Eastern Airlines takeover • • • ...... 3 THE Cuba: battle for economic development . . . 10 Why Arafat-Hussein talks collapse .. 14

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY Pl)BLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. SO/NO. 9 MARCH 7, 1986 75 CENTS

Nat'IGuard Mass upsurge topples pulled out­ Philippine dictator ofHormel BY HARRY RING strike The overthrow of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship by the Filipino people is a tre­ BY MAGGIE McCRAW mendous victory. .AUSTIN, Minn. - On February 21, With one of Washington's favonte ty­ Mmnesota's Gov. Rudy Perpich withdrew rants driven out, the door now opens for the National Guard from this town. For 33 the Filipino people to begin the process of days the Guard acted as the Geo. A . Har­ addressing themselves to resolving the mel Co. 's private army in the company's massive social and economic problems that attempt to bust United Food and Commer­ burden them. cial Workers union (UFCW) Local P-9. And the door is also open for achieving The Guard's strikebreaking has cost the equally necessary goal of independence Minnesota taxpayers $1.4 million. The from U.S. imperialist domination. Guard's stay was the longest since it was For nearly half a century, the Filipino used against the 1959 meatpackers' strike people suffered direct U .S. colonial rule. in neighboring Albert Lea. And, since they won formal independence With the withdrawal of the Guard, local in 1946, they have continued to suffer U.S. police have called on residents "to take a economic, military, and political domina­ more active role in law enforcement." tion. Police Chief Don Hoffman said that the There is political symbolism in the U.S. cops would now respond even to anony­ government's quick offer of asylum for mous tips regarding vandalism, disorderly Marcos. Throughout his repressive rule, he conduct, or property damage. enjoyed bipartisan support from Washing­ When union consultant Ray Rogers an­ ton; Democratic and Republican adminis­ nounced at a February 21 strike support trations alike upheld him as a valued ally. session that the Guard had been with­ It was only when he could no longer con­ drawn, strikers clapped and cheered. Some tain the massive rebellion against him that union members felt that it was political Washington reluctantly cut loose from pressure that forced Perpich to withdraw him. As Marcos fled on February 25, Sec­ the Guard. Others, however, think that the retary of State George Shultz mourned "a Guard was withdrawn because Hormel has staunch friend of the United States." successfully consolidated a scab work Now the Republicans in the White force. House and Democrats in Congress are try­ Three days before the Guard left, Hor­ ing to parade themselves as the ones re­ mel organized a tour of the plant for media sponsible for his downfall. But this is a Filipino people bring down Marcos dictatorship representatives. The media was not ·al­ shameless lie. The Marcos dictatorship lowed to take photos. The tour was clearly was smashed by an irrepressible popular · an attempt by the company to refute the rebellion. The Filipino people owe thanks local's charges that the plant is unsafe and to no one for their liberation. They did it production is low. themselves. Reagan campaigns for aid Currently, 2,000 hogs a day are being The defection from the Marcos camp of killed as compared to 6,000 before the Defense Minister Juan Enrile and Lt. Gen. strike. The Rochester, Minnesota, Post Fidel Ramos dealt the dictatorship a heavy to Nicaraguan 'contras' Bulletin reports that the average worker blow. But the split itself, as well as there­ now is boning one ham per hour and some bellion in the military ranks, was a product are only boning one ham per day. The reg­ "nonlethal aid" and then palm themselves of the popular resistance. By itself, the mil­ BY MARGARET JAYKO ular production quota is 92 hams per hour. off as proponents ()f peace. itary revolt might well have been crushed if President Reagan is pulling out all the To try to minimize the importance of these Filipinos - by the hundreds of thousands stops in a hard-sell campaign to get Con­ Last year, Democrats and Republicans figures, plant manager Deryl Arnold told approved $27 million in "humanitarian" - had not literally interposed their bodies gress to give $100 million more in aid to the· press that the company is stressing assistance to the contras. That expenditure between the Marcos troops and the breaka­ the Nicaraguan contras (counterrevolution­ training, not production. · expires on March 31. way forces that had garrisoned themselves aries). Hormel has also reported to the press in­ at Manila's Camp Crame. During his February 20 trip to Grenada, Reagan '.s campaign is getting help from creased sales and earnings to prove that the Reagan repeated his case for increased the contras and their mouthpieces in Nica- strike has not had an impact. These in- Fraternize with troops funding for the mercenary bands that are Continued on ·Page 7 Continued on Page S It was the readiness of the people to con­ waging a bloody war against Nicaragua. front the military and their ability to frater­ The president compared Nicaragua to Gre­ nize with the troops that won the day. The nada before Washington's invasion of that TV footage and media reports attest to this. Caribbean island in October 1983. Then, in Join drive to sell 'Militant' Enrile and Ramos had resigned their a transparent threat to carry out similar mil­ posts in the Marcos regime the night of itary aggression against Nicaragua, he de­ February 22 and secured themselves and clared that he would not be satisfied "until and 'Perspectiva Mundial' troops loyal to them at Camp Crame. all the people of the Americas have joined Soon after, Marcos dispatched troops to us in the warm sunshine of liberty and jus­ attack the compound. Hundreds of marines tice ." Supporters of the Militant and Perspec­ Workers, farmers, and youth are in­ in armored personnel carriers, trucks, and The president had spent the two days tiva Mundial, the Spanish-language creasingly open to the information and tanks headed toward Crame. . prior to his trip meeting with key congres­ biweekly sister publication of the Militant, ideas that only socialist publications pro­ Meanwhile, throngs of Manila residents sional leaders of both the Democratic and have opened a new drive to expand the cir­ vide. - estimated at as high as half a million - Republican parties, trying to line them up culation of these publications. This was reflected in sales to participants did the same. to vote for his proposal. On February 15 the first stage opened - in the February 15 demonstration in Au­ They pitched in to fortify the area of the In arguing his case, Reagan told a meet­ stin, Minnesota, that supported the strike base, piling rocks and sand as barriers. ing of Republican legislators: "The pro­ by United Food and Commercial Workers Buses were lined up at an intersection as an gram approved last year, the $27 million in EDITORIAL Local P-9. More than 240 copies of the added obstacle. And the masses of people humanitarian assistance, has helped to Militant were sold . At the march against constituted a vast human barricade. maintain the pressure of the resistance on racism the same day in Philadelphia, more The Marcos forces were deployed near the Sandinistas. The resistance has con­ a three-week effort to discuss subscription than $800 worth of socialist literature was the camp in a field encircled almost all the tinued to grow and is operating deep inside renewals with new subscribers. This effort purchased , including 20 subscriptions t:J way around by a wall. The crowds massed Nicaragua. But we have to do more to help will focus on strikers - including meat­ the Militant. outside. Then some climbed atop the wall. them. As I've said before, you can't fight packing workers in Austin, Minnesota, and In the coming weeks, there wili be " A few dropped over. A young woman attack helicopters piloted by Cubans with Ottumwa, Iowa; fishermen in New Bed­ number of important events that the Mili­ ran through the encamped soldiers; passing Band-Aids and mosquito nets." ford, Massachusetts; and cannery workers tant and Perspectiva Mundial will be help­ out candy. The White House is urging Congress to in Watsonville, California - as well as ing to build. These actions present an op­ Others joined her, giving flowers and give the terrorists $70 million in military other unionists who were introduced to the portunity to get these papers .into the hands candy to the troops. Some placed daisies in aid and $30 million in "nonlethal aid" for Militant and Perspectiva Mundiallast fall. of thousands of working people and youth. gun barrels. Increasing numbers came over items such as uniforms, trucks, medicine; From March 8 to May 16, Militant and The events include the March 9 and the wall, mingling with the troops, talking and food. Given that all the money goes to PM supporters aim to sell 45,000 single March 16 marches for women's right to with them. help keep the contras in the field, the dis­ copies of these publications - 5,000 more abortion, called by the National Organiza­ A military helicopter that had hovered tinction only has meaning insofar as some than were sold last fall - and 2,000 sub­ tion for Women; the April4 anti-apartheid Continued on Page 3 liberal politicians seize on it to vote for scriptions (1,776 were sold in the fall). Continued on Page 18 'Militant' well-received by Boston .meatpackers

BY JOHN STUDER baseball fans who visit Fenway Joel Dorfman, the new owner, sit in at the plant if Dorfman tries by 616's sister local, P-9, against BOSTON- Over the last two Park to see the Red Sox play. says he isn't interested in produc­ · to close it, and they will launch a Hormel in Austin, Minnesota. Co­ weeks Militant salespeople here Two years ago, Colonial's own­ tion here - only in Colonial's boycott of the Colonial label. lonial workers stop their cars when have sold at the Colonial Provision ers demanded and got concessions label and New England markets. Many are angry because they they see the word "Hormel" on the Co., a meatpacking plant. Two from the 600 members of United So he paid $4.5 million for them. feel that they were lied to when front-page of the paper, and many dozen workers have stopped their Food and Commercial Workers His plan is for the Colonial plant to they agreed to make sacrifices reach for their money. cars on the way out of the com­ Local 616 who work there. The be closed this month by its old they assumed would guarantee Local members told salespeople pany parking lot and bought a unionists were led to believe that owners and the workers forced out them a job. Now they are being that they have taken a collection on the street before he takes over. tossed aside. So they are interested for the P-9 strikers and look to Dorfman plans to move produc­ in a paper that tells the worker's their struggle for inspiration in SELLING OUR PRESS tion to his plant in Detroit, where side of what's happening in this their own time of need. At a recent he has forced the 500 workers country, and what other unionists rally they held to win community there out on strike. They are fight­ are doing to meet increasing em­ support in their efforts to stop the AT THE ' PLANT GATE ing Dorfman's demand for a wage ployer attacks. Even when it's closing of Colonial, one of the freeze on top of the $2.44-an-hour below 30 degrees, they are happy highlights was a message of greet­ copy of the paper. by voting givebacks, they were pay cut they took three years ago. to roll down their windows and ing and solidarity from P-9. Colonial has been around Bos­ winning job security. A few hand out 75¢ or $1 to get the Mil­ Militant distributors in Boston ton for a long time, Their brand months ago, Colonial announced Over the last few months, the itant. will continue to bring coverage of name is one of the most familiar in that the concessions hadn't been members of Local 616 have tried The feature of the paper that has P-9's fight to the Colonial gate as New England supermarkets on enough, and they sold their plant to bring their plight to the attention attracted the most interest has been long as the strike goes on-and as bacon, hams, and cold cuts. Their to Thorn Apple Valley, another of working people in order to try to the Militant's prominent eyewit­ long as the Colonial workers can Fenway Franks are well-known to meatpacker, based in Michigan. save their jobs. They say they will ness coverage of the heroic strike keep their plant open. 1200 rally for Teamsters; cops attack picket

BY GREG NELSON strike support committee presented a check stood now . She thanked all the unions that Street Academy in Oakland. The students AND KEVIN KELLOGG to the food committee for $4,549, which had helped collect food for the striking came down to Watsonville after hearing a WATSONVILLE, Calif. -Well over they collected from a benefit performance families and told of the hardships they all presentation given to their high school 1 ,200 striking Teamster cannery workers of a Studs Turkel play, Working . faced. "It is hard on the picket line. It is class by a striker. They had collected food and their union supporters rallied here Greetings from P-9 hard for us to look into the faces of our sons and had presented a banner their class had Saturday, February 22. They were show­ and daughters, to see their wants and their The high point of the rally was greetings made to the strikers, which said, "Victory ing their determination to continue the questions. But it's their faces that make us from Harold "Bud" Miller, a striking mem­ to the Watsonville strikers! Raza!" strike against the Watsonville Canning and strong, because we see it is for them that ber of United Food and Commercial Work­ The cops tore up that banner and arrested Frozen Food Company. Teamsters struck we are fighting, for their future. ers Union Local P-9 in Austin, Minnesota. students who had tried to prevent them September 9 to win a decent contract. "That's what makes us strong," she con­ Miller and other members of Local P-9 are from doing it. The· cops pushed the crowd The successful rally came just five days tinued. "We are no longer afraid of the back four blocks and entered the after cops assaulted a previous rally of on tour in Northern California talking company or the police. The police arrest about the strike against Hormel. Teamsters' Hall as they had done on Mon­ striking workers. us, attack us. We're not going to let them day. They ordered everyone out and shut Following the Saturday rally, the police Miller got a standing ovation as he ap­ beat us. We will win!" She requested and proached the podium. He explained that he down the strike headquarters. again attacked by charging into the picket got a standing ovation for the women who was at the rally to bring greetings from the The P-9 strikers watched and talked to line outside the plant. They also shut down picket 24 hours a day in front of the scabs picket line in Austin, Minnesota, to the Watsonville strikers about what was hap­ the union's headquarters. More than 20 and the police. She then invited people to picket line in Watsonville, California. He pening. Bud Miller said, "It's the same people were arrested. go down to the picket line to show their explained why Local P-9 was on strike and thing in Austin. They used the National The solidarity rally was called by support. Guard. When they want you to move, they told of the support they ~e getting through­ . The week leading up to the rally had Teamsters Local912, which represents the out the country. "Today, more than ever simply push you aside. You can't stand on been a tense one on the picket lines. 1 ,000, mostly Chicana, strikers. The rally before, we have to come to realize an in­ your own streetcomers." heard words of solidarity from Walter jury to one hurts us all," he said. Since the John "Skinny" Weis, another · P-9 .Johnson, president of the San Francisco defeat of PATCO [air . traffte controllers' Cop assault _ striker, commented on t~e newspapers' . Central Labor Council, and from the heads union in 1981], the Reagan administration On the previous Monday, police broke slanders of the Watsonviiie stnke:·He siti(f · of the Alameda, Santa Clara, and Santa has helped big business bust unions. We up a rally of striking workers, arresting 12 that in Austin, the newspapers called the Cruz central labor councils. The rally was need to see that Watsonville and Austin is people. The big-business news media went members of P-9 "goons" and that they al­ the culmination of a month-long drive to an attack on all labor." on a hysterical campaign denouncing ways blamed everything on "mob vio­ collect food for the strikers, which was Miller also gave some advice to the Wat­ "strikers' violence" and called for law and lence." conducted by all four central labor coun­ sonville strikers: "Unity together. Rank­ order. Later that day, 100 strikers showed up at cils. and-file members have to support their A local paper, the Register Pajaronian, the police station to ask for the release of Many unions were present from elected leadership and the leadership has to slandered the strikers by alleging that "rad­ those arrested. 'fhe cops again attacked the throughout Northern California to hand respond to us, the people who put them ical outside agitators" were to blame for the protesters. Elizabeth Schilling, a reporter over the truckloads of food. Teamsters loc­ into office and who they are supposed to violence. from the Register Pajaronian, said the als, such as Local 287, which gave $668, serve. We need to work together against On Saturday after the rally, participants cops were just making arrests at random. led the drive. Chuck Mack, president of the our enemy." responded to Martinez' invitation to visit She told of people being arrested while she Teamsters Joint Council 7, pointed out that As Miller's talk was being translated for the picket line. They drove to the picket was interviewing them. One demonstrator Watsonville "has forged a unity of all the largely Spanish-speaking audience, it line, honking their horns and waving to the ran into his house and five cops ran in after Northern California labor, a unity of was interrupted with applause several strikers. A crowd of strikers and their him and dragged him out. Teamsters, the AFL-CIO, the Longshore­ times. Unionists from the Bay Area families gathered a block away from Wat­ Meanwhile, the 700 workers at Shaw men. A unity that will be used in the future crowded around the P-9 support table to re­ sonville Cannery to watch the car caravan. Frozen Foods voted to accept a contract to reshape collective bargaining in North­ quest speakers to give presentations to their On a signal from inside the plant, 20 that, among other things, cut their wages em California." local union meetings. cops in riot gear blocked the street and ad­ 17 percent. These members, after hearing a Greetings were presented from John vanced against the onlookers occupying report from their Teamster leadership, de­ Henning, president of the California State 'Fighting for future' the sidewalk. Pushing people with their ba­ cided to go back to work and to continue to AFL-CIO Labor Council, and Cesar The second standing ovation was given tons and grabbing banners and picket support their sisters and brothers who still Chavez, president of the United Farm to Margarita Martinez, a Watsonville signs, the cops arrested two young high haven't gotten even that from Watsonville Workers. The Santa Cruz Watsonville striker who explained where the battle school students from Emiliano Zapata Canning. The Militant tells the truth - Subscribe today! The Militant That's the way you'll get facts about Washington's war against working people at home and abroad: from Closing news date: February 26, 1986 South Africa, El Salvador and Nicaragua, to embattled Editor:- MALIK MIAH workers and farmers in the United States. Read our pro­ Managing editor: posals on how to stop the U.S. government's support MARGARET JA YKO Business Manager: for the apartheid regime in South Africa, its interven­ LEE MARTINDALE tion in Central America and the Caribbean, and the em­ Editorial Staff: Rashaad Ali, Susan Apstein, Fred ployers' offensive here. Read our ideas on what it will Feldman, Andrea Gonzalez, Pat Grogan, Arthur take to replace this system of exploitation, racism, and Hughes, Tom Leonard, Harry Ring, Norton Sandler. sexism with a system that's in the interest of working Published weekly except one week in August and the people. last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026- At the plant gates, picket lines, and unemployment 3885), 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Tele­ lines, the Militant is there, reporting the news, par­ phone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Of­ ticipating in the struggle. To subscribe today, fill out the fice, (212) 929-3486. attached coupon. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Mili­ Enclosed is: o $3 for 12 weeks o $15 for 6 months tant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, STOP o $24 for 1 year o A contribution N.Y. 10014. Name ______Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POST­ APARJH£1 MASTER: Send address changes to The Militant, 14 Address ______Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 a year, outside U.S. $30.00. By first-class ~ City/S tate/Zip ------­ mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air­ Telephone ------­ mail rates to all other countries. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily rep­ Union/Organization ---,------­ resent the Militant's views. These are expressed in edito­ Send to Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014 rials.

2 The Militant March 7, 1986 Mass upsurge topples Philippine dictator

Continued from front page Washington recognized Aquino had gained overhead landed. Thousands raced toward substantial political strength from her anti­ it, forming a human semicircle. The Marcos presidential campaign and could Pacifi:; Ocean helicopter took off. not be excluded from the government. That night, the troops were withdrawn. With Marcos out of the country, Secre­ On Monday morning, February 24, tary of State Shultz offered a final salute to rebel troops seized a government-run the fallen despot, who, he blandly asserted, media complex, including a TV station, had for a long period of time been "a con­ five radio stations, and a press agency. The structive force" in Philippine society. broadcasting facilities, long a voice only And he praised Aquino for her "commit­ for the regime, were opened up to opposi­ ment to nonviolence." tion politicians, priests, and journalists. While the new government appears to have support from Washington- Reagan Sends Rangers immediately recognized the Aquino gov­ Marcos, still barricaded in the presiden­ ernment - it proceeds under formidable tial palace, tried to retake the broadcast pressure from the Filipino people who are complex. Several platoons of elite Scout determined to come to grips with the deep Rangers from his palace guard were dis­ problems of their society. patched. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people A capitalist government had massed at the studio. The very composition of the new gov­ The Rangers tried to sneak in the back ernment makes clear that it cannot provide way. They found themselves barred by the the fundamental answers the people want. people. A member of one of the wealthiest families They stood in tense confrontation. Then in the Philippines, Aquino wants to reform a priest walked over to the soldiers and the status quo in order to save it. That in­ began praying. A school teacher walked cludes continued rule of the Filipino land­ over and began shaking hands with the lord-capitalist oligarchy and it includes troops. continued ties with Washington and Wall Later asked by a reporter how she dared Street. do it, she replied, "Our cauntry needs us Immediately on inauguration, she ad­ now. This is a moment in our history we dressed herself to the guerrilla insurgency. can be proud of." Fed by the ever deepening social crisis, the The crowds move

March 7, 1986 The Militant 3 Ottumwa: HormellOcks·out 500workers BY ROBERT BUSCH, Ron Barton, member of Local 431 , told SHEILA OSTROW, the press, "I have the contract right here. It AND VIVIAN SAHNER says I can't be disciplined. The picket line OTIUMWA, Iowa - On Friday, Feb­ is gone, and my wife and I and 502 others ruary 21, the Geo. A. Hormel Co. began a are here to work. I had hoped they [Hor­ lockout of the workers at its plant here. mel] would have honored the contract." At noon on Friday, the picket line of Even the Ottumwa daily, the Courier, United Food and Commercial Workers · carried as its lead headline: "Workers union Local P-9 on strike against Hormel locked out!" in Austin, Minnesota, was pulled from the At the union hall on February 22, union gate. Some 500 workers, members of members were concerned that Hormel UFCW Local 431 , had been honoring that would try to hire replacement workers picket line since January 27. When the while there was no picket line at the gate. picket line was pulled, between 600 and Many members here believe that the 700 workers marched to the plant to re­ lockout proves that Hormel wants not only claim their jobs. However, Hormel had re­ to bust Local P-9 in Austin, but to smash sponded by chaining the gate shut. the union in all its plants. More than 500 workers had been fired In the three weeks that these workers by Hormel January 28 after they refused to have been honoring P-9's picket line, the Ottumwa workers marching to Hormel plant to demand jobs back after picket line cross P-9's picket line. The union has filed Terminated Employees Support Group has came down. a grievance on behalf of these workers been formed to organize support for these since the firings violate Local 431 's union workers and their families. Recently, this contract, which prohibits disciplining group sent out an appeal for help. "Right press ions of solidarity." a United Mine Workers local from south­ workers for honoring authorized picket now," it said, "these workers have no in­ Solidarity for these workers is beginning em Illinois. lines. come: they get no union strike benefits, no to come in. While these correspondents More help is needed. Money, food, mes­ At the plant gate Friday, Dan Varner, insurance, unemployment benefits, or were at the union hall, for example, the sages of support, and requests for speakers chief steward for Local 431 , explained, medical benefits. Just putting food on the United Auto Workers local from Mar­ can be sent to Terminated Employees Sup­ "We're living up to our contract. The pick­ table is a major problem·: The workers will shalltown, Iowa, brought food and dona­ port Group of Ottumwa, P.O . Box 1355, et line came down, and we're here to find it difficult to remain solid without ex- tions. A food caravan is being organized by Ottumwa, Iowa 5250 I . work." The company allowed Louis DeFrieze, business manager for Local 431 , and Bob Nelles, the local's business representative, Strike leader backs Iowa workers to enter the plant. Twenty-five minutes BYTOMJAAX This correspondent recently had an op­ Local P-9 intended to set up the picket line later, DeFrieze reported that the workers AUSTIN, Minn.- When UFCW Local portunity to talk with him about the deci­ for only three days. But when everyone had been "denied the right to return to P-9, on strike against Hormel here, decided sion to take down the picket line and Hor­ was fired we had to keep the picket line up work." He said that they would receive a to take down its roving picket line at the mel's subsequent lockout of the Ottumwa to protect their [Local 431 members'] second letter from Hormel reaffirming company's plant in Ottumwa, this move workers. jobs." their firings. was seized upon by the local pro-Hormel The decision to remove the picket line, During this entire period, Huston said, Even though Hormel literally chained press. Austin papers escalated their cam­ he explained, was a part of a strategy. Hor­ "the international union was promising that the gate shut, the company claims this is paign against the local; they tried to paint a mel had violated its contract with Ottumwa if P-9 got rid of the picket lines, workers not a lockout. picture of P-9 strikers driven out of Ot­ UFCW Local 431 when it fired 500 of that could get their jobs back in one day." Disputing the company's claim, Lynn tumwa by community pressure. local's workers for refusing to cross P-9's Huston explained that a plan of action Huston, vice-president of Local P-9, who Nothing could be further from the line. The strategy was to challenge this vio­ was discussed at the February 20 meeting. has been leading P-9's pickets in Ottumwa, truth, said Lynn Huston, vice-president lation, he said, and it was discussed at a P-9 would pull down the pickets and if "the told the press: "This is a lockout. Locking of Local P-9. He has been a leader of community meeting in Ottumwa February company would not let [Local 431 work­ the employees out is a direct violation of the roving picket line in Ottumwa since 20. It was attended by 800 workers and ers] back, it would be a lockout. The union the contract . .. . It is a grossly unfair labor it went up January 27, shutting the plant supporters and resembled a labor solidarity could fight a lockout and the workers could practice." down. rally. be eligible for unemployment benefits. The Local 431, Huston explained, has the International," he added, "would have to contractual right to honor the picket line. carry through withits promises.'~ The situ­ He · quoted from • the contrabt: "It is ;ation would "then 'change t6'al'l utlfait labot AFL-CIO tops launch.attack agreed that in the event an authorized practice strike. Local431 could set uptheir picket line is in effect at the entrance to own pickets" to protect their jobs, Huston on striking meatpackers the plant, the company shall not discip­ said. line employees who choose to honor When P-9 pulled tht1r pickets, Local such a picket line." 431 members marched to the plant to re­ BY ANDREA GONZALEZ ity and grievance systems, institute a two­ P-9's roving pickets are legal and au­ claim their jobs. But the company locked The AFL-CIO Executive Council, meet­ tier wage scale, and restrict democratic thorized, Huston said, since the local has the gate. "It was a classic, textbook exam­ ing February 17-21 in Bal Habour, rights. "the right to follow our struck work and to ple of a lockout," Huston said. Yet the Florida, refused to take action in support of Yet Wynn, disregarding the members' set up picket lines at any plant in the [Hor­ UFCW International's position is that the striking meatpackers from Austin, Min­ decisions, tells the press that if the strike is mel] chain." workers are fired, not locked out. They nesota. not over soon, "I'll settle it." Disregarding the contract, Hormel fired have refused, he added, to file an unfair United Food and Commercial Workers Wynn's contempt for the membership the workers one day after they honored the labor practice suit. They project fighting union (UFCW) Local P-9 President Jim was spelled out even more clearly when he picket line. this in arbitration. That, Huston said, Guyette and the union's consultant, Ray charged that the ranks had been duped by Initially, Huston continued, "we of "could take years." Rogers, traveled from Austin to Bal Har­ the local leadership through a "propaganda bour to seek the support of the executive stream" that would have made the Nazis council. "envious." While the local's strike is officially Why such sharp denunciations? What you can do to help strikers sanctioned by the UFCW International and For Wynn, Kirkland, and others of the has won support from literally tens of trade union bureaucracy, the union is not BY ANDREA GONZALEZ an atmosphere of military occupation. The thousands of working people, the top offi­ the membership. It is their organization. What can you do to help the embattled Guard," the paper states, "must go .... " cials of the UFCW and the AFL-CIO have They decide what's good for the member­ members of United Food and Commercial The Unionist calls on supporters to write sharply criticized the strike and the leader­ ship, not the ranks. Thus, it is not surpris­ Workers (UFCW) Local P-9 in Austin, to Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich (c/o State ship of Local P-9. ing that the bosses' press regularly refers to Minnesota, win their strike against Hor­ Capitol, St. Paul, Minn. 55155) "demand­ At the Bal Harbour meeting, UFCW In­ the UFCW International- and other Inter­ mel? ing that he withdraw the National Guard ternational President William Wynn, in a nationals - as the "parent union." A special issue of the local's newspaper, from Austin and close the Hormel plant." seven-page statement, publicly attacked But there is no parent union. There is the Unionist, suggests several support ac­ Unions and other organizations can the strike. This was the third attack in a only the union, which is made up of all the tivities unionists and women's rights, "prevent Hormel from starving out union month. He charged that the strikers' deci­ members. As P-9 exemplifies, the workers Black rights, antiwar, and anti-apartheid members and their families" by adopting a sion to fight for a decent contract demon­ are the union. Far from having been man­ activists can carry out. P-9 family. All funds in the program, the strated not the members' determination to ipulated or duped, as Wynn scandalously The proposals include circulating infor­ Unionist continues, "are distributed strictly win, but their manipulation by the local's charges, the members of P-9 have made mation on the Hormel boycott. The Union­ on the basis of need by a rank-and-file leadership. every decision on the conduct of the strike. ist explains, "P-9's fight continues, and committee." To participate in the fund , an AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland sup­ There are daily meetings where strikers are everyone can help by boycotting Spam, organization has only to commit itself to a ported Wynn's attack on the local. He de­ informed of all developments in the strike, Dinty Moore, Mary Kitchen, and all other monthly contribution ranging from $100 to clared that there was "nothing to add or discuss them, and vote on what to do. It is Hormel products." $1,000 for a three-month period. These subtract" from Wynn's statement. only with union democracy that workers Resolutions of support from unions and contributions should be forwarded to the Lewie Anderson, the director of the can take on the company and win. other organizations ·are also an important Adopt A P-9 Family Fund. meatpacking division of the UFCW - At a press conference to respond to these part of strike support. The local also invited. union delegations echoing the big-business press -declared attacks, Jim Guyette spoke for many union Local unions and other organizations to come and spend a week in Austin. that "clearly they've lost the strike. It's a members when he told the press, "A lot of can also invite P-9 strikers to speak to their "Those who have visited P-9," the Unionist colossal failure ." He characterized the workers in the labor movement would like meetings to explain their struggle. explains, "have been astonished at the en­ local's fight as "devastating" to organized to sit before the AFL-CIO leaders and say, The local has called on unionists to or­ thusiasm, militance, and level of organiza­ labor. ' Do you realize what the steelworkers are ganize plant gate or office collections. tion of the local . You can discover the truth This call for P-9 to surrender is a stab in going through, the auto workers, the sec­ These funds, the Unionist explains, "will of the situation for yourself," while at the the back. It gives aid and comfort to the retaries, the hotel workers?'" go to buy food and to keep our people same time providing "a valuable communi­ union-busting drive of the Hormel bosses, He pledged that the local would continue fighting.'' This money can be forwarded to cation service for the labor movement as a who are backed by the Minnesota state its struggle and its efforts to win solidarity, the P-9 Emergency and Hardship Fund. whole .. .. " government, · courts, and big-business including from the AFL-CIO. Currently, the Unionist explains, the Requests for material on the boycott, as media. It undermines solidarity. "We feel confident that we can win the National Guard has been "serving as a pri­ well as solidarity resolutions and contri­ The P-9 local, after democratic discus­ situation," Guyette continued, "with the vate security force for Hormel, escorting butions to either the P-9 Emergency and sion and vote by the entire membership, support of the labor movement who is not strikebreakers in and out of the plant. . .. Hardship Fund or the Adopt A P-9 Family has repeatedly rejected Hormel's contract down here in Bal. Harbom: out on the golf The National Guard have brutalized many Fund, can be sent to UFCW Local P-9, 316 offer- an offer that would gut the senior- courses or in the jewelry shops." citizens of Austin and brought with them NE 4th Avenue, Austin, Minn. 55912.

4 The ·Militant March 7, 1986 Austin: youth demand justice 350 students walk out of classes in support of strike

BY MAGGIE McCRAW shield." Another striker objected to this ' porters. AUSTIN, Minn.- Chanting "P-9, P-9, view. "My kid," he said, "can make up his When the students got to the plant it was P-9," some 350 students walked out of own mind." Another union member, de­ clear that they had carefully read the tenns classes here February 21. The majority fending the youths' action, explained, of the revised injunction restricting the were high school and middle school stu­ "These kids want to be part ofthe history of number of strike supporters allowed on the dents, but about 40 elementary school stu­ the labor movement." The school officials' public streets near the Hormel plant. dents also participated. actions, he continued, "show the Austin · While the hundreds of students lined the The walkout was organized to protest the education system is as restrictive as the road outside the Hormel corporate offices, school system's attack on the students' courts." a delegation of six attempted to deliver a democratic right to support United Food As the walkout began the next morning, letter to Hormel Chairman Richard and Commercial Workers union Local P- many parents and other P-9 supporters Knowlton. The letter requested a meeting 9's strike against HormeL gathered across the street from the school between the students and Knowlton to dis­ Students demonstrate in Austin school officials have claimed that to show their solidarity with the youths. cuss the company's refusal to negotiate strike. the schools are neutral ·in the bitter six, Tim Hinkle, a walkout organizer, told with the union. month strike. But two days before the the press that the students want to show As the delegation approached the build­ The students then decided to organize a walkout two high school students were sus­ "this isn't Hormel, Minnesota, or Scab ing, large armed guards told them that bus to St. Paul to leaflet the statewide pended after they refused to remove their City, Minnesota." He explained that many Knowlton and other Hormel executives AFL-CIO Legislative Conference February P-9 support buttons. The officials did not of the students have participated in other were "not available." 24. Thirty-five students and five chaperons order students to remove any other buttons, strike-support activities. "I went on the Eventually the guru;ds delivered the let­ signed up. including ones reading "I love Hormel." roving pickets to Dub.uque [Iowa]," he told ter to a secretary. The students demanded At the union support meeting that night The walkout was the main topic of dis­ reporters, "to help close down FDL," a that the envelope be initialed and returned the students received a standing ovation. cussion at the union support meeting Feb­ Hormel subsidiary. to them as proof that it had been delivered. By the end of the evening $350 was raised ruary 20. The meeting heard a report from Most of the protesting students were The guards did so. to pay for the bus. the students on their plans for the next children of strikers, but there were also The Austin police then arrived. Alleging School officials have been forced to day's walkout. But after the students left to some whose parents are scabs. that the students were violating the injunc­ issue a memo that prohibits the disciplining paint signs for the protest, a debate on the Carrying signs that read: "We want jus­ tion, the cops threatened to arrest them if . of any student for wearing P-9 buttons. walkout broke out in the meeting. While no tice in Austin - ·this isn't South Africa" they did not disperse. Students are circulating a petition calling one considered stopping the action, many and "School should teach us to be free citi­ Chanting loudly, the students marched for a special assembly at Austin High strikers had doubts about it. Expressing the zens not Hormel sausages," the students back to the union hall. There, Kathy Buck, School to hear a debate between Hormel view of many parents, one striker said that marched to the plant. There they were a member of the local's executive board, .Chairman Knowlton and P-9 President Jim the walkout was "using the kids as a joined by a large car caravan of strike sup- thanked them for their support. Guyette.

The strike Support grows for Minnesota strike at a glance packers. The statement was printed in full Machinists Local 565; Carlos Avitia, pres­ The 1,500 members of United Birmingham in the Charleston Gazette. ident of International Molders' union Local Food and Commercial Workers It read in part: "When union-busting 164; and Steve Manenelli, vice-president union (UFCW) Local P-9 were BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - At its Feb­ gains the upper hand, so do the anti-labor, of Amalgamated Transit Union Local265. forced out on strike by the Geo. A. ruary 19 meeting, the Amalgamated Cloth­ sexist, and racist allies of apartheid. Sup­ The rally wraps up a three-week visit to Hormel meatpacking company on ing and Textile Workers Union Local 640 porters of Hormel's union-busting cam­ the Bay Area by members of Local P-9. Aug. l7, 1985. They .are workers at here passed a resolution in support of the paign should go to South Africa and link The strikers have been speaking to local the company's Austin, Minnesota, United Food and Commercial Workers arms with racist head of state P. W. Botha. unions and other organizations to win sup­ operation. union Local P-9 on strike against Hormel We will stand with UFCW Local P~9 in the port for their struggle. More than a year earlier, Hormel in Austin, . Minnesota. The res~;>lution spirit of labor's martyrs, of Martin Luther had unilat,~rally slashed. wag~s from called for sending a message of. solidarity King, Jr., and of Nelson Mandela." ' H ; $~Q ,q9.J9"$8.25 an·houri-They wet;e, , ,, to tlte striki-ng meatpackers. The clothing Among iiiner&- ()f th~ state91~nli we~ later raised to $9.25. When the and textile workers' local also sent a tele­ David Evans ~V1ebtam ;vetei'ahs ' of Xineri'­ :Denver union's contract expired August 17, gram to Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich pro­ ca Chapter 35; Pat Hussey and Barbara DENVER -~ Sixty-five members of the company refused to return wages testing the use of the National Guard as Ferarro, Sisters of Notre Dame; and Ther­ United Auto Workers Local 766 at the to their former level. strikebreakers, in Austin. mon Taylor, president of United Steel­ Martin Marietta aerospace plant here sent a Hormel also demanded additional The Greater Birmingham chapter of the workers Local 86-21. telegram to Gov. Rudy Perpich protesting concessions, including gutting the National Organization for Women also his use of the Minnesota National Guard. seniority and grievance systems and voted at a recent meeting to send a message The February 3 telegram characterized this instituting a two-tier wage system. of support to Local P-9. action as "treachery" and "a gross misuse The company has demanded the right San Jose of the tax dollars of the Minnesota workers to punish workers injured on the job. · SAN JOSE, Calif. - A rally in solidar­ and farmers." The injury rate per year at the Austin ity with Local P-9 will take place here plant is 202 injuries for every 100 Charleston Thursday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the workers. Hormel is ·also demanding CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Rev. Sandy Labor Temple, 2102 Almaden Rd. contractual restrictions on workers' Drayton, president of the Charleston The rally is being sponsored by the Toledo democratic and political rights. NAACP, and Ronald Coder, director of Strike Support Committee of the Santa TOLEDO, Ohio - The Jeep unit of In the course of the strike, Local West Virginia American Federation of Clara County Central Labor Council, AFL­ United Auto Workers Local 12 voted at its P-9 has had to face attacks by the State, County and Municipal Employees, CIO; Teamster Local 287; Harry Adams, February meeting to send a telegram to company, courts, and governor. issued a statement in support of the meat- president of International Association of Gov. Rudy Perpich protesting the use of On Dec. 24, 1985, the courts is­ the National Guard to break the UFCW sued an injunction limiting strike ac­ strike. - tivity at the plant. Since then the Nat'l Guard pulled out of Austin . The members also voted to send a $500 courts, at the request of Hormel, donation - initially proposed as $100 - have amended the injunction making to Local P-9. · it even more restrictive. Continued from front page American Can Co. in St. Paul, Minnesota. On January 21, Minnesota Gov. creases, however, actually reflect Har­ P-9 strikers spoke to the Steelworkers at Rudy Perpich of the Democratic mel's acquisition of FDL, a wholly owned their union meeting about the Hormel Farmer-Labor Party sent in the Na­ subsidiary of Hormel. strike. When working, they make the cans Albany tional Guard to herd scabs for Hor­ for Spam, a Hormel product. After hearing mel . Public outrage forced Perpich to During the last two weeks that the Guard the meatpackers, the Steelworkers pledged was mobilized here, the local did not or­ ALBANY, N.Y. - The Central Labor pull the Guard back from the plant on that "the 7 million Spam cans are staying in Council here voted at its February 11 meet­ January 29. The strikers were then ganize any demonstrations at the Hormel the warehouse." plant gate. Instead, the union stepped up its ing to send a $300 'donation to UFCW able to close the plant again. The Metro Area P-9 Support Committee Local P-9. On February 3 Perpich again as­ campaign to win support for the strike from in Minneapolis-St. Paul is organizing a signed the Guard to herd strikebreak­ around the country. meeting in March to gain support for the ers. Although there are about 900 Support for the strike within the labor boycott from campus, civil rights, scabs in the plant; production is only movement continues to grow despite at­ women's rights, and anti-intervention Philadelphia at about 10 percent of normal. tacks on the local by the United Food and groups. The striking local sent out roving Commercial Workers international and In Austin, hundreds of students walked PHILADELPHIA - "If we act now, the AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland (see ar­ pickets to other Hormel plants. On out of classes February 21 in support of the strike can be won. A P-9 victory can be our January 28 the company fired over ticle page 4). P-9 support rallies are being strike (see article page 5). These students victory as well." 500 workers at Hormel plants in Ot­ organized by unions in Atlanta, Boston, have formed a new organization called P-9 · So read a leaflet put out by Oil, Chemi­ tumwa, Iowa, and Fremont, Ne­ Cleveland, Detroit, and in Mobile, - The Future Generation. cal and Atomic Workers Local . 8-234, braska, for refusing to cross P-9's Alabama. Support committees in New­ The local continues to defend itself which organizes the. Sohio refinery here. picket lines. York, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and St. against attacks by the courts. The union's The leaflet was to encourage oil workers to On February 22, P-9 removed Louis are organizing speaking tours ·for attorney, Margaret Winter, has challenged participate in a plant-gate collection for the strikers. · their pickets from the Ottumwa the constitutionality of an amended injunc­ embattled meatpackers' local. plant. The workers from that plant At recent meetings two farm organiza­ tion by Judge Bruce Stone against the They contributed over $700 for P-9. then marched en masse to demand tions - Minnesota Groundswell and the strike. This court order limits to six the In addition to the plant-gate collection, their jobs. The company refused. North American Farm Alliance - pledged number of union demonstrators allowed on the union decided at its February 17 meet­ The Ottumwa workers are now pick­ support for the strike and the boycott of the public streets near the phmt. She asked ing to send a telegram protesting the use of eting the plant to protest this lock­ Hormel products. Judge- Stone to dismiss contempt-of-court the Guard in Austin. The local also voted out. The striking meatpackers also joined the charges against union leaders stemming to adopt a P-9 family and to support the United Steelworkers' picket line against from alleged violations of the injunction. boycott of Hormel products.

March 7, 1986 The Militant s Nicaraguan farmers from northern region discuss-new law on land distribution BY CINDY JAQUITH "One single army!", "People's power!" PUEBLO NUEVO, Nicaragua- "With they yelled out. And a chant answering the land, work, and weapons , we will defeat slanders of the U.S. government: "We 're the aggression." This was the banner at a not terrorists - we're fighting for peace meeting of 500 Nicaraguan peasants and and a socialist country!" farm workers who gathered here to present The youths were all from the nearby their demands to President Daniel Ortega peasant community of Pueblo Nuevo . and other government officials on January They had volunteered to suspend their 26. studies so they could help bring in the na­ Most of those invited to the "Face the tion's coffee crop. People" meeting were deplazados de guerra - peasants driven from their Big demand for land homes by the mercenary bands organized In the four hours of discussion that en­ . Militant/Harvey McArthur and financed by the U.S . government, sued, the most frequent request peasants Farmers from northern provinces in Nicaragua at "Face the People" meeting with called contras in Spanish. They had been made to the government officials was for government leaders, where new land distribution law and other measures to benefit resettled by the Nicaraguan government on land. The head of the cooperative at Casa countryside were discussed. farmland in safer areas. Blanca explained they needed more land so The meeting took place at the Casa they could expand their herd of cattle. Blanca resettlement, about 15 miles from "There's a state farm - nearby, El the Honduran border, in northern Esteli Chaguiton. We'd like some of the land Sandinista revolution grows. Province. Peasants from the several north­ from there," he said. em provinces that make up Region I came El Chaguiton's name came up several stronger in countryside in for the meeting. They were from dozens times in the meeting. A landl~ss peasant of towns, including a number where the complained, "There are problems with the counterrevolutionary terrorists of the Nica­ administration at that farm . It's not produc­ PUEBLO NUEVO, Nicaragua - The olutionaries]," Barricada lnternacional re­ raguan Democratic Force (FDN) have had ing what it could." Sandinista revolution is growing stronger ported. some influence in the past. By the end of the meeting, government in the countryside, as exemplified by the "1. There was a breakdown of tradi­ officials announced that El Chaguiton and January 26 meeting here. (See story tional commerce of the peasantry when More confident mood another state farm would be turned over to above.) products the peasants can't do without, The mood of the peasants was much peasants who will work it more efficiently. Important shifts in agrarian policy on the such as machetes, rubber boots, and rope, more confident than it would have been There were other suggestions for where part of Nicaragua's workers' and peasants' became scarce and increased in price. At one or- two years ago. Today, the large to find land. "There's a landlord who has a government and the Sandinista National the same time, the prices at which they sold FDN units that used to plague this area farm here, but he's in Miami raising money Liberation Front (FSLN) have been a factor their products weren't covering their costs. have been broken up. Peasants are tilling for the contras," said one peasant. A farm in turning the tide against mercenary forces "2. There was a lack of political atten­ the land in relative security, although still worker said he thought there was a lot of in the region and increasing peasants' sup­ tion. with AK-47s on their backs. abandoned or underutilized land in the port for and confidence in the revolution. Uppermost in people's minds was the area. He singled out the property of a land­ Sandinista leaders have explained how "3. The peasants' expectations on land fact that the government had just decreed a lord named Julio Martinez. The name the mercenaries took advantage of the rev­ were not satisfied: The agrarian reform was major change in the country's land reform brought shouts of agreement from others in olution's objective problems in the coun­ limited to giving out state land to peasants law, lifting all limits on the size of land­ the crowd. ' tryside, as well as some initial errors made organized into cooperatives. holdings that can be taken over for distribu­ Several speakers made the point that the by the Nicaraguan government and army. "4. The terrorist actions of the contras tion to poor peasants ..The main pledge in a new changes in the land reform law and The political lessons they have drawn are forced the withdrawal of technicians and New Year's message by the government other measures being ·taken to aid the coun­ reflected in the stepped-up pace and ·scope teachers to safer areas. The peasllilllt ·ire­ and Sandinista National Liberation Front tryside will help win back peasants from of the land reform, including increased dis­ mained isolated." was that no peasant who needs land will go this area who joined the mercenaries. Said tribution of ·individual titles and the Humberto Ortega told Barricada lnter­ without it. one man, "We should say to those peasants prioritization of economic resources to nacional, "In many parts of the coun­ The peasants' confidence came through who've gone to Honduras or Costa Rica, rural areas. tryside, the revolution had not really ar­ as the meeting was about to start. Spotting who've been tricked , 'look at the benefits An article in the Nov. 28, 1985 , rived . . . . Many peasants were confused a number of chairs up front that had been we're receiving from the revolution . Come Spanish-language Barricada lnterna­ because the revolution had committed er­ temporarily vacated by journalists, dozens back and work the land. ' " cional, publisheo by the FSLN, sum­ rors, because there were no highways, be­ of peasants crowded into the seating area From 1983 to 1985 , more than I ,000 marized some of the experiences the San­ cause we didn't have the resources for so they could be first in line for the open contras returned to their homes in this re­ dinistas went through that led them to make everything, because we hadn't known how mike. Many clutched handwritten gion under an amnesty program that allows shifts in their rural policy. The paper inter­ to have a presence. speeches, which they studied nervously as them to go back to their villages without viewed both Javier Carrion, chief of opera­ "We left some peasant areas abandoned, the meeting began. penalty if they lay down their arms. An ag­ tions for the Sandinista People's Army, in the middle of political and cultural back­ A group of youths from a student pro­ gressive publicity campaign is being car­ and Defense Minister Humberto Ortega. wardness. Intimidated by the armed pre­ duction battalion, who had been picking ried out in rural areas like this, with "Javier Carrion summarized political er­ sence of the counterrevolutionaries coming coffee on a nearby state farm, started up a thousands of posters showing ex-contras rors and circumstances that led backward from Honduras, many of these peasants series of chants to welcome President reunited with their families and maps pin- sectors of the peasantry to collaborate at a joined them - by force or by their own Ortega and other government officials. Continued on Page 17 certain point with the contras [counterrev- will." Barricada lnternacional described the steps that began to tum this around. Car­ rion, the paper reported, explained that "the new economic and land reform poli­ 'IP' on blow to .agent-baiting campaign cies followed in 1985 were aimed at revers­ ing this situation. By moving the victims of A staggering blow has been dealt by editor Doug Jenness assessing.------, the war to resettlements that were more se­ to the agent-baiting campatgn con­ the significance of this repudiation. cure and easier to get to, it was possible to ducted for more than a decade by provide better social services, as well as This issue of IP also carries four INTERCONTINENTAL land and facilities to market their products, the British Workers Revolutionary pages of articles and documents Party (WRP) and the U.S. Workers to people previously isolated in the moun­ from Workers Press, published by PRESS tains. League. The Fourth International, the anti-Healy wing of the WRP. the U.S. Socialist Workers Party, "As a result, the contras have lost the and othe.r individuals and organiza­ f;uba Philippines narrow social base they used to be able to count on ." tions in the workers' movement Party Congress: Marcos Regime were the targets of the agent-bait­ Intercontinental Press is a biweekly 'Economic Battle Swept From Power The chief of state security in Region 1, ing. that carries more articles, docu­ Is People's War' which includes the Casa Blanca resettle­ Leaders of a wing of the WRP that ments, and special features on world ment, also commented on peasants' grow­ broke with long-time WRP cult fig­ ing rejection of the mercenaries. In an in­ politics- from Europe to Oceania Haiti ure Gerry Healy last October have terview in the Oct. 29, 1985, Managua and from the Middle East to Central Pressure Mounts now repudiated the big lie that America - than we have room for daily El Nuevo Diario, Subcommander for Real Change Roger Mayorga explained why so many leaders of the Fourth International in the Militant. Subscribe now. After Duvaller and the SWP are U.S. and Soviet peasants who had joined the contras from gov~rnment agents. Enclosed is 0 $7.50 for 3 months. this region have returned under the am­ They also condemn the lawsuit 0 $15 for 6 months. 0 $30 for 1 Document nesty program. . year. South African brought by Los Angeles County at­ "The small social base [the contras] had torney Alan Gelfand against the 'Women's Charter' Name------for Uberatlon in the region in 1983 is today defending the SWP, launched nearly seven years revolution," he said, "because the peasants Address ______~--- ago. The suit is a central part of the understand that the war is not helping Healyite disruption effort against City ______State ______Zip ______them, that the contras' project has no fu­ the SWP and the Fourth Interna­ Clip and mail to Intercontinental '------___J ture. tional. "Through the political work of the revo­ The current, March 10 issue of In­ Press, 410 West St., New York, NY lution and the facts that come out every 10014. tercontinental Press has an article day, they see the real improvements they have received," he said. - C.J.

6 The Militant March 7, 1986 Reagan's hard sell on aid to contras

Continued from front page Reagan's proposal to make all the money ragua. "nonlethal." The chief spokesperson inside Nicara­ Rep. David McCurdy (D-Okla.), the au­ gua for the mercenaries is_Miguel Obando thor of last year's amendment that added y Bravo, a Roman Catholic cardinal. His the tag "humanitarian" to the $27 million recent visit to the United States was timed given to the contras, wrote a column that to coincide with the push for more aid to appeared in the February 5 New York Obando's armed supporters. Times. The Nicaraguan government issued a "Some skeptics wonder," the con­ statement on his trip that explained: "The gressman asked, "if there really is a signif­ cardin1ll's visit to the United States and the icant difference between 'humanitarian' attacks he has made are taking place pre­ and 'military' aid." McCurdy's answer? cisely when the Reagan administration has Sure. "True, the humanitarian aid we allot­ launched a new campaign against our ted was clearly assistance to a fighting country in order to obtain funds from Con­ force ,'! he admitted. But how it could be gress for military support of the counter­ used, he lamely added, was restricted. revolution. Getting to his real point about why the "Cardinal Obando, who has not said a push for calling it humanitarian, the con­ single word about the mercenary aggres­ gressman said, "More important, the pack­ sion, which has cost more than 11,000 age passed because some three dozen lives, including women, children, and old members of the House who had supported people, has gone to accuse us before our the earlier ban on any aid" voted for the aggressors, thereby joining a campaign un­ $27 million. worthy of his high office and priestly mis- Several liberal Democrats, including Contra executes Nicaraguan peasant. Photo was released last year by U.S. student sion." · Rep. Thomas O'Neill and Rep. Michael traveling with mercenaries. Reagan wants $100 million in aid for mercenary war that Barnes, have come out against the aid has cost Nicaraguan people more than 11,000 lives. · Capitalist press campaign for aid package. If the $100 million is granted, The New York Times editors have run O'Neill warned, it would be a "disaster." several articles bemoaning the blows the The Nicaraguan army, he said, would refused to resume them, despite repeated of a threat to the hemisphere than a United contras are suffering at the hands of the "slaughter" the contras. And that could_ requests by the Nicaraguan government to States-sponsored war of attrition. They Nicaraguan military. These are designed to lead to sending U.S. troops: "Give $100 · do so. fear the stress on their own social systems motivate a vote for more aid. In one such million and our boys would be in there," The plan includes a call for the "cessa­ if they had to choose clearly between U.S. story in the February 21 Times, reporter said O'Neill. tion of support for irregular forces which friendship and a sovereign, albeit Marxist Stephen Kinzer included an interview with operate in the region," referring to Wash­ Latin cousin under Yankee attack." Latin America ington's support for the contras. Adolfo Calero Portocarrero, commander­ Reagan's proposal to escalate the contra in-chief of the Nicaraguan Democratic The opposition of the peoples of Latin According to a report in the February 11 war coming right on top of these new talks Force (FDN), the main contra grouping. America to U.S. intervention and the sup­ New York Times, the plan also calls for: has made it more difficult to get Congress The contra aid vote, Calero said, "is de­ port among the continent's workers and "the removal of all foreign military advis­ to quickly vote another round of aid to the finitely critical." While the contras were peasants for the Nicaraguan revolution are ers from the region, the suspension of for­ contras. carrying out a lot less military activity this central factors in the debate in the halls of eign military maneuvers, a halt to support year than previously, "that does not mean Congress over how to proceed with the for guerrilla armies, and respect for the A February I 0 letter to Reagan from we feel any weaker or any less optimistic," contra war. self-determination and territorial sover­ nine liberal Democratic senators, including he hastened to assure his friends in Wash­ On February 10 Secretary of State eignty of each country." Christopher Dodd, Gary Hart, Alan ington. George Shultz met with the foreign minis­ In asking Congress for the $100 million, Cranston, and Edward Kennedy, argued that Reagan's timing was off in light of the Kinzer also quoted a "foreign military ters of eight Latin American countries. Reagan claimed his aim was to press the Venezuela initiative. "Either we will even­ officer" who said if only the contras "can These included the four governments that Sandinistas into negotiations. Yet Shultz tually have to abandon the contras and suf­ get some heavier weapons, including a few participate in the Contadora group and the rejected the Latin American governments' fer a major foreign policy setback, or we aircraft to challenge the Sandinistas in the four that make up the Contadora support proposals, while Nicaragua agreed to sign will have to- move to direct U.S. military sky, and if they get American military ad· group. These were: Argentina, Brazil, Col­ the plan. visers who can train their noncommis­ ombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, The other side of the Caraballeda meet­ involvement. Providing lethal military aid for the contras would lead us one step fur­ sioned officers, the situation would and Venezuela. They met in Caraballeda, ing was the pressw;e that these eight goy­ Venezuela. .· · ther toward that dead-end choice," they · ·. ch~e,'·' = ' "' emments were supposed to put on Nicara­ said. · The meeting urged Washington to halt gua. Ruling class debate its aid to the contras. The governments also An editorial on the latest Contadora plan But the contra war continues, despite The White House faces opposition in came up with a plan that they say can bring in the February 15 New York Times congressional critics and regional meet­ ruling-class circles to this particular pack­ a negotiated settlement to the armed con­ explained what's at stake for the capitalist ings. It takes new lives every day. age, as shown by the criticisms many Con­ flicts in Central America. The document governments in Latin America that are in­ Broad protest demonstrations against the gresspeople and liberal columnists have proposes that Washington resume direct volved in these negotiations: "What is re­ U.S.-organized war on Nicaragua are made of it. talks with Nicaragua. The U.S. govern­ fusing to die is the Latin belief that a leftist needed now more than ever to demand an The source of these tactical divisions is ment broke off those talks last year and has Nicaragua boxed in by treaty would be less end to aid to the contras. the fact that the contras are being badly beaten. The reason is that they are not a popular guerrilla army, but terrorist bands led by U.S.-financed remnants of the D. C. protest: 'Stop aid to contras!' former hated regime of Anastasio Somoza. It's becoming clearer with each passing day that no mercenary force - no matter BYIKENAHEM and Maryland , as well as Washington, protesters chanted, "U.S.A.-C.I.A. Out of how much money and arms it gets from the WASHINGTON, D.C. - Some 600 D.C. Nicaragua, boycott South Africa, not Nica­ Pentago~ - is going to be able to overturn people marched a'hd rallied February 21 on Some 40,000 leaflets building the action ragua," and "We say 'no' - stop the con­ the Nicaraguan government. Capitol Hill here against the Reagan ad­ were distributed in the Washington metro­ tra money flow." More aid to the contras, however, will ministration's drive to send military and politan area at train stations, universities, The demonstration ended ac:ross from be felt in Nicaragua, 50 percent of whose other· aid to Nicaraguan counterrevolution­ shopping centers, and workplaces. The the Capitol in front of the Supreme Court, national budget already goes to fighting the aries - known in Spanish as contras. educational leaflets attacked Reagan's por­ where a message of support. was read from war. More guns and helicopters and U.S. Reagan has formally presented the $100 trayal of the contras as "freedom fighters" Congressman Ronald Dellums (D-Calif.). advisers means more deaths, destruction, million aid package to Congress. This time and called for the United States govern­ The crowd also heard from Sister Maureen and economic dislocation, making it more around it is pitched as $70 million in mili­ ment to negotiate with the government of Fiedler, who is a prominent figure among difficult for the revolution to meet the tary aid and $30 million in "humanitarian" Nicaragua. religious opponents to U.S. aggression. .needs of the oppressed and exploited. aid. Before marching to the Capitol, there Sister Fiedler is codirector of the Quixote And how the contra war goes is decisive The Coalition to Stop the U.S. War on were short talks from Loretta Ross, direc­ Center. The center is coordinating the for Washington's calculations on the use of Nicaragua called the February 21 action. tor of the Women of Color Program for the "Quest for Peace" material aid campaign U.S. troops to invade. An armed and The coalition was initiated by the Washing­ National Organization for Women and initiated by several national religious or­ united population, dealing blow after blow ton-area Nicaragua Information Committee Larry Drake from the Washington-area ganizations to raise $27 million in real to the contras, makes an invasion appear a (NICA), which sent an open letter to doz­ Labor Committee on Central America and humanitarian aid to Nicaragua. Material Jot Jess inviting and a lot more costly than a ens of o~gani zation s who have spoken out the Caribbean. aid and donations were collected at the situation where the contras are on the of­ against Washington's dirty war. Marching down Penrll;ylvania Avenue, Capitol. fensive. Over 30 organizations endorsed the ac­ Thus, while the entire spectrum of tion. They included: International Council capitalist politicians and commentators - of African Women, Casa El Salvador, from ultraconservative to liberal - is vir­ Committee in Solidarity with the People of Filipino people topple Marcos tually unanimous in finding Nicaragua's El Salvador (CISPES), Coalition Against workers' and peasants' government unac­ the Marcos Dictatorship, Colombia Human Continued from Page 3 of workers. The head of the American ceptable, there is a variety of views on Rights Committee, and the Democratic For Wall Street, this assurance is not ir­ Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines what to do about it. Socialists of America. relevant. The Filipino people are stagger­ estimates the U.S. investment there at $2.5 Other endorsers included the Free South ing under a foreign debt of $26 billion. billion. · 'Humanitarian aid' Africa Movement, Maryland Council on This is a nation where half the work force And there is the Clark Air Base and Sen. William Broomfield (R.-Mich.) Latin America, Washington, D.C. , Na­ of 20 million is either jobless or without a Subic Bay naval installation, with 15,000 captured the sentiment of those who want tional Black Independent Political Party, fulltime job. military personnel. For Washington, the to back the contras but keep up the appear­ Baltimore National Lawyers Guild, North­ The extent of the U.S. financial plunder bases are of a strategic value throughout ance of being pro-peace: "Congress is not em Virginia Activists Coalition, Socialist of the Philippines is indicated by the fact Southeast Asia. going to tum its back on the contras. But Workers Party, TransAfrica, Washington­ that fully 35 percent of the nation's export The Filipino people have written a vital obviously their chances are better of get­ area Labor Committee on Central America must go for paying just the interest on the chapter in their history and now embark on ting humanitarian aid." and the Caribbean, and several student or­ debt. a new one. Surging through the streets, Sen. David Durenberger (R.-Minn.), ganizations from Georgetown and Ameri­ Within the Philippines, U.S. business they shattered a once seemingly invincible chairman of the Select Committee on Intel­ can universities. interests have taken advantage of the re­ dictatorship. After doing that, they're not ligence, said he would try to amend Protesters came from northern Virginia pression of unions, low wages, and surplus likely to depart the political arena.

March 7, 1986 The Militant 7 Socialist Workers Party sets spring tasks

BY MARGARET JAYKO NEW YORK- The Socialist Workers Party National Committee adopted a series of reports at its February 8-ll meeting that outlined the tasks of the party over the next several months. The political framework for this discussion was set by a report on the international and U.S. political situa­ tion, the key points of which were sum­ marized in an article in last week's Mili­ tant. That discussion focused on the centrality of the U.S.-backed war against the Nicara­ guan revolution and the stakes in the strike by Local P-9 of the United Food and Com­ mercial Workers for the entire class strug­ gle. The national committee decided to make building solidarity with the Austin, Min­ nesota, meatpackers the central campaign of the party,- and last week's article re­ viewed the P-9 support work that could be carried out in the unions, with farmers' or­ At the February meeting of the Socialist Workers Party National Larry Seigle (right) reported on publication plans ganizations, and among all those who have by Pathfinder Press; Tom Fiske (center) on work of party members in unions; and Thabo Ntweng on antiwar activity and ef­ a stake in the outcome of that battle. forts to expand circulation of socialist press. This article will outline the other tasks that were decided on at the meeting. people and U.S. antiwar fighters and an In the next several months, Fiske and finder books beginning to be distributed in important victory for the imperialists and Ntweng reported, there will be more op­ the Philippines. The tight for antiwar actions their mercenaries, who are currently suf­ portunities to involve unionists and every­ The report also discussed the importance Thabo Ntweng, reporting for the Or­ fering big blows at the hands of the Nicara­ one else in anti-apartheid actions. Regional of expanded circulation of New Interna­ ganization Bureau, detailed the party's key guan military. actions are scheduled for April 4, National tional, a magazine of Marxist politics and campaigns and tasks in the coming months. If Congress is forced to vote against the Divestment Protest Day, which is part of theory. Each issue of New International Tom Fiske gave a report from the SWP's new aid, however, it will inspire foes of the 1986 National Weeks of Anti-Apart­ has substantial political articles and docu­ Trade Union Bureau on the political work U.S. intervention, help demoralize the heid Action from March 21 to April 6. On ments and can be promoted even after the of party members in the unions . The major­ contras, and buy the Nicaraguan people June 14, the New York Anti-Apartheid Co­ next issue is out, Seigle noted. ity of the SWP's members are industrial more time in their fight to defeat the ter­ ordinating Council is organizing a march The upsurge in Haiti has made even workers . rorists and strengthen their revolution. and rally to demand no U.S. intervention clearer the importance of Nouvelle lnter­ The central campaign of the party in the Local and regional antiwar actions are as well as break all U.S. ties to apartheid. nationale, the French-language sister pub­ last couple months was the fight to bring being organized in a number of cities, The boycott of Shell Oil, organized by lication of New International. While it is together the broad forces necessary to call Ntweng said. They can help convince ac­ the United Mine Workers, United Auto directed primarily at the nationally op­ and build a national action against Wash­ tivists of the need for national coordina­ Workers, and others, can also provide op­ pressed, French-speaking population of ington' s escalating intervention in Central tion, as well as drawing new forces into the portunities to draw the unions into action Quebec, Canada, it is beginning to be read America, said Ntweng. Last April 20, fight. On April 19, there will be a march on this issue. and studied by Haitians in Montreal and the some 125,000 people participated in anti­ and rally in San Francisco organized by United States, who are trying to figure out war protests organized by the April Actions many of the same groups and individuals Democratic rights under attack the road forward in their fight against im­ Coalition for Peace, Jobs and Justice. who built last year's April 20 protest. And Fiske reported that under the guise of de­ perialist oppression and exploitation. in many cities there will be activities dur­ fense of "national security" and the fight Political retreat ing the March 16-24 Central America against "terrorism," the employers and the Upgrading bookstores Since then, Ntweng reported, most of Week. government have stepped up their attacks Socialist bookstores can reap a lot of the political forces that participate in the In addition, protests organized around on the democratic rights of workers in in­ benefits by being explicitly associated with coalition have retreated from the previ­ the summit and against Washington's nu­ dustries with Pentagon contracts. There's Pathfinder Press, Seigle pointed out. Hav­ ously agreed upon perspective of building clear arsenal are a place for antiwar fighters talk of revoking thousands of security ing several dozen bookstores, all named nationally coordinated regional antiwar ac­ to raise demands against aid to the contras clearances, which are routinely required Pathfinder, maximizes the possibility of tions on April 26. They have shifted, in­ and against the U.S.-financed war in El for all sorts of jobs. There's an increase in radical-minded workers and students as­ stead, to proposing that actions be held at Salvador. the number of workers being charged with sociating these bookstores with the vol­ some unspecified point in the future in sup­ Both Ntw.eng and Fiske underlined the "sabotage." And drug busts are being used umes of speeches by leaders of the Nicara­ port of the arms talks between President importance of helping to organize trade to divide and intimidate workers. guan, . Cuban, and Grenadian revolutions; Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail union tours to Nicaragua, going on work One aspect of this attack that Fiske books by Malcolm X and Nelson Mandela; and other important titles published and Gorbachev. These protests will not high­ brigades, and getting Nicaraguan speakers pointed to is the attempt to get workers to distributed by Pathfinder. light Washington's aggression in Central into union locals. Other tours- of farm­ talk to cops in the plants. Fiske said that Seigle reported that the America, but rather will be limited to ers, youths, women, Blacks, and Latinos there is never a time when anyone is legally Militant, its vague calls for peace and arms accords. -are also important, along with trips to El required to voluntarily engage in conversa­ Spanish-language sister publication Per­ spectiva Mundial, and the biweekly inter­ Members of the SWP and Young Salvador. tion with the FBI or any other cop agency. national news magazine Socialist Alliance- the youth group in po­ And when a worker or any political activist Intercontinental Abortion rights demonstrations all intend to expand their promotion litical solidarity with the SWP - are par­ does agree to talk to FBI agents, it gives the Press of Pathfinder publications and bookstores. ticipating in the local and national April ac­ The March 9 and 16 national abortion FBI an added appearance of legitimacy in tions coalitions and talking to other antiwar rights protests, called by the National Or­ intruding on democratic rights. To get the most out of this national ef­ forces about the importance of nationally ganization for Women (NOW), will be the The goal of the FBI in these cir­ fort, Seigle said, "will require a sustained, coordinated spring antiwar mobilizations, most important acti'Vities in years in de­ cumstances, said Fiske, is not to get you to systematic, weekly upgrading of the especially in light of Reagan's proposal to fense of a woman's right to choose, said say something "damaging," but to get you bookstores," including regular hours and give the CIA-organized contras (counter­ Ntweng. They have already attracted broad to accept and help establish their "right" to attention to what is featured each week, revolutionaries) $100 million more to esca­ support, including among a layer of hold such interrogations. connected with the political work branches late their bloody war against Nicaragua. women's rights fighters who are Black. The FBI thus seeks to reinforce one of are carrying out. SWP members are building the protests Seigle announced that there will be a Fight over contra aid the most elementary forms of class collab­ through their NOW and Coalition of Labor oration: actions based on the illusion that spring fund drive of $100,000 that will run The stakes are high in the fight over con­ Union Women (CLUW) chapters and in the cops are neutral in the struggle between from March 15 to May 10. The money will go to help finance the socialist press and tra aid, Ntweng emphasized. If the Demo­ their union locals, reproductive rights workers and bosses. publishing projects. crats and Republicans grant the funds, it groups, and other organizations. Having FBI agents in the plant and inter­ would be a setback for the Nicaraguan Fiske pointed out that the marches pro­ rogating workers who are singled out on 'Militant,' 'PM' sales drive vide a way to discuss- a key issue facing the political grounds is an attack on democratic Ntweng emphasized the important role union movement- the fight for women's rights, as well as an attack on the union. that the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial i -~ltlr~ equality. "We have found," he said, "a Pathfinder Press play in building solidarity with the strug­ Protest U.S. war ~ ·=..:::· layer of workers that supports abortion gles of working people all over the world rights and is excited about these actions." Larry Seigle gave a report from the Or­ and getting across the views of the SWP. In Central America! ""' :.=:.=::- ganization Bureau on Pathfinder Press' ...... --·· ...... ··.:.::.:· .... --··-·· Jaati ·=~-=- And they are building the actions through To expand circulation of the press, the .. the union structures to whatever extent is 1986 publishing and distribution plans and national committee voted to launch a 10- =t-!§~~~:_;7.-.t~:q.y I If"." I possible. how this can strengthen socialist week drive to sell 45,000 single issues and Subscribe! bookstores. 2,000 subscriptions to the two publica­ This monthly revolutionary youth Anti-apartheid movement Some of the new books and pamphlets tions. The drive goes from March 8 to May newspaper covers the fight against Fiske reported that the past year's up­ that Pathfinder plans to produce in 1986 are 16, with March 29-April 4 being a target apartheid, Washington's wars, and surge against the white minority regime in two new volumes of the series on the Com­ week where branches will make special ef­ racism, and the struggle for women's South Africa, combined with the U.S. munist International in Lenin's time; a forts to sell large numbers of papers and liberation, the rights of workers, and union movement's anti-apartheid stance, new, updated version of Women and the subscriptions. (See front-page editorial on a socialist world. had led to significant opportunities to in­ Cuban Revolution; and more pamphlets in sales drive.) volve the unions and individual workers in Spanish, including a couple on South Af­ In addition, Ntweng proposed that from ~ for one year building and attending actions against rica. In addition, Pathfinder just released February 6 to March 7 branches participate Name ______South African racism. Cosmetics, Fashions, and the Exploitation in a renewal campaign to reach Militant Union members have also been able to of Women. The publishing house also in­ and PM subscribers whose subs are run­ Address------­ get South African freedom fighters and la­ tends to expand the number of titles In ning out and encourage them to renew. City------­ bor leaders to address their locals; set up Spanish and French that it distributes. Ntweng also reported that every branch State------Zip------showings of anti-apartheid videos; and In 1985, Seigle reported, Pathfinder was will be running candidates for public office help collect signatures on a "Freedom Let­ able to significantly increase its interna­ this spring. These campaigns, he said, give Clip and mail with payment to: ter" to Desmond Tutu, a leader of the tional distribution through its outlets in the party a chance to explain its ideas to a YOWl&' Sooialist 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014 United Democratic Front, the broad anti­ London, England, and Sydney, Australia. broader layer of the working class than can apartheid coalition in South Africa. This resulted, among other things, in Path- Continued on Page 12

8 The Militant -March 7, 1986

~. { -BUILD THE MARCH 9 AND 16 ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIONS!-- The National Organization to justice those responsible for the Some of the recent cosponsor­ for Women has called two abor­ firebombings. From the rally, ing organizations include: Ameri­ tion rights actions - in Wash­ abortion-rights activists fanned can Federation of State, County ington, D.C., for March 9, and out through downtown Cincinnati and Municipal Employees in Los Angeles for March 16. leafleting for the March. 9 "March Nacional (AFSCME), District Council 36; The theme of the actions is a for Women's Lives" and collect­ American Federation of Teachers "National March for Women's ing more than 340 signatures on Local 1839; American Indian Law Lives" to keep abortion and petitions supporting abortion MARCHApor Students Association, CUNY birth control safe and legal. rights and demanding the arrest (City University of New York) NOW is involving a broad and conviction of those responsi­ chapter; Between Ourselves: range of women's rights, Black, ble for the clinic bombings. Ia Vida de Ia Muler Women of Color; the Committee Latino, student, and labor or­ The March 9 Committee, which for Abortion Rights and Against ganizations in building the is organizing buses to the national Sterilization Abuse (CARASA); marches. abortion rights demonstration in 16 de Marzo Los Angeles, ca. the Haitian Center for Informa­ For information on the Wash- · Washington, D.C. , and the Cin­ tion, Documentation, and Social ington march, contact National cinnati Freedom of Choice Coali­ de 1986 · Action; and the Hospital and March for Women's Lives, 1401 tion plari continued public activity Health Care Employees' Union, New York Ave., NW, Washing­ to assure the ordinance is de­ congregacion: 10 a.m. en century City District 1199. ton, D.C. 20005; telephone (202) feated. Other recent endorsers include 347-2279. For information on a lo largo de century Park East the Let Nicaragua Live Pledge the Los Angeles march, 1242 S. Manifestacion: 12 del mediodia Parque Campaign of Southern California, La Cienega Blvd~, Los Angeles, March 9 picking the Mexican American Women's Calif. 90035; telephone (213) de Cheviot Hills en Ia calle Motor National Association, National 652-5576. up steam in Association of Social Workers, al sur del boulevard Pica National Black Independent Polit­ Philadelphia ical Party, and the National Black Cincinnati: Women's Health Project. BY JOEY ROTHENBERG Leaflet in Spanish for March 16 West Coast action is available from Also cosponsoring are the Na­ fetal disposal law PHILADELPHIA- "Women Los Angeles march center. tional Mobilization for Survival, are not the reproductive vessels for Nicaragua Information Commit­ defeated any government or church," Doris tee, Nicaragua Task Force, Repro­ by about 50 organizations in under way on that campus. BY VAL LIBBY Pechkurow of Philadelphia NOW ductive Rights National Network, told the thousands who had Philadelphia and the Delaware Socialist Workers Party, SANE, CINCINNATI- A victory for Valley. The keynote speaker was gathered for the March Against United States Student Associa­ abortion rights was won here on Marjorie McGuire from Catholics Racism in Philadelphia on Feb­ 'Largest abortion tion, the Winnie Mandela February 21. U.S. District Chief for Free Choice. Judge Carl Rubin granted a pre­ ruary 15. She encouraged all to go rights actions Women's Collective, Women liminary injunction barring the to Washington, D.C., on March 9 Strike for Peace, and the Young city of Cincinnati from enforcing to support abortion rights. On February 2 and 3, NOW in history' Socialist Alliance. the recently passed "fetal disposal Philadelphia-area orgamzmg President Eleanor Smeal spoke on In Washington, D.C., marchers three campuses. A meeting at ordinance." for the demonstration has picked In a February 24 press release will assemble at 10:00 a.m. on The victory was won because up steam. Thirty buses are re­ Swarthmore, called on short the National Organization for Sunday, March 9, on the Mall be­ pro-abortion rights forces have served. notice, had 200 people, half of Women said the March 9/March tween 7th and 14th streets. The been fighting back with rallies, Things got under way on Janu­ whom were men. 16 "National March for Women's demonstration will proceed past picket lines, and other public pro­ ary 22, the 13th anniversary of the At Bryn Mawr College, Smeal Lives" would be "the largest dem­ the White House to rally at the test activities since the December Supreme Court decision legalizing spoke to a crowd of 400, mostly onstration for a woman's right to U.S. Capitol Building on the west 9 firebombing of two Cincinnati abortion. Sixty people gathered in young women .. birth control and legal abortion in side. Please note that the rally site abortion clinics. On January 25 a "night of outrage" demonstration the history of the United States." has been changed from the Lin­ more than 400 people rallied to organized by NOW. The theme of Smeal'.s speech NOW . said that "tens of coln Memorial to the Capitol protest the firebombings. Almost Earlier that day, more than 500 was the need to get out in the thousands of women and men, in­ Building. ' every week, abortion rights picket people attended a noontime "su­ streets and defend our rights. This cluding students from more than The Los Angeles March will as­ lines have been organized. preme commemoration" honoring was well-received with a standing 300 colleges and universities, semble at 10:00 a.m., March 16, Judge Rubin's ruling came the the 1973 Supreme Court decision. ovation at the end of her talk. Ta­ more than 200 individual delega­ in Century City along Century day before a city hall rally called The meeting was sponsored by bles were set up to sell special bus tions, and more than 350 cospon­ Park West, proceeding down the by the March 9 Committee, de­ Penn Choice, a statewide coalition tickets for students that cost only soring organizations, will partici­ Avenue of the Stars to rally at manding that the city council bring in support of abortion rights and $5.00. Organizing is now well pate in the two national marches." Rancho Park. N.J. union women back Hormel strikers, March 9 BY MARY ROCHE it clear that our rights cannot be aban­ couraged participation in the "March for Although not many participants re­ ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.- More than doned. " She said that "affirmative action Women's Lives" March 9 demonstration in mained at the final resolutions session, a 40 signatures were gathered on petitions with concrete numerical guidelines is abso­ Washington, D.C. , te keep abortion safe resolution supporting the Hormel strikers, supporting the Harmel strikers of United lutely essential for this struggle." To be and legal. introduced by a member of UFCW Local Food and Commercial Workers Local P-9 against the only means to an end is to be NOW also had a table at the conference, 80, was passed unanimously. A resolution during one morning of a conference of against the end." where participants received leaflets, but­ supporting the March 9 "March for Women's Lives" also passed-unanimously. trade union women held here February 7- National Organization for Women tons, and bus information for the march. 9. The petition demanded the "removal of (NOW) State President Linda Bowker also The film Rosie the Riveter was shown at Mary Roche is a member of Teamsters the National Guard in the city of Austin, addressed the conference plenary. She en- the last session Sunday morning. Loca/877. Minnesota," and supported the "right of UFCW Local P-9 to strike and their right to collective bargaining." Several petition signers from the Com­ Forum links fight against racism, sexism munications Workers of America (CW A) mentioned that their locals had either sent a decisions that mold the future, which is our Out for Peace and Justice, spoke of the monetary contribution to P-9, adopted a BY TAMAR ROSENFELD CLEVELAND - On February l 0 the future." She appealed to the audience, "As many aspects of racism in this country. striking family , or sent members to Austin a mother, a woman, a Nicaraguan, I ask Biggs cited infant mortality rates for to show their solidarity and gather informa­ National Organization for Women (NOW) and the National Black Independent Politi­ you to stop Reagan from sending millions Blacks compared with whites, as well as tion. The state staff of the CWA and cal Party (NBIPP) cosponsored a program of dollars to the contras [U.S.-backed pay inequities between Black and white Teamsters Local 877 have also adopted on the interrelationship of the fights for counterrevolutionaries]." workers, as pertinent issues for the striking families. women's movement to take up. Two hundred fifty women and men from women's rights and against racism. lone Biggs, co-coordinator of the North­ Diane Underwood, president of Cleve­ more than 15 unions attended the confer­ east Ohio Anti-Apartheid Coalition, and Some 40 people in attendance at this ence, entitled "Women: meeting the chal­ land NOW, opened the program by plug­ Kathleen Geathers,. chairperson of the meeting participated in the discussion ging the March 9 "March for Women's lenge of change - new demands and new Civil Rights Committee of Women Speak period. Lives." "A lot of poor women in this· coun­ agendas," called by the Women's Affirma­ try are already going back to back alley tive Action Committee (W A AC) of the abortions. We have to march on Washing­ New Jersey State Industrial Union Coun­ ton to say 'No more. No more back alley cil , AFL-CIO. Momentum builds for March 16 action abortions,'" she said. Robbie Cagnina, former W AAC presi­ Continued from back page Democratic Party, Comision Femenil de dent, told the assembly that "we must make Celeste Welch, speaking for the Cleve­ land chapter of NBIPP, said, "NBIPP held in Long Beach for two visiting Hor­ Los Angeles, Let Nicaragua Live Pledge realizes the commonality in struggles for mel strikers from. Austin, Minnesota. The Campaign of Southern California, Nicara­ liberation. The fight against racism runs women's committee at the big General guan Task Force, and the Nicaraguan In­ Motors plant in Van Nuys has organized a D. C. poll shows Blacks concurrent with the fight ·for women's formation Center. In addition, the Interna­ rights. These are both fights against the discussion of the march at its next meeting. tional Ladies' Garment Workers' Union back abortion rights socioeconomic system that chooses to A 5,000-member, mostly female, Team­ and UE - unions which have a largely overlook human needs, human equality, sters local in Long Beach has included a Spanish-speaking membership - have A poll conducted by the Washington and social justice." prominent article on the march in its latest pledged to distribute the leaflets at union­ Post last month shows that Blacks in the publication. organized workplaces. La Opinion, the Washington, D.C. , area support abortion Norma Hanna, a Nicaraguan woman and · The national march leaflet has recently largest Spanish-language daily newspaper, on demand by a 2-to- l ratio. victim of a racist attack that burned her out been translated into Spanish and printed, attended the February 24 press conference. The poll showed that 64 percent of of her home in a suburb of Cleveland, which will facilitate outreach to the large In a recent development, the San Diego Blacks supported the right of a woman to · spoke about the fight of women in Nicara­ Spanish-speaking community here. A National Organization for Women chapter choose an abortion for any reason. Support gua today. "The position of women has number of important Latino groups have is working with a number of women in for abortion on demand was expressed by a changed in Nicaragua since the revolu­ already endorsed the march, including the Tijuana, Mexico, who plan to attend the majority of both Black men and women. tion," she said. "Now we participate in the Hispanic Caucus of the California State march.

March 7, 1986 The Mllitant 9 Cuba: battle lor economic development i Communist Party congress makes advailces in·defense, econom

BY MARY-ALICE WATERS cal training, and political capacity to dem­ - blockade, war of attrition, invasion, They feel and are responsible for meet­ HAVANA - There have been "two ocratically assert control over the planning total or partial occupation·of the country­ ing the production goals they have set genuine revolutions" in Cuba in recent process and its implementation and moves was a task for both the ilrmed forces and the themselves. Emulation contests between years, Fidel Castro told the delegates to the toward management of the economy. people as a whole , so the people had to be the brigades and bonuses for meeting and Third Congress of the Cuban Communist · That is why the advances Cuba is mak­ organized and prepared for that struggle." surpassing production targets are added in­ Party, held here February 4-7. "One in the ing in defense, in production and planning, This is the strategic conception that has centives. field of defense and the other in the eco­ and on broad political leadership questions been implemented in the last six years, Several other workers who had gathered nomic field ." are inseparable, and why the forward steps Castro told the Third Congress. As a result, around us explained that similar production In both spheres, Castro emphasized, registered at the Cuban Communist Party nearly 80 percent of all "men and women brigades were being introduced in their there have been fundamental gains. Both congress are so important. of all ages who are capable of fighting" are workplaces - one an oil refinery, another defense of the revolution against im­ now organized, and "the means exist" for a cement plant, another a textile and gar­ perialist aggression and developing the Revolution in defense concepts them to actively participate in Cuba's de­ ment factory . country's productive capacity have come In the Main Report to the congress, de­ fense . "What is the effect of the reorganization to be understood as genuine "people's livered by Castro in his capacity as first of the work along these lines?" I asked wars ," he said. secretary of the party's Central Committee, Application to economic battles them. The character of these two revolutions he referred to several speeches he had These same concepts, Fidel explained, "We're more efficient and more produc­ was registered as well in a third develop­ are now being implemented in the econom­ tive," Sanchez replied, without a mo­ ment at the party congress, one with ,, ______ic sphere. ment's hesitation. "The quality of our work equally revolutionary implications: the re­ "The international crisis, the world eco­ has improved. And that means Cuba will newal of the party leadership bodies. 40°/o of Central nomic disaster, the intensified imperialist develop faster ." Following an extensive party discussion, blockade of our country, maneuvers to The plenary session of the congress was 40 percent of those elected to the Central Committee are new drive down the price of sugar, have allied about to reconvene, but Sanchez and Her­ Committee were new members, selected in members selected to us to another profound revolution of ideas nandez insisted on one final thing. line with the explicit criteria of the need to and concepts," Fidel had explained to the "You must take a message to the women advance youth, women, and Blacks into advance youth, women, National Assembly of People's Power at of the United States," Sanchez said with a leadership positions. Setting an example the end of 1984. smile. "Women in the United States need a for all Cuban society by adopting and im­ ______and Blacks . ,, In theory , he went on , the Cuban leader­ revolution like ours. You must liberate plementing such a policy, Castro said, was ship always thought in terms of people's yourselves as we have. And then you must decisive for the future of the revolution. war; but this idea had not been put into send a delegation to our next congress." The interconnected advances on these made at the end of 1984, in which the practice. "Our people were not fully or­ I promised the message would be passed three battlefronts - defense, economy, meaning of the two revolutions in defense ganized to fight." on. and political leadership - came through and economic management had been Likewise, "in the economic field there strongly at the congress in resolutions, re­ explained to the entire Cuban people. was also talk of certain ideas and concepts Economic gains ports, and discussions with the delegates. In an address to the National Assembly but . . . no collective awareness, no collec­ The comprehensive Main Report to the On each front the fundamental challenge of People's Power on Dec. 28, 1984, Fidel tive will , no total determination to imple­ congress, as Castro indicated in his open­ being met is the same. reminded the congress, he had discussed ment the idea." Just as the revolution in de­ ing remarks, was an "encouraging review The delegates to the Cuban Communist the circumstances that led to the decision, fense concepts has gained ground, Fidel of what has been done , a vehement criti­ Party congress were dealing with the most in the spring of 1980, to launch the Territo­ then noted, so will the revolution in eco­ ci.sm of what has been left undone, and an profound. issues of proletarian democracy. rial Troop Militia. nomic concepts. "This must be the eco­ optimistic and resolute projection into the They were seeking to develop the forms In response to a series of U.S. provoca­ nomic battle of the entire people, the eco­ future, confident of our revolutionary and institutions that will enable the revolu­ tions in April and May 1980 that led to the nomic war of the whole people." strength, our fighting morale, and the im­ tion to continue deepening the participation Marie! exodus, the Cuban people ex­ mense possibilities of socialism." of the masses of working people in actively pressed their renewed revolutionary vital­ Production brigades The economic and social achievements defending their revolution, administering ity, boosted by 1979 victories in Nicaragua This economic war of the whole people of the last five years have been impressive. their state, deciding on and controlling and Grenada. They poured into the streets was at the center of much of the discussion This is even more evident when the prog­ their economic progress, and renewing three times in million-strong Marches of at the Third Congress of the Cuban Com­ ress in Cuba is compared with the devastat­ their political leadership so it will continue the Fighting People. munist Party. It was the main thing dele­ ing economic and social panorama of other to be a vanguard that is organically part of Out of that mass upsurge - "one of the gates wanted to talk about following the Latin American and Caribbean countries ic today's working class in age, composition, most important political , ideological, and presentation of the Main Report, which the s_ame period. experience, and conditions of life. moral victories the revolution has won in dealt extensively with economic perspec­ The last five-year period, Fidel noted, On the economic front , the issue that re­ its entire history," as Fidel said in De­ tives. has been one of the most disastrous ever for ceived the greatest attention was the need cember 1980 - came the decision to "Has dealing with the challenges of the domestic economies of Latin America: to revitalize the planning mechanism, the launch the Territorial Troop Militia. Cuba's economic development as a "all economic indicators dropped, many of driving force of the Cuban economy. This popular militia system has since or­ 'people's war' meantanything different for them registered negative growth, and some_ In a ,capitalist economy, maximizing the ganized, trained, and equipped 1.5 million you?" I. asked Carmen Sanchez Reyes, a profits of a handful of gluttonous private civilians, the majority of them women, and delegate from one of the giant agro-indus­ ,, ______owners of the factories, mines, and fields integrated this force into the defense plans trial sugar producing complexes in the determines everything. The brutal, anar­ of the country. province of Holguin. Planned economy puts chic system "corrects" its dislocations The tense international situation and the "I'm a machetera," she proudly told me . welfare of humans first. through periodic crises, of which the prin­ threat of imperialist aggression in 1980, A cane cutter. She was standing chatting cipal victims are the working people them­ Castro recalled in 1984, was what "led to a with another machetera, Celia Hernandez It demands battle against ·· selves- the producers of all wealth. revolution in defense concepts." Lopez. Before the revolution, they assured A planned economy places the welfare It is not that popular participation in de­ me, there were no women in the cane bureaucratism, vested of human beings first, and such a qualita­ fense was lacking before, Fidel noted. It fields. But the revolution changed every­ tive transformation of Cuban society was was there "right from the start." But over thing for women, Hernandez said. "Today, interests, routinism, made possible by the revolutionary exprop­ the years, he explained, as the capabilities we have equal rights." incompetence, riation of capitalist property there in 1960. of the armed forces grew, so did the view Before, women who worked for em­ The working class is no longer subject to that "defense was strictly a problem for the ployers were mostly maids, Sanchez corruption . the ravages of capitalist crises. armed forces. " added . "Now we're proving there is noth­ ______,, But the creation of a self-correcting In 1979, as the U.S. government began ing women can't do." planning mechanism as the driving force of to search for ways to crush the advancing The big change in the last year, Sanchez economic development is not automatic. popular struggles throughout · Central went on, has been the formation of com­ fell back to the rates of 20 years ago." Like all othertasks of the revolution, it has America and the Caribbean, the danger of prehensive work brigades on the state farm In the same period in Cuba, the Main to be consciously led. It demands a con­ new U.S. aggression against Cuba inten­ where she works. At first these brigades Report noted, the gross social product gre~ tinual battle against bureaucratism and ves­ sified. were tried on an experimental basis in a at an average annual rate of7. 3 percent­ ted interests, routinism, incompetence, and Under this pressure, Fidel pointed out, few places. Now, in line with the resolu­ considerably higher than the 5 percent rate corruption. "we reached new and revolutionary ideas tions adopted by the congress, she said, that had been projected at the Second Con:.. · It is a battle that can only be won as the in the concept of defense. We went from they will be generalized throughout indus­ gress of the Cuban Communist Party in working class itself develops the organi?:a­ the old idea to the idea that the military de­ try . 1980. tional forms through which it can continu­ fense of the country, on the battlefield and "What is a comprehensive work Industrial production increased by 8.8 ally increase its educational level, techni- in all the backup work in any form of attack brigade?" I asked. Sanchez explained, with percent over the five-year period. obvious enthusiasm, that she and other Labor productivity increased at an an­ members of her brigade are now responsi­ nual rate of 5.2 percent, and personal con­ ble not only for cutting cane in their sub­ sumption at an annual rate of 2.8 percent. division, but they follow the process The corresponding rate for social con­ through from start to fini sh. Their brigade, sumption - which . includes items like as a collective, plays a bigger role than pre­ transportation, health services, and avail­ viously in determining concrete production ability of education - grew by 7 .I per­ goals. It is their responsibility, not some­ cent. one else's, to ensure that adequate supplies Indicators of the relative standard of liv­ are ordered and delivered on time so they ing showed impressive gains. The number won't lose production days. of doctors and dentists rose faster than They harvest the cane, clean the fields, population increases, and a new com­ fertilize and prepare the ground, plant the prehensive family doctor program was in­ next crop, and make sure the proper pes­ augurated. And this in a society in whic~ . Militant/Mary-Alice Waters ticides are used . As a result they know at medical care is free . . Dais at February 4-7 Third Congress. At far right, Fidel Castro. Behind him, Vilma each step how the final yield is being af­ Statistics also showed important in­ Espin, newly elected to party's Political Bureau, its first woman member. fected. creases in the possession of durable goods

10 TheMHitant March 7, 1986 s a "people· s·war" r, leadership

(such as refrigerators, washing machines, velopment strategy is "to spe~d up the . and televisions), daily per capita calorie country's industrialization process." Given md protein intake, enrollment in child-care what has already been accomplished, in :enters (and the number of mothers bene­ health and education especially, it assumes ]ting), and school enrollment and average that spending on social projects will de­ lducational level. cline slightly as a percentage of overall in­ The number of non-food items that are vestments. {ationed decreased from 150 to 68. Con­ Absolute priority will be given to "those struction of housing units rose threefold investments which result in savings on im­ compared with the 1976-80 period. ports from·the hard currency area," that is, These impressive gains were the result imports that have to be paid for in curren­ Jf planned economic and social invest­ cies that are readily convertible in the nents which are only possible because in world market. This development ·strategy Cuba the basic means of production have also assumes that there will be a greater de­ been taken out of the hands of private pro­ gree of economic integration within the fiteers. framework of the Council for Mutual Eco­ Furthermore, as the Cubans always nomic Assistance. point out, their gains are possible only be­ The resolution "Improving the Econom­ cause Cuba's production and trade are co­ ic Planning and Management System," ordinated with the economic planning of also adoptedby the congress, summarized the Soviet Union and East European coun­ the economic objectives of the next period tries, along with Vietnam and Mongolia. in the following terms: Through the Council for Mutual Economic "In the next few years, the country's Assistance, Cuba receives favorable terms purchasing power must be ensured through of trade that are helping the country devel­ export growth and import substitution; sus­ op its industrial infrastructure and over­ tained growth of social production profita­ come the 450-year legacy of colonialism bility; increased savings of material re­ and imperialist plunder. sources, especially energy; better use of in­ Having eliminated the uncontrolled stalled production capacities and greater anarchy of capitalist production, Cuba is efficiency in the investment process; great­ able to decide on and implement an eco­ er labor productivity through wider use of nomic development strategy. new forms of labor and wage organization [such as the production brigades and wage Discussion of economic strategy structures that encourage workers to raise The fundamental guidelines of Cuba's their levels of technical proficiency]; con­ economic strategy from now w the year sistent application of austerity policies in 2000 were discussed and voted on at this budgetary expenditures; higher quality in Prensa Latina congress. production and services; and the promotion Revolution in concept of defense and economy. Castro at congress explained that before or­ These guidelines have been under in­ of a much more effective and dynamic ap­ ganization of 1.5 million-strong Territorial Troop Militia (above) "our people were not tense discussion on all levels of the party, plication of science and technology." fully organized to fight." Now 80 percent of those capable of fighting are prepared. As this gov.ernment, and trade unions for . more Taken as a whole, Fidel emphasized, the concept of people's defense has gained, so will economic battle be transformed. Above top than a year. decisions made at the end of 1984 and the sugar combine symbolizes rapid rise in Cuban labor productivity. ' At the end of November 1984, Castro measures adopted to implement them noted, there was a special joint meeting of meant Cuba "embarked upon a new, qual­ leaders of the party, the government, and itatively superior stage of the Revolution." worthy of the name communist!" sibilities created by invested resources. the mass organizations - such as the trade The results, he added, are already nota­ The country's main economic problem By-product development has not been unions, farmers' association, women's or­ ble. ''Undoubtedly, 1985 was the year that during 1981-85, Castro said, "was that al­ adequately planned. Sugar-cane produc­ ganization, and neighborhood committees. afforded the greatest savings and effi­ though overall growth rates were satisfac­ tion targets were not met because of insuf­ The purpose of this exceptional gathering ciency, the year in which the Revolution tory, they proved sluggish where we most ficient planting and unsatisfactory agricul­ was to make an in-depth study of the per­ obtained the best economic results." needed them: exports of goods and services tural yields. Inadequate soil preparation, sistent problems in the country's economic However, he added, "this is just a begin­ and import substitution." short supplies of agricultural machinery and social development. "Decisions were ning," and "the Central Group will con­ In a similar vein the resolution on impro­ drawn by high-power tractors, and impro­ adopted," Castro noted, "that have had far­ tinue its work." ving economic planning noted that the last per field leveling and drainage resulted in reaching repercussions in revolutionary ac­ One of the organizational measures five-year period "witnessed a deficit in the high crop losses. Delays in the develop­ '•vity to date and will have even greater re­ taken in the past year as part of this new balance of payments, particularly in the ment and introduction of new, more pro­ percussions in the future." stage has been the demonstrative removal area of hard currency. This situation be­ ductive, and disease-resistant varieties; The main decisions adopted were pub­ from their posts of a number of prominent came acute in 1982 as a result of mass cred­ low-quality seeds; ill-timed planting; licly outlined by Castro in several speeches government and party figures charged with it freezes by capitalist banks, high interest weeding and cultivation delays" all con­ given in December 1984, to a National incompetence and failure to carry out poli­ rates, drops in sugar prices, and the re­ tributed to inadequate agricultural yields. cies decided upon. Antonio Perez Herrero, duced availability of financing sources for FOt-um on Energy, to a congress of the Fed­ Specific problems detailed eration of Students in Intermediate Educa­ for example, was removed from his post as the National Bank of Cuba." tion, and to the National Assembly of an alternate member of the P.olitical Bureau Emergency measures were taken, with The purpose and usefulness of the com­ People's Power. and member of the secretariat of the Cen­ immediate results. But the fact remained prehensive production brigades that the Castro referred to all three of these tral Committee in January 1985 due to that growth rates were being achieved macheteras explained becomes clearer speeches in his Main Report. "shortcomings and repeated errors commit­ through "imports that exceeded the coun­ when placed side-by-side with the concrete On the basis of that review of Cuba's ted in the fulfillment of his duties." try's possibilities, excessive energy and problems detailed by the report. economic situation, emergency measures Castro pledged that this process would raw materials expenditures," and failure to A similar critical evaluation of other were taken last year to restructure econom­ continue where necessary. "Improvements increase and diversify exports. branches of industry and agricultural pro­ ic priorities. The purpose was to ensure the in the structure of state agencies and re­ In his report Castro detailed the kinds of duction followed in Castro's Main Report: future long-term economic development of placement of unsatisfactory officials will waste and inefficiency that have to be elim­ "We have not made the best use of in­ Cuba's industrial base and a rising standard continue," Fidel announced to prolonged inated. dustrial capacities. Lack of skills and labor of living based on real growth of labor pro­ applause. "There will be no tolerance In relationship to sugar production - force instability are basic factors in the ductivity. whatsoever for laziness, negligence, in­ Cuba's major industry- Castro noted that slow assimilation of new facilities." A working committee, known simply as competence, or irresponsibility." "growth rates have not matched the pos- Continued on next page the Central Group, was established. It was composed of top-level government and Deficiencies and shortcomings party leaders, includ.ing members of the What are the problems and deficiencies Council of Ministers, secretaries and heads that required extraordinary measures to For further reading, of Central Committee departments, and eradicate them? Why is it so important to presidents of provincial People's Power call to order and if necessary remove offi­ books by Fidel Castro bodies. In a matter of weeks the Central cials whose functioning is an obstacle to Group completely recast the 1985 plan - deepening workers' involvement and con­ Speeches Cuba's Inter­ Selected Speeches 1960- as well as could be done on the eve of the trol over economic decisions? Why must nationalist Foreign Pol­ 79. 81h x 11 format, 134 new year itself- and began revising both the Central Committee and party itself be icy 1975- 80. 391 pp. pp. $6.00. the 1986 projections and the long-term constantly renewed as part of this process? $8.95. Women and the Cuban plaris for 1986- 2000. These questions, too, were explicitly dealt Revolution. Castro, Vil­ The fundamental guideline, Fidel reiter­ with at the congress. Speeches Vol. II Building ma Es pfn, and others. ated in the report to the party congress, was In a section of the Main Report, Fidel Socialism in Cuba. 368 (Stone, ed.) 156 pp. $4.95. 'the determination not to "sacrifice our fu­ enumerated some of the problems that are pp. $8.95. all too familiar to the Cuban people. As im­ Fidel Castro on Chile. 81f2 ture to consumerism" - not to become x 11 format, 158pp.$6.00. · willing victims of the commodity fetish, portant as the advances of the last five Speeches 1984-85 War which rules and warps the capitalist world. years may have been, he said, "neverthe­ and Crisis in the Ameri­ Fidel Castro at the UN.·· Given the fundamental material and so­ less, we could have made better use of our cas. 250 pp. $7.95. Pamphlet, 46 pp. $1.25. cial problems already solved, Castro em­ resources and our efforts. Our work has pha,o;ized, "our problem is development, been far from its best. Deficiencies and Available from Pathfinder bookstores (see page 16 'tor one our problem is the future ." shortcomings still persist, and we must call nearest you), or order fro in Pathfinder Press, 410West Street, them by their names and fi ght against them New York, N.Y. 10014. Please include $.75 for handling. The main economic objective of the de- with all our might. Only thus will we be

March 7, 1986 11 Cuba's economic battle Continued from previous page for inefficiency, over-staffing; and over­ "Shortages of all kinds of packaging spending." consistently affected several production Fidel concluded his remarks on the de­ lines." ficiencies and shortcomings of the Cuban "The machine industry is still not mak­ economy with the remark that if these ing full use of its facilities and is facing dif­ kinds of defects are not overcome, "the ficulties with technological requirements Economic Planning and Management Sys- · and quality." tern will cease to be the driving force of our "Low efficiency in construction freezes development." resources and disrupts the constructiOJl The accuracy of the report's summary of process." the challenges faced on the economic front "Cost effectiveness is still hampered by was registered by the delegates' applause idle raw materials, spare parts, and other and by their contributions to the discussion goods and [by] resources frozen because of of how to move forward. problems in planning and administering supplies." Leadership challenge "Our scientific and technological work Delegates spoke to many different as­ has not been sufficiently linked t-o research pects of the economic and social tasks fac­ topics that will provide concrete solutions ing Cuba, but more than anything else they to our main economic problems." stressed that the greatest challenge is one of "We are behind in developing our elec­ leadership. tronics industry" and introducing computer Members of the party themselves, they insisted, must set the example in terms of technology. Two Cuban textile workers at their mill. Party congress emp,hasized democratic par­ work discipline, commitment to constantly "Although there has been growing ticipation of workers in planning, the driving force in economic development. awareness of the need to protect the envi­ upgrading educational levels ltid skills, ronment, little progress has been made in and eradicating favoritism, buck-passing, the struggle against pollution, and industri­ red tape, and bureaucratic insensitivity to in the resolution adopted by the congress ferent time the next day for those whose al waste recycling is being done at only a people's needs . on Improving the Economic Planning and work schedules prevented them from hear­ small number of plants." Arquimedes Morales LOpez, ~delegate Management System. ing them. "There has been an inadequate and unst­ from the province of Ciego de Avila, for The resolution stressed the progress The congress is an occasion to draw a able supply of consumer goods . . . as well example, discussed ·the importance of the made over the decade since the system was balance sheet and record the progress, as lack of variety , inappropriate sizes, poor production brigades, which, he said, were introduced in increasing labor productiv­ problems, goals, and objectives of the rev­ finishing, and outdated and repetitive de­ initiated in his province in 1981. They now ity, making more efficient use of raw ma­ olution. That process is itself an education signs, aggravated by irrational distribu­ involve more than 3,000 workers in six in- terials and resources, and in raising the and orientation for the broadest layers of tion." . dustrial centers in that province. educational level and technical training of Cuban working people. In the service sector, "there are instances He stressed their important role in de­ the work force . of insensitivity to the population's prob­ veloping and implementing production It also emphasized that the mechanisms Deeds first lems, treatment that is incompatible with plans and stimulating interest in and a in place had failed to correct shortcomings What is decisive, however, is not the the Revolution's principles, administrative sense of responsibility for the efficient ful­ and problems and that the system "lacked words - printed or spoken. What is hap­ attitudes that allow for irregularities which fillment of production goals. Brigade th.e dynamism needed to tackle economic pening in the factories and fields, in the mi­ discredit the state's role ." members are not only involved in strictly problems with speed and flexibility ." Man­ litia and army units, in the trade unions, "Procedures for solving simple legal productive tasks, he stressed, but are also agement methods, the resolution con­ women's organizations, and neighborhood problems remain excessive and bureaucra­ assuming what are considered management tinued, "have hindered broad participation committees, in the units of the party and tic." responsibilities. in the elaboration and implementation of Union of Young Communists, in the gov­ "Despite undeniable progress in public One positive result, he noted, is an ac­ plans." ernment ministries and departments - that health, insistence on quality services is still celeration in the process of developing To overcome these problems, the resolu­ is what counts. inadequate." leadership cadres in the workplace. tion outlined steps to make the system both That is why the three "revolutions," af­ "The quality of our education still leaves Another delegate, from Santiago de more comprehensive and centralized in fecting defense, the economy, and the much to be desired." Cuba, Neilia Ramirez Estevez, who works long-term allocation of resources and more leadership, that were registered at this con­ "Checks on administrative positions and as a tourist guide, discussed the justified democratic in increasing mass input into, gress are so important. work to reduce administrative overstaffing criticisms the Cuban people make of the and control over, the planning process and Progress on any one of the three battlef­ has been weak throughout the state ap­ very real deficiencies in the quality, effi­ its implementation. ronts would be important, but not necessar­ paratus." ciency, and courtesy of services in the Forms of work organization and wage ily decisive. Taken together they confirm a "As regards employment, one of the fun­ hotels, restaurants, and other tourist facili­ structures that encourage this as well as direction of motion, a new step forward in damental rights of the people [in Cuba, ties . promoting increasing technical proficiency the revolutiQn that has continued to deepen every worker is guaranteed a job], many She discussed the importance of the for­ and efficiency are to be utilized. and broaden the revolutionary mobilization parts of the country have a labor shortage mation of Model Units in the service sec­ The resolution called for a decentraliza­ of the Cuban people for 27 years . while others have a surplus." · tor, an experiment that began in 1982 in the tion of everyday decision-making at the op­ Moreover, these advances are combined The harshest criticism of all, however, Sierra Maestra mountains. erational stage of production and a closer - as they would have to be - with the was directed to the failures of the economic Like the production brigades, they strive relationship between various enterprises deep-going internationalism of the Cuban planning system. to set the example and raise standards of ef­ and unions of enterprises. revolution. The commitment of the Cuban "One of our most serious problems has ficiency and discipline, thus making life people to "pay their debt to humanity," as For this to be workable, "the concept of been the absence of comprehensive na­ more pleasant for the Cuban working they proudly say, is registered by the fact tional planning for economic develop­ people who are the main users of the facil­ democratic management based on collec­ that more than 100,000 Cubans completed ment," Fidel said, "particularly where indi­ ities. tive discussion, and the process of deci­ internationalist missions in the last five - vidual sectors have planned and executed The fundamental lesson, she stressed, is sion-making inherent to it, should be fur­ years, working as doctors, teachers, en­ investments on their own initiative without that when WQrk is shoddy or absenteeism ther developed .. . . gineers, and, when neces·sary, soldiers in adequate centralized control. Examples high the problem does not lie with the "Greater individual responsibility in the dozens of countries around the world, from · abound: new industries and agricultural workers but with the leadership. And that decision-making process will be linked to Angola to Nicaragua to Vietnam. projects in sparsely populated areas lacking is where solutions ije and progress must be enhanced executive decision-making at all The Third Congress of the Cuban Com­ levels of the economic process in order to housing facilities for the labor force; ex­ made. "When administrative cadres areca­ munist Party, more than any other single tremely important agricultural plans, such pable of clearly explaining the very real eliminate bureaucratic procedures" in man- thing, registered the continuing impact on as the citrus fruit plan, where we still have problems that we have, workers not only agement. , Cuba of the 1979 revolutionary victories in areas planted without irrigation; irrigation understand them, but identify and join in To ensure the active participation of Nicaragua and Grenada and the ensuing systems where there are no pumping sta­ the search for solutions," she said. workers at every level in the process of years of struggles. Revitalized and re­ drawing up and implementing plans, the tions or electric power to run them; work­ · Yet another aspect of the leadership newed ~ the "people's war" goes on. shops and facilities without the corres­ challenge was dealt with by a delegate resolution stated that "special importance ponding power supply; housing develop­ from the province of Havana, Maria Luisa will be attached to the broadest participa­ ments completed without the necessary Suarez. "We have to break with old tion of workers' collectives - and their urban infrastructure, etc." habits," she told delegates. We have to get production and service meetings - in the SWP sets tasks Following the initial thrust in imple­ rid of the deep-rooted tendency to give pre­ elaboration of plans and the adoption of menting the Economic Planning and Man­ ferential consideration to those com­ measures that guarantee the greatest possi­ Continued from Page 8 agement System in the mid-l970s, Castro pafleros we know the best, she said, to ble efficiency in the use of material and fi­ be reached otherwise. stated, "there has been no consistent fol­ those who for one reason or another have nancial resources. The YSA has made some important steps forward in the past several months, low-through to improve it. The initiative ties with us. "The higher echelons should give their was lost, and the creativity needed to adapt In party units, she went on, there are Ntweng's report noted. These include the utmost attention to the opinions and pro­ appearance of a regular, monthly Young this system to our own conditions - a sys­ thousands of compaiieros who meet all the posals of workers' collectives. These pro­ tem largely taken from the experience of prerequisities, who have talent, merit, and Socialist, which reflects the views of the posals should be examined jointly. All in­ YSA; increased circulation of the YS; suc­ other countries- never materialized." leadership abilities. "Our responsibility is stances of dogmatism will be vigorously How to increase the creative input of the to bring them forward, educate them, and cessful fall speaking tours by YSA national eradicated; this includes the 'lack of expla­ leaders; and the fact that a modest but sig­ Cuban workers, in other words, remained advance them." nations by superior levels regarding pro­ the central challenge. This is especially important, Suarez in­ nificant number of high school students posals submitted by the workers." have joined the YSA since August. During the greater part of the five-year sisted, in relationship to moving young As virtually any worker in Cuba will tell period, Castro went on , "the budget con­ comrades into leadership positions. As for The national committee also voted to you, few things are more resented than the hold regional educational conferences on tinued to be ineffective. Rather than reg­ bringing more women into the leadership, fact that suggestions and proposals for ulating spending, it, in effect, promoted it she said, "this is an old problem, but one the weekends of May 17 and 24 and to accomplishing such agreed-on aims often make national party leaders available to along with improper social consumption." we are now addressing with new determi­ disappear into a bureaucratic maw, never The Economic Planning and Manage­ nation." In addition to developing greater speak at them. to be heard of again, responded to , or im­ "The pace of the class struggle has ment System could become "a complete consciousness on this, she noted, practical plemented. farce," Castro underlined, "if we attempt to measures should now be implemented as picked up," Ntweng concluded. This has achieve enterprise profitability by raising well . Resolutions, reports, and congresses of resulted in more workers and students the prices of products, construction, and the Cuban Communist Party occupy an im­ being attracted to the ideas and activities of productive services," rather than by impro­ Improving economic planning portant place in the political life of Cuban the SWP and YSA, some of whom want to ving efficiency and labor productivity. The most comprehensive treatment of working people. Reports and resolutions join a socialist organization. "Prices in maintenance, construction, the measures to be taken to mobilize the are printed in the daily papers. Many con­ Taking the time to talk to these fighters and transportation, to mention just a few working people of Cuba in the people's gress sessions are broadcast live on televis­ about becoming members of the SWP or sectors, are scandalously high, covering up war on the economic front were contained ion and radio and often rebroadcast at a dif- YSA is a key job-for every branch.

12 The Militant March 7, 198~ . -BUILDING·ANTI-APARTHEID AND ANTIWAR Acr/ONS---- side, said at the January 15 an­ support of the following demands: "On June 1'4 we must show involvement in South Africa as Boycott victory: nouncement, "The primary issue • Stop U.S. economic and mil­ Reagan and [Canadian Prime being "the legs on which the ugly Wino-Dixie dumps in our boycott was the removal of itary intervention in Central Amer­ Minister Brian] Mulroney that we system of apartheid stands." all South African products from ica and the Caribbean. stand opposed to the real ter­ S. African goods the shelves of all 1,262 stores. • End apartheid in South Af­ rorists, those who uphold racism, He pointed to the role of Shell There are other issues raised in the rica. poverty, repression, and U.S. in­ Oil Co., which is the main oil ex­ ATLANTA - The Southern boycott yet unresolved, which we • Oppose Canadian support for tervention." porter to apartheid South Africa. Christian Leadership Conference intend to pursue, but the primary apartheid and U.S. intervention. He also announced that the Free For more information regarding South Africa Movement would be (SCLC) on January 15 announced issue is the sale of South African The call put out by the coalition the protest write Toronto Anti-In­ the victory of a boycott against the products and the support of the op­ "is issued on behalf of the more beginning a nationwide campaign tervention Coalition, 427 Bloor of demonstrations against Shell Winn-Dixie supermarket chain. pressive apartheid system in South than 90 anti-war, solidarity, labor, St. W., Toronto, Ontario M5S Winn-Dixie, with stores in 14 Africa. We are determined to do church, women's rights and com­ Oil similar to last year's protests at IX7. Or telephone (416) 535- the South Africa embassy m southern states, had been selling all we can to aid and assist the 25 munity organizations affiliated to 8779. canned peaches and pears and fro­ million Black brothers and sisters the TAlC," and their "hope is to Washington, D.C. This campaign zen fish from South Africa. in South Africa to bury apartheid spark cross-country actions, in would also be used as a means of and resurrect justice in their land., conjunction with anti-intervention pressuring Congress to enact a bill SCLC initiated the boycott 14 Anti-apartheid for complete disinvestment of weeks ago when Winn-Dixie re­ Lowery thanked the many or­ and anti-apartheid protest in the spring," taking place around the U.S. corporations from South Af­ fused to meet with SCLC repre­ ganizations that supported the leader speaks rica. sentatives to discuss removing the boycott, and added, "Most of all world. goods from its shelves. During we give thanks to the thousands of "Our decision to link the situa­ at Arizona State Robinson ended his speech say­ this boycott- hundreds of people shoppers whose commitment to tions m Central America and BY ANDY ENGLISH ing, "We African-Americans participated in informational pick­ justice and human dignity led South Africa," it continues, "is a PHOENIX ~ Randall Robin­ know that our destiny is indissolu­ eting on a daily basis at stores in them to withhold their patronage response to stepped-up efforts by son, executive director of Trans­ bly linked to Africa. A strong Af­ eight states. Sit-ins occurred on during this campaign." Washington and its allies to at­ Africa and national coordinator of rica means a strong Afro-America. three occasions at three different tempt to block and reverse move­ the Free South Africa Movement, The blood that unites us is stronger stores in the Atlanta area. Some 60 ments in the forefront of the inter­ spoke to 200 persons at Arizona than the waters that divide us." people were arrested. national struggle for self-determi­ State University in Tempe on Feb­ nation, peace, and social justice. Following the speech members Winn-Dixie placed ads in major June 14 protest ruary 12. The lecture was spon­ of Students Against Apartheid dis­ newspapers on January l3 an­ called in Canada "The urgency of mass peaceful sored by the Black Student Union. tributed flyers for an April 5 noon- nouncing that it had removed all protest against U.S. aggression, Robinson praised the actions of . time rally to demand a free South South African goods from its TORONTO - The Toronto and against Ottawa's complicity, anti-apartheid activists in Arizona Africa. It will take place at stores. Spot checks confirmed the Anti-Intervention Coalition (TAI C) is underscored by the recent dis­ that led to the divestment by the Phoenix College and is sponsored announcement. has called on all individuals and turbing developments. state university of its funds in by the Arizona Coalition Against SCLC President Joseph Low­ groups across English Canada and "We demand that our govern­ companies involved in South Af­ Apartheid, Central Arizona Labor ery, with Georgia state AFL-CIO Quebec to demonstrate on June 14 ment embargo South Africa and nca. Council, and the Maricopa County President Herbert Mabry at his - Africa Liberation Day - in increase aid to Nicaragua. He denounced U.S. corporate NAACP . .. Interview with 'Haiti Progres' editor, Ben Dupuy

Continued from back page A . The students have played a big role Q. Is there anything you would like to Q. Can you say a little on what you in the fight to get Duvalier out and are still say to U.S. working people? know about how things are organized? leading the way in the fight with the junta. They have not gone back to school except A. Well, I think the American public A . Well, one has to realize that there in certain areas, like in Port-au-Prince, can help us in many ways. First, by being was repression of the trade unions by the where most schools have been reopened. informed about U.S. relations with Haiti. Duvalier regime, with many of the leaders But we know that in Gona"ives students This can be very difficult because of the being forced into exile, underground, or have put out a statement to the effect that media. I'm talking of the big media. In­ killed. The only unions that were allowed schools that exist in the country are for a stead of informing, they disinform. to exist were the ones controlled by the re­ minority of privileged people. They want They should keep in mind that the U.S. gime. After Jean-Cla1,1de left, the Haitian the situation changed, and until that hap­ has big stakes in what's happening in Haiti. American Sugar Company - the largest pens, they will not return to school. They It is the largest investor in the country- in sugar-producing plant in Haiti - was would rather go to the countryside and baseball, electronics, clothes, agribusi­ struck by the workers, asking for the re­ teach the illiterate peasant to read and ness, and many others. moval of all the officials who were sup­ write. This is something that will not make But it does not want to see another gov­ porters of Duvalier. the junta very happy. Over the years the people have built very ernment like the one that was in Grenada decentralized structures to carry out their (in 1979- 83). This makes them and their fight against the regime. The mobilization allies in the Caribbean worried. of the people over the last months showed Q. What about motion amongst the Things are very unstable. There will be us that different underground leaders are peasants? more confrontation between the people in coordinating their actions and their de­ the streets and the junta, as can be seen by mands. The 25 demands are an example of A. Well, not that we can see from here, the huge demonstration in Gona"ives a this collaboration. but when you realized that 80 percent of couple of days ago. This makes the possi­ The fact is, it is now that the people are the people live in the countryside, sooner bility of the United States sending troops to starting a process of structuralization. For or later the question of the agrarian struc­ Haiti very real - particularly if they feel example, there is a committee that was tures that exploit the peasants will come that the junta is losing control of the situa­ formed that is called KEB. In Creole it's forth in the picture. With the students tion. the Committee for a Beautiful Haiti. The going to the countrysiae to teach the peas­ This makes our March 29 demonstration committee has set as one of its tasks help­ ant to read and write, we will hear the de­ in Washington, D.C., important for the ing the people to organize labor unions and mands of the rural population. freedom of Haiti. Ben Dupuy, editor of Hai"ti Progres associations. Organization and leadership is why the junta is not at ease with the exile communi­ ty and doesn't know how to handle it. Haiti: petition demands fundamental changes

Q. Can you explain? The following 25'-point petition, de­ 6. Remove [Alix] Cineas, [Col. 16. Reduction of the tax on gasoline and manding fundamental changes in the Prosper] Avril, and [Col. Max] Valles small cars. A. Well, so far the government has the government, has been circulating in from the national junta or National Council 17 . Lift the ban on importation of used same visa policy as Duvalier. They don't Gonaives and in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. of Government. want the exiles back in Haiti. Some people cars. The text is taken from the Feb. 12- 18, 7. Form a ministerial cabinet represen­ have managed to get visas, and a few 1986, issue of Hai"ti Progres, a weekly ting the nation. 18 . Close the special courts, such as the people have gone back to Haiti. [Accord­ published in New York. The translation 8. Immediate dissolution of the land court, the special labor court, the pres­ ing to the February 24 New York Times, from French is by Intercontinental Duvalierist Legislative Chamber. idential agricultural commission. Haitians who have been abroad more than 9. Adoption of the 1957 Constitution, 19. Raise low wages especially in the 90 days must get a re-entry visa to return Press. with modifications. army, teaching, industry, and commerce. home. So far, only a handful of political Gona"ives, February 10, 1986 10. Removal from public functions of 20. Free functioning of trade unions and exiles are known to have returned.] Petition to the National Council of Govern­ all incompetent and corrupt officials. political parties. Reports we have received indicate that 11. Immediate reform in the diplomatic 21 . General elections, municipal elec­ as soon as exiles arrive in Haiti, they are re­ ment Mr. Lieut. General Henri Namphy and consular corps. tions, legislative elections (for deputies tained and questioned for hours before 12. Arrest all those guilty of embezzle­ and senators), presidential elections. being allowed to go home. Then they are The people's demands ment or misappropriation of public funds, 22. Hourly wages of $1 per hour for the carefully watched. Now we are only talk­ 1. D:ssolution and disarming of the and restore the pilfered assets to the Haitian labor of the worker. ing about a handful of people. state and to the specific institutions. 23. Elimination of torture rooms and The Committee Against Repression in militia. 2. Arrest of all militia members guilty 13. Demand extradition of the torture instruments. Haiti is studying a plan to have some prom­ of extortion against the civilian population; Duvaliers and their accomplices for misap­ 24. Elimination of military officers inent exile people here go to Haiti without delivery of these militia members to their propriation of the funds of the Haitian from civilian functions. visas in a group and see what will be the at­ natural judges in the period stipulated by state. titude of the government. If they allow us 25. Expulsion from the ministerial 14. Cancel the requirement for entry to return, we will give a press conference law. cabinet of PNP [Duvalier's National Pro­ 3. Expel the Macoutes officers from visas for Haitians living abroad. and bring our particular demands directly gressive Party] President [Social Affairs 15 . Reduction of all taxes and espe­ to the government. the army. Minister] Tony Auguste, and of the dishon­ 4. Immediately reestablish the blue cially taxes on medicines, basic necessities est [Minister of Commerce] Odonel Penes­ and red flag. (cooking oil, milk, sugar, flour, etc.), and tor, a member of the PNP, and of officers Q. What has been the role of the student 5. Immediate lifting of the state of abolition of taxes on the wages of workers, Georges Valcin [information secretary] youth? siege and curfew. such as the CLE, APTR, licenses, etc. and his hangers-on.

March 7, 1986 TheMUitant 13 Palestinians refuse to give up demand for self-determination Behind the collapse of the Arafat-Hussein talks

BY STEVE CRAINE tinian rights. These imperialist govern­ danian-Palestinian confederation, Hussein Just a year after Palestine Liberation Or­ ments have used the Hussein regime as the and Arafat also called for an international ganization Chairman Yassir Arafat and fulcrum in their effort to pry substantial peace conference in which Palestinian and Jordan's King Hussein agreed to a common concessions from the Palestinians. Their Jordanian representatives would work to­ approach to negotiations with the Israeli strategy has meant stepping up the pressure gether in a joint delegation. government, talks between the two leaders on both the Palestinian movement and the From the time the Amman document to concretize their joint position broke Jordanian regime. down. · Last February's Amman agreement was signed, Hussein has interpreted it dif­ ferently than has the PLO. Particularly, Two weeks of discussions in Amman, raised hopes in the imperialist camp and Hussein claims the accord constituted PLO the Jordanian capital, ended February 7 fears among some supporters of Palestinian Palestine Liberation Organization acceptance of United Nations Security when Arafat and the high-level PLO dele­ rights that the PLO was moving toward an Chairman Yassir Arafat refused to bar­ Council Resolution 242 as the basis for gation accompanying him left the country. accommodation with imperialism. PLO gain away Palestinian rights for any deal negotiations with the Israeli government. The same day a special envoy from the opponents of Arafat's leadership called the with Israel. The U.S. government endorses Hussein's view on this. Resolution 242, adopted in November implied that Hussein is likely to make a 1967, calls for Israel to withdraw from deal with Tel Aviv behind the back of the most of the territory it had occupied in June PLO. of that year. But it also supports the "sovereignty" of the Israeli state over other Washington blackmails Jordan Palestinian land. Furthermore, the resolu­ ' At the same time, the U.S. government tion refers to the Palestinians' rights only was blackmailing Hussein to do its bid­ as a refugee problem. The PLO has there­ ding. In October the U.S. Congress held up fore consistently rejected the resolution as a proposed $1.9 billion arms sale to Jor­ a starting point for negotiations. By refer­ dan, which would have included 40 mod­ ring to all United Nations and Security em jet fighters, anti-aircraft missiles, and King Hussein, right, with U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. The king, other top-of-the-line military hardware. It who seeks U.S. arms, says he won't "deal with PLO leadership anymore. It's over." Council resolutions, the February II agreement based itself on the many UN made closing this deal contingent on Hus­ resolutions that do recognize Palestinian sein beginning direct negotiations with Tel Reagan administration also returned home. agreement a sell-out. sovereignty. Aviv before March I, 1986. 'State Department adviser Wat Cluverius But the agreement actually signed by The PLO Executive Committee clarified Under this deadline, Hussein was anx­ had been meeting separately with Jorda­ Arafat and Hussein a year ago was unam­ its interpretation of the Feb. 11, 1985, ious to bring Arafat and PLO under his nian officials to monitor the talks and to biguous. It clearly called for self-determi­ agreement one week after it was signed. control within a joint delegation. The series communicate Washington's views indi­ nation for Palestine and reiterated that the The Executive Committee approved the of meetings in Amman began January 25 rectly to the PLO. PLO is the "sole legitimate representative" plan, but stipulated that joint Jordanian­ for this purpose. On February 19 Hussein announced in a of the Palestinian people. It also demanded Palestinian action must be based on "end­ Tel Aviv and Washington hoped these televised speech, "We do not want to deal Israeli withdrawal from all the territories ing the Zionist occupation of the occupied meetings would accomplish what last Feb­ with the PLO leadership anymore, it's taken in 1967 and proposed a "comprehen­ Arab territories, including Jerusalem ... ruary's accord did not - to get the PLO to over." sive peace as established in United Nations rejecting capitulatory plans and unilateral recognize Israeli sovereignty over at least The Hussein-Arafat meetings proved in­ and Security Council resolutions." deals such as . . . UN Security Council part of Palestine even before formal negoti­ conclusive because the PLO leadership has Resolution 242 ... [and] rejecting authori­ ations were to begin. refused to give up the basic demands of the zation of any party to represent the Pales­ But the PLO leaders were asked to con­ Palestinian people for self-determination, Jordanian-Palestinian confederation tinians, or having any share in the right." cede even more than this in Amman. Hus­ despite enormous pressures to do so. What was new in the February 11 accord In a recent interview, Yassir Arafat de­ sein reportedly conveyed Washington's de­ Washington and Tel Aviv remain adamant was the suggestion that "Pale.§tinians will scribed his agreement with King Hussein mands that the PLO suspend all armed op­ that the Palestinians must relinquish that exercise their inalie!lable right of self-de­ as a "political tool that can be effective to erations, condemn terrorism, and exclude right. " termination when Jordanians and Palestin­ force the execution of the Fez summit res­ from any peace talks all members of the Since Feb. 11, 1985, when Arafat ians will be able to do so within the context olutions." The Arab League summit meet­ PLO Executive Committee and any Pales­ signed the agreement with King Hussein, of the formation of the proposed confeder­ ing at Fez, Morocco, in 1982 called for the tinians who have had anything to do with Tel Aviv and Washington have been pres­ ated Arab states of Jordan and Palestine." establishment of an independent Palestin­ armed actions. sing the PLO to abandon its fight for Pales- In keeping with this goal of eventual Jor- ian state with Jerusalem as its capital and The PLO leaders refused to go along recognized the PLO as the sole legitimate with these conditions as the price for main­ representative of the Palestinian people. taining their cooperative negotiating posi­ Do you know som.eone who reads Spanish? tion with the Jordanian government. Attempts to exclude PLO The outcome of a year of diplomatic ma­ The imperialist governments sought to neuvering around the concept of a joint on support for use Arafat's closer relations with Hussein Palestinian-Jordanian approach to Israel 'PM' P-9 to begin to shove aside the PLO leaders as has b~en the clear refusal of the PLO to In the face of vicious union­ the only representatives of their people. compromise the Palestinia~ struggle. As busting attempts against striking The Jordanian government, which ad­ the Palestinian newspaper Al-Shaab noted workers at the Hormel meatpack­ ministered the West Bank from 1948 to on February 4, "The Palestinian 'no,' ing plant in Austin, Minnesota, 1967, has often tried to assert its right to which has contradicted the calculations of there has been a growing wave of Marchemos . speak for the Palestinians. some circles, is an effective response to solidarity with this important Washington and Tel Aviv attempted to those who excessively accused the PLO of selling out." labor struggle. Unionists, farm­ por el dictate which Palestinians could participate From Intercontinental Press ers, and others from all over the derecho in negotiations along with Hussein's dele­ country have traveled to Austin to gation and which would be excluded. In show their support for the strik­ dela mid-1985 the U.S . government expressed ers, members of United Food and \H r ~ a desire to meet with Palestinians, but it Lowest-ever increase 1,~. ~ ~ 'r ' mujer al vetoed several individuals proposed by the Commercial Workers Local P-9. PLO, including people who were not for­ in wages reported _, : ~ · , aborto legal But to win this strike, even mal members of the liberation organiza­ ~ '1 ')J C 1 Was~ington : 9 de marzo tion. The U.S. Labor Department reported more support is needed, as the r v ~Los Angeles: 16demarzo company and the bosses' govern­ Throughout the past year the PLO January 27 that 487 major union-employer ment step up their attacks on the EUA HAITi leadership has faced mounting pressures on contracts in 1985 provided an average first­ Siguen finnes los Masas exigen sus other fronts as well. The Israeli bombing of year wage increase of only 2.3 percent­ meatpackers. The current issue of obreros en huelga derechos tras Ia Perspectiua Mundial has on-the­ contra Ia Honnel caida de Duvalier PLO headquarters in Tunisia in October the lowest ever recorded by the depart­ spot coverage of the Hormel strike was followed by an all-out campaign of ment. and the growing solidarity efforts. slander against the organization as the Over the life of the contracts, average in­ working people and the oppressed source, rather than the victim, of terrorism. creases were 2. 7 percent. It explains what's at stake in this Diplomatic openings like a scheduled Consumer prices, by contrast, rose 3.8 struggle by workers who are in the U.S. and around the world. iSuscribete ahora! meeting of PLO representatives with offi­ percent between December 1984 and De­ fighting for their right to organize cials of the British government were slam­ cember 1985 . a successful strike. Subscriptions: $16 for one med shut. Divisions within the Palestinian Automatic cost-of-living adjustments This issue of PM also covers the year; $8 for six months; Intro­ movement were widened by opponents of were dropped in settlements covering building of the March 9 and 16 ductory offer, $3.00 for three cooperation with Hussein, further under­ 471,000 workers, including contracts abortion rights actions. It features months. mining the authority of the PLO. - negotiated by the Teamsters and Amalga­ an article explaining what condi­ The Israeli government has tried to mated Clothing Workers Union. tions were like for women before exacerbate Palestinian fears of a Jordanian The brief summary of the Labor Depart­ D Begin my sub with current double-cross. While the recent discussions ment report published in the January 28 abortion was legalized in 1973 issue. in Jordan were under way, Prime Minister and what it took to win this right. New York Times rnade no mention of the Name Shimon Peres implied that Hussein was spread of two-tier wage systems. The sub­ about to dump Arafat and link up with stantial cuts these impose in pay for new Address ------West Bank Palestinians outside the hires significantly bring down- over time Perspectiua M undial is the City/State/Zip ______framework of the PLO. - the real average pay rates of workers Spanish-language socialist maga­ Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has covered by such contracts. zine that every two weeks brings Clip and mail to PM, 408 West St., also sought to pressure Arafat. "Time is Big-business spok~speople were pleased you the truth about the struggles of New York, NY 10014. running," he said in late December, "and if by the statistics. Roger Brinner of Data Re­ Arafat doesn't recognize [UN Resolution sources Inc . hailed them as signaling a 242] he will be the big fat loser." He also "greater realism at the bargaining table ."

14 The Militant March 7, 1986 'The Color Purple': a true story rarely told

The Color Purple. Produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the novel by Alice Walker, re­ leased by Warner Brothers.

BY PAT WRIGHT A heated political debate is raging today over the movie The Color Purple. Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer prize-winning novel of the same name, the movie has come under sharp attack. It's been called racist and charged with presenting a negative stereotype of FILM REVIEW

Black men. Several Black newspapers have run articles criticizing the movie. I considered some of these views as I watched it. I dis­ agree with them. To me it was a powerful, inspiring story about the sisterhood between Black women and how they struggle to overcome the problems they face . It exposes the triple oppression we've had to bear being poor, Black, and female . And it's a glimpse of how Black women survive hard times. Whoopi Goldberg as Miss Celie (left). At right, scene from movie shows Mister separating Miss Celie from her sis­ The Color Purple tells the story of Celie, a Black girl ter. in the 1920s in Georgia, and the people in her life. At the age of 14, Celie is raped by her stepfather. She clean and asks her if she would like to be her maid. problems caused by the capitalist system under which we has two children, both of whom he gives away. She never Sophia replies, "Hell, no!" live. But these problems are not limited to Black men. sees them again until th~y are grown. Warned by her The mayor comes over and smacks Sophia, who Men of all races are guilty of violence against women. To stepfather never to tell anybody but God, she tells her punches him out. A racist mob attacks her, beating her cover up what Black women have been through and pre­ story through letters to God. She is married off to a man half to death, and she is taken off to jail. tend it doesn't exist, however, doesn't solve anything. she hardly knows- Mister, she calls him- to take care Years later, she gets sprung from prison to work for the of his children and house. mayor's wife as a maid, which Sophia says is "like trad­ Men - Black and white - need to get their act to­ Nettie, Celie's sister, comes to live with her to flee the ing one jail for another." Sophia seems like a broken gether and support the rights of women. And that means rapist stepfather. But Mister kicks her out when she woman. speaking out against rape, wife-beating, and sexist ex­ fights off his advances to her. Later, when Celie finally gets the confidence to stand ploitation. This is what will strengthen the Black move­ Nettie later goes to Africa to become a missionary. She up to Mister, Sophia regains her spirit. ment. writes Celie about her experiences, attempting to give The resistance of Celie and the other women in the film After seeing the movie, a poem by Ntozake Shange Celie a broader outlook than she's getting in Georgia. to their degraded status also has an impact on the con­ came to my mind, from her 1976 play For Colored Girls But sticking to his promise to keep the sisters apart, Mis­ sciousness of the men in their lives. Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is ter hides the letters from Celie. Some people who have criticized the film try to deny Enuf. Celie does all the work around the house, and Mister the reality of the violence that Celie experiences. "Things somebody/anybody beats her whenever he feels like it. Celie is abused and aren't really that bad," we're told. But everyone knows sing a black girl's song neglected until Shug Avery comes along, Mister's lover. these things do happen. And it's a story that rarely gets bring her out Shug is a singer who's been put down by virtually the told. . to know yourself entire community. But she holds her head up high and I think that's why many women- white as well as to know you won't be run over by anyone. She takes an interest in Black -like and identify with the movie. It reflects their but sing her rhythms Celie and tries to pass on a little of herself to Celie. Celie experiences or the experiences of women they know . carinlstruggle/hard times and Shug become lovers. And it's about time our story is told for all to see and sing her song of life Sophia, Celie's stepson's wife, is a tough, strong­ learn from. For Black women to recognize our oppres­ she's been dead so long minded woman whose husband "can't get her to mind." sion and fight against it is an important part of Black closed in silence so long A scene from town illustrates the kind of oppression women -being leaders of the Black and working-class she doesn't know the sound and degradation. Blacks faced from racist whites at that movement. That is what many of those who attack the of her own voice her infinite beauty time. SopiM'arid her two children' aie approached oy the mOVie Can't accept. ···- • " ' I - • , ' . -· mayor's wife, who tells Sophia that her children are so Men who behave the way Mister does surely have The Color Purple sings that song and does it well. The 'fetish of cosmetics' and women's oppression Women today are being subjected to a the Pathfinder bookstore nearest you (see and from then on lives the life of Riley . powder, and rouge. In almost every case, barrage of propaganda by the government, directory on page 16) or send $4.95 to Now surely the public relations depart­ this either causes or is associated with a employers, and the big-business media de­ Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, ment of the Mennen Company wouldn't sharpening of relations with their parents. signed to roll back -or at least slow down N.Y. 10014. Please include 75 cents for put something on millions of bottles that no At the same time they often seem to leap - the progressive changes in conscious­ postage and handling. man would possibly believe. But what is it ahead of their age group so far as their ness about women's place in society that These excerpts are © copyright 1986 and that the men users of the cosmetic are in­ former boy associates are concerned. If have taken place in the last several dec­ reprinted by permission of Pathfinder duced to believe? Obviously that there is a they can get away with it, they go out with ades. Press. - thing that can help smooth out their rela­ youths considerably older than they are. One goal of this reactionary ideological tions with women. And that means, The reason such girls use cosmetics is to offensive is to convince women to blame * * * doesn't it, that there is something basically facilitate this by appearing older than they themselves, not the social relations of pro­ When my electric razor breaks down, I wrong on a wide scale in the relations be­ are. duction, for the economic and social prob­ go back to the old safety razor. Afterward I tween men and women? What is it? And What they seek to say is quite obvious. lems they confront every day. splash on a cosmetic that stings at first but what is its cause? Through the magic of cosmetics they ex­ In doing so, the ruling rich encourage seems to help take away the raw feeling press their wish to cut short their childhood women - and all working people - to you get from scraping a razor across your Long ago in analyzing the strange pow­ and youth and achieve the most desirable search for individual, not social, solutions hide. I bought it because it says "fifty per­ ers of money, Marx called attention to this_ thing in the world- adulthood. Why they to these problems. The capitalists who reap cent alcohol" on the label, and legend has it projection by which human beings see their want to be adults can be surmised in the billions off the sales of cosmetics play a that alcohol reduces the chances of infec­ relations not as relations but as things light of how capitalist society treats its prominent role in pushing this idea. tion fwm using a razor. On the back of the which they endow with remarkable pow­ youth. Precisely at the age when the sexual Cosmetics, Fashions, and the Exploit­ label is a short message in which Mennen ers. Indicating the parallel to certain magic drives begin to appear and an intense need ation of Women, a new book by Pathfinder Skin Bracer tells about itself. It is dem­ objects in primitive beliefs and religions he is felt for both knowledge and experience, Press, includes several pieces from a lively agogically silent about the risk and an­ called it fetishism . What we have in cos­ capitalist society denies both of them. Just 1954 debate inside the Socialist Workers noyance of shaving. It doesn't say a single metics is a fetish , a particular fetish in the when the developing human being must set Party over the relation of the marketing of word about the economic necessity that general fetishism that exists in the world of out to establish normal relations with the cosmetics and fashions to the exploitation compels me to go through the daily ritual in commodities. The special power that cos­ opposite sex, capitalist society through the of women. order to keep a job. Instead, it proclaims: metics have derives from the fact that in family intervenes and attempts to suppress It also contains a lengthy introduction by "A delightful after-shave lotion. Cool­ addition to economic relations, sexual rela­ the urge. Mary-Alice Waters that relates this con­ ing, refreshing, mildly astringent. A pleas­ tions attach to them. That is the real source The relation with the other sex thus tends troversy to the capitalist ideological offen­ ant easy-to-use deodorant. Use Skin Bracer of the "beauty" both men and women see in to become distorted and the interest that be­ sive against women's rights today. any time of the day or night - it peps you cosmetics. longs to the relation shifts to a considerable To encourage Militant readers to pur­ up. And the intriguing aroma wows the The duality of cosmetics degree to a symbol. The powers and allure chase this timely Marxist presentation on ladies!" of the relation - some at least - are women's oppression, we are reprinting ex­ That last sentence is intriguing isn't it? If As we can see by now, the use of cos­ likewise transferred to the symbol. cerpts from one of the articles in the collec­ it were really true, think how simplified metics, although it need not be placed Lipstick, for instance, comes to signify tion . Titled "The Fetish of Cosmetics," it some of life's problems could become for among the unsmiling questions, has a most adulthood; that is, the adult capacity and was written by Joseph Hansen, former our hardworking proletarian. When he serious side from the viewpoint of Marxist freedom to engage in activities forbidden to editor of the Militant, in 1954. In this sec~ comes home unstrung from the terrific pace philosophy. Every student of Capital who - children. By smearing her lips the child tion, he explains that cosmetics are en­ of eight hours on the belt line and goes to has really. pondered over "The Fetishism of says, this gives me the power to do what I dowed by their creators with the power to the bathroom to pep himself up with Men­ Commodities and the Secret Thereof' will want. Naturally it's only a wish and an right all that's wrong in our lives. But this nen Skin Bracer, he suddenly sees the way know what I mean. But even without going imaginary satisfaction- or at least that's simply covers up, he explains, the real out. No more drab, endless perspectives of into it that deeply , I think it is possible to what most parents imagine it to be or wish problems associated with relations between a lifetime of poverty and toil . He shaves grasp the essence of the matter through a to rate it as, and the real power of the drive men and women, the family, and women's with a new sparkle in his eyes, puts on the special case with which most people are toward relations with the opposite sex, dis­ second-class status. intriguing aroma, goes to the right part of familiar. guised by the fetish, is not always recog­ To purchase a copy of Cosmetics, Fash­ town, astutely sidles around an heiress At a certain age, girls- sometime very nized. ions, and the Exploitation of Women, visit until he gets her downwind, "wows" her, young ones - begin trying out lipstick, Continued on next page

March 7, 1986 The Militant 15 -CALENDAR------~----~------ARIZONA and United Steelworkers of America. Transla­ PENNSYLVANIA ber International Association of Machinists tion to Spanish. Sat., March 15, 7:30p.m. 3455 Lodge 796. Translation to Spanish. Sat., March Phoenix S Michigan Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Pittsburgh I, 7 p.m. 3106 Mt . Pleasant St . NW. Donation: Ronnel: the United Food and Commercial Labor Forum. For more information call (312) Hormel Workers Appeal for Nationwide Sol­ $2 . Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ Workers Local P-9 Strike. Video showing of 326-5853. idarity: Eyewitness Report from Austin, formation call (202) 797-7699. Nightline interviews with Local P-9 President Minnesota: Sat., March I, 7:30p.m. 402 N Jim Guyette and an International representative MARYLAND Highland Ave . Donation: $2 . Ausp: Militant of the UFCW. Presentation to follow by Glenn Labor Forum. For more information call (412) WEST VIRGINIA Orlic, member International Association of Baltimore 362-6767. Machinists Local 763 and Young Socialist Al­ Upsurge in Haiti. Speaker: Ted Leonard, Heroic Struggle of the Haitian People. Speak­ Morgantown liance. Translation to Spanish. Sat., March 1, 7 member Amalgamated Clothing and Textile ers to be. announced. Sat., March 15 , 7:30p.m. Why Support a Woman's Right to Choose? p.m. 3750 W McDowell Rd. Donation: $2. Workers Union Local 775 and Socialist Work­ 402 N Highland Ave . Donation: $2. Ausp: Mil­ Speakers: Sister Barbara Ferraro and Sister Pat­ Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ ers Party. Fri., March 7, 7:30p.m. 2913Green­ itant Labor Forum. For more information call ricia Hussey, signers of 1984 abortion rights ad, mation call (602) 272-4026. mount Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor (412) 362-6767. under threat of dismissal from their order. Sat. , Forum. For more information call (301) 235- March I, 2 p.m. West Virginia University, Col­ 0013. legiate Room in Mountainlair building. Ausp: CALIFORNIA Black Women's Struggle for Equality. A UTAH Center for. Women's Studies, Morgantown Na­ Los Angeles panel discussion. Sat., March 15, 7:30 p.m. tional Organization for Women . Haiti: What's Going On. Speaker: Greg Jack­ 2913 Greenmount Ave . Donation: $2 . Ausp: Salt Lake City son, representative of Young Socialist Alliance. Militant Labor Forum. For more information A Socialist View of the Fight for Women's Bilingual forum in English and Spanish. Sat., call (301) 235-0013. Liberation Today. Speaker: Susie Beck, WISCONSIN March 1, 7:30 p.m. 2546 W Pico Blvd. Dona­ Hormel Strike: Union Democracy in Action. Socialist Workers Party. Translation to Spanish. Fri ., March 7, 7:30p.m. 767 S State, Milwaukee tion: $2 . Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more Speakers to be announced. Sat., March 22, 7:30 Health Care for People or Profits? A panel information call (213) 380-9460. p.m. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Donation: $2 . 3rd floor. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information call (801) 355-1124. discussion. Speakers: Doug Nance, assistant Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For_more infor­ professor UWM School of Nursing; Karen Mur­ Oakland mation call (301) 235-0013. Bitter Cane. Award-winning documentary film phy , Concerned Citizens for HMO Reform; and on Haiti. Sat., March 1, 7:30p.m. 3808 E 14th Lenore Holyon, Socialist Workers Party. Sat., St. Donation: $3 . Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. MINNESOTA WASHINGTON, D.C. March 1, 7:30p.m. 4707 W Lisbon Ave. Dona­ For more information call (415) 261-3014. Solidarity with Hormel Strikers. An eyewit­ tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more St. Paul ness report. Speaker: Mike Fitzsimmons, mem- information call (414) 445-2076. San Jose No Aid to 'Contras' -Stop the War on Nic­ Bitter Cane. Award-winning documentary film aragua! Speakers: Ellie Garcia, member United on Haiti. Sun., March 2, 6:30p.m. 46 112 Race Paperworkers International Local ·264 and St. Donation: $3. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. Socialist Workers Party; Karen Hanson, mem­ For more information call (408) 998-4007. ber of Women Against Military Madness; Union elects woman miner Keep Abortion Safe and Legal. Speakers: others. Sun., March 2, 4 p.m. 508 N Snelling. Janet Cook, Northern California coordinator for Donation: $2. Ausp: Minnesota Militant BY PAT GROGAN district's first female auditor. Huitt said she March 16 abortion rights ma~ch in Los Angeles, Forum .. For more information call (612) 644- United Mine Workers of America had received phone calls of support from ·National Organization for Women; Lynn 6325. (UMW A) history was made February II women miners throughout the country as Reynolds, executive director of San Jose Boycott Ronnel: A Benefit Concert. Concert when Joy Huitt was elected the first woman the election drew near. Planned Parenthood; Sherry Turner, member and dance, proceeds to support United Food and district official in the 96-year history of the Betty Jean Hall, director of the CEP, International Association of Machinists Local Commercial Workers Local P-9 Emergency union. 562 and Socialist Workers Party. Translation to Hardship Fund. Performers: Larry Long, Kathy said, "We are elated with her victory, as Huitt, a laid-off coal miner from East Spanish·. Sat., March 8, 7:30p.m. 46 112 Race and Leo Lara, Carrie Garendasy, and Jennifer are women miners throughout the nation's St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. Holt from "Tets Noires." Sun., March 16, 6 Carbon, Utah, was elected secretary-trea­ coalfields. Her victory is a milestone." For more information call (408) 998-4007. p.m. UAW Local 879 Hall , 2191 Ford Park­ surer of UMW A District 22 by a vote of Hall said a lot of credit for the victory way . Donation: $10. Sponsored by the perform­ I, I99 to 975. Since she was laid off from belongs to "the women miners throughout ing artists. For more information call (612) 871- her job in the mines, she has served as the the country who have rallied to support COLORADO 0885. western organizing coordinator of the Coal each other." And she pointed to the strong Denver Employment Project (CEP). The CEP is an support from the UMW A International Meatcutters Up Against Hormel, National MISSOURI organization that helps women get and leadership for women miners, "despite Guard, Union-busting. Speaker: Michael Kansas City keep jobs in the mines. their small numbers." She said this victory Chamberlain, member United Auto Workers Stop Union-busting - from Austin, Min­ "The results of this election make me would encourage other women to seek Local 766. Sun., March 2, 5 p.m. 25 W 3rd nesota, to Kansas City, Missouri. Panel dis­ proud of our union," Huitt said. Also Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For leadership in the union, which is 98 percent cussion. Sun., March 2, 7 p.m. 4725 Troost. elected in District 22 was Rita Miller, the male. more information call (303) 698-2550. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For Fighting for Abortion Rights. Speakers: Ver­ more information call (816) 753-0404. onica Dodgen; others. Fri,, March 7, 7:30p.m. 25 W 3rd Ave. Donation: $2 . Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information call (303) 698- NEW JERSEY·· · · · '1' • Book on cosmetics .and .women ~550. ' .! ; . . . . ' Newark International Women's Day. A panel of Continued from previous page the lack of harmony and freedom in them speakers on women's struggles around the To a child, as we have noted, cosmetics that the fetish of cosmetics arises. Exis­ ILLINOIS world. Translation to Spanish. Fri., March 7, are a means of hiding and disguising youth, tence of the fetish, in tum, helps maintain Chicago 7:30p.m. 141 Halsey St. Donation: $2 . Ausp: a means of appearing to be at the age when the current form of interrelations by creat- · Rebellion in Haiti. Speakers: Pierre Jean-Bap­ 'Militant Labor Forum. For more information it is socially acceptable to gratify the urge ing a diversionary channel and an illusory tiste, an American in solidarity with Haiti; Nel­ call (201) 643-3341. for knowledge and especially experience in palliative. son Gonzalez, member Socialist Workers Party Discussion Series Sponsored by Young Our application of Marxist method has Socialist Alliance and Ruth Nebbia for sexual relations. Thus the same fetish dis­ Mayor·Campaign. plays opposite powers at one and the same given us even more. If we deny that beauty I . "The Revolution in South Africa and the time ...:.._ the power to make old women is inherent in a thing, then it must be found See Nicaragua with Fight Against Racism in the United States." young and young women old. Mother uses in a human relation; or at least its source delegation of performers, Sat., March I, 3 p.m. cosmetics to hide her age and bring out her must be found in such a relation. Doesn't 2. "How to Defend Against Attacks on youth by covering up the dark circles under that mean that the beauty associated with artists, writers Women's Right to Abortion and Affirmative her eyes. Daughter uses them to hide her sex is at bottom the beauty not of a thing Join Ventana group as guests of the San­ Action." Sat., March g, 3 p.m. 141 Halsey St. youth and even touches up her eyes with but of a relation? If we want to understand dinista Association of Cultural Workers For more information call (201) 643-3341 . blue shading to bring out her adult beauty. that beauty we must seek it first in the truth in Nicaragua, April 10-20, 1986. Tour The application of Marxist method has of the relation; that is, through science. Is it includes contact with Nicaraguan cul­ NEW YORK.. thus forced cosmetics to yield two impor­ really so difficult to see that in the society tural workers, attendance at perfor­ Manhattan tant results. We find ourselves touching of the future, the society of socialism mances, and day trips outside of Mana­ The Civil Rights Struggle: Lessons for two problems of utmost moment in where all fetishes are correctly viewed as gua. Cost - including airfare from Today. Speaker: Mac Warren, National Or­ Mexico City and back, room and board, capitalist society - the interrelation of barbaric, that beauty will be sought in ganization Secretary of the Socialist Workers human relationships and that after science and travel within Nicaragua - approxi­ Party. Translation to Spanish. Fri., March 7, men and women and the interrelation of mately $1,000. Contact Ventana, 250 W 7:30p.m., preforum dinner served 6:30p.m. 79 youth and adults; that is, the whole prob­ has turned its light into the depths that 54th St., room 800, New York, N.Y. Leonard St. Donation: forum, $2; dinner, $3 . lem of the family . In addition, we have dis­ seem so dark to us - the depths of the 10019. Telephone (212) 586-3700. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ covered that these interrelations as shaped mind - the great new arts will be de­ mation call (212) 226-8445 . by capitalist society are bad, for it is from veloped in those virgin fields? -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132Cone NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 Dallas: SWP, YSA, 336 W. Jefferson. Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder St. NW, 2nd Floor. Zip: 30301 . Tel: (404) 577- Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. 75208. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, bookstores. 4065 . NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave. 2nd floor. Zip: 522-8054. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Michigan Ave . Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326-5853 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, '23 S. Carbon 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- or 326-5453. YSA, 79LeonardSt. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) 219- Ave ., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 3679 or 925-1668. Socialist Books, 226-8445. (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 3750 E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) West McDowell Road #3. Zip: 85009. Tel: LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) 355-1124. (602) 272-4026. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486- 272-5996. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 8048. OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad­ News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave., Zip 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 dock Rd . Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. 23605. Tel: (804) 380-0133. 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E 14th St. Greenmount Ave . Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235- Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 15105 St. Clair Ave . WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: 0013. Zip: 44110. Tel: (216) 451-6150. Columbus: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel: MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA, YSA, P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: 797-7699. (619) 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: SWP, YSA, 1701 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. Tel: (419) 536-0383. 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118 . Tel: San Jose: SWP, YSA, 46 112 Race St. Zip: MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE (206) 723-5330. 95126. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Woodward Ave. Zip:48201. Tel: (313)961-0395. Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 25 W MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, 508 PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, 611A Tennessee. Zip: 25302. Tel: (304) 3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE 644-6325. . (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 402 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505 . Tel: (304) 296- 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, N. Highland Ave. Mailing address: P.O. Box 0055 . Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 4725 Troost. Zip: ()4110. Tel: (816) 753- 4789. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362-6767. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, YSA, P.O. Box 20715 . Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 4707 W. Lisbon Ave . Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361-0250. 222-4434. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. 445-2076. - 16 The Militant March 7, 1986 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------

For the family fetish freak - ley, whatever. $2,500. Or drop in use the equipment they are born ipulating U.S. public opmton for allegedly falsifying test results Suspenders, featuring a choice of at nearby Bendels. They'll tum with- hands, feet, and brains." through a vast campaign of disin­ later joined the law firm that repre­ out a fur-lined silk poplin raincoat. -Ted West, director of a New formation. How? Unfortunately, sented the company during the You provide the fur and $1,650. York self-defense spa. that can't be disclosed. White criminal investigation, Senate in­ House aide Larry Speakes ex­ vestigators charged." - News Don't sit on it-Law Enforce­ Oh - Explaining why he plains. the document is "highly item. ment Associates offers specialty signed up for a self-defense classified." items for security conscious busi­ course, Robert Fisher, president of Safety farst - While Donald Harry ness execs. Like a briefcase with a real estate firm, says, ''I'm for­ Rational arrangement - The Manes resigned as president of Ring an alarm that shrieks and gives out ever reading about executives who owner and manager of a New New York's borough of Queens, 4,000 volts of electricity. $1,200. find themselves in compromising York towing firm with a Police pending disposition of graft positions with criminals. I want to Department contract to clear sto­ charges, the road signs still say, bulls or bears on a ticker-tape Dry clean only - That self-de­ be prepared." We thought he was len cars off the streets have been "Welcome to Queens. Donald R. background. $85 a pair. fense firm also offers, for $1,000, talking about businessassociates, charged with stealing cars to ped­ Manes, President." Under one, a a bullet-resistant raincoat. We but apparently he meant kidnap­ dle the parts. wag added, "Home of the t>est Fashion tip - Bored with that trust it's more bullet resistant than pers. Democratic politicians money can seedy old fur coat? Check out ours is water resistant. Sheer coincidence-"WASH­ buy." It was promptly removed. Koos van den Akker in New York. Of lies and liars - The White INGTON - Two government Officials explained funny signs are He'll cut it and patch it back to­ In that order, right? - "My House has compiled a document lawyers who decided against pro­ a hazard because they distract gether with pieces of tweed, pais- job is to teach executives how to showing the Sandinistas are man- secuting the makers of NutraSweet motorists. Workers at Eastern Airlines discuss takeover Continued from Page 3 company rejected the offer and then an­ em, and the latest developments have in­ nounced its support for the takeover by flight this morning told me, "Callahan nounced acceptance of the takeover bid spired the members. Texas Air, officials of the pilots' and flight (TWU Local 553 president and Eastern from Lorenzo. Some of the press reports reveal that the attendants' unions agreed to the company's board member) sold us out and has the Most Eastern workers want Borman to company concession demands included a takeback demands. The pilots' union and nerve to tell us to stay calm. His pay and go. His reign has been a decade of lies and script with the threat of loan defaults, company officials signed the concessions job aren't threatened. I'm a Black woman takebacks. The ex-Air Force colonel and bankruptcy, and takeover by Texas Air. agreement. But flight attendants' union and have two strikes against me to start ex-astronaut is not respected. Last week on It's not surprising that Lorenzo of Texas President Robert Callahan did not get the with. I'd rather be unemployed than take a television interview he denounced the Air was one option in the plan. Frank takeback agreement signed before the concessions without a fight. We would pilots as "looney tunes being led into mass Lorenzo is a longtime employee of the board agreed to the Lorenzo deal. Now the have been better off going on strike Janu­ suicide •by people like Jim Jones in Rockefeller family. The phony bankruptcy company refuses to sign with the flight at­ ary 20 when the company imposed the new Guyana." and destruction of the unions at Continental tendants and is demanding even deeper work rules." Charlie Bryan's refusal to cave in to in 1983 was planned and orchestrated by cuts. The flight attendants rejected this and Another flight attendant said she was on company threats is a welcome develop­ those banking interests. Now they've have called a strike for 12:01 a.m. March an overnight flight early Monday morning ment. It is a different course than Bryan's shifted the attack to a much larger airline 1. Representatives of both the pilots' and when the pilot heard about the Lorenzo previous proposals to the membership to with a strong union presence. machinists' unions say their members will takeover on the radio. When the pilot fight the company by buying Eastern stock. honor flight attendants' picket lines. · called the flight attendant into the cockpit That scheme weakened the union and made to tell her about it, he was crying. He felt a fightback more difficult. February 26 - Last Sunday night, just Stu Singer is a member of lAM Local 702 his career and standard of living were The lAM is still a strong union at East- before the Eastern board of directors an- and works at Eastern in Miami. threatened, and there was nothing he could do about it. "If the news media is lying as much about the Philippines as they are about Nicaraguan farmers discuss land reform Eastern, then we don't know what the hell is going on there." That was the remark of Continued from Page 6 to the cities, where there is a shortage of school for the village's 200 children, a an aircraft servicer while we watched the pointing government outposts where con­ productive jobs. The hope is to attract health clinic, and a children's cafeteria so TV news i_n a break room. The Eastern tras can turn themselves in .. ; .. ~ working people in the cities who are not that mothers could work. ~: . . - . ;::.:. ~ - -· ' - .... :. ~tory had ·been mmtber two afta:.the reports .. -· :-. engaged in productive labor to movo back: Government officials said that a teacher on the overthrow of Marcos. Contra propaganda on land reform onto the land and help develop the,natioo',s and a nurse's aid would be sent to Casa agriculture. It's not hard to see through the news The mercenaries of the FDN still beam Blanca, and that the possibility of building "We're going to respond to the problems media lies about Eastern. "Those news re­ their propaganda into Nicaragua from Hon­ some classrooms would be discussed. Con­ in the countryside first, not in the cities," ports must get written in the 'ivory duras via their radio station, "15th of Sep­ structing other facilities was beyond their said Ortega. reach, they explained. tower,' " an air freight worker: said one tember." The latest broadcasts reaching Virtually the only construction projects night. The "ivory tower" is the manage­ this area were lies that the new land reform In response to a request from another ment office building at the northeast corner in Nicaragua today are in rural areas. Much member of the Casa Blanca cooperative for measures were aimed at expropriating of it is new housing for war refugees. In the of Miami airpo.rt. small individual producers. electricity, they promised that a trans­ Every news story is filled with lies: East­ course of resettling the war victims, the former and some wire would be found so One such producer had come to the government has sought to upgrade their liv­ em is on the brink of bankruptcy; $2.5 bil­ meeting to ask about this. Was he going to the settlement could tap into the power line ing conditions as much as possible. lion in debts are about to be called in; com­ lose his land? President Ortega explained that runs nearby. The housing at Casa Blanca, for exam­ pany problems come from overpaid work­ that the new law was aimed at large farm­ From other cooperatives came requests ple, was all made of brick. Each home had for potable water, pickup trucks, and car ers who have made the airlines uncompeti­ ers who refuse to produce, not poor peas­ a latrine as well, although no electricity or tive. ants who are working the land. batteries. The representative of a coffee All news stories charge that Charlie running water. Many Nicaraguan peasants cooperative asked for more guns. A group Bryan refused to accept the company's A number of peasants asked when they still live in mud houses or rickety huts con­ of young men who had just finished their takeback demands because of personal would be allowed to return to the land they structed of branches bound together. military . service requested materials to hatred for Eastern Chairman Frank Bor­ were working befQre the war, which was Trucks, jeeps, other vehicles, and tires build housing. man. What really happened is that the lAM evacuated by the army to enable govern­ have also been prioritized for the coun­ The answers didn't always satisfy every­ union leadership reflected the pressure ment troops to carry out military operations tryside. At the meeting here it was an­ one in the crowd, especially those who re­ from the ranks to stand up to the company against the remaining FDN bands without nounced that 46 pickup trucks and 30 trac­ ceived the answer that their requests could and not to make concessions. The only endangering civilians. The answer varied, tors have been earmarked for this region. not be met. But there was a sense that prog­ criticism of Charlie Bryan on the fields depending on where the peasants were ress is slowly being made here, and that it Limitations imposed by war now is that he shouldn't have given in on from. But government officials indicated is the peasants themselves who are bring­ that gradually the evacuated territory is anything. The enormous costs of the war, how­ ing it about - by voicing their demands, The lAM contract with Eastern expires being reopened as the contra bands are dri­ ever, impose limitations on how much can increasing production, and defending the at the end of 1987. Until a week ago, lAM ven out. be done. The head of the cooperative at gains the revolution has brought them, union officials said the contract would not The clearest evidence of this was the fact Casa Blanca, for example, asked for a guns in hand·. be reopened. This position reflected the that coffee is being harvested in parts of large majority of lAM members. Unfortu­ this region for the first time since 1983, nately the union's position was weakened when the war reached such an intensity that when lAM International President William it. was too dangerous to try to bring in the Grenadians protest Reag~n visit Winpisinger told the news media here that crop. Officials announced that there is he had met with company officials and was room for 400 more families to move onto Continued from back page the policies of the U.S.-backed regime is convinced Eastern really was in trouble, coffee-producing land that has been purged _there. continuing. Some of the trade unions are and that the lAM should help them out. of the mercenaries. Workers' rights have been seriously putting up a stiff fight against the attacks eroded, and efforts are under way to weak­ on working people. In November construc­ On February 23, when the company Priority to countryside en the unions. Assistance to farmers has tion workers at the Grenada Beach Hotel made its final demand for all the unions to Peasants from several cooperatives re­ been slashed. won a pay increase after a brief strike. accept a 20 percent cut, lAM District Pres­ quested more people to join them and help At the same time, repression has Support for the MBPM continues to be ident Bryan offered to accept a 15 percent work their land. One man made this appeal mounted. With U.S. and British funds and publicly expressed, including in some siza­ pay reduction without cutting other bene­ from a cooperative that grows potato seed­ training, a 600-man police force has been ble demonstrations. On Oct. 19, 1985, fits if the company got rid of Borman. The lings. "We need more people, hundreds built up, as well as a heavily armed some 1 ,500 people turned out for an more. We could be producing a Jot," he paramilitary force. Since April 1984 they MBPM-organized commemoration on the said. He suggested that those peasants in have shot and killed at least five young second anniversary of Bishop's murder. Subscribe! the audience who had complained that their Grenadians. Just a month before Reagan's visit, labor This article is part of the Militant's land is too dry consider joining the potato Louison himself was recently arrested activists and supporters of · democratic ongoing coverage of the big questions seedling cooperative. People ought to and interrogated for several · hours on rights in Grenada won an important victory facing machinists and members of come from the cities, too, he said. trumped-up charges of involvement in mil­ when a court freed imprisoned unionist other industrial unions under the cur­ This was a major theme of President itary training for opposition forces on the Chester Humphrey and denied a U.S. re­ rent offensive by the bosses. Don't miss Ortega's closing remarks at the meeting. island. On the night before Reagan's arri­ quest· that he be extradited to the United our coverage ofthe labor movement. For· "We want to raise the value of rural labor," val, 15 Grenadians were arrested for being States to face gun-running charges. Hum­ $3 you can get a 12-issue introductory he told the peasants.' The government is "rowdy" during a rehearsal of the presiden­ phrey's release followed a hunger strike he subscription. Fill in and mail the prioritizing resources for the countryside in launched in prison and a public defense coupon on page 2. tial motorcade. order to discourage people from migrating Yet despite the repression, resistance to campaign Jed by the MBPM.

March 7, 1986 The Militant 17 -EDITORIALS------.---- Eugene V. Debs Signal victory for farm union on role of courts in strikebreaking In a major victory for unionism, the Farm Labor Or­ at the beginning and end of the harvest season. In the ganizing Committee (FLOC) has won a contract - the peak season, when they are paid by the amount of to­ The courts have once again attacked United Food and first of its kind - with Campbell Soup Co. and with matoes they pick, workers can earn up to $9 an hour. Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local P-9 on strike growers who supply it tomatoes and cucumbers. With the The cucumber pay scale is still being negotiated. against the Hormel meatpacking company in Austin, signing of the pact February 19, the FLOC-initiated Both agreements, the union president said, will im­ Minnesota. boycott of Campbell products was ended. prove notoriously bad housing, health care, and working FLOC has worked for several decades organizing Ohio conditions. On February 14 Judge Bruce Stone further restricted the strikers' right to picket the plant. In an amendment to and Michigan farm workers and soon learned that it could Tomatoes and cucumbers are major crops in five Mid­ an earlier injunction, the judge limited to six the number not deal effectively with farm employers who contract to western states, involving more than 30,000 migrant sell their crops to giant processors such as. Campbell un­ workers at harvest time. less it also dealt with the processor. Growers have in­ The victory at Campbell, Velasquez said, now opens sisted that their_ ability to pay is determined by how much the way to wresting similar agreements from two other OUR they receive from companies like Campbell, on whom major processors who operate in the area - Heinz and they are almost totally dependent for the sale of their Beatrice. REVOLUTIONARY crops. The Campbell boycott was launched in 1979 and According to news accounts, FLOC President Bal­ gained ground over the years. The company conceded it demar Velasquez said the Campbell-grower contract cov­ was feeling the pressure of the boycott, noting that a HERITAGE ers 400 workers on 12 cucumber farms in Michigan and number of church groups had gotten behind it. about 150 migrant field workers on 20 tomato farms in FLOC has persistently organized in the area and has of strikers or supporters who could be near the plant at Ohio. moved forward . At its convention last August, 238 dele­ any one time. gates participated, double the number at the previous The courts in general and the injunction in particular Also, 71 other cucumber growers under contract to have long been strikebreaking tools of the bosses. The in­ Campbell agreed to hold union representation elections convention two years earlier. At the August convention, Cesar Chavez, president of junction, for example, was used by the bosses against the this summer. famous 1894 Pullman strike in Chicago. Last fall, in initial voting at cucumber farms, the work­ the United Farm Workers, spoke, voicing solidarity with FLOC. FLOC is unaffiliated but has developed fraternal Eugene V. Debs, a leader of that strike and one of the ers voted 60 percent in favor of being represented by best-kno~n unionists and socialists in U.S. history, FLOC. relations with the UFW. A range of unions, community and church organiza­ served six months in prison for violation of that injunc­ The new agreement with tomato growers will run three tions, and social activists participated in the Campbell tion. years, the cucumber pact four. Campbell reportedly boycott. For the past two years, FLOC has also targeted Upon his release from prison in 1895, Debs gave a guaranteed the growers a market over the life of the con­ the Philadelphia National Bank and other financial in­ speech entitled, "The Role of the Courts." What he said tracts. stitutions tied in with Campbell. then will ring true to P-9 strikers and other working people. The contract will hike base pay for tomato pickers to The victory points the way forward for farm workers in $4.50 an hour. Velasquez said that until now, workers many areas where big processors are more powerful than Excerpts of that speech are reprinted below. The often earned less than the $3.35 an hour minimum wage the growers who supply them. speech can be read in its entirety in Eugene V. Debs Speaks from Pathfinder Press. The book costs $6.95 and can be ordered by writing to Pathfinder Press, 410 West St. , New York, N.Y. 10014. (Please include $.75 for postage and handling.) © Copyright 1970, Pathfinder Homeless get brushoff Press; reprinted by permission of the publisher. * * * U.S. Budget Director James Miller insists that meeting Homelessness is a result of wages cut and jobs elimi­ In our cases [the leaders of the .Pullman strike] at the needs of homeless people is no business of the federal nated to increase corporate profits; of farms foreclosed Chicago an injunction was issued at a time when the government. He said this to a February 18 session of the and houses of unemployed workers repossessed to enrich American Railway Union [led by Debs] had its great House of Representatives Budget Committee. bankers; of cuts in social security, medical care, welfare, struggle for human rights, and they were triumphant in There are estimated to be 500,000 to 3 million home­ and other social programs to finance the military budget restraining myself and colleagues from doing what we less people in the United States. If the number of people and tax breaks for the wealthy; of sharp increases in rents never intended to do and never did do; and then we were who are sleeping on sidewalks, park benches, and in sub­ and the transforming of lower-cost housing into high­ put in jail for not doing it-, way stations in big cities is an indicator, the figure is ris­ priced condominium and cooperative setups for the rich When that injunction was served on me, to show that I ing. and middle-class layers. acted in good faith, I went to two of the best constitu­ If meeting the needs of working people was a top prior­ When workers and farmers take political power, as tional lawyers in the city of Chicago and said, "What ity for the U.S. government, the immediate problem of happened in Cuba in 1959, priorities change radically. rights, if any, have I under this injunction? I am a law­ the homeless could be solved within days. There is plenty Among the first measures taken by the government abiding citizen; I want to do what is right. I want you to of housing available - but the price is increasingly headed by Fidel Castro was reduction of most rents by 50 examine this injunction and then advise me what to do ." beyond the reach of working people. percent and a significant cut in utility rates. They examined the injunction. They said, "Proceed The capitalistgovernment, however, has much higher With the overturn of capitalism and the establishment just as you have been doing. You are not committing any priorities. If money was spent to provide decent, low­ of a planned economy in 1960, the Cuban government violence; you are not advising violence, but you are try­ cost housing for the homeless, there would be less money was able to slash rents to a maximum of 10 percent of ing to do everything in your power to restrain men from available for U.S. -supported terrorists who destroy family income. In 1985, a new law granted private own­ the commission of crime or violating the law." I followed homes, farms, schools, and medical centers in Nicara­ ership rights to all Cubans who did not currently own their advice and got six months for it. [Laughter and gua; for the U.S.-organized bombing of the farms and their own apartment or house and to all occupants of new applause.] villages of Salvadoran peasants; and for the U.S.-armed housing as it is built. terrorists who are helping the South African apartheid re­ Although there is a housing shortage in Cuba, not a Now what is an injunction? It has all of the force and gime devastate southern Angola. single person is denied shelter. vital effect of a law, but it is not a law in and by the rep­ Under a workers' and farmers' government, providing resentatives of the people; it is not a law signed by a pres­ There might be fewer nuclear bombs to threaten the ident or by a governor. It is simply the wish and will of people of the world and less loose cash to pour into the food , jobs, housing, health care, and education for the working people becomes a top priority. the judge. A judge issues an injunction; serves it upon his coffers of General Dynamics and other military contrac­ intended victim. The next day he is arrested. He is tors. All workers and farmers should support struggles to guarantee decent, low-cost housing for all homeless brought into the presence of the same judge. Sentence is Housing the homeless would mean fewer apartments . working people. And we need to fight also for a govern­ pronounced upon him by the same judge, who constitutes and houses that banks, landlords, and other real estate ment that will overturn the antihuman priorities of the judge and court and jury, and he goes to j~il and he sharks could milk for soaring rents, sale prices, or high­ capitalism and put the basic needs of working people has no right of appeal. Under this injunctional process, interest mortgages. first.. the plain provisions of the Constitution have been disre­ garded. The right of trial by jury has been abrogated, and this at the behest of the money power of the country. What is the effect upon the workingmen and especially railway employees to bind them to their task? The gov­ Help sell the socialist press ernment goes into partnership with a corporation. The workingmen are intimidated; if there is a reduction of Continued from front page this coverage regularly. wages, they submit; if unjust conditions are imposed, protests commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.; the To get out the truth about Nicaragua, for instance, the they are silent. And what is the tendency? To demoralize, April I 9 antiwar march and rally in San Francisco; the . Militant and PM have reporters stationed in that country. to degrade workingmen until they have reached the very June 14 march and rally against apartheid in New York They counter the lies of the U.S. government and deadline of degradation. City; and others. capitalist media by writing the truth about the advances And how does it happen and why does it happen that Sales will be organized at plant gates, union events, made and problems faced by the revolution. And both corporations are never restrained? Are they absolutely farm protests, and elsewhere. . . publications fight for action to oppose the escalating law-abiding? Are they always right? Do they never trans­ The increased interest among workmg people m the U.S.-organized war. gress the law, or is it because the federal judges are their Militant and PM is a response to the continuing offensive Similarly, the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial tell creatures? Certain it is that the united voice of labor in by the employers and their government, which aims to the truth about the Austin meatpackers' strike - expos­ this country would be insufficient to name a federal grind down the resistance of workers and farmers around ing lies that portray them as concerned only about a few judge. If all the common people united and asked for the the world to the demands of U.S. big business. cents an hour- and.help spread the message of solidar­ appointment of a federal judge their voice would not be In Nicaragua, despite the thousands killed by U.S.-or­ ity . heeded any more than if it were the chirp of a cricket. ganized counterrevolutionaries, the workers' and farm- On every issue, these publications present the Money talks. Yes, money talks. And I have no hesitancy ers' government has pushed back the attackers, . standpoint of working people in opposition to the prop­ in declaring that money has even invaded, or the influ­ United Food and Commercial Workers Local P-9 has aganda campaigns of the capitalist media, which are an ence, that power conferred by money, has invaded the waged ari effective strike against Hormel Co.'s drive to essential part of the ruling-class offensive. Supreme Court and left that august tribunal reeking with weaken and destroy safety and other rights at their Au­ We urge all Militant readers to join the campaign to more stench than Coleridge discovered in Cologne and stin, Minnesota, plant. further expand the circulation of the revolutionary left all the people wondering how it was ever to be In the Philippines and Haiti, masses of people have socialist press. If you want to help distribute the Militant deodorized. toppled U.S.-supported dictators. In South Africa, the and/or Perspectiva Mundial, contact the Militant busi­ There is something wrong in this country; the judicial struggle to overthrow apartheid and white minority rule ness office at 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014, nets are so adjusted as to catch the minnows and let the continues. (212) 929-3486, or a branch of the Socialist Workers whales slip through, and the federal judge is as far re­ Working people want to know more about all these Party or Young Socialist Alliance listed in the directory moved from the common people as if he inhabited struggles. The Militant and Perspectiva Mundial provide on page 16. another planet.

18 The Militant March 7, 1986 Black community should rally in support ·or P-9

On February 15 some 4,000 members and supporters up on P-9 in an attempt to isolate, demoralize, and defeat On the other hand, an all-Black group that opposes af­ of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local the strike. firmative action quotas or backs the U.S.-backed ter­ P-9 gathered in Austin, Minnesota, to protest attempts by On the other side are Local P-9 and all the forces that rorists fighting the Angolan government is working the Hormel meatpacking company to bust the union. it can bring together nationally. By reaching out and link­ against the interests of Blacks. Black leaders and civil rights organizations have not ing up with them, a united front against a common enemy The P-9 strike is qualitatively different from any strike said much about the strike in Austin. can be formed . This includes working farmers, American that has taken place in this country in decades. What we But the stakes in the battle are in the direct interest of Indians, students, and the Black, Chicano, and Mexican are seeing is a glimpse of real union power, when the Blacks, as they are of all working people. A victory for communities. membership democratically decides the policies of the There is no one fighting for social change.who does not union. have a stake in the outcome of this battle. The Austin meatpackers are showing a way forward in I get the impression that many leaders of the Black the fight against the capitalist owners of factories and BY ANY MEA.NS community don't see this war in Austin as an important their government. The strike is a powerful example that issue for Black people because of the racial· composition political solidarity and reliance on the union membership of Austin and P-9. is the only road to unleashing union power and fighting NECESSARY P-9 is an overwhelmingly white local. In fact, only a the bosses' antilabor offensive. handful of Blacks live in Austin, with just two Blacks A win for the meatpackers will put the unions in a bet­ Rashaad Ali working at the Hormel plant. One, unfortunately, is a ter position to use their power to defend the rights of scab. Blacks and others who are fighting for their rights. But to look at this tells you absolutely nothing about A P-9 win means a change in the rules of the game, on P-9 would be an inspiration for all those fighting racism whether this is a Black issue or not - whether it repre­ how battles are fought to advance the cause of the labor and capitalist injustice. sents our interests. movement and all its allies. Yet at the recent national board meeting of" the This strike is a Black issue. . The Black community cannot be neutral in this battle. NAACP held in New York, there was no mention of P- The most important ally that the Black community has We have to take a stand on the side of the strikers in their 9's fight. The National Urban League has not said one in the United States is the working class as a whole and fight against Hormel. word about the labor battle. And at the Martin Luther its unions. We should do everything that is possible to open up a King Day events in January - total silence. Any action that can strengthen the union movement in discussion in the Black community on the stakes in the Nor has any prominent Black leader or organization its fight against the employing class strengthens the pos­ Hormel strike for Blacks and fight to get leaders and or­ sent a message of solidarity to P-9. ition of Blacks in our fight for equality against that same ganizations whom they represent to come out squarely on This default by the traditional leadership of the Black class. the side of UFCW Local P-9. community is also reflected in the Black press. There has That's why an issue or fight is not pro-Black based on We should go to Austin and show our solidarity with - been little coverage of the strike. the racial composition of the forces involved. Pro-Black­ strikers; get our unions, churches, and other organiza­ The default is even more glaring when measured rights issues today include opposition to the U.S. -spon­ tions to adopt a P-9 family; and join the boycott of all against the forces that are being pitted against P-9. sored aggression in Central America and the Caribbean Hormel products. On one side are the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party and support for abortion rights, jobs, equal education, Our support for the Austin strikers can add another governor of Minnesota, the National Guard, cops, and many other issues that are in the jnterests of other voice to those that have already stood up to be counted on courts, and the big business media. They've all ganged workers and exploited farmers too. the side of justice. -We should march so there will be no more Rosies Rosie Jimenez, a young mother of two small children, These organizations, as well as many other Hispanics, in our homelands and in the United States. was working toward her college degree when she died in have come to recognize that abortion is a basic right for Almost all Hispanics know the case of Puerto Rico. On 1977. Her death was the result of a botched abortion. all women. that island, one-third of all women of childbearing age Rosie ~as the first victim of the Hyde Amendment. It is the only way we can control our bodies. had been sterilized by 1974. The majority of these This law, which outlawed the use of federal money to pay It is the only way we can control our lives. women had been coerced into the procedure. for abortion, was passed by Congress in 1976. It effec­ Without access to safe and legal abortion, our future is When this became known, there was a massive public tively denied safe abortions to poor women in this coun­ dictated not by our conscious ehoices, but by our biol­ outcry. But 12 years later, the number of women who try. ogy. have been sterilized has not decreased - it has risen to The death of this young Chicana gave the lie to the idea Abortion is also a fact of life for all women. When it is 40 percent. So common is sterilization on the island that -popular at the time _:_ that Hi~panic women had little legal, Hispani~ · women, like anglos amh,Blacks, cAn it is simply. . ~lled Ia operaei6n (the operation). -safely choose this option. When it is -iHegal>or -restrioted When I was in Puerto Rico in 1984, a group of women in any way , women pay for abortion with mutilated explained that while coercion still goes on, the increase bodies or, like Rosie, with their lives. in ·s terilization is due as much to women's inability to re­ iBASTA The fight to keep abortion safe and legal is our fight. It ceive safe abortion as to coercion. Women on the island, is a fight for the right of women, and women alone, to de­ without the option of abortion, were turning to steriliza­ cide our future. Therefore it goes hand in hand with the tion as the only way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. YA! fight against sterilization abuse. • The death of Rosie Jimenez - and the case of Puerto Andrea Gonzalez When women are coerced into getting sterilized, the Rico - demonstrates that we, like all other women, have decision to bear children is taken out of their hands. This a stake in the fight to defend our right to choose: to keep interest in fighting for abortion rights. decision is made not by them, but by the doctor, nurse, or abortion safe and legal and to end sterilization abuse. In the last 10 years, many Hispanic organizations have social worker who, through threats or subterfuge, forces The National Organization for Women has initiated come out in defense of abortion rights. These include the them to be sterilized. two important actions to advance this fight. They are part Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, When abortion is restricted, the decision also leaves of the national "March for Women's Lives," which will Mexican American National Women's Association, Na­ the hand of the woman. It passes to Congress, the presi­ take place in Washington, D.C., on March 9 and in Los tional Conference of Puerto Rican Women, National dent, the courts, or groups of right-wing terrorists who Angeles on March 16. Council of La Raza, National Council of Puerto Rican destroy clinics. This effectively cuts off safe abortion. We should march to tell the world we remember Rosie Women, and the National Congress for Puerto Rican StQilization abuse has long been a question among Jimenez. Rights. Hispanic women. We have been abused in this way both We should march so there will be no more Rosies. --LEIIfRS------Kate O'Hare in a fashion showing how the U.S. dressed to the British ambas­ sage should they opt to return to People's newspaper I am so pleased that Doug Jen­ government succeeded in breaking sador to the United States. their home via Great Britain. I would like to take a little space ness took the time to comment on her mind and spirit and how she fi­ We are appalled to note that The members of the to thank you and your staff for nally succumbed to bourgeois "de­ my Kate Richards O'Hare article your government recently opted to National Islamic Assembly, ..(NIA) writing such a people's newspa­ mocracy." In a sense, what she did -that appeared in last December's detain Minister Louis Farrakhan Chicago, Illinois per. More need to read the Mili­ in those early years retains all its International Socialist Review and his entourage for an unduly tant and get the facts of what's supplement to the Militant. [See vitality, which no one can undo. excessive period of time at Lon­ going on in the world today. Jenness l'etter in January ISR.] Erling Sannes don's Heathrow airport on Feb. 6, Costa Rica A prisoner Bismarck, North Dakota The matter he raises is one that 1986. I recently returned to the United Auburn, New York troubled me from the time I started States after working for six the research two or three years After five years This is, ·needless to say, con­ The Militant special prisoner strued as a tremendous insult to months in Nicaragua. On my way ago, but somehow it ended up get­ This is to let you know that I've I spent a few days in Costa Rica. fund makes it possible to send ting less attention than it should been transferred to another part of American citizens, Muslims, and reduced-rate subscriptions to all African-Americans of diverse At the Costa Rican airport as I was have. Without making excuses, I the beast. on my way to the gate the Directo­ prisoners who can't pay for think it was because I became After five years of reading the backgrounds. Minister Farrakhan them. Where possible the fund and his delegation are on a legiti­ rate of Intelligence and Security preoccupied with the questions Militant, I still enjoy getting the stopped me. They looked carefully also tries to fill prisoners' re­ concerning O'Hare's views on "real" analysis of domestic and mate international fact-finding quests for other literature. To mission and speaking tour. through the literature l was carry­ race and the issues surrounding foreign events that you've consis­ ing, reading a bit from each book help this important cause, send her views on the women's move- tently given over the years. Therefore, we likewise ap­ and periodical. After an hour of your contribution to: Militant ment, sexism, and so on. Being a victim of the Depart­ preciate and join our fellow bret­ harassing me about my activities, Prisoner Subscription Fund, 14 I had been disturbed with histo­ ment of Corrections Slavocracy, I hren in Chicago, New York, friends and politics, and reviewing Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. rians Philip Foner and Miller's remain as impoverished as ever. Washington, D.C., and elsewhere my baggage, they set aside a stack 10014. treatment of O'Hare on a number Any windfall that might happen who are raising their voices in pro­ of literature. They said, "These The letters column is an open of issues - they seem in some re­ to come my way will definitely test over this unwarranted act by stay." forum for all viewpoints on sub­ spects .to play down her contrib­ spur a contribution to your fund. the British government and re­ Nicaragua: An Introduction to jects of general interest to our ution to the revolutionary move­ A prisoner quest that an appropriate apology the Sandinista Revolution, pub­ readers. Please keep your letters ment during the early years. I, on Huntsville, Texas be extended. lished by Pathfinder Press, was of brief. Where necessary they will the other hand, as Jenness so cor­ In light of the above it shall be particular interest to them and was be abridged. Please indicate if rectly pointed out, have gone too Detention of Farrakhan further assumed that the [Far­ confiscated. you prefer that your initials far the other way. The MHitant received a copy rakhan] delegation will be granted Susan Bailey be used rather than your full I had intended to handle 0' Hare of the following mailgram ad- clear, courteous, and timely pas- Upper Montclair, New Jersey name.

March 7, 1986 The Militant 19 THE MILITANT Grenada protest says 'no' to Reagan

BY ERNEST HARSCH operating out of Honduras. As President Ronald Reagan touched Reagan's threats against Nicaragua are down in Grenada for a few hours on Feb­ "a very dangerous development," Louison ruary 20, some 200 Grenadians rallied to told us . "We in our party continue to give protest his visit. They came out to Market the firmest solidarity to Nicaragua. We Square in the heart of St. George's, the continue to protest against Reagan's at­ capital, to express their opposition to the tempt to destabilize Nicaragua. And we say person who ordered the massive Octobe!'" that if he invades Nicaragua he will get a 1983 U.S. invasion of that Eastern Carib­ lesson that the American people will never bean island of only 110,000 people. forget ." "No to U.S. colony!" and "Resist Reagan, resist slavery!" were among the Fruits of U.S. occupation slogans of the demonstration. In his speech Reagan also claimed that "Maurice Bishop liberated us, Reagan the U.S. intervention in Grenada brought oppresses us!" the. protesters also declared, the island "liberty and justice." recalling the late Prime Minister Maurice Responding, Louison stated, "The oppo­ Bishop, who headed the workers' and site is the truth . The invasion has brought peasants' government that was in power unemployment. It has brought a destruc­ from March 1979 to October 1983 . Bishop tion· of the productive forces in this coun­ was murdered by opponents within his own try. It has brought crime, prostitution, and party on Oct. 19 , 1983, just a week before drug trafficking - cocaine is now a major the U.S . invasion, and remains a popular problem in the country, and that came as a U.S. soldier guards captured Grenadian during 1983 invasion of island hero to the masses of Grenadians. direct result of the Yankee invasion. It has This demonstration culminated a week destroyed the social sector, education, of actions in different villages and towns health. All of these are on the decline." nadian collaborators shut down many of one practicing dentist in the entire country, throughout the island, drawing from 300 to In 1983 unemployment in Grenada was the state-run enterprises set up under the while the new government refuses to em­ 600 participants each. They were all or­ 12 percent and falling . Soon after the inva­ Bishop government. ploy young Grenadians who returned from ganized by the Maurice Bishop Patriotic sion it jumped to around 40 percent, as the Social services have been allowed to de- · Cuba after finishing their dental studies Movement (MBPM), which is led by sev­ U.S. occupation authorities and their Gre- teriorate. For example, there is now only Continued on Page 17 eral of Bishop's surviving comrades and bases itself on the legacy of the Grenada revolution. Interview with 'Haiti Progres' editor A 'national hero'? Most of the U.S. news media that accompanied Reagan to Grenada made no On March 29 the Committee Against original flag of the country- the blue and [National Progressive Party] _:_ unjust mention of these protests. Instead, they Repression in Haiti will sponsor a rally in red flag. taxes, hated and corrupt officials. And it sought to portray Reagan's visit as that of a Washington, D.C., to protest "the installa­ The junta made these changes with the safeguards the rights of the people. "conquering hero," as a New York Times tion of a Duvalierist junta under the au­ idea of demobilizing the people. So the editorial put it. spices of the United States" and the threat situation is still very unstable, with people of North American military intervention in wanting more than just a few little changes. Q. Who are some of these officials who A large crowd did turn qut to see are most hated by the people of Haiti? Reagan. Schools and workplaces were of­ Haiti . The action will also condemn the in­ They want some bh~ ones. ficially closed for the occasion. In addi­ terference in Haiti's internal affairs con­ I don't know if you know about the 25 A. Three of the present members of the tion, illusions among the Grenadian people ducted by the U.S. State Department. demands that were presented to the junta junta are known by the people to be about Washington's role remain wide­ Jean-Claude Duvalier, the former dic­ on February 10, called "the people's de­ Duvalierist and must be removed from the spread, since the government in power at tator, fled Haiti February 7. He is now mands." [See page 13.] government. They are Col. Max Valles, seeking asylum in France, the time of the U.S. invasion was the brutal It's understood that the document came who was commander of the presidential · The new regime is composed of six regime headed by Bernard Coard that had from the underground .leadership that had guard; Col. Prosper Avril, an officer of the members. Four of them were high-ranking destroyed the Grenada revolution and mur­ led the social protests. presidential guard; and Alix Cineas, one of military officers under Duvalier. The head dered Bishop. The 25 demands are what the people the ministers of tbe Duvalier regime. of the junta, Lt. General Henri Namphy, Seeking to perpetuate the myth that the want, not a Duvalierist junta without Others are PNP members, such as Tony was a close collaborator of "Papa Doc" U.S. invasion "liberated" Grenada, Prime Duvalier. The demands are directed Auguste, president of the PNP and minister Duvalier. He was appointed army chief of Minister Herbert Blaize introduced Reagan against the worst things under Duvalier - of social affairs; Odonel Fenestor, minister staff in 1984. Col. William Regala was in the most subservient terms , calling him to try to get them out of the new regime. of commerce; and Georges Valcin, infor­ named inspector-general of the armed "our own national hero, our own rescuer." It tries to remove from the government mation secretary. forces in March 1984. Col. Max Valles In a telephone interview, George all traces of Baby Doc's party- the PNP Continued on Page 13 Louison, a leader of the MBPM, said that commanded the presidential guard for Blaize's comments were "an affront to the "Baby Doc" Duvalier. And Col. Prosper history and the dignity of the Grenadian Avril was an officer in the presidential people." Grenada's real national hero is guard. Momentum builds for March 16 Maurice Bishop, he said. Alix Cineas is one of two civilians on the During his visit, Reagan laid a wreath at junta. He served as a minister under L.A. abortion rights action a .monument to the 19 U.S. soldiers who Duvalier. died during the Grenada invasion. Only Gerard Gourgue, chairman of the Haitian League for Human Rights, had a BY PAM BURCHETT teers reported that the office was flooded No such monuments have been erected record as an opponent of Duvalier. AND JEAN SAVAGE with telephone calls expressing support in Grenada to the scores of Grenadians and Below is an interview with Ben Dupuy, LOS ANGELES - Kathy Spillar, the and interest. · Cuban construction workers who were a spokesman for the Committee Against West Coast coordinator for the March 16 Of special importance has been the Na­ killed by the U.S. invasion forces . "What Repression in Haiti and the editor of the "National March for Women's Lives," tional Organization for Women's outreach about the Grenadian people who died dur-, NewYork-based Haitian weekly Hai"ti chaired a well-attended press conference to local unions through a mailing and fol­ ing the invasion?" asked Angela Bishop, Progres. The interview was conducted by February 24 to publicize the abortion rights low-up phone calls. Three large union loc• · the late prime minister's widow, who now Militant staff member Rashaad Ali on Feb­ action and to protest California Senate Bill als in the area - Service Employees Inter­ lives in Canada. "Are they not fit to be hon­ ruary 15 at the Hai"ti Progres office. 7. This bill would require women under 18 national Union (SEIUJ Local 660 with its ored on their own soil? Don't forget: They For more information on the March 29 to obtain written parental consent or a court 25,000 members, SEIU Local 535, and were fighting for their own country." Washington, D.C. , action call the Com­ order to obtain abortion services. Jo Ellen United Electrical Workers (UE) Local mittee Against Repression in Haiti at (718) Pasman, speaking for Californians for 1421 - have endorsed and sent out infor­ Targeting Nicaragua 434-3940. Choice, a broad-based coalition that helped mation to their membership. American A major theme of Reagan's speech in defeat two recent attempts to place anti­ Federation of State, County and Municipal Grenada was Washington's opposition to * * * abortion referenda on the ballot, and Carrie Employees District 36, another large Fisher, a well-known Hollywood actress, union, has both endorsed and organized the popular revolution in Nicaragua. He Question. As far as you can tell, what is also spoke. buses to get its members to the action. also blasted revolutionary Cuba. the situation in Haiti today? Reagan explicitly compared the situation Spillar said the March 16 action would Some 35 other local union officials have in Nicaragua today to the one that led to the Answer. The situation is still very un­ leave "no doubt that the majority of Amer­ asked for information packets and pledged U.S. invasion of Grenada, employing clear. Now that we have won a partial vic­ icans support safe and legal abortion and to publicize the march. The local chapter of · some of the same anticommunist slanders tory by removing Jean-Claude through birth control." She pointed to a need for the Coalition of Labor Union Women his administration had earlier leveled mass protest, the people are demanding on'going efforts after March 16 to defeat printed an article on the action in its recent against the Bishop government. more from the junta. other initiatives, antiabortion bills, or court newsletter. It is organizing a phone bank to "Today, in Nicaragua," Reagan main­ We have already accomplished a few challenges. "The organizing efforts," she call its membership in the next two weeks. tained, "we see a chain of events similar to things since he left. The dissolution of the said, "are putting together a nationwide, The Los Angeles County Federation of what happened here. We hear the same ex­ Chamber of Deputies, Duvalier's rubber­ activist base that will be mobilized" against Labor newsletter, which reaches 4,000 · cuses made for the Communists, while the stamp chamber. efforts to outlaw abortion and birth control. area union locals, included an article about people of Nicaragua see their freedom, Another was the official announcement A visit to the Los Angeles march office the upcoming march in the most recent slowly but surely, eaten away." of the disbanding of the Tontons Macoutes confirms that the momentum for the action issue. Reagan's comments were part of the on­ [Duvalier's private police force] and the is growing as the word gets around. Spillar Individual union members are also tak- going White House campaign to drum up roundup of the high-ranking members of recently appeared on a popular afternoon ing initiatives to publicize March 16. support for greater U.S. military aid for the the Tontons Macoutes. And, the changing TV talk show, debating with representa­ Flyers were distributed at a recent rally Nicaraguan counterrevolutionary terrorists of Duvalier' s black and red flag back to the tives of the so-called right to life. Volun- Contlnued on Page 9

The Militant March 7, 1986