to 30 hours for 40 hours pay. example, my speaking out against Nicara­ Mark Fairchild and Janice Hart, two mem­ guan contra aid and against deportations of bers of the fascist National Democratic undocumented workers, and my support Policy Committee who won the Democrat­ for women's right to abortion." ic primary nominations for these offices. "I'll tell you what kind of campaign I'm The socialists are also running against the Socialists in garment, textile going to run," she said. "This morning on Republican nominees. my way hc:re I joined the 'human blockade' "We are explaining the danger this anti­ union build support for P-9 of students at the Berkeley campus protest­ democratic, antilabor, racist outfit repre­ ing the University of California's invest- sents to workers and farmers who are fi ght- BY ELIZABETH FARLEY war activities on Central America, like NEW YORK - Socialist Workers Party slide shows at union meetings, circulating and Young Socialist Alliance members an appeal by Nicaraguan unionists for sew­ Rail worker enters Senate race in Pa. who work in sewing factories and textile ing machine parts; publicizing speaking mills organized by the Amalgamated tours of Central American unionists, and BY STEPHEN BRIDE The war against working people, Carper Clothing and Textile Workers Union sales of the Militant and the Spanish-lan­ PHILADELPHIA - Mike Carper, a 32- said, "is being waged not only in Libya and (ACTWU) met here in March. guage biweekly Perspectiva Mundial in the year-old rail worker, opened his campaign Nicaragua, but also right here in the United Wendy Lyons, a member of the SWP's plants. for U.S. Senate here April 17 with a de­ States." Referring to the May 1985 attack Trade Union Bureau, gave the political re­ A second priority set by the meeting was nunciation of the Reagan administration on the house of the Black organization · port to the gathering. Pointing to the recent to organize support for the United Food terror bombing of Libya. MOVE, Carper said, "In Philadelphia, the overthrow of tyrants Jean-Claude Duvalier and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) In a statement to the media, Carper, who government bombed a house, burned a and Ferdinand Marcos, Lyons said, "Our Local P-9, which is on strike against the is running on the Socialist Workers Party neighborhood, and murdered 11 people, side recently scored victories in Haiti and Geo. A. Hormel Co. in Austin, Minnesota. ticket, called the attack "a serious escala­ claiming this was necessary to stop 'ter­ the Philippines. Two hated tyrants have Becky Ellis, a member of ACTWU Local tion in Washington's war against op­ rorism.' been deposed, opening up the opportunity 402-T in Portland, Oregon, presented are­ pressed nations and working people any­ "The only adult survivor of this mas­ for working people in those countries to port on this strike. where who stand up against U.S. corpora­ sacre, Ramona Africa, has been sentenced· begin to take political action in their own Ellis stressed the importance of the ex­ tions and their government." to from 16 months to seven years in jail - interests. ample of P-9 to workers in ACTWU who Noting the bipartisan support for the air also without one shred of evidence." "These developments and the unfolding are living today under the concession con­ raid, Carper singled out the position of his Carper has twice visited Austin, Min­ revolution in South Africa again~t the hated tracts recently signed in the cotton and Democratic opponent in the senatorial nesota, site of the strike of United Food apartheid regime are buying time for the wool garment sections of the industry. The race, Rep. Robert Edgar, who regretted and Commercial Workers Local P-9 Nicaraguan people in their continuing garment bosses were able to force through only the absence of "more support from our against the Hormel Co. Most recently, he struggle against the U.S. imperialist-or­ a two-tier vacation pay scheme, a two-year allies." participated in an April 12 rally of 6,000 in ·ganized contra war," I::.yons explained. wage freeze, and promises of lump-sum Carper is employed as a conductor on support of the strikers. Participants in . the meeting voted to bonuses in place of wage increases. the Regional Rail Division of the South­ The war against working people has make activity in defense of Nicaragua a top In many ACTWU locals there was little eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority. He been carried to Austin as well, he said, cit­ priority for their work in the coming or no discussion organized' prior to voting is a member of United Transportation ing a police attack on P-9 picket lines the months. This includes participating in pub­ on the contract. Most members covered by Union Local 61. day before the rally. lic protest demonstrations against the U.S. these agreements didn't even see the pro­ Carper also condemned "the terrorist at­ But Carper also saw something else in war on Nicaragua such as the April 19 anti­ posed contracts before they were asked to tacks carried out in Nicaragua by U.S.­ Austin. "This strike is charting a new road war action in San Francisco. make their decision. backed contras. Reagan calls these rapists forward for U.S. labor, based on union de- Socialist ACTWU members also dis­ Participants at the gathering voted to and murderers his brothers." mocracy and union solidarity." " cussed helping to initiate educational anti- Continued on Page 12

Tiie 'Militant 5 Reactions to bombing of Libya Report on discussions in factories around country

BY TOM LEONARD Some Dominican and Puerto Rican ment's reactionary role in the Philippines, "Hot, heavy, and constant." Those workers who support the Nicaraguan revo­ they're suspicious about Washington's pol­ words summarize how socialist workers in lution thought the Libya attack was bad for icies elsewhere. about a dozen plants across the country de­ Central America. Some workers connected the attack on scribed the initial discussions among co­ But there were also a few workers who Libya to the U.S.-backed war against Nic­ workers about Washington's attack on support Nicaragua who at first thought it aragua. One worker observed, "I wouldn't Libya. was OK for Washington to bomb Libya. be surprised if the next time they bomb Portland socialists who work in the Boe­ One of them argued, "If they do this to Libya they don't stop on the way to drop a ing aerospace and the Freightliner truck as­ [Nicaraguan President] Daniel Ortega, few bombs on Nicaragua." sembly plants, both organized by the Inter­ that's one thing. You can't do this to him .. At the General Electric plant in Seattle, national Association of Machinists (lAM), But to Qaddafi? He's crazy. It's different." which makes jet-engine parts, the bombing reported that discussions around their op­ One person began to rethink this position put a temporary chill on political discus­ position to the U.S. bombing were heated after Reagan's speech accusing Nicaragua sions. but not hostile. of being the Libya of Central America. When socialist workers in the plant tried Socialist workers at three Portland, Ore­ The political discussions in the plant to give out election campaign statements gon, garment shops organized by the spurred sales of the Militant and Perspec­ protesting the U.S. bombing, some work­ Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Work­ tiva Mundial. In the week following the ers were flabbergasted. Others wanted to ers Union said that some workers' response bombing, three subscriptions and several be "secretly opposed" and not say any­ was "We should have bombed the hell out single copies were sold to Lawrence textile thing. of Libya." But most didn't like what workers. · A couple of workers were so hostile that Reagan was doing. They saw the attack on Many Los Angeles aerospace workers, they ran to the company and got a foreman Libya as a move toward war, which they at an lAM-organized plant, believed to stop the circulation of the statements. didn't want. Washington's charges of terrorism against Other workers didn't like this approach. A socialist worker at the General Dy­ Quaddafi and thought they justified the namics plant in Dallas reported that the at­ bombing. "How could he have gotten away One worker who took the statement said Child victim of U.S. bombing of Libya. mosphere in the plant immediately after the with this for so long?" was a common that he had been surprised by the massive Socialist workers report that their op­ -u.s. attack was somewhat intimidating. question. demonstrations around the world against position to this U.S. act of war was a Initially the majority of the workers, she The Filipino workers in the plant were the U.S. attack on Libya. "You may be a point of view that many coworkers were said, had a "rah, rah," attitude toward the the most open to discussing a different minority in the United · States," he said, wining to have a serious discussion bombing. But by the end of the week there point of view. Given the U.S. govern- "but you are in a majority in the world." about. were a lot of questions about Washington's actions. As some workers began to see the bombing as an act of war, they wondered, "What does that mean for us who might be fighting in it?" Why Reagan is out to crush Libya There are still daily discussions in the plant about the attack. While some who Continued from Page 3 In 1964, there were big demonstrations eluding plans for the reclamation of desert support the bombing are hostile to those of cronies. (Throughout the period of the by Libyan students against the U.S. and land for farming ~ building a railway net­ who oppose it, others want to discuss it. resistance to Italian domination, ldris had British military presence. work, and launching a literacy campaign. One worker, for example, bought the Mili­ remained in Egypt, nursing his health.) And in 1967, when Israel launched its The minimum wage was doubled. tant for the first tirrie to read the coverage Although seemingly devoid of re­ aggrandizing "June War" against its Arab · A key ingredient of foreign policy, the on Libya. She liked the article titled "Why sources, Libya's geographical location neighbors, there were strong protest dem­ new government declared, was to promote Libya is a target of imperialism." gave it a major strategic value. During the onstrations by port and oil workers in Arab unity. Increasingly, the policies of The discussions in the Dallas General war British and U.S. military bases were Tripoli and other Libyan cities, with stu­ Washington and the other imperialist pow­ Motors plant, organized by the United established there. After independence, a dents joining in. ers were challenged. Auto Workers, was also very intense. In treaty was signed with Britain giving it the The continuing poverty suffered by the The help-yourself attitude toward the big some cases the discussions were so heated right to station troops in Libya. And Wash­ great mass of Libyan workers and peasants oil operators was ended. The Libyan share that they broke up long-standing ington was granted the right to 1maintain the and the further upsurge of Arab of profits was increased. The previous 50- friendships between assembly-line work­ Wheelus Air Base, near Tripoli. It was the nationalism generated by the Israeli ag­ . 50 split of the surplus was scrapped, with ers. A whole layer of Black and younger biggest U.S. military installation abroad. gression led, in September 1969, to the the Libyan government now taking 80 per~ auto workers disagreed with Reagan's In 1958 major oil wells began produc­ overthrow of ldris. His rule was ended in a cent or more of the profits. bombing. They said Reagan is the madman ing . Agreements were quickly signed pro­ military coup led by 12 officers. All were In March 1970, the British withdrew and "he's going to get us involved in all viding foreign developers 50 percent of the lieutenants or captains and all of lower their remaining military forces from the kinds of stuff that we don't want to be in­ profit on Libyan oil, along with particu­ middle-class or nomadic peasant origin. country, and in June, the big U.S. base at volved in." larly generous "depletion" and "deprecia­ Qaddafi, then a captain, emerged as Wheelus was vacated. There were similar discussions among · tion" allowances. Exxon, Texaco, leader of the group and became head of the In 1974 the Libyan subsidiaries of auto workers in the General Motors plant in Marathon, Atlantic-Richfield, and other new government. Texaco, Standard of California, and Atlan­ Atlanta. Some Black workers called the giant U.S. oil corporations were in on the The new leadership was strongly tic-Richfield were nationalized. Libyan bombing racist. pie early. nationalist. The U.S. Peace Corps, which For Washington and Wall Street, all of In Lawrence, Massachusetts, there was It seemed like a perfect setup. Oceans of Idris had brought in to replace Egyptian this adds up to a bad example for other op­ a wide-ranging discussion among textile oil poured from the ground, the take was technicians and teachers, was asked to pressed peoples around the world. In fact, workers in a plant organized by the Interna- · huge, and the regime of Idris "stable" and leave. All street signs were changed to in their lexicon, it's naked terrorism. tiona! Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. subservient. Arabic. All businesses were to be owned "More than a handful of workers opposed But neither Idris nor his imperialist 100 percent by Libyans. Later, the finan­ the attack," said one worker. These work- backers could isolate Libya from the polit­ cial and industrial holdings of Italian . ers said they "didn't like Qaddafi but this ical ferment that gripped the Arab world settlers were expropriated . St. Louis celebration bombing was crazy." during that period. Social programs were undertaken, in- marks opening of Pathfinder Bookstore BY KIM KLEINMAN ST. LOUIS - More than 50 people 'IP' on Australia's farm revolt gathered here to oelebrate the opening of As in the United States, farmers large national demonstration out­ Pathfinder Books at its new location at in Australia have been hard-hit by side Parliament. Poulsen points to 4907 Martin Luther King Drive. rising debts, economic depression, the need for the unions to cham­ Rev. Ted Braun greeted Pathfinder and government policies that favor pion farmers' needs and for the INTERCONTINENTAL Books as "a place where those of us in the rich capitalist farmers over working forging of a worker-farmer alliance. center of the empire can learn from those farmers. The current, May 5 IP contains a PRESS fighting at the periphery." He was referring The upcoming, May 19 Intercon­ firsthand report from the Philip­ us;:, ,~ 1)1<£0110 to Pathfinder's publication and distribution tinental Press will feature a back­ pines on the struggles of sugar LIBYA of the speeches and writings of leaders of ground article by Ron Poulsen on cane workers in Negros Province. the Cuban, Nicaraguan, Grenadian, and the plight and struggles of Austra­ Worldwide Condemnation South African revolutions. lian farmers. Poulsen is a longtime Intercontinental Press is a biweekly Braun, a frequent visitor to Cuba, re­ leader of the Fourth International that carries more articles, docu­ of U.S. Terror Bombing ported on his most recent trip, including a in Australia. ments, and special features on world meeting with Fidel Castro. Poulsen surveys the structure of politics -from Europe to Oceania Braun referred to Castro as "a leader Australian agriculture, emphasizing and from the Middle East to Central who reads books." He explained that the different class forces that exist America - than we have room for bookstores in Cuba are an important part of in the countryside. At the top are in the Militant. Subscribe now. political life and that books are cheap so the owners of finance capital and Enclosed is D $7.50 for 3 months. that they are available to all . He said the large landholders, cattle ran­ D $15 for 6 months. D $30 for 1 Cuba's literacy campaign, carried out in chers, and capitalist farmers. At the year. the years following the revolution, was bottom are working farmers (a aimed at giving all working people the abil­ majority) and farm workers. Name ------'-- ity to study, learn, and participate fully in Working farmers have suffered Address ______political life. Also speaking at the celebration of the most from debts and economic City __ State __._ Zip __ Healyite Myths About SWP History Refuted crises, while the capitalist farmers new political center were Safiyah Chauvin have benefited. from the All-African People's Revolution­ Clip and mail to Intercontinental t::======:J ary Party; Lucia Miller, an organizer for Last year saw widespread pro­ Press, 410 West St., New York, NY the Missouri affiliate of the National Abor­ tests among ·farmers, including a 10014. tion Rights Action League; and Pat Grogan .. from the Militant.

6, TJJe Militant Nicaragua gov't sets higher prices, wages Measures are aimed at stabilizing economy in face of U.S.-backed war

BY CINDY JAQUITH ends meet, h.ave more than · one wage MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Prices on earner. basic goods and services here have gone up The new measures came as something of sharply in the last two months. To help a surprise, given that a major wage in­ working people cope with the increased crease had been made two months earlier cost of living, the Nicaraguan workers' and on January 1. At that time, officials an­ peasants' government has decreed a 50 per­ nounced that no price hikes would be per­ cent across-the-board wage increase. mitted, although the government was The government announced new price studying possible increases for some items. and wage increases on March 9. In The Ministry of · Internal Commerce motivating them, officials stressed the (MICOIN) launched an aggressive and giant economic dislocation caused by the well-publicized campaign to fine mer­ U.S.-financed war against Nicaragua. San­ chants caught illegally raising prices. It is dinista leaders also pointed to other recent on a campaign to shut down shops of those measures taken by the government - in­ operating without licenses or distributing cluding wage hikes and the devaluation of l unauthorized goods. Militant/Agnes Chapa the cordoba - that raised costs of produc­ This has had some effect. While prices' tion. Market women in Managua. Price and wage hikes are aimed at trying to increase The new prices and wages are aimed at Continued on Page 13 production by workers and farmers. stabilizing the economy as much as possi­ ble in the context of the war - and at in­ creasing production. The government set higher wholesale Move to equalize distribution of goods prices for farm products, with a resulting increase in consumer prices for food. BY HARVEY McARTHUR is increasing agri<;ultural production, Cab­ and private wholesalers control 30 percent Among the foods in the basic working­ MANAGUA, Nicaragua-The Nicara­ rales said. Farm workers, peasants, and of the distribution. Fifty percent of cotton class diet, rice rose from 22 cordobas a guan government will guarantee a monthly government officials are now meeting to production is in private hands. pound to 40 cordobas; beans, from 60 to 75 quota of three pounds of rice, one-half liter assess the last harvest and prepare for the A major cooking-oil factory, Aceitera cordobas a pound; and sugar, from 22 to 35 of cooking oil, four pounds of sugar, one 1986-87 cycle. Corona, is privately controlled. Workers cordobas a pound. The price of milk is now pound of salt, and one bar of soap to each The U.S.-organized war against Nicara­ there have repeatedly charged the owners 40 cordobas a liter' with a government sub­ person in the country, according to Com­ with sabotaging production, including di­ gua is their biggest obstacle. Fifty percent sidy of an additional 20 cordobas. mander Ramon Cabrales. verting scarce cooking oil to the production of the national budget has to go for defense Chicken has gone from 160 a pound to "We know this does not constitute a full of more-profitable margarine. 220 and fish from 180 to 250. A Coke now diet," Cabrales told an April 10 news con­ and 20 percent of f.he workers and peasants costs 100 cordobas; cigarettes are 100 a ference. "Obviously, consumers will have are in.the military instead of producing in One of the reasons MICOIN has trans­ pack; and a beer costs 200 cordobas - to buy other products on the open market." the factories and farms. The U.S. econom­ portation problems, Cabrales said, is that it double their previous prices. Cabrales is the head of the Ministry of ic sanctions against Nicaragua make it dif­ has to rely in part on private truck owners. These are the official price lists set by Internal Commerce (MICOIN). This ficult and more expensive to obtain spare Many prefer to haul private loads rather the government, which it distributes ministry tries to guarantee certain mini­ parts for the U.S.-made machinery still in than fulfill MICOIN contracts at govern­ through small neighborhood grocery stores mum supplies at low prices to Nicaragua's wide use here. ment-set rates, he explained. and some supermarkets and state stores. In workers and peasants. MICOIN distributes "Faced with the U.S. aggression, we are In an attempt to regulate and improve the big private markets, however, the products through small neighborhood groc­ only able to maintain a subsistence econ­ distribution, MICOIN worked with the omy," said Cabrales. "We are trying to prices are frequently much higher. ery stores and some supermarkets and state Sandinista Defense Committees in each The government also raised intercity bus stores. When the product is not available stabilize the supply situation, but cannot neighborhood to carry out a massive con­ promise any increase in monthly quotas in fares and the price of gasoline, which went there, working people are forced to go to sumer census in the Pacific region of Nica­ up by · two-thirds. Water and electricity the big private markets where prices are the foreseeable future." ragua during February. This census was rates also went up. much higher. Many small neighborhood grocery used to calculate how many people should "Our goal is to set quotas that we can ac­ stores have been plagued with shortages, use each neighborhood store and to issue Workers' wages tually guarantee everyone each month," even of the five guaranteed items. This is new ration cards. With this information, MICOIN hopes to supply each store with With the new 50 percent wage raise, a Cabrales explained. "If more. products are due in part to the low production, said Cab­ adequate supplies to meet the monthly · minimum-wage worker in the city takes available in sufficient quantity, we will try rales, but also to insufficient transporta­ quota of all t::onsumers assigned to it. home 2,476 cordobas a week, not counting to guarantee a monthly quota for thein tion; inefficiency and inexperience in many incentive and overtime pay. A production too." · stores and in MICOIN itself; and in some MICOIN is also working with the neigh­ worker in the middle of the wage scale The 1985-86 rice harvest met only two­ cases, to corruption and black market borhood committees to train 4,000 "popu­ takes home 5, 790 a week. thirds of the goal. Thus MICOIN has had speculation. lar inspectors" to help check on distribution Farm workers' weekly wages range to use part of the army's strategic reserve to MICOIN often does not know exactly at the local level. These are workers, from 1,909 to 2,291 cordobas. And domes­ maintain the monthly quota for the popula­ how much is produced or where it goes, he housewives, and retired people from each tic workers make 994 cordobas a week. tion, Cabrales said. He added that the said. This is especially true of the large neighborhood who are authorized to in­ Feeding a large family on this income is Soviet Union and East Germany have amount of production and distribution in spect local stores and report problems or ir­ very difficult, and clothing and shoes are pledged to donate 25 ,000 tons of rice that private hands. regularities to MICOIN. Workers are also even _more expensive, beyond the reach of will ease the shortage when it arrives. There are now 30,000 licensed retailers being trained to inspect the production in the lowest-paid worker. A pair of work­ The cotton harvest, which provides seed in this country of 3.5 million people. their factories to be sure it goes to the prop­ boots, for example, costs more than the to make cooking oil, also fell well below In the case of rice, private producers are er wholesaler or distribution center and is monthly salary of a minimum-wage work­ projections. This forced the government to assigned 43 percent of the production goal, not diverted to the black markeL er. A simply designed blouse or man's shirt reduce the monthly quota, since Nicaragua costs as much as 10,000 cordobas. Dun­ does not have the resources to import more garees are between 25,000 and 30,000 cor_; oil. dobas. Many families , in order to make The key to turning this situation around New prices to help peasants Workers need to raise productivity Ineet costs of production SEBACO, Nicaragua - In a visit to this sells directly to the local community at 200 MANAGUA, Nicaragua- If workers istrators are working out production goals agricultural community and other farm cordobas apiece. organize to raise productivity levels and and productivity norms for this year in con- areas in northern Nicaragua, the Militant This peasant cannot afford to buy a production, future prices and wage read­ junction with the government. · found that poor peasants welcomed the truck. Parked outside his farmhouse was a justments can be "less drastic," Lucfo new price increases. pickup being loaded with garlic by a mer­ Victor Tirado, a member of the National Jimenez said. Jimenez, general secretary chant who was going to take it to the city Directorate of the Sandinista National Lib­ At most cooperatives we visited, peas­ of the Sandinista Workers Federation, and market. We learned that he would probably eration Front, also spoke on productivity in ants said their costs of production had been Edgardo Garcia, general secretary of the a visit to the Texnicsa textile plant here a sell it there for 1,000 cordobas a chain. Association of Rural Workers, were speak­ too high to make ends meet. "We were At the Leone! Valdivia Cooperative in few days following the announcement of selling a carton of tomatoes for 100 cor­ ing to reporters about the new economic Chagiiitillo, near Sebaco, a member of the the new economic measures. He encour­ dobas, but it cost us 200 cordobas to pro­ measures. financial committee said their prices had aged the workers to maximize production duce it," said the . production secretary at ~·If we worked more to control the fac­ not been meeting production costs. and suggested they engage in fraternal the Jose Valverde Cooperative here. The tors that affect production," said Jimenez, "Our biggest problem is the merchants. competition with other plants. new prices, he said, will "almost stabilize "we could reach the point where these At the same time he stressed that Tex­ They've been difficult to eliminate," he [economic] measures are not applied vio­ things for the co-op." nisca workers should not see their role only said. lently and are done in a more gradual "People should understand that we're from the technical standpoint of raising This co-op, which does own a truck, way." not the ones responsible for high food takes its produce directly into the city and production, but also from an overall politi­ prices," he added. "It's the middleman," Jimenez called for more labor discipline sells it there to capitalist merchants, elimi­ cal standpoint. Workers need to have an in­ referring to merchants who buy up farm and a struggle against absenteeism. He said nating one step in the inflationary spiral. tegrated view of the particular situation in produce and drive it from the countryside low productivity in factories means higher But many other peasants can't do that, he their own plant, the national economic pic~ costs of production and -fewer goods pro­ to the city, where they resell it at much ture, and national and international poli­ explained, and are stuck selling to middle­ duced. This means shortages, which in­ higher prices. tics, he explained. These questions should men. crease prices, . he said. The gap between not be left up to the state. All workers The peasants at several co-ops indic..ated The financial committee member also prices and wages widens. Jimenez also that they try to seil as much as they can of complained about a local landlord who should strive to increase their own political urged workers to play a greater role in de­ their produce directly to government agen­ owns a cabbage farm nearby and is also a consciousness and that of fellow workers. veloping. realistic production plans with cies. That way they feel it will get to work­ big capitalist merchant in Managua. factory administrations. "The easiest thing is to just ask the state ing people at a decent price. But most find The landlord sells the cabbage directly Jimenez and Garda linked overcoming [to do everything]," he said. "On the con­ they have to sell some to capitalist mer­ from his farm to a middleman, who trucks production problems to the current discus­ trary, raising one's consciousness to a chants who offer.a better price. it into Managua. There the very same land­ sions of what is called Economic Plan '86. higher level, that's making revolution." A peasant in San Dionisio, in Matagalpa lord buys it back and putsit up for sale at Workers, farmers, technicians, and admin- - C.J. Province, showed us the chains of garlic he inflated prices. - C.j. Harmel mealpackers' strike shows way lorward lor labor

BY ANDREA GONZALEZ has written letters to lAM locals endorsing the notion that unions are run by officials AND MALIK MIAH the UFCW officials' attacks on the striking on behalf of the membership. For nine months meatpackers in Austin, local. Nonetheless, many lAM members are The decision to do everything possible to Minnesota, have been fighting a deter­ actively backing P-9. The top officers of the organize their strike so as to win - using mined battle against the giant George A. United Auto Workers also tried to block class-struggle methods - placed P-9 in a Hormel & Co. support from auto workers' locals but were direct clash with the UFCW top leadership. The strikers are fighting for dignity and forced to back down when locals around This is why the union bureaucracy sees the safety on the job - and to defend their the country ignored their instructions. P-9leaders as rebels who must be replaced. union. These assaults on P-9 only serve the in­ The bureaucratic rule by the UFCW of­ They face the rich owners of Hormel - terests of Harmel and the enemies of the ficialdom, as in all major unions today, is a one of the Fortune 500 companies - who labor movement. What, then, drives the product of decades of class collaboration. refuse to negotiate with them. UFCW top leadership and the officialdom This is why the fighting power of the They are up against the company's of other unions to attempt to crush this UFCW and other unions has been sapped goons, union-busting lawyers, and scabs strike? in the face of the concerted antilabor drive "War Room" (left) at United Food and Cot who are backed up by the cops, courts, Na­ It is that the P-9 strike is qualitatively of the bosses and their government. ists from 40 states to Austin, Minnesota.·' tional Guard, and state government. different from any other labor battle in dec­ In the course of this struggle, the meat­ ades. Rise ofCIO packers of United Food and Commercial The labor movement was not always in The labor officialdom signed a no-strike Workers (UFCW) Local P-9 have won Strikers say 'Enough!' the miserable shape it is today. pledge during the war. broad support from other unionists It is a fight over the right of the member­ In the 1930s the movement was radically The government took this cowering pol­ throughout the country, and from working ship to organize a strike that can win today. changed with the rise of the C:tO (Congress icy of the bureaucracy as a green light t\1' farmers, students, and other progressive­ Through this fight the members of Local P- of Industrial Organizations) when industri­ step up its antilabor policies. Workers who minded individuals. Close to 6,000 of 9 have learned that their union and all other al unions in previously unorganized sectors dared to fight back were victimized. For these supporters came to Austin April 12 to unions in this country have become hollow such as auto, steel, and rubber were example, in June 1941 Roosevelt sent demonstrate their support for the struggle shells. They are no longer the fighting tools formed. It marked a giant step forward for troops against picket lines at the North against Hormel. they must be in order to defend the interests the entire working class. · American Aviation plant in California, This strike has become a cause for work­ of union members, the entire working Following a period of economic crisis seizing the plant as part of a "national ­ ing people- who are tired of takebacks. class, and their allies- working farmers, and savage blows and defeats suffered by emergency." P-9's battle is seen more and more as draw­ Blacks, Latinos, women, and youth. the working class, between 1934 and 1937 There were only two major breaks in the ing a line against employer and govern­ It has been through the battle for a con­ the labor movement was reshaped by a bureaucracy's subordination to the em-. ment attacks. tract that the members of P-9 have come to broad social and political movement. It players' antilabor policies. The first came -recognize that the traditional policy of the created the CIO- a movement that looked in 1941 with the March on Washington Union officialdom top officialdom is not an adequate strategy beyond the existing narrow craft-union Movement to end racist military hiring Yet this struggle isn't backed by every­ to win the meatpackers' strike. The offi­ structures. practices and discrimination within the one in the labor movement. The top of­ cials tie the well-being of the membership It was a movement that fought for the in­ armed forces . ficialdom of the strikers' union, the to the employers' profitability. This has led terests of all workers - Black and white; Although the march itself was canceled UFCW, as well as the officialdom of al­ to subordinating labor's interests to peace­ female and male. Most workers at the time , after Roosevelt announced the token Fair most every other major international union ful coexistence with the bosses. like today, were not in unions. The CIO Employment Practices Committee, the fa<;t and the national AFL-CIO, have joined to­ Harmel's refusal to negotiate, except on sought to organize them. that it was called at all stood in sharp con­ gether to criticize the strike's leaders and its own terms, has led P-9 to reject the view It saw itself as representing the interests trast to the union bureaucracy's general the way they are leading this fight. These commonly peddled by labor bureaucrats of all working people, all those oppressed course of retreat and capitulation. officials are putting obstacles in the path of that the "old" methods of fighting back - and exploited by the employers. It didn't The other break with class collaboration , union members who want to actively back militant acti~n and masS' struggle - are in­ limit its outlook to workers only in trade and retreat was the 1943 strike by the P-9 and to organize others to do the same. effective. P-9 doesn't believe it is possible, unions. after suffering many years of takebacks at The · CIO was built by the collective United Mine Workers of America. That Instead of focusing their fire on Hormel strike, which lasted from May through Oc­ and uniting behind P-9 to fight the common the hands of this profitable company, to power and action of the workers. It gave tober, broke the employers' wartime wage enemy, these labor officials have targeted work out a "fair" deal with Harmel any­ workers and their allies, particularly work­ freeze and the unions' no-strike pledge. P-9 for attack. more. ing farmers, added confidence and deter­ In March the UFCW International Exec­ The workers have said "Enough!" They mination to advance their interests. These mass struggles led by Blacks and utive Committee revoked the strike sanc­ want a decent contract and safe working During the rise of the industrial unions, unionists prepared the ground for the tion and eliminated strike benefits (except conditions. They want to decide their own unlike today, workers' grievances were 1945-47 labor upsurge. for "post strike" benefits for those agreeing future . settled on the shop floor. A union steward The postwar strike wave, however, to cross the picket line). . They began organizing themselves to would halt production until the grievance ended in a stalemate. The bosses were un­ In April the UFCW IEC began the proc­ conduct a serious fight. They assumed the was dealt with to the workers' satisfaction. able to smash the unions; but the unions ess of trying to put the striking l<>cal into support of the UFCW nationally and ex­ It took World War II to begin to under­ were unable to make new strides forward. trusteeship (receivership). Under trus­ pected help from the entire labor move­ mine these gains and significantly weaken teeship, the local's elected leaders can be ment. the unions as fighting instruments that de­ Postwar capitalist expansion replaced by a trustee appointed by top offi­ They also began, as the battle heated up, fend workers on the job and in society. The U.S. rulers came out of the war as to see things differently - to look beyond cials of the International. If the local is put Roosevelt's antilabor offensive the strongest economic, political, and mil­ into trusteeship, the officials have already Austin and to reach out to broader social itary power in the world. This opened a publicly announced they plan to reorganize layers such as working farmers, Indians, As the U.S. rulers prepared to go to war quarter century of capitalist economic ex­ the local based on the scabs currently Blacks, Chicanos, women, and students. against their imperialist rivals abroad, they pansion during which broad layers of U.S. working in the plant. They will then This approach by the P-9 membership intensified their war against working working people were able to wrest signifi­ negotiate a new contract for them. Har­ stands in sharp contrast to that of the of­ people at home. President Franklin cant wage and benefit concessions from the mel's management has welcomed this ficialdom. It is a break with business trade Roosevelt- considered a "friend of labor" bosses. plan. unionism. It is a threat to those holding to a by most union officials - tried to silence That quarter century, however, was also William Winpisinger, president of the policy of cooperating with the boss at the opponents of Washington's foreign policy. marked by the institutionalization of the International Association of Machinists, expense of working people. It challenges Those in the labor movement were a spe­ class-collaborationist methods of the union cial target. bureaucracy, and a political retreat by the Roosevelt called on labor officials to labor movement. This reality was hidden back the war drive 100 percent, or face vic­ from most workers by the genuine econom­ Our labor heritage ... timization. ic gains, which the bureaucracy errone­ Democratic rights were sharply at­ ously attributed to its statesmanlike poli­ . . . lessons for today of the 1930s tacked. A case in point was the frame-up of cies. These policies assumed the perma-. 28 people who were leaders of the nence of the private profit system in the struggle to organize the truck drivers Teamsters General Drivers Local 544 in United States. They assumed that the way Minneapolis and of the Socialist Workers forward for labor is reliance on the govern­ Party. They were charged under the Smith ment and the capitalist parties. of Minneapolis and upper Midwest. Act, a piece of thought-control legislation, The Midwest Teamsters union combined power of the bosses, the with advocating the overthrow of the U.S. At the same time, imperialist domina­ built a powerful, militant move- National Guard, and the govern­ government by force and violence. Eight­ tion of Latin America, Asia, and Africa ment based on the unity of all driv- ment. een were convicted and served 12 to 18 was weakened by the war. The masses of ers and solidarity of Minnesota Farrell Dobbs, one of the central months in prison during the war. colonial people, especially in Asia and Af­ farmers. This 4-book series gives a leaders of the Teamsters' organiz­ Roosevelt sent FBI agents into the rica, rose up in revolutionary democratic blow-by-blow account of how sol- ing drive and longtime leader of the unions to get "subversives." They struggles to win national independence. idarity among all workers in an al- Socialist Workers Party, tells how functioned as agents provocateurs and It was in this context that Washington .liance with farmers turned back the they did it. spies. Their aim was to frame up antiwar launched the "cold war" against the Soviet unionists and other opponents of Washing­ Union and its allies and initiated an anti- Special offer on all four volumes: ton's war policies. communist witch-hunt at home. ' $25 The AFL (American Federation of The witch-hunt was aimed primarily at Labor) and CIO officialdoms joined in destroying the unity and combativity of the Teamster Rebellion, 192 pp., $6.95 Available at Pathfinder bookstores (direc­ these attacks on democratic and trade union industrial unions born in the 1930s up~ Teamster Power, 255 pp., $7.95 tory on p. 12), or from Pathfinder Press, rights. Teamsters President Daniel Tobin · surge. It sought to tum back the gains won Teamster Politics, 256 pp., $7.95 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. In­ openly aided the government in its drive to by working people and to sow fear, divi­ Teamster Bureaucracy, 304 pp., $7.95 clude 75 cents for postage and handling. smash Local 544 and replace its democrat­ sion, and demoralization among thoSe ically elected leadership. fighting for social progress.

8 The Militant May 9, 1986 ._ . \\ i,c,o~ tAB\)~ Ntf..U6 'll p... SUPPORT LOLI4.. . UAW 848

·mercial Workers Local P-9's headquarters. Union offices are beehive of activity to organize strike and solidarity. Aprill2 march and rally of 6,000 'ftft-•··- ,js. type of solidarity is key to winning strike.

The witch-hunt was used to maintain and The labor officialdom refused to re­ weapons in the fight against the employers. volv~ in a sitdown strike at the Austin extend "labor peace." It was used to assure pudiate the government's attack on the This adjustment is best codified in fu~ Hormel plant. It was part of a broader fight the political passivity the bosses needed to Teamsters and in 1957, the AFL-CIO's Ex­ 1985 AFL-CIO Executive Council docu­ to organize a meatpacking industry well iP.".

May 9, 1986 The Militant 9 Meatpackers' strike.shows way forward

Continued from previous page 1984, the local began to organize spouses November 1985 to sanction roving pickets point in the strike battle. Instead of divid­ the newest plant.' into a support group to help educate the to other Hormel plants. ing and demoralizing the workers, the When the contract expired in 1985, Hor­ Austin community about the attacks on the All of these actions represented the will IEC's administrative approach united the mel offered to bring wages back up to $10 union . of the membership. They were done in the strikers even more. Since the strike sanc­ an hour- the average in the chain of Hor­ The workers decided to hire Corporate framework of how best to mobilize P-9's tion was removed, few P-9 members have mel plants - but moved to further erode Campaign, Inc ., to organize an educational membership and their allies in order to win signed Hormel' s waiting list to return to working conditions. campaign to expose the company and its the strike. work. (The scabs, according to Harmel's This included gutting the seniority and main creditor- First Bank, based in Min­ management, now have permanent jobs.) grievance systems, demanding the right to neapolis. National officials attack P-9 The determination to expand the strike punish injured workers, demanding a two­ Like the many other tools. the union is Hormel' s owners, however, refused to and reach out to the labor movement was tier wage system, eliminating maternity using to advance. its struggle for a decent seriously negotiate a decent contract. They evident at solidarity actions organized in leave, cutting health benefits, and contrac­ contract, the Corporate Campaign is under demanded capitulation by the strikers. Austin in mid-April, in particular the April tually limiting workers' democratic and the direction of the members. P-9 responded by fighting harder and 12 solidarity rally. The broad participation political rights: The Harmel workers also reached out to seeking to broaden support for the strike. by unions- representatives came from 40 While the wage cut was an issue, it was others in struggle. Throughout the Mid­ This included pressing the national UFCW states - showed the breadth of support for only one of many. In fact, the issues of west, they joined farm protests and picket leadership to put more heat on the com­ the strike. _health and safety became paramount. lines of other workers in the meatpacking pany, which had just reported a record The removal of the strike sanction and industry. Many of these farmers and work­ $38.6 million profit: the trusteeship hearing have not deterred Preparing for the struggle ers later returned the solidarity by joining The national UFCW gave $40 a week in the Austin strikers. When the local decided it could not ac­ protest rallies in Austin and donating food strike benefits to P-9 members. The top of­ P-9 members know that their fight is cept more concessions and had to fight and other aid. ficials publicly gave the impression that against the powerful families who own back, P-9 turned to the UFCW Interna­ When Harmel's owners finally forced they supported the strike. Hormel - not the UFCW bureaucracy. tional leadership for help. Local P-9 out on strike, the local began to In November 1985, UFCW President That's why P-9 workers attended the trus­ But the local discovered that the entire develop democratic forms to involve all the Wynn said the International Executive teeship hearing in Minneapolis April 14 to union had been weakened as a result of members in the strike battle. This Committee would sanction roving pickets defend their local. They are demanding years of concessions imposed on it by the strengthened the local's fighting capacity. to other Hormel plants. · that Wynn and the UFCW and AFL-CIO meat barons. For example, the UFCW had P-9 set up a kitchen to feed pickets, as officials back the strike. If they refuse to lost a common contract expiration date for But in January, when UFCW locals at well as a food shelf to provide strikers with support P-9, however, at least they should the major plants in the Harmel chain. Harmel's plants in Fremont, Nebraska, groceries. stop attacking the strikers in public. Under this disadvantageous situation, and Ottumwa, Iowa, voted to request that the leaders of Local ·P-9 mapped a fight­ The Tool Box, a program of counseling the UFCW national leadership sanction P- Emulate P-9's example 9's roving pickets, Wynn not only refused back course. From the beginning P-9's and referrals, was organized to help strik­ The · task before progressive-minded to do so but publicly attacked P-9's leader­ strategy was aimed at strengthening the en­ ers and their families cope with the stress unionists, farmers, students, and others is ship. He said their methods were leading tire UFCW. The members understood they of the struggle. to step up support to the striking workers. the strike to defeat _: "suicide" he called couldn't win without support from within The local established a Communication P-9's example has been inspiring for all the International, especially its meatpack­ Committee that organizes strikers and sup­ it. working people wanting a victory against This stab in the back by Wynn on behalf ing locals, as well as from the broader porters to explain the issues in the strike to the bosses' takebacks. of the UFCW IEC set the stage for Min­ labor movement. other working people and students. There is no assurance that P-9 will win. nesota Gov. Rudy Perpich - widely For this reason, the local called for a A strike center called the War Room was But what they've already done and their touted as a Democratic "friend of labor" - common expiration date for all Harmel set up iri the union hall to coordinate the decision to take a different course than the to send the National Guard into Austin to plants as part of its local contract demands. various activities of the local. longtime business-as-usual policy of the herd scabs for Harmel's owners. With their contract expiring before the All these committees are led by strikers. top labor officialdom is an example that But this action only increased the deter­ other Harmel plants, the P-9 leadership P-9 set up the "Adopt A P-9 Family" can and should be emulated. began to take steps to involve the members program to solicit aid from unions and mination of the strikers to fight back. They in deciding every step in the battle. They others for individual families in need. decided to send roving pickets to other It is not simply P-9's tactics or mili­ made sure that the members were informed Strike-support meetings to keep the Hormel plants. tancy, which have been seen in other recent of the real situation. Bulletins were pub­ members and supporters informed of de­ More than 500 workers at the Ottumwa strike battles, that explains why working lished and posted weekly and sometimes velopments in the struggle are also or­ plant and 56 workers at the Fremont plant people are inspired and are willing to buck twice a week. ganized daily. honored the pickets. They were fired by their own national union leaderships to Meetings were organized with the work­ A group of P-9 retirees and a youth-sup­ Hormel in violation of the union contract. back P-9's battle. ers, their spouses, and children to discuss port organization- P-9 Futl}re Generation The P-9 strikers also called for a national Nor is it the various forms and structures the contract. -were set up. consumer boycott of Hormel products. utilized in the battle that give the strike spe­ The members, kept well-informed, were To help overcome the divisions among Because of the stakes involved in this cial status, though these are important. A in the best position to make decisions and workers in the Hormel chain caused by dif­ battle, the UFCW national officialdom de­ variety of forms of organization will arise to act on them. ferent contract expiration dates, P-9 asked cided to increase . its public attacks on the under different conditions of strike com­ When the company slashed wages in the UFCW national leadership in local's leadership for its refusal to tOe the bat. line and make a deal with Hormel. It is the willingness and capacity of the This included distributing a 16-page P-9 membership to stand firm and not pamphlet titled "UFCW Loca.l P-9 Strikes capitulate to Harmel's demands - even Do you know someone who reads Spanish? Harmel: The International Union's Per­ given the forces arrayed against them, in­ spective" to union officials across the cluding the state government, cops, courts, country. and big-business media, as well as, unfor­ The most serious attack, however, is the tunately, their own national union leader­ 'PM' condemns attack on Libya officialdom's decision to place the local in ship - that give their struggle its unique trusteeship so that a deal can be made with character. After.the takeback decade work­ After the U.S. bombing of Hormel behind the backs of the members. ing people have beeh through, a victory by Libya, a Reagan "senior adminis­ None of these assaults have yet broken P-9 would inspire many others to follow its tration official" said about Libyan the determination of the nearly 1,000 P-9 example. · leader Muammarel-Qaddafi: "We ~~=~ members who have remained on strike for The workers in Austin are breathing were showing him that we could Washington prepara mas nine months. (About·500 have crossed the some life into their union and making it a get people close to him, and that's agresiones contra Libia picket line, most before the strike sanction tool to defend themselves. The leaders why members of his family were E1 mundo repudia guerr~ de EU en Niar~gu.t y Medio Oriente was lifted by the International officials.) don't dictate to the members; the members hurt during this thing." decide policy. Qaddafi's one-year-old daugh­ March vote: turning point It is only when unions become fighting ter was killed in the raid, and two This determination of the membership instruments that they can effectively de­ of his sons - three and four years was best seen in how they responded to the fend workers' interests on and off the job.

old - were seriously hurt, along I'UBl10 IICO national officials' decision to remove the Only when the labor movement is trans­ with many more children and doz­ _...... _ .. strike's sanction, including the ending of formed in this way can it once again be­ ens of civilians. '':.tl ::.:. weekly strike benefits. come a social movement fighting for all Mlnndo On March 12 the local membership, in a working people - for union and nonunion The U.S. government claims CWA Haiti: junta reprime close vote, decided to request that top workers, unemployed, farmers, Blacks, that civilians were not targeted, al pueblo, EU UFCW officers come to Austin to work women, and youth. but Voice of America radio :r-c:r It c.a...lola envia ayuda militar with them in drawing up a contract propos­ is only then that labor can begin to warned the Libyan people that al to present to Hormel. speak out for the interests of working Washington held them "collec­ Two days later the International Execu­ people on national and international issues, tively responsible" for their gov­ tive Committee, taking this vote to mean instead of echoing the views and debates of ernmeQt's actions. iSuscribete ahora! that P-9's leaders had lost the support of the employers' parties - the Democrats The new issue of Perspectiva the local, lifted the strike's sanction and or­ and Republicans. Mundial tells the truth about dered the strikers back·to work. What's needed now is all-out ·solidarity Washington's bombing of Libya, Subscriptions: $16 for one Virtually the entire union membership by the labor movement and its allies for the - whether they had voted for or against P"9 strike. and about the world's outrage at year; $8 for six months; Intro­ the national leaders coming in- were out­ On May 10 in Ottumwa, Iowa, a support ' this criminal attack on an African ductory offer, $3.00 for three months. raged by this bureaucratic move. As far as rally is scheduled. nation. P-9 members were concerned, their request The consumer boycott against Hormel It also has an on-the-spot report that the IEC come in was not a decision to products is gaining support and should be from Britain on the mass protests 0 Begin my sub with current is­ end the strike, but a vote to work together expanded. in that country. sue. to win a new contract. Moreover, most of the contracts at Har­ Name At a meeting of almost 900 workers on mel's seven other plants, with the excep­ Perspectiva M undial is the March 16, the local voted overwhelmingly tion of the plants in Ottumwa and Knox­ Spanish-language socialist maga­ Address to continue the strike and requested that the ville, Tennessee, come up between May zine that every two weeks brings City/State/Zip ______IEC restore the strike sanction. and September. you the tF-uth about the struggles of This vote was a clear repudiation of the P-9 can win . Our job is to do what we working people and the oppressed Clip and mail to PM, 408 West St., IEC's heavy-handed attack on the mem­ can as workers, unionists, farmers, stu­ in the U.S. and around the world. New York, NY 10014. bers' right to run their strike. dents, Blacks, Latinos, Indians, women, This move by the IEC and the response . and as progressive-minded individuals to of P-9's membership to it were a tl!rning help them i~ their fight .

10. The Militant· Mav, 9,.1986 .. ~ _!- : -;;:; _ , • • ::.J..ofJ_ Jl. J Nat'l solidarity with Hormel strikers

are facing big concession demands by that Minneapolis company. Nevertheless, these workers, like the fire fighters, took time to learn BY MAGGIE McCRAW about the Hormel strike and donated more AUSTIN, Minn.- On April 17 mem­ than $300 out of their pockets. The day bers of the International Association of after the strikers spoke, "Boycott Hormel'' Machinists local at Republic Airlines in stickers were all over the plant. On one Minneapolis-St. Paul finally succeeded in bulletin board in big letters was the mes­ donating $10,000 to the striking meat­ sage "Cram your Spam, Chevron." packers here. To carry out this simple act The strikers took their cause to 300 of labor solidarity, the Machinists had to people attending a service at the Central overcome the obstacles put in their way by Congregational Church of the United the top officialdom of the United Food and Church of Christ. The strikers received Commercial Workers Union and the from them donations and pledges of sup­ Machinists. port for the Hormel boycott. Early in March the Machinists local The P-9 members also attended the state voted to send $10,000 to striking United convention of the AFL-CIO, where they Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) were warmly received by delegates and Local P-9's Adopt-A-Family program. guests. Following the procedure recommended by the top officials of their union and the strik­ ers' international union, the Machinists mailed their check made out to P-9's Cincinnati Adopt-A-Family Fund to the UFCW Inter­ KANSAs national office in Washington, D. C. BYM.J. RAHN CINCINNATI - During a visit here in The check, however, was returned to the mid-March, striking Hormel meatpacker local with a crude letter from UFCW Inter­ Floyd Lennoch was able to speak to several national President William Wynn attacking union meetings about the strike. He also the Machinists' act of solidarity. The held a public meeting at the University of Shipyard workers and trade union women at April 12 solidarity rally with Hormel UFCW top officials have ordered P-9 to Cincinnati. strikers in Austin, Minnesota. Unionists throughout country are inspired by Local end the strike and are trying to put the local P-9's fight. into receivership. Wynn wrote that the Lennoch, a member of UFCW Local P- 9's Executive Board, also spoke on two "next time you want to stick it to the ers had sold out of strike-support T -shirts Sharing the platform with the meat­ UFCW, please don't ask us to bend over radio programs and held a successful news conference. and caps. Money from these sales and col­ packers were representatives of striking and cooperate." lections made after local union meetings TWA flight attendants; Teamsters on strike Wynn then told the Machinists to send a As part of his tour, which was sponsored totaled nearly $1 ,500. against Lawson's, a convenience store check made out to the UFCW. The strik­ by United Steelworkers Local 14340, Len­ The strikers attended the weekly "strike chain in the area; and members of the ers, however, have pointed out that much noch was able to address a meeting of the party" of the TWA flight attendants and Mechanics Educational Society of Ameri­ of the money sent to the UFCW earmarked Central Labor Council. The council dele­ walked their picket lines. ca, who at the time of the rally were on gates gave him a standing ovation. strike against Acme Corp. for P-9 never reaches them. A particularly inspiring event was the On April 17 the Machinists finally found As a result of his visit here, the Ameri­ monthly meeting of the Retired Meatcut­ Other unionists at the rally reported on a way to give this money to the strikers. their efforts in the Cleveland area to win can Federation of State, · County and ters Local 229-A. Striker Cecil Cain told Bob Cruz, president of the local, called a Municipal Employees local at the Univer­ the retirees that "we at P-9 are trying to support for the meatpackers' strike and special negotiations meeting. Each union save the union that you struggled so val­ Hormel boycott. Locals of the Communi­ member who attended received $30 as per sity of Cincinnati voted to donate to the strikers' Adopt-A-Family program. And iantly to build." cations Workers of America, United Steel­ diem expenses for being there. Then, in a workers, American Postal Workers Union, the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers true show of solidarity, 334 Machinists in­ International Union of Electronic Workers, voted to support the strike and the Hormel dividually signed their checks over to and the International Ladies' _Garment boycott. Local P~9. The Machinists also bought Cleveland Workers' Union have all taken a variety of hundreds of dollars worth of "Cram your BY SUSAN LaMONT actions to support the struggle against Har­ Spam" T-shirts and "Boycott Hormel" but­ mel. tons on sale at the meeting. CLEVELAND - More than a hundred San Diego people participated in a rally to support These include adopting resolutions in At the meatpackers' strike support meet­ striking Minnesota meatpackers here. support ofthe strike and boycott, giving fi­ ing that evening in Austin, P-9 Executive BY ALLAN GRADY The mid-March rally culminated a brief nancial support, and taking steps to get Board member Floyd Lennoch praised the Hormel products out of plant cafeterias. - SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Cecil Cain and tour by the strikers to the Cleveland area. ingenuity and solidarity of the Machinists. Since the strikers' visit, solidarity with Jim Krulish, striking Minnesota meat­ During their visit here they participated in a He then presented the huge pile of checks their struggle continues to grow. The packers, completed a 10-day tour here collection at the gate to the Chrysler to the strikers' Adopt-A-Family program April 10. In the course of their visit, the Twinsburg stamping plant, where over Cleveland National Organization for committee. strikers spoke before more than a dozen $2,000 was raised. They also spoke to Women voted unanimously at its March 24 meeting to support the strike and boycott of local union membership and executive United Steelworkers Local 2265 at the Hormel. A message was sent to Local P-9 board meetings and raised $6,000. LTV plant in Cleveland and at the Work­ informing it of NOW's decision. New Orleans The Machinists union at a General Dy­ ers' Solidarity Club in Youngstown, Ohio. namics plant donated $1 ,000. United Auto The Cleveland rally, which was chaired The April NOW newsletter contains an BY JOHN LINDER Workers-Local506, representing the work­ by Bill Bon, president of the Auto Work­ article entitled "Cram Spam, or 'The NEW ORLEANS - Two striking Hor­ ers at Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical, also ers' local at Twinsburg, reflected the sup­ Jungle' revisited," which describes the mel workers spoke to more than 1,000 donated $1,000. The Machinists local at port the strikers had been able to win. horrendous safety conditions at Hormel. -unionists d}lring a week-long tour here in Rohr Industries pledged $2,000. March. Money and support was also received from locals of the ironworkers and carpen­ Two meetings of New Orleans fire fight­ ters unions, Communications Workers of The Hormel strike at a glance ers heard the striking meatpackers before America, Service Employees International taking a strike vote of their own. Hundreds Union, and the International Longshore­ The I ,500 members of United Food state rioted against picketing strikers and of these workers said they had stopped men's and Warehousemen's Union. and Commercial Workers union supporters outside the Hormel plant. buying Hormel products the minute they Some of the locals had already given (UFCW) Local P-9 were forced out on The striking local has sent out roving heard of the strike. money to the strike but gave additional as­ strike by the Geo. A. Hormel meatpack­ pickets to other Hormel plants. On Janu­ Members of Oil, Chemical and Atomic sistance during the tour. ing company on Aug. 17, 1985. They ary 28 the company fired more than 500 Workers Local 4-447 at the Chevron plant By halfway through their visit the strik- are .workers at the company's Austin, workers at Hormel plants in Ottumwa, Minnesota, operation. Iowa, and Fremont, Nebraska, for refus­ Several months earlier, Hormel had ing to cross P-9's picket lines. unilaterally slashed wages from $10.69 Local P-9 has gone on a campaign to to $8.25 an hour. They were later raised get solidarity for the strike from union­ Attacks on strikers escalate to $9.25 . When the union's contract ex­ ists and others around the country, an ef­ Continued from back page sistance to fight this harassment. The local pired August 17, the company refused to fort that has resulted in two national sup­ Hormel company," the union said, "would is asking that contributions be sent to P-9 return wages to their former level. port demonstrations held in Austin. The rather crush the union than negotiate with Legal and Defense Fund, 316 NE 4 Ave., Hormel also demanded additional mostrecentbrmightout6,000onApril12. us." Austin, Minn. 55912. concessions, including gutting the On March 14, the UFCW Interna­ In the week since the latest injunction The local is also asking that letters pro­ seniority and grievance systems and in­ tional Executive Committee revoked its was handed down, the Austin cops have is­ testing this harassment be sent to Hubert stituting a two-tier wage system. The sanction of the strike, ending strike ben­ sued arrest warrants on misdemeanor Humphrey III, Attorney General, 102 company has demanded the right to efits and ordering the strikers to cross the charges for an additional 25 strikers and Capitol Building, St. Paul, Minn. 55155. punish workers injured on the job. The picket line. The strikers have voted supporters. The charges stem from the As we go to press, the 507 workers at injury rate per year at the Austin plant is overwhelmingly to continue their strike April II cop riot. These individuals have Harmel's Ottumwa, Iowa, plant who were 202 injuries for every 100 workers. Hor­ despite the fact that Hormel has 900 allegedly been identified from videotapes fired in January for honoring P-9's picket mel is also demanding contractual re­ scabs working at the plant. ofthe attack taken by the cops and Hormel. lines won a victory against the company. strictions on workers' democratic and · On March 28, the UFCW Interna­ The Austin cops are delivering these The State Employment Commission ruled political rights. tional officials announced that they were warrants to people's homes. If an indi­ the company had unjustly fired them imd In the course of the strike, Local P-9 beginning proceedings to put the local vidual has a previous strike-related charge therefore these workers are eligible for un­ has had to face attacks by the company, into trusteeship. A hearing on the trus­ pending, the cops are demanding they post employment benefits. courts, and governor. teeship was held in mid-April. $500 bond on the spot or be carted off to The decision, which is retroaCtive to In January and again in February Min­ Donations and messages of support jail. Union attorneys are challenging the February 23, includes back payments t9tal­ nesota Gov. Rudy Perpich sent in the for the Austin strikers can be sent to: legality of bond being set without court_ ling $2 million. A solidarity rally for the National Guard to herd scabs for Hor­ UFCW Local P-9, 316 4th Ave. NE, hearings. fired Ottumwa workers is set for May l 0 at mel. On April 11 , cops from around the Austin, Minn. 55912. - Local P-9 is al'pealing for financial as- the Ottumwa Park Pavilion:.

May 9, 1986 The Militant 11 -CALENDAR------~------~------CALIFORNIA p.m. 141 Halsey St., 2nd floor. Donation: $3. Pittsburgh (412) 731-4453; Harrisburg (717) Against Libya, Hands OtT Nicaragua! Intro­ Ausp: Socialist Workers Campaign Committee. 234-3024. ducing the socialist candidates for U.S. Senate Los Angeles For more information call (201) 643-334t. Pittsburgh and Congress. Sat., May 3, 7:30p.m. Recep­ End U.S. War Against Libyan People Now! tion, 6:30. 767 S State, 3rd floor. Donation: $1 . Speaker: Sarah Matthews, Socialist Workers Eyewitness Report from Nicaragua. Speaker: NEW YORK Clare Fraenzl, Socialist Workers Party candi­ Ausp: Socialist Workers '86 campaign. For Party. Translation to Spanish. Sat., May 3, 7:30 more information call (801) 355-1124. p.m. 2546 W Pico Blvd. Donation: $2. Ausp: Manhattan date for governor of Pennsylvania and member Militant Forum. For more information call James Connolly, His Contribution to Ireland of United Mine Workers Local 1197. Just re­ WASHINGTON, D.C. (213) 380-9460. and America. A celebration in song, music, turned from fact-finding tour of Nicaragua. and story by performers of the Irish Arts Center. Sat., May 17, 7:30p.m. 402 N Highland Ave. The U.S. arid World Politics Today. Speaker: Eyewitness Report From Nicaragua. Speak­ John Gaige, member Socialist Workers Party ers to be announced. Translation to Spanish. Sat., May 10, 8 p.m. High School for the Ausp: Socialist Workers 1986 Campaign. For Humanities, 351 W 18 St. Donation: $10, $5 . more information call (412) 362-6767. National Committee. Translation to Spanish. Sat., May 17, 7:30p.m. 2546 W Pico Blvd. Sat., May 10, 7 p.m. 3106 Mt. Pleasant St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more Ausp: Irish-American Labor Coalition. For more information call (212) 757-3318 or 437- NW. Donation: $2. information call (213) 380-9460. TEXAS 9118. Two classes on U.S. labor by John Gaige. 1. Oakland Eyewitness: Vietnam. Celebration of II th an­ Dallas "Lessons of the 1920s and '30s." Sat., May 10, May Day Picnic. Sun. , May 4, II a.m. at the niversary of the liberation of Vietnam. Speak­ International May Day Celebration. Bar­ 2 p.m. 2. "Strategy for Labor Today." Sun., Joaquin Miller Park at Pinewood site. Donation: ers: representative of Vietnamese mission to the becue and program. Sat., May 3, 4:30p.m. 314 May II, 10 a.m. Translation to Spanish. 3106 $5. Ausp: California 1986 Socialist Workers United Nations; Merle Ratner, recently returned · N Winnetka. Donation: $5. Ausp: Young Mt. Pleasant S.t. NW . Donation: $2 for each Campaign Committee. For more information from two months in Vietnam; representative of Socialist Alliance. For more information call class. Ausp: Young Socialist Alliance and Path­ call (415) 261-3014. Vietnam veterans movement; Don Luce, mod­ (214) 943-5195. finder Books. For more information call (202) San Jose erator. Sun., May 18, 7:30 p·. m. Casa de las 797-7021. Labor Fights Back. A panel discussion. Americas, 104 W 14th St. Donation: $3. Ausp: UTAH Speakers: Ron Stafford, striking cannery work­ Vietnam Anniversary Committee. For more in­ Price WASHINGTON er, Teamsters Local 912 in Watsonville; a rep­ formation call (718) 643-0201. A Grand Opening for Pathfinder Books. Seattle resentative from United Food and Commercial Featuring an eyewitness report on United Food Labor Fights Back: United Food and Com­ Workers Local P-9, Austin, Minnesota; Mike PENNSYLVANIA and Commercial Workers union Local P~9 mercial Workers Local P-9 on Strike Against O'Toole, member International Association of Harrisburg strike against Hormel in Austin, Minnesota. Hormel. Eyewitness report from April 12 na­ Machinists Local562. Translation to Spanish. The Pennsylvania March for Women's Sat., May 3. Reception, 6 p.m.; program, 7 tional solidarity rally in Austin, Minnesota. A Sat., May 3, 7:30p.m. 46 112 Race St. Donation: Lives. Defend Abortion Rights! Sat., May 10, p.m. 23 S Carbon Ave., Room 19. Donation: panel discussion, including P-9 members. Sat., $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ 12 noon. State Capitol. Ausp: Pennsylvania Ad­ $2. For more information call (801) 637-6294. May 3, 7:30p.m. 5517 Rainier Ave. S. Dona­ formation call ( 408) 998-4007. vocates for Reproductive Health. For more in­ Salt Lake City tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more Socialist Campaign Rally. Stop the War information call (206) 723-5330. KENTUCKY formation: Philadelphia (215) 567-6363; Louisville Help Launch the Socialist Campaign. Speaker: Estelle DeBates, Socialist Workers candidate for Congress, 3rd C.D., and member Socialist garment, textile workers meet of Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. Sat., May 10, reception at 7 p.m., rally Continued from Page 5 demonstrations in the shops and mills. Par­ not at all . Companies across the country at 8 p.m. 809 E Broadway. Donation: $3. Ausp: work together with other union members to ticipants reported lively discussions about are trying to implement speedup, wage Socialist Workers '86 Campaign. For more in­ carry out an ambitious campaign in solidar­ the government and right-wing offensive cuts, and attacks on. seniority rights. formation call (502) 587-8418. ity with the embattled UFCW local. This against women's right to choose abortion Company propaganda, which is echoed MARYLAND campaign includes urging ACTWU locals and the importance of this fight for the by the top leadership of the union, places to send messages of support and financial union . . the blame for these attacks on garment and Baltimore contributions to Local P-9, publicizing the Daher also discussed life under the cot­ textile imports, letting the bosses off the What's Behind U.S.-Israeli Warmaking in ton and wool garment contracts. She de­ hook. the Middle East, from Libya to Lebanon? A boycott of Hormel products, inviting P-9 panel discussion. Sat., May 3, 7:30p.m. 2913 members to speak at local union meetings, scribed the companies' concerted drive to Daher also explained how local cam­ Greenmount Ave . Donation: $2 . Ausp: Militant and helping to organize delegations of violate provisions of these contracts "be­ paigns for Socialist Workers Party candi­ Labor Forum. For more information call (301) union members to visit the strike in Austin. fore the ink has even dried." In many areas dates for public office can be used to bring . 235-0013. The discussion showed that socialist the promised bonuses were received late or socialist ideas to ACTWU members. ACTWU members already had wide ex­ MICHIGAN perience building solidarity with P-9. Detroit· Rich Stuart from ACTWU Local 319-T Hundred Years of Labor Struggles. Film: If in High Point, North Carolina, reported Haiti: U.S.-backed junta kills 8 You Don't Come in Sunday, Don't Come in strong support for the Hormel strikers in Monday. Translation to Spanish. Sat., May 3, 8 his plant .. Continued from front page adequate facilities; insect and rodent infes­ p.m. 2135 Woodward Ave . Donation: $2. tation; shortages of medicine, food, . and Lisa Hickler, a member of ACTWU ment's refusal to prosecute Macoutes, Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information equipment; and poor working conditions. call (313) 961-0395. Local 40:2-T, spoke about the recent tour of charged that the government had "lost all P-9 members in the Portland area, where its credibility." Increasing repression by the army has failed to stem the mass protest actions that ·the ACTWU Joint Board had sent a mes­ Washington, which has given military MINNESOTA are now common occurrences. in Haiti. St. Paul sage of protest to Minnesota Gov . Rudy aid and political support to Namphy's gov­ The Crisis in Rural America-What Can Be Perpich demanding withdrawal of the Na­ ernment, is increasingly worried that he On April 3 some 30,000 women Done to Defend Working Farmers? Speakers: tional Guard from Austin. Kate Daher from won't be able to keep the lid on things. The marched through Port-au-Prince chanting John Enestvedt, farm activist, participant in the Local 365 reported on plans for a labor New York Times complained in an April18 "Justice, justice, justice!" They were 1930s Farm Holiday movement; John Musick, rally in Atlanta in support of P-9. editorial that "the present junta has so far cheered on by men on the sidelines who state director of COACT. Sun., May 4, 4 p.m. Estelle DeBates, from ACTWU local failed to prepare for a democratic succes­ had been asked by the women not to join 508 N Snelling Ave . Donation: $2. Ausp: Min­ 496 in Louisville, Kentucky, told the sion and, increasingly, fails even to gov­ the march. The demonstrators held a silent nesota Militant Forum. For more information gathering about circulating a petition in ern." protest in front of the Ministry of Justice call (612) 644-6325. support of the strike in her plant. The recent resignations of three cabinet and the Casernes Dessalines prison to A report outlining the tasks and perspec­ ministers was a further Qiow to the mili- . honor female victims of Duvalier repres­ NEW JERSEY tives for socialist ACTWU workers was tary-dominated government. The minister sion. Newark given by Kate Daher. of finance resigned following a strike by Other demands raised by the women Report from El Salvador. Slide show by Don Socialist workers in ACTWU around the workers in his . department. He said he were for changes in Haiti's civil code to Gurewitz, attended convention of Salvadoran country have participated in anti-apartheid couldn't cope with an economy ruined after give women equal rights and representa­ trade union federation .. Translation to Spanish. activities, including circulation of the Free­ more than 28 years of Duvalier rule. tion at the constitutional convention, the Sat., May 3, 7:30p.m. 141 Halsey St. Dona­ dom Letter to Bishop Desmond Tutu, edu­ The minister of public works resigned date of which has not yet been set. tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more cational films and slide shows at local after an April 7 mass demonstration for On April 7, some 10,000 people information call (201) 643-3341. meetings, and street demonstrations. They jobs. He claimed he was assaulted by dem­ gathered at the Ministry of Public Works Jobs, Not War! A Socialist Workers Party when it was reported that 6,000 jobs would Campaign Rally. Speakers: Ruth Nebbia, will be helping to build upcoming local and onstrators. SWP candidate for mayor of Newark; Chris regional actions against U.S. support for The minister of health resigned because be available. Haiti has a 50 percent un­ Brandlon, SWP candidate for Congress, lOth apartheid. of a strike by doctors, interns, and staff employment rate. A protest ensued when C.D. , and member of United Auto Workers. Much discussion focused on efforts to members at the General Hospital in Port­ the jobs failed to materialize. Army troops Fri., May 9. Reception, 6:30p.m.; rally, 7:30 build the March 9 and 16 abortion rights au-Prince. The strikers were protesting in- fired on the crowd, wounding dozens. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132 Cone NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 Dallas: SWP, YSA, 336 W: Jefferson. Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder St. NW, 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577- Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. 75208. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, · bookstores. · · · 4065. NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S. SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave. 2nd floor. Zip: 522-8054. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326- 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon 205 _I 8th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- 5853 or 326-5453. YSA, 79LeonardSt. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212)219- Ave. , Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 3679 or 925-1668. Socialist Books, 226-8445. (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 3750 E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) ·West McDowell Road #3. Zip: 85009. Tel: LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) 355-1124. (602) 272-4026. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486- 272-5996. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 8048. OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad­ News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave. Zip 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. 23605. Tel: (804) 380,0133. 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3~08 E 14th SL 2913 GreenmountAve. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2521 Market Ave. Zip: WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: 235-0013. 44113. Tel: (216) 861,6150. Columbus: YSA, Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) SWP, YSA, 2803 B St. Zip: 92102. Tel: (619) MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: SWP, 797-7699,797-7021. 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: YSA, 1701 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. Tel: WASIDNGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. San 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. (419) 536-0383. 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: Jose: SWP, YSA, 46112 Race St. Zip: 95126. MICIDGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE (206) 723-5330. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Woodward Ave. Zip:48201. Tel: (313)961-0395. Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, COLORADO: . Denver: SWP, YSA, 25 MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, . YSA, PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, 6JIA Tennessee. Zip: 25302. Tel: (304) W.3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 551~ . Tel: YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE (612) 644-6325 . (21S) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 402 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. MISSOURI: Kansas City: . SWP, YSA, N. Highland Ave. Mailing address: P.O. Box 0055. .Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753- 4789. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362-6767. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, YSA, P.O. Box 20715 . Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/~ Mike Rose, 7409 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 222-4434. King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361-0250. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. 445-2076. . .

12 TheMllitant May 9~ 1986 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------After a while you lose track­ think of," he said. mayor of the scandal-ridden Big punished, "partly because of slav­ ing powder, and baking soda." Ferdinand Marcos, the thieving Apple, pledged he would return all ery, partly because of other al­ Tastewise, he concedes, there's ex-dictator who has millions in­ That convinces us - Military campaign -contributions from leged or assumed sins." room for improvement. vested in U.S. real estate, con­ aid to the Nicaraguan contras and those indicted for "ripping off the ceded to a reporter that he does the bombing of Libya were city." More soberly, he now says The imagemakers - With Can you believe it? - Harvard warmly endorsed by Tricky Dick he'll redeem that pledge only if his muffins now outpacing croissants, medical researchers insist a study Nixon, the chap who brought you campaign __ committee raises the Newbury Muffins chain is hir­ shows that doctors with big prac­ the bombing of North Vietnamese enough mm1ey to do so by the end ing clerks with an eye to "grand­ tices, including a fee for each ser­ dikes and the saturation bombing of his term in office. motherly" appearance. Mean­ vice, order 50 percent more car­ of Kampuchea. while, the Agriculture Dept. ad­ diograms and chest X-rays than Suggestion - Maybe Koch's vises: "The new muffin recipes those with prepayment plans. A real sweatshop - Congres­ committee could "borrow" the often double the amount of fat and Harry sional wages should be upped bread from some of the people he sugar your grandmother might That's preposterous- On the Ring from the present $75,100 to intends to give it back to. have used." basis of a $300,000 study, resear­ $100,000, says House Speaker chers say that multimillionaires es­ Thomas O'Neil, so ordinary folk Doubted Great Slavemaster They'll show grandma - tablish foundations mainly be­ can afford to serve the country, in the Sky? - A team of Southern Stricken with a concern for health, cause they want to control the dis­ own two homes in New Jersey, not just millionaires. historians concluded the slavoc­ Newbury is working on a really position of their money and cut one worth more than $3 million. racy lost the Civil War because it nutritious muffin. "It's sugar-free, their taxes. Wanting to do good "That's about the only property we A fella could go broke - In a lost faith in God. Ministers began salt-free and milk-free," a spokes­ was described as "another mo­ have in the United States I can fit of moral fervor, Edward Koch, to believe the South was being man assures. "Just hot water, bak- tive." Award-winning film on Argentine military's crimes

Las Madres: The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Pro­ There is a clip of the chief of police of Buenos Aires, duced and directed by Susana MUiioz and Lourdes Por­ General Camps, who justified the military government's tillo, 1985. Fin.1 Run Features. Available in Spanish or actions during the late 1970s by. claiming the mothers and English. The film may be ordered through Lourdes Por­ their children were "Marxist subversives." There were tillo, 981 Esmerelda St., San Francisco, Calif. 94110. "25,000 subversives in Argentina," he said, " 15,000 of them ideologically fanaticized to kill." He said the BY SONJA FRANETA mothers were continuing the subversive actions begun by Losdesaparecidos- the disappeared, 30,000 Argen­ their children and responding to an international call by tine victims of military repression. In the powerful and Marxist terrorists. - moving documentary Las Madres some of the victims' The traditional human rights groups and the Catholic mothers tell their stories. church hierarchy turned their backs on the mothers. As From 1976 to 1983, thousands of people in Argentina Hebe Bonafini, one of the leaders of the mothers, says in the film, "The role of the church has been terrible. Of the 86 bishops in the country, only three supported the strug­ FILM REVIEW gle of the mothers." One mother explained that Jews were treated even worse than non-Jews by the notoriously anti-Semitic mil­ were murdered, tortured, and "disappeared" by succes­ itary, and yet the mothers got no help from the rabbinical sive military regimes. The word "disappeared" is used to hierarchy either. describe those people who were seized by police and Many of the mothers had become inspired by their never heard from again. children's political views and social concerns. One Imagine the frustration and pain of thousands of woman speaks of her son: "All he was arrested for was mothers who cannot get answers to their questions about wanting a more just and humane society." the whereabouts of their children, who do not know Las Madres is a joint effort by two San Francisco whether they are dead or alive. One mother lost all three filmmakers. Susana Munoz was born in Argentina. She of her children. Most mothers assume they are dead; explained in an interview with the Spanish-language some have a distant hope that they will once again be magazine Perspectiva Mundial, "I have friends who have united with them. .; disappeared, friends who were in jail for many years, and Impelled by their sorrow and anger, these mothers all this affected me." Lourdes Portillo was born in started a movement. In April 1977 a few women came to Mexico and has produced a film on Nicaragua called the Plaza de Mayo opposite the presidential palace in After the Earthquake. Both women felt a deep political Buenos Aires. At that time public assembly was illegal. commitment in making this film about Argentina - and And the Argentine people, especially women, were ex­ it shows. pected to be silent. Little by little, more women came; the Among its other awards, Las Madres won three prizes initial few grew to more than 2,000. They wore the in the December 1985 Latin American Film Festival in Scene from Las Madres shows mother at Plaza de names and pictures of their children on signs around their Havana, Cuba. The filmmakers met Fidel Castro at the necks and on kerchiefs around their heads. Mayo in Buenos Aires car.rying picture of kidnapped awards presentation. But they were ignored by the daughter. The women built a movement that brought tremendous Argentine journalists at the festival , and the film has not pressure ori the regime. There were demonstrations of as yet been shown in a public theater in Argentina. It also many as 70,000 people at one time. The film includes ex­ dropping people who were still alive from U.S.-made won an Academy A ward nomination for best documen­ Douglas DC-3s. cellent footage of these marches. To this day, even under tary. Raul Alfonsfn 's so-called democratic government, The film also includes quiet moments, such as a .father mothers march every Thursday at 3:30p.m. at the Plaza Unlike The Official Story, which is a fictional account laying flowers at a shrine he made for his child. in the de Mayo, demanding to know about their children and of the same subject but vague about the source of the ter­ basement of his home. demanding that the murderers be brought to justice. ror, Las Madres does not hesitate to point to Washing­ Yet the film ends on a note of hope, because that is "If my daughter was thrown into the sea, I cari't accept ton's complicity in the Argentine military's atrocities. what the mothers in their organized numbers represent. that the person who threw her in and who is mainly re­ There is a fascinating series of interviews with an ex­ Las Madres pays tribute to people resisting government sponsible for her disappearance can defend himself by Navy pilot, Juan Jose Cozzi, who was mistakenly tor­ terrorism throughout the world, with scenes of women saying he was following orders," says Rene Epelbaum, tured by his military friends and later testified against demonstrating in El Salvador, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, mother of two sons and a daughter, all of whom disap­ them. He describes some of the tortures they used to get Honduras, and Lebanon, and it is dedicated to the peared. rid ofpeople kidnapped by the military. These included mothers of all those who have disappeared. Nicaraguan government sets higher prices, wages

Continued from Page 7 production of consumer goods. Shortages distorts Nicaragua's economy. Defense fee," said Marenco. "He's only getting went up, there was not the sharp inflatio­ continue and prices keep going up. spending, he said , absorbs 25 percent of 5,000 cordobas for 100 pounds, and he nary spiral that followed the three wage in­ the country's gross national product and 50 says he can't live on this and quits the busi­ The January 1 wage increases, com­ creases made in 1985. percent of the government's budget. Forty ness. The next year, what we have is less bined with the February devaluation of the Then in February the government de­ percent of domestic production goes to mil­ coffee. And with less coffee, we have cordoba, increased production costs, the cided it had to devalue the cordoba by 150 itary needs. And a full 20 percent of the fewer dollars. With fewer dollars, we have paper said. The new economic measures percent. The official exchange rate is now economically active population - those more problems." bring prices more into harmony with costs 70 cordobas to U.S. $1 . This is the rate who could be engaged in productive labor The "strategic way out of this problem," of production and are designed to stimulate used f~r purchases of imports, such as all - are in the armed forces. said Marenco, is increasing production. fuel, and for some government transac­ production. tions. (At the legal exchange houses, the "In summary," said Bdrricada , "the an­ Nicaragua's annual export income, official rate is 900 cordobas to the dollar.) nounced measures are aimed at controlling meanwhile, is only $350 million, while it the economic crisis, favoring the only solu­ Sandinistas Speak Interest rates were also raised by I 00 per­ has to spend $900 million on imports of vi­ Speeches, writings, and interviews tion that will guarantee this goal: a greater cent. tally needed machinery , fuel, and by leaders of Nicaragua's revolution, effort by working people in production, a medicine, he said . from 1969- 1981. 160 pp., $4.95. Distortions produced by war conscientious effort that will make work a Nicaragua: The Sandinista People's A major feature in the Sandinista Na­ weapon in the struggle against the [U.S.] Farm prices economic aggression , and the defense of Revolution. tional Liberation Front (FSLN) daily Bar­ Dionisio Marenco. minister of planning Collection contains more than 40 ricada on March 10 explained that the war . revolutionary power." and the budget, also gave an interview in speeches by Sandinista leaders from is the root cause of the country's economic Government leaders subsequently elabo­ which he said there was a need to guarantee March 1982 to December 1984. 400 crisis. The government must make enor­ rated on the economic problems the coun­ higher prices to farmers , who not only pro­ pp., $7.95. mous investments in defense, but these try faces. Henry Rufz, a member of the duce the food needed for domestic con­ Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West funds lead to no increased production. FSLN National Directorate and minister of sumption, but the crops ·vital to Nicara­ St., New York, N. Y. 10014. Please in­ More money is printed and put into circula­ external cooperation, emphasized the gua's export trade. clude 75 cents for postage and handling. tion without a corresponding increase in U.S.-backed. war as the_ factor that most "Take .someone who's producing cof-

May 9, 19~6

------'------~------~- -~- -EDITORIALS------~ How workers will regain control of their unions Soviet nuclear accident. The following are excerpts from the "Afterword" of Continued from front page . sion of extreme force blowing the highly radioactive ma­ the book Teamster Bureaucracy by Farrell Dobbs. The same hypocritical stance is being taken by the terial from the core into the atmosphere and water sup­ Teamster Bureaucracy is the last in a four-volume · other West European governments as well as by Wash­ ply. series on the 1930s Minneapolis labor upsurge which ington. They are using the accident to stir up anti-Soviet According to a U.S. government study - suppressed Dobbs helped lead. This volume traces the decline of sentiment, and at the same time head off criticism of their for eight years until it became public after the Atomic that upsurge with the beginning of World War II. own use of unsafe nuclear power. Energy Commission was sued under the Freedom of In­ The other three volumes are: Teamster Rebellion, Britain's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher told the formation Act - such an accident could kill 45 ,000 Teamster Power, and Teamster Politics. House of Commons that the accident in the Soviet Union people quickly and spread radiation at least bad enough All four volumes are available from Pathfinder could not possibly have any lessons for the British nu­ to ruin crops over an area the size of Pennsylvania. The Press (see ad page 8). · clear industry. "We have very high standards of safety," longer-term results- cancer, genetic defects, and con­ This excerpt. is © 1977 by the Anchor Foundation she asserted. tamination of water and land - are incalculable. and is reprinted by permission. The facts, however, put the lie to Thatcher's claim. Many U.S. commentators on the Chernobyl accident Recent leakages and spillages from British nuclear plants have claimed that one of the big differences between the The misleaders [of the labor movement] were able to have provoked a furor not seen in decades, both in Britain Soviet and U.S. nuclear systems is that the U.S. does not prevent the labor upsurge from going beyond the union­ and in Ireland - which is used as a dumping ground for build nuclear power plants in major population centers. ization of the unorganized mass production workers into nuclear waste. This is a lie. A series of accidents took place last winter at the giant At least 140,000 people lived within the immediate 10- Windscale/Sellafield plant in northern England. These mile radius of the Three Mile Island plant and hundreds OUR were only the latest in a history of no less than 300 re­ of thousands in central Pennsylvania. corded accidents at the plant since 1950. U.S. government officials have criticized the Soviet REVOLUTIONARY It was at the Windscale plant that a major nuclear dis­ government for not providing all the facts about the inci­ aster occurred on Oct. 7, 1957. A fire in the reactor dent immediately. HERITAGE spread radioactive material throughout the countryside. But Washington holds the world record for cover-ups. . Almost at the very moment that President James Carter The British government has admitted that at least 30 the CIO, although much more was possible at the height was "reassuring" people who lived near the Three Mile people have subsequently died.of cancer as a result. of its energies. They managed to tie the new industrial Island plant that it was "quite safe for all concerned,': his But it is the U.S. government that takes the cake for its union movement to the Democratic Party, beginning with sanctimonious stance. · appointees at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission were the 1936 national elections, thereby keeping the workers The U.S. power companies produce the most nuclear­ coolly discussing the still-real possibility of a core mired in capitalist politics. By mid-1937, class-col­ meltdown or disastrous hydrogen explosion. generated electricity of the 26 countries that have nuclear laborationist norms were reestablished to a large extent in A ware of this danger, the NRC nevertheless refused to reactors. It is followed by the Soviet Union, France, setting trade union policy. Reliance on help from the order an evacuation of the area, despite repeated urging Japan, and West Germany. [President Franklin] Roosevelt administration was substi­ from one of its own top experts. There are 93 nuclear power plants in operation in the tuted for use of the union's full power, and a staggering The government issued flat-out lies minimizing the · United States, 8 more completed and ready to go on line, setback resulted for the CIO with the defeat of the Little dangers of the radiation. It was also revealed that the and 21 plants under construction. Steel strike. Of the 25 nuclear accidents classified by the Washing­ NRC had ignored a series of accidents that preceded the March 28 disaster. In that changed_ situation the bureaucrats took one step ton Post and New York Times as major, 16 of these oc­ after another toward restriction of the democratic and Seven years after the accident - and four years after curred in this country, including the partial meltdown at fighting spirit in which the CIO was born. Consolidation the company pleaded guilty or no contest to criminal the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania in March of their control over the organization proceeded at the charges that it falsified tests- the government's NRC 1979. same time that dictatorial rule was being reimposed with­ As recently as January of this year, .one worker was has taken no action against the company . The full extent of the radioactivity released and the damage done has not in the AFL. Bit by bit, such rank-and-file democracy as killed and 100 sent to the hospital at the Kerr-McGee nu­ had been established during the upsurge was under­ clear plant in Gore, Oklahoma. been made public to this day . And this is just one of dozens of cover-ups. mined. While government officials and nuclear industry Roosevelt took advantage of the opportunity provided The U.S. big-business media is on a campaign to try to , spokespersons have rushed to blame "inferior" Soviet by these developments to implement the imperialists' key technology for the accident in the Ukraine, they have as­ convince us ·that there are two kinds of nuclear power: objective at the time. He lined up the labor bureaucracy sumed a holier-than-thou posture about the dangers from safe nukes in the United States and the rest of the in support of preparations for war, and, as a necessary the U.S. nuclear plants. capitalist world; and dangerous nukes in the ·Soviet corollary, he launched a witch-hunt against militants who For example, government officials claim that, unlike Union. resisted his foreign policy. This was made all the easier The purpose of this campaign is transparent. It is at the Chemobyl station, U.S. nuclear reactors have con­ for him by labor's previous failure to take the indepen­ aimed at deflecting renewed demands in the United crete containment structures that prevent the release of dent political road, which left the capitalists in unchal­ States to shut down all nuclear facilities immediately. radioactive material in the event of an accident. lenged control of the government. He had a free hand to Plans for widespread use of nuclear power in the The Coalition of Environmental/Safe Energy Organi­ use a wide range of repressive devices, including assign­ United States have already been dealt some blows. Fif­ zations pointed out, however, that the U.S. Department ment of the FBI to a primary role as political police. teen years ago, the government and nuclear industry were of Energy operates five plutonium-manufacturing plants From then on the workers collectively have paid a projecting as many as a thousand major nuclear power that do not have containment structures. Plutonium-man­ heavy price for the class-collaborationist policies im­ ufacturing plants produce the highest levels and deadliest plants in the United States by the end of the century. For a number of reasons, including massive cost over­ posed upon the trade unions by the bureaucracy's bet­ type of radiation. rayal. Included in the cost were U.S. entry into World Nor is a containment building a guarantee of safety. runs and growing public awareness and protests against the dangers, those projections have been sharply re­ War II and subsequent wars in Korea and Vietnam. The disaster at Three Mile Island proved that. When Inflation and unemployment have reduced living stan­ duced. radioactive water in the containment building reached the dards, eroded job security , and thrust many into poverty . level Of a sump pump, the pump automatically started Today, there are less than 100 plants operating and Oppressed nationalities, especially, have suffered from pumping the water into another building, which was deprivation of their economic, social, and democratic neither watertight nor vapor tight. plans for less than 30 more. Over 100 plants have been canceled and no new plant has been ordered in nearly a rights. Women continue to face discrimination on every The coalition said that the accident in the Soviet Union level. The masses generally have experjenced attacks on proves that nuclear plants in this country and throughout decade. Protests following the accident at Three Mile Island, their civil liberties. · the world should be shut down . "As long as there are So far as officials in the upper strata of the union bu­ operating nuclear power plants in the United States, we which included significant support from the United Mine Workers of America, the United Steelworkers of Ameri­ reaucracy are concerned personally, capitalism works . live with the risk of a similar accident here," a spokesper­ fine. Huge salaries, expense accounts, and other emolu­ son for the group said. ca, and other unions, helped slow down the expansion of nuclear power. But the nuclear industry continues to push ments enable them to maintain high living standards. There is simply no known way to make nuclear power ahead with new plants- despite the ever-present danger But there is one catch in this otherwise ideal situation safe. It is inherently dangerous because it produces mas­ of nuclear disaster. for the labor skates. An illusion must be maintained that sive amounts of radiation. All radiation, even the small Even if no accidents ever occur in a nuclear plant, they are effectively representing the workers in collective amounts that appear in nature, is harmful. And the huge there is currently no method of safely disposing of the bargaining. amounts produced in the generation of nuclear power are mounting tonnage of nuclear waste. But new trends are developing that will undermine extremely harmful - potentially catastrophic. Nuclear power cannot be made safe, at least not at the their control over the workers ~ movement. U.S. im­ The processes involved in the production of nuclear present level of human knowledge. perialism is falling into increasing difficulties at the cen­ power involve insurmountable dangers and make serious There is , however, a readily available, safe, and abun­ ter of the developing world capitalist crisis. Under these accidents a virtual certainty. The Nuclear Regulatory dant source of energy that could more than compensate circumstances the labor bureaucracy's class-col­ Commission- the government agency setup to monitor for the power generated by nuclear plants: coal. laborationist practices will have less and less success in the safety of nuclear facilities - itself testified that the Techniques already exist and are in use in some places obtaining collective-bargaining concessions from the em­ chances of another accident as serious as or more serious around the world to remove the worst pollutants from ployers. than the one at Three Mile Island were "50-50." coal emissions. The energy corporations in this country As these trends persist and worsen, the workers are At Three Mile Island, a partial meltdown of nuclear resist using them because they would cut into profits. bound to become more combative, more disenchanted fuel took place, dumping 400,000 gallons of radioactive Coal does not inv()lve the problem of disposal of with official union policy, more rebellious. The top bu­ water into the Susquehanna River. Radioactive steam radioactive waste. Unlike nuclear power, energy-produc­ reaucrats, whose domination over the unions will thus was vented several times, driving radiation readings to tion through the use of coal does not involve insurmount­ become threatened, are certain to react viciously. dangerous levels. able dangers. Coal can be made safe. As things get worse under the present officers, The Nuclear RegulatOt'Y Commission (NRC), after at­ And increased use of coal, mined safely and burned broadening layers of the membership will become more tempting to hide the fact, was forced to reveal that the cleanly, could put a lot of unemployed coal miners back open-minded toward new ideas and methods of action. Three Mile Island plant came within one hour of a catas­ to work. Awareness will grow that organized labor is on the wrong trophic meltdown! There is only one way to protect people from catas­ track programmatically. Pressures will mount for a major In a complete meltdown, the fuel would melt into a trophic nuclear accidents, from the cancer and genetic shift in line. mass that cannot be contained. It would keep on generat­ damage caused by nuclear power, and from the growing Then, as significant forces are set into motion , .. ing its own heat and bum itself right through the reactor accumulation of deadly radioactive waste that cannot be rank-and-file militancy rises . Increasingly sharp clashes walls and the containment building. This is what is called stored safely. with the bosses result, during which the workers begin to the "China Syndrome." The burning fuel would eventu­ That is to shut down all nuclear power plants Im­ shed class-collaborationist illusions and acquire class­ ally hit water in the ground that would result in an explo- mediately. Humanity simply can't afford not to . struggle concepts. In short, a foundation is laid from which to initiate transformation of the trade unions them­ selves into instruments capable of developing far-reach­ ing revolutionary perspectives.

14 Tbe.MiU~t 1\f~y 9~ _ 1986 ·- ~ - . . ... ·. .: . . ". · .•. . ·. ' Utah workers:.aid Nicaragua unions, not 'contras'

BY SCOTT BREEN they understood the importance of safe working condi­ In the congressional debate over funding the U.S.-or­ tions for workers everywhere. ganized counterrevolutionary army attacking Nicaragua, In addition to my immediate coworkers, other oil both Republican and Democratic politicians agree that workers, six members of the International Association of Nicaragua's Sandinista government is their enemy. Machinists, and a steelworker also donated. But many U.S. workers would rather Washington give When I arrived in Nicaragua I was able to personally aid to .Nicaragua to build schools, hospitals, and child­ deliver this safety equipment to the CST Director of In­ care centers than give the contra army money and ternational Relations, Denis Melendez. We talked for a couple of hours about the union move­ ment· in Nicaragua. He explained the tremendous gains UNION TALK the unions have made under the revolutionary govern­ ment: unionization has increased from 6 percent to 80 percent of the work force; in the first year of their revolu­ weapons to destroy schools, hospitals, and child-care tion alone, more contracts were signed with employers centers. than the total number in the previous 20 years. For example, in an act of solidarity with Nicaraguan workers, union brothers and sisters from the Oil, Chem­ Legislation has been passed benefiting the unions, ical and Atomic Workers at a Salt Lake City Amoco oil such as laws that no worker can be fired for union activ­ refinery where I work· made $500 worth of contributions ity, that no negotiated contract benefit can be conceded for safety equipment - including respirators, gloves, back to the employer, and that there be equal pay for welding masks, hardhats, and safety glasses - to the equal work. Sandinista Workers Federation (CST), the largest union Melendez explained how the unions today participate federation in Nicaragua. "'· in all aspects of society, including drawing up the new laws and labor codes and helping shape the new constitu­ The CST organizes the oil workers at Nicaragua's only tion. "The CST," he pointed out, "is concerned with eve­ oil refinery, which is half owned by Esso (EJQton) and rything affecting workers, from coffee breaks to de­ half by the Nicaraguan government. Last yeai-, the CST fense." sent out a letter to unions around the world, &ppealing for safety equipment in order to reduce on-the-job injuries. When I returned to the United States and went back to The letter explained: work, I made up a photo album with notecards explaining "With the triumph of July 19, 1979, we discovered in the meaning of each photo and the gains of working the companies' statistics that 70 percent of the workers people in Nicaragua under its workers' and farmers' gov­ suffered from eye irritations, lung inflammations, bodily ernment.. I showed it around at work. One mechanic, injuries, etc. By 1982, the revolutionary government had after reading through the album,-said, "I can't see where lowered the rate of job-related illnesses to 50 percent, but Nicaragua's a threat to America." To those who helped has not been able to go any further, since the constant at­ contribute to the CST's safety campaign, I brought back Militant/Nelson Blackstock tacks and blockades by imperialism have stopped us from souvenirs. When other workers found out what I'd done, Scott Breen (right) delivering industrial safety equip­ acquiring more equipment." they expressed interest in helping in the future. Aid to the ment to Denis Melendez, director of international re­ The letter included a list of 46 items of safety equip­ CST is more popular than aid to the contras where I lations of the Sandinista Workers Federation. ment workers need in order to meet CST plans to reduce work. injuries by 15 percent. The CST's safety campaign is an ongoing one. After struction caused by the U.S. -sponsored contra war. A I received a copy of this letter two weeks before I was hearing about my experiences, a member of the Com­ fund, called the Nicaragua Solidarity Fund, has been es­ going to visit Nicaragua on a week-long tour last De­ munications Workers of America took $400 in safety tablished through which unions can contribute to the cember. I decided to pitch in on the campaign. I showed equipment with her on a trip to Nicaragua and presented CST. For more information on this fund and the CST ap­ the letter to about a dozen of my co-workers and ino the Telecommunications Workers union in the north­ peal for safety equipment, contact: Nita Brueggeman, c/o explained that I was collecting money to purchase some ern city of EstelL Another Salt Lake refinery operator, ACTWU, 975 SE Sandy Blvd., Room 108, Portland, of the listed equipment. Eight of us contributed a total of who went down to help pick cotton with a work brigade Ore. 97214. $70. One coworker even mailed me her check for $10 for two weeks in February, raised $150 from her cowork­ when I missed her at work. Some made donations be­ ers to help buy safety equipment. Scott Breen is a member of Oil, Chemical and Atomic cause they didn't approve of the U.S. government's pol­ In addition to the appeal for safety equipment, the CST Workers Local2-286 and is the Socialist Workers candi­ icy of aggression ~oward Nicaragua. Others gave because has also issued an appeal for financial aid to offset the de- date for Congress in Utah's 2nd Congressional District.

~ ··; -LEIIERS- Libya protest Ml$1tR PRESlOE)I{T, Drug tests denly through a combination of On March 28 a noon-time pick­ W\1\T AiOUT T~£ Regarding your editorial, U.S. intervention, the Enrile­ et at the Federal Building here op­ CoNT~S~ "Sweeping New Drug Test Pro­ Ramos mutiny, and the masses posed U.S. government war posals" - thanks for articulating exercising "people's power" in moves against Libya and protested the grave danger in this govern­ Manila and Quezon City. apartheid in South Africa and ment of big-business invasion of To simply relegate the left to the Washington's aid to the Nicara­ our most precious property. sidelines as Taverna does grossly guan contras. The picket was As a federal prisoner I've been insults the National Democratic called by the All-African People's confined to the "hole" (solitary Front. Since 1972 it maintained a Revolutionary Party. lock~down and/or "dry-cell") on militant opposition to Marcos The April 1 issue of the Cincinc three different occasions forresist­ through protracted armed struggle nati Enquirer ran the results of a ing forced urinalysis and strip or by the heroic forces of the New local poll on Libya, Of the 350 cavity searches. The pretext that People's Army. It has .been calling people who answered the poll, 52 the government uses to de­ for a democratic coalition govern­ percent opposed the U.S. govern­ humanize us is that they're look­ ment. ment's bombing of Libya. "Mr. ing for drugs in prisoners. J.J. Kaufman Reagan will not be satisfied until In reality these searches and sei­ Honolulu, Hawaii he has United States troops some­ THERE 'I"OU zures of our bodies condition us to where. Take your pick of the loca­ relinquish our most basic rights to Able to pay Go AGAit-\ ••. human dignity. And the double­ tions: Libya or Nicaragua. If these I am glad to be able to pay for two fail there is Afghanistan," TA'klAX, edged sword is that precious re­ my subscription again this year sources used to fund these witch­ wrote one respondent. S'pEJ-..1~­ and hope this will help you pro­ M.J. Rahn hunts rob bread from the poor. vide subscriptions to prisoners Cincinnati, Ohio SPEND! A prisoner _.,.- who cannot. My check for $24 is Alderson, West Virginia enclosed. A prisoner · Too much going on Stormville, New York There's just too much going on Philippines from Nicaragua to Libya to South Odette Taverna was quoted in Africa to the Philippines, for star­ Janice Prescott's article (April 11 · The ..Militant special prisoner ters, to rely on the capitalist press Militant) to the effect that the fund makes it possible to send reduced-rate subscriptions to for information. Jeff Danziger left's abstention during the recent I admire the in-depth coverage Philippine elections and the after­ prisoners who can't pay. for the Militant provides of domestic math of those elections "had dis­ them. Where possible the fund and international news. But, if I Utilities' arrogance a new contract. The old one is to- oriented and marginalized" the also tries to fill prisoners' re­ may be allowed a minor criticism, We hold title to a piece of land . tally inadequate from the land­ left. This assertion is a ball of wax quests for other literature. To owner's point of view. We don't I'd like to see more news about de­ on which the Kentucky Utilities fast melting and is part of a con­ help this important cause, send expect much assistance from the your contribution · to: Militant velopment problems in the Co. installed ~ l arge- sca l e electric certed effort to malign the .left in socialist world. For example about transmission line. We have been courts in the correction of this the Philippines. Prisoner Subscription Fund; 14 daycare or education in Mozam­ involved in a running war of matter. Like previous elections in the Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. bique, health care'in Laos or Kam­ words with KU ever since we first We plan on fighting this en­ Philippines under Ferdinand Mar­ puchea, industrial growth in "purchased" the p~:operty. croachment on our property rights cos' U.S.-backed rule, the Feb­ Yugoslavia or Hungary, or any­ to the extent of going to jail if it ruary 7 exercise was but a charade The letters column is an open thing about Mongolia and Al­ A combination of abuse and ar­ will help. and a sop to liberal pretensions, forum for all viewp()irits on sub­ bania. Otherwise, keep up the ex­ rogant .behavior , coinciding with even with Cory Aquino running. jects of general interest to our cellent work. · the total one-sidedness of the We have appreciated your Certainly in retrospect there may readers. Please keep your letters Your paper is an invaluable tool right-of-way contract, forced us to coverage of the working man's have been a flaw in the left's pre­ brief. Where necessary they will for combating the lies of the big­ make a stand. At any rate we were fight in the past and this is why we election analysis calling for a be abridged. Please indicate if business media. served with a summons and it took time to appeal to you. boycott. But this was due to the you prefer that your initials Matt Tuoni · looks as if we are headed for a Eddie Meredith fact that no one expected dictator be used rather than your full Tempe, Arizona showdown. We are holding out for Caneyville, Kentucky Marcos to be dislodged so sud- name.

May 9, 1986 f's

------~------THE MILITANT Pa. abortion rights Inarch set Regional women's conference backs May 10 Harrisburg action

BY MARY ROCHE give back 44 percent in wages and benefits PHILADELPHIA - Continued actions solely because they are women . . for abortion rights and labor solidarity were Following her remarks, I20 conference two major focuses of the I986 Mid-Atlan­ participants marched to a nearby TWA of­ tic conference of the National Organization fice and conducted a spirited picket line in for Women held here April I8-20. More support of the flight attendants. "2, 4, 6, 8, than 350 NOW members from Delaware, TWA negotiate!" was a popular chant. Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vir­ A prominent aspect of the conference ginia, West Virginia, and the District of was the support NOW women gave for this Columbia attended the plenaries, work­ and other important labor struggles. Mem­ shops, and caucuses. bers of the striking meatpackers of United A coalition of Pennsylvania abortion Food and Commercial Workers Local P-9 rights activists has called a Pennsylvania . in Austin, Minnesota, received a warm March for Women's Lives, Saturday, May welcome. 10, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, at noon. More than 60 signatures were gathered Pennsylvania NOW is cosponsoring the on a resolution in support of Local P-9's demonstration, and conference participants strike against the Geo. A. Hormel Co. were encouraged to attend and build sup­ Carol Evans, a P-9 striker, spoke at a port in their states. workshop on organized labor and feminists Among the other 60 cosponsors are: and explained the issues of the strike. She Militant/Ernest Harsch National Abortion Rights Action League said women are playing a major role in this March 9 abortion rights action in WaShington, D.C., of 100,000. Harrisburg action of Pennsylvania, Women's Agenda, labor battle. Buttons, T-shirts, and litera­ builds on this success. Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advo­ ture on the boycott of Hormel•products that cates, CHOICE, Women's Law Project, the local is organizing were available at a conferences of the Great Lakes and South housekeepers are all Black, and 25 of them Catholics for a Free Choice, Pennsylvania P-9 table. Central regions of NOW have also passed are women. The resolution urged participa­ Social Services Union, International The workshop voted unanimously to resolutions of support for both the P-9 and tion in an April 26 support demonstration Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, Ameri­ submit a resolution in support of P-9 and TWA strikers. and stated that the NOW regional director can Civil Liberties Union - Pittsburgh the flight attendants to the entire confer­ A resolution supporting the housekeep­ would send a letter of protest to the Upsala Section, Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay ence. The resolution was passed at the ple­ ers at Upsala College in East Orange, New College president. Task Force, Philadelphia Black Women's nary session. Jersey, who were fired and replaced by There were also elections for National Health Project, League of Women Voters Many local NOW chapters, as well as scabs, was also passed by the plenary. The Board seats and a regional director. of Pennsylvania, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - District Council 47, Coalition of One Hundred Black Women, and Hospital and Nursing Home Employees, District Coun­ N.J. cop guns down Black youth cil 1I99C. Leaflets for the march were distributed BY L PALTRINERI cops were "cussing them out, calling them cation. to conference participants. NEWARK, N.J. -Michael Harris, a nigger and stuff," said one witness. He also The shooting incident has been turned NOW President Eleanor Smeal gave a Black teenager, was shot in the back and told the Post that Harris had his hands on over to Essex County Prosecutor George luncheon address on "Assault on Abortion killed here by cop Wayne Paterno on April the wall. He didn 't move or say anything. Schneider, who has asked for a grand jury Rights - Extremism on the Rise." She 21. The police version claims that Harris in­ investigation. But at a Newark press con­ said the women's rights movement must Harris, 17, and afriend were stopped in itially refused to stop when ordered to do ference , representatives of the Newark and draw the line against the right-wing ex­ Newark by cops from nearby Irvington so by the cops, and that after being frisked, Irvington NAACP called for the dismissal tremists who are attacking, bombing, and very early that morning as alleged suspects Harris turned around suddenly, jostling of Schneider. The NAACP denounced invading abortion clinics. She pointed to in an attempted armed robbery the previous Paterno's gunhand, causing the pistol he Schneider's public statements· - before the importance of the May I 0 demonstra­ evening. was aiming at Harris to discharge acciden­ any hearing had been held - in which he tion and urged participation in it. Official police reports are calling the tally. claimed the killing was either accidental or Betty Ann Schwane, a leader of striking shooting .an "accident." But neighborhood Harris' parents don't believe the cops' in self-defense. TWA flight attendants in Philadelphia, residents and witnesses to the shooting de­ story. "They shot him in cold blood," said Keith Jones, president of the Newark also spoke at the luncheon. She explained scribed the cops' actions differently. his mother, Grace Harris. NAACP, said, "His [Schneider's] thinking that the flight attendants were willing to According to an account in the New York So far no charges have been brought is that the law enforcement officials them­ give back I5 percent of their wages, but Post, the two youths were stopped and or­ against Paterno, who remains on the Ir­ selves are the victims, when it is the people that TWA management wanted them to dered to spread-eagle against a wall. The vington police force . He is currently on va- who are the victims of excessive, brutal force ." The NAACP conducted its own investi­ gation. The facts exposed sharply dispute the version peddled by both Newark and Ir­ Gov't escalates attack on Hor01el strikers vington officials. BY MAGGIE McCRAW number of pickets at the plant gate was is­ In the meantime, the FBI has begun an AUSTIN, Minn. -In an escalation of sued Dec. 24 , 1985, the union has con­ investigation at 'the request of the Harris the attacks against striking meatpackers tinued to mobilize in peaceful , legal dem­ family. here, U.S. District Court Judge Edward onstrations. The company, cops, and scabs The great sentiment in· the Newark and Devitt issued a far-reaching injunction have attacked the strikers and their support­ Irvington Black communities is to bring against the strikers on April 23. ers. Paterno to justice. Since January more than 200 strikers and About I 50 people attended Harris' fun­ The injunction bars striking United Food eral. and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local their supporters have been arrested. The majority of those arrests have been for mis­ On April 27 a protest march took place. P-9 from mass picketing at the Hormel . It was called by Rev. AI Sharpton of the Na­ plant here. It also prohibits strikers from demeanors. However, following a cop riot outside the plant April II , during which tional Youth Movement of New York. discouraging scabs from entering the plant. The march began on the sidewalk where Under the new injunction, strikers cannot hundreds of strikers and supporters were teargassed, I7 people - including P-9 Harris was gunned down and proceeded to "harass," "threaten," or even photograph police headquarters in downtown Ir­ the scabs. . President Jim Guyette - were arrested on various felony charges. vington. As far as Hormel is concerned, virtually Approximately 300 people, mostly any attempt to keep scabs out constitutes a The latest injunction holds the local's executive board responsible, under threat Black youth, participated, with many join­ threat or harassment. ing the protest in Irvington. People came The latest injunction was requested by of fines and jail sentences, for all actiyities at the plant gate. out on their porches or waved from win­ Hormel and the Minneapolis office of the dows as the marchers passed by singing National Labor Relations Board. It will be Hormel's senior vice-president, Charles Nyberg, hailed the latest injunction. He "We Shall Overcome." in effect until May I4, when the board will On the steps of police headquarters decide if the union's mass picketing in told the media that this injunction will en­ courage the company to seek more federal Sharpton said, "We won't stop 'til justice front of the Hormel plant constitutes an comes. We are not on vacation. Justice is. "unfair labor practice." court actions against the union if it holds additional rallies outside the plant. not on vacation. And somebody has to pay In seeking the injunction, Hormel and for Michael Harris' life." the Labor Relations Board claimed that the In a news release the local charged that Jaax The protesters cheered loudly when local cops have been too "overwhelmed under the latest injunction, "The workers Picketing at Austin Hormel plant gate Grace Harris said she wanted only one and outdone" to enforce.previous antiunion are being denied the same constitutional March 20. Latest injunction prohibits thing, "The man who shot my son in the injunctions. rights that all citizens enjoy and use. The mass picketing or any .a~empt to stop back - that's the one I want to see come to Since the original injunction limiting the Continued on Page ll scabs. justice."

16 The Militant May 9, 1986