WfJRKERS ,,1N'(J,1,, 25¢ No. 188 .-...... )1[-523 13 January 1978 Down with Robbers' Peace Plans'
• • srae a • •• ales Inlans The Israeli-Egyptian drive for a Arab world, the sellout of the Palestini separate peace agreement has slowed to ans must be written in the fine print. a crawl in the wake of the Christmas dav Begin insists on putting it in capital summit meeting between Menahe~ letters in the first sentence. Begin and Anwar Sadat. Their drooling enthusiasm for each other's company Begin's Phony "Peace Plan" and Carter's "prince of peace" junket to Right: They There is no doubt about Begin's like each the 1\ear East have yielded no real position. The electoral program of his progress. The "fundamental principles" other, too. Likud coalition stated: "Judea and Carter and which the U.S. imperialist chief enun Samaria [the West Bank] will not be Sadat ciates are as muddy as the waters of the turned over to any foreign power. embrace. Jordan. Even the initially euphoric Between the sea and the Jordan sover Below: Western press has begun to talk of eignty will be exclusively Israeli." After "Rejection "constructive fudging." becoming prime minister in an election ists" at Ih~. QDe.JlojJ!tQt<;oncret~ Tripoli. From agreement upsei.wt.M.a,Y
New York party, against de Gaulle in the 1965 7 December 1977 French presidential elections. Similarly, in polemicizing against the Editor, Workers Vanguard OCI which, as the article makes clear, Dear Comrades, tends to claim that social democracy is somehow "less reactionary" than the I read with interest the fine polemic Stalinist PCF-and against the LCR against the French Organisation Com which frequently implies that, to the muniste Internationaliste (OCI) and the contrary, it is the Stalinists who are "less Ligue Communiste Revolutionnaire reactionary" than the social-democratic (LCR) in Workers Vanguard of 25 PS-the article refers to the "equally counterrevolutionary reformist bu Claridad November ("OCI: Election Brokers for 15,000 unlonllts merched to the cepltol building In Sen Juen November 10. French Popular Front," WV No. 183). reaucracies" of the PCF and PS. Now it Possibly beca\lse it was written by our is certainly true that the Stalinists and comrades of the Ligue Trotskyste de social democrats are comparably coun France (LTF) for distribution in terrevolutionary, that neither is "less France, the article takes the present counterrevolutionary" in nature than Following Murder of Teamsters Official French political context somewhat for the other. Nevertheless at any given granted, and contains a couple of moment in time either the PCF or PS polemical statements which if isolated might adopt some specific position and taken as having general validity which is more to the left than that taken Labor Militancy would be incorrect. by the other. Thus in the United States The main would-be Trotskyist organ in the brief period between the time of izations in France are currently claiming the signing ofthe Hitler-Stalin pact and Surges in Puerto Rico that a victory for the popular front the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, would be a "first step" or somehow when the U.S. Stalinists issued strident While mass transit stood idle imperialist politics of these reactionary "progressive," representing a "victory" propaganda against the imperialist war throughout Puerto Rico, 15,000 trade lab'or skates were challenged by more for the French proletariat. But in fact, as and broke with Roosevelt, Trotsky unionists marched November to left-wing unionists. In 1971 Puerto the international Spartacist tendency advocated giving their candidates criti through the streets ofSan Juan denoun Rican workers responded to Nixon's has repeatedly pointed out, an electoral cal electoral support. Then, only a few cing the murder of Juan Rafael Cabal wage freeze with a mass mobilization victory of the bourgeois popular front, months later when the Stalinists had lero, an official of the Union de which resulted in exemption of the far from being a "victory" for the flip-flopped and become the most Tronquistas (Teamsters), by agents of island from federal controls. This working class, paves the way for massive patriotic supporters of the "anti-fascist the notorious Criminal Investigations experience gave birth to the United defeats of the workers, whether by a war," it was the Stalinists who were the Bureau (CIB). In late December more Workers Movement (MOU), led by the bloody coup or otherwise (e.g., the most notorious strikebreakers and than 6,000 electrical workers on the Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), peaceful installation of Vichy fascism advocates of speed-up to build the war island struck against the government with a program combining bread after the 1930's French popular front effort. water and power authority amid expec and-butter trade unionism with social had served its purpose offrustrating the A poor translation aggravated a tations that Governor Carlos Romero democratic and independentista working-class upsurge). However, it is certain unclarity in another passage. Barcelo could call out the National rhetoric. incorrect to abstract this point to a Thus the sentence "As the minimum Guard at any moment. Together the The labor upsurge reached a peak in general level, as does the article when it condition for electoral support the massive display of working-class out 1973-74 when PPD governor Rafael states that "the workers have nothing to workers must demand that the PCF and rage over the assassination of a Team Hernandez Colon resorted to the gain from the victory of one bourgeois PS break with their bourgeois electoral ster organizer and the walkout by one National Guard to suppress a series of formation over another." partners and with the Common Pro ofthe most militant independent unions militant strikes. (The last time the The working class is not indifferent, gram which provides the framework for (UTlER) mark a resurgence of Puerto . Guard had been called out against the for example, to the sharply different this class-collaborationist alliance," Rican organized labor, largely quiescent Puerto Rican masses was in response to levels of repression under a fascist or should read: "The minimum condition for the last three years. an independence revolt at Jayuya in bonapartist military dictatorship as the workers must set in order to give The brutal murder of Caballero is a 1950.) In July 1973 the colonial militia opposed to a bourgeois democracy electoral support to the PCF and PS is measure of the lengths to which the was mobilized against strikes by the ruled by, say, a Christian Democratic that they break with their bourgeois authorities are prepared to go to repress UTlER (an MOU mainstay) and San party. If the issue were posed in direct electoral partners...." Workers must the workers movement in this strategic Juan firemen. In November 1974 troops military confrontations, the Marxists insist that the PCF and PS actually do Caribbean possession of U.S. imperial were again called out against a strike by would call on the workers to mobilize break with the bourgeois parties before ism. It was seen by many as retaliation the MOU-affiliated water workers, and independently, but on the same side of voting for them. The OCI betrays the for the killing, on September 22, ofAlan II strike leaders were jailed. Sentiment the barricades as bourgeois democrats, principle ofworking-class independence Randall, a former State Department for a general strike was so strong that it against the fascists or aspiring Bona in calling for critical support to repres official alleged to have ties with the CIA, . was echoed by MOU executive director partes. We would have been prepared to entatives ofthe bourgeois popular front, by an unknown "Labor Commando" (and PSP leader) Pedro Grant. fight in 1958 alongside Stalinists, social excusing such support on the grounds group. Randall had specialized as a With the danger of a mass explosion democrats or bourgeois liberals if they that it does simultaneously call on the corporation lawyer designing anti-labor past, the bourgeoisie embarked on a had resisted de Gaulle's imposition of workers parties to break with their programs for his clients. At the time of campaign of anti-labor reaction. The the semi-bonapartist Fifth Republic. bourgeois electoral partners. his death he was preparing a symposium PPD government nationalized tele But in no case would we have given Finally, a translation error reversed on "Terrorism a'nd the Labor Move phone, maritime transport and all political support to a bourgeois the meaning of a phrase in the interven ment" for the annual meeting of the public utilities, thereby bringing work formation-e.g., by advocating votes to tion of an LTF comrade at the OCI educational, quoted at the very end of Federal Bar Association. ers in these' key sectors under the Mitterrand, then head of a bourgeois jurisdiction of no-strike legislation the article. The sentence should read: Repression of Puerto Rican prohibiting collective bargaining for "Today, the OCI has given up the fight Labor public employees. As part of an attack CLASS SERIES against the popular front, even though it against the MOU~ trumped-up bank tries to preserve appearances" instead of The colonial bourgeoisie of Puerto Trotskyism and the "not even bothering to preserve robbery charges were hurled at one ofits International Workers Rico has sought to cash in on its access leaders, Federico Cintron, resulting in appearances." to the U.S. market by promoting the his jailing. As a result of this repression Movement Trotskyist greetings, "commonwealth" as a low-wage haven and in-fighting between PSP supporters sponsored by the John Sharpe ' of labor peace. Since the 1940's first the and other tendencies the MOU today Trotskyist League of Canada Popular Democratic Party (PPD claims to represent only 14 percent of allied with the Democrats) and then the Classes are held on alternate the island's workforce, barely half its TueSdays, 7:30 p.m., at: advocates of statehood, now called the WORKERS earlier strength. Britannia Center New Progressive Party (PNP-tit:d to 1661 Napier the U.S. RepUblicans) have pushed Police Death Squad Strikes Sr. Citizen's Room VINGIJIRIJ Marxist Working-Class Weekly "Operation Bootstrap"-a program to Labor Movement VANCOUVER lure runaway American manufacturers of the Spartacist League of the U.S. JANUARY 17 with long-term tax exemptions and the In the wake of the 1973-74 defeats the The Bolsheviks and the Russian EDITOR: Jan Norden absence of a minimum wage. The result Teamsters have taken the lead in Revolution has been flourishing industry and a large aggressive union organizing in Puerto PRODUCTION MANAGER: Karen 'Allen Rico. Thus the slaying of Randall JANUARY 31 CIRCULATION MANAGER: Mike Beech proletariat, laboring under miserable The Struggle of the Left Opposition conditions and with little union provided a convenient pretext for a EDITORIAL BOARD: Jon Brule, Charles FEBRUARY 14 BurroughS, George Foster, Liz Gordon, protection. concerted assault upon them. "The James Robertson, Joseph Seymour, Michael Fascism in Germany An inclusive Puerto Rican union police investigation quickly focused on Weinstein federation has not existed since 1945, Local 901 of the International Brother FEBRUARY 28 Published weekly, except bi-weekly in August The Popular Front and December, by the Spartacist Publishing when the PPD split the General Confed hood ofTeamsters, a local that is closely Co .• 260 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013. eration of Labor in order to isolate aligned with several militant pro MARCH 14 Telephone: 966-6841 (Editorial), 925-5665 independence unions," reported the Maoism and the Chinese Revolution (Business). Address all correspof1dence to: Communist influence. However, in Box 1377, G.P.O.. New York, NY 10001. recent years, enticed by the prospect of New York Times (II November). Fol MARCH 28 Domestic subscriptions: $5.00 per year. amassing a voting bloc of docile dues lowing the murder of Caballero, Tron The Vietnamese Revolution . Second-class postage paid at New York, NY paying locals, AFL-CIO bureaucrats quista leader Luis Carrion (whom the For more information call: 291-8993 or write to Opinions expressed in signed articles or commenced organizing on the island. slain organizer closely resembled) was Trotskyist League, Box 26, Station A, ietters do net necessarily express the editorial Vancouver viewpoint. As the unions grew in number the pro- continued on page 9 ~ 2 WORKERS ·YANGUARD SUbscrip'!!on Usts seized Why Is Bay Area Gay Toronto Cops Raid Liberation Afraid of Gay Movement Communists? Newspaper SAN FRANCISCO-Caught out in a But the protest nevertheless had an TORONTO, January 5-0n December of the corporation under two sections of flagrant capitulation to anti-gay preju impact on BAGL and its periphery. In 30 four cops from the Metropolitan the Criminal Code which describe the dice, Bay Area Gay Liberation (BAGL) discussions with the SL, two of the Toronto Police Morality Squad and one possession or distribution of "obscene" is seeking to suppress the revolutionary original authors of the leaflet as well as from the Ontario Provincial Police materials as criminal offenses. Charged criticisms of the Spartacist League (SL), other former BAGL supporters were raided the Toronto offices of The Body under Section 159 ("possession for the which recently confronted BAGL to won to the SL's criticisms of the leaflet. Politic, a gay liberation news magazine purpose of publication, distribution or demand it repudiate its stand and This set the stage for the January widely distributed throughout North circulation") as being "obscene," was a reaffirm its purported commitment to membership meeting, where the BAGL America. For three and a half hours, book already cleared last October by the the democratic rights of homosexuals. steering committee proposed a "deal": over protests from members of the notoriously censor-happy Canada Cus While BAGL's line is shocking, it flows to allow only one member or supporter collective that publishes the magazine, toms (which stops even Penthouse at the logically from the group's sectoralist of the SL to attend the next meeting, the police filled 12 large crates with border). Charges under Section 164 politics, which lead straight to the camp where the leaflet would be discussed for records and documents, including sub related to the publication of "Men of the Democratic Party. It is to stifle one hour. When an SL supporter rose to scription lists, which they seized "for Loving Boys Loving Men." Both debate within the group over this protest this undemocratic procedure study." This criminal seizure makes it charges carry a maximum penalty of atrocity that BAGL's leading clique has and ask for a membership vote, several clear that the operation was not simply a two years' imprisonment. In addition, imposed gag rules against SL supporters steering committee members jumped to raid but a serious attempt to shut down the publishing company and its officers at its meetings. their feet and surrounded our comrade, the publication and victimize both the could face substantial fines if convicted. In November a leaflet, "Gay People shouting "Out! Out!" and hooting. publishers and the subcribers-an The state attack on this gay liberation Speak Out Against Racist Tactics of When it was clear that this disruption outrageous violation of freedom of the movement newspaper is part of a much Candidates in the Sixth District Elec had blocked any possibility of political press. larger campaign targeting the democrat tion," was issued by Lesbian Resistance discussion, the SL contingent walked The police attack came in the midst of ic rights of homosexuals. On January (LR) and BAGL. It opposed the out of the meeting, joined by several a barrage of media criticism of Body 15, five days before the Body Politic opening of a lesbian bar in the SF BAGL supporters. Politic for an article published in the defendants are due to appear in court, Mission District, a predominantly The SL is proud of its record of December/January issue entitled "Men Anita Bryant will arrive in Toronto. Spanish-speaking neighborhood, in relentless struggle against racial and Loving Boys Loving Men." The article This vile reactionary, who successfully terms that sound more like an Anita sexual oppression. Instead ofcatering to describes the sexual experiences and launched a vicious anti-homosexual Bryant bigot than a gay liberation macho prejudice in order to demon personal relationships of several men campaign to overturn an ordinance in organization: the bar and "women strate sensitivity to the culture of an with youth under the Canadian legal age Dade County, Florida prohibiting outside the community" who would oppressed community, the SL counter of consent. Although the issue had discrimination against homosexuals, frequent it would "undermine the poses a transitional program in the real already been on sale for a month and no apparently intends to extend her right culture of the community"; "We recog interests of all the exploited and charges had been raised at the time of wing rampage to Canada. Her visit also nize the importance of lafamilia in the oppressed. The SL refuses to reinforce the raid, the police came armed with a coincides with the trial offour men held Latin community and of protecting the the dangerous illusions that capitalist search warrant empowering them to in connection with the apparent rape/ small businesses that cater to politicians-black, Latin, female or seize almost anything in the office. murder of 12-year-old Manuel Jacques, families...." homosexual-will alleviate capitalist The warrant, according to the attor whose body was found on the roof of a Why should a radical gay organiza oppression. Democrat Borvice, sup ney for the magazine, is illegal even downtown sex shop last August. tion choose to take upon itself thejob of ported by LR and BAGL because he is a under Canadian law. It allegedly au The emotional reaction to this brutal "protecting" the family against lesbians? "Third Worlder," will do no more for his thorized the cops to search for evidence murder was exploited to scapegoat BAGL is politically animated by the constituents than Coleman Young, under Section 164 of the federal Crimi- homosexuals and became the take-off Prairie Fire Organizing Committee, a Maynard Jackson or Bella Abzug have nal Code ("use of the mails for the point for a right-wing mobilization clot of long-tirrie New Leftist polyvan done for theirs. purpose of transmitting or delivering aimed at the city's homosexuals and guardists who built BAGL as an "anti The self-styled "anti-imperialist," anything that is indecent, immoral or prostitutes. Thousands of reactionaries imperialist" grouping, as against ele "gay liberationist" BAGL has proven scurrilous"). But the "evidence" the gathered in a midtown lynch mob to ments favoring a single-issue gay rights itself as useless to homosexuals.as it is to police claimed to be after (i.e., that the support the return of capital punish group. A Spartacist leaflet pointed out Latins and the working-class move publication is in fact sent through the ment (see "Rightist Reaction Threatens that "BAG L's and LR's refusal to de ment. The Spartacist League challenges mails) was readily obtainable by reading Democratic Rights," Spartacist Canada fend gays in the Latin community is a BAGL to an open debate in which the newspaper's masthead and contact No. 19, September 1977). The trial, sickening extension of their 'sectoral' BAGL must either repudiate its attack ing the post office. Bryant's visit and the raid on Body politics; vying in popularity with Chica on homosexuals' democratic rights or On January 5charges were entered by Politic all take place at a time when the no nationalists, they capitulate on the publicly justify its support for the the crown attorney against Pink controversial recommendations of the central question precisely because anti bourgeois family and the Democratic Triangle Press (the non-profit publisher Ontario Human Rights Commission to homosexual prejudice is so strong in the Party.• of Body Politic) and against the officers include the term "sexual orientation" in Latin community." BAGL's brand of the province's Human Rights Code is constituency politics, which centers on under consideration. tailing the backward attitudes of sec SPARTACIST LEAGUE In Quebec, too, despite the fact that tions of the oppressed, cannot cope with LOCAL DIRECTORY the nationalist Parti Quebecois govern conflicts among different oppressed ANN ARBOR . . (313) 663-9012 sectors, in this case Latins and gays. So cia SYL. Room 4316 . ment passed. reforms in December Michigan Union. U of Michigan prohibiting discrimination against ho these purported gay liberationists find Ann Arbor MI 48109 mosexuals in housing and employment, themselves in the excruciating position BERKELEY· OAKLAND ... (415) 835-1535 homosexuals continue to suffer severe of defending the Latin family against Box 23372 persecution and harassment by the presumed attack by lesbians. Oakland. CA 94623 police. Last October 23, the biggest In its craving to solidarize with "Third BOSTON...... (617) 492-3928 Box 188 mass arrests in Quebec since the 1970 World struggles," BAGL allied itself MIT Station with a sinister "struggle" indeed-the Cambridge MA 02139 War Measures Act took place when 146 CHICAGO .(312) 427-0003 men were rounded up and jailed in a campaign of Latino Democratic politi Box 6441 Main P 0 police raid on two Montreal gay bars. cian Gary Borvice, running for supervi Chicago IL 60680 The incident resulted in a protest 24 sor in the Mission District. Borvice is CLEVELAND .. (216) 566-7806 Box 6765 hours after the raid, with 2,000 demon notable for his persecution ofhomosex Cleveland. OH 44101 strators taking to the streets and uals and according to the San Francisco DETROIT. (313) 868-9095 Chronicle (I November 1977) "was in Box 663A. General PO blocking one ofthe main intersections in Detroit. MI 48232 downtown Montreal. Police dispersed the forefront" of the movement to block §partacist League HOUSTON the protesters by charging through the the opening of the lesbian bar. BAGL's Box 26474 Fonun Houston. TX 77207 crowd with side-car-equipped motorcy back-handed support to Borvice was, of course, motivated by New Left "anti LOS ANGELES ... (213) 662-1564 cles and clubbing demonstrators, many National Liberation and Socialist Box 26282. Edendale Station imperialist" vicarious nationalism: "We Los Angeles. CA 90026 of whom were injured. Revolution in the Near East NEW YORK. (212) 925-2426 The mass arrests in Montreal, seriously question the ability of any Box 1377. G PO Bryant's visit and th~ attack on Body white person running for office to SADATlBEGIN PEACE New York. NY 10001 represent the needs ofthe Latin commu SAN DIEGO Politic are fueling a bigotry crusade TALKS PREPARE NEW POBox 2034 aimed at intensifying state censorship of nity," stated the same scandalous leaflet. WAR Chula Vista. CA 920 1 2 . pornography and consensual personal At the December BAGL membership SAN FRANCISCO (415) 863-6963 Speaker: REUBEN SAMUELS Box 5712 relationships. This interference by the meeting, the Spartacist League and its San FranCISco CA 94101 bourgeois state in purely private matters supporters-including two former Spartacist League TROTSKYIST LEAGUE must be opposed and all other laws members of the BAGL steering Saturday, January 21. 1978. 7:30 PM OF CANADA proscribing freedom of expression and committee-sought to open a debate in Donation: $1.00 TORONTO. 1416,366-4107 those aimed at so-calred crimes without the group about this leaflet. The Sanctuary Room (Main Church) Box 7198. Station A terrified steering committee, however, Washington Square Methodist Church Toronto Ontario victims must be abolished. 135 West 4th Street VANCOUVER (604) 291-8993 The anti-homosexual hysteria refused to allow the BAGL membership Box 26. Station A whipped up against Body Politic not even to vote on whether to allow NEW YORK CITY \. Vancouver. BC continued on page 10 discussion of the group's own leaflet. 13 JANUARY 1978 3
".) t ,'I":. "...l ~-.i ...·, ~.' or" , ; ...- \ • Three Faces of Hoffaism in Detroit Teamster Elections DETROIT, December 30-Results of a policy. In mid-October a car belonging Hoffa put together the first National local Teamsters' election race that has to Karagozian's running mate went up Master Freight Agreement in the early been closely watched by union mem in flames. Earlier, last May, a pipe bomb 1960's. It was this achievement, and the bers, trucking employers, the govern exploded in Karagozian's wife's car in specter of a national trucking strike, ment and the bourgeois media were their driveway, blowing out windows in which made Hoffa into the whipping announced here yesterday. The cam their home and those of neighbors. boy of the Kennedys and the rest of the paign drew national attention when a bourgeoisie. Corruption was only a candidate's car was firebombed and one There is a long history of such pretext, as there were plenty of Meany of the initial presidential candidates was gangsterism in the Local. In 1970 former ite AFL-CIO unions just as racketeer killed after dropping out ofthe running. president Dave Johnson was beaten up dominated as the IBT. In any case one In the final tally, Local 299 incumbent by thugs in his office in the Local hall. doesn't see the government sending president Bob Lins beat back a chal Two years later a shotgun was fired business executives to jail for bribery lenge from two so-called "reform" slates through the windows of his office. In even in such spectacular cases as the to narrowly retain control of one of the 1974 his boat was blown up. Back in Lockheed scandal. 1971 the houses of two Local 299 Teamsters' largest and most politically Out of power, Hoffa railed against volatile locals. business agents were bombed. The next year a Local trustee was cut down by a some of the same abuses he committed Home base of both Teamsters shotgun blast, losing an eye and almost when in office. Though Fitzsimmons president Frank Fitzsimmons and his his life. had wooed away much of the bureauc "disappeared" predecessor/rival Jimmy racy, Hoffa still had a widespread The gangsters don't even balk at Hoffa, Local 299 has long been a hot following in the ranks, and it was to spot of intra-bureaucratic warfare in the assassination. Hoffa, of course, was abducted in a Detroit suburb and then them that he appealed in the language of International Brotherhood of Team "tough guy" business unionism. He sters (IBT). This election was popularly surely murdered. And on December 12 Local 299 secretary-treasurer Otto denounced Fitzsimmons' undermining portrayed as a showdown between Wendel, who had pulled out of the of the National Master Freight Agree "honest" reform-minded rebels and the ment, his sweetheart contracts and his presidential race and stated his plans to hidebound IBT hierarchy. In reality the bilking of the pension fund. In an retire, was found slumped over in his race featured competing brands of authorized biography published shortly still running car with two bullets business unionism. While it revealed after he disappeared, Hoffa threatened pumped into him. Police suggested the that discontent is on the rise in the to blow the whistle on Fitzsimmons' shots were self-inflicted, but Wendel nation's largest union, the election alleged ties to organized crime. The died without telling his story, and no showed that the anger of the Teamster former Teamster chieftain spoke, of identifiable fingerprints were found on ranks has yet to find expression in a course, with the intimate knowledge the .38 caliber revolver found on the class-struggle opposition. that c0!Oes from extensive experience. floorboard of the car. Lins and his cohorts took five ofseven But on December 29 the chief of staff The kidnapping of Hoffa in the executive board positions up for grabs, of the medical center where the Local summer of 1975 resulted in a political yielding only two spots, recording 299 official had been rushed made the vacuum. The politics and rhetoric of secretary and trustee, to the slate headed spectacular announcement that Wendel Hoffa's brand of business unionism by Local 299 business agent Pete had been shot twice in the back not, as needed new spokesmen: the Bob Lins, Karagozian. Though a self-styled ad police have been claiming, in the Pete Karagozians and Pete Camaratas mirer of Jimmy Hoffa, Karagozian was stomach. The very next day the doctor stepped forward. Though now locked in combat. all three claim the heritage of careful to limit his criticisms to the mysteriously retracted his statement. Andrew Sacks confines of Local 299, avoiding a clash The initial examining physician says he Jimmy Hoffa and, not so long ago, Pete Camarata with the top Fitzsimmons bureaucracy didn't notice where the bullets entered, stood together. and preparing for a rapprochement and early surgical procedures made it should he win. He lost his bid to unseat impossible to determine in the autopsy. Lins by only 244 votes out of the 7,258 The obvious presumption of murder is mail ballots cast. compounded by the contradictory A partial slate of the reformist medical reports and police meddling in Teamsters for a Democratic Union the affair. (TDU) trailed further behind. The TDU's leading spokesman, Pete Cama Post-Hoffa Teamster Politics rata, ran third in a field of four for vice president with 1,824 votes (to the From the day Jimmy Hoffa emerged victor's 2,710). This substantial vote was from Lewisburg Federal Prison in 1971 no doubt due to the wide newspaper until he was kidnapped, the political life publicity received by Camarata, as TDU of the Teamsters-and of Local 299 in candidates for trustee Walter Ruff and particular-was dominated by Hoffa's Dennis Wade fared much worse, netting conflict with ,his former second-in only 494 and 877 votes respectively. command Frank Fitzsimmons. En While this would be a respectable gaged in a court fight against the showi!1g for genuine class-struggle restrictions, imposed in Nixon's com oppositionists in this period, to reform mutation of his sentence, prohibiting ists the post is the prize and their totals him from engaging in union activities were far below the 2,600 needed to win until 1980, Hoffa targeted his home one of the three trustee positions. local as the stepping stone for a return to ''2..9. The results may still be challenged, the Teamster presidency. The battle for UPI however. As Local 299 politics have control of Local 299 between the Hoffa Jimmy Hoffa Frank Fitzsimmons been for some time, the election race was and Fitzsimmons' factions-with both marked by widespread violence, "dirty men's sons holding Local office-raged When, in early 1976, Hoffa-loyalist described himself as a "strong Hoffa tricks" and a rash of law suits. At least with beatings, bombings and threats of Dave Johnson decided to retire from the supporter." And, in a New York Times six civil court and Labor Board cases worse. presidency of Local 299, a bitter fight Magazine (27 November 1977) article have been filed so far, stemming from As International president, Hoffa over his successor broke out between the on the Teamsters' election and the TDU, allegations of "unfair election prac had practiced the same dictatorial, Hoffa and Fitzsimmons forces. Fitzsim Pete Camarata posed for a picture in the tices." Fraudulent leaflets were "anony corrupt rule that Fitzsimmons is re mons wanted his son, then Local 299 Local hall beneath an oil portrait of mously" distributed, redbaiting Cama nowned for. But with one difference: vice president, to get the job. By a one Hoffa. The symbolism was not lost on rata (who is a publicly acknowledged Hoffa occasionally delivered. While vote margin, the sharply divided execu anyone. If Hoffa was still around, the member of the International Socialists both were fundamentally alike in their tive board, however, pici.:ed a pro-Hoffa political terrain the TDU occupies [I.S.]) and Karagozian (who has no pro-capitalist business unionism, and business agent, Bob Lins. At that time, would be more than overshadowed by known links or sympathy with any left both shamelessly used their position to both Karagozian and Camarata sup his presence. group) and listing a phony arrest record line their own pockets, Hoffa main ported his appointment, despite the fact for the latter. Expectations ofvote fraud tained a base of support by producing that Lins had shortly before helped to Tie That Binds TDU/I.S. to were so widespread that ballot tallying some benefits for at least a section ofthe break a three-day wildcat Camarata led Fitzsimmons was turned over to an outside account membership. He was also a maverick: against the Master Freight Contract. ing firm, and a Teamster Joint Council like John L. Lewis, one of the last In the most recent election, all sides Camarata's affinity for Hoffa should 43 representative was assigned to business unionists to occasionally stand appealed to the Hoffa myth. Bob Lins' come as no surprise, for the attempt to oversee the election. up to the bosses. supporters took to wearing three-year gain influence on the cheap by orienting The pervasive climate of violence By using the tactic of "hot-cargoing" old buttons saying "I'm a friend of toward a wing of the bureaucracy is the within Local 299 makes a mockery of non-union freight-a technique learned Jimmy Hoffa." Before Otto Wendel core of the "program"-such as it is-of workers democracy, substituting fear from the Trotskyist-led campaign which dropped out of the race, his platform Teamsters for a Democratic Union. and intimidation for free discussion and organized over-the-road drivers in the promised a "bread-and-butter union in Thus the highlight of the TDU's second debate as the means of deciding union central states during the late 1930's- the HOFFA tradition." Karagozian national convention in Cleveland last 4 WORKERS VANGUARD September was the appearance ofHarry both Detroit's daily newspapers, the Patrick, then vice president of the Free Press and Detroit News. News United Mine Workers. Patrick (who columnist Fred Girard lavished unend Reformists Hail Iron had been defeated in his bid for the ing praise on the TDU in several articles. UMWA presidency) demagogically The News is an arch-conservative, pronounced, "Labor leaders are not notoriously anti-labor newspaper, but it Ore Strike Giveaway responsible to the membership under ran an editorial on the TDU which any circumstances," and called for a concluded: labor party. This is the same Patrick "We admire the guts of these young The last of 18,000 striking iron ore maintain a solid front until all went back who for the last four years has stood lions among the sheep. We wish them miners returned to work December 16 together. None of the Sadlowski back shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow "re well. Now that the flurry of official after a l38-day walkout, the longest in interest prompted by Hoffa's disappear ers were willing to take the steps former" Arnold Miller in opposing ance has died, they remain the one true the history of the United Steelworkers necessary to win the strike. every wildcat strike by the rebellious hope for cleaning up the Teamsters." of America (USWA). Almost a third of From the very beginning, it was clear coal miners! Strange praise from a labor-baiting the strikers had returned to work three that the enormous stockpiles ofiron ore Camarata and the TDU went to newspaper. . weeks earlier following a back-stabbing and taconite pellets at the steel mills considerable lengths maneuvering for a Camarata also benefited from last maneuver by USWA president Lloyd would be the corporations' biggest victory in this election. They deliberate summer's publication of a Readers McBride which broke the miners' weapon, forcing the miners to picket ly ran a limited slate for secondary Digest book, Desperate &rgain: W'hy solidarity and began a local-by-local month after month with little impact on posts, clearing the way for Karagozian, Jimrrir Hoffa Had to Die, which back-to-work movement. While the the basic steel industry. Refusing to who received the TDU's endorsement. devoted an 'entire adulatory chapter to final settlement contains some limited handle the stockpiled ore was an The favor was not returned. Karagozian the TDU. The reactionary Readers wage gains and resolved local griev elementary act of trade-union solidarity ran a full seven-man slate and shunned Digest, whose executive editor is former ances, it sacrificed the principle of that would have brought the steel the TDU. As a further insult, several of secretary of defense hawk Melvin Laird, parity with basic steel which the mine magnates to their knees. But it would Karagozian's candidates were drawn is not exactly known for a progressive workers were striking for. Large "no" also have required a direct confronta from the "Concerned Teamsters" group, stance on labor issues. But the book's votes in ratification meetings and the tion with McBride, the ENA and theno formed exclusively to distinguish iiself author, Lester Velie, gushes over Cama fact that it took nearly a month to get all strike national contract. Neither Sad from the alleged "radicalism" of the rata's oppositional stance at the 1976 the striking locals back on the job lowski nor his allies on the iron range TDU. Nevertheless, TDUers' hopes Teamster convention: ..... a rank-and reflected .widespread dissatisfaction were willing to take this decisive step. As were boosted when several weeks before file Daniel who confronted the lions at among the iron miners. a result, the miners ranks were divided the Local 299 vote TDU candidate Bob Las Vegas and came away bloodied but The main demand of the walkout was and driven back to work. Janadia nearly defeated incumbent unbowed...." Even the capitalist for equal wages with USWA members Bobby Holmes for the presidency of in basic steel, through the introduction Sadlowski's Lackeys Hail "Great mouthpiece Business Week favorably Victory" Detroit Local 337. Head of the Michi covered Camarata's campaign. of incentive pay amounting to about 60 gan Teamsters Joint Council and a cents an hour. Under the agreement, Since the leaders of the iron range powerful IBT vice president, Holmes The bourgeois press does not usually however, incentives will amount to only run such lovi,!g articles on those it strike were in Sadlowski's camp. those defeated Janadia by only 700 votes. 40 to 50 cents an hour and will apply to groups on the left who serve as"OilCan Undoubtedly redbaiting cost perceives as labor militants, challengers only 75 percent of the miners. Further to the social status quo or"subversives." Eddie's" press agents have been com Camarata votes. But the absence of a more, the pay boosts do not even go into pelled by the logic oftheir tailism to hail politically distinctive program was key Owned and controlled by the capitalist effect until late 1979, and there will be an class, the mass media are defenders of the settlement as a "great victory;" even to the success of this attack. Why vote actual pay cut for new hires. though it was written and forced down for a member of the International exploitation, oppression and the profit From the start, McBride sought to system of private property. So why all the miners' throats by Uoyd McBride. Socialists, many Teamsters doubtless sabotage the iron miners strike, which Sadlowski's "socialist" sycophants reasoned, when we are promised the the favorable press? The answer is that he correctly saw as a challenge to the no Camarata and the TDU are perceived praised the agreement in almost identi same things by Karagozian? Indeed, strike Experimental Negotiating Agree cal language. The Communist Party not as a danger to capitalism but as ment (ENA). Aware of seething discon Karagozian's platform was lifted almost (CP) Daily World (20 December) directly from the TDU. Both were for useful allies in the bourgeois state's tent on the iron range, McBride tried to onslaught against the Teamsters union. lauded the "strike victory" of a "well better policing of the contract, election head off an open revolt against the ENA fought struggle." In the 30 December of business agents and stewards, an end Compare these accolades for the by sanctioning the mine workers strike Militant, the Socialist Workers Party to "casualization," etc. On the larger TDU with the frenzied redbaiting while at the same time making sure it (SWP) welcomed the "Iron Range questions facing the labor movement spewed out against the Trotskyist remained isolated from basic steel, Victory." The International Socialists the government offensive against the leadership of the Minneapolis Team hard-hit by massive layoffs and an (I.S.) waxed even more ecstatic: "an unions, the need for labor to break with sters during the 1930's. Citizen Alliance intense productivity drive. After three impressive and spirited victo~" was and-a-half months of the strike, as. iron won,' according to the 19 -ne<:em'tier' ore stockpiles began to be depleted and Workers' Power. The reformist pro the steel giants were forced to drop their gram and appetites these bootlickers stance' that incentives were not a "local" share 'yield a strikingly common S.l/~ OP.f issue and that consequently the strike ~ appraisal. was an illegal violation of ENA, Tying themselves to the apron strings PEIVSjJf McBride stepped in to rescue the of any left-talking bureaucrat that ~kPe" companies. comes along, these opportunists squirm ,...~£ In mid November McBride arranged to apologize for just about any betrayal F1Tl! ~HII a settlement which, though similar in committed by their currently favored most respects to the final contract, NOW cJ misleader. When Arnold Miller would have also cut the pay of the 25 rammed a sell-out contract minus the percent ofthe miners not covered by the right to strike down the throats of coal incentive plan. This deal was unan miners in 1974, the CP denounced its imously rejected by the strikers' 80 opponents as disrupters only interested member negotiating committee. in aiding Miller's predecessor, Tony McBride returned to the companies to Boyle. The SWP apologized for Miller's iron out this wrinkle and ordered that three years of treacherous opposition to further bargaining take place on a local a wave of militant coalfield wildcats, by-local basis. Five thousand miners in before switching horses (along with the northern Michigan were pressured into I.S.) to the only slightly less tarnished WV Photo breaking ranks and settling separately. Harry Patrick, who had consistently Demonstration last April outside Local 299 hall proteltlng expulsion of two Faced with a disintegrating strike, one backed up Miller's anti-strike stand. TDU members from local. miners' local after another returned on The CP, SWP and I.S. likewise the Democrats to form a workers party, ads during the 1934 general strike McBride's terms. scrambled aboard Sadlowski's band racial and sexual discrimination-the blared, "How do you like having our McBride also moved to ensure that wagon when he challenged the Abell TDU was silent. When WV asked Minneapolis streets in the control of there would be no repetition of unruly McBride machine for the USWA Camarata during the campaign why his communists?" The Minneapolis Journal challenges to ENA. He signed an presidency last year. Though Sadlowski program sidestepped these issues, Ca threatened the "communists" of Local "amendment" to the Agreement, stipu continued on page 9 marata answered: "People are very 574, "But let them beware lest an lating that future disputes over what touchy about bringing up any kind of aroused citizenry here take vigorous constitutes "local" issues would be politics, especially Democrats, Republi measures against them" (quoted in submitted to binding, compulsory SL/SYL PUBLIC OFFICES arbitration. If this outrage is allowed to cans, socialists, communists. They don't Farrell Dobbs, Teamster Rebellion Marxist Literature want to hear it.... Most Teamsters [1972]). The bosses even reprinted stand, the stranglehold of the no-strike aren't political." This economist reform articles by IBT president Dan Tobin pact on the Steelworkers ranks, loos BAY AREA ism is the programmatic tie that binds smearing the Minneapolis Teamsters: ened by the miners strike, will be tighter Friday and Saturday 3:00-6:00 p.m. the TDU and its I.S. mentors to the they naturally preferred the corruption than ever. USWA militants must fight 1634 Telegraph. 3rd floor to junk this amendment along with the (near 17th Street) same pro-capitalist labor bureaucracy of old-line business unionism to militant Oakland, California as Fitzsimmons & Co. class struggle led by a genuinely revolu whole ENA. Phone 835-1535 The effectiveness of McBride's tionary union opposition. Ultimately CHICAGO Bosses' Press Loves TDU they resorted to sheer force to get rid of treachery was critically enhanced by the complete absence of opposition from Tuesday 4:30-8:00 this threat to their class rule, clapping Saturday ,, 2:00-5:30 p.m. It was definitely not a lack of press the entire Local leadership behind bars the "dissident" Sadlowski wing of the 523 South Plymouth Court, 3rd floor coverage that hurt Camarata. He is for its courageous opposition to the USWA bureaucracy. Both District 33 Chicago, Illinois Phone 427-0003 probably the best-known dissident in imperialist Second World War. Director Linus Wampler and Joe the Teamsters, thanks to an outpouring Samargia, president of the largest local NEW YORK Accomplices of Government on the Mesabi Range, Local 1938, are Monday-Friday , 6:30-9:00 p.m. of favorable publicity in the bourgeois Union-Busting Attack media. In addition to the New York prominent Sadlowski adherents and Saturday 1:00-400 p.m. By a strange coincidence every time 260 West Broadway, Room 522 Times Magazine story so laudatory that acknowledged strike leaders. Yet nei there is a threat of a national Teamsters New York, New York it constituted a virtual endorsement, ther publicly denounced McBride's Phone 925-5665 Camarata was featured regularly in continued on page 9 divisive ploy or rallied the iron miners to 5 13 JANUARY 1978 Strikes Continue, Generals Sguabble Argentina: Weak Link in Chain of Junta Terror The mid-1970's has been the hour of the dictators in Latin America. Eight out of the eleven countries of South America groan under the heel of military jackboots. As the-death squads and anti-guerrilla commandos go about their work the scope of reactionary terror has reached levels unprecedented since colonial times on this bloody continent. Concentration camps are set up, torture techniques refined and copied; official assassinations are count ed in the tens of thousands while both political prisoners and exiles now number many hundreds ofthousands. A new category has been added to the statistics of capitalist repression: the "disappeared." But in recent months cracks have appeared in the solid wall ofgorila rule. Increasingly even the most well entrenched bonapartist regimes have been unable to enforce a peace of the graveyards through sheer violence. Last year student protests erupted in Brazil and this month, for the first time since the September 1973 Chilean coup, hundreds of leftist anti-government demonstrators marched through the streets of Santiago. Even in Nicaragua, fiefdom of the Somoza family, wide spread opposition has surfaced threat ening to topple one of the last caudillos, whose father was placed in control ofthe country in 1933 by the U.S. Stern Ofall the military dictatorships south Working-class resistance continues In spite of junta's repression directed against left and trade-union leaders. of the Rio Grande, the one facing the most explosive social and political crisis is the Argentine junta, which ousted the has responded with repeated strikes. As off like flies by the armed forces and prison terms, was invoked. Even so, corrupt and discredited populist gov early as September 1976 auto workers in rightist paramilitary gangs. Usually the Renault workers won a larger increase ernment of Isabel Martinez de Peron in Buenos Aires reacted to an insulting 12 incidents in this war are reported in the than the bosses' original offer, and many March 1976. Now rent by internal percent wage increase with a rash of bourgeois press only when management of those fired were reinstated. To head divisions, unable to control a raging slowdowns and strikes. Though they personnel is kidnapped. off further mobilizations auto workers inflation, faced with the hostility of were forced back by threats of repres When workers at Cordoba's IKA in a number of plants in greater Buenos significant sectors of the bourgeoisie, its sion, the electrical workers promptly Renault plant struck in mid-October, Aires were granted raises of up to 40 most implacable enemy is a powerful walked out in October and thejunta was however, the curtain of silence was percent. But this was not sufficient to working class. Unlike in Brazil or Chile, forced to send troops to occupy the broken. Leading newspapers warned of restore "calm and tranquility" to Argen the Argentine generals have been unable power stations. The next month it was the threat of another cordobazo, refer tine industry. to dismember the organized labor the turn of dock workers at the port of ring to the insurrectional general strikes On October 26, 40 signalmen on the movement, particularly at the base. Buenos Aires. However, most of these in that interior industrial center which General Roca rail line running south Instead they have had to be content with shook earlier military regimes in 1969 from the capital struck for higher wages. "intervening" (placing in receivership) and 1971. Earlier in the month the This tiny spark ignited the entire public the unions which encompass 85 percent J:~ government had announced large price sector. In a chain reaction other state of the workforce. The left-wing political 111 0111011 e rises on public transportation and railway workers followed suit, then groups have been driven underground services, food, fuel and rents. In re other transport workers, then other but not destroyed. sponse to these measures and the public employees. By the weekend the The stage has been set for a colossal runaway inflation, Renault workers strike was national. In the Buenos Aires confrontation by Argentina's continu demanded a 50 percent wage increase. area bus lines and subways within the ing economic recession. Inflation When management countered with a city and to the suburbs were effectively reached 400 percent in 1976, but the ludicrous 15 percent offer, the workers tied up. Striking municipal workers conservative business experts charged launched a sitdown strike. The army demanded a US $200 per month by the junta with "restoring health" to occupied the plant and forced strikers minimum wage, restitution of social the economy were able only to cut it to back to work the following day at services, legal recognition of shop 170 percent last year. T (, do this they bayonet point. delegates' assemblies and the rehiring of engineered a massive, almost unprece According to an account in Perspecti fired and laid-off workers. dented cut in the real wages of the va Mundial (21 November) a pitched In Rosario, Bahia Blanca and working class, which have fallen by 67 battle then broke out. Troops gunned Cordoba strikes affected railway work percent since 1973. They have also down four workers when an officer in shops, metal and power workers, embarked on a course of denationaliz one section of the plant enraged his dockers and government workers. ing public sector enterprises on a Montonero press conference captives with a lecture warning them not Actions were reported among oil work mammoth scale-a total of 770 state to demand wage increases just as ers, and even airline ground crews and owned or partially owned companies soldiers don't strike for higher pay. This pilots joined in. Retail and warehouse were largely defensive actions. Last fall, are currently on the auction block. sparked a massive walkout by 6,000 clerks and post office employees had for the first time since the coup, However, these policies have failed to workers, greeted with broad support threatened strike action as well when the Argentine workers went on the attract the U.S. and European invest throughout the labor movement. Pro government finally announced a general offensive. ment which the regime had counted on, tests and strike actions broke out in settlement. and Argentina's traditional agricultural Industrial War quick succession at Peugeot, Chrysler, The causes of the strike wave lay in exports (wheat and beef) have faced Mercedes Benz, Lozadur and many less the general economic policies of the serious trouble in highly competitive Argentine industry is a virtual battle significant plants. junta. Economy minister Martinez de international markets. Meanwhile do ground where workers must daily defy The IKA-Renault strikers were again Hoz has targeted public employees in mestic industrial production is stagnat the military's decrees banning any forced back to work, however, after his attempt to rationalize the state ing for lack of a market. organized labor activity simply to only four days as the industrial security sector. This has meant massive layoffs While business sectors have been defend their physical safety. Labor act (Law 21,400), under which they and starvation wages. Many of the grumbling, the Argentine working class leaders and militants have been picked faced dismissal and possible ten-year striking workers barely earned the 6 WORKERS VANGUARD the government is searching desperately to get his army colleagues to draw up a David Graiver, a 32-year-old financier for the liidden hand of subversion. At similar list of prisoners held in garrisons who was reported dead in a plane crash the same time, the strikes are clearly led and coordinated, which suggests that throughout the country. The president over Mexico in August 1976. Graiver the workers have successfully main reportedly refused on the grounds that was named by the right-wing Nueva tained clandestine representative struc some army corps commanders would Provincia of La Plata as the banker for tures, despite the government's best defy such an order and thus embarrass the Peronist guerrilla group, the Mon efforts to eliminate their leaders." the regime. toneros. According to military sources Finally, worried that the labor The gori/a admiral is hardly a he laundered funds the guerrillas se situation was getting out of hand, the humanitarian, and the navy is in fact cured from kidnapping ransoms and junta decreed a "settlement" to the known as the most reactionary and "expropriations," channeling at least October strikes. The carrot was a 38-to bloodthirsty of the armed forces. It is $17 million through his banks in 43 percent wage increase granted to the currently pushing a project for a South Argentina, the U.S., Europe and Israel. striking unions with promises ofanoth Atlantic Treaty Organization which The Montoneros were allegedly receiv er big raise within 60 days and no would ally the dictatorships of Brazil, ing $130,000 monthly in interest reprisals. The stick was the threat to Uruguay, Argentina and Chile with payments. rigidly enforce Law 21,400. racist South Africa. But to ever-gullible Several hundred people were initially liberals Massera now appears to be the rounded up in connection with the case, Conflicts Within the Junta leading candidate for their long-sought including Graiver's family and business The powerful strike movement spear "dove" wing of the junta. Thus a U.S. connections, who had ties with the headed by auto workers and railway liberal lobbying group, the Council on innermost circles of the Per6n govern men alarmed influential sectors of the Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) issued a ment and the New York financial ruling class, who through their mouth statement on Argentina in late Novem establishment. The fact that Graiver and pieces have begun to call openly for ber which openly touts Massera as a many of those arrested were Jewish was "reform" of the government's policies "democratic" alternative to Videla! used by the hardline generals to launch toward the labor movement. The "Indications are that the administration an anti-Semitic crusade to expose the is aware that Admiral Massera may be English language Buenos Aires Herald "ZionistIMarxist1Montonero conspir Sygma more sympathetic to a return to civilian acy" as the source of Argentina's ills. Dictator Videla (30 October), which had previously rule in the near future than Videla seems to be. Massera is now regarded as a firm Not coincidentally, many of those leader who is able to meet whatever arrested were vocal supporters of commitments he gives. This is in apertura, among them military officials contrast to general Videla who has of high rank. The most prominent was disappointed a number of Administra tion leaders by reneging on the pledge former president, General Alejandro that he gave to President Carter when Lanusse, along with three members of he visited Washington recently." his 1971-73 government: former navy Thus the liberals (COHA's board also commander Pedro Gnavi, former air includes U.S. labor leaders such as force commander Carlos Rey and Doug Fraser, Jerry Wurf and Patrick former defense minister Jose Caceres Gorman) seek to pressure the junta and Monie. During his administration to get Washington to back Massera over Lanusse had called for a gran acuerdo Videla (presumably a job for the CIA). nacional (GAN~great national agree Massera's current ploy is the early ment) and eventually handed power introduction of a "fourth man" into the over to a Peronist government. Thus he junta and the separation ofthe presiden has been a particular target of reputed cy from the army command. Under this pinochetista forces within the Argentine plan the most likely outcome would be military. The latter, headed by Buenos making Videla into a figurehead presi Aires provincial governor General dent removed from operational control Iberico Saint-Jean (who has close ties to Nueva Provincia), sought to use the of the army. At the same time Massera's Graiver affair as a device to sweep out name has been linked to talk of "dialogue" and an eventual "opening" "doves" from the military and strike at a (apertura) to civilian participation in the significant sector of the bourgeoisie. . government. (The Caracas newspaper The New York Times (25 May 1977) Der Spiegel £1 Nacional has quoted the admiral as raised a voice of alarm over the affair: Argentine junta on parade "Poised to claim power now is a group saying: "The military in Latin America of extreme right-wing generals whose do not know how to govern, and that is minimum wage, less than US$6O per unconditionally backed Martinez de goals and methods are well expressed by why various Latin American countries their leader, Gen. Iberico Saint-Jean: month. Thus the main demand of the Hoz, warned: are discussing a return to democracy.") 'First we will kill all the subversives; railway workers was a to million peso "The railway union leaders ... were not then we will kill their collaborators; behind this strike, and to hear them tell Hardline General Ram6n Diaz Bessone monthly minimum wage as opposed to resigned in early January reportedly out then ... their sympathizers; then ... their base pay of 2.6 million pesos a it, they do not sl1pport 'it. This may be a those who remain indifferent; and, tribute to these labor leaders' sense of of disagreements over Videla's "apertu finally, we will kill those who are timid.' month (US$52). Bitterly the workers 'responsibility,' but it is not necessarily a rista" talk. However, all these plans in "In recent weeks, these generals have have nicknamed the economics minister good sign. If even the most respected no way threaten junta rule, and Diaz begun a series of 'investigations' aimed union leaders, backed up by the massive Martinez de Hambre (hunger). Bessone has himself been mentioned at intimidating and perhaps imprison By the time of the October strikes it weight of the military government with ing some of the country's most distin its arbitrary anti-strike legislation, frequently as a possible "fourth man." was evident, even among officers ofthe guished moderates. Gen. Alejandro cannot keep the workers on the job, Lanusse, one of the most successful regime, that Martinezde Hoz's austerity While Massera appears to be motivat then things have taken a bad turn.... ed mainly by personal considerations recent Presidents, is already behind measures threatened to touch offa wave The long delay in carrying out a reform bars. Also threatened are Jose Martinez of protests which could not be contained of the trade-union movement is (he will have to retire by March 1979 de Hoz, the present Minister of Econo by simple coercion. Stating that an dangerous." and seems to want a political career), my, and Alejandro Orfila, the Secretary-General of the Organization average family needed roughly US$IOO This view, echoed by Videla backers other sectors of the military represent more ideological ultra-rightist currents, of American States. Argentina's signifi a month, labor minister General within the military,places great store in cant Jewish community has been a Horacio Liendo had admitted that General Liendo's attempts to play "soft aiming at "moral' regeneration." Diaz special target of the campaign and wages were too low for workers to live cop" as against the "hard cop" economy Bessone's planning ministry last fall several prominent Jewish families have minister. produced a 120-page document calling been the objects of both legal and extra on (a statement also heard from leading legal action." businessmen, who find no market for However, in recent weeks the conflic for the creation of a leadership elite their merchandise), but the junta is tive labor situation has played an even through four national three-year plans. Alarm bells, also went off in Buenos caught in a dilemma: if it opens the door more direct role in a power play by a This elite would be trained "in the basic Aires, in the junta itself. Lanusse and to concessions and bargaining with the wing of the junta itself. The notoriously values of the religious and moral Videla share a similar outlook, and old-line Peronist union bureaucrats, ambitious Admiral Emilio Massera, traditions of Christianity" (Der Spiegel, many of Videla's closest associates this leads to protests by powerful representative of the navy on the 7 November). Others are openly fascisti today first came to the fore as ambitious generals who see it as capitulating to triumvirate, has reportedly been critical cally inspired and reportedly behind the political colonels in the Lanusse govern "subversion"; but if, on the other hand, of Martinez de Hoz's policies for wave of anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi ment. So the president appointed a a hard line is maintained on wages months. As a result of business dealings literature. However,' none of these military court made up of officers from through massive repression, the result is with former metal workers union leader currents has shown sufficient strength to all branches of the armed forces to take not passive acceptance but the outbreak Lorenzo Miguel, Massera has main overthrow Videla. The Latin American the investigations out of the hands of of industrial actions totally beyond its tained close relations with the Peronist Political Report of 3 June 1977 sum Saint-Jean. control. labor bureaucrats. Now he is trying to marized the situation: Lanusse was eventually charged with capitalize on this influence to under "The armed forces have managed to corruption rather than the original While the corrupt and reactionary achieve a level of internal incoherence Peronist labor bureaucrats (now being mine the power ofLiendo, who is closely only equalled by previous military accusations of "ideological falsity" and held in reserve by junta president Jorge tied to Videla and Martinez de Hoz. governments after about three years.... "violation of the duties of public Videla) have little authority in the eyes Massera also reportedly tried to "N 0 simple division of the armed forces officials." Subsequently he and his of militant workers, the gang ofmilitary upstage Videla on the "human rights" into hard- and soft-liners, soldiers and associates were released when a court sailors, liberals and fascists, or national found no basis for charges offavoritism intervenors who replaced them after the front at the time of Secretary of State ists and internationalists, is sufficient to March 1976 coup is seen as the occupy Vance's recent trip to Argentina, when explain the daily confrontations and in the awarding of a contract for a ing army it is. The British business the latter reportedly brought a list of manoeuvrings of the various factions," monopoly of aluminum production in newsletter Latin American Political 7,500 political prisoners. The admiral Argentina to a company (Aluar) in which Jose Ber Gelbard, a leading Report (4 November 1977) laid out the met with President Videla arguing that The Gralver Affair problem facing the government: the junta should make a gesture to Peronist businessman and economy "its labour policies, and the generalized Vance by disclosing the names of all The most spectacular product of the minister in the Peronist gov~rnments practice of kidnapping the most repre detainees~of whom there are at least deep rifts within the junta is the bizarre from 1973 to 1976, had a major interest. sentative leaders of the working class, l8,000~held without charges. The Graiver affair which dominated Argen David Graiver had been a protege of have made meaningful negotiations Gelbard, and was also undersecretary almost impossible. .. . The workers' navy, he reported, was willing to turn tine politics for several months begin motive in striking is economic, although over such a list, and he called on Videla ning last April. The scandal centered on continued on page 10 13 JANUARY 1978 7 How Arnold Miller Breaks Wildcats Thugs Murder Coal Strikers... (cantinuedfrom page 12) western part of the state and federal authorities are examining damage done Shootout at Cabin Creek to Norfolk and Western railroad track in West Virginia. Local and state police For United Mine Workers of Ameri along with the federal Bureau of ca (UMWA) president Arnold Miller it Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are will not be an easy task to shove the seeking leads in a reported dynamiting sellout pact he is negotiating with the of strip-mining equipment at the Davel Qituminous Coal Operators Associa la Coal Company in Kentucky and tion (BCOA) down the throats of the another blast near Stearns. There near miners. Every summer since the 1974 the Justus mine, which has been struck contract was signed has been marked by for 18 months in a UMWA organizing wildcat strikes that have taken out more drive, the home of Donnie Waters was than half the union membership for damaged by an explosion New Year's weeks. However, the following inter Day. Waters ignored the large bullet view with a participant in the most scarred sign at the mine entrance which recent major walkout vividly shows the says "Warning: the Stearns miners have lengths to which Miller, elected on a determined that scabbing is dangerous platform of union democracy, will go to to your health" and crossed the picket force membership compliance with the line in order to work. coal bosses' demands. Whatever their excuse, the cops, state As last summer's 80,OOO-man strike "investigators" and G-men are armed against cutbacks in medical insurance scabherders for the coal operators. The went into its second month, the capital entire labor movement must demand: ist media stepped up their anti-strike Cops out of the coal fields! Drop the propaganda, portraying the whole charges against UMWA militants! movement as the work of "belligerent The BCOA's bargaining stance re roving pickets from Pike County, Ky." mains what it has been since talks began as the Charleston Gazette called them. Mine lite near Cabin Creek, Welt Virginia. last October. As Business Week (16 But neither this nor the cajolery and BCOA restored full funding to the January) noted, "Industry sources say, threats of the union~s International We were having a salt pile meeting [an miners' health cards. As the last miners however, that UMW bargainers know Executive Board (IEB) were sufficient unofficial strike meeting] that evening returned to work in early'September, they can win much-needed increases in to break the back of the walkout. So and we saw them come across the many did so in the belief that the IEB Miller dispatched a squad of well paid Chelyan Bridge, a big caravan of them, pensions and health care benefits-if and well armed gun thugs to Cabin meant business. But the companies did in vans and cars and trucks. So we went they agree on a 'stability' package." not back down, and far from issuing a "Stability" for the BCOA means sad Creek, West Virginia-the stronghold back down and started getting all the strike call Miller allowed the BCOA's dling the miners with the equivalent ofa of the strike-with orders to smash the men together to go up there and break it picket lines. steel and power industry customers to up. When we got reinforcements, then no-strike clause, one way or another. It stockpile months of coal supplies to they all took off through the tunnel and means shackling the nation's most Cabin Creek has long been a center of carry them through the current national every other direction they could go to. combative union. They didn't stick around when we came back with reinforcements. Miller's spineless negotiating and open backing of the companies' at WV: The impression I had was that tempts to crush the mine-worker mili when they first got there there weren't tancy will make it hard for him to sell a many pickets and Miller's men ran them sweetheart deal to the ranks. However, off. this simply means that he will join the A: That's right. coal bosses in trying to wear down the WV: And then about 80 people went resistance of the miners. Currently he is back up there. talking of a six-month strike. "The men A: Maybe a few more than that. know they're going to suffer," he told WV: So you were still outnumbered but radio station WWVA in Wheeling. With you ran them off anyway? Miller's backstabbing and defeatist tactics there can be no doubt about that! A: Yeah, we ran them out of there. Some of Miller's guys knew what was The miners' heroic militancy can only happening but other guys didn't know. go so far in the absence ofan authoritat Miller told them that the people in this ive class-struggle opposition to Miller's area wanted to go to work and there treachery. None of Miller's foes on the were a few Kentucky pickets stopping International Executive Board have people up there. offered any direction for the ranks' It was the people from this district. proven willingness to fight. The election The Kentucky pickets-well, they'd of district strike committees is the * AP been around here and then went back. vehicle for spreading the roving piCkets Roving UMWA pickets from Kentucky prepare to Join pickell In CIIbln Creek and systematically shutting down scab during wlld~t strlkel In Augus" We did call for them that morning but they couldn't come. mines, the first step to bringing them under a UMWA contract. Itis also key union militancy in the UMWA's huge contract strike. The Cabin Creek strik WV: When you got up there what was to efforts to link up with unions in District 17. It is also the home base of ers' militancy cried out for a class the situation? Arnold Miller, who worked for years at struggle leadership to oust the UMWA related industries to stop the use and A: They were still up there and the state the Bethlehem Steel mine there. Carry bureaucracy-which without exception transport of coal. By debating and police were there, about 15-20 of them, ing District 17 was decisive in Miller's opposed the wildcat-the biggest obsta carrying out strike policy through several carloads. They started searching re-election bid last year. After his cle to victory over the profit-greedy coal democratically elected delegate bodies cars and getting guns and everything. vicious strikebreaking ploy, however, companies. there are the maximum guarantees that They didn't bother Arnold Miller's men Miller's support plummeted: one miner a program for strike victory will be about their guns and they knew they had after another told WV that they cursed ••••• arrived at. That is why calls for elected guns. They must have taken six or eight the day they voted for him. This anger WV: Were there pickets from out of strike committees will be fought tooth shotguns and rifles from our cars. On state? and nail by Miller and the rest of the may well reflect itself in votes against a the second run we didn't have any guns. Miller contract. A: There were Kentucky pickets and UMWA bureaucracy, who must prepare On August 24 gunfire was reported at pickets from District 17 all mixed in WV: So how did you get rid of Miller's their sellouts behind closed doors.• the Leewood fork leading to the Carbon together. What they were doing was guys? Fuel company and Bethlehem Steel coal helping each other out. They were from A: When the first bunch of men came operations as well as several smaller Pike County. We had gone over there to up there to run Miller's men off, that's FORUM collieries. Miller said he had sent in help them out and they came over here when one of Miller's men fired the first "good union men" to Leewood to ensure and helped us out. shot and started everybody else shoot Coal Strike in Danger an end to the strike. But these hired About three or four days before the ing. I was headed up that way, but when What Strategy for Victory? strikebreakers not only failed to intimi strike ended Miller sent in his organiz we found out what happened we turned Date: Thursday, January 19 date the pickets at Cabin Creek; as word ers, some people from Pennsylvania and a"round and came back to meet the rest of the shooting spread through the some 'other guys from various locals of the people that were supposed to Time: 7:30 P.M. coal fields nearly 30,000 miners in around here in District 17. Some of show up here. Well, we just started Place: West Virginia University, southern West Virginia and eastern them were local officers, some weren't. running up the road, the whole damn Room to be announced Kentucky dug in their heels while There were 131 ofthem altogether. They bunch of us. The state police didn't Speaker: Mark Lance, WV cursing their union misleaders. had a caravan up here at the crossroads shake us down for nothin'-of course, correspondent in West Virginia and Stearns, The ten-week struggle was finally of Leewood, where we always set up our we didn't have anything anyhow. But Kentucky ended as the result of an IEB resolution picket line. They had shotguns and when Miller's guys saw this big bunch to terminate the national bituminous pistols and rifles. Some of them had coming at them, hell, they didn't know MORGANTOWN, W.VA. coal agreement in 60 days unless the clubs. continued on page 11 8 WORKERS VANGUARD IBT into the capitalist courts and Detroit applauds the feds' moves to more directly intervene in Teamster affairs. Don't Handle Scab Coal! As the government offensive against the The following resolution was pre Whereas: In the wake of the iron Teamster union was reaching a crescendo the sentedto the Decembermembership miners strike, which exploded the TDU picketed a Teamster leadership meeting of United Steelworkers myth that "strikes don't work" by Elections ... meeting with signs such as "Expel the Local No. 1104, u.s. Steel, Lorain, forcing limited concessions from (continued from page 5) Crooks." TDU hailed the government Ohio. the companies, McBride has strike the federal government and media pension fund grab as a "little step signed a treacherous agreement suddenly discover rampant corruption toward pension reform," and Camarata Whereas: The United Mine Work with the companies to submit to in the IBT and open a campaign to told WV: "I think the union is so corrupt ers of America (UMWA) is en arbitration future disputes over "clean up" the union. The latest investi right now that you need it [government gaged in a strike in which the what constitutes "local issues," gation began on the eve of the 1976 intervention] for a while, at least till you future of that union is at stake, thereby extending the sell-out, master freight strike, and after a year of get things straightened out." WV and no-strike ENA, snooping a Labor Department/Justice countered: Whereas: The UMWA strike is Department joint task force last April "We have no sympathy with Fitzsim Therefore, be it· resolved: That mons and his shady cronies, who have threatened by nearly 50 percent Local 1104 will not handle coal 30 forced Fitzsimmons and his fellow imposed one sellout contract after of the U.S. coal production that shipments for the duration of the Teamster bureaucrats to resign their another on the Teamster ranks in is non-union, necessitating labor coal strike and calls upon the posts in the $1.4 billion Central States addition to trying to milk the pension solidarity actions to shut down Pension Fund. funds dry. But the bosses' courts and entire USWA and rail and trans government agencies will not throw out the mines and refuse to handle port workers to do likewise, and This is the largest single private the pro-eapitalist labor bureaucracy. scab coal, and pension fund in the country and one of The last thing the bosses want is a really Be it further resolved: That Local the few where the union had previously democratic labor movement led by Whereas: The coal miners' central 1104 calls upon our union to class-struggle militants. If the govern demand for the right to strike is a exercised significant control over the prepare for and organize assets. Senate Committees, reminiscent ment jails one corrupt labor leader, it burning necessity for steelwork industry-wide strike action joint will only be to replace him with another ers, and of the Kennedy-McClellan hearings of traitor to labor's cause. In the mean Iy with the UMWA to both the late 1950's, are regularly summoning time, the government will tighten its Whereas: This strike is ofparticular defend their union and win their Teamster chiefs to testify on allegations grip on the only mass organizations of importance to steelworkers, giv demands, and to win for of kickbacks on pension fund loans, ties the working class." "The capitalist state's constant striving en the close links between the steelworkers: to the Mafia and general financial steel and coal industries and the to subordinate the unions to its control a. An end to the ENA and malfeasance. Fitzsimmons' son has is in fact the major obstacle both to historic connections between our compulsory arbitration and already been indicted on charges of union democracy and to putting the unions, and especially because it for the unrestricted right to embezzling union funds, and the Wall unions on a class-struggle course .... occurs at a time when the strike over all grievances, Street Journal has hinted at a possible The fools and charlatans of the TDU/ steelworkers are being hit with PROD ilk who aid the government rape b. For a 30 hour work week at no Justice Department deal demanding the of the unions deserve the scorn of every massive layoffs and plant clo loss in pay'to create jobs and IBT president's resignation in exchange labor militant." sures, and reinstate all laid offsteelwork for dropping prosecution on federal -"Hands Off the Teamsters!" Whereas: Joint strike action be ers, charges. WV No. 158, 20 May 1977 tween coal miners and steelwork c. For the reopening of all closed The wide publicity afforded Camara The social~emocratic I.S. has a long ers is critical to beating back the steel plants and if the compan ta, the TDU and other dissidents such as coal and steel bosses' attacks on ies refuse, for nationalization history of opportunist maneuvering in the Professional Drivers Council the unions and tailing after militant both our unions, as opposed to without compensation, (PROD) serves an important purpose in the McBride leadership's chau d. A cost-of-living clause that talking, do-nothing bureaucrats. Pete these government probes. Justice De Camarata's campaign and TDU sup vinistic protectionism campaign fully matches the rate of infla partment attorneys, FBI agents and which pits American workers tion. port to Karagozian are no exception. In Labor Department spies posturing as fact, the I.S. has seen its Teamster work against foreign workers, and Submitted by: Sam Hunt defenders of the working trucker ripped (centered on Camarata) as its chance to off by corrupt officials need spokesmen break into the "big time." But the inside the unions to justify and ask for government and the capitalist media, government intervention. The G-men not to mention the trucking bosses, have "Breaking the Teamsters union would have found willing accomplices for this no intention of actually helping even Puerto Rico... be an important achievement for Ameri attack on the independence ofthe labor these milk-sop reformists into power in (continued from page 2) can imperialism, threatening the strong movement in Teamsters' for a Demo the largest U.S. union. As soon as hauled into CIB headquarters for hold of our labor movement. Conse cratic Union. Jimmy Carter's boys can put the "questioning" and held incommunica quently the Puerto Rican union Though the TDU claims to be for hammerlock on the Teamsters~or do. Union headquarters were placed movement has replied in a united rank-and-file reform of the union, it has should the TDU unexpectedly gain under constant surveillance, organizers fashion to prevent this from happen backed innumerable suits dragging the significant force in the union ranks~ were followed and they and their ing." At the initiative ofthe Tronquistas they will quickly drop Camarata, or get families terrorized in their homes. 27 unions formed a Trade Union him to drop his "socialist" sidekicks. Caballero disappeared on October Committee Against Repression (CSCR) The only real way to sweep out the 13. According to Teamster spokesmen which organized the demonstration. Iron Ore corruption, gangsterism and pro he was detained by the CIB, and the While no confidence can be placed in company labor fakers from the Team police have since admitted having even the more left-talking bureaucrats, Giveaway... sters is to build a class-struggle opposi Caballero's car in their possession since militants must demand that the CSCR, tion against both the Fitzsimmons the day after his disappearance. He was MOU and other union bodies demon (continued from page 5) crew and these out-bureaucrat found twelve days later in a mountain strate militant unity in action, by pledged to enforce the hated ENA to "oppositions." • ous region of the island a short distance preparing for a general strike if the 1980, called for the elimination of from a cabin purportedly used for National Guard is once again ordered to thousands ofsteel workers'jobs through interrogation by the police. He had been suppress the UTlER strike. automation and boosted "ethnic purity" SUBSCRIBE '" bound, tortured and then strangled with The U.S. left and labor movement Democrat Jimmy Carter for the U.S. an electrical cord. The Tronquistas and have a particular responsibility to de presidency, all three fake-left groups YOUNG SPARTACUS Teamsters have a number of signed nounce this colonial repression and heralded him as the greatest labor monthly paper of the documents by witnesses stating that demand immediate independence for "rebel" since Eugene V. Debs. Spartacus Youth League they saw Caballero at the house in the Puerto Rico. Hands off the Puerto From the beginning of the iron ore $2/10 issues company of CIB agents Alejo Maldona Rican left and labor movements! Jail walkout, the Spartacist League called Make payable/mail to: Spartacus Youth do and Angel Torres. the murderers of Juan Caballero!. for the tactics necessary to win the PUblishing Co.• Box 825. Canal Street P.O.• The response of the government was strike: hot-eargoing of stockpiled ore \. New York. New York 10013 ..) to demand that the names of all /' and shutting down basic steel. Striking witnesses be turned over to the district the steel mills was not merely a question attorney. This demand was dismissed '" of solidarity with the iron miners;jt was out of hand by the union, which fears for in the immediate self-interest ofall steel the lives of the witnesses. Currently WOMEN AND workers. It is workers in basic steel who Workers leading Teamster officials face possible are bearing the brunt of the industry's imprisonment for their courageous REVOLUTION offensive to rationalize itself through refusal to finger these witnesses. Charg No. 16, Winter 1977-78 the layoff of tens of thousands of Vanguard ing that the administration of Governor workers, plant closures and brutal MARXIST WORKING·CLASS WEEKLY OF CONTENTS: THE SPARTACIST LEAGUE Romero "lacks credibility and impar • On Black Women in South Africa: speed-up. tiality," they have, however, declared Smash Apartheid Terror! McBride parrots the steel industry's One year subscription (48 issues): $5 their willingness to give their informa • French Feminists Call for Class chauvinist line that protectionist import Introductory oller (16 issues): $2 Interna tional rates 48 lssues-$20 alfmail/$5 sea tion to an investigative commission Collaboration controls and tariffs are needed to force mall, 16 :ntroductory Issues-$5 alfmall headed by former D.A.'s (San Juan • Decades of Debate over Working unemployment on Japanese and Ger Make checks payable/mall to SpartaClst Star, 28 October). Fears that the Women's Rights: For the ERA! man steelworkers in order to protect Publishmg Co, Box 1377 GPO, New York, witnesses may suffer the same fate as Extend Protective Legislation! American profits. But only a militant NY 10001 Juan Rafael Caballero are certainly not • SLIRFU Fusion Rattles Freedom strike in steel, demanding the re -mcludes SPARTACIST shut~own misplaced. But neither can the workers Socialist Party opening or expropriation of Name _ movement rely on the courts or any • Homosexual Oppression and the plants and a shorter workweek to make other arm of the bourgeois state. Communist Program jobs for all, could answer the industry's Address . _ The working class must be mobilized offensive to the benefit ofall steelwork 50¢/issue • $2/4 issues City -- to demand that all charges against the ers, American, German and Japanese. order from/pay to: ZIP~ Teamster leaders be dropped and that And while ENA could be challenged on State ~~~~~~~~- 188_ Spartacist Publishing Co. the CIB criminals be prosecuted instead. Box 1377, GPO the iron range, it can be smashed only by In a press statement at the November II New York, N.Y. 10001 a strike in basic steel, the heart of the SUBSCRIBE NOWI protest march, Carrion declared: industry.• 13 JANUARY 1978 9 pendent Palestinian state" (New York Ariel Sharon has denounced Begin for Palestinians ... Times. 5 January). Its demand, of not building more. His position echoes Argentina ... (continued from page 1) course, is only for a mini-state, little the sentiments of Israelis like the Sinai more than a West Bank Bantustan, but settler who, while picketing a cabinet (continued from page 7) Such tough talk and the hard-line even this is too much for Begin, Carter meeting, complained to newsmen: "I did for social welfare in the Lanusse regime. proposals won Knesset backing for the and Sadat. With all their talk of not come from Miami Beach to live in Like Graiver, Gelbard was a Jew of "peace plan": 64 members voted in favor "homelands," "self-rule," "participa Egypt." Polish extraction. and 8 against, while 40 others, mainly tion," etc., they are dead-set against a The possibility of a separate peace Graiver allegedly branched out into opposition "Labor" Party members, Palestinian state, especially (as Carter seems more remote every day. And even international financial circles in the regist~red a protest by abstaining. Their put it in a television interview) "a fairly if achieved on paper it would fundamen early 1970's by making foreign invest objection was not to continued military radical" one. Brzezinski told an inter tally rest on the financial largesse and ments for officials in the Per6n govern occupation of the West Bank but rather viewer from Paris Match (6 January): diplomatic support of ultra-reactionary ment. Currency speculation and Zionist that Begin had not offered a direct "We have done everything to encourage Islamic despotisms-Iran, Saudi Arab connections helped make his fortune. administrative role for Jordan. Such a moderation on the part of the PLO.... 'a, Jordan-which are powder kegs of They may also have been his undoing, as role was offered in the old Allon plan, But they haven't taken us up. So it's bye, political instability and social $15 million was reported missing from which might allGw Sadat to save face bye PLO." revolution. Despite their sumptuous his banks last year, and one after and permit the conservative Arab states However, to move from a common palaces and New York bank accounts another they failed around the time of to be more forthcoming in his support. hostility to Palestinian national rights to stuffed with petrodollarstheanachronis his reported death. (As befits such a Former "Labor" defense minister a concrete plan for the West Bank is no tic regimes of the shahs and sheiks and strange tale, his body was cremated, Shimon Peres explained his party's simple matter. Israel and its Arab kings are not long for this world. The never positively identified, and there are argument in the Knesset debate: neighbors have fought three wars over very palace guards and officercorpsthey periodic reports that he has been seen "The advantages in turning our who has the "sacred right" to carve up have built up to protect their thrones alive in Israel, Brazil or elsewhere.) Left attention to Jordan are clear. It affords and dominate the Palestinian nation. In us the possibility of planning the could easily overthrow them, as Farouk holding the bag, in addition to Mexican security of our land against invasion Washington the imperialist chiefspelled found out in Egypt. And in the wake ofa Jewish depositors and the Montoneros, from without and subversion from out his proposed implementation: first, coup, the masses could explode as were a diverse assortment of prominent within. Taking up the Jordan preroga a joint administration of the West Bank occurred in Egypt in 1952 and especially U.S. citizens associated with Century tive would also place the problem ofthe by Israel, Jordan, moderate Palestini in Iraq following the assassination of National Bank and American Bank & PLO in the hands of the Jordani ans ... and they have shown they are ans and perhaps the United Nations; Faisal in 1958. Trust, Graiver's New York holdings. As capable of handling the PLO." then, a referendum by the Palestinians Sadat's "peace" gambit and its dismal to Argentine figures implicated in the The reason that the "Labor" Party "to decide their own future between results underscore the basic instability Graiver affair, the Montoneros have projects a direct Jordanian role in the whether they should continue that kind of all the Near Eastern regimes. On the distributed a letter pointing out that West Bank is that these Zionists cannot of administration or affiliate with one hand, they require social stability' among them are: the second in com see how Israel can assume control of Jordan" (New York Times, 8 January). and a semblance of peace 10 attract mand of the general staff, a cousin of 600,000 more Arabs without taxing Such a plan is at sharp variance with imperialist investments. On the other economy minister Martinez de Hoz and beyond the breaking point the Israeli Begin's position, but Carter's immediate hand, they need a state of permanent a speechwriter for Admiral Massera administrative and military capacity, concern seemed to lie elsewhere: "I think hostility and war mobilization to ,sup (Latin American Political Report, 13 especially in the face of Western if we can evolve an acceptable set of press the domestic class struggle. Hence May 1977). Moreover, among the imperialist pressure to withdraw. Ulti principles; then it would be much easier their policies gyrate back and forth corruption charges pending against mately it threatens to subvert the for King Hussein and perhaps later on rapidly. Begin and Sadat, who flew into Isabel Per6n is that of illegally deposit character of Israel as a Jewish state. the Syrians to join in the discussions." each other's arms only days ago, are ing huge donations to a semi-public Begin, however, envisions a South He added that "the Shah will be now making propaganda for a new war. charity in her private account ...at a supportive" and that "the Saudis were African solution for the West Bank In war and peace these butchers are Graiver bank in a Buenos Aires suburb! very encouraging." It seems hardly Arabs in the short run, i.e., the creation mortal enemies of the Arab and On December IO the wife, father and coincidental that Carter's West Bank of Arab Bantustans surrounded by Hebrew-speaking working masses. T0 brother of David Graiver were sen proposal embraces aspects of the "La Zionist settlements and policed by the day much of the fake left screams that tenced by a military court to 15 years in bor" Party's Allon plan. Washington's Israeli army. In the long run, Begin Sadat has betrayed the cause of the prison. Five other relatives and asso relations with Israel have been increas hopes to reproduce the 1948 war (which Arab Revolution. But the "Arab Revo ciates received lighter terms. Another ingly strained since the election of turned one million Palestinians into IUlion" has never been more than a victim in this was Jacobo Timerman, an Zionist expansionist Begin, which se refugees) and drive the large majority of convenient fiction disguising the irred active Zionist and publisher of the verely set back plans for a general the West Bank residents from their land. entism and racialism of the Arab leading liberal daily in Buenos Aires, La settlement in the Near East through a regimes. Genuine peace, a solution to Opinion. Timerman's "crimes" are that Enter Carter joint U.S./USSR-sponsored Geneva the Palestinian question and social his paper was too liberal and pro-Israel; conference. liberation in the Near East require a that La Opinion's technical director While the elation of the first Carter's general approach now seems struggle against both Zionism and Arab (murdered by the government last year) Egyptian-Israeli contacts wore thin, all to be to keep the Israeli-Egyptian talks nationalism, led by Trotskyist parties had been Lanusse's press secretary; and eyes turned to Washington, the only from collapsing by proposing a nearly who seek to mobilize the working that some Graiver capital may have other country to join the Cairo confer meaningless set of general principles masses to victory against all their gone into the paper in 1971. However, ence. A senior foreign ministry official while pressuring Begin through tacit reactionary exploiters.• 1imerman was never formally charged, in Saudi Arabia, whose oil deposits support for his parliamentary opposi yet he was placed under indefinite speak louder than the Koran in Arab tion and those Arab states willing to detention. As a government official affairs of state, told foreign newsmen trade recognition ofIsrael for a pullback explained according to the New York that, "the real support which President from the occupied territories by the Times (20 November 1977): "There is a Sadat and Egypt need should come Israeli army. On the CBS-TV program conviction in the military that there is a from the United States rather than from "Face the Nation" last Sunday, Brze connection between Timmerman and Saudi Arabia; that is the support whiCh zinski predicted that "the whole nego Toronto Graiver, and that makes him a matters." He specifically called on tiating process, until the final resolution subversive." . Washington to "apply pressure on or of all issues, might take us well beyond What is the meaning of the Graiver advise" Israel to make concessions. 1978." He might have added that by that Cops ... affair? Like everything else concerning Caught off guard by Sadat's overtures time Begin's weak heart or turmoil (continued from page 3) politics in Argentina today, there is little to Israel in November, Carter has within !he heterogene,Jus governing only threatens the democratic rights of hard information and plenty ofspecula regained his balance and is attempting • coalition may have produced a change homosexuals; it is a menace to the labor tion. The intended targets of Saint-Jean to assert the U.S.' ability to bring its in Israel's leadership. movement and the oppressed because it and his cohorts were Lanusse and major Near Eastern allies· together In contrast to the coalition strengthens and exercises the instru ultimately Videla. But in the process of (largely at the expense of the Soviet government's unanimous backing of ments of bourgeois state terror. The attacking their rival officers the Union). Flying to Teheran in time for a Begin's phony West Bank "peace plan," Anita Bryant reactionary crusade and epaulette-c1ad inquisitors have lined up New Year's Eve gala, Carter amiably real differences have surfaced within the the lynch mobs rampaging through an influential sector ofthe ruling class in discussed the negotiations with the Shah cabinet and the ruling parties over the Toronto streets screaming "Death to all their sights. Those immediately impli of Iran, the jet-set torturer, and with Sinai peninsula, which had been perverts!" raise the spectre of fascist cated in the Graiver affair could easily Jordan's King Hussein, butcher of dangled in front of Sadat as the payoff stormtroopers unleashed by capitalism be extended to include the entire CGE thousands of Palestinians during the for an Israeli-Egyptian agreement. in its death agony. These attacks must (the Peronist chamber of commerce, 1970 Black September massacres. While promising to return the territory be met by militant opposition from not disbanded by decree last July), Hopscotching from Iran to Saudi to Egypt, Begin has also announced only homosexuals but all those with a the "developmentalist" technocrats Arabia to Egypt, Carter met with the plans to expand the 20 Zionist settle stake in the defense of democratic associated with former president flustered Sadat. That meeting produced ments in the northern district known as rights, especially the labor movement, a platitudinous, all-purpose statement the Rafa salient and in the vicinity of which has the social power to effectively on the "fundamentals" necessary to strategic Sharm al Sheik on the Red champion the interests of all the DEBATE conclude "a just and comprehensive Sea, and to keep them under Israeli oppressed. between the peace." These include "withdrawal by military protection and administrative Drop the charges against Pink Tri Spartacist League Israel from territories occupied in 1967 control. angle Press! Abolish the Morality and the and agreement on secure and recognized This further demonstration of Israeli Squad! No censorship! Full democratic Revolutionary Socialist League borders for all parties" as well as intransigence limits Sadat's ability to rights for homosexuals! Stop Anita recognition of "the legitimate rights of maneuver even more sharply. The Bryant's vicious anti-homosexual Revolutionary Leadership the Palestinian people ... to participate question of the West Bank Palestinians crusade! and the Struggle Against in the determination of their own only impinges on Egypt's ability to pose The legal battles resulting from the the Oppression of Gay future." Carter and Sadat won applause as defenders of pan-Arab interests; the raid on Body Politic are expected to be People from Begin by their careful avoidance of question of the Sinai affects Egypt's long and costly. Contributions to the Sunday, January 29 at 2:30 p.m. any mention of a Palestinian state. actual borders. The Democratic Move defense of those charged should be sent YMCA A spokesman for the PLO in Beirut ment for Change, a bloc of former to: Lynn King, in trust for the Body Duneaugh Room ridiculed the statement, bitterly de supporters of the "Labor" Party whose Politic Free the Press Fund, c/o 2nd Floor manding that "Carter tell us where he opportunism led it into Begin's govern Cornish, King, Sachs and Waldman, 826 S. Wabash wants these rights realized-on the ment, has opposed the expansion of the Barristers and Solicitors, I II Richmond CHICAGO moon or on earth," and reiterating the settlements, while a more hawkish Street West, 3320, Toronto, Ontario, For more information call (312) 427-0003 PLO's demand for "a sovereign, inde- government faction led by ex-general Canada M5H 3N6.• 10 WORKERS VANGUARD t,/ ~ ..... ,. ~?~_""I ~'~,"."<# ~i: Arturo Frondizi and the Jewish expression and association, for a con USSR, so the PCA figured it had a the formation of "a DEMOCRATIC business/financial establishment. stituent assembly. All of these demands relatively privileged position on the left.) PACT, open to all who reject the This is a dangerous game for a narrow must be focused on the central issue: the However, as even a number of its own repression, hate and death established sector of the military which lacks any smashing of the junta through an members have fallen victim to the death by the fascist Military Junta...." And its visible social support. The Argentine uprising of the working people led by a squads, the Communist Party has first principle is "Respect for the bourgeoisie was, by and large, happy to Trotskyist vanguard party. adopted a more "nuanced" position. National Constitution" (Denuncia see the discredited and incompetent However, the principal Argentine left According to the Daily World (18 {New York], September 1977). In sum it Peronist regime go. But in attacking the organizations have adopted a sharply November 1977): is a call for the formation of a popular Gelbards and Lanusses the pinochetis different perspective. They seek to form "the PCA sees two tendencies present in front on the most minimal program of tas are biting the capitalist hand that a political alliance with a sector of the the Argentine military: one, represented purely democratic demands. It would by President Jorge Videla, is moderate feeds them. Why do they do it? junta, either directly through support to and is interested in civilian-military not only subordinate the workers to the The military has certainly not spared Videla or Lanusse, or indirectly through dialogue on Argentina's future; the capitalist parties, but it ml\kes the the bullets since taking power. Chief of a pact with "democratic" sectors of the other... wants a Chile-style fascist Chilean Unidad Popular look like staff General Viola, Videla's closest bourgeoisie. The most shameless in this dictatorship. It is this latter group that is flaming leftists by comparison. associate, claims that 8,000 "guerrillas" respect is naturally the Argentine the main enemy...." So abject is this capitulation before have been killed in the first year and a Communist Party (PCA), which has In Chile the Communist Party played the bourgeoisie-the direct product of half of junta rule. Even the U.S. one of the most despicable records of a treacherous role of tying the workers petty-bourgeois fright in the face of the government calculates the number of class betrayal among the Latin Ameri to the class enemy by preaching confi tremendous losses which the PRT/ERP executions by the junta at almost 6,000 can Stalinists. For a long time the PCA dence in the "constitutionalist" armed has suffered because of its adventurist persons. And, in fact, the military has sought to curry favor with the junta by forces and the "democratic" bourgeoi terrorist/guerrillaist actions-that these seriously crippled the principal guerrilla making only the gentlest criticisms. sie. This popular frontism paved the pseudo-Marxists now stand to the right organizations in Argentina. Yet in spite (Argentina's main trading partner is the way to the bloody 1973 coup. But in of the populist Montoneros in their of this "success" the generals have failed Argentina the PCA openly supports the immediate slogans. Explaining the in their objectives. The economy is still junta while the military assassins and difference between the "Popular Front" in depression conditions and above all torturers are butchering thousands of proposed by the PRT and the "National the junta has been unable tocrush the working-class militants! This is a chill Liberation Front" of the Montoneros, working-class militancy. So the hardlin ing betrayal which must never be ERP commander Luis Mattini told a ers are looking around for "Judases" Cabin Creek forgotten-Trotskyists must use it to Spanisp newspaper: "It is the same who supposedly have prevented the innoculate the working class against the strategic conception, although National "armed institutions" from fulfilling their Stalinist syphilis. Liberation Front means unity of the "Christian mission." Shootout... To, many Argentine workers the forces which have an interest in social As the population begins to overcome (continued from page 8) principal ostensibly Marxist opposition ism. ... Our opinion is that it is the passivity instilled by the arbitrary whether we had guns or not. They all to the despicable Communist Party necessary to advance together with all kidnappings, pre-dawn arrests and jumped in their cars and vans and took apologists for the junta is the Partido the political forces" (Diario 16 [Ma street executions of the paramilitary off. I think most ofthem had enough on Revolucionario de los Trabajadores. drid], 8 December). bands; as the bourgeoisie draws back the first run. It looked like flies. They (PRT-Revolutionary Workers Party) The October strikes in Cordoba and from the junta because of its bankrupt just turned tail and ran and they didn't and its guerrilla arm, the Ejercito Buenos Aires point the way forward for economic policies, and powerful inter come back: Revolucionario del Pueblo (ERP the Argentine' masses suffering under ests are concluding that the killers must WV: Did those guys go around to any Revolutionary People's Army). The the yoke ofjunta rule. Taking advantage be stopped-Marxist revolutionaries other areas besides this one? PRT/ERP is frequently falsely identifi of splits in the bourgeoisie, prepared ed as Trotskyist, a fact which has caused even to make episodic -blocs with must take advantage of the contradic A: No, just here. great confusion in the minds of would bourgeois and petty-bourgeois forces tions among the exploiters and general WV: Do you recall previous times in ize the workers strike movements into a be communist militants. However last (such as the Montoneros) for joint UMWA history when the union actually July the PRT issued a statement which actions against the military dictatorship mobilized people to break a picket line? made unequivocably clear its Stalinist under the slogan "march separately, A: Yeah, they did it during the right-to policies. strike together," Leninist communists strike wildcat, over at Madison Mining. The political bureau communique unceasingly point out that it is only the Another time they tried to get the was directed to "democratic and pro independent mobilization of the work organizers to come up and break up the gressive parties," small and "middle ing class which can rout the military picket lines, but those organizers industrialists," "officers and junior regime and put an end to the cycle of wouldn't do it. They said it would be officers of the armed forces who aspire junta repression and populist demagog brother against brother. to the restoration of a democratic uery in Argentina. Smash the junta WV: What about prior to the '74 regime" and "compatriots." Its goal is through workers revolution!. contract? A: Not that I know of. I haven't heard of any. WV: How much money was involved, to pay Miller's thugs? A: $44,000. [Harry] Patrick [then UMWA International secretary treasurer] said that if he were to sign the checks he could get in trouble himself. Then some way they proved it to him that he couldn't get in trouble personally and that he had to sign the checks. So he did. WV: What was the major thing that got GenIe Admiral Emilio Massera the men to return to work? A: They ..got them down there in the proletarian offensive against the regime. Daniel Boone Hotel in a meeting, The masses must be mobilized around talking about canceling the contract. the most combative sectors of the Arnold Miller and the [International] working class to fight for democratic executive board agreed to terminate the demands that can win broad popular contract. But the president ofthe BCOA support: immediate release of the has to have his signature down there victims of rightist repression, end right beside Miller's before that contract military intervention in the trade un can be canceled and [BCOA president] ions, for full democratic freedoms of Brennan said he was not going to ~ , terminate the contract until December BESTELLT! 6. So they all believed Miller and that got them drifting back to work. After they started drifting back, there's no SPARTACIST way you could hold them. Even some of Deutsche Ausgabe the guys who'd been on the picket line Nr. 5-Mai 1977 DM 1,--/oS 7 started going back to work because they believed him. • Vom Grossen Sprung zur Rebellion auf dem Tien-An WV: What was Miller's explanation? Men-Platz: Maos A: Miller was supposed to have told "Sozialismus": Weder them it was just a handful of radicals Elektrifizierung noch Sowjets that was keeping these mines out. But • Entstehung des kubanischen Miller definitely knew what the situa deformierten Arbeiterstaates tion was. And I believe he knew that if .. • Rede iiber die Labor Party the strike had kept on going while we Frage had 85,000 out we could have a new • Die vielen Gesichter und langen Wellen Ernest Mandels contract right now. We had over half of the UMW members out, and if they zu bes/ellen iiber: would have gone on and got the rest of Spartacist Publishing Co., Box them out, we wouldn't be sitting here in 1377, GPO, NY, NY 10001, USA the kind of shape we're in right now. We oder had them down to eight days' supply of Postlagerkarte 060277A Bosch/Cambio 16 coal, and then we went back. We Military poUce In. Buenos Aires. " Frankfurt/Main I, West Germany.,.l had 'em.• 13 JANUARY 1978 11 WfJft/(EftS 'IINGlJllftlJ
Not One More Life-Shut Down Scab Mines' Gun Thug Murders Coal Striker
On January 6 a retired coal miner was ~' Ylt~1 murdered while talking to pickets near a VI non-union mine owned by Diamond tJ Watel~~ Coal Company in eastern Kentucky. Sixty-five-year-old Mack Lewis was shot at least five times by an off-duty company security guard a quarter mile from the plant entrance where striking members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) had been pick eting for weeks. Recalling the long history of cold-blooded murder by the coal operators, one union official said bitterly, "It was one of those damned gun thugs that shot him" (UPI dis patch, 6 January). Robert Carter, president ofU MWA District 30, predict ed the response of coal miners to Lewis' killing: "There's no doubt these fellows ~ are going to continue to picket and they are not going to go out and let a fellow shoot and kill one of our men and just stand by" (Louisville Courier-Journal, 7 January). Indeed Lewis' murder will inflame already angry miners who are deter mined to stop the production and shipment of scab coal and win this critical strike, now more than a month old. Fearful of the miners' wrath, District Judge Harold Stumbo charged the guard with murder and jailed him without bond in Lexington, 100 miles from the shooting. "You don't know what could happen. With a labor Wide World dispute, both sides get mad. We could Striking miners in Pittsburgh last week. have a storm on the jail," Stumbo said. The tragic death of Mack Lewis is militant activities and the death of Mack testimony to the savage measures the extended and organized through the "We all fear for our lives," a frazzled Lewis is sure to steel their coal bosses are willing to take in defense election of district-wide strike commit Joseph Behnken stammered. Officials determination. oftheir sacred profits. But responsibility tees. But the key to making the strike's announced that the firm will haul no impact instantly felt on the big coal for this crime must also be laid at the more coal until the strike is settled. Pickets Stop Scab Coal consumers lies with a miners' appeal to doorstep of Arnold Miller and the their fellow unionists in rail, longshore "There are no neutrals there..." UMWA leadership, who have allowed ]n one of the most significant devel and steel to refuse to handle coal for the the owners to bloody the union and its opments to date, miners' roving picket The shooting death of Mack Lewis duration of the strike. members. Having attacked and under - squads have begun to take the strike serves notice once again that the state is cut the miners' strength in everyone of beyond the coal fields to combat the Meanwhile UMWA members have not neutral in the class struggle. While the massive wildcats which ripped the crippling effects of coal stockpiling and continued to fight the threat to their mine guards are armed to the teeth, one coal fields over the past three years, transportation by other industries. Last strike posed by scab operations which union official in District 30 complained Miller had the gall to shed crocodile week in Pittsburgh, headquarters of the now produce nearly 50 percent of U.S. that state police "won't let our people tears for Lewis in a January 6 plea to the U.S. steel industry which is a leading coal. On January 3, 600 miners pa carry an open weapon and they don't do bosses who walked out of negotiations purchaser of coal for use in the mills, trolled eastern Tennessee vowing to anything to those mine security guards." on December 30, "to honor this UMW hundreds of miners blocked the en keep the non-union mines closed. An Moreover, government' agencies are member who gave his life in the cause of trance to the Shenango Incorporated Anderson County sheriff reported that sure to use recurring coal field clashes as his union," and "to return to the coke plant. "There were about a every available cop was on duty but a pretext for increased surveillance and bargaining table in a meaningful effort thousand out there about six o'clock," moaned, "...they outnumber us 40 to harassment of the miners. Already FB] to reach a just settlement." Shenango's head of security reported. one and if anything happened there agents have been investigating claims of The UMWA ranks, however, are Early morning shipments were halted by wouldn't be much we could do," The "strike-related violence" and Carter's more than tired of the Bituminous Coal the miners who remained at the site for next day Kentucky state police moni labor secretary, Ray Marshall, an Operators Association's (BCOA) "mea over three hours. tored an estimated 500 strikers travel nounced that government cops "will be ningful efforts." Deeply suspicious of Meanwhile in southern Indiana 194 ing in ]50 cars. Several truck drivers watching for Federal violations" during their leaders as well, after five years of militants were arrested January 7 after hauling scab coal were forced to dump the strike (New York Times, 22 double-crosses and sellouts, the miners' nearly ~oo miners converged on the their cargo, leading in one instance to December). fears were again confirmed in the first B&M coal dock in Rockport. State the arrest of five miners in Harlan Kentucky state police are investigat weeks of the strike. Reports circulated police claimed $800,000 damage was County. ing a fire in coal ~torage facilities in the widely of a tentative union "compro inflicted on the company's equipment In Deer Park, Maryland, state cops continued on page 8 mise" with the BCOA on a "stability" and loading dock where coal from two guarded the Mattiki Coal Company as package which would have effectively operating mines is transferred from rail 200 strikers arrived set on seeing all banned the right to strike, provided for to barge. B&M, the only such facility work stopped. Operators in Indiana the summary firing of roving pickets operating during the strike in southern claimed that windows were broken and and assessed $22 per day fines for Indiana, was targeted before by roving a bulldozer set afire at one mine and Shootout participants in future wildcats. A flood pickets. On December 9, 200 miners three pieces of mine equipment torched of telegrams, protests and militant coal yanked scab bulldozer drivers off their at another as 75 carloads of strikers field meetings forced Miller and the machines as they tried to force pickets descended on two non-union sites. And at Cabin UMWA bargainers to back away at least off the road. on January 6 in New Athens, Illinois temporarily, prompting the BCOA to The miners' attempts to focus on the frightened scabs huddled inside build walk out of the negotiations. After a lull huge coal stockpiles, particularly at the ings owned by the coal-hauling Behnken Creek ••. 8 over the holidays, miners in the past two steel mills and coke ovens, is an Trucking Service as close to 75 pickets weeks have dramatically escalated their important step forward which must be gathered beyond the company's fence. 12 13 JANUARY 1978