Injunction bolsters privacy rights . . .. 3 TH£ Interview with farm workers' leader .. 6 FMLN on Central America pact . 9

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 51/NO. 33 SEPTEMBER 11, 1987 $1.00 Arms train runs down S. Africa miners' antiwar Vietnam vet UniOn• gainS• BY STEVEN FUCHS SAN FRANCISCO - The base com­ in strike mander knew that antiwar protesters would be on the tracks on September 1 as the BY SAM MANUEL munitions train passed through the strip of On August 30 the National Union of public property within the U.S. Naval Mineworkers of South Africa voted to end Weapons Station at Concord. their three-week strike in the country's cru­ But the train didn't stop. It ran over cial gold and coal mines. More than 300,000 Brian Willson, a 46-year-old Vietnam vet­ Black miners participated in the labor ac­ eran. He was among the 45 people protest­ tion. It was the largest and longest miners' ing arms shipments to Central America via strike in the history of the apartheid re­ the naval station. The train dragged Will­ gime. The walkout affected one-half of the son 25 feet, severed his right leg, gold mines and one-fifth of the coal mines, hopelessly mangled his left foot, and costing the mineowners an estimated $10 caused severe head injuries. By the time he to $15 million a day. was released from eight hours of surgery, both his legs had been amputated. The strike also dealt a blow in the Willson had become a nationally known broader struggle to bring down the hated opponent of the U.S. war in Central Amer­ apartheid regime. It was backed by the 1- ica when he joined three other: veterans in a million-member Congress of South Afri­ month-long fast on the steps of the Capitol can Trade Unions, of which the five-year­ in Washington last year. Having received old National Union of Mineworkers support from vets all over the country dur­ (NUM) is a leading affiliate. It also spurred ing the fast, he and others later formed the strike action by thousands of workers in Veterans Peace Action Team. other industries as well. In May, Willson helped .lead a delega­ The strike received support from the 2- tion of veterans to Nicaragua. The vets million-member United Democratic Front, have organized four groups of volunteers to a coalition of anti-apartheid organizations, Brian Willson (second from right) participated in February 1987 protest against and from the outlawed African National Continued on Page 10 U.S.-organized contra war at the U.S. embassy in Managua, Nicaragua. Congress. Stressing the political implications of the strike, Cyril Ramaphosa, general secretary of the NUM, declared, "We are part and Coup attempt deepens Philippine crisis parcel of the liberation movement in our country." BY RUSSELL JOHNSON on a 20 percent increase in oil prices im­ the palace. · The miners were demanding a 30 per­ At least 40 people were killed and hun­ posed by the Aquino government in early Some 2,000 soldiers were reported to cent increase in wages. Black miners earn dreds wounded in the events in the Philip­ August. Coming after a six-month decline have been directly involved in the attacks an average of $250 a month, one-third of pines initiated by the August 28 assault by in strike activity, and a renewed landlord­ in Manila, who succeeded in occupying white miners' wages. mutinous soldiers on the Malacaftang pres­ backed vigilante terror campaign against sections of the defense headquarters at The union demanded the abolition of the idential palace, television stations, and key land-hungry peasants and farm workers, Camp Aguinaldo and of the Villamor air migratory work system under which Black military camps in Manila. the scope and intensity of the protests base. Hundreds more took over military workers are forced to live in single-sex caught the regime by surprise. camps in the provinces. hostels away from their families for as long This coup attempt marked the most seri­ as 12 months. ous bid yet by rightist elements to bring "The general strike . . . protesting fuel In Cebu, the Philippines' second-largest city, the military commander arrested the The NUM also pressed for danger pay down the government of President Corazon increases and a resulting spiral in the prices and increased death benefits. South Afri­ Aquino and reverse the democratic space of other goods and services drew a broad mayor and the provincial governor and placed the city tinder martial rule. Officer can mines have the highest accident and won by the Philippine workers and farmers spectrum of the Philippine population to­ Continued on Page 10 through their overthrow of the U.S.­ gether for the first time in opposition to an cadets at the Philippine Military Academy backed tyranny of Ferdinand Marcos 18 Aquino policy," commented the New York in Baguio, in northern Luzon, where an months ago. Times. earlier assassination attempt on Aquino It highlighted the depth of the divisions The immediate target of the August 28 had been made, also identified with the S. Africa hangs that continue to wrack the Philippine ruling military action was unambiguous. "The mutineers. class in face of a continuing popular clamor aim of the rebels was clearly to kill the In fact, the chief of staff, Gen. Fidel 2 freedom fighters for land and labor rights. president and her family," Aquino Ramos had to bring trusted marine units Two young Black men were The coup attempt came in the midst of a explained August 30. Aquino's son had into the capital before he could suppress hanged by the South African govern­ resurgence of popular unrest, culminating been wounded and three of his bodyguards the rebellion. According to the New York in an August 26 nationwide strike focused killed during the unsuccessful assault on Times, "Some military officials said other ment on September 1. They were the units might not have been prepared to fire first of 32 people condemned to on the mutineers. They said that many death on murder charges resulting members of the armed forces appeared to from their role in the struggle against Nicaragua·calls on contras to have remained uncommitted and that some the apartheid regime. garrisons outside Manila had been pre­ Moses Jantjies and Wellington pared to join the uprising but it was.crushed Mielies were convicted of the murder lay down arms, accept amnesty too quickly." of a Black township councilman, Ben Kinikini. Both men pleaded not The organizers of the coup attempt were guilty of the murder. BY CINDY JAQUITH cenaries would hear it and heed the offer of a group of rightist military officers linked The executions took place despite amnesty. PANCASAN, Nicaragua-The Nicara­ to Marcos' minister of defense, Juan Ponce an international campaign for clem­ For several years, the Nicaraguan gov­ guan government has launched a massive Enrile, and headed by his former security ency by anti-apartheid groups. Per­ campaign to encourage contras in the pay ernment has granted amnesty to any con­ aide, Col. Gregorio Honasan. sonal appeals were made by Angli­ tras who lay down their arms. They areal­ of Washington to lay down their arms and This group's first coup attempt, against can Archbishop Desmond Tutu and receive amnesty. lowed to return freely to their com­ Marcos in February 1986, fell short. A mas­ the West German government. Here in this small village in the moun­ munities, and thousands have already done sive "people power" uprising then toppled Winnie Mandela, a leader of the tains of central Nicaragua, Interior Minis­ so. But the Sandinistas are now trying to Marcos an~ swept Aquino into _the presi­ African National Congress, spoke to ter Tomas Borge called on local peasants to accelerate the pace of those deserting the dency. Ennle had to make do with his old a memorial meeting attended by 300 become "missionaries of peace," spreading contras in light of the Guatemala accords, post as minister of defense in the new gov­ people that was surrounded by heavi­ the word of amnesty to anyone they know which were signed August 7 by the presi­ ernment. Aquino was forced to sack him ly armed police. She condemned the in the contra ranks. dents of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Sal­ under public pressure last November, after white minority government and vador, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. his "boys" were implicated in a coup plot Borge spoke to a rally here August 27. praised Jantjies and Mielies as mar­ Under the agreement, all foreign aid to against Aquino and in the kidnap, torture, tyrs. The event commemorated the 20th an­ "irregular" military forces fighting in Cen­ and murder of labor leader Rolando Olalia. niversary of the establishment of a San- . Police attacked a meeting of 3,000 tral America - including U.S. aid to the During Honasan's latest effort, Enrile students at the University of the dinista guerrilla front here, of which Borge contras - is to cease by November 7. By dropped out of public sight after refusing a is one of the few survivors. Western Cape protesting the hang­ that same date, each Central American request from the U.S. embassy to call on ings. While peasant support for the revolution government is to have established an am­ his protege to back off. The Detainees' Parents Support is strong in Pancasan, contras remain ac­ nesty program, a cease-fire, and the re­ Washington was clearly concerned at the Committee announced that the cam­ tive in the surrounding mountains. Borge's moval of all restrictions on civil liberties. depth of the divisions revealed within the paign to save the remaining 30 will entire speech was broadcast over the local The accords represent "a qualitative Philippine ruling class and its military continue. radio station in the hopes that the mer- Continued on Page 8 Continued on Page 13 Peace tour will visit scores of cities The Benjamin Linder Peace Tour has re­ June 1986, will be in Pittsburgh, October Tom Kruse will be in Carbondale, Il­ cently announced a schedule for the family 1-3 and Morgantown, West Virginia, Oc­ linois, September 14; Springfield, Illinois, members and coworkers of Benjamin Lin­ tober 4-5. Elisabeth Linder will be in September 16; Bloomington, Indiana, Sep­ der. They are speaking about his life, his Charleston, West Virginia, October 5; tember 18; Dayton, Ohio, September 23; work in Nicaragua, and his murder by New Hampshire and Vermont, October Columbus, Ohio, September 24; Buffalo, U.S.-organized contras. The schedule runs 22-24; and Maine, with Miriam Linder, New York, September 26-27; Rochester, from Labor Day to the end of October. October 28-31. New York, September 28; Youngstown, Ohio, September 30; and Charleston and David and Elisabeth Linder, Benjamin Miriam Linder will be speaking in Seat­ Huntington, West Virginia, October 6-8. Linder's parents, will be in the Chicago, Il­ tle, September 12-15; Eugene, Oregon, linois-Gary, Indiana, area from September September 17; Spokane, Washington, and Lois Wesse I will be in the Tidewater 10-14; Champaign, Illinois, on September Moscow, Idaho, September 19-22; and El­ area of Virginia, September 28-29; 16; Bloomington, Illinois, on September 17; lensburg and Yakima Valley, Washington, Wilmington, Delaware, October 8; Read­ Portland, Oregon (along with Miriam Lin­ October 3-4. ing, Pennsylvania, October 10; Bethle­ der, Benjamin's sister), September 25-27; hem, Pennsylvania, October 12; Lewis­ and Boston, with Miriam Linder, October John Linder burg, Pennsylvania, October 13; Harris­ 15-18. John Linder, Benjamin's brother, will burg and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, October David Linder will tour Detroit, October tour St. Louis with Tom Kruse September 14-15; Harrisonburg, Virginia, October 1-4 and Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 5. 10-13; Minneapolis-St. Paul and southern 20-21; and Blacksburg and Roanoke, Vir­ With Miriam Linder, he will be in west­ Minnesota, September 15-20; New Or­ ginia, October 26-27. em Massachusetts, October 22-23 and Al­ leans, September 22-23; Greensboro, bany, New York, October 24-25. Lois North Carolina, September 27-29; New Linder coworker Wessel, a friend of Benjamin's who served Jersey, along with Lois Wessel, October Rebecca Leaf, an engineer working for until recently as a translator for Nicara­ 1-6; Philadelphia, October 8-10; Balti­ the Nicaragua Energy Institute (for which gua's National Assembly after participat­ more, October 11-14; Washington, D.C., Benjamin also worked), will be in Jackson­ ing in several coffee harvests, will join with Lois Wessel, October 15-18; ville and Gainesville, Florida, September David Linder to tour Connecticut, October Montreal, Canada, October 23-24; To­ 8-9; Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida, 28-31. ronto, October 26-27; Ithaca, New York, September 10-11; Tallahassee, Florida, Elisabeth Linder and Tom Kruse, an ar­ October 29; and Syracuse, New York, Oc­ September 13-14; and Jackson, Missis­ chitect who has worked in Nicaragua since tober 30-31. sippi, September 15-16. Anne Wihbey will be in Salt Lake City, Miriam Linder Utah, September 8-10; Price, Utah, Sep­ tember 11-12; and Kayenta, Arizona, and ters of Notre Dame de Namur, Wihbey has Linder brother, coworker the Four Comers region, September 13- worked as a health educator iri rural Nica­ speak to hundreds in Ga. 16. A registered nurse and member of Sis- ragua since 1984.

BY ELLEN BERMAN Laity Concerned; American Federation of 'Days of Decision' actions set ATLANTA - The executive boards of State, County and Municipal Employees three locals of the Amalgamated Clothing Local1644; Southern Regional Joint Board BY FRED FELDMAN In Washington, D.C., on September 15 and Textile Workers Union in Columbus, and Southern Textile Regional Joint Board Washington, D.C., Detroit, Cleveland, - designated by the coalition as "Register Georgia, were among those who heard of ACTWU; Southern Christian Leader­ Boston, and Charleston, West Virginia, Your Opposition Day" - a gathering on John Linder during his tour of this area. ship Conference; and other groups. are among the cities where activities are the steps of the Capitol will precede visits Linder is the brother of Benjamin Lin­ Reginald Ramsey of the Georgia Black planned in the coming weeks as part of the to members of Congress urging them to der, the U.S. volunteer worker who was Students Association, who recently partici­ "Davs of Decision." vote no on contra aid. murdered in Nicaragua by the contras. At pated in the Martin Luther King Peace Days of Decision is the name of a coali­ On September 29 a candlelight vigil will the time he was working on a hydroelectric Brigade to Nicaragua, gave greetings to the tion calling for antiwar actions in cities be held. project to bring electricity to the peasants rally. around the country on or around September A march and rally will be held in Boston of a village in northern Nicaragua. A representative of the African National 15 and 29. The protests will demand that September 27. Feeder marches from Bos­ John Linder toured the Atlanta area near Congress of South Africa described Benja­ Congress vote down funding for the con­ ton and Cambridge will converge on Bos­ the end of August. min Linder as a "great hero killed by U.S. tras and that Washington end its military ton Common, where an antiwar rally will He won a warm response from the pre­ taxpayers' money." maneuvers in Central America and cease be held. dominantly Black meeting of 25 officers of Atlanta City Councilman Hosea Wil­ military aid to the region. A march and rally will take place in De­ ACTWU locals 1855A, B, and C. Most liams, who heads the Metro Atlanta South­ The actions were called by a cpalition of troit. had taken time off from work to hear him em Christian Leadership Conference, sent groups, including Witness for Peace, Com­ In Minneapolis-St.Paul the September speak. The meeting also included members a message to the rally . "Ben Linder was on mittee in Solidarity with the People of El 15-20 tour by John Linder, brother of the of another local who had driven two hours the right side, the side of progress and a Salvador (CISPES), Nicaragua Network, U.S. volunteer worker murdered in Nicara­ to Columbus to attend the meeting. better life for the people of Nicaragua. We Coalition for a New Foreign Policy, Pledge gua by the contras, will form part of Days On August 26 more than 300 people at­ should all demand that the U.S. govern­ of Resistance, and many other groups. of Decision activities. tended a rally at Atlanta's Central Pres­ ment stop all aid to the contras and let Nic­ In Charleston, West Virginia, a broad In New York City, the Committee for byterian Church. Linder spoke along with aragua live in peace." coalition is planning a march and rally for Non-Intervention in Central America will Rebecca Leaf, who presented a slideshow More than $2,500 was raised at the September 26. Among other groups, the hold a public meeting September 10 on on the projects Benjamin Linder was work­ meeting for the Benjamin Linder Memorial march has been endorsed by the statewide "The Iran-contra Hearings: Investigation or ing on. Fund, which helps finance completion of American Federation of State, County and Cover-up." Leaf is an engineer who met Benjamin the hydroelectric plant and related projects. Municipal Employees. Two days later, Mobilization for Survi­ Linder through their work for the agency A reception was also held for Linder and In the course of building support for val has announced, antiwar activists will that oversaw the maintaining of power Leaf at which another $500 was raised. their action, more than 30 people protested distribute up to 150,000 leaflets in New plants in Nicaragua. When in Nicaragua, Linder and Leaf also participated in a outside an August 24 meeting in Charles­ York. An antiwar action will be held Sep­ Leaf is helping complete the rural hydro­ meeting of the Concerned Black Clergy in ton where Robert Owen, a former aide to tember 15 at the offices of Sen. Alfonse electric plant. Atlanta and at another gathering of more Oliver North, spoke in support of the con­ D' Amato, who has voted for contra aid in The rally was sponsored by Clergy and than 100 people in Macon. tras. the past. The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant The Militant is written in the Closing news date: Sept. 2, 1987 interests of workers and farm­ Coeditors: MARGARET JA YKO and DOUG JENNESS MILITANT ers. Every week it tells the Circulation Director: MALIK MIAH Linde · ...... -... truth about the war Washing­ Nicaragua Bureau Director: CINDY JAQUITH before1,~P contra war )Cootragate Business Manager: JIM WHITE =-"'-'" .__ use committee !IJearinis ton and the employers are wag­ Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein, Fred Feldman, Ernest ing against working people at Harsch, Arthur Hughes, Sam Manuel, Harvey McArthur home and abroad. We provide (Nicaragua), Roberto Kopec (Nicaragua), Harry Ring, first-hand coverage of events in Norton Sandler. other countries, such as Haiti, Published weekly except one week in August and the last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 Burkina Faso, and the Philip­ West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Of­ pines. Regular on-the-scene re­ fice, (212) 243-6392; Telex, 497-4278; Business Office, ports come from our Nica­ (212) 929-3486. ragua Bureau. 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2 The Militant September 11, 1987 Injunction in SWP, YSA suit bolsters privacy rights Bars use of stolen membership lists

BY DOUG JENNESS the judge to rule that when it cannot be de­ Federal Judge Thomas Griesa's recent termined whether an item of information in order that the FBI and other federal agen­ the hands of the FBI or other cop agencies cies not use illegally obtained files on the has come from a legal or illegal source, it Socialist Workers Party and the Young should be presumed that it was obtained il­ Socialist Alliance clarifies and strengthens legally. important features of the decision he made The judge rejected this broad presump­ a year ago in the 14-year-old litigation. tion, but stated that membership lists are an In the August 1986 decision, Griesa exception. ruled that the FBI had violated the constitu­ "The SWP and YSA did not publish tional rights of the SWP and YSA and their membership lists," he wrote. "Such lists individual members and supporters. could generally be obtained only through This landmark decision and subsequent informants. Indeed, one duty of informants injunction stem from the lawsuit the SWP was to obtain membership lists or other in­ and YSA filed against the attorney general, formation about the identity of members. FBI, and other government agencies in Such information should be presumed to 1973. have been unlawfully obtained," Griesa The most significant conquests for ruled. working people in the 1986 ruling are: "A relatively few prominent members • It was the first time a federal court had have been identified publicly," he con­ declared that it was illegal for the FBI to tinued. "The FBI is well aware of who use undercover informers against political these people are. But as to the rank-and-file organizations. Griesa' s decision stated that members of the various local branches, SWP 1976 U.S. vice-presidential candidate Willie Mae Reid campaigning at Houston the FBI had used informers against the their identities would not generally be pub­ SWP at least since 1941. campus. After long fight, SWP won 1982 Supreme Court ruling against govern­ licly available." ment's attempt to force it to disclose names of campaign contributors. • The decision marked the first time a During the course of the case, represen­ federal judge ruled that break-ins to steal or tatives of the SWP and YSA have re­ copy private papers or to plant micro­ peatedly explained and offered evidence As a result of a major campaign, which Griesa's ruling that the SWP and YSA phones violated the Fourth Amendment to that they don't tum over membership lists won support from thousands of unionists, - openly communist organizations - the Constitution. This amendment protects to the government. Black figures, civil libertarians, and don't have to give the government the people against illegal searches by the gov­ others, the Supreme Court ruled in De­ ernment. names of its members significantly SWP refused to disclose names cember 1982 that the Socialist Workers Evidence was presented during the case strengthens the decision on the lawsuit that One of the most striking examples was Party did not have to comply with the fi­ of 193 FBI black-bag jobs against the SWP he made last year. the SWP' s decision to refuse to disclose the nancial disclosure laws. and YSA between 1958 and 1966. This extends previous court rulings up­ names and addresses of campaign contrib­ In May of the same year, a federal ap­ • Griesa also ruled that the campaign of holding the right of organizations with utors. This was required by the Federal peals court had ruled that the Communist disruption operations conducted by the FBI views and activities opposed by the gov­ Election Campaign Act of 1971 , which Party not only doesn't have to disclose the against the SWP and YSA was illegal. ernment not to disclose the names of its was adopted with a great deal of fanfare names of its campaign contributors, but members. Griesa's ruling not only bars any future about "reforming" the election laws. doesn't even have to keep records of those activities of this kind by the FBI or other This is a big gain, not only for the SWP In 1974, rather than tum over to the gov­ contributors. cops; it places every labor union, farmers' and YSA, but for all organizations fighting ernment a list of members and campaign for political and social change. organization, and social protest group fac­ supporters, the Socialist Workers National Campaign disclosure laws Griesa's ruling on membership lists af­ ing government harassment on stronger Campaign Committee and campaign com­ ground to seek the same relief. These decisions dealt a body blow to firms that there can be no guarantee of the mittees in 15 states, along with the Ameri­ campaign disclosure laws, which were right to privacy for those organizations can Civil Liberties Union, challenged the very similar throughout the country. whose views and activities are opposed by $264,000 damage award financial disclosure laws in court. The court ruling in the SWP case cited the government unless they have the right Moreover, the judge awarded the SWP The basis for this action was the well­ incidents of "threatening phone calls and not to disclose the names and addresses of and YSA $2,500 for each of the documented harassment of SWP members hate mail, the burning of SWP literature, their members. Without this, there can be documented disruption operations, $500 and supporters by the federal government. the destruction of SWP members' prop­ no genuine freedom of association. for each of the documented illegal entries, Most of the evidence for this had been as­ erty, police harassment of a party candi­ In future articles we'll take up some and $125,000 for the intrusion into the or­ sembled from the documents compiled date, and the firing of shots at an SWP of­ other important features of Griesa's recent ganizations' privacy by informers. This to­ through the SWP and YSA lawsuit against fice." It was also noted that SWP members injunction prohibiting the use of illegally tals $264,000. the attorney general, FBI, and other federal had been fired from their jobs "because of acquired information by the FBI and other The damage award hel{>ed affirm the cop agencies. their party membership." cops on the SWP and YSA. principle that government officials cannot illegally invade the privacy of individuals and organizations with impunity. Griesa ruled that the very presence of government iQformers in the SWP and Ruling is 'blow to iHegal spying' YSA violates the right to privacy of associ­ ation and the privacy of the individual BY HARRY RING and take them back for government disrup­ great step ahead. All these victories are members of the two socialist groups. This NEW YORK - The court injunction tion purposes." A New York staff or­ precious." is an important extension of the constitu­ barring the government from using illeg­ ganizer for the Amalgamated Clothing and Rail unionist Paul Swanson declared, tional right of privacy. ally obtained information against the Textile Workers Union, Joffre is coordi­ "This victory should encourage the labor This right was conquered by the battles Socialist Workers Party and Young nator of the New York Area Labor Com­ movement to fight for its rights against em­ of the civil rights movement in the 1950s Socialist Alliance was greeted with satis­ mittee in Support of Democracy and ployer greed." and formed part of the basis for the 1973 faction by a range of figures concerned Human Rights in El Salvador. Swanson is general chairman of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abor­ with democratic rights. Their statements "Congratulations to the Political Rights Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Em­ tion. were released here by the Political Rights Defense Fund! A great victory," declared ployees. One of the key legal conquests of this Defense Fund. Dennis Brutus, the exiled South African In Waterloo, Iowa, Russell Woodrick, right came in 1958 when the U.S. Supreme Attorney Juan Acevedo saw the injunc­ fighter against apartheid. business agent of the International Associ­ Court ruled that the National Association tion as "a great victory for everyone in the Dave McReynolds of the War Resisters ation of Machinil>ts, said the government for the Advancement of Colored People United States who is concerned about the League assessed the injunction as an im­ has long used illegally acquired informa­ (NAACP) did not have torelease its mem­ fundamental principles of a true democ­ portant reminder that the government's ex­ tion against labor and others. The injunc­ bership lists to Alabama authorities. In this racy." ecutive branch is "bound by law." tion, he said, "is a first in history and will ruling, which Griesa cited in his 1986 deci­ Acevedo is coordinator of the legal de­ "This ruling is a forceful affirmation of help us all politically." sion, the Supreme Court stated that there is fense team in the case of the supporters of the citizen's rights of privacy," the pacifist The Political Rights Defense Fund also a "vital relationship between freedom to as­ Puerto Rican independence facing trial in leader declared. announced that a spring and summer fund­ sociate and privacy in one's associa­ Hartford, Connecticut. Merle Hansen, president of the North raising effort had netted a total of $85,900. tions .. .. particularly where a group es­ Angela Sanbrano, national coordinator American Farm Alliance, said, "This latest A good part of this money was collected pouses dissident beliefs." of the Committee in Solidarity with the victory for the Socialist Workers Party and at public meetings across the country, said The court found that the NAACP had People of El Salvador (CISPES), saw the Young Socialist Alliance shows that if a John Studer, executive director of the proven "that on past occasions revelation injunction as "a blow to illegal spying - country is going to have law, it means a rights fund. of the identity of its rank-and-file members by the FBI or right-wing goons." country of laws for everyone, including the And, he added, in addition to their own has exposed these members to economic Sanbrano was the recent target of threats president of the United States." contributions, PRDF activists obtained reprisal, loss of employment, threat of by right-wing Salvadoran death squads. Francisca Cavazos, director of the contributions from coworkers and local physical coercion, and other manifesta­ The fight waged by the Political Rights Arizona Farmworkers Union, saw the in­ union officials. Their experience con­ tions of public hostility." Defense Fund, she added, shows "the junction as "a clear victory for unionization firmed that when asked, those who add strength of the movement when we work of immigrant workers, in that they will be their names as endorsers of the PRDF's Right extended to socialists together to defend the right to speak out able to continue their organizing efforts in campaign are also willing to help out finan­ In his order last month barring govern­ openly for our beliefs." seeking better living and working condi­ cially. ment use of illegally obtained files , Griesa Emesto Joffre said, "This decision is a tions." Also, $600 was contributed by several explicitly extended this right to the SWP blow to the use of FBI spies to infiltrate Dirk Struik, editor emeritus of the local unions. "That should be seen as a and YSA. The SWP and YSA had asked groups, copy down names of supporters, ·magazine Science and Society, said, "It is a good beginning effort," Studer said.

September 11, 1987 The Militant 3 'New International' sold. at textile mill BY MALIK MIAH sites. These plant-gate sales teams go out Supporters of the Militant in weekly and involve all supporters. Greensboro, North Carolina, are taking the lead in organizing sales of the Marxist Target week magazine New International. Within days Because most areas of the country are of taking a goal of selling 20 copies of the just now launching their sales campaigns, New International this fall, five issues the Militant encourages everyone to target were sold. September 12-18 for a big sales push. An all-out effort that week should put us on In a telephone interview with Yvonne schedule and set the pace for the rest of the Hayes, a Militant supporter in Greensboro, drive. she said three copies were bought by work­ An indication of what's possible was ers at a textile mill. All three are subscrib­ shown at the August 30 Hartford, Connec­ ers to the Militant. ticut, demonstration against the U.S. gov­ One worker decided to buy the latest ernment's repression of 16 supporters of issue of New International after a Militant Puerto Rican independence. Some 30 Mil­ supporter in the plant handed him a copy of itant and PM subscriptions were sold to the a promotional brochure. The worker protesters, as well as more than $700 in looked at the brochure and after reading socialist literature. that New International is "a magazine of If you would like to join the fall sales Marxist politics and theory," said, "That's campaign please clip and mail the coupon for me." below. Supporters of the Militant at this mill, organized by the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, had just dis­ D Send me a bundle of __ Militants cussed among themselves the importance per issue. of showing the New International to co­ D Send me a bundle of __ Perspec­ workers, especially subscribers to the Mil­ tiva Mundials per issue. itant. Hayes said one lesson from this early D Send me a bundle of __ New In- success is the need to talk to more Militant ternationals. readers, as well as others, about the mag­ Name ------"'------­ azine. "It was much easier selling the Address ---,.------Militant/Janet Post magazine than any of us thought," she City _____ State ______Militant supporters in areas across country are setting goals for sales of Marxist jour­ said. Zip Phone ______nal New International to workers, farmers, and students. 'We'll have to raise goal' "Our main objective," Hayes continued, "is to introduce the New International to as Maine Paperworkers build solidarity many people as we can. In this way, we can get into political discussions about the articles in the magazine. We're learning BY JON HILLSON in Pine Bluff face "a similar situation" to workers "were hungry for information and that distributing New International helps us JAY, Maine- As the strike against In­ workers in Jay. interested in what's going on." have more discussions with coworkers and ternational Paper Co. (IP) approaches the Describing previous concession con­ Arkansas is a "right to work" state, people we meet at political events." end of its third month, members of Paper­ tracts, Bernard said, "They have given up a which means closed union shops are workers Union Local 14 are expanding prohibited and individual workers are not In addition to the three textile workers, a lot more than we have." their efforts to extend union solidarity. required to join the union. But Lebel said, leader of the anti-Klan group in the area Nearly 200 paperworkers took buses, Ruth Lebel, a core cutter in IP's Andros­ Pine Bluff workers were "very receptive" and a person who frequently attends public cars, and planes to participate in an August coggin mill here in Jay, was part of the del­ to the anticoncession stand being taken by forums sponsored by the Militant have 22 march of 3,000 in Lock Haven, egation that met with the Pine Bluff work­ UPIU locals across the country. bought copies of the New International. ers. She explained that despite shift work, Negotiations in Pine Bluff have been "It's clear we will have to raise our goal," Pennsylvania, where a sister Paperwork­ overtime, and extremely hot weather, 250 proceeding slowly and it is likely that the Hayes said. ers' local is also on strike against IP. A report back from the Lock Haven ac­ Pine Bluff workers from the five locals contract expiration date of September I Nationally, Militant supporters are tion drew an enthusiastic response from the jammed into a union hafl for an August 25 will pass without a strike automatically shooting to sell 2,000 copies of New Inter­ 1,200 who attended the Local 14 union meeting. Lebel said the visiting UPIU dele­ being called. national as part of a fall circulation drive. meeting here on August 26. gation fielded and asked questions for "If they decide to join us in the fight The campaign includes selling 6,000 Mili­ about two hours. "After that," she said, against concessions, that's great," Lebel tant subscriptions and 1,500 Perspectiva "we mingled some more." said. And if they settle, "It's not going to Mundial subscriptions. PM is a Spanish­ Visit to Pine Bluff change anything. We'll stand just as we language monthly news magazine. The The workers, spouses, and supporters in The UPIU delegation didn't go to Pine have." drive ends Thanksgiving. attendance also heard reports from a team Bluff to convince workers there of any­ Greensboro supporters have taken a goal of union members, headed by Local 14 thing, Lebel said, "but to share informa­ She said the trip had helped all . the President Bill Meserve, who visited with of selling 115 Militant and lO PM subscrip­ tion, to get a feel of what is happening." unionists realize "that we really are fam­ tions. workers at IP's plant in Pine Bluff, Arkan­ According to Lebel, the Pine Bluff ily." Over the last two weeks, Greensboro sas. That plant employs 1,200 workers. supporters organized sales teams to four The majority are Black. They are or­ ganized into five separate unions. college campuses, selling four Militant subscriptions. Socialist literature tables did Members of the United Paperworkers Pickets at Int'l Paper plant: well. And several students asked for more International Union (UPIU) are also on information about the Young Socialist Al­ strike at IP's plant in De Pere, Wisconsin. liance, the group sponsoring the tables. In March IP locked out UPIU members at 'We're all in this together' As part of the sales effort, supporters or­ the Mobile, Alabama, plant. Workers from ganized a sales team to Chapel Hill. A Mobile, De Pere, and Lock Haven were JAY, Maine- It's cool and gray as the She's a nurse, and it's her first strike, major aim of the sales campaign, Hayes also part of the delegation that traveled to strong odor that comes from turning logs first time on a picket line, and her first time explained, is to reach out to students, Pine Bluff. into paper drifts from the Androscoggin going to the big, spirited weekly Local I4 workers, farmers, and other political activ­ IP seeks to drive though substantial . River plant of International Paper toward union meetings . ists all across North Carolina. givebacks that would cripple the union. nearby Jay. She has learned from the strikers what The company maintains individual con­ Three people maintain picket duty at the solidarity is, "the strong, strong feeling of The dozen or so organized supporters of tracts with local unions at each operation. pulp gate, where independent contractors unity, that everybody's in this together," the Militant in Greensboro are maintaining Local 14 media coordinator Peter Ber­ roll into the plant in trucks piled high with which she's gotten from sharing picket re­ regular sales of the Militant at four work- nard said in an interview that paperworkers freshly cut timber. sponsibilities. The strike by Local 14 of the United "You make friends quick," Jane says. Paperworkers International Union and "Good friends," Mike, a 26-year-old Meat-packers rally in South Dakota Local 246 of the Firemen and Oilers is en­ Chicano with one year in the mill, chimes tering its 1I th week. in. Family responsibilities brought him BY DIANE SHUR order was violated. Rick Rush , the senior picket, has 19 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Some 400 The company is now running both the back to neighboring Livermore Falls after a years in the mill. Burly, soft-spoken, he five-year stint in the U.S. Marine Corps. union meat-packers and their supporters Iowa and South Dakota plants with scabs. foresees a long strike. gathered here August 29 for a labor rally. Working for IP was harder than life in Most of the 400 participants at the noon­ "Everybody's been planning, every­ the marines, Mike says. The bosses want The rally kicked off a weekend of activities time rally were Local 304A members. body's prepared," he says. "We'll be out as aimed at building support for striking "a lot more without giving you as much." Some were meat-packers from Iowa. long as it takes, long as we have to," he ex­ Mike says seeing Local 14' s women members of United Food and Commercial plains. "This strike is solid." Workers union locals 304A and 1142. A busload of meat-packers currently on members in action has convinced him strike against Patrick Cudahy & Co. in Jane has been on the picket line since the "they can be just as tough as men." The Last March, 800 workers at the John Milwaukee also attended. strike began. Her husband has worked at IP solidarity Mike has felt in the union has Morrell & Co. plant in Sioux City, Iowa, for 18 years, as long as they've been mar­ been something that's made him "feel very Speakers included Lewie Anderson, 90 miles from here, were forced on strike ried. Now he's working as a pipefitter on accepted here," even though he's one of head of the United Food and Commercial after rejecting a concession contract. the midnight shift in Millinockett, four and Workers Packinghouse Division; Ron De­ the few minority members of the local . a half hours north of here. She sees him one The Iowa meat-packers later extended rochie, president of Local Il42; and Dem­ As I get ready to leave, Rick Rush says I their picket line to the South Dakota Mor­ day a week, from Sunday to Monday should make sure my car has a union ocratic Party presidential candidate Joseph morning. rell plant. The 2, 700 workers here honored Biden. bumper sticker on it. He walks to his vehi­ the picket line and for four days fought to But, Jane says, she's not simply doing cle, which is sprayed with pro-strike slo­ prevent scabs from entering the plant. The crowd grew to more than I ,000 for a "his" picket duty . IP doesn't "just have em­ gans, to get me one. "Around here, it's concert that evening. The next day, about ployees, it has employees with families. good to let people know what side you're Morrell obtained a court order limiting 350 gathered for another rally that included This is part of my life, too. This strike is on," he says. mass picketing at the plant. Union officials speakers from union locals in Nebraska and more far reaching than the mill, than Jay," "Fight for my union? Damn right I were threatened with heavy fines if the Iowa. Jane says. would," the UPIU sticker reads. -J.H. 4 The Militant September 11, 1987 Youth at socialist conference: 'I want to be in the fight'

BY ANDY COATES struggles in other countries. I've learned OBERLIN, Ohio- LaTanja Miller was more here than I learned all the years I went working at a chicken-processing plant in to school. Now I have something to fight Birmingham, Alabama, making chicken with." Miller said she plans to join the nuggets for fast-food chains when she got Socialist Workers Party when she returns involved in a struggle to organize a union home. at the plant. Miller convinced almost all the Other YSA members also decided to join workers on her shift to join the United the SWP at the conference. One of them, Food and Commercial Workers union. Allyson Marceau, who was a school During the course of this drive, she got teacher when she joined the YSA in San into political discussions with a coworker, Jose, California, said, "The most inspiring Darrell Turner, who is a member of the thing about the conference was to see how Young Socialist Alliance. Miller began at­ much solidarity we have with the struggle Ostrofsky tending the weekly Militant Forum in Bir­ in other countries, to see we're fighting for Dayna Sope and Sasha Musa, two youths who attended Educational and Ac­ mingham and classes to learn more about the same thing. It's also inspiring to see tive Workers Conference, want to build Young Socialist Alliance chapter in Balti­ socialism. what people in this country are doing, too." more. "I began to see that the union struggle She said in the six months she's been in that I was involved in was a part of the the YSA, "I've learned what socialism is, other political struggles that I was learning and I want to be in the fight. I've decided to about. They are struggles so that the work­ join the SWP." ing class ·can rule," the 22-year-old worker David Cooney, a student at the Univer­ Black student brigade told the Militant. "From there, I asked to sity of Wisconsin in Madison, noted, "One join the YSA." thing that strikes me about the YSA that's Miller was one of more than 80 young different from other groups- it's not stu­ welcomed in Nicaragua people at a conference here, 41 of them dents. It's an organized group of young students, who have joined the YSA in the people- students, workers, farmers. It's qualitatively different thim other campus BY JAMES WINFIELD the U.S. -organized war. He said the deaths groups." The first Martin Luther King Peace and destruction had dealt blows to produc­ Brigade, organized by the Atlanta-based tion in fishing, mining, and construction Arthur Horan, a 21-year-old student at Georgia Black Student Association, visited programs. Nassau Community College in New York, the southern Atlantic Coast region of Nica­ The JS 19 hosted a rally in the capital city said, "Before I came here, I thought you ragua as part of a two-week tour of the of Managua in solidarity with the struggle couldn't organize so many people from all country. against apartheid in South Africa. Speakers over- it sent me for a loop." The tour, which began July 25 and con­ - included the Angolan ambassador to Nica­ Horan said, "What really tied the confer­ cluded August 9, was hosted by the Na­ ragua, a representative of the FSLN, and a ence altogether for me was the panel on Af­ tional Union of Nicaraguan Students and member of our brigade. the July 19 Sandinista Youth (JS 19). (July rica with speakers from the South African The Martin Luther King Peace Brigade 19 was the date in 1979 that the Nicaraguan Congress of Trade Unions, African Na­ also participated in a rally protesting U.S. people, led by the Sandinista National Lib­ tional Congress, and the government of aid to the contras outside the U.S. embassy eration Front, toppled the U.S. -backed dic­ Burkina Faso - it was the most moving in Managua. We joined more than 100 tatorship of Anastasio Somoza.) experience of the conference." other brigade members from Britain, Swe­ On the Atlantic Coast, tour participants den, Germany, and the United States. High school students - 14 Black students and youth from At­ Seven high school students attended the lanta, Baltimore, Miami, St. Louis, San Brigade participant Hillory Shelton of socialist conference. Two of them, Dayna Francisco, and New York - got to see St. Louis told the protesters, "It is the U.S. Sope and Sasha Musa from Baltimore, firsthand the effects of the contra war and government that oppresses Blacks in the want to help get a chapter of the YSA going the efforts of the coastal peoples to build up United States as well as the Nicaraguan in that city. Sope commented, "This con­ their country. The Atlantic Coast is where people. Because of this we are here to ference isn't bureaucratic, and it's not im­ Nicaragua's Black and Indian population is show our solidarity and our convergence of personal and cold. I can relate to and un­ concentrated. interest." David Cooney was impressed that YSA derstand what the YSA and SWP are say­ We visited the village of La Fe. Two includes workers, far~ers, and students. ing. And I think it will work - socialism years ago the contras leveled this commu­ and communism." nity where 40 families had lived. The last few months or are considering joining. During the six-day conference, the YSA people were forced to evacuate and reor­ ·Support the Fall They were attending the Socialist Educa­ hosted an informal discussion each day, · ganize themselves in order to return and tional and Active Workers Conference usually during the dinner break. The push the contra force back north toward Socialist hosted by the YSA and Socialist Workers gatherings were an opportunity for new Honduras. Party August 8- 13. Nearly all of these YSA members and prospective members to Today they are constructing homes in La Publications~~ youths were participating in their first such discuss with YSA leaders the organiza­ Fe for 15 to 20 families as part of beginning gathering, and 10 joined the YSA before tion's views and activities. their community and economic life anew. Fund the six days were over. "We _are determined to stay and build," Solidarity with Nicaragua declared community leader Florentino At a rally August 13 'Learned more than in school' One theme of the discussions was sol­ Solis. "We are organized today, and we we announced the launching of this Commenting on the conference, Miller idarity with the Nicaraguan revolution, in­ can keep our community. Autonomy and said, "There's no way that just struggling cluding participating in and helping to or­ unity will be a reality in La Fe." fund, which has a in Alabama - without coming to a confer­ ganize work brigades to Nicaragua. Solis was referring to La Fe's participa­ goal of ratslrtg ence like this - you could learn about the James Winfield, New York City YSA tion in a program aimed at establishing an $150,000 by Nov. 24. organizer, spoke about his two-week trip to autonomous Atlantic Coast region within a Its purpose is to fi­ Nicaragua at the end of July and early Au­ united Nicaragua. The autonomy program nance publication of gust as part of the Martin Luther King will foster the development of the economy U. S.-organized contras the Militant, the Peace Brigade. The delegation was com­ of the region and the languages and culture assault 2 farm co-ops posed of Black youth from around the of the region's six ethnic groups. monthly Perspectiva country. Traveling along the river in small boats Mundial, the Marxist in northern Nicaragua Winfield and Virginia Angeles, a YSA called pong as, we observed villages of magazine New Inter­ leader from Phoenix, Arizona, spoke at a Rama and Miskito Indians, two of the national, the French­ MANAGUA, Nicaragua - U.S.-fi­ special reception about the YSA as an or­ ethnic groups that make up the Atlantic language Nouvelle In­ nanced contras have stepped up their ter­ ganization for young fighters in the United Coast population. We met a Rama chief ternationale, and Path­ rorism against Nicaraguans in and around States. who stressed their desire for an end to the finder books and the northern province of Jinotega. Steve Argue, a high school student from U.S.-run war. "Go back to your country pamphlets. In the last week of August, contras as­ St. Paul, Minnesota, and Ben Fiering, who and tell about our reality," he said. As of Sept. 1, $80,000 just left Bard College in upstate New York, saulted two farm cooperatives, one near We spent a night in the community of has been pledged chaired a discussion on. "Why Students San Rafael del Norte, the other in Monte Orinoco, talking with the families there and $3,241 collected. Should Join the YSA - Building Campus Grande. Six civilians were murdered in the and learning more about their work and Chapters." two attacks, including two children. Sev­ culture. A reception was held in our honor I wish to help the fund, enclosed is: Young people were involved in political eral other children were wounded. in the community meeting house. On August 28 mercenaries downed a discussions right up to the last minute of - $500 - $100 -$50 Sandinista army helicopter near Zompop­ the socialist· conference. Outside the Francisco Estrada, military commander __ $10 $ other era, using a U.S.-supplied Red Eye mis­ dance, after the final rally, a dozen people in Orinoco and a representative of the San­ sile. Six soldiers were killed and seven are - mostly high school and college stu­ dinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Name ------­ missing. Skillful action by the pilot, who dents-met with Doug Jenness, coeditor of saw us off the next day. "We are brothers Address ------­ managed to land the damaged craft, saved the Militant, because they had questions and sisters, you and I," he told us. "We City ------the lives of eight others. about some of the things he had said about must stop the U.S. aggression against our State Zip ______That same day, Sandinista army Major the Soviet Union in a class earlier in the country so we can both be free." Francisco Gutierrez was assassinated by week. They decided to ask the YSA chap­ In the southern Atlantic Coast city of Mail to Fall Socialist Publications contras while traveling on a road near San ters where they live to organize classes Bluefields, Marcellino Estrada, a Catholic Fund, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. Rafael del Norte. An army captain was also when they got home so that they could con­ priest, explained to us that thousands on 10014. killed in the ambush. tinue the discussion .. the Atlantic Coast had died as a result of

September 11, 1987 The Militant 5 Washington State farm workers fight for justice in the fields Interview with Yakima Valley union leader

BY MATT HERRESHOFF "When they put us under an injunction, worker by talking to him - talking to the AND CHRIS HORNER 500 farm workers came to the courthouse conscience, you talk strong but you talk to GRANGER, Wash. - Thousands of to hear the case. the conscience of that worker- if you can farm workers in the Yakima Valley are "When the farmers organized to come convince him that what you are fighting for mobilizing to fight for justice in the fields. and break the strike, you ended up with is a just cause and he returns back to the "Although we do not have a contract as 140 growers in the field and 2,000 farm picket line, we know that person will never yet, we have had a lot of success," Tomas workers on the picket line." break a picket line again. Villanueva, president of the United Farm The Pyramid strike inspired workers "If we get somebody out of a field by Workers of Washington State (UFWWS), throughout the valley. More than a threatening him, by yelling obscenities at explained in a recent interview. thousand ·have joined the UFWWS and him or anything else, we know that that "People are starting to lose their fear and union activists are organizing among their guy will only be loyal as long as you are start working together," he said. "Pyramid coworkers on many of the largest farms. looking at him, and that's no good. Every Orchards is one of the best examples." On The union launched a boycott against time you get someone out by making him Fel1ruary 10, 60 tree pruners went on strike Chateau Ste. Michelle, the largest vineyard understand - in essence you are creating when Pyramid cut their wages from $2.50 in the Northwest, when it refused to con­ another soldier for your picket line and for to $1.75 a tree. At the new rate the workers sider the workers' demands for a contract. your cause," he explained. were earning well under the federal mini­ Farm workers also waged an important Now farm workers are gearing up to mum wage of $3.35 an hour. strike in the asparagus fields at SKD continue the strike at Pyramid, and for "Pruning is a very difficult strike to Farms. Union activists were so effective in other possible strikes during the harvest. win," said Villanueva, because the grower convincing workers to honor the picket line This summer the growers have gone on a has months to prune an orchard. The union that the grower decided to lose his crop massive campaign to convince people that leadership explained this to the workers. rather than sign a contract. "They'd bring a there is a labor shortage in the fields. Villa­ "But the workers were desperate and they worker in, we'd manage to talk to the nueva explained that this shortage was in­ said, 'Well, with or without the union, we worker, and the worker came out," said vented to counter farm workers' organizing are going to strike.' So we jumped in. Villanueva. efforts. "The community really came through The growers have been stepping up re­ Militant/Holbrook Mahn with money, with food. At times on the Convincing workers to join union cruitment of farm workers in Mexico. United Farm Workers of Washington weekend we'd have 300 or 400 people on "Our approach is very simple. We feel Yakima Valley Congressman Sid Morri­ State President Tomas Villanueva. the picket line," Villanueva continued. very strongly that if you can convince a son, himself a rich grower, wrote to U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese and other government officials to ask their help in this effort. Mexican, Guatemalan pickers strike in Ariz. The growers blame the "labor shortage" on the 1986 immigration law. "They see BY DAVE ZILLY living and working conditions. melon farm extends for several hundred the immigration bill as a golden opportu­ nity to stop any kind of farm worker or­ AND RUTH NEBBIA "For each meal we are charged $3," square miles. PHOENIX- "We are Latin American ganizing, not just in the state of Washing­ Hilario Sanchez, a striking farm worker on The pickers and the Arizona Farmwork­ ton, but throughout the nation," said Villa­ people, we don't speak your language, but the march, explained. "The food is pre­ we work and we feed you" - "Contract ers (AFW) have been under constant attack nueva. The law allows growers who claim pared the day before and, in the desert since the beginning of the strike. Three there is a labor shortage to recruit workers yes, abuses, no!" These.were chants of 100 heat, it is often spoiled before it gets to us." striking farm workers and their supporters days after it began one of the foremen, who outside the United States. Under the H2A on a two-day, 30-mile march from the The barracks that workers live in are not was herding in scabs from another farm, Program, these workers are denied all civil Arizona Farmworkers Union headquarters cleaned regularly. The only drinking water drove into the picket lines at the farm rights, including the right to organize. to the offices of Martori Brothers, Inc. just is in the kitchen, which closes at 7 p.m., gates. "He yelled out at us, 'you want to "What the farmers want to do is to push outside of this city. Sanchez said. The only other water avail­ die?'" Piedad Huerta, an AFW legal assis­ Congress to change the requirements of the The march, which took place August 6 able is in the laundry area under a sign that tant, said. One of the pickets was hurt as he H2A Program to make it easier for them, and 7, was part of protests that began on warns the water is only for laundry use. moved out of the way of the oncoming ve­ cheaper for them, to import foreign work­ August 2 when 184 Mexican and Guatema­ A farm worker who was bitten by a hicle. ers," Villanueva said. lan farm workers went on strike against the black widow spider inside the barracks was Martori was able to get an injunction "If they manage to do that," he con­ Martori melon ranch in Aguila, Arizona. prevented by the farm owners from going against picketing within 300 yards of his tinued, "they'd feel that they have a stable The farm is 70 miles west of here. The to a doctor until he agreed to pay any re­ property. The order also barred AFW Ex­ labor force that they can bring in at their strike was called in response to a wage cut sulting bills himself. ecutive Director Francisca Cavazos from will- use them, abuse them, just at har­ that dropped melon pickers' wages from The Martori brothers are multimil­ being on Martori property, which includes vest time- and when harvest time is over, $4.25 to $3.35 an hour, and against poor lionaire growers. Stephen Martori's Aquila the workers' housing, or in the town of send them back to Mexico. If they manage Aguila. "The area for picketing was so lim­ to do that, people will be under the com­ ited," Cavazos said, "that we decided we plete control of the farmers. We're sure needed to leave Aguila in order to pressure that the abuses will be even worse than Martori." how the undocumented worker has been Presently many of the farm workers are abused and exploited." back at work or have found other jobs. Of those who are still-out, some are participat­ The H2A Program is modeled on the ing in daily picketing at the Martori of­ Bracero Program, which was established fices. Others are leafleting the workers at under cover of the labor shortage during the Aguila farm with a new flier every day World War II. Until it was disbanded in that explains some aspect of the strike. 1963, the Bracero Program was a major One flier explained what had been obstacle to farm worker efforts to organize. gained so far by the strike: a stay of the "If there is any shortage in the state of wage cut and cleaner barracks. The flier Washington, it is a shortage of fair wages, asked workers to write down what else a shortage of good working conditions. should be fought for, and listed the strik­ There has never been a labor shortage," he ers' unmet demands. The leaflet caused said. "It is nothing but a plot" by the grow­ such an impact that the three Martori ers' organizations, "an effort to saturate the brothers called a meeting of all their em­ labor market in order to continue low ployees at Aguila. Stephen Martori de­ wages, to continue to mistreat farm work­ manded that all workers sign a no-strike ers. pledge, as well as a statement saying that "The immigration bill, including the am­ they had been forced to sign union cards. nesty program, was not developed for the In response to this threat, most workers purpose of helping farm workers," Villa­ walked out of the meeting before it ended. nueva said. "It was specifically to benefit Only seven workers, who had refused to the agribusiness community, to try to pro­ honor the strike, signed. vide a cheap and accessible labor force." Postal workers of the National Associa­ Very few workers have applied for the tion of Letter Carriers have taken up collec­ amnesty, he said. Many are suspicious of tions for the AFW and the union made a the government. And the costs are huge. donation of more than $800. AFW leaders Between the application fee, agency and also spoke to a NALC meeting where 75 attorney fees, medical exams, pictUres, union members expressed their support for notaries, and required documents, the av­ the strikers. erage family must pay over $1 ,000 just to The Centro Adelante Campesino, a farm apply. "Wherever the worker turns every­ workers' community center, has provided body sees him with dollar signs in their the strikers with food. The Church of the eyes," Villanueva added. New Covenant and the Lutheran Church of Hope, among others, provided food and Farm worker of the '80s sleeping space for the march. Although few have applied for the am­ For more information, donations, and to nesty, "many of the undocumented work­ Militant/Ruth Nebbia send letters of support, contact: Arizona ers are here with their families, many are After 30-mile march, melon pickers demonstrate outside offices of the multimil­ Farmworkers Union, 12221 Grand Ave., buying homes," Villanueva explained. lionaire Martori brothers, one of whom owns Aguila, Arizona, ranch. P.O. Box 819, El Mirage, Ariz. 85335. "Contrary to the old migrant flow of im-

6 The Militant September 11, 1987 migrants who would come and do the crops and move from state to state," he said, "the reality is that today they are staying here and they are staying in vast numbers." Villanueva explained that "the migrant worker of the 1970s" was very different from "the farm worker of the 1980s." In the past, he said, many had become "accustomed to all the discrimination that exists in this country," and discouraged about the possibility of fighting back. Many of today's farm workers, how­ Militant/Matt Herreshoff ever, were active in unions in Mexico; Rally of Yakima Valley orchard pruners iil April addressed by Villanueva. Pyramid Orchard strike inspired other farm many are well educated. "In talking to workers throughout valley to join union. some of them in the fields," Villanueva said, "the first thing they say is, 'You know, I'm getting fed up. In Mexico the Through this, "we are able to t~ll our side ness, it's not because they're paying good time comes it is possible that we might wages were really low, but they treated us of the story, things that the TV or newspa­ wages or providing good conditions, it's even run another candidate on an indepen­ like human beings. Here, the wages are pers don't tend to." because the big corporations are squeezing dent basis," Villanueva said. low and they treat us like animals.' Other activists, including Bill Nicasio, them out." founded Centro Campesino to help or­ The growers "are very powerful, both Solidarity 'The conditions have worsened from the ganize farm workers to fight for their economically and politically," Villanueva The UFWWS has actively supported the '70s to the '80s. Housing that was substan­ rights. In April 1986, Centro Campesino noted. The UFWWS has often come up dard then is worse now. Wages have been struggles of other working people. A con­ organized a 22-mile march through the against grower-controlled courts and politi­ tingent of farm workers traveled to San coming down," Villanueva added. Yakima Valley. Cesar Chavez, president cians. He pointed to the participation of work­ Francisco to be part of the labor contingent of the United Farm Workers of America, "It is very easy for an agricultural em­ in the April 25 demonstration against the ers as key to the union's success. At each came to the valley to help lead the march. farm, workers decide on their demands and ployer to get an injunction against us," said U.S.-run war in Nicaragua. And the how to fight for them. "What we're doing These efforts led to the founding of the Villanueva. He pointed to Wyckoff Farms, UFWWS has begun to receive significant has been successful because the decisions UFWWS in September 1986. which fired six workers for union activity support from the labor movement in Wash­ and evicted them from their homes. The ington State. are made by the workers," he said. Big money, huge corporations During previous farm worker struggles courts refused to overturn these actions, "As long as one worker has problems, in the Yakima Valley, very few workers The Yakima Valley is one of the richest but ordered Wyckoff to post a notice prom­ everybody has problems. You see, all joined the union, Villanueva said. In the agricultural areas in the United States. It is ising not to interfere with union activities. working people have the same common past the union tried to recruit members a leading source of apples, cherries, pears, "After they slapped the workers in the face, problem. And that common problem is that after contracts were won. hops, and asparagus. they slapped the farmer on the hand," we all have employers- it might be an ag­ The union has learned from this experi­ "You're talking about big money, Villanueva said. ricultural employer, or it might be a Boeing ence, he explained. "If you don't have any you're talking about very big crops and The union has responded to the growers' executive, or the owner of a meat-packing members then workers don't really have very huge corporations," said Villanueva. attacks by mobilizing farm workers to pack plant. But basically they are employers and any say-so. Every time the worker pays in Many Yakima Valley farms are corpo­ the courtrooms. When Pyramid Orchards they have the same thing in mind: to make $5 [the monthly dues] he becomes more in­ rate owned. Others are under contract to sought an injunction against picketing, 500 money at the expense of the workers," volved and more committed, he's making big corporations like Del Monte. All of farm workers came to court. Pyramid lost Villanueva stated. more of an investment into it, an invest­ them exploit the 40,000 farm workers who that round. "In the past each one had to fight their ment that he's going to be willing to fight live in the valley. The growers took Washington Gov. own little battle, and it's very difficult. If for." The owners' arrogance is reflected by Booth Gardner to the Yakima Valley, we're only concerned about fighting for Half of the union's 1,000 members are Allen Shoup, the president of Chateau Ste. where he pledged that he would mobilize farm workers, and close our eyes to the rest women, Villanueva said, and are playing Michelle. Shoup said he would "rather the National Guard, welfare recipients, and of the world, then how can you expect the an important role in the struggle. "I think have Chateau Ste. Michelle go broke than prisoners to work in the fields, if neces­ rest of the world to also come to our aid? that women are a lot more active than men, recognize farm worker rights to organize." sary. So I think we have to start reemphasizing they are more outspoken on the picket Chateau Ste. Michelle is a subsidiary of the "Most of the people from the agricultural solidarity in the struggle against injustice. lines." American Tobacco Co. communities, the good majority of your "Even more than funds, we would like to These rich growers often compare them­ congressmen, of your senators, are farm­ see more faces on the picket line with us, Roots of the struggle selves to the family farmers who are being ers," Villanueva said. "So even though so they don't just see it as the Mexicans The UFWWS has its roots in previous driven off their land, Villanueva said. They they might run as Democrats, they're al­ raising hell. It's not a Mexican struggle, farm worker struggles in the Yakima Val­ claim they cannot afford to pay farm work­ ways going to vote against any issue which it's a workers struggle," he concluded. ley. Villanueva came to theYakima Valley ers a decent wage. But there is no compari­ would be in the interest of farm workers." Contributions or messages of support as a migrant worker during the 1950s. son, he said. "In the state of Washington, Farm worker activists are discussing can be sent to: UFWWS, P.O. Box 899, In the 1960s and early '70s, he said, any little farmer that's going out of busi- how to meet this challenge. "When the Granger, Wash. 98932. "there was a very strong drive to organize farm workers." Inspired by farm worker struggles in California, he and other activ­ ists organized a farm worker center and Iowa gov't aids union-busting packinghouse food coop. They led a fight to win workers' compensation benefits for farm workers. BY TED LEONARD $2.59 million for falsifying injury and acci­ ists in Lake Delhi, a resort on the They organized a struggle to establish a DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa dent reports at the Dakota City plant. The Maquoketa River near Manchester, fear migrant-workers' clinic. And they helped Transportation Commission has approved fine is the largest in OSHA's history. that millions of gallons of sewage water form a farm workers' union. spending $475,000 on roads and rail lines IBP is advertising on the radio in Des from the IBP plant will be pumped into the In the 1970s, there were several strikes to serve a proposed new Iowa Beef Proces­ Moines for jobs at its Columbus Junction, river. in the hops fields. These improved wages, sors (IBP) plant in Manchester, Iowa. Iowa, plant. The company says it will pay but they failed to win permanent union rec­ IBP, a subsidiary of Occidental Petro­ $5 an hour. The Iowa Department of Natu­ Ted Leonard is a member of UFCW Local ognition, Villanueva explained. Several leum, claims the Manchester plant will be ral Resources gave IBP a slap on the wrist 1149 at the Oscar Mayer packing plant in central leaders of the UFWWS came out of the largest and most efficient pork in February after the Columbus Junction Perry, Iowa. these struggles. slaughtering and cutting facility in the plant violated limits on the amount of dis­ Some farm worker activists became world. When operating at full speed, 4 mil­ charge that can be emptied into the Iowa deeply invoved in government-funded so­ lion hogs annually will be slaughtered. River. Lessons from labor's history cial programs. This partially led to "the Some 1,200 workers are supposed to be Since 1983, Iowa government programs Teamster Rebellion farm worker movement pretty much com­ employed there. have provided or promised a total of $7 192 pp. $6.95. ing to a standstill. You get tied up, you run By taking a look at IBP's record, you million in giveaways to IBP plus a $4-mil­ a project, you don't really go and fight for can see what's in store for workers hired in lion loan at 3 percent interest. Teamster Power the rights of workers" he said. Manchester. Opposition to the latest gift has come 255 pp. $7.95. "Labor, nowadays, they forget about the There are 13 IBP plants in eight states from the UFCW, farmers, and environ­ Teamster Politics people who got killed and maimed to employing around 17,000. Only three of mentalists. 256 pp. $7.95. develop unions, just because now they re­ the plants are organized, two by the Iowa officials claim the Manchester Teamster Bureaucracy ceive a complete package of benefits. Teamsters and one by the United Food and plant will create new jobs. But UFCW offi­ 304 pp. $7.95. Many have forgotten where they come Commercial Workers (UFCW). cials say the opposite will happen since This four-volume series by Farrell from, and they're not really willing to At the UFCW -organized plant in Dakota other area packing plants will find it hard to Dobbs contains the history and les­ fight, and that's when we end up with all City, Nebraska, 2,500 members were compete with the giant meat-packing com­ sons of one of the most important these concessions." locked out last December. In March the pany and may be forced to close their Several key activists from these earlier union members were forced on strike after doors. labor struggles of the 1930s and struggles in the Yakima Valley continued IBP said it was going to reopen the plant. IBP's low pay will also be used as an ex­ 1940s. Dobbs offers an inspiring, to seek ways to fight for farm workers. The strike ended July 26. cuse by bosses at other packinghouses to first-hand account of a militant, dem­ Some, including Ricardo Garcia, Reported injuries in Dakota City are try to get wages cut. ocratic union and takes up quesc formed Radio Cadena, the only Spanish­ higher than in most meat-packing plants. In Some farmers recognize that the pro­ tions of trade union strategy and language station in the valley. Farm work­ 1985 the Dakota City plant reported 30.4 posed plant will give IBP dominance over the role of the revolutionary party. ers throughout the area listen to it and use it job injuries for the year per 100 workers. the local hog market, helping to keep Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., to discuss their situation. Villanueva hosts On July 21, the Occupational Safety and prices down. New York, N.Y. 10014. Please include 75 a nightly talk show on Radio Cadena. Health Administration (OSHA) fined IBP Homeowners and environmental activ- cents for postage and handling.

September 11, 1987 The Militaht 7 Nicaragua's .fuel emergency: Cuba responds to call for oll

BY ROBERTO KOPEC cure additional deliveries of oil by visiting this year." MANAGUA, Nicaragua- The revolu­ the Soviet Union, Cuba, Eastern Europe, (Energy Minister Emilio Rapacciolli re­ tionary government of Cuba is the first to Iran, Iraq, and Mexico. Thus far only Cuba ported at a press conference the following respond to Nicaragua's urgent appeal for has responded. day that in 1986 the Soviet Union helped oil, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Ortega hailed as "a truly exemplary act" Nicaragua overcome a similar fuel shor­ announced August 29. But despite the the decision of Cuban President Fidel Cas­ tage by donating more than 100,000 tons of 40,000 extra tons Cuba will supply this tro to increase oil supplies to Nicaragua oil over the 300,000 it had previously year, Nicaragua still faces a severe fuel from 60,000 to 100,000 tons. Ortega said it pledged.) shortage and is taking further austerity reminded him of the words of Cuban leader To cope with the continuing fuel short­ measures. Raul Castro, who once said that if Cuba age, Ortega said that government minis­ "We still don't have guaranteed supplies "were reduced to a single loaf of bread, tries will reduce their consumption by 11 of oil to finish the year," Ortega told a mass half of it would be for our Nicaraguan percent. He stressed, however, that there meeting of students here. Nicaragua needs brothers." will be no cutback in fuel for the army or 750,000 tons of oil, he explained, but only Ortega also said that the Soviet Union Ministry of the Interior. The government 597,000 is guaranteed so far: 300,000 from has fulfilled the oil quota it agreed to this will also provide needed fuel supplies for the Soviet Union; 100,000 from Cuba; year. agricultural production and industry, and 90,000 from East Germany; 37,000 from "The Soviet Union has provided vital "will make a special effort to provide Bulgaria; 30,000 from Poland; 30,000 and substantial material aid to the Nicara­ supplies for the health sector, even if it from Czechoslovakia; and 10,000 from guan revolution, without conditions of any means that other areas will be affected." Militant/Harvey McArthur Hungary. kind," he said. In addition to the oil already Among measures aimed at curtailing the President Daniel Ortega hailed Cuba's For the last three months Nicaraguan delivered, the Soviet Union "granted us use of fuel, Ortega announced the elimina­ aid as a ''truly exemplary act." government leaders have been trying to se- credit on easy terms valued at $350 million tion of 4,000 posts, out of 21,000, in the central government administration. The af­ fected posts are already vacant for a variety of reasons, he explained. Also, central government offices will be closed on Satur­ 'We invite contras to take amnesty' days, easing up pressure on the country's beleaguered transportation system. Continued from front page Somoto, a town north of La Trinidad, re­ on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast have been The ration of 19 gallons of gas a month leap" in the political situation in Central turned to take amnesty after living outside brought in to administer this national cam­ for privately owned vehicles will be re­ America, Borge told the peasants here. the country for eight years. The ex-mayor paign. duced to 17 gallons. The price per gallon "Given the circumstances, they are the best had been a supporter of the Somoza dic­ will double, but remains the cheapest in possible solution." tatorship overthrown here in 1979. He fled Amnesty leaflet out Central America. In addition, public trans­ that year to Honduras. Meanwhile, in Region V, where signifi­ portation between cities, and land freight He said the Guatemala agreement "im­ The contra radio station operating in cant numbers of contras are active, the services, will increase in price. City bus plies concessions on everyone's part, in­ Honduras now accuses the ex-mayor of government is urging Catholic and fares will remain the same. cluding Nicaragua's, of course. [But] it being "bought off." The station has also Evangelical churches to serve as reception "We are forced to take these measures does not mean renouncing principles or broadcast editorials claiming contras will centers for those seeking amnesty. A leaf­ because we are at war," Ortega said. "The negating the revolutionary process. be killed by the Sandinistas if they return. let explaining the amnesty process has been U.S. government dreams every day of the "The concessions must be carried out Mindful that contras desiring amnesty printed for church leaders to distribute collapse of the Nicaraguan economy, and simultaneously" in all five countries, he are intimidated by this propaganda, the Nic­ among contras. we cannot deny that the Nicaraguan econ­ explained, "which means it's a two-way araguan government is urging religious fig­ This is being combined with visits to omy has been seriously affected, has suf­ street." ures, Red Cross officials, and farm leaders families of the mercenaries, to involve fered serious blows, and that it continues to to serve as intermediaries for those afraid to them in convincing their relatives to tum The accords do not mean, however, that be seriously affected and to suffer serious approach government authorities directly. themselves in. blows." Nicaraguans can relax on military defense, Regional government head Agustin Lara Borge stressed. To the contrary, Sandinista The Red Cross is setting up centers But "the strength of the people, the con­ across the country where contras can tum reported that there are also plans to distri­ army and Ministry of the Interior troops are sciousness of the people, is greater than themselves in. The organization has an­ bute more free land to peasants, including stepping up their military campaign against imperialism's aggression," he stressed. nounced that in addition to facilitating am­ amnestied contras. Most of those in the the mercenaries. "Consolidating the defeat Otherwise, "Reagan would have already nesty applications, it will provide food, contra ranks, he said, are there by force or of the enemy is the best contribution to won this battle years ago. And experience clothing, and shelter for all surrendering due to political confusion. "They're peas­ peace," the Sandinista leader explained. has demonstrated that this battle, despite its contras and their families. Red Cross offi­ ants who haven't been able to work the "Each of us must be soldiers of the high price in lives and great cost to the cials who helped head up the highly suc­ land, and they have a right to do so," he homeland and missionaries of peace," he economy, continues to be won by the cessful amnesty and cease-fire negotiations explained. continued. "We must get messages to the people of Nicaragua," Ortega concluded. counterrevolutionaries so they accept am­ nesty. We must persuade them that now, they have nothing to gain and much to lose. In the war, they can lose their lives. In peace, they will win life and liberty. Those Summary of Central America accords who want peace will have life and will have peace. Those who want war will have The following is a summary of the "cease hostilities." It commits the five or groups trying to destabilize Central war and will have death." main points in the accords signed Au­ governments to "carry out all actions nec­ American governments." Borge noted that many contras are suspi­ gust 7 by the presidents of Nicaragua, essary to achieve an effective cease-fire cious of the amnesty offer. Therefore, he El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, within a constitutional framework." Repatriation said, "we must persuade them of some­ and Guatemala: The five governments agree to aid the thing that is true: the revolution will give Democratic rights voluntary return to their countries of Dialogue them the guarantee, the protection, and the The accords call for complete freedom those displaced by military conflicts in freedom to work, to practice their religious All five governments will initiate a of the press, radio, and television in each the region. beliefs, and to hold their own political dialogue "with all internal political op­ country "without prior censorship." They Verification and follow-up views." position groups that are disarmed and call for the right of all political groups in He stressed that these guarantees apply with those who have accepted amnesty." each country to have access to the media, The accords call for the formation of to all contras opting for amnesty, "indepen­ the International Commission of Verifi­ Amnesty freedom of association, the right to hold dent of the role they have played in the public demonstrations, and freedom of cation and Follow-Up to monitor prog­ counterrevolutionary ranks." Each government will decree amnesty travel. They call for the lifting of all ress in carrying out the accords. It will be Any contra wishing to take advantage of for those who have taken up arms, states of emergency or states of siege in composed of the general secretaries (or amnesty, he concluded, can contact gov­ guaranteeing them full democratic rights. the five countries. their representatives) of the United Na­ ernment authorities "through relatives, "Irregular" military forces in each coun­ tions and Organization of American pastors, priests, Red Cross representatives, try must simultaneously free prisoners Elections States; the foreign ministers of the five they have taken. Central American nations; the foreign or friends. To aid this effort, we call on The accords call for "free elections," ministers of the Contadora Group (made farmers, religious believers, and all those to take place in each country in 1988 for up of the governments of Colombia, who desire peace: if the opportunity pre­ National reconciliation commissions representatives to a Central American Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela); and sents itself to you, invite the contras to take A national reconciliation commission parliament. These would be followed by the foreign ministers of the Support amnesty." will be established in each country to municipal, congressional, and presiden­ Group to Contadora (made up of the gov­ When Borge's speech was played over monitor compliance with the accord. The tial elections in each country according to ernments of Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the radio station here, it was followed by commission will be made up of one that country's constitution. an ad directed at contras who might be lis­ member of the government; one Catholic Uruguay). tening. "Come back," the ad urged. "Get bishop, selected by the government from End to outside military aid By November 7 the accords' stipula­ amnesty. Rejoin your family. Take your a list of three nominees by church offi­ The accords call on "governments of tions on amnesty, cease-fire, democratic place with the victorious people." cials; one representative of legal internal the region and governments outside the rights, ending of aid to "irregular forces," opposition parties, selected by the gov­ and ending the use of Central American Contras returning region ... to cease" all aid to "irregular ernment from three nominees; and one forces or insurrectional movements" in territory to support such forces are to be met. Campaigns of this sort throughout the citizen who does not belong to the ruling whatever form - military, financial, On De.cember 7 the International Com­ country are already having an effect. In the party or the government. troops, or arms. It says the halt to such Esteli region northwest of here, 14 young mission on Verification and Follow-Up The five commissions must be selected aid "is an indispensable element for the men came back to their families in the town achievement of a durable and stable will assess the progress being made in by August 27. carrying out the accords. of La Trinidad on August 28. One of the · peace in the region." ex-contras said he had initially been afraid On January 6 the five Central Ameri­ to tum himself in: "I imagined the worst, Cease-fire The accords also commit the five gov­ can presidents will meet again to receive but here I am, free and back with my par­ The accords make "a vehement ap­ ernments "to prevent the use of their own a report from the verification commission ents." peal" to "irregular or insurgent groups" to territory ... by persons, organizations, and make further decisions. On August 25, the former mayor of

8 The Militant September 11, 1987 Salvador rebels press gov't on peace talks FMLN on Central America pact Militant/l)on Gurewitz November 1986 workers' demonstration in San Salvador against government's attacks. Banner reads, "The austerity package serves to finance the war."

The following statement was released the enormous economic, military, and po­ would be the equivalent of calling on the for peace but in no way contradict the August 11 by the General Command of the litical support of the United States. people to bow down, humiliate, and immo­ necessity to seek peace according to the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front 5. The Duarte government is incapable late themselves before the imperial power. characteristics and conditions in which the (FMLN) of El Salvador. It is the Salvador­ of carrying through a genuine process of conflict is unfolding in each country; there an freedom fighters' response to the accord national democratization. It has been un­ 'Renew the dialogue' is really no other way to attain peace. signed August 7 in Guatemala by the pres­ able to resolve the current labor conflicts. 8. The FMLN considers that the Napoleon Duarte's good faith and desire idents of five Central American countries Nor can it control the army, which is re­ Guatemala accord establishes a general for dialogue have yet to be seen in concrete (see summary of accord in box on facing sponsible for the slaughter of more than framework that is favorable for continua­ practice. He has given no reply to the 18 page). 60,000 compatriots and massive human tion of the dialogue in our country. We points; on the contrary, his government has Salvadoran President Jose Napoleon rights violations. It has severely wounded should remember that the dialogue be­ continued the bombing of the civilian Duarte dismissed the FMLN's proposal on national sovereignty. In El Salvador, de­ tween the FMLN-FDR and the government population, the disappearances, arrests how to resume a dialogue in a speech he mocracy, national self-determination, and began in La Palma in 1984 and continued without judicial orders, murders. gave to the country's national assembly peace require the formation of a govern­ in Ayagualo in November of the same It has responded to workers' strikes with August 13. ment of national consensus. year. Both meetings reached accords that antiriot battalions. It has planted bombs Duarte proposed a meeting with the and weapons in the offices of humanitarian 6. The FMLN is a movement with na­ established a commitment to continue the FMLN and Revolutionary Democratic organizations. It continues forced recruit­ tional roots, with its rearguard inside the dialogue without preconditions. Front (FDR) on. September 15. The next These accords ·.were later violated and ment to the army. It compels working country, with enormous popular support day, the FMLN and FDR issued a joint people to pay for the war, imposing starva­ acknowledged even by the enemy, and scrapped by Duarte. The FMLN then car­ statement saying they would attend the tion wages, refusing to make even mini­ with its own political program; this clearly ried out actions that forced the government September 15 meeting. mum concessions, and repressing them. demonstrates the existence of dual political to hold meetings in which important and The translation from Spanish and sub­ effective agreements were reached, includ­ It maintains and utilizes a judicial sys­ heads are by the Militant. and military power in El Salvador. Our forces depend on the people; we are neither ing procedures for evacuating those tem that prosecutes and jails working people who denounce corruption or raise based on nor dependent on outside support. wounded in the war. * * * Resolutions by the United Nations Gen­ legitimate demands. · I . We have always viewed favorably ef­ The essence and strength of the FMLN is eral Assembly and the Movement of On the other hand, it makes no effort to forts aimed at attaining a just and durable based on its support from and incorporation peace in our region. of the people; it represents their interests, Nonaligned Countries, as well as state­ find or prosecute those who murdered ments by governments and international Monsignor [Oscar] Romero, or the soldiers 2. The agreement reached in Guatemala and it is this that assures the FMLN's un­ political forces have recognized and sup­ who have conducted countless massacres is a political victory for the Sandinista stoppable drive to victory. People's Revolution. The Nicaraguan contras, in contrast, are ported the dialogue initiated in El Salvador and crimes against the people. between the FMLN-FDR and the govern­ It is based on recognition of the revolu­ an instrument created from the outside by 10. The FMLN accuses before world tion's legitimacy, which signifies recogni­ the Reagan administration to attack the ment. These same forces have continually called for renewal of the talks. Everyone public opinion Duarte's government of tion of the right of the people of Nicaragua people of Nicaragua and destabilize their asking Reagan for more and better helicop­ to self-determination and, more con­ revolution. It has its rearguard in Hon­ ters and planes, more bombs and rockets, cretely, of their right to carry out the popu­ duras; it is created, financed, and run by more infantry weapons, and millions of lar and democratic revolution our peoples the U.S. government against the will of the dollars more in funding. need. Honduran people and could not survive Reagan has already promised all this and For eight years Reagan and his puppets without this foreign support. Herein lies its has also ordered military maneuvers to be have tried without success to overthrow the weakness and the certainty of its definitive carried out shortly on both sides of the bor­ Sandinista People's Revolution, imposing defeat. der between El Salvador and Honduras. great sacrifices, destruction, and death on Thus it is absolutely false and totally un­ Troops from the United States, El Sal­ the heroic Nicaraguan people. acceptable to try to establish any similarity vador, and Honduras are to participate. And although the Guatemala accord between the FMLN and the Nicaraguan Reagan is blocking the search for peace does not by itself have the real capacity to contras. in Central America, pressuring the Hondu­ halt the mercenary aggression, it is an in­ ran army to become involved in the war disputable political defeat for the arrogant, U.S. intervention in Central America against the FMLN, and manipulating both interventionist line of the present U.S. ad­ 7. The main factors in the conflict in the government and military high com­ ministration - a reversal that undercuts its Central America are deep social injustice mand of El Salvador. immediate efforts to obtain congressional and U.S. imperialist intervention. It is the 11. We call on all our people to demand funding for the contras. United States that has forced mercenary of Duarte a general amnesty for political 3. The Guatemala accord is the logical bases and U.S . troops on Honduras, that is prisoners and for those who have "disap­ result of the profound weakening Reagan's directly carrying out aggression against Salvadoran President Jose Napoleon peared"; respect for the freedoms and policy has suffered in Central America. Nicaragua, and that props up a puppet gov­ Duarte dismissed FMLN proposal. rights of working people to organize them­ The Nicaraguan people have dealt the ernment and a genocidal war of counterin­ selves and fight for their interests; a halt to Somozaist mercenaries a strategic defeat. surgency against the people ofEl Salvador. knows Duarte is responsible for the break­ the repression and murders; and reopening And in El Salvador the revolutionary pro­ The continuation of imperialist aggres­ down in the talks. of the dialogue with the FDR-FMLN. cess headed by the FMLN cannot be halted sion forces our people to continue fighting The dialogue that has already begun We call on the entire Salvadoran people despite the $3 billion the United States has until the enemy is totally defeated, because should continue on the basis of the same to deepen their political, trade union, and invested in this effort during a seven-year without this there can be no genuine, just, agreements that governed the talks in the armed struggle. We call on them to join war of counterinsurgency. and durable peace. The efforts of the Nica­ past and won for them both international and intensify the people's revolutionary As a consequence, Reagan's two main raguan people to defeat the contras, along and national recognition and support. war so long as this situation does not puppet forces in the region - the Napo­ with the struggles of the Salvadoran and In this connection we state that we are change, so long as there is no dialogue and leon Duarte government and the Somozaist other sister peoples, continue to be the fun­ prepared immediately to meet with Jose negotiation toward a just and sovereign mercenaries - !)ave been radically weak­ damental factors for attaining peace - so Napoleon Duarte - here or abroad, in peace. ened and have no perspective for survival. we must redouble our efforts in this regard. public or in private - with an agenda in­ We call on all our people and our com­ It is the people of Nicaragua and El Sal­ The Guatemala accord will be ineffec­ cluding such points as the following: batants to resist and defeat the escalation of vador, through their sacrifices and blood, tive in attaining peace if U.S. intervention • A halt on both sides to external logis­ the war of counterinsurgency Reagan is im­ who have been mainly responsible for this and aggression in Central America is not tical support. posing on our country. We call on the important result. halted. It is the Reagan administration that • A cease-fire. people to continue advancing, so as to open is really on trial now.. After learning about • Comprehensive negotiations, at least the road to peace. Crisis of Duarte regime the accord signed by the presidents, this on the 18 points regarding humanization 12. At the same time, the FMLN calls on 4. Napoleon Duarte was forced to sign administration said it would continue sup­ and reduction of the economic impact of the peoples of Latin America and the the Guatemala accord because of the pro­ porting the contras. And on their part, the the war, a proposal we made at the end of world, on all governments, political found political and military weakness of contra leaders have declared that they in­ May but that still has not received an offi­ forces, and international organizations that his government, in a country that finds it­ tend to continue the aggression. cial response. desire peace, to understand the realsitua­ self immersed in the deepest economic, po­ Accordingly, everyone who supports the We will soon submit a concrete proposal tion in our country and to put pressure on litical, and social crisis of its history, amid Guatemala accord should demand of the to the government for facilitating renewal the U.S. government to cease its policy of extensive and growing popular discontent. U.S. government that it immediately cease of the dialogue. escalating warfare in El Salvador; to press At the moment of his greatest weakness, its intervention and aggression in Central the Duarte government to reopen the pro­ Napoleon Duarte is ingenuously seeking to America. The quest for peace in our region Government repression continues cess of dialogue and negotiation, and to use a transparent diplomatic maneuver to today requires this kind of realistic ap­ 9. It is irrational to invoke the Gua­ continue participating until accords are isolate and defeat the FMLN - something proach, this kind of moral and political temala accords, as Duarte is now doing, to reached that will bring the just peace the he has not and never will be able to accom­ . consistency. Calling for peace without impose conditions and evade a dialogue. Salvadoran people yearn for, demand, and plish with either troops, political tricks, or halting U.S. intervention and aggression These accords are inspired by the quest merit.

September 11, 1987 The Militant 9 South African·miners make gains in strike

Continued from front page work has been described in the big-busi­ death rates in the world. An estimated 800 ness press as an "economic" victory for the miners were killed in mine accidents in mineowners. But representatives of the South Africa in 1986 alone. mining companies have not been in a hurry The dangers facing miners were under­ to gloat over the outcome. lined by a mine disaster the day after the Naas Steenkamp, president of the strike ended. Five miners were killed and Chamber of Mines, commented that the 42 were missing after an explosion in a strike has led to "greater realism on both gold mine near the town of Welkom in the sides. The employer has learned that the Orange Free State. union has muscle, organizational capacity, In deciding to end the strike, the NUM determination, and skill. The union has agreed to accept a settlement offer by the learned that the employer can be flexible, representative of the mineowners, the but can also set the limits and stick to South African Chamber of Mines. Al­ them." though the exact details of the settlement Some mineowners have hinted at the are not yet available, it is reported to be need for deeper concessions in the structure similar to one rejected by the miners four of apartheid, including the migratory days earlier. worker system. According to the Sep­ In response to that rejection, the mine­ tember 1 New York Times, "A senior indus­ owners stepped up their attacks on work­ try figure said the best bulwark against ers, including physical assaults by private future strikes was a better-paid, better-edu­ security forces. Anglo American, the cated, and smaller force of workers, largest mining company, announced it accommodated in family housing." would take "harsh measures against the Robert Godsell, chief negotiator for miners." Anglo American, expressed uneasiness: "We had to follow a certain path. I think 40,000 fired we followed it very reluctantly. Over the next few days, several mines "None of my colleagues are going to be were closed. Some 40,000 miners had been celebrating victory here today," he sum­ fired. Miners at Anglo American's West­ med up. Miners demonstrating in Johannesburg during South African strike em Deep Levels mine began a sit-down strike when they were forced out of their hostels and down into the mine shaft at gunpoint by company security forces. Kentucky miners face frame-up charges Nine miners were killed, 300 wounded, and more than 400 arrested over the course BY DUNCAN WILLIAMS wards, police snipers in camouflage gear and against Samoyed. Massey hired an of the strike. CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Nearly were seen coming down from the hills army of gun thugs and scabs to try to break During the strike, the apartheid regime three years after the beginning of the around the miners' homes. the strike at its mines in southern West Vir­ announced new emergency powers to cen­ United Mine Workers strike against A.T. From the time of the arrests until the ginia and eastern Kentucky. At the strike's sor the press. These would augment the Massey Coal Co. and Samoyed Energy, evening of the next day, family members end, Massey refused to allow some union more than 100 measures restricting the five union members are facing a frame-up were unable to find out where the miners activists to return to their jobs. Most of the press already established under a 14- in federal court. were being held. disputed questions in the strike remain un­ month-old state of emergency decree. Only one defendant, Irving Smith, has Under the terms of the one-year agree­ In early August, a federal grand jury in resolved. been allowed to post bond. The other four ment, miners would receive 15 to 23.4 per­ eastern Kentucky charged United Mine A court ruled that Samoyed did not have are in jail in Lexington, Kentucky. U.S. cent in wages, which had been conceded Workers of America (UMWA) Local 2496 to rehire union miners when it bought a by the mineowners prior to the strike. In President Donnie Thornsbury, his cousin Magistrate Joe Hood refused to set bond Kentucky mine from Sharondale Corp. in addition, death benefits paid to families of David Thornsbury, James and Irving. for them, claiming the community would late 1984. Sixty-eight UMWA members miners killed on the job would be increased Smith, and Arnold Heightland with "con­ be endangered by their release. The trial is are still fighting to get their jobs back at scheduled to begin October 6. to the equivalent of three years' pay. Holi­ spiracy to damage and disable motor vehi­ that mine. day pay would be increased by 10 percent. cles used in interstate commerce." Family and friends of the victims are be­ The government and the coal operators In announcing the decision of the union The frame-up stems from the shooting ginning to organize a defense effort. are trying to use these prosecutions to in­ to end the strike, Ramaphosa said, "We death of Hayes West, a nonunion tf!Jck These miners are targeted for being ac­ timidate union members as they prepare for haven't won all the demands we sought to driver, on May 29, 1985. tivists in the 1984-85 strikes against Mas­ the expiration of contracts in the eastern win. We have won valuable experience. The methods used in arresting the miners sey, the fifth-largest U.S. coal producer, coalfields in early 1988. This strike was a dress rehearsal for further show the real purpose of the prosecution. action; 1988 is already set as the year when Instead of allowing them to tum them­ the union makes gains." selves in, FBI agents and Kentucky state He added that the companies had given police surrounded their homes at 7:00a.m. Arms train runs over antiwar vet assurances they would rehire the miners as on August 7. Dressed in full riot gear, the Continued from front page told the Militant, "It wasn't the engineer" part of the agreement and that the union cops handcuffed the defendants and drag­ go to that country over the next five who was at fault. "It was the navy. That's would take legal action if the companies re­ ged them away. months. They will help rebuild a clinic de­ indicative of the way the military functions neged. In at least one case, a miners' wife was stroyed by U.S. -backed contra mercenaries in Central America and gets away with it." The decision of the miners to retl.lm to held at gunpoint during the arrest. After- in San Jose de Bocay, the Nicaraguan vil­ Captain Cagle has tried to blame Will­ lage where U.S. volunteer Benjamin Lin­ son, claiming that the protesters jumped der was killed by contras in April. onto the track while the train was just 40 Subscribe to 'Perspectiva Mundial' Willson had served as an army intelli­ feet away. But organizers, witnesses, gence officer in Vietnam during the late photos, and a videotape show that this P.R. fighters speak from jail 1960s. He was assigned to go into villages wasn't true. The protesters were on the after they had been bombed with white tracks long before the train arrived. As a reader of the Militant you phosphorous. The Naval Weapons Station Brian Willson, in his T-shirt with "Wage are familiar with our weekly at Concord ships white phosphorous peace" printed on the back, sat on the coverage of the struggles of bombs to El Salvador. track. Veteran Duncan Murphy and a working people around the Protesters had been maintaining an al­ minister, David Duncomb, stood on the world. Nicaragua ofrece paz, most daily vigil at Concord, which is 40 tracks behind him. Still others behind them If you can read or are studying EU hace Ia guerra miles east of here, for many weeks. Will­ held high a banner across the tracks. Spanish, there is a complemen­ son sent a letter to the base commander on August 21 explaining their plans for the Murphy and Duncomb were able to tary monthly magazine for you: jump clear. Witnesses say that the train ac­ Perspectiva Mundial. PM is a September I protest. He also called the base commander repeatedly but couldn't celerated as it approached the protesters. Spanish-language socialist mag­ get through. A fire truck and police cars arrived al­ azine that carries many of the most immediately, but a witness reported same articles you read in the At 10:30 a.m., September 1 the Nurem­ that it took almost 45 minutes for the am­ bulance to arrive. Willson was taken to the Militant. EU burg Action Group (NAG) held an inter­ Habla lider faith service in Concord, followed by a hospital. The September issue of PM de sindk:ato news conference at which they again an­ ampesinoen About 60 people attended an emergency features an interview with Juez prohibe al nounced their plans. el eswtode planning meeting that evening to discuss Filiberto Ojeda Rios and ·Juan Washington FBI usar archivos Willson explained in his statement to the how to respond. A news conference was Segarra Palmer, two of the 16 sobre socialistas news conference, "One thing seems clear: scheduled and a demonstration called for once the train carrying the munitions fighters for Puerto Rican inde­ Saturday, September 5 at noon, in Con­ moves past our human blockade, if it does, pendence who are being framed cord's Clyde Park. Subscriptions: $9 for one year; other human beings irr other parts of the up by the FBI. Vets groups, Central America solidarity $5 for six months; Introductory world will be killed and maimed. We are organizations, students, and other people Although no court has proven offer, $3.00 for five months. not worth more, they are not worth less. I attended the meeting. Others pledged to them guilty of anything, Ojeda have to say you cannot move these D Begin my sub with current conduct a vigil at the weapons station and and Segarra have been in jail for weapons without moving my body." more than two years, without issue. were there by early the next morning. Name ______Marilyn Coffey and Bob Lasalle from "These protests are now even more im­ the right to bail and with no trial NAG informed many base personnel about portant," said Pledge of Resistance mem­ date in sight. Address ______the plans. They explained that the rest of ber Nygren. "This is a crucial time because In the interview, the two de­ City/State/Zip ______the day would go peacefully because they of the [Central America] peace talks going fendants explain their struggle are a nonviolent group. They also left a let­ on. If peace is to be won it will be because and the stakes for U.S. working Clip and mail to PM, 410 West ter from Willson with the gate commander of the people of Central America and mass­ people in this fight. St., New York, NY 10014. after the base commander, Capt. Lonnie es of people in this country protesting and Cagle, refused to see them. demanding an end to the war .. Otherwise Bill Nygren of the Pledge of Resistance there will be no peace."

10 The Militant September 11, 1987 India gov't fuels unrest in Punjab

Since the Militant received the following Punjab were to be transferred to Haryana in article on the imposition of "President's lieu of this. (Most Sikhs are Punjabi-speak­ Rule" in the Indian state of Punjab last ing.) May, the crisis of India's ruling Congress Party has deepened. Never a solution In mid-June the Congress Party won The accord was never a solution to the only 5 of 90 seats in the Haryana state leg­ Punjab problem, but it would, if properly islature. Haryana was a longtime Congress implemented, have reduced tensions, stronghold. It marked the lOth loss at the checked the growing alienation of Sikhs, state level for the Congress since Rajiv weakened the thrust towards Khalistan, Gandhi became prime minister in 1984. and thus bought time and space for the con­ The most serious problem for the Con­ struction of a genuine anti communal front. gress and India's rulers remains the situa­ Such a front would attack Hindu and tion in Punjab, home of some 12 million Sikh communalism as well as the com­ Sikhs in the north of India. There are 16 munalism of all political parties, especially million people of the Sikh faith among that of the ruling Congress Party and of the India's nearly 800 million people. Under Akali Dal, the party of the Sikh rich President's Rule, the central government in peasantry of Punjab. The Akali Dal , New Delhi takes direct control of all state through pandering to communal fears, had affairs, replacing the elected government. also obtained the support of other sections The state assembly is suspended and a gov­ of the Sikh community, including landless Sikh separatists in Punjab occupied Golden Temple, center of their religious hierar­ ernor appointed by the prime minister is laborers, urban traders, and professionals . chy, in 1984. Government crushed occupation by attacking temple, taking many put in charge. The Akali Dal was itself divided into dif­ lives. M. Navid, a leader of the Revolutionary ferent factions. There was a "moderate" Communist Organization of India, discuss­ faction headed by Surjit Singh Barnala (the es why the Congress imposed President's successor to Longowal) who was chief Rule and the general political situation in minister of Punjab before being removed Punjab today. by President's Rule. -WORLD NEWS BRIEFS-- Other political factions were willing to forms of industrial action" voted by the * forge links with Sikh fundamentalist * * S. Korea rulers agree membership would initially take the groupings of various kinds, including BYM. NAVID to new constitution form of refusing to work overtime. BOMBAY, India - The imposition of armed militants. The new disciplinary code follows in President's Rule in Punjab on May 11 did The Barnala government, which came to The authoritarian regime of President the wake of a defeat suffered by the Na­ not come as a surprise. · power through popular elections in Sep­ Chun Doo Hwan in South Korea arrived tional Union of Mineworkers in a hard­ Far from helping to contain and reduce tember 1985, never had any chance of at an agreement with the principal op­ fought yearlong strike that ended in polarization between Sikhs and Hindus in stabilizing its position. The Center was position c~pitalist party on the draft of a 1985. Punjab, direct rule by the central govern- never serious about implementing the ac­ new constitution. Under the code, miners can be fired cord, which alone would have given some The agreement was a product of the for participating in various forms of credibility to the Barnala government and giant demonstrations for democratic union activity- on or off the job-that enabled it to widen its base among Sikhs at rights that gripped the country in June the board does not approve of. the expense of the Sikh militant groups, in­ and the explosion of strike struggles that The code would require that in disci­ cluding supporters of Khalistan. These followed. plinary cases, miners submit to a lengthy forces had once again begun to assert their The draft constitution would provide appeals process before an industrial dominance within the Golden Temple - for direct election of the president, put board rather than having the case settled seat of the religious hierarchy - and the some restraint on presidential powers, more quickly by a traditional "pit um­ Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Com­ and add to the authority of the legisla­ pire." · mittee (SGPC), the supreme religious body ture. It would also give the coal board the of Sikhs. The Akali Dal is financially de­ Meanwhile, the regime, deeply fear- . right to reject a fired worker's choice of pendent on the SGPC. ful of a labor-student alliance, made a union representative in the grievance Why has the Center imposed President's new round of arrests. procedure. Rule? For the first time since the . govern­ In a solid display of their traditional Unwilling to seriously implement the ment promised democratic reforms , key militancy, the miners voted 51 ,682 to 1985 Punjab Accord, it has nothing else to student activists were jailed. One group 15,155 to fight this. fall back on except police repression led by was charged with inciting labor dis­ NUM President Arthur Scargill sa­ India's "supercop" Julius Ribeiro , who has putes. luted the ballot result as "a magnificent an unmatched reputation for ruthlessness. Since the beginning of this year, there vote of support for the union's policy." There can be no doubt that the principal have been 2,000 strikes, eight times as Sikh marchers protest discrimination reason for imposing President's Rule was many as in all of 1986. Of these, 1400 to pander to Hindu communalism. have been settled, and 600 are in prog­ French colonial cops ment is guaranteed to make the situation Congress has lost several state elections ress . Half of the 2,000 strikes came in worse as the forces of "law and order" are recently. Because of corruption scandals, the four-week period ending August 25. club Kanak protesters let loose to carry out mass repression on a the credibility of the central government Fueled by an average wage of $1.75 greater scale than ever. This will further and Congress Party are at an all-time low. an hour, an average workweek of 57 Using truncheons and tear gas, French alienate the Sikh masses from the state and The government has said that Presi­ hours, and widespread imposition of cops assaulted 300 participants in a thereby push them to support those sections dent's Rule is temporary until "law and company unions, the strikes have hit all peaceful, proindependence sit-in in New of the Sikh militants who argue that the order" is restored. sectors of the economy, including such Caledonia August 22, injuring 23 only solution to their grievances is the for­ huge industrial complexes as the Hyun­ people. Four days later, 800 protesters mation of a separate country ruled by a Anticommunal front dai Motor Co., manufacturer of the defied a ban on demonstrations and Sikh theocracy - Khalistan. But the fundamental problems of Punjab Excel car, and the Daewoo Shipbuilding marched, without incident, in the capital The Punjab Accord signed in July I 985 remain untouched. No communal force, and Heavy Machinery Co. city of Noumea. by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sant which means the existing bourgeois parties The Hyundai strike ended when the The protest actions were led by the Harchand Singh Longowal, leader of the of the state, can successfully decom­ company agreed to negotiate the work­ Kanak Socialist National Liberation "moderates" in the Sikh Akali Dal Party, is munalize the situation or fairly address the ers' demand for a union of their choice. Front (FLNKS), which is fighting to end as good as dead . The accord was in some grievances and fears of both Hindus and (A September 2 report said the workers French colonial rule over the South respects a concession to Sikh com­ Sikhs of Punjab (Sikhs are 52 percent of walked out again, charging the company Pacific island. munalism (religious-based sectarianism) as the state's population.) had reneged on its commitment.) The FLNKS is conducting a boycott represented by the Akali Dal. Neither the pro-Khalistan forces nor the At Daewoo, a settlement was an­ drive against a slated September 13 The acccord, however, also recognized openly Hindu communal organizations, nounced August 27 in a baltle that began French-organized plebiscite on the issue certain genuine grievances of not just Sikhs which are growing in Punjab and Haryana, as a lockout of the workers. It is not of independence for New Caledonia. but of Punjab itself, and promised to re­ will be curbed, let alone defeated. Only the clear if the settlement has been accepted The referendum is rigged to assure a dress these. construction of a truly secular, anti com­ by the workers at the company's Koje Is­ vote against independence. The Kanak Thus a commission was to be set up to munal front can point a way out of this land shipyard, where a unionist had been people, whose country it is, now com­ investigate the anti-Sikh riots that took morass. killed by shrapnel from a police tear gas prise a reported 43 percent ofthe popula­ place in New Delhi and other towns when In recent months, in parts of Punjab grenade. tion . French colonial settlers make up then-prime minister Indira Gandhi was as­ there has been something of a revival in most of the remainder. sassinated in late 1984. Several thousand genuine anticommunal activities- for ex­ British miners vote In the referendum, all those who have Sikhs lost their lives. ample, street plays, demonstrations against been resident for three years - ·includ­ According to the accord, a tribunal communal violence and killings, unity ac­ against antiunion rules ing French civil servants and soldiers would adjudicate on the distribution of the tivities between Hindus and Sikhs in vil­ temporarily stationed there - would be waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers to the lages in which members of major left par­ British coal miners have taken a reso­ permitted to vote, guaranteeing the out­ three states of Punjab, Haryana, and Raja­ ties, including the two Communist parties, lute stand against union-busting moves come. sthan, which adjoin each other. Those ar­ have played a prominent part. by the board of the government-owned The FLNKS wants a referendum "in rested in the Sikh's Golden Temple at the The success of these actions has made coal industry. By a 77 percent majority, which only the colonized people are time of the 1984 Operation Bluestar assault communist members targets of the pro­ the miners authorized their leadership to asked for their view on the future of their by the central government were to be re­ Khalistan armed groups, leading to the rise take job action against a harsh new dis­ country." leased. Chandigarh, the dual capital of in the number of leftists assassinated. But it ciplinary code the coal board is trying to At the same time, the movement de­ Haryana and Punjab, was to be transferred also testifies to the still deep bonds of unity impose. clared it was ready to discuss with offi­ to Punjab in fulfillment of a promise made and solidarity that exist between ordinary The union vote was announced Au­ cials "the possibility of long-term by the central government as long ago as Hindus and Sikhs, especially in the villages gust 24. It is assumed that the "various settlers taking part in the referendum." 1970. Contiguous Hindi-speaking areas in and small towns of Punjab.

September 11, 1987 The Militant 11 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------

Watch it, the cops! -In the birthday party, Prince William of the official residence to accom­ rates accordingly. comes on the heels of a dental Mexico City earthquake, a police Britain had a high old time tossing modate 30 suits and 84 pairs of finding that yuppies, inexplicably, station collapsed and a group of food around. Pressed to pick up shoes, including 50 of Gucci loaf­ Looking good-It was, admit­ are more prone to trench mouth. cops was transferred to temporary after himself, he screamed, ers. His spouse needed 42 feet of tedly, a bit beyond our budget, but headquarters in a middle-class "When I'm king, I'm going to apparel space, plus room for 100 we checked it out. Matching hand­ Figures don't lie •.. - In a send my knights round to kill pairs of shoes. bag and shoes in lizard, snake or somewhat candid report entitled you." crocodile, $368. Then we looked a "Uncertainties and Bias in Budget Wears better - If you think bit closer - "embossed to look Projections" the Congressional Ultimate fulfillment - B.F. it's just people who get messed up like ...." Budget Office conceded that so far Skinner, the behaviorist psycholo­ by big-city life, consider the find­ m the 1980s, Congress has gist, says labor-saving devices de­ ing that urban pigeons, in seeking Please hold?-We don't know "underestimated" the yearly def­ Harry prive people of small satisfactions. a nesting spot, are especially par­ why someone who can afford one icit by an average of $44 billion. Ring For instance, dishwashers. If you tial to outdoor carpeting made to would want to carry it, but In 1983, it was under by $91 bil­ wash a dish by hand, he opines, look like grass. Panasonic is offering a transport­ lion. "you've accomplished something. able cellular phone, with shoulder area. Now the residents are angrily You've done something that gives Now will you stop complain­ strap and case. Under $2,000. He has a beef alright - Last demanding they get out. The you a pleasing result." ing?- To provide better service, week we reported that John Pow­ neighborhood's been hit with a ris­ imagewise, the post office has as­ Great for gargling - Ginseng ell, a work-release inmate in Bar­ ing crime wave, including as­ For kicks -It's said that when signed window clerks and phone Cola will be imported from China tow, Florida was hit with an added saults, theft of car parts, shake­ the going gets tough, the tough go operators to take Dale Carnegie and aimed at the yuppie market. 15-year term for smuggling eight downs, and drunken rowdyism by shopping. Like Imelda Marcos' courses (How to Win Friends and Ginseng reportedly enhances cans of "beef' into jail Xmas eve. the cops. shoe sprees. Or, Canadian right­ Influence People). Meanwhile, health and sexual potency. It's That was the work of a typo­ wing Prime Minister Brian Mul­ the plan is to hike the 22-cent probably coincidence, but an­ graphical gremlin. It was eight Royal blood - At his fifth roney. He ordered closet space at stamp to 25 cents and raise other nouncement of the new product cans of beer. -CALENDAR------MARYLAND MISSOURI p.m. 141 Halsey St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: November 29th Committee for Palestine, New Baltimore St. Louis Militant Labor Forum. For more information York South Africa Solidarity Coalition, call (201) 643-3341 . Socialist Workers Party, Patrice Lumumba Co­ Solidarity With the South African Freedom Central America Peace Accords: People of Haiti: An Eyewitness Report. Speakers: Art alition, S.O.S. Racism, Westchester People's Struggle. Speakers: Dumi Matabane, represen­ the Americas Say No to U.S. War. Panel of Young, reporter for the Militant newspaper; Action Coalition. tative of the African National Congress of South speakers followed by discussion. Translation to Merceda Rigaud, Haitian Community Services Africa; Annapolis Councilman Carl Snowden, Spanish. Sat., Sept. 12, 7 p.m, 4907 Martin of Irvington. Translation to Spanish and OREGON recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Luther King Dr. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Mili­ French. Sat., Sept. 12, 7:30p.m. 141 Halsey South Africa; G.I. Johnson, member Local tant Labor Forum. For more information call Portland St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor 2610, United Steelworkers of America Civil (314) 361-0250. The U.S. and Central America: A Confer­ Forum. For more information call (201) 643- ence in the Spirit of Ben Linder. First Congre­ Rights Committee. Sat., Sept. 12, 7:30p.m. Revolt in South Korea: Korean People Chal­ 3341. gational Church, SW Park and Madison. Fri., Preforum dinner, 6 p.m. 2913 Greenmount lenge Dictatorship. Panel followed by discus­ The Havana Bienal: A Discussion. Hear the Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27. Benefit Ave. Donation requested. Sponsor: Militant sion. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Sept. 19, viewpoints of artists who support the revolu­ feast with conference speakers, Sat., 6-8 p.m. Labor Forum. For more information call (301) 7 p.m. 4907 Martin Luther King Dr. Donation: tionary process in Cuba and who attended the Donation: $12-$30. Proceeds from conference 235-0013. $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more Bienal, a show with works by more than 800 information call (314) 361-0250. go to the Ben Linder Memorial Fund. Sponsor: MASSACHUSETTS artists from Latin America and the Caribbean. Portland Central America Solidarity Commit­ Speakers: Mike Alewitz, Newark artist and di­ tee, others. For more information call (503) Boston rector of Pathfinder mural project; New York 236-7463. Discussion on the Government's Antidrug, NEW JERSEY artists Marina Gutierrez (a Bienal prize-win­ Antiyouth Campaign. Translation to Spanish. Newark ner), Juan Sanchez, and Willie Birch. Sat., WEST VIRGINIA Wed., Sept. 9, 7 p.m. 605 Massachusetts Ave. Issues in the Debate Over AIDS. Speaker: Sept. 19, 7:30p.m. 141 Halsey St. Donation: Morgantown Sponsor: Young Socialist Alliance. For more Margaret Jayko, editor of the Militant newspa­ $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more Plant Closings, Union-busting: What Can information call (617) 247-6772. per. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Sept. 5, 7:30 information call (201) 643-3341. Working People Do? A panel discussion. Sat., Sept. 12, 7:30p.m. 221 Pleasant St. Donation: NEW YORK $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more Midwest activists .... Manhattan information call (304) 296-0055. What Are the Haitian People Fighting For? attend a Discussion and eyewitness report. Speakers: Art Young, reporter for the Militant newspaper, recently returned from Haiti; representative Socialist Conference from Haiti Progres. Translation to Spanish and in Austin, Minn. French. Fri., Sept. II , 7:30 p.m. 79 Leonard St. Donation: $3 Sponsor: Militant Labor Sun., Sept. 6 & Mon., Sept. 7 Forum/Foro Perspectiva Mundial. For more in­ formation call (212) 226-8445. Presentations: New York City Cuba: a Historic Turning · No to apartheid tennis! Close the U.S. Open 50 Years of a Domestic Tennis Match to Apartheid! Sanctions against Point Speaker: Mary-Alice Contra Operation Speaker: apartheid tennis are sanctions against the apart­ Waters, Socialist Workers Joe Swanson, .Midwest labor heid system! Demonstrations on Sat., Sept. 5, Party Political Committee. re­ 1-3 p.m. ; and Sun., Sept. 13, 3-6p.m. Assem­ spokesperson for the Political ble at Flushing Meadows Park Tennis Stadium, cently attended the Third Con­ Rights Defense Fund. .M.on .. just off Shea Stadium Station. Take No. 7 gress of the Cuban Communist Sept. 7. 10 a.m. Picnic to follow Train. For more information call Gerald Home, NICARAGUA Party. Sun .. Sept. 6, 8 p.m. at 1 p.m. coordinator of the Ad Hoc Committee to Op­ pose Apartheid in U.S. Tennis, at (212) 828- The Sandinista People's Revolution Directions: From l-90 take Exit 177 North. drive 1.7 2696. Speeches by and interviews with All events at The Cedars. Sponsors: South African Council on Sport, miles. Tum right at billboard and go 0.6 miles. then left and go 0.9 miles. Make second leaders of the Nicaraguan revolution. left at The Cedars sign. Tennis Association of South Africa, South Afri­ can Non-racial Olympic Committee, American To order send $8.95, plus $.75 postage Sponsored by the .Militant Labor forum. for more information call in Austin, (507) Committee on Africa, Brooklynites Against and handling, to Pathfinder Press, 433-3 461: in Des Moines. Iowa, (5 15) 246-1695: in Omaha. Neb.. (402) 553-0245. Apartheid, Communications Workers of Amer­ 410 West St. , New York, N.Y. 10014. ica Local 1180, National Rainbow Coalition, -If YOU tiKE THIS PAPER, lOOK US UP Where to rmd the Socialist Workers Party, St. NW, 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577- 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0224. SWP, YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder 4065. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther 19133. Tel: (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, bookstores. ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S. King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361-0250. YSA, 402 N. Highland Ave. Zip: 15206. Tel: Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326- NEBRASKA: Omaha: SWP, YSA, 140 S. (412) 362-6767. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 5853 or 326-5453. 40th St. Zip: 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 1306 1st Ave. N. Zip: 35203. Tel: (205) 323- INDIANA: Muncie: YSA, c/o Scott Shaf­ NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. TeL (512) 452-3923. 3079. froth, 1125 W. Marsh St. Zip: 47303. Tel: (317) Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. Houston: SWP, YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1809 282-2996. NEW YORK: Albany: YSA c/o Lisa Sand­ Tel: (713) 522-8054. Lubbock: YSA, c/o Amy W. Indian School Rd. Zip: 85015. Tel: (602) IOWA: Des Moines: SWP, YSA, 2105 For­ berg, 120 Lark St. Zip: 12210. Tel: (518) Waugh, 2202 22nd St. , Apt. B. Zip: 79411. 279-5850. est Ave. Zip: 50311. Tel: (515) 246-1695. 463-8001. Mid-Hudson: YSA, Box 650, UTAH: Piice: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, WUISIANA: Baton Rouge: YSA, 4264 Annandale. Zip: 12504. Tel: (914) 758-0408. Ave., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- Oxford Ave. #4,Zip:70808. Tel: (504)766-0510. New York: SWP, YSA, 79 Leonard St. Zip: (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E 14th St. New Orleans: YSA, c/o Ray Medina, 730 Penis­ 10013. Tel: (212) 219-3679 or 925-1668. Path­ 147 E. 900 South. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) 355- Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: ton St. Zip: 70115. Tel: (504) 899-5094. finder Books, 226-8445. Rome: YSA, c/o Cos­ 1124. SWP, YSA, 2803 B St. Zip: 92102. Tel: (619) MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 mos Andoloro, 7172 Rickmeyer Rd. Zip: 13440. VIRGINIA: Portsmouth: YSA, P.O. Box 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 Greenrnount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235- Stony Brook: YSA, P.O. Box 1384, Patchogue, 6538, Churchland Station. Zip: 23707. 23rd St. Zip: 9.4110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. San 0013. N.Y. Zip: 11772. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, Jose: SWP, YSA, 461f2 Race St. Zip: 95126. Tel: MASSACHUSETI'S: Boston: SWP, YSA, NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 3165 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Seaside: YSA, P.O. Box 1645. 605 Massachusetts Ave. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) (202)797-7699, 797-7021. Zip: 93955. Tel: (408) 394-1855. Stockton: 247-6772. 272-5996. WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, YSA, c/o Ted Barratt and Gustavo Mendoza, 825 MICIDGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad­ 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: N. San Jose St. Zip: 95203. Tel: (209)941-8544. Woodward Ave. Zip: 48201. Tel: (313)961-0395. dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. (206) 723-5330. COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, Tel: MINNESOTA: Austin: SWP, YSA, 407 Y2 N. Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2521 Market Ave. Zip: WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, (303) 733-3280. Main. Zip: 55912. Tel: (507) 433-3461. North­ 44113. Tel: (216) 861 -6150. ColumBus: YSA, YSA, 116 McFarland St. Zip: 25301. Tel: (304) FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE field: YSA, c/o Heiko Koester and Pat Rombero, P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. Zip: Carlton College. Zip: 55057. Tel: (507) 663- OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. TaUahassee: YSA, 4000, ext. 4570 or 4563. Twin Cities: SWP, Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. 0055. P.O. Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 222- YSA, 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, c/o WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, 4434. 55104. Tel: (612) 644-6325. Mark Mateja, Edinboro University of Pa. Zip: 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132 Cone MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, 16412. Tel: (814) 398-2574. Phlladelphia: 445-2076.

12 The Militant September 11, 1987 Coup· attempt deepens Philippines crisis

Continued from front page break-up of the big landed estates of the hierarchy, and reiterated its continued sup­ Philippine ruling oligarchy. The landless port for Aquino. "The president is gratified peasants are the basis of the widespread and relieved that President Aquino has re­ guerrilla insurgency led by the New solved the crisis faced by her government People's Army. President Aquino's per­ over the past two days," a White House sonal popularity is centered on her promise spokesman said. to bring peace to the countryside through implementing a comprehensive land re­ Revival of protests form. A central reason for Washington's con­ After 18 months of hesitation, Aquino cern was undoubtedly a revival of political finally issued her land reform decree on mobilizations by working people during July 22, a few days before her law-making August. There had been a lull in activity powers were to be transferred to the con­ since the cease-fire between the regime and gress elected in May. the peasant guerrilla movement ended in The main content of the decree was to the January 22 massacre of peasants par­ exclude all peasants "illegally" occupying ticipating in a land march outside the pres­ land from receiving any under the decree, idential palace. The new round of actions and to relegate to the landlord-dominated aimed at forcing Aquino to roll back a stiff · congress the details and scope of land dis­ increase in petroleum prices. tribution, ensuring that no comprehensive Major cities were affected by the pro­ redistribution of the land would receive tests. For instance, militant drivers' strikes legal sanction. For this reason the decree that shut down public transportation were was denounced by peasant organizations reported in areas as diverse as Davao, such as the Peasant Movement of the Cebu, Bicol, and Manila. Philippines (KMP). On August 21 at least 5,000 demonstra­ Nevertheless, the decree met deep hos­ tors rallied outside Aquino's office. tility from a large number of landlords, The protests were spearheaded by the who fear that any land reform measure will May 1 Movement (KMU) labor federation. spur peasants who have already begun to The KMU had launched its campaign a organize and take the land for .themselves month earlier when the oil price rises were following the overthrow of Marcos. first raised. Some landlords have threatened to bring In a July 6 interview with the Militant in down the Aquino government if it proceeds Manila, KMU Chairman Crispin Beltran, with land reform. And this is not an idle had explained that the price increases were threat. Many big landlords control their inseparable from the austerity measures the own private armies and vigilante groups to International Monetary Fund and the \~ subdue the peasants and farm workers. World Bank were imposing on the Philip­ Unions were among targets of coup attempt. Top, Rolando Olalia (right), chairman of In addition, they have direct links to the pines. May 1 Movement union federation murdered last year by army-linked killers, with military, significant sections of the high "The primary object of [the govern­ current chairman Crispin Beltran. Below, President Aquino and army chief Ramos. command being drawn from their ranks. ment's] so-called recovery program now is Individual landlords also often supplement to service the external indebtedness of the soldiers' low pay with bonuses in return for Philippines. And where are they going to tions - and the progovernment Trade tempt, catching the government by sur­ guarding their estates from the guerrillas, get the money to be paid to the foreign Union Congress of the Philippines, climax­ prise. "Instead of preparing its defenses and harassing and killing peasant and union banks in interest and repayments on the ing in the call for a general strike on August against a military mutiny like the one that organizers. debts if they do not increase the prices of 26. erupted early Friday, the Government was In the aftermath of his suppression of the busy making preventative arrests of mili­ military rebellion, Ramos echoed many of commodities so they .can get more in On the eve of the historic strike, Aquino taxes?'' tant labor leaders," the New York Times the themes of the right-wing mutineers. At announced over television that the price in­ commented. a September I press conference he Pledging that the KMU would organize crease would be halved through a reduction criticized the Aquino government for fail­ the broadest possible opposition to any in­ of government taxation on petroleum prod­ Peasants demand land ing to respond strongly enough to demands crease, Beltran said, "The first step is that ucts. But this was not enough to stop the The military mutiny also came in the from within the military to step up attacks we are going to push our demand for an momentum of the protests. The KMU context of deepening divisions within the on the workers and peasants, saying that overall increase in all workers' wages of 10 called for the nationwide strike to proceed, ruling class over how to respond to the this was deepening factionalism within the pesos per day. The president has not acted "It is high time we gave this government a pressure of the millions of landless and armed forces and reducing their ability to on this demand for one and a half years lesson," said a KMU spokesperson. hungry rural Filipinos demanding the combat the peasant insurgency. now. The KMU will spearhead multisec­ According to press reports, significant toral protests against the price hike. Our af­ actions took place despite Aquino calling filiates will stage strikes." out the military in a bid to intimidate the -10 AND 25 YEARS AGO--- protesters. Television footage clearly de­ Call for general strike picted soldiers shooting into groups of pro­ police, who have arrested hundreds of The protests drew in the 1-million­ testers. THE MILITANT Negroes peacefully demonstrating for their strong Labor Advisory and Consultative KMU leaders became a target of govern­ A~..-a.y~ .. ,.__,.C.,_WQIIIWMI~ .. rights, the hooded Klansmen openly Council - through which the KMU is al­ ment repression. Two days after the gen­ Sept.9, 1977 burned huge crosses in front of the state lied with smaller independent l~bor federa- eral strike, Honasan launched his coup at- capitol in Baton Rouge as well as on the MIAMI - On August 15 the Coast Guard grounds of Negro homes and schools. A towed in from offshore a small, creaky Klan spokesman said, "We want everyone sailboat crowded with 65 refugees from to know that the Ku Klux has been reacti­ Marchers: 'Free Hartford 16!' Haiti . The following day 16 more Haitians vated in Louisiana." Continued from back page arrived in a 24-foot boat. KKK racists gathered from Georgia, determination call on the U.S. government These latest 81 refugees, like some consciousness of our people is growing." to end the persecution of the Puerto Rican Alabama, and Florida to attend a rally in a 2,000 others who have arrived in Florida pasture outside Albany, Georgia, the night Hospital and Health Care Employees freedom fighters," read Dube's statement. during the past five years, were rushed District 1199 in New York brought three Other speakers at the rally included New of September 3, on the eve of the opening through processing and sent directly to jail. of public schools in the area. Robert M. busloads of people to the march. District York State Assemblyman Jose Rivera; This all coincided with United Nations 1199 Vice-president Dennis Rivera told the Shelton, an "Imperial Wizard" of the Roger Wareham of the New York 8 + de­ Ambassador Andrew Young's return from crowd, "This case of denial of civil rights KKK, told the crowd of 3,000 that fense case; Bob Gustafson, Leonard Peltier Haiti where he had met with dictator 'Baby is very important. Particularly when eco­ Defense Committee; and Rabab Hadi, "bloodshed" would be involved in the Doc' Jean-Claude Duvalier. Praising Klan's fight against the integration drive of nomic and social conditions are getting November 29 Committee. Duvalier as a sincere man who "wants to critical, and with the increased fights of the Albany's Negroes. Puerto Rico do the right thing," Young claimed there workers, it is important to maintain civil were only 21 political prisoners in the At the same time, a mass meeting of and economic rights. It is in this sense that In a telephone interview from Puerto country. Negroes, sponsored by the Albany Move­ we are working with the committee to ob­ Rico, Militant reporter Ron Richards said Amnesty International lists 255 political ment, was held in a church in the city. The tain the best victory." 3,000 people marched in San Juan. The prisoners by name. It also cites reports meeting greeted 16 religious leaders who Earlier this year the National Congress protest began in the working-class neigh­ from church-related organizations of mas­ had just been released from Albany jails. for Puerto Rican Rights held its convention borhood of Puerto de Tierra and ended with sive use of torture and executions of Hai­ They were part of a group of 70 ministers in Hartford and solidarized with the 16 de­ a rally in front of the federal court. One of tian political dissidents. and laymen from various states who were fendants. Zoilo Torres, president of the the main chants was "Enough of federal arrested August 28 in another of the an­ congress, explained, "We see that the best abuse!" There were banners from several tisegregation demonstrations that have hit protection all our compatriots could have in cities calling for the release of the 16. One Albany since the Movement began last this country" is to build a massive civil banner said, "Yankees go home!" THE November. rights movement to "protect the interests of A number of people wore T -shirts and The meeting resolved to continue the all." hats with slogans expressing solidarity MILITANT struggle and to attempt to integrate Al­ The crowd chanted "Free South Africa" with the people of El Salvador and Nicara­ Published in the Interest• of the Workinq People bany's white high school the following day after a statement was read from Fred Dube gua. Participants included unionists from Sept. 10, 1962 . Price 10c despite Klan threats of violence. On Sep­ of the African National Congress of South the teachers' union, longshoremen's tember 4, 19 Negro youths attempted to en­ Africa. union, and others. Sept. 5 -The Ku Klux Klan is mobiliz­ roll in the high school and junior high but "The United States arrests and detains In San Francisco, 200 people attended ing, burning crosses, and threatening re­ were refused entry by the school princi­ Puerto Ricans who choose self-determina­ an indoor rally. The featured speaker was newed bloody violence against the growing pals. Albany Movement President Dr. W. tion and holds them in detention, denying Elfas Castro Ramos, one of the Hartford Negro mass movement for integration in G. Anderson said a suit to integrate the them political status and instead labeling defendants. His talk focused on the effects the South. Klansmen in Louisiana set school would be filed in the federal courts. them as terrorists. The United States re­ of colonization on the Puerto Rican people crosses afire in over a dozen towns and in Meanwhile, a boycott of downtown stores serves the status of freedom fighter for and the need for independence. Puerto the state capital the night of September I in continues, the local bus line remains closed their own created terrorists, such as the Rican writer Piri Thomas and other artists, anticipation of the fall school term and at­ by boycott, and the city's public parks and contras and the bandits of UNIT A in An­ including a group from Casa Puerto Rico, tempts by Negroes to integrate schools. libraries have also been closed by police to gola. We who believe in freedom and self- also participated in the program. Operating with immunity from the local forestall integration attempts.

September 11, 1987 The Militant 13 -·· .. EDITORIALS------__;__ How Nicaragua fights to save Gov't to blame in AIDS arson environment Those who torched the home of the Ray family in Ar­ statistics I've seen, they only have but five years to live." BY DOUG JENNESS cadia, Florida, because three of the children have the An isolated case of a vicious bigot? No. When the In last week's column on whether or not humanity is AIDS virus are no better than a lynch mob. school boycott was called, the mayor of Arcadia, George doomed by a limited amount of natural resources, Ire­ The arsonists acted August 28 after a collapsed school Smith, joined in by taking his son out of class. ferred to Cuban President Fidel Castro's statement that boycott failed to keep the three children out of class. Trying to justify this, he said, "Unfortunately, the Ray environmental pollution and destruction of natural re­ Announcing that the family was leaving town rather boys have been subject to nosebleeds." sources can't be resolved simply by changing the social than remain at risk, Clifford Ray, the father, said, "I hold The mayor was simply playing on the myth that regime. the politicians and school board responsible for what hap­ hemophiliacs are more prone to external bleeding than Something more is needed than replacing capitalist po­ pened." other people. litical rule with a government of the working people. A He charged that officials had permitted panic to rule In fact, the primary problem of hemophiliacs is inter­ conscious, political effort to organize the producing the town and failed to educate townspeople to the fact nal bleeding. They heal from external cuts or abrasions as classes to begin tackling these problems is needed. that AIDS cannot be transmitted through casual contact. fast as anyone else. The three children - Richard, 10, Robert, 9, and Moreover, children with the AIDS virus are the least Randy, 8 - are hemophiliacs who became infected with likely of all carriers to pass it on to someone else. AIDS the AIDS virus through contamination of blood-clotting cannot be transmitted by casual contact. It is only LEARNING ABOUT medication. They do not have symptoms of the disease. through the entering of infected blood or semen into the Last fall, the school board barred them from class. The bloodstream of another person that transmission occurs. SOCIALISM Ray family fought back, winning a federal court order for Clifford Ray's indictment of Arcadia politicians and their reinstatement. officials applies with even greater force on the national After reading this, one reader reminded me of a speech When school began August 24, there was a boycott. level. by Nicaraguan Sandinista leader Tomas Borge that ap­ At bottom is the scandalous refusal of the government By the end of the week it had collapsed and was called pears in Nicaragua: The Sandinista People's Revolution off. That night, the Ray's home was burned to the in Washington to take meaningful action on AIDS. It re­ (Pathfinder Press, 410 West St. , New York, N.Y. ground. fuses to launch a serious medical and scientific drive 10014. 1985. $7.95.) Earlier, there had been bomb and death threats against against the disease. And it refuses to conduct the kind of In this presentation to the First Seminar for Saving the family. educational campaign that is needed to inoculate people Lake Xolotlan (Lake Managua) in 1982, Borge describes The ugliness of the mood in town was voiced by one against the right-wing propaganda that is being cranked how the lake was severely polluted by manufacturing resident. Speaking of the Ray children, he told a reporter, out around the AIDS issue. Instead, it treats AIDS as a firms and other profiteers under the rule of the Somoza "What's the point of an education for them, huh? They crime and its victims as criminals. family. "We inherit a sick lake, but not mortally sick," he don't need to get an education, because according to This is what fueled the Arcadia arson attack. pointed out. Borge then described what is necessary to save the lake, one of the largest in Latin America. The first condition, he said, was for working people to acquire political power. That "first step," he stated, "has Profit drive erodes air safety been taken with the revolution itself." Following this, he said, it is necessary to look toward Hardly a day passes without one or more accidents or flights. This coincided with cuts in national rail passen­ "creating consciousness of the problem, toward the dis­ near-misses in the skies. ger service, and to a lesser degree, cuts in bus service. cussion and investigation that should be devoted to the The victims of this breakdown in air safety are the mil­ Under this pressure, some airlines folded; others have plan which most meets and coordinates the previously lions who travel by plane, those who live near airports, been forced to merge with stronger competitors. mentioned requirements. It looks toward proposing the and workers at airports and air traffic control centers Air traffic in the United States has increased from 275 most suitable methods and instruments to carry them around the country. million passengers a year in 1978 , to an estimated 450 out." The collapse of the air safety system was brought million this year. And 80 percent of all passengers travel After outlining a number of practical measures that can home on August 16 when 157 people were killed in the through the 40 busiest airports. be taken, Borge continued, "None of these steps -like crash of a Northwest Airlines jet during takeoff from De­ Airport workers, from flight attendants to air traffic all those that our revolution is taking, like the enormous troit. It was the second crash at the Detroit airport in six controllers, have come under sharp attack as the employ­ step that our very revolution signifies - can be taken months. ers fight to speed up work schedules, cut wages, and firmly without the foundation of the people's participa­ In addition to safety problems, air passengers stand a tighten work rules. tion." good chance of having their flights delayed and often The employers also try to maximize profits by squeez­ "Without this role of the people," he continued, "sav­ miss their connections. ing as much work as possible from the fewest number of ing the lake . . . will not be possible." Airline officials, the Federal Aviation Administration workers. The government pointed the way by refusing to Borge's speech is noteworthy in several respects. (FAA), and Democratic and Republican party politicians hire enough air traffic controllers to replace those fired First, it shows that the Sandinista leadership is deeply are quick to blame air traffic controllers, pilots, or when it smashed the Professional Air Traffic Controllers concerned about the spoilation of the environment and ground crews for the safety errors and flight delays. Organization in 1981. has projected making a serious effort to do something Following the Northwest disaster, T. Allan McArtor, Safety is always one of the first things to go out the about it. the new head of the FAA, called a widely publicized window when comers begin to be cut. meeting of 200 pilots to scold them for a lack of "vigi­ Training for controllers, pilots, flight attendants, and Another feature of Borge's speech was his recognition lance in the cockpits." mechanics is rushed and inadequate. that - though science and technology are necessary to But the blame for the breakdown lies squarely with the Little time is allotted for pilots and controllers to be re­ decontaminate the lake and other polluted resources - billionaire families who own the airlines and compete trained on newly introduced equipment. the key is mobilizing the participation of the people. ferociously with each other and their international rivals Supervisors force planes into the air without allowing What's required is political understanding ofthe prob­ for profits. . mechanics ample time to check for damage or to com­ lem and the necessity to correct it, and the collective ef­ And it lies with the federal government that lifted reg­ plete repairs. fort to do whatever possible with the means that are avail­ ulation over airlines in 1978 and continues policies that By loudly protesting government and employer com­ able. aid this profit drive. plicity in attacks on safety, the unions that organize air­ I don't know what progress the Nicaraguan people Following deregulation, each airline tried to increase line workers can set an example for the millions con­ have made in restoring Lake Xolotlan in the last five its share of the market by lowering fares on certain cerned with the breakdown of the air traffic system. years. Perhaps some of our readers know and will write to us about it. I do know from a report last year in Barricada lnterna­ cional, the Sandinistas' English-language weekly pub­ lished in Managua, that the contra war has set back some Smokescreen in Howard Beach case of the country's plans to protect and restore the environ­ ment. This includes reforestation and flood control pro­ jects , saving endangered species, and creating national New moves are under way to tum the victims of the The city attorney handling the case conducted a probe parks and wildlife preserves. Moreover, according to Lorenzo Cardenal, the direc­ Howard Beach lynch attack into the criminals. that was patently designed to go nowhere. In a legal action, the defense moved to have the indict­ But the lynch attack evoked such anger and protests tor of National Parks, the war itself is a principal cause of ments in the case dismissed, utilizing the fact that one of that officials had to back off. After initially refusing to do destruction of Nicaragua's resources and ecology. the victims now says he brandished a knife at the racist so, Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed a special prosecutor in Barricada lnternacional explained, "The enormous gang, trying to hold off its assault. the case, and, finally, indictments were obtained. Twelve resources consumed by the war effort leave precious little The motion to dismiss was not accepted by the court. whites now face trial on charges ranging from murder to to be devoted to other necessities, and conservation of the environment is not high in the priorities." But clearly the defense intends to keep using this fake assault and riot. The bulk of what isn't allocated for defense is dis­ issue as a smokescreen in a case where the fact of a naked But the combination of a reluctant prosecution and a racist mob attack has been clearly established. defense determined to smear the victims as "aggressors" tributed between health and education. One of the defense lawyers declared he intends to means that strong pressure will be needed to assure con­ But whatever obstacles and reverses the Sandinista re­ prove that the three Black victims of the attack "were ac­ victions in the case. gime faces in coping with the ruination of the environ­ tually the aggressors." And such convictions are of vital importance in the on­ ment inherited from the Somoza tyranny, their explana­ The three men - Michael Griffith, Cedric Sandiford, going fight against racist violence. If the guilty escape· tion of the significance of the problems and the stance and· Timothy Grimes - were set upon by at least a dozen prison, it will surely be a green light for other lynch­ they've taken toward dealing with them sharply contrast whites last December in Howard Beach, one of New minded racists. with what is being done by capitalist governments. This York's white enclaves. This is even more true since the outrageous "not includes ones with far more resources to combat environ­ They were attacked with baseball bats and tree limbs guilty" whitewash of Bernhard Goetz, the racist vigilante mental problems. as they emerged from a pizza parlor. who shot four Black youths in cold blood in a New York "Capitalism," Borge said, "sees men only as a source Grimes, who recently told the prosecutor he bran­ subway. of labor and sees nature only as a raw material to produce dished a knife to hold off the attackers, managed to es­ In the Goetz trial, the prosecution and judge joined in merchandise; the capitalist conception of the world is that cape. permitting Goetz's lawyer to do what the Howard Beach of an immense market." Sandiford was caught by the racist thugs and clubbed . defense is now out to copy - put the victim on trial. But "we Nicaraguan revolutionaries would be irre­ to the ground. sponsible and clumsy if we permitted our lake to be con­ His stepson, Griffith, was pursued by the club-wield­ With the Howard Beach trial slated to begin this verted into a dead lake; even more, I believe we would ing gang onto a highway where he was killed by a car. month, it is more important than ever that all opponents cease being revolutionaries if we did not save the lake. From the outset, New York officials tried to sweep the of racist violence raise their voices to demand that all Saving the lake and converting it into an agent of produc­ case under the rug. those involved in the attack be convicted and jailed. tion, irrigation, energy, and beauty."

14 The Militant September 11, 1987 How Trinidad oilfield union forced end 'to lockout BY NELS J'ANTHONY a paltry 4 percent wage increase over three years. In an ceedings. Then OWTU demanded that the government At the recent Fifth Trade Union Conference on Unity obvious union-busting move, just prior to the lockout Fed nationalize the company. Criticizing the government for and Solidarity of the Caribbean Workers held in Trinidad Chern sent out individual contracts for workers to sign, failing to protect the interests of the Trinidadian people and Tobago, union leaders from countries throughout the including in them items not discussed with the OWTU. against the malicious actions of the U.S. owners, the Caribbean discussed the increasing attacks against work- Cutting through the company lies, the Vanguard Vanguard asked, "Who is running the country- [Prime pointed out that ammonia exports from Trinidad to the Minister] George Chambers or [Fed Chern Chairman] United States were increasing to the point where Trinidad Sydney Knox?" accounts for 25 percent of all ammonia imported by the In December last year the National Alliance for Recon­ UNION TALK United States. In addition, W.R. Grace had recently en­ struction won in the national elections, unseating the tered into a joint venture with the Trinidad and Tobago People's National Movement that had ruled Trinidad and ing people by capitalists whose holdings span many government to build a new ammonia plant. Obviously Tobago for 30 years. Ominously, one of the first actions countries. While attending the conference, I was able to Fed Chern could meet the workers' demands easily. taken by the NAR government was to eliminate COLA learn about union resistance to these assaults. As explained by the union, what was involved in the from the pay of 100,000 workers employed in state­ One union that led a successful struggle is the Oilfield company's hard line was "employer class solidarity." A owned enterprises. The Vanguard spoke out against this Workers' Trade Union of Trinidad. Of the many strug­ statement by the OWTU on the lockout explained, "The attack stating that "some workers, in particular OWTU gles the OWTU has been involved in this past year, the trade union movement is under siege. For example, for members, have been offering resistance to . . . the lock­ battle against the lockout at Federation Chemicals (Fed 1986 there have been no strikes called by Unions, while outs which seek to make unions redundant. The 'Budget' Chern) stands out. there have been no fewer than twelve lockouts by em­ removal of COLA now legitimizes this illegal attack by On Aug. 28, 1986, Fed Chern, a subsidiary of the giant ployers." The statement pointed to the fact that the em­ the Big Business elite." · U.S.-based W.R. Grace conglomerate, locked out 200 ployers' associations "have all openly stated that they When theNAR failed to take measures to end the lock­ union workers at its ammonia plant. During contract will support all employers who take lockout action." For out, Fed Chern workers again took to the streets, organiz­ negotiations the OWTU had rejected company demands the employers, the Fed Chern lockout was a test case. ing the first demonstrations against the new government. to cut severance pay, increase forced overtime, and elim­ This attack on the Fed Chern workers was met by a In January an amendment to the Industrial Relations inate the cost of living adjustment (COLA) from work­ militant struggle led by the OWTU. Through the pages of Act was passed giving the government increased powers ers' pay. the Vanguard and through thousands of leaflets distrib­ to intervene in labor disputes. The pressure that the union With inflation running rampant and the recent devalu­ uted to workers throughout the country, the OWTU got had brought to bear had convinced the government that it ation of the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, the union de­ out the truth about the lockout. All-night vigils and dem­ had to act. The government now had the power to halt manded a minimum wage increase of 20 percent with onstrations were repeatedly organized, with the OWTU strikes or lockouts after three months, forcing disputes COLA intact. In the pages of its newspaper, the Van­ appealing to the entire labor movement to participate. A into arbitration in the Industrial Court. guard, the OWTU pointed out that Fed Chern benefited lockout camp was set up outside the plant gate for the du­ Fed Chern did not wait for further court action, how­ from the currency devaluation because it receives U.S. ration. ever, and opened its gates on February 12 for workers to dollars for the ammonia it sells and pays devalued TT Locked-out workers joined thousands of other work­ return to their jobs. A celebration rally was immediately dollars for wages, electricity, water, etc. Currency de­ ers, farmers, and unemployed in a national day of protest organized by the union. The company agreed to the con­ valuation gave Fed Chern a 33 l/3 percent savings on on October 23 in Port of Spain, the country's capital city. tinuation of COLA, but wage and severance pay issues local costs. Fed Chern also buys its main feed stock, nat­ That action, organized by 14 unions, demanded an end to remain to be settled in court. ural gas, at bargain-basement prices set by the govern­ the attacks on the rights and living standard of working ment. people. Nels ]'Anthony is a member of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Fed Chern, however, was crying poverty, stating that Pressure was put on the government to force Fed Chern Workers Local4-750 and was an official observer at the concessions from the workers were necessary because to end the lockout, which was illegal. The OWTU filed Fifth Trade Union Conference on Unity and Solidarity of of the shrinking ammonia market. The company offered suit but Fed Chern refused to show up at the court pro- the Caribbean Workers. -LETTERS------Nicaragua Williams explained that he was With each passing day, it be­ the victim of CIA subterfuge while TELl ME WHAT comes more evident that the only in Cuba. The agency tried to block enemy in Central America is the the radio transmissions and ac­ United States. cused him of passing secrets to the YOU MEAN BY PEA~ The simple truth is Nicaragua's "enemy." determination to pursue its own The speaker added that his sup­ rlestiny represents far less a threat port for Cuba is just as strong AN~ \'LL1ELL YOU to enslave the world in com­ today because Cuba has been "the munism than it represents an ex­ only nation willing to spill blood ample in moral courage to the mil­ for Africa," a reference to Cuban WHO YOU ARE ... lions of oppressed poor residing in troops in Angola. the Third World. Mark Friedman The very nature of this entire Detroit, Michigan contra war waged by this president HAVE Yov REVOLUT"/ONIJRY P£A(£ - the mining of Nicaraguan har­ NOTtCE () bors, the systematic bombing of Life in Cuba SfN(f ~I E·· · medical supplies, the routine am­ While selling the issue of the r>15SOLVEf) bush and murder of civilian work­ Militant with Harry Ring's article lliE VllliON ers, which has resulted in the on Tony Urrutia, the world class THE FIR~'5 AAH ... AT LAST weight lifter who defected from deaths of 15,000 Nicaraguan f,HN VERY 111 EIZ E' 5 w() ~J( I people - demands that the Nica­ Cuba in 1980, I met another defec" PEACE FVL raguan question be addressed by tor - a Black woman who also EDVCAT\ON AN[) our elected representatives. left in 1980, not on a whim, but, HEAL1H FOR ALL How did such unconscionable as she put it, "following my hus­ acts of terrorism evolve into na­ band." tional policy in the first place? · · Seven years later, what has life Have we reverted back to the under capitalism brought her and racist mentality of Vietnam, which her family? decrees that people of brown or yellow skin are not as worthy as Well; the husband is incarcer­ some other people and therefore ated in the Atlanta Federal don't count for as much? Penitentiary along with hundreds These are just some beginning of other Marie] immigrants who questions that hopefully will force have no idea when or if they'll the U.S. Congress to, at long last, ever be freed . confront the Nicaraguan question. She, on the other hand, a former Doug Owen nurse and member of the Young Hawthorne, California Communists, who proudly dis­ plays a photograph of herself "Cuba - an example" working in a hospital in Cuba, is Robert F. Williams, a longtime now a nurse's aide for $3. 65 an civil rights activist who organized hour. armed self-defense against Ku Life in Cuba? She explains .. . Klux Klan terror in the South, was "no drugs, no hunger, no prob­ the featured speaker at a recent lems for me." Militant Labor Forum in Detroit. Barricada!R6ger Williams was forced to flee to And here? "My life is over now. Cuba in 1961 when he was framed I cry all the time." hood described it this way: "I state trooper should be ftred up on a kidnapping charge in Kate Daher rated by many others. heard a shot and went to the win­ today." Monroe, North Carolina, because Atlanta, Georgia The story given by the Illinois dow. Before I got to the window, I J.V. of his civil rights activities. State Police is the same excuse heard another shot. When I looked Chicago, Illinois A staunch supporter of the Killer cop they give every time a cold­ out across the street, one man was Cuban revolution, Williams was Outrage characterized the re­ blooded murder takes place: that lying face down, the other man The letters column is an open given a radio program on Radio sponse of the Lawndale communi­ the victim was engaged in a strug­ was on top of him. gle for the cop's gun, the cop got forum for all viewpoints on sub­ Havana "without censorship," he ty on Chicago's West Side to one jects of general interest to our explained. He called the show of the most blatant murders by "The man on top hit him hard the gun back from the victim, the gun somehow went off. readers. Please keep your letters "Radio Free Dixie." It featured police of a Black resident. with a gun, and I could see blood brief. Where necessary they will music and commentary about the On August 13, 27-year-old John coming from the other man's But this ritual is an out-and-out be abridged. Please indicate if Black struggle in the United States Williams died from a bullet in the head. Then the man OI) top fired lie. Even the local alderman, Wil­ you prefer that your initials and aimed to win support for Cuba side of his head. again and killed him." liam Henry, stated, "If what [eye­ be used rather than your full from Afro-Americans. A woman from the neighbor- This statement was corrobo- witnesses] told me was true, the name.

Tlie Militant 15 THE MILITANT Free the Puerto Rican activists! Rallies protest frame-up of 16 independence fighters

BY SAM MANUEL brutality and demanding fair housing and HARTFORD, Conn. - A march and jobs. rally here August 30 demanding freedom A large banner from an organization for 16 supporters of independence for called New England Walk for Nuclear Dis­ Puerto Rico attracted 2,000 people. The 16 armament read, "Test peace; not nuclear are in Hartford awaiting trial on charges weapons." Felipe Chavez explained that stemming from the 1983 robbery of $7 mil­ the group had come to the march because lion from a Wells Fargo depot. "the U.S. government uses Puerto Rico as The protest marked the second anniver­ a beachhead for nuclear weapons in the sary of the Aug. 30, 1985, raid in Puerto Caribbean." Rico by more than 200 armed FBI agents Yvonne Melendez, one of the defen­ from the United States. They ransacked 37 dants, read a message at the rally on behalf homes and offices and arrested 11 indepen­ of the 16. dence supporters. Five others were sub­ "The bankruptcy of colonialism in sequently arrested. Puerto Rico has left an economy that is de­ Protesters came from cities throughout pendent and in constant crisis, an island the Northeast, making this year's turnout that has been converted into a military bas­ roughly double that of last year's. Activ­ tion, and a population with serious and pro­ ities were also held in San Francisco and in found social problems. San Juan, Puerto Rico. "The security of all the people of the "Freedom, freedom, for Filiberto and Caribbean and Central America is in Juan," chanted the lead contingent. Two of danger as long as Puerto Rico remains a the defendants, Juan Segarra Palmer and military bastion. Filiberto Ojeda Rios, remain imprisoned "There is no short path, no easy way to and are beginning an unprecedented third reach independence and self-determination year of "preventative detention." The other for Puerto Rico. It is a course we have to 14 defendants were released after a 16- Militant/Selva Nebbia travel together with the Puerto Rican mass­ month campaign of protests. Defendants Luis Colon, Yvonne Melendez, and Lucy Berrios at Hartford rally at­ es and all North Americans who believe in peace, justice, and democracy.." "Long live free Puerto Rico, Yankees tended by 2,000. Protests were also held in San Francisco and San Juan. out of the Caribbean" and "Independence Emphasizing the importance of the case for Puerto Rico," chanted others. The cently been involved in a fight against came to Hartford to participate in this of the Hartford 16, Melendez later told the mostly Latino march was cheered by hun­ school segregation in Brooklyn. march because we identify with the strug­ Militant, "People must understand that dreds of people lining the route, waving "We decided to come to Hartford be­ gle of the Puerto Rican people. They are an what happened to us can happen to them at Puerto Rican flags from their doorways, cause if we don't fight for our rights, we'll occupied people, like us. The U.S. govern­ any moment. The government has tried to windows, and shops. lose them. And the best way to defend ment has military bases and troops in criminalize the independence movement in The struggle for justice for the defen­ these rights is by marching, uniting with Puerto Rico, the same as in Honduras. The Puerto Rico and in the United States. Any­ dants - known as the Hartford 16 - has the rest of the people," explained Claribel U.S. government's violations of Puerto body who decides to confront the govern­ become an example for all those fighting Lozada; Rican and Honduran rights are not only ment, to expose injustice and the violations · for the .-ights of Latinos. A group of young A contingent from the Francisco Mora­ violations of national sovereignty, but also of our rights, is repressed and persecuted. Puerto Ricans came from New York's El zan Honduran Committee also marched. of the most basic civil rights." But the people are here, fighting, and the Puente Community Center. They had re- One member of the group explained, "We Others carried placards protesting police Continued on Page 13 Canadian gov't forces end to 5-day rail .strike

BY BEVERLY BERNARDO strike. More than 100,000 jobs in Canada's the unions themselves can be fined tens of 1950 striking rail unionists have been or­ OTTAWA, Canada - On less than 24 rail industry have been eliminated since thousands of dollars for failing to comply dered back to work. Each time the govern­ hours notice, 600 rail workers from Que­ 1950. The rate of job loss has been faster with the legislation. ment said it acted in the "public interest." bec and Ontario demonstrated in front of than ever the past few years . ARU chief negotiator Armand Passaretti But the antilabor role ofthe federal gov­ the Parliament Building here August 28. Issues outstanding between the As­ was shocked by the levels of the fines. "We ernment is becoming clearer to working They were protesting the federal govern­ sociated Railway Unions (ARU) and man­ are not capitalists, we are trade unionists," people. ment's back-to-work legislation to end a agement will be decided by a government he said. Last year the government passed a law national rail strike. appointed arbitrator within 60 days. The law also prohibits a strike by the prohibiting a strike by longshoremen in Hundreds of rail workers participated in In addition to these antiunion provi­ 6,500 rail workers organized in the shop British Columbia. This past June, the fed­ protests the same day in Winnipeg, Man­ sions, the government also imposed stiff crafts. eral government organized scabs during itoba, and in Calgary, Alberta. penalties for disobeying the law. Indi­ On August 31 the federal government the strike by Canada's 21 ,000 letter car­ vidual rail workers who stay off the job can riers. At present, the threat of strike-break­ The workers were angered at Prime passed another law that prohibits the 2,500 be subjected to fines of Canadian $500 to ing legislation and the use of scabs hangs Minister Brian Mulroney's Conservative members of the Brotherhood of Locomo­ $1 ,000 a day. Much higher fines can be over the heads of some 20,000 inside government legislating an end to the five­ tive Engineers from beginning their strike. levied against union officers who do not postal workers and 8,500 Air Canada day strike. Members of the Canadian "take all reasonable steps" to insure that In effect, Canadian rail workers do not workers who are poised to take strike ac­ Union of Postal Workers here in Ottawa union members return to their jobs. And have the right to strike. Four times since tion soon. also came out to show their solidarity with the rail unionists. After the workers tried to break through barricades to enter the Parliament Build­ Pittsburgh 1narch to protest racist attack ing, the government called in a heavily armed riot squad. Shann and Ka:hn Holliday. Jackson had to endorsers for the march will be issued "This isn't South Africa, is it?" shouted BY JIM LITTLE fight her way back to her car with her nine­ soon. . several workers. PITTSBURGH - Antiracist act1v1sts month-old child in her arms. There have been several racist attacks in A Liberal Party spokesperson who voted have issued a call for an "old-fashioned Saying that "now is the time to act," Pittsburgh in recent months. One of the for the back-to-work legislation was booed civil rights march" to take place September Irene Thomas, president of Pittsburgh's most publicized happened on July 5 when a off the platform before he could begin 19 in the Morningside neighborhood here. Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, ini­ Black family's home was stoned by a gang speaking to union members. New Demo­ It will protest a vicious racist attack that oc­ tiated the Coalition Against Racist Vio­ of racist youths. cratic Party member Rod Murphy, whose curred August 16. lence, which called the Morningside The Coalition Against Racist Violence is party voted against the law, was cheered On that Sunday evening, Marilyn Jack­ march. holding the march in Morningside to em­ when he spoke. son, a Black woman, drove up to a small There have been two meetings of the co­ phasize the issue that there can be no food market with other members of her The back-to-work law is a gift to the alition, and plans are fully underway to in­ "white-only" enclaves. Blacks must have family. They came to buy ice cream for a management of the Canadian National and sure a successful march and rally. the right to go anywhere in Pittsburgh - birthday party they were having at their Canadian Pacific railroads. The terms of Meeting participants included leaders of including Morningside. Currently, Blacks home in a nearby neighborhood. the law do not guarantee the 48,000 rail the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, who live adjacent to Morningside or must workers a wage increase until the end of A gang of about 15 white thugs, armed American Federation of State, County and pass through it report frequent verbal abuse 1989. In addition, the law does not guaran­ with an icepick and baseball bats, began to Municipal Employees; American Federa­ and physical threats. tee that existing job-security provisions in shout racist epithets and mimic a monkey. tion of Government Employees; Urban Marilyn Jackson, who is a resident of the contract will be improved or even They then physically assaulted Jackson and League; National Association for the Ad­ neighboring Stanton Heights, pointed out, maintained. her children. They beat 15-year-old Tanya, vancement of Colored People; and various "This is a racist problem. My kids can't Job security was the key issue in the her daughter, and teenaged family friends community and peace groups. A list of even catch the bus down there."

16 TheMHitant September 11, 1987